Geometric morphometric analysis of grain shape and the identification of two-rowed barley (Hordeum vulgare subsp distichum L.) in southern France

Open Access funded by Natural Environment Research Council Under a Creative Commons license We would like to thank Michel Lemoine (CNRS, Muséum), for his invaluable help during the carbonization of the fresh caryopses. We are also most grateful to the society Secobra for providing the fresh caryopses used in this study, to Raphaël Cornette (UMR7205) for welcoming us into the morphometric platform of the National Museum of Paris, to prof. Jean- Frédéric Terral (University Montpellier 2) for his advice and to Elizabeth Kerr (UMR7209) and Nelly Gidaszewski (UMR7205) for language editing. A. Evin acknowledges financial support from the Natural Environment Research Council, UK (grant number NE/F003382/1). Finally, we would like to thank the UMR7209 (CNRS-MNHN), for financial support.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Metabolic adaptation to a high-fat diet is associated with a change in the gut microbiota

Objective The gut microbiota, which is considered a causal factor in metabolic diseases as shown best in animals, is under the dual influence of the host genome and nutritional environment. This study investigated whether the gut microbiota per se, aside from changes in genetic background and diet, could sign different metabolic phenotypes in mice. Methods The unique animal model of metabolic adaptation was used, whereby C57Bl/6 male mice fed a high-fat carbohydrate-free diet (HFD) became either diabetic (HFD diabetic, HFD-D) or resisted diabetes (HFD diabetes-resistant, HFD-DR). Pyrosequencing of the gut microbiota was carried out to profile the gut microbial community of different metabolic phenotypes. Inflammation, gut permeability, features of white adipose tissue, liver and skeletal muscle were studied. Furthermore, to modify the gut microbiota directly, an additional group of mice was given a glucooligosaccharide (GOS)-supplemented HFD (HFD+GOS). Results Despite the mice having the same genetic background and nutritional status, a gut microbial profile specific to each metabolic phenotype was identified. The HFD-D gut microbial profile was associated with increased gut permeability linked to increased endotoxaemia and to a dramatic increase in cell number in the stroma vascular fraction from visceral white adipose tissue. Most of the physiological characteristics of the HFD-fed mice were modulated when gut microbiota was intentionally modified by GOS dietary fibres. Conclusions The gut microbiota is a signature of the metabolic phenotypes independent of differences in host genetic background and diet

The exchangeability of shape

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Landmark based geometric morphometrics (GM) allows the quantitative comparison of organismal shapes. When applied to systematics, it is able to score shape changes which often are undetectable by traditional morphological studies and even by classical morphometric approaches. It has thus become a fast and low cost candidate to identify cryptic species. Due to inherent mathematical properties, shape variables derived from one set of coordinates cannot be compared with shape variables derived from another set. Raw coordinates which produce these shape variables could be used for data exchange, however they contain measurement error. The latter may represent a significant obstacle when the objective is to distinguish very similar species.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We show here that a single user derived dataset produces much less classification error than a multiple one. The question then becomes how to circumvent the lack of exchangeability of shape variables while preserving a single user dataset. A solution to this question could lead to the creation of a relatively fast and inexpensive systematic tool adapted for the recognition of cryptic species.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>To preserve both exchangeability of shape and a single user derived dataset, our suggestion is to create a free access bank of reference images from which one can produce raw coordinates and use them for comparison with external specimens. Thus, we propose an alternative geometric descriptive system that separates 2-D data gathering and analyzes.</p

The SPL (II) at CERN, a Superconducting 3.5 GeV H- Linac

A revision of the physics needs and recent progress in the technology of superconducting (SC) RF cavities have triggered major changes in the design of a SC H-linac at CERN. With up to 5MW beam power, the SPL can be the proton driver for a next generation ISOL-type radioactive beam facility (âEURISOLâ) and/or supply protons to a neutrino () facility (conventional superbeam + beta-beam or -factory). Furthermore the SPL can replace Linac2 and the PS booster (PSB), improving significantly the beam performance in terms of brightness, intensity, and reliability for the benefit of all proton users at CERN, including LHC and its luminosity upgrade. Compared with the first conceptual design, the beam energy is almost doubled (3.5GeV instead of 2.2 GeV) while the length is reduced by 40%. At a repetition rate of 50 Hz, the linac reuses decommissioned 352.2MHz RF equipment from LEP in the low-energy part. Beyond 90MeV the RF frequency is doubled, and from 180MeV onwards high-gradient SC bulkniobium cavities accelerate the beam to its final energy of 3.5GeV. This paper presents the overall design approach, together with the technical progress since the first conceptual design in 2000

Convergent synthesis of new N -substituted 2-{[5-(1H -indol-3-ylmethyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl]sulfanyl}acetamides as suitable therapeutic agents

abstract A series of N-substituted 2-{[5-(1H-indol-3-ylmethyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl]sulfanyl}acetamides (8a-w) was synthesized in three steps. The first step involved the sequential conversion of 2-(1H-indol-3-yl)acetic acid (1) to ester (2) followed by hydrazide (3) formation and finally cyclization in the presence of CS2 and alcoholic KOH yielded 5-(1H-indole-3-yl-methyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole-2-thiol (4). In the second step, aryl/aralkyl amines (5a-w) were reacted with 2-bromoacetyl bromide (6) in basic medium to yield 2-bromo-N-substituted acetamides (7a-w). In the third step, these electrophiles (7a-w) were reacted with 4 to afford the target compounds (8a-w). Structural elucidation of all the synthesized derivatives was done by 1H-NMR, IR and EI-MS spectral techniques. Moreover, they were screened for antibacterial and hemolytic activity. Enzyme inhibition activity was well supported by molecular docking results, for example, compound 8q exhibited better inhibitory potential against α-glucosidase, while 8g and 8b exhibited comparatively better inhibition against butyrylcholinesterase and lipoxygenase, respectively. Similarly, compounds 8b and 8c showed very good antibacterial activity against Salmonella typhi, which was very close to that of ciprofloxacin, a standard antibiotic used in this study. 8c and 8l also showed very good antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus as well. Almost all compounds showed very slight hemolytic activity, where 8p exhibited the least. Therefore, the molecules synthesized may have utility as suitable therapeutic agents

Geometric morphometrics as a tool for improving the comparative study of behavioural postures

International audienceDescribing postures has always been a central concern when studying behaviour. However, attempts to compare postures objectively at phylogenetical, populational, inter- or intra-individual levels generally either rely upon a few key elements or remain highly subjective. Here, we propose a novel approach, based on well-established geometric morphometrics, to describe and to analyse postures globally (i.e. considering the animal's body posture in its entirety rather than focusing only on a few salient elements, such as head or tail position). Geometric morphometrics is concerned with describing and comparing variation and changes in the form (size and shape) of organisms using the coordinates of a series of homologous landmarks (i.e. positioned in relation to skeletal or muscular cues that are the same for different species for every variety of form and function and that have derived from a common ancestor, i.e. they have a common evolutionary ancestry, e.g. neck, wings, flipper/hand). We applied this approach to horses, using global postures (1) to characterise behaviours that correspond to different arousal levels, (2) to test potential impact of environmental changes on postures. Our application of geometric morphometrics to horse postures showed that this method can be used to characterise behavioural categories, to evaluate the impact of environmental factors (here human actions) and to compare individuals and groups. Beyond its application to horses, this promising approach could be applied to all questions involving the analysis of postures (evolution of displays, expression of emotions, stress and welfare, behavioural repertoiresaEuro broken vertical bar) and could lead to a whole new line of research

SEISM: 60 GHz ECR ion source for future accelerator

International audienceECR ion sources produce ion beams with an intensity proportional to the heating frequency. SEISM (Sixty gigahErtz Ion Source using Megawatt magnets) is a unique source operating at the record frequency of $60~GHz$ thanks to a gyrotron producing high intensity HF pulse (up to $300~kW$). The prototype is based on a simple magnetic geometry, the cusp, using polyhelix coils (developed with the LNCMI, Grenoble) to generate a closed ECR surface at $2.1~T$. Since 2019, several experimental campaigns were carried out with helium and argon beams and production of ion current densities of $1~A/cm^2$) were achieved. The transport of high intensity beam is studied thanks to the dedicated transmission line and qualified with emittance measurements using a pepperpot device. Using several support gases, plasma studies are also carried out as function of source parameters such as extraction high voltage, gas pressure, bias disc potential. The dynamic of the afterglow pics is also investigated. Recent experimental results, short- and long-term research plans as well as technological choices (metal 3D printing) will be presented to transform this high current density into a high intensity ion beam that can be used for the accelerators of the future

First Measurements on Multipactor Study

International audienceMultipactor (MP) is an undesired phenomenon of resonant electron build up encountered on particle accelerators. It can induce anomalous thermal losses, higher than the Joule losses, inducing a decrease of the superconducting cavities quality factor, it can even lead to a cavity quench. On couplers, it can produce irreversible damages or generate a breakdown of their vacuum window. Multipactor may lead to Electron Cloud build up as well. The accelerator group at LPSC has developed a test bench dedicated to the multipactor studies. This paper presents the experimental set-up and its first measurements

Status and prospects of the 60 GHz SEISM ion source

International audienceSEISM is a unique ECR ion source operating at a frequency of 60 GHz. The prototype is based on a simple magnetic geometry, the cusp, allowing the use of polyhelix coils (developed with LNCMI, Grenoble) to generate the closed ECR surface at 2.14T. The plasma is sustained by a high intensity HF pulse (up to 300kW). Previous experiments at LNCMI have successfully demonstrated the establishment of the nominal magnetic field and the extraction of ion beams with a current density up to 1 A cm$^{-2}$. The presence of afterglow peaks was also observed, proving the existence of ion confinement in a CUSP ECR source. An experimental campaign is carried out in 2021 using a new transport line designed to improve the transmission of the beam to the new detectors. Short and long-term research plans are presented to transform this high current density into a high intensity ion beam that can be used for accelerators of the future