Smart meter: Applications, security issues and challenges

The smart meter is an important intelligent device on the Smart Grid that has the capability to report information related to power consumption, billing and other significant readings.The protection of smart meter communications against attacks is essential to ensure reliable operations of the Smart Grid.In this paper, we give an overview of smart meter applications, and we discuss the security issues and attacks that can be performed on the smart meter and that may have severe impacts on the global Smart Grid network

Durum wheat and septoria tritici blotch: genes and prospects for breeding

Durum wheat (Triticum durum) is among the most important food crops of the Mediterranean Basin, encompassing regions in Southern Europe and North Africa, as well as the Northern Great Plains of the U.S. and parts of Southern Asia. Particularly in North Africa it is the prime economical and dietary crop for small holder farmers in marginal areas and has greatly contributed to the existing genetic diversity of bread wheat. Despite its standing as a staple crop, primarily in North Africa and Southern Europe, the overall vulnerability of durum wheat germplasm to fungal diseases is well known and frequently reported. Among those is septoria tritici blotch (STB), the major foliar disease of wheat in Europe that is caused by Zymoseptoria tritici. However, the scientific community has limited attention for this crop and mostly focused on bread wheat. Therefore, very little is known about the genetic basis of the resistance to STB in tetraploid wheat. In bread wheat, 21 Stb major genes and manifold quantitative trait loci (QTLs) have been identified and intensively deployed in breeding programs, whereas Stb genes are neither recognized nor mapped in the largely under- investigated tetraploid wheats. One of the reasons is the reported dichotomy of the pathogenicity of Z. tritici isolates towards bread and durum wheat. This has been an additional hurdle hampering breeding for resistance in durum wheat because well characterized Z. tritici isolates that are pathogenic on bread wheat cannot be used in durum wheat phenotyping assays (and vice versa). On top of that, specificity in either of these wheat systems has been questioned for a long time and therefore hindered effective breeding strategies. Thus, deciphering the genetics of the wheat-Z. tritici interaction, specifically for tetraploid wheats, greatly contributes to enhancing our understanding of this important pathosystem and thereby to more effective breeding strategies in this important cereal staple crop. Chapter 1 is the introduction of the thesis and provides an historical overview of the emergence of the current forms of durum wheat and their vulnerability to Z. tritici. This fungal pathogen has evolved in close association with wheat, thereby deploying an arsenal of effector genes, and has a very strategic life style which generated abundant diversity. Therefore, Z. tritici has evolved as a major pathogen of wheat. The chapter concludes with an overview of the thesis. Chapter 2 describes the map-based cloning and functional analysis of the first Z. tritici effector gene AvrStb6 that interacts in a gene-for-gene manner with the first cloned and widespread major resistance gene Stb6. An even more important discovery represents the new exclusive paternal parenthood (EPP) epidemiological model. This shows that host resistance indeed precludes the developement of biomass of avirulent strains, but cannot stop sexual reproduction. Hence, the avirulence genes of avirulent parents are maintained in natutal populations, which extends the longevitiy of resistant wheat cultivars. The EPP model confirms many observations in agricultural and natural environments and is therefore most likely applicable to several other pathosystems. Chapter 3 unveils the genetic basis of resistance to Z. tritici in the cultivated emmer wheat (Triticum dicoccum) accesion PI41025. Mapping populations generated from crosses between PI41025 and the contemporary cv. Ben were used to unravel the reistance in the former accession. This resulted in a first QTL confering wide-spectrum resistance to Z. tritici in durum wheat. The QTL was mapped on chromosome 3AL, was derived from PI41025 and designated as Stb22q. In addition, another novel locus was mapped on chromosome 5A of cv. Ben, which provides an isolate-specific resistance, hence with a limited efficacy. Chapter 4 takes the reader to more recent times by focusing on the resistance to Z. tritici in a suite of Tunisian durum wheat landraces. The oustanding landrace accession „Agili39‟ was crossed to the contemporary high-yielding cv. Khiar that is very susceptible to Z. tritici. The analyses of the resistance in the generated recombinant inbred population revealed that the broad spectrum resistance of „Agili39‟ results from the natural pyramiding of several minor effect QTLs. Nonetheless, QTLs on chromosome 2BL and 2BS exerted a strong effect on „Agili39‟ resistance. The latter was exclusivly associated with adult plant resistance, whereas the former co-locolizes with Stb9 that has a very low efficacy in bread wheat, but is crucial in „Agili 39‟. Chapter 5 brings the reader to the present time by investigating STB resistance in contemporary durum wheat cultivars, which are preferred by farmers due to their high- yielding potential. Recombinant inbred populations were subsequently generated from crosses between cvs. Simeto and Levante and cvs. Kofa and Svevo and were tested with four Z. tritici isolates under greenhouse conditions and with one strain in the field. The analyses of the generated data showed that the STB resistance in these cultivars results from the synergic effect of several minor effect QTLs on several new genomic locations that collectively provide an acceptable level of STB resistance. Chapter 6 is the final piece of this thesis and is a general discussion that puts the results in a boarder prespective and places all generated data in an overarching context. The newly elucidated epidemiological model applies for bread and durum wheat. Along with the newly discovered Stb genes and QTLs, this will lead to more effective (durum) wheat breeding programs that aim for resistance to Z. tritici.</p

Acceptabilité et consentement à payer pour des œufs enrichis en vitamine D au Québec

8369721\ua Les producteurs d’œufs du Québec envisagent d’introduire les œufs enrichis en vitamine D, mais ils sont confrontés à deux alternatives de positionnement pour les introduire sur le marché de détail. D’une part, les œufs vitamine D peuvent devenir un "standard" et tous les œufs vendus au Québec seront enrichis en vitamine D. D’autre part, les œufs vitamine D peuvent être vendus comme produit de spécialité, comme c’est le cas actuellement pour les œufs oméga-3.Cette thèse examine donc le choix de positionnement des œufs vitamine D selon une alternative de problématique de bien public (standard) et une autre de bien privé (spécialité).Les objectifs de cette étude sont les suivants : (1) mesurer l’acceptabilité et le consentement à payer (CAP) des consommateurs québécois pour les œufs enrichis en vitamine D, ainsi que le CAP pour le choix (positionnement privé); (2) vérifier l’impact des niveaux d’informations et des variables associées à la santé et à l’alimentation saine sur le choix de positionnement des œufs vitamine D, soit de type privé ou public; (3) utiliser des outils qui prennent en considération le biais hypothétique dans une problématique de bien public et de bien privé et mesurer leurs effets et (4) identifier et mesurer empiriquement l’effet d’un potentiel biais d’inattention associé aux répondants membres de panels de firmes professionnelles. Une enquête avec un modèle de choix dichotomique à double limite modifié a été administrée à 1223 consommateurs d’œufs au Québec. Afin de prendre en considération un potentiel biais hypothétique, le questionnaire comprenait des tests de validité, tels que la conséquence(Vossler et al. 2012) et la certitude (Blumenschein et al. 1998). Le questionnaire recueille des informations socio-économiques ainsi que des informations permettant d’obtenir un construit de mesure de perception de la santé (Labrecque et al., 2006) qui sera en interaction avec les mesures du CAP. Les résultats indiquent que 72% des répondants accepteront d’acheter des œufs vitamine D, mais avec des préférences qui diffèrent quant au choix de positionnement public ou privé. Ainsi, 47% des participants ont choisi un positionnement public alors que 53% ont choisi un positionnement privé qui présente les œufs enrichis en vitamine D comme des œufs de spécialité. Les estimations montrent que pour la vitamine D le CAP moyen estimé varie entre 0.56$et0.71$ alors que pour le choix, il varie entre 0.22$et 0.52$. Les résultats indiquent la présence potentielle d’un biais hypothétique sous forme de comportements stratégiques. Nos résultats indiquent que 18% des participants sont des répondants inattentifs. Bien que nos résultats indiquent des différences significatives entre les attentifs et les inattentifs pour certaines variables, l’ensemble de l’analyse ne s’en trouve toutefois que marginalement affectée.8369722\uaThe egg producers in Quebec are considering introducing vitamin D eggs but are facing two positioning alternatives to bring them to the retail market. On the one hand, vitamin D eggscan become a "standard" and all eggs sold in Quebec will be enriched in vitamin D. On theother hand, vitamin D eggs can be sold as a specialty product, as is currently the situation forOmega-3 eggs. This thesis therefore examines the positioning choices for vitamin D eggs according to an alternative of public good (standard) and private good (specialty) issues. The objectives of this study are as follows: (1) to measure the acceptability and willingness to pay (WTP) of Quebec consumers for vitamin D eggs, as well as the WTP for choice (private positioning);(2) to verify the impact of information levels and variables associated with health and healthy eating on the positioning choices for vitamin D eggs, whether private or public; (3) to use tools that take into consideration the hypothetical bias in a public good and private good issue and measure their effects; and (4) to identify and empirically measure the effect of a potential inattention bias associated with respondents who are members of panels of professional firms.A survey with a modified double-bounded dichotomous choice model was administered to1223 egg consumers in Quebec. To take into consideration a potential hypothetical bias, the questionnaire included tests of validity, such as consequentiality (Vossler et al. 2012) andcertainty (Blumenschein et al. 2008). The questionnaire gathers socio-economic informationas well as two levels of information to build a health perception construct (Labrecque et al.,2006) to be interacted with the acceptability and WTP measurements. The results indicate that 72% of respondents would accept to purchase vitamin D eggs, butwith differing preferences for public or private positioning. For example, 47% of participants chose a public positioning while 53% chose a private positioning that presents vitamin Deggs as specialty eggs. Estimates reveal that for vitamin D, the average estimated WTP varies between $0.56 to$0.71, while for choice, it varies between $0.22 to$0.52. The results indicate the potential presence of a hypothetical bias in the form of strategic behaviors. Our results indicate that 18% of participants are inattentive respondents. Although our results indicate significant differences between the attentive and inattentive for some variables, theoverall analysis is only marginally affected

Un anévrysme sacciforme de l’aorte abdominale révélant une maladie de Behçet: quand faut-il opérer?

L'atteinte vasculaire est fréquente au cours de la maladie de Behçet. Elle est essentiellement représentée par les thromboses veineuses alors que l'atteinte artérielle est plus rare. Elle peut être isolée ou multifocale et peut toucher tous les territoires avec prédilection pour l’aorte abdominale, les artères pulmonaires et les artères des membres inférieurs. L'atteinte anévrysmale de l'aorte abdominale est trompeuse se manifestant par une symptomatologie atypique responsable d'un retard diagnostique favorisant la rupture. Dans notre cas, des douleurs abdominales paroxystiques ont incité le patient à consulter rapidement. L’enquête étiologique a conclue à un angio Behcet. Rarement, l’anévrysme de l’aorte abdominale est révélé par une complication telle que la rupture dans le rétro péritoine ou le tube digestif. Les indications chirurgicales des anévrysmes de l’aorte sont discutées ici. Un traitement immunosuppresseur au long cours s’impose en post opératoire pour limiter le risque de récidive

Antibiotic resistance and virulence of faecal enterococci isolated from food-producing animals in Tunisia

Antimicrobial agents exert a selection pressure not only on pathogenic, but also on commensal bacteria of the intestinal tract of humans and animals. The aim of this work was to determine the occurrence of different enterococcal species and to analyse the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance and the mechanisms implicated, as well as the genetic diversity in enterococci recovered from faecal samples of food-producing animals (poultry, beef and sheep) in Tunisia. Antimicrobial resistance and the mechanisms implicated were studied in 87 enterococci recovered from 96 faecal samples from animals of Tunisian farms. Enterococcus faecium was the most prevalent species detected (46 %), followed by E. hirae (33.5 %). High percentages of resistance to erythromycin and tetracycline were found among our isolates, and lower percentages to aminoglycosides and ciprofloxacin were identified. Most of the tetracycline-resistant isolates carried the tet(M) and/or tet(L) genes. The erm(B) gene was detected in all erythromycin-resistant isolates. The ant(6)-Ia, aph(3)-Ia and aac(6)-aph(2) genes were detected in nine aminoglycoside-resistant isolates. Of our isolates, 11.5 % carried the gelE gene and exhibited gelatinase acitivity. The esp gene was detected in 10 % of our isolates and the hyl gene was not present in any isolate. The predominant species (E. faecium and E. hirae) showed a high genetic diversity by repetitive extragenic palindromic (REP)-PCR. Food animals might play a role in the spread through the food chain of enterococci with virulence and resistance traits to humans. © 2014 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg and the University of Milan