Global efforts to mitigate climate change have largely focused on reducing emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), which is responsible for 55-60% of current anthropogenic radiative forcing on warming impact. Because of its long lifetime (~ 130 years [Sonnemann 2013]) in the atmosphere, long-lasting CO2 will remain the primary driver of long-term temperature rise even if new CO2 emissions dropped to zero. A "fast-action" climate mitigation strategies is therefore strongly needed to provide more sizeable short-term benefits than CO2 reductions by reducing emission of short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) having atmospheric lifetimes of less than 20 years [Zaelke 2013], which would lead to short-term drops in atmospheric concentrations and hence slow climate change over the next several decades. Black carbon (BC), one of the most important SLCPs with an atmospheric lifetime of about one week, warms the atmosphere by absorbing sunlight. BC is considered as the third most powerful climate-forcing agent in the atmosphere after CO2 and CH4 [IPCC 2013]. The uncertainties associated to BC radiative forcing are, for now, larger than 70% and are mainly related to actual measurement techniques that provide limited information to distinguish BC from other aerosols and to its optical properties [Bond 2013]. BC has been also identified as the most harmful air pollutant in terms of its adverse impacts on human health [WHO 2013]. Despite intensive efforts over the past decades, no widely accepted standard measurement method exists for the determination of BC. The most widely used methods are filter-based online aethalometry and off line thermal optical analysis. However all filter-based photometers suffer from non linearity due to the loading of the filter, which may lead to a large measurement bias [Lack 2008]. In this proposal, we propose to develop a novel Black Carbone Analyzer based on an innovative multi-channel aerosol albedometer for direct and filter-free simultaneous measurements of wavelength-dependent optical extinction and absorption of BC and other aerosols in the major spectral region of the solar radiation (300-2000 nm). This all integrated compact photonic albedometer consists of two main devices : (1) an innovative broadband optical cavity coupled to a high-sensitivity CCD spectrometer to form a BroadBand Cavity enhanced Extinctiometer (BBCE) for wavelength-resolved extinction measurements; (2) a multi-microphone enhanced Photoacoustic Absorptionmeter (PA) for wavelength-dependent integrated absorption measurements. Both devices are coupled to a single broadband high-brightness photonic light source. The implementation of the advanced photonic technologies will significantly improve the instrument performance allowing for the determination of high quality data of BC and other aerosols, such as BC and BrC fractions, their optical parameters (single scattering Albedo and complex refractive index), derived from the measured spectral data over the full spectral regions of 300-2000 nm, with a lower uncertainty of ~ 5% (compare to 20-35% of the filter based techniques [Lack 2006]). Based on the expertise acquired in our previous work, the measurement sensitivity and precision of the proposed multi-channel BBCE-PA albedometer are expected to be ~ 0.1 Mm-1 and ~ 0.5 Mm-1, respectively, with a higher temporal resolution of approximately 1 minute (compared to 1-10 minutes requested by European Environment Agency [EEA 2013]). After validation and characterization in laboratory, the BBCE-PA albedometer will be tested and calibrated in the Environnement S.A field test laboratory, and then validated via intensive field intercomparison with other field-established instruments on national and European observation network sites (like ORAURE and ACTRIS).

Tourism is one of the most impacted sectors from the Covid-19 pandemic. The extent of the impact is expected to be particularly severe for tourist destinations where the virus is actively circulating and tourism plays an important role in the economy. With a rich endowment of tourism potential, the Hauts-de-France (HdF) was part of the French regions classified as Covid-19 "red zone" the day after deconfinement (May 11th). The research project THREpiCo addresses the issue of the consequences of this pandemic on both tourism demand and supply. In terms of tourism demand, the project aims at understanding individuals’ perceptions of the region with regard to the Covid-19 epidemic risk and analysing the role of their perceptions in their visit behaviour and revisit intentions. Particular attention will be paid to the individuals’ trust in regional policy-makers and confidence in Covid-19 risk mitigation measures. The changes in demand for trips and individual welfare due to the pandemic will also be explored. In terms of tourism supply, a number of Covid-19 health and safety protocols, combined with related communication strategies, have been implemented, particularly in the commercial accommodation sector, in an effort to restore visitors’ confidence and stimulate demand. Another objective of this project is to investigate the attractiveness of these tools among visitors by estimating the extra amount of money that they would be willing to pay for one night in a hotel establishment. Finally, additional changes are expected to be made in the regional tourism industry in the medium term to strengthen the resilience of the sector. With this in mind, qualitative survey interviews of tourism stakeholders will be carried out with the objective of co-constructing a restructuring plan for the tourism supply organised into different actions (or scenarios). An ex-ante economic valuation of these scenarios will be conducted to support the decision-making process. This research project will be led by a multidisciplinary research team, whose expertise covers all aspects related to the impact analysis of a pandemic on tourism. The team will rely on close collaboration with the diverse tourism-based organisations within the HdF and the original combination of several non-market economic valuation methods, quantitative and qualitative surveys, coupled with the use of secondary data about tourist trips during the last ten years, to provide a broad picture of the consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic on tourism activity in the HdF. The expected results are empirical, methodological and operational.

Survivors of sepsis – a severe infection leading to intensive care unit (ICU), are more and more numerous because of greater hospital care and an increasing aged population. However, their stay in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) is responsible for sustained consequences, known as the post-intensive care syndrome, that accelerate physiological aging and alter long-term prognosis. As such, survivors develop muscle weakness during their hospital stay and it persists months after ICU discharge. As in physiological aging, mitochondrial dysfunction and inflammation are key mechanisms in long-lasting ICU-acquired weakness. Importantly, data from our team and others suggest that inhibition of the Receptor for Advanced Glycation End-products (RAGE) – a multiligand pattern recognition receptor – is of potential interest to reduce those mechanisms. Therefore, we aim to study the effects of RAGE inhibition on sepsis-induced muscle weakness and to understand the underlying mechanisms. However, several obstacles must be overcome: (i) develop a clinically relevant model of sepsis-inducing muscle weakness, (ii) develop specific inhibitors against RAGE, and (iii) set up a device to test these molecules on human muscle. To do so, we will use cellular (differentiated murine and human myoblasts), animal (sepsis induced in mice by injection of heterologous stool), and human (human muscle development by tissue engineering from patient biopsies) models of sepsis-induced muscle weakness. Modulation of RAGE will be achieved by genetic invalidation or synthesis of pharmacological inhibitors of RAGE developed within the consortium. We expect to show that RAGE inhibition improves mitochondrial parameters, reduces inflammation and senescence, attenuates RAGE-related signaling pathways, and restores overall skeletal muscle function. By developing the first tissue bioengineered model of post-septic muscle weakness derived from critical care patients, we will advance our novel patentable inhibitors into the clinic. We hope to make a step towards personalized medicine for weakness acquired after ICU hospitalization. This study is critical to understanding the pathophysiology of sepsis-accelerated muscle aging, and to proposing a new individualized treatment for a key feature of the post-resuscitation syndrome. In the long run, we hope to improve the patient's quality of life and long-term survival.

Like terahertz wave few years ago, the spectral domain of long infrared between 20 and 40 µm is still not so much investigated, mainly in the reason of the absence of source and materials available. However some projects like SOFIA (``Stratospheric Observatory For Infrared Astronomy'') developed at NASA, have demonstrated that measurements in this wavelength range can provide important informations inaccessible at lower wavelength. As an example, essential data have been obtained concerning comet leg by taking advantage of a higher ratio between wavelength and dust grain size that decreases the diffusion. We note also that the coming of quantum cascade laser operating near room temperature at wavelength beyond 20 µm is going to facilitate the development of applications in this spectral range. Globally, apart from diamond, there is only a few of transparent materials in long infrared, excepting maybe glasses containing tellurium and germanium. Therefore optical systems working in this spectral range are constrained to used reflective optics that gives unwanted complexity and size. The improvement of such system through the use of transmissive optics needs the production of new materials possessing adapted physical properties: transparency, sensitivity to environment (water, temperature, ...) and so on. The objective of this project is the realization of glasses transparent in the partialy transmitting atmospheric window located in the long infrared between 24 and 30 µm, even up to 40 µm. The main component will be tellurium that is well known to produce glasses transparent beyond 20 µm, associated with heavy atoms to lower the vibrationnal frequency of inter-atomic bond. Moreover, our previous results tend to indicate that the dimensionality of the atomic structure is an important criterion to obtain transparency window at long wavelength. This aspect will be integrated in the design of the glass composition. The glass synthesis will be done by two different routes: conventional melt and quench technique in sealed tube and mecano-synthesys associated with compaction by hot pressing or Spark plasma sintering (SPS). This new way represents a innovative aspect because it should be possible to extend the vitreous domain. Several stoechiometry will be evaluated in order to proceed to comparative analysis of the properties. The strategy developed to reach the goal of the project, is centered around the understanding of the structure of the glass network. Several technique will be used: Raman and Mössbauer spectroscopies, terahertz spectroscopy (in transmission and/or reflection geometry), neutron diffraction, high energy X-ray diffraction. The results will be completed and interpreted by ab initio calculations according to density functional theory (DFT), Empirical Potential Structure Refinement (EPSR) and Reverse Monte-Carlo (RMC). The evaluation of macroscopic properties of transmission, refractive index, etc ... will be confronted to structural studies in order to orient the stoechiometry of new synthesis.

"Tourism is one of the most impacted sectors from the Covid-19 pandemic. The extent of the impact is expected to be particularly severe for tourist destinations where the virus is actively circulating and tourism plays an important role in the economy. With a rich endowment of tourism potential, the Hauts-de-France (HdF) was part of the French regions classified as Covid-19 ""red zone"" the day after deconfinement (May 11th). The research project THREpiCo addresses the issue of the consequences of this pandemic on both tourism demand and supply. In terms of tourism demand, the project aims at understanding individuals’ perceptions of the region with regard to the Covid-19 epidemic risk and analysing the role of their perceptions in their visit behaviour and revisit intentions. Particular attention will be paid to the individuals’ trust in regional policy-makers and confidence in Covid-19 risk mitigation measures. The changes in demand for trips and individual welfare due to the pandemic will also be explored. In terms of tourism supply, a number of Covid-19 health and safety protocols, combined with related communication strategies, have been implemented, particularly in the commercial accommodation sector, in an effort to restore visitors’ confidence and stimulate demand. Another objective of this project is to investigate the attractiveness of these tools among visitors by estimating the extra amount of money that they would be willing to pay for one night in a hotel establishment. Finally, additional changes are expected to be made in the regional tourism industry in the medium term to strengthen the resilience of the sector. With this in mind, qualitative survey interviews of tourism stakeholders will be carried out with the objective of co-constructing a restructuring plan for the tourism supply organised into different actions (or scenarios). An ex-ante economic valuation of these scenarios will be conducted to support the decision-making process. This research project will be led by a multidisciplinary research team, whose expertise covers all aspects related to the impact analysis of a pandemic on tourism. The team will rely on close collaboration with the diverse tourism-based organisations within the HdF and the original combination of several non-market economic valuation methods, quantitative and qualitative surveys, coupled with the use of secondary data about tourist trips during the last ten years, to provide a broad picture of the consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic on tourism activity in the HdF. The expected results are empirical, methodological and operational."