Metabolic engineering of micronutrients in crop plants

Micronutrient deficiency is a widespread phenomenon, most prevalent in developing countries. Being causally linked to the occurrence of a range of diseases, it affects billions of people worldwide. Enhancing the content of micronutrients in crop products through biotechnology is a promising technique to fight micronutrient malnutrition worldwide. Micronutrient fortification of food products has been implemented in a number of Western countries, but remains inaccessible for poor rural populations in a major part of the developing world. Moreover, evidence of the negative impacts of this practice on human health, at least for some vitamins, is accumulating. Biofortification of crop plants-the enhancement of vitamins and minerals through plant biotechnology-is a promising alternative or complement in the battle against micronutrient deficiencies. Owing to a growing knowledge about vitamin metabolism, as well as mineral uptake and reallocation in plants, it is today possible to enhance micronutrient levels in crop plants, offering a sustainable solution to populations with a suboptimal micronutrient intake

Predicting and testing bioavailability of magnesium supplements

Despite the presumption of the beneficial effects of magnesium supplementation, little is known about the pharmacokinetics of different magnesium formulations. We aimed to investigate the value of two in vitro approaches to predict bioavailability of magnesium and to validate this in subsequent in vivo testing. In vitro assessment of 15 commercially available magnesium formulations was performed by means of a Simulator of the Human Intestinal Microbial Ecosystem (SHIME (R)) and by dissolution tests. Two magnesium formulations with contrasting bioavailability prediction from both in vitro tests (best vs. worst) were selected for in vivo testing in 30 subjects. In vivo bioavailability was compared following one acute ingestion by monitoring blood magnesium concentrations up to 6 h following intake. The in vitro tests showed a very wide variation in absorption and dissolution of the 15 magnesium products. In the in vivo testing, a significant different serum magnesium absorption profile was found up to 4 h following supplement ingestion for the two supplements with opposing in vitro test results. Moreover, maximal serum magnesium increase and total area under the curve were significantly different for both supplements (+6.2% vs. +4.6% and 6.87 vs. 0.31 mM.min, respectively). Collectively, poor bioaccessibility and bioavailability in the SHIME model clearly translated into poor dissolution and poor bioavailability in vivo. This provides a valid methodology for the prediction of in vivo bioavailability and effectiveness of micronutrients by specific in vitro approaches

Determination of five folate monoglutamates in rodent diets

A method for the quantitative determination of folates in rodent diets is very important for correct interpretation of folate intake during feeding trials, given the possible discrepancy between the actual folate concentration in the diet and that mentioned on the product sheet. Liquid chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry is the method of choice to differentiate and quantify the individual folate species present. This discrepancy may be accounted for by, e.g., inaccurate folic acid supplementation and/or the presence of endogenous reduced and substituted folates. We developed a method, validated based on FDA guidelines, that allows the measurement of added and endogenous folates by quantitative determination of 5 folate monoglutamates with linear ranges from 8 mu g to 2 mg/kg feed. This information, combined with feed intake data, allows insight into the actual folate intake in animal feeding studies. The relevance of this method was illustrated by the analysis of several feed samples of varying composition, by the investigation of the effect of casein incorporation, and by evaluating the variability of the folate content between pellets and production batches

Huygens attitude reconstruction based on flight engineering parameters

Huygens is ESA’s main contribution to the joint NASA/ESA/ASI Cassini/Huygens mission to Saturn and its largest moon Titan. The Probe, delivered to the interface altitude of 1270 km above the surface by NASA/JPL Cassini orbiter, entered the dense atmosphere of Titan on 14 January 2005 and landed on the surface after a descent under parachute of slightly less than 2.5 hours. Huygens continued to function after landing for more than 3 hours. Data was transmitted and successfully recovered by Cassini continuously during the parachute descent and for 72 minutes on the surface. Although the Huygens attitude reconstruction based on the flight engineering parameters was not foreseen during the development phase (no gyros were included), a rough descent under parachute and indications of an anomaly in the probe spin direction make the engineering dataset valuable in the frame of the ADRS (Huygens Attitude Determination and Reconstruction Subgroup) as a complement to the scientific measurements. In addition, several scientific teams have a strong interest in understanding the orientation of the probe for interpreting their data, as DISR (Descent Imager and Spectral Radiometer) and HASI-PWA (Huygens Atmospheric Structure Instrument-Permeability, Wave and Altimetry). In this paper we describe the engineering parameters used for the Probe attitude reconstruction (Clausen et al., 2002), namely the radio link AGC (Automatic Gain Control), RASU and CASU (Radial and Central Accelerometer Sensor Units) and RAU (Radar Altimeter Unit). We explain the methodology applied to indirectly infer the attitude information from the measurements of these sensors. We also discuss and present the reconstructed information related to attitude: spin rate and azimuthal position (during the atmospheric descent), and landing orientation. Tip and tilt implications are still being worked at the time of writing. Preliminary data on their behavior is presented

Muscle carnosine in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis and multiple sclerosis

BACKGROUND: Muscle carnosine is related to contractile function (Ca++ handling) and buffering of exercise-induced acidosis. As these muscular functions are altered in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) it is relevant to understand muscle carnosine levels in MS. METHODS: Tibialis anterior muscle carnosine was measured in an animal MS model (EAE, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, n = 40) and controls (CON, n = 40) before and after exercise training (EAEEX, CONEX, 10d, 1 h/d, 24 m/min treadmill running) or sedentary conditions (EAESED, CONSED). Human m. vastus lateralis carnosine of healthy controls (HC, n = 22) and MS patients (n = 24) was measured. RESULTS: EAE muscle carnosine levels were decreased (p < .0001) by ~ 40% to ~ 64% at 10d and 17d following EAE induction (respectively) regardless of exercise (p = .823). Similarly, human MS muscle carnosine levels were decreased (- 25%, p = .03). CONCLUSION: Muscle carnosine concentrations in an animal MS model and MS patients are substantially reduced. In EAE exercise therapy does not restore this

Graimbouville – La Brière

Identifiant de l'opération archéologique : 3405 Date de l'opération : 1992 (SD) Inventeur(s) : Blancquaert Gertrude Le site, localisé au sud-est de la commune, s’étend sur un terrain en pente douce orienté vers le sud et bordée sur ce côté par un talweg. Ce gisement présente un vaste enclos curviligne ceinturant une zone d’occupation structurée avec fosses et trous de poteaux. L’enclos semble formé d’un système de fossés dont le principal circonscrit une surface longue de 120 m d’est en ouest..

Cottévrard – La plaine de la Bucaille

Identifiant de l'opération archéologique : 4419 Date de l'opération : 1994 (EV) ; 1994 (SD) Inventeur(s) : Blancquaert Gertrude ; Marcigny Cyril Le site de Cottévrard, mis au jour à l’extrémité est du tracé autoroutier A 29 (Le Havre – Saint-Saëns), est localisé sur le plaine de la Bucaille à la jonction du pays de Caux et du pays de Bray. Ce plateau, d’une altitude moyenne de 165 m en position d’interfluve, présente une surface faiblement vallonnée recouverte d’un limon lœssique. L’occupatio..

Fiscalité, programmes sociaux et incitation au travail - une comparaison Québec - Ontario

Ce mémoire présente un portrait de la situation des taux marginaux effectifs d’imposition (TMEI) et des taux d’imposition à la participation (TIP) sur le revenu de travail au Québec et en Ontario. Il vise une meilleure compréhension de l’impact de la fiscalité et des transferts sociaux sur le comportement des agents, entre autres choses sur le marché du travail. À l’aide d’un modèle de microsimulation comptable reproduisant les systèmes d’impôts et de transferts au Québec et en Ontario, nous mesurons les TMEI et les TIP qui résultent de l’interaction des mécanismes de perception et de redistribution et présentons la répartition des TMEI et des TIP au sein des populations québécoise et ontarienne. Nous produisons en outre une répartition contre-factuelle des TMEI et des TIP en soumettant les ménages québécois au système d’imposition et de transferts sociaux de l’Ontario