[en] The objective of the research reported in this article was to examine the predictability of full-scale fracture behavior through the use of the fullthickness drop weight tear tests (DWTT) currently employed to specify high toughness, high-strength, lowalloy (HSLA) line pipe. The DWT tests studied are the standard pressed notch DWTT as specified by the American Petroleum Institute (DWTT-API), a recently developed precracked DWTT (DWTT-PC), and fatigue cracked DWTT (DWTTFC). The study was conducted at the brittle-ductile transition temperatures of the pipe steels to see which DWT test specimen most accurately defines the full-scale transition temperature. The main parameter of comparison between the full-scale tests and the DWT tests is the percent shear area appearance of the fractured surface. For normalized steels and smaller wall thickness, earlier investigations have shown that a good correlation exists between results of such fullscale tests and DWT-API tests. However, it must be verified that this correlation is also valid for modern HSLA steels and heavy wall thickness. From 17 pipes, 14 were produced from thermomechanically treated materials, and 3 were quenched and tempered

[en] The LUNA Collaboration has provided the first cross section measurements of the key reaction ³He(³He,2p)⁴He of the proton-proton chain at the thermal energy of the Sun. This successful project has shown that, by going underground and by using the typical techniques of the low background physics, it is possible to measure down to the energy of the nucleosynthesis inside the stars

[en] The aim of our program is to determine past, present and future emission inventories of carbonaceous particles from 1860 to 2100 for fossil fuel and biofuel sources. Emission inventories for savannah and forest fires have been developed by using burnt area products given by satellite for Asia and Africa. The strong collaboration with the different groups attending this GICC program has allowed to develop the following results. 1- With the improvement of algorithms and new choices for emission factors, emission inventories for black carbon (BC), primary organic carbon (OCp) and total organic carbon (OCtot) have been constructed for the period 1950 to 1997 for fossil fuel and biofuel sources. With these new development, biofuel sources have been seen to be significant, especially in the developing countries. 2- Past inventories have been developed for fossil fuel and biofuel sources from 1860 to 1997 by taking into account the evolution of fuel consumption, fuel use and emission factors. 3- Savannah and forest fire inventories have been constructed based on burnt area products, for Africa (1981-1991, 2000) and Asia (2000-2001). These results show the importance of using real time data instead of statistics. 4-Future emission inventory of black carbon by fossil fuel sources has been constructed for 2100 following the IPCC scenario A2 (catastrophic case) and B1 (perfect world). 5-Characterization of biofuel emissions has been realized by organizing an experiment in a combustion chamber where indian and chinese biofuels (fuelwood, agricultural wastes, dung-cake etc..). were burnt, reproducing the burning methods used in these countries. 6-Finally, the differences between the existing inventories of carbonaceous aerosols has been explained. (A.L.B.)

[en] Global environmental and climate conditions fluctuate on all kind of spatio-temporal scales. Some fluctuations or change/trends are not only anthropogenic, but have different regional and national signatures. While the frequency of extreme events on smaller scales is changing, the public sector and general opinion become more and more aware and concerned of local impacts from global environmental and climate changes. Indeed, negative effects and feedbacks, might occur on ecosystems, natural resources, buildings and grounds, superstructures, economies, food security, public health. This is how, during 1999, a concerted French initiative led to the research program 'Management and Impacts of Climate Change' (GICC). GICC is essentially managed by the Ministry of Ecology and Sustainable Development in close collaboration with the Inter-Ministerial Mission on Greenhouse Effect (MIES). GICC started in 1999. Its first phase (1999-2006) included four calls for proposal (1999, 2000, 2001, and 2002). In parallel and in 2003-2004, the MIES has been developing the so-called 'Climate Plan' based upon three principles : Insure that France follows agreements from the 'Kyoto Protocol'; Participate in ways and means leading to reduction of greenhouse gases by 75% in 2050; Allow for reduction of pollution from transportation means. Input from GICC Phase One final reports are contributing to 'Climate Plan'. The eight themes proposed by GICC-1 (1999-2002) are as follows: Theme 1: Evolution scenarios of the average and extreme features of the 21. Century climate; Theme 2: Interactions between climate, economy and society; related timescales; Theme 3: Role of carbon forest uptake and agricultural practices on climate policies; Theme 4: Links between national and international activities; Theme 5: Towards new inventories of GHG and aerosols (direct and indirect) emissions; Theme 6: Impacts on terrestrial biosphere; Theme 7: Impacts on hydro-systems; Theme 8: Impacts on public health. A symposium presenting the available results of the GICC first phase has taken place in MEDD, Paris, November 23-24, 2004. A final presentation workshop of the first phase took place in Paris, on May 11-12, 2006. This document is the proceedings of this scientific restitution seminar. It is organized in 9 sessions which follow the 8 themes listed above plus a round table for the status and perspectives of the GICC program. (J.S.)