The influence of pain and kinesiophobia on motor control of the upper limb: how pointing task paradigms can point to new avenues of understanding

International audienceAbstract People experiencing kinesiophobia are more likely to develop persistent disabilities and chronic pain. However, the impact of kinesiophobia on the motor system remains poorly understood. We investigated whether kinesiophobia could modulate shoulder pain–induced changes in (1) kinematic parameters and muscle activation during functional movement and (2) corticospinal excitability. Thirty healthy, pain-free subjects took part in the study. Shoulder, elbow, and finger kinematics, as well as electromyographic activity of the upper trapezius and anterior deltoid muscles, were recorded while subjects performed a pointing task before and during pain induced by capsaicin at the shoulder. Anterior deltoid cortical changes in excitability were assessed through the slope of transcranial magnetic stimulation input–output curves obtained before and during pain. Results revealed that pain reduced shoulder electromyographic activity and had a variable effect on finger kinematics, with individuals with higher kinesiophobia showing greater reduction in finger target traveled distance. Kinesiophobia scores were also correlated with the changes in deltoid corticospinal excitability, suggesting that the latter can influence motor activity as soon as the motor signal emerges. Taken together, these results suggest that pain and kinesiophobia interact with motor control adaptation

Metabolome profiling of cacao ( Theobroma cacao L.) callus under drought stress conditions induced by polyethylene glycol (PEG) as osmoticant

International audienceIntroduction The cacao tree ( Theobroma cacao ), a perennial crop that serves as a source of cacao beans, can suffer from drastic climate changes such as irregular rainfall and shorter rainy seasons. The search for hybrids which are capable of producing specific metabolites favoring adaptation in new climatic conditions is a challenge in cacao farming. Objectives We aimed to (1) analyze the metabolic changes in calli of three cacao genotypes during water deficit induced by incubation with polyethylene glycol and (2) assess their response to water deficit stress with regard to somatic embryo differentiation. Methods Metabolic profiling was carried out using 1 H‐NMR spectroscopy and multivariate data analysis was applied to crude extracts of calli grown in non‐stress or water deficit stress conditions. Results Water deficit stress influences the capacity of calli to produce embryos. The SCA12 genotype exhibited the best conversion capacity under severe conditions and was considered as tolerant to drought, followed by the SCA6 genotype (mid‐tolerant) and the MA12 genotype (sensitive). Fifty‐four metabolites were identified in the three cacao genotypes and discriminant metabolites were identified. Metabolites involved in water stress tolerance such as fructose, trans ‐aconitic acid, leucine, and hydroxybenzene derivatives were observed in SCA12, the tolerant genotype. Conclusion These results demonstrate the utility of 1 H‐NMR metabolomics as an essential tool for the analysis of the drought tolerance characteristics of T. cacao

Long-Lived Charge-Separated States in ZnS/Na-MOR Zeolite upon <i>trans</i>-Stilbene Adsorption

International audienceElectron transfer (ET) processes are of fundamental importance in many photochemical processes in biological and chemical systems. Here, semiconductor nanoparticles of ZnS (as electron relay) and trans-stilbene molecules (t-St) (as electron donor), both confined within the porous volume of mordenite (MOR), are combined to mimic photosynthetic processes. ZnS nanoparticles were synthesized by cationic exchange between the counterion of the zeolite and ZnS precursors in solution. The characterization of the ZnS/Na-MOR composite was performed by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), diffuse reflectance UV–vis spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). These complementary techniques highlight the successful formation of ZnS nanoparticles at the surface of Na-MOR. The electron transfer mechanisms taking place after the incorporation and photoionization of t-St molecules were evaluated using diffuse reflectance UV–vis spectroscopy. The results show the formation of long-lived t-St•+@ZnS/Na-MOR•– charge-separated states (lifetime = 18 min; k = 0.0553 min–1) whose stability is linked to the nature of the new charge compensating cation and to the close proximity of the ZnS nanoparticles, which are probably located within the zeolite framework. Indeed, the augmentation of the transient species lifetime was attributed to an electron transfer from the t-St molecule toward the ZnS conduction band

In vivo efficacy of Enterococcus faecalis 14 treatment of necrotic enteritis in broiler chickens

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Layered perovskite oxide-based materials for the photocatalytic water treatment: Potential of nanostructured La₂Ti₂O₇

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Does worrying about money motivate counterproductive work behavior? A time-lagged study

International audienceThis research sought to examine the potential association between workers’ financial worry and counterproductive work behavior. Based on the basic psychological need theory, we propose that psychological need satisfaction explains this relationship and we position this volitional pathway as an alternative to a cognitive capacity pathway based on the cognitive load theory. Design/methodology/approach We conducted a two-week interval-lagged survey study with three measurement points among 180 US workers. The mediation models were tested using structural equation modeling. Findings The results support the conclusion that, while cognitive capacity could have an impact on counterproductive work behavior, its mediating effect is less strong than that of need satisfaction. Practical implications Based on the results, we recommend that organizations design their compensation and benefits system to shield employees from financial worries. At the same time, we advise offering the employees who do experience financial worries assistance in managing their budgets and offering other forms of financial coaching. Originality/value This study is innovative because we show that the negative effects of financial worry extend much further than initially thought and affect not only employees' cognition but also their motivation

Venture Orbital Systems (France)

International audienceVenture Orbital Systems (VOS) is a French NewSpace business. The private space industry is booming with, in particular, very small satellites (less than 50 kg, called nanosatellites or CubeSats). Until recently, small satellite operators had to rideshare with larger satellite providers, which causes delays and approximate positioning in space. The goal of VOS is to make small satellite operators their main client and to speedily deposit their satellites in the right place at the right time. The deep-tech start-up needs a big round of funding, and the board told VOS’s CEO, Stan, that it will be difficult to raise money unless he proves some traction with his project. According to Stan, traction is something that makes sense for regular tech projects, but bringing that mindset into deep tech is problematic because deep tech takes time to develop. Nevertheless, Stan recognises that investors are worried about knowing if there will be a market and a product-market fit. The board will reconvene in two weeks, and they expect a fully fledged business model with new revenue streams demonstrating the traction of the product

Blunted cerebral hemodynamic responses to incremental exercise in patients with end-stage renal disease.

International audiencePurposeThe aims of this study were to compare cerebral hemodynamics and maximal oxygen uptake (VO2peak) in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) vs. age-matched healthy controls during maximal exercise.MethodsTwelve patients with ESRD and twelve healthy adults (CTR group) performed exhaustive incremental exercise test. Throughout the exercise test, near-infrared spectroscopy allowed the investigation of changes in oxyhemoglobin (∆O2Hb), deoxyhemoglobin (∆HHb), and total hemoglobin (∆THb) in the prefrontal cortex.ResultsCompared to CTR, VO2peak was significantly lower in ESRD group (P  0.05).ConclusionMaximal exercise highlights subtle disorders of both hemodynamics and neuronal oxygenation in the prefrontal cortex in patients with ESRD. This may contribute to both impaired cognitive function and reduced exercise tolerance throughout the progression of the disease

High-stake student drop-out prediction using hidden Markov models in fully asynchronous subscription-based MOOCs

International audienceIn this study, we analyze the learning behavior of 24,000 students in a fully asynchronous subscription-based MOOC platform using hidden Markov models (HMMs) to examine the relationship between learning motivation and student drop-out behavior. In contrast to previous findings, our results reveal that student drop-out is not necessarily correlated with low motivation, as students may drop out despite being highly motivated at the end of their learning journey. To design more effective student retention campaigns, educational decision-makers must consider the motivation level and target potential drop-outs with a low state of motivation. More specifically, our findings emphasize the need for early intervention to prevent students from dropping out, as it becomes challenging to stimulate motivation once it reaches its lowest state. By adopting our proposed methodology, decision-makers can gain a better understanding of the student drop-out process and make more informed student retention interventions