Institut National des Sciences de l'Univers

Data Terra, a French national research infrastructure for Earth system observations, brings together five disciplinary poles—FORMATER (solid earth), AERIS (atmosphere), ODATIS (ocean), THEIA (continental surfaces), and PNDB (biodiversity)—to provide access to diverse environmental data and associated services. Several of these hubs support field and observational programs, yet researchers often face uncertainty about the tools, services, and resources available to assist them before, during, and after their field program. This lack of visibility leads to fragmented practices and repetition of efforts across domains.To address this challenge, we initiated an inter-pole collaboration to develop a catalog of services relevant to the needs of scientists for the entire life cycle of their field program. These services include software tools, applications, data management solutions, user support, technical assistance, and training resources. The goal is to provide a coherent and easily navigable overview of the resources offered by Data Terra and its collaborators, free from disciplinary boundaries.This effort is built on a GeoNetwork-based catalog, expanding it to accommodate cross-domain field program needs. A new dedicated thesaurus has been created to classify the diverse resources, ensure consistent tagging, and allow an eased search and findability of the resources. By structuring needs and services in a shared semantic framework, we aim to enhance discoverability, foster interoperability between poles, and better support the scientific communities conducting environmental field programs.

Third-party funding (TPF) provides easier access to arbitration for disputants who may not have sufficient funds available. It similarly helps parties to arbitration who have the funds but would prefer to utilize them elsewhere in their business rather than be blocked from running a claim. A non-party (funder) bears the arbitration costs and, in return, expects either a percentage of the amount awarded in a successful claim or the amount specified in the agreement between the funded party and the funder. While TPF facilitates access to justice, it has also raised challenges such as disclosure requirements, transparency, and potential conflicts of interest. Many arbitral institutions and State jurisdictions have either introduced or updated their laws and rules related to the above concerns. This article explains the concept of TPF in various jurisdictions and its application in arbitration and litigation. The article examines the existing legal framework of TPF in the arbitration process, including the award-making process.

Context. The chemical composition of the inner regions of disks around young stars will largely determine the properties of planets that form in these regions. Many physical processes in the disks drive their chemical evolution, and some of them depend on and/or correlate with the stellar properties. Aims. We explore the connection between stellar properties and the chemistry of the inner disk in protoplanetary disks as traced by mid-infrared spectroscopy. Methods. We used JWST-MIRI observations of a large diverse sample of sources to explore trends between the carbon-bearing molecule C2H2 and the oxygen-bearing molecule H2O. Additionally, we calculated the average spectrum for the T Tauri (M*>0.2 M⊙) and very low-mass star (VLMS; M*,≤0.2 M⊙) samples from JWST-MIRI MRS data and used slab models to determine the properties of the average spectra in each subsample. Results. We find a significant anticorrelation between the flux ratio of C2H2/H2O and the stellar luminosity. The FC2H2/FH2O flux ratios of disks around VLMSs are significantly higher than the fluxes in their higher-mass counterparts. This is driven by the generally weak H2O and strong C2H2 in disks around low-mass hosts. We also explored trends with the strength of the 10 µm silicate feature, the stellar accretion rate, and the disk dust mass. They are all correlated with FC2H2/FH2O, which may be related to processes that drive the carbon enrichment in disks around VLMSs, but are also degenerate with the system properties (i.e., the M*−Ṁ and M*−Mdisk relations). Slab model fits to the average spectra show that H2O emission in the VLMS sample is quite similar in temperature and column density to a warm (~600 K) H2O component in the T Tauri spectrum. This indicates that the high C/O gas-phase ratio in these disks is not due to oxygen depletion alone. Instead, the many hydrocarbons, including some with high column densities, suggest that carbon enhancement occurs in the disks around VLMSs. Conclusions. The observed differences in the chemistry of the inner disk as a function of host properties are likely to be accounted for by differences in the disk temperatures, stellar radiation field, and the evolution of dust grains.

International audience

This study reports on newly acquired density data of synthetically prepared pure and mixed NaCl and CaCl2 aqueous solutions that span a wide range of geothermally encountered concentrations and mixing ratios. The analytical data are provided for the temperature range of 293–353 K at ambient pressure. For the reproduction of that data, PHREESCALE was used. The predictive potential of this numerical tool regarding the density of geothermal fluids of known composition was the major target herein. As a result, the measured data are in good agreement with previous analytical studies found in the literature. Possible sources of errors are discussed in this paper. Density data of the mixed solutions at temperatures other than ambient are unique and close existing data gaps. The numerical model reproduces the newly measured and already existing density data within an error band of approximately 1%. For further use in geothermal applications, this can be considered an excellent agreement. Moreover, the model yields a direct calculation of density without the need to establish complex empirical equations of state and mixing rules. Finally, sensitivity calculations performed with a thermal–hydraulic (TH) numerical reservoir model demonstrate the required accuracy of fluid density for reliably predicting the long-term performance of deep geothermal energy systems. In terms of the productivity index and the timing of thermal breakthrough it shows that the present analytical and numerical uncertainty in density is small enough to reliably state both reservoir parameters.

Macroalgal communities are essential to coastal ecosystems, yet increasing effects of global change and anthropogenic pressures are leading to their global decline. Investigating the long-term dynamics of these communities across different localities appears crucial to better understand their responses to such pressures, as our knowledge of spatial heterogeneities in macroalgal trajectories remains elusive. To fill this gap, the community trajectory analysis framework provides a set of innovative multivariate metrics to characterize and quantitatively compare the temporal dynamics of different communities. Using long-term monitoring data (2004-2022), this method was applied to intertidal macroalgal communities across 10 locations distributed over more than 500 km of coastline in Brittany, France. Three distinct temporal dynamics were identified. High-shore communities exhibited minimal changes over time, while low-shore communities were characterized by a fluctuating understorey species composition but a general stability pattern. In contrast, the mid-shore community dominated by Ascophyllum nodosum underwent conspicuous changes in composition and structure. Further analysis of the latter community unveiled clear spatial patterns, with a significant deterioration of the structural state attributed to canopy loss in eastern Brittany, negatively impacting understorey species. This decline may ultimately lead to massive changes in coastal ecosystem functioning and services. This study emphasizes the importance of maintaining long-term ecological monitoring as well as the pertinence of temporal trajectories methods to identify and understand community changes at various spatial scales.

At present, spinal cord imaging primarily uses magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT), but the greater sensitivity of positron emission tomography (PET) techniques and the development of new radiotracers are paving the way for a new approach. The substantial rise in publications on PET radiotracers for spinal cord exploration indicates a growing interest in the functional and molecular imaging of this organ. The present review aimed to provide an overview of the various radiotracers used in this indication, in preclinical and clinical settings. Firstly, we outline spinal cord anatomy and associated target pathologies. Secondly, we present the state-of-the-art of spinal cord imaging techniques used in clinical practice, with their respective strengths and limitations. Thirdly, we summarize the literature on radiotracers employed in functional PET imaging of the spinal cord. In conclusion, we propose criteria for an ideal radiotracer for molecular spinal cord imaging, emphasizing the relevance of multimodal hybrid cameras, and particularly the benefits of PET-MRI integration.