Les plaquettes jouent un rôle central dans l’hémostase et dans la réponse immunitaire. Elles interviennent en effet à toutes les étapes des réactions inflammatoires. Nos objectifs ont été de : (i)caractériser les mécanismes plaquettaires responsables de la prévention des saignements inflammatoires, qui sont à différencier des saignements provoqués par un traumatisme et de (ii)caractériser les déterminants de la régulation des activités cytotoxiques des neutrophiles par les plaquettes. In vivo dans un modèle de réaction immuno-induite cutanée, nous avons mis en évidence le rôle de la glycoprotéine (GP) VI dans la prévention des saignements inflammatoires provoqués par les neutrophiles. Nos résultats suggèrent que GPVI exercerait son effet protecteur par une action mécanique associée à l’activation de sa voie de signalisation ITAM (Immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif) en absence d’une agrégation plaquettaire. En revanche, dans un modèle d’inflammation pulmonaire aigue les récepteurs à ITAM, GPVI et CLEC-2 (C-type lectin-like receptor 2), ne sont pas requis alors que l’absence de GPIb conduit à des saignements inflammatoires. In vitro, nous avons montré que la régulation par les plaquettes des activités cytotoxiques des neutrophiles est déterminée par l’interaction préalable des neutrophiles avec les cellules endothéliales. Ainsi, nos résultats contribuent à une meilleure compréhension des fonctions des plaquettes dans les réactions inflammatoires, une première étape nécessaire au développement de nouvelles applications thérapeutiques des médicaments antiplaquettaires. / Platelets are crucial players in hemostasis and immune responses. They intervene at various stages of inflammatory reactions. Our objectives were : (i)to characterize platelet mechanisms responsible for the prevention of inflammatory bleeding, which differs from trauma-induced bleeding, and (ii)to characterize the determinants of the regulation of neutrophil cytotoxic activities by platelets. In vivo, in an immune complex-mediated cutaneous inflammation, we demonstrated the role of glycoprotein (GP) VI in the prevention of inflammatory bleeding caused by neutrophils. Our results suggest that GPVI has a protective effect, independent of platelet aggregation, by a mechanical action associated to an activation of the ITAM (Immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif)-based signaling pathway. In contrast, in an acute pulmonary inflammatory model, the ITAM receptors GPVI and CLEC-2 (C-type lectin-like receptor 2) were not required while the absence of platelet GPIb led to inflammatory bleeding. In vitro, we showed that physical interactions between neutrophils and endothelial cells are major determinants that guide the regulatory action of platelets towards neutrophil cytotoxic activities. In conclusion, our results contribute to a better understanding of platelet functions in inflammatory reactions, a necessary first step for future therapeutic applications of antiplatelet agents.

This study, conducted on August 12th and 13th, 2008 at Fort Riley, Kansas on a clay loam soil, evaluated the terrain impacts of four commonly used tracked and wheeled military vehicles: the M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tank, M998 High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle, M985 Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck, and M113 Armored Personnel Carrier. Disturbed width and impact severity were assessed along 14 spirals subjected to a maximum of eight consecutive passes for a total of 696 impact points. Data indicate that multiple passes produce increased vegetative impacts, with multipass coefficients ranging from 0.98 to 4.44 (compared to the commonly accepted value of 2.00) depending on vehicle type and turn severity. The widely-used MPC of 2.00 fits the M985 HEMTT and M113 at sharp turns, with an MPC of 1.00 fitting the straight and intermediate turning conditions of these vehicles, as well as all turning conditions for the M998 HMMWV. For the M1A1, a MPC of 2.00 is suitable for straight paths, a MPC of 3.00 is suitable for intermediate turns, while sharp turns can be represented by a MPC of 4.00. The data suggests that MPCs should be adjusted depending on the vehicle type and according to the turning radius of the vehicle, as tracked vehicles were found to have a higher multipass coefficient than wheeled vehicles, with multipass coefficients increasing with vehicle weight and the sharpness of turns.

This thesis is a study about the difficulties managing software assets within larger organizations.Software Asset Management (SAM) is a fairly new practice which has started to be used byorganizations in order to track and manage software assets throughout their life cycle. Existingliterature states that organizations have challenges with the increasing complexity, which comesalong when buying software products from manufacturers. However, the lack of academicresearch, due to the rapid development of technology has been limited. The purpose of this paperis to explore the challenges that large organizations are confronted with when managing softwareassets. A mixed study approach was conducted with main focus on a qualitative approach,where five persons with mainly long experience in Software Asset Management, whereinterviewed. In addition, a survey was sent out to employees who work with IT, to capture ageneral aspect on the topic. The findings of the study include the identified challenges of SAM,which are divided in four main areas. Further, the paper highlights the importance and success ofSoftware Asset Management.