SIG des Merveilles: analysing rock art distribution with a web cartographic platform

L. Costa, F. Djindjian, F. Giligny (eds.), Actes des 3èmes Journées d'Informatique et Archéologie de Paris, JIAP 2012International audienceThe Vallée des Merveilles (Valley of Marvels), in the Mercantour National Park (France), is a major place for studying the late Neolithic Age until the beginning of the Bronze Age: since the early 20th century, more than 4000 engraved rocks have been listed, representing 40,000 carvings. The Laboratoire Départemental du Lazaret has been studying these engravings for more than forty years: a large database describes the whole rocks and figures and is still filled with new findings. But such a large amount of data from a vast archaeological site needs efficient tools for its study, such as mapping the location of the rocks. Many improvements regarding the study of the carvings and their spatial distribution were made possible by the development of a web GIS: consulting the data is made easier and clearer with a web-mapping platform and specific tools. Filtering for choosing the data to display and automatically generated maps allow an overall view of the spatial distribution of the Marvels' engravings. Using both the IGN's Geoportal data and cartographic web libraries produced an efficient and complete web service for consulting and analyzing the engraved rocks of the Valley of Marvels. This one can be used for any area in the Mercantour Park, as long as new data are added to the databases

Contribution of G inhibitory protein alpha subunits in paradoxical hyperalgesia elicited by exceedingly low doses of morphine in mice.

Aims: Although morphine, at higher doses, induces analgesia, it may also enhance sensitivity to pain at extremely low doses as shown in studies for testing an animal's sensitivity to pain. We used an antisense approach capable of selectively down-regulating in vivo G(i)(G inhibitory protein),G(o) and G(s) members of the G(alpha), sub-family protein subunits in order to establish if these proteins might be implicated in the effects induced by extremely low morphine doses on acute thermonociception. Main methods: Mice pretreated with a morphine hyperalgesic dose (1 mu g/kg) were submitted to hot plate test after pre-treatment with antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (aODNs) targeting G(i alpha), G(o alpha) and G(s alpha) regulatory proteins. The association of G-protein (guanine nucleotide-binding regulatory protein) coupled receptors with G protein was investigated using co-immunoprecipitation procedure. Key findings: The downregulation of the G(i alpha 1-3) and G(o alpha 1) proteins reversed the licking latency responses induced by 1 mu g/kg morphine administration toward the basal value whereas downregulation of the G(o alpha 2) and G(s alpha) proteins did not significantly modify the hyperalgesic response. Significance: These results suggest that G inhibitory proteins play a role in the production of low dose evoked morphine hyperalgesia in mouse. Immunoprecipitation studies revealed that both mu opioid receptor (mu OR) and alpha(2) adrenoreceptor (alpha(2) AR) are bound to G inhibitory proteins in hyperalgesic response to morphine extremely low dose. Both mu OR and alpha(2) AR appear to be necessary for low morphine dose induced hyperalgesic response through G inhibitory proteins. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

A Novel Skin-Stretch Haptic Device for Intuitive Control of Robotic Prostheses and Avatars

Without proprioception, i.e., the intrinsic capability of a body to perceive its own limb position, completing daily life activities would require constant visual attention and it would be challenging or even impossible. This situation is similar to the one experienced after limb amputation and in robotic tele-operation, where the natural sensory-motor loop is broken. While some promising solutions based on skin stretch sensory substitution have been proposed to restore tactile properties in these conditions, there is still room for enhancing the intuitiveness of stimulus delivery and integration of haptic feedback devices within user's body. To contribute to this goal, here, we propose a wearable device based on skin stretch stimulation, the Stretch-Pro, which can provide proprioceptive information on artificial hand aperture. This system can be suitably integrated in a prosthetic socket or can be easily worn by a user controlling remote robots. The system can imitate the stretching of the skin that would naturally occur on the intact limb, when it is used to accomplish motor tasks. Two versions of the system are presented, with one and two actuators, respectively, which deliver the stretch stimulus in different ways. Experiments with able-bodied participants and a preliminary test with one prosthesis user are reported. Results suggest that Stretch-Pro could be a viable solution to convey proprioceptive cues to upper limb prosthesis users, opening promising perspectives for tele-robotics applications

HDAC4 regulates satellite cell proliferation and differentiation by targeting P21 and Sharp1 genes

Skeletal muscle exhibits a high regenerative capacity, mainly due to the ability of satellite cells to replicate and differentiate in response to appropriate stimuli. Epigenetic control is effective at different stages of this process. It has been shown that the chromatin-remodeling factor HDAC4 is able to regulate satellite cell proliferation and commitment. However, its molecular targets are still uncovered. To explain the signaling pathways regulated by HDAC4 in satellite cells, we generated tamoxifen-inducible mice with conditional inactivation of HDAC4 in Pax7(+) cells (HDAC4 KO mice). We found that the proliferation and differentiation of HDAC4 KO satellite cells were compromised, although similar amounts of satellite cells were found in mice. Moreover, we found that the inhibition of HDAC4 in satellite cells was sufficient to block the differentiation process. By RNA-sequencing analysis we identified P21 and Sharp1 as HDAC4 target genes. Reducing the expression of these target genes in HDAC4 KO satellite cells, we also defined the molecular pathways regulated by HDAC4 in the epigenetic control of satellite cell expansion and fusion

A simple and portable method for on-line texture measurement of Italian “Speck Alto Adige"

Texture is a relevant parameter for the assessment of cured ham's quality. In this study a rapid on-line instrumental technique for the measurement of the texture of pieces of cured smoked ham intended for sale as “Speck Alto Adige” PGI was developed. Speck samples were subjected to a compression test using a portable Shore A tester, and instrumental data were compared with conventional texture analyses (texture profile analysis and stress relaxation test) and with sensory evaluations. First, a hardness range in which a threshold value could be identified for the eligibility of 120 speck samples for the “Speck Alto Adige” PGI indication was established; afterwards, a Shore A hardness threshold value of 48 was defined based on measurements of more than 1000 samples. These findings may help manufacturers to determine the textural properties of Speck, based on a simple and rapid instrumental analysisinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

BCL11A mRNA targeting by miR-210: A possible network regulating γ-globin gene expression

The involvement of microRNAs in the control of repressors of human g-globin gene transcription has been firmly demonstrated, as described for the miR-486-3p mediated down-regulation of BCL11A. On the other hand, we have reported that miR-210 is involved in erythroid differentiation and, possibly, in γ-globin gene up-regulation. In the present study, we have identified the coding sequence of BCL11A as a possible target of miR-210. The following results sustain this hypothesis: (a) interactions between miR-210 and the miR-210 BCL11A site were demonstrated by SPR-based biomolecular interaction analysis (BIA); (b) the miR-210 site of BCL11A is conserved through molecular evolution; (c) forced expression of miR-210 leads to decrease of BCL11A-XL and increase of γ-globin mRNA content in erythroid cells, including erythroid precursors isolated from β-thalassemia patients. Our study suggests that the coding mRNA sequence of BCL11A can be targeted by miR-210. In addition to the theoretical point of view, these data are of interest from the applied point of view, supporting a novel strategy to inhibit BCL11A by mimicking miR-210 functions, accordingly with the concept supported by several papers and patent applications that inhibition of BCL11A is an efficient strategy for fetal hemoglobin induction in the treatment of β-thalassemia

Bergamot (Citrus bergamia Risso) fruit extracts and identified components alter expression of interleukin 8 gene in cystic fibrosis bronchial epithelial cell lines

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Cystic fibrosis (CF) airway pathology is a fatal, autosomal, recessive genetic disease characterized by extensive lung inflammation. After induction by TNF-α, elevated concentrations of several pro-inflammatory cytokines (i.e. IL-6, IL-1β) and chemokines (i.e. IL-8) are released from airway epithelial cells. In order to reduce the excessive inflammatory response in the airways of CF patients, new therapies have been developed and in this respect, medicinal plant extracts have been studied. In this article we have investigated the possible use of bergamot extracts (<it>Citrus bergamia </it>Risso) and their identified components to alter the expression of IL-8 associated with the cystic fibrosis airway pathology.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The extracts were chemically characterized by ¹H-NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance), GC-FID (gas chromatography-flame ionization detector), GC-MS (gas chromatography-mass spectrometry) and HPLC (high pressure liquid chromatography). Both bergamot extracts and main detected chemical constituents were assayed for their biological activity measuring (a) cytokines and chemokines in culture supernatants released from cystic fibrosis IB3-1 cells treated with TNF-α by Bio-Plex cytokine assay; (b) accumulation of IL-8 mRNA by real-time PCR.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The extracts obtained from bergamot (<it>Citrus bergamia </it>Risso) epicarps contain components displaying an inhibitory activity on IL-8. Particularly, the most active molecules were bergapten and citropten. These effects have been confirmed by analyzing mRNA levels and protein release in the CF cellular models IB3-1 and CuFi-1 induced with TNF-α or exposed to heat-inactivated <it>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</it>.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>These obtained results clearly indicate that bergapten and citropten are strong inhibitors of IL-8 expression and could be proposed for further studies to verify possible anti-inflammatory properties to reduce lung inflammation in CF patients.</p