Institut Technique de l'Aviculture

Increasing environmental concerns caused by vehicular emissions have intensified the search for the design and development of non-noble metal catalysts for catalytic converter devices as potential replacements for conventional Pt-, Pd-, and Rh-based noble metal catalysts. This research highlights the development and evaluation of an alternative to conventional catalysts through the synthesis of non-noble metal perovskite-based catalysts and the design modification of a catalytic converter. A non-noble metal catalyst, La 0 . 8 Sr 0 . 2 Co 0 . 8 Fe 0 . 2 O 3 (LSCF), was synthesized by co-precipitation, coated onto a ceramic monolith of a catalytic converter, and examined for effectiveness under petrol fuel laboratory test setup. The synthesized catalyst was also analyzed using SEM, XRD, and EDX to study surface morphology and confirm the crystal structure. The catalytic converter housing assembly was modified by integrating design modifications and analyzed through computational simulations to investigate velocity profile, pressure distribution, and reaction behavior. Among the three catalytic converter design configurations with diffuser cone angles of 8°, 10°, and 14°, the first was selected as it showed a favorable gas flow pattern, pressure distribution, and velocity profile. The entire module was then experimentally evaluated on a petrol fuel laboratory test setup to assess emission performance under varying loads and speeds. Experimental emission tests revealed a significant reduction in hydrocarbon (HC) and carbon monoxide (CO) emissions compared to engines without a catalytic converter. The results demonstrate that the synthesized La 0 . 8 Sr 0 . 2 Co 0 . 9 Fe 0 . 1 O 3 -δ non-noble metal catalyst, combined with the modified catalytic converter design, effectively reduces vehicular emissions and provides an alternative and practical approach to noble metal catalysts. A noticeable reduction in CO and HC exhaust emissions was achieved using the LSCF catalyst for an automotive catalytic converter.

Automation of fluorescence microscopy is a challenge for capturing rare or transient events in biology and medicine. It relies on smart devices that integrate and interpret the observed data, and react to the targeted biological event. We report on the Roboscope, a novel autonomous microscope combining sequence interruption and deep learning integration, allowing generic event-driven acquisitions. This system distinguishes itself by its adaptability to various experiments, quick capture of dynamic events, and minimal data greediness – training with less than 100 images per class. The Roboscope’s capability is demonstrated in non-synchronized cells by capturing the metaphase, a 20-minute event happening once per day or less. Conversely, double thymidine-block synchronisation, despite occurring during DNA replication, may perturb mitotic-spindle mechanics. The Roboscope’s versatility and efficiency offer significant advancements to tackle the current challenges of cell biology, spreading out advanced microscopy methods to fundamental research as well as high content screening and precision medicine.

Il contributo presenta i frammenti coroplastici più significativi dal santuario rupestre di Scala Greca, all’estremità settentrionale del plateau siracusano. Lo studio dei fittili esposti al Museo Archeologico Regionale Paolo Orsi ha permesso di elaborare una tipologia dei pezzi pertinenti al tipo iconografico meglio rappresentato, quello della cd. Artemide Sicula. Dall’analisi svolta risulta probabile che a Scala Greca Artemide fosse venerata con l’epiclesi di Agrotera, sebbene non siano da escludere anche accezioni ctonie del culto.

Agroecological transition requires that innovative and diversified cropping systems be developed. Conducting system experiments is an approach well-suited to the analysis of performance of cropping systems when subjected to soil, weather and biotic stresses. Conducting system experiments nevertheless gives rise to methodological challenges. Using the Syppre network of experiments, consisting of five sites in France, we present an original case study that provides valuable methodological and agronomic lessons on system experiments. The innovative cropping systems tested there are based on crop diversification (including oilseeds and protein crops), as well as flexible tillage, technical innovations and optimized crop management. From a methodological standpoint, we show that (i) mixed models are adapted to a range of experimental questions and constraints; (ii) multifactorial analysis enables the characterization of relationships between performance indicators; (iii) a multisite experimental network is an efficient approach not only for answering agronomic questions, but also for addressing methodological issues. From an agronomic standpoint, we showed that reconciling multiple indicators of performance is still challenging. Overall, innovative and diversified systems improved the performance of input utilization and environmental impacts, but with lower productivity and profitability. Introducing legume crops is a promising strategy because this contributes significantly to reductions in mineral N fertilizer use, energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, without major trade-offs against other performance indicators. Finally, we showed that the nature of the production situation had a major influence on the performance profile. This led us to be cautious in making overall analyses especially with regard to general conclusions.