11 research outputs found

    Stakeholder relations in Australian science journalism

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    This study explores the relationships between scientists, science communicators and science journalists in Australia. Building upon a smaller previous study, this article provides an overview of the science media landscape across a nation through the use of semi-structured interviews with members of stakeholder groups. Although relationships between each of the groups are generally positive, a lack of clear understanding of the professional practice and cultures of the different groups sometimes appear to hinder positive interactions. Many scientists continue to lament the need for journalists to understand more science, yet very few make similar comments about the need for scientists to know more about media. Refocusing on sharing the responsibility for science reporting may be a means of bridging the identified cultural divide

    Effect of exercise training on liver antioxidant status of deoxycorticosterone acetate salt induced hypertensive rats.

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    International audienceSeveral animal models have been developed to study the pathogenesis of hypertension. Deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA) salt induced hypertensive rats are adrenal models used to mimic human Conn's syndrome. Because previous studies showed a beneficial effect of chronic exercise (swimming) on the development of arterial hypertension in spontaneously hypertensive rats (which appears similar to human essential hypertension), we decided to evaluate the effects of swimming on DOCA-salt induced hypertension and liver antioxidant status. Therefore, the aim of this experiment was to study whether the swim training would improve hypertension and liver antioxidant status in DOCA-salt rats. DOCA-salt rats and control Sprague-Dawley rats were trained to swim 1 h/day, 5 days/week for 6 weeks and were sacrificed 48 h after the last exercise period. Systolic blood pressure was recorded before the sacrifice, and liver antioxidant status was evaluated in hepatic homogenates after the sacrifice. Swim exercise did not decrease systolic blood pressure in control and DOCA-salt rats but induced changes in liver activities of antioxidant enzymes, showing that exercise provoked liver oxidative stress in control and DOCA-salt rats. In comparison with our previous studies using spontaneously hypertensive rats, we conclude that the beneficial effects of chronic exercise on systolic blood pressure in rats are dependent on strain and the type of experimental hypertension

    Nouvelles perspectives dans l'atteinte spécifique du langage présentée par les patients ARX et la dysrégulation sous-jacente de FOXP1

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    National audienceLe gène ARX (Aristaless Related homeobox) code pour un facteur de transcription dont les mutations ont été associées à plus de 10 syndromes différents allant de phénotypes caractérisés par des défauts de migration neuronale sévères tels que la lissencéphalie, à des formes plus modérées de Déficience Intellectuelle liée à l’X sans malformation cérébrale apparente, mais souvent associée à une dystonie ou à une épilepsie. Afin de mieux comprendre l’impact de la mutation la plus fréquente identifiée dans ce gène (c.429_452dup24), une duplication de 24 paires de bases qui conduit à une expansion de polyalanines, nous avons réalisé une étude clinique détaillée de tous les patients ARX identifiés en France sur une période de 5 ans (soit 27 patients issus de 12 familles différentes) (Curie et al., 2014). L’évaluation neuropsychologique et motrice a montré que la mutation c.429_452dup24 constitue un syndrome clinique reconnaissable, associant Déficience Intellectuelle, sans déficit moteur primaire mais avec une apraxie motrice distale des membres supérieurs avec une préhension pathognomonique. Les patients présentent également une atteinte du langage et une difficulté marquée à exécuter les praxies oro-linguales. Afin de mieux caractériser les anomalies du langage présentées par les patients présentant la mutation c.429_452dup24 du gène ARX, nous avons évalué 16 patients ARX français et 16 contrôles appariés en Quotient Intellectuel (QI) et en âge (patients X Fragiles). Nous avons montré que les patients ARX ont un trouble structurel du langage, à la fois dans les aspects réceptifs et expressifs du langage comparés aux patients X fragiles : la reconnaissance des traits phonétiques, les capacités morphosyntaxiques réceptives (test ECOSSE pour la compréhension des phrases) et expressives (TCG-R pour la production de phrases), les praxies oro-linguales étaient plus atteintes chez les patients ARX. Les patients X Fragiles énonçaient des mots plus complexes, et étaient moins gênés dans leur capacité à articuler des mots. Au contraire, l’analyse de la pragmatique du langage a montré que les patients ARX avaient de meilleures capacités interactionnelles que les patients X fragiles. Comme l’atteinte du langage observée chez les patients présentant la mutation c.429_452dup24 du gène ARX était proche de celle constatée chez les patients présentant une mutation du gène FOXP2, nous avons recherché une éventuelle relation entre Arx et Foxp2. Nous avons montré qu’ARX n’a pas d’effet sur l’expression de Foxp2, mais en revanche active l’expression de Foxp1, un homologue qui s’hétérodimérise avec Foxp2 et a été également impliqué dans les troubles du langage. De plus, la mutation c.429_452dup24 d’ARX altère l’expression de Foxp1. En conclusion, ces données révèlent un nouveau rôle d’ARX dans le développement du langage, probablement par le biais de la régulation de Foxp1

    The c.429_452 duplication of the ARX gene: a unique developmental-model of limb kinetic apraxia.

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    International audienceBACKGROUND: The c.429_452dup24 of the ARX gene is a rare genetic anomaly, leading to X-Linked Intellectual Disability without brain malformation. While in certain cases c.429_452dup24 has been associated with specific clinical patterns such as Partington syndrome, the consequence of this mutation has been also often classified as "non-specific Intellectual Disability". The present work aims at a more precise description of the clinical features linked to the c.429_452dup24 mutation. METHODS: We clinically reviewed all affected patients identified in France over a five-year period, i.e. 27 patients from 12 different families. Detailed cognitive, behavioural, and motor evaluation, as well as standardized videotaped assessments of oro-lingual and gestural praxis, were performed. In a sub-group of 13 ARX patients, kinematic and MRI studies were further accomplished to better characterize the motor impairment prevalent in the ARX patients group. To ensure that data were specific to the ARX gene mutation and did not result from low-cognitive functioning per se, a group of 27 age- and IQ-matched Down syndrome patients served as control. RESULTS: Neuropsychological and motor assessment indicated that the c.429_452dup24 mutation constitutes a recognizable clinical syndrome: ARX patients exhibiting Intellectual Disability, without primary motor impairment, but with a very specific upper limb distal motor apraxia associated with a pathognomonic hand-grip. Patients affected with the so-called Partington syndrome, which involves major hand dystonia and orolingual apraxia, exhibit the most severe symptoms of the disorder. The particular "reach and grip" impairment which was observed in all ARX patients, but not in Down syndrome patients, was further characterized by the kinematic data: (i) loss of preference for the index finger when gripping an object, (ii) major impairment of fourth finger deftness, and (iii) a lack of pronation movements. This lack of distal movement coordination exhibited by ARX patients is associated with the loss of independent digital dexterity and is similar to the distortion of individual finger movements and posture observed in Limb Kinetic Apraxia. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that the ARX c.429_452dup24 mutation may be a developmental model for Limb Kinetic Apraxia

    Precision measurement of the structure of the CMS inner tracking system using nuclear interactions

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    Precision measurement of the structure of the CMS inner tracking system using nuclear interactions

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    Precision measurement of the structure of the CMS inner tracking system using nuclear interactions

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    Precision measurement of the structure of the CMS inner tracking system using nuclear interactions

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    The structure of the CMS inner tracking system has been studied using nuclear interactions of hadrons striking its material. Data from proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV recorded in 2015 at the LHC are used to reconstruct millions of secondary vertices from these nuclear interactions. Precise positions of the beam pipe and the inner tracking system elements, such as the pixel detector support tube, and barrel pixel detector inner shield and support rails, are determined using these vertices. These measurements are important for detector simulations, detector upgrades, and to identify any changes in the positions of inactive elements
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