Impact de la densité de semis et de la fertilisation azotée sur le développement de Rumex obtusifolius L. en cultures de céréales d'hiver conduites en agriculture biologique

The control of Rumex obtusifolius L. (broad-leafed dock) is very important in organic farming systems. Indeed, concerns about managing this weed without the use of herbicides is one of the major factors limiting the uptake of these systems by conventional farmers. Against this backround, we analyzed the impact of two management practices on the development of R. obtusifolius populations in two winter cereal trials: spelt (triticum spelta [L.] thell.) and triticale (xtriticosecale [A.Camus]Wittm.). The management factors were sowing density (SD) and nitrogen fertilization (NF) at the tillering stage. The results showed that and increase in SD and NF led to stronger crop growth and better soil coverage by the end of sping, demonstrated by a significant decrease in photosynthetic active radiation (PAR) at soil level. However, although there was an SD effect, it was too weak in April to restrict an increase in R. obtusifolius populations through the recruitment of new R. obtusifulius plants. An increase in R. obtusifolius population density was also linked to an increase in the NF level, illustrating the nitrophilic character of this weed. Although an increase in SD and NF at the tillering stage led to a higher canopy density, these two practices failed to reduce R. Obtusifolius density in the cereal crops. Nevertheless, cereal yields were shown to be maintained or improved. Our results indicate that, even when combining weed harrowing and some cultural weed control methods, this perennial weed is difficult to control

Modelling and numerical simulation of plasma flows with two-fluid mixing

13 pagesFor the modelling of plasma flows at very high temperature such the ones produced by laser beams, one must account for a bi-temperature compressible Euler system coupled to electron thermal conduction and radiative conduction. Moreover, mixing of two different fluids can occur, the two fluids occupying the same volume. For modelling such a phenomenon, instead of dealing with the conservation of mass, momentum and energy for each fluid, we propose here a simplified model which will be easier to implement in a multi-physics Lagrangian 2D code. The principle is to use a closure for expressing the relative velocity between the two fluids with the help of the gradient of the concentration. So, besides the classical system, the final model consists in a non-linear diffusion equation for the concentration and an equation for the mixing kinetic energy (analogous to the one used in turbulence models). We present also first numerical 2D simulations using this model

Ingénierie de fragments d'anticorps pour l'imagerie in vivo de cancers de la sphère génitale

Le pronostic de certains cancers s est considérablement amélioré avec l arrivée sur le marché des anticorps thérapeutiques. Devant l essor de ces nouveaux médicaments associé à l identification de nouveaux biomarqueurs, de nouvelles perspectives émergent pour l imagerie moléculaire in vivo. En effet, disposer de nouveaux traceurs moléculaires spécifiques de ces biomarqueurs permettra de caractériser l hétérogénéité des cellules cancéreuses, de suivre l expression de ces marqueurs au cours de l évolution de la tumeur, mais également de suivre l efficacité d un traitement sur la régression tumorale du patient. Pour répondre à cette évolution de diagnostic moléculaire in vivo, il convient de développer de nouvelles sondes moléculaires. L'objectif de ma thèse répond à ce nouveau besoin avec l'ingénierie et le marquage d'un format d'anticorps recombinant adapté à l'imagerie in vivo : le diabody 12G4 dirigé contre le récepteur de l hormone antimüllérienne (AMH), marqueur de certains cancers de la sphère génitale.Prognosis of cancers dramatically improved with the development on the market of therapeutic antibodies. With the increase of these new biodrugs, associated with the identification of new biomarkers, new opportunities emerge for the in vivo molecular imaging.. Indeed, to use new molecular tracers specific of tumoral biomarkers will allow to study and characterize the cancer heterogeneity, to monitor the expression of these markers during the tumor evolution, but also to check the treatment effectiveness on patients tumoral regression. To answer this evolution of in vivo molecular diagnosis, it is favorable to develop new molecular probes. The aim of this thesis answers this new need with the engineering and labeling of a new recombinant antibody format suitable to in vivo imaging : the 12G4 diabody directed against the type II human receptor for the anti-Müllerian hormone, a biomarker of some cancers of the genital area.PARIS11-SCD-Bib. électronique (914719901) / SudocSudocFranceF

Country-wide assessment of the genetic polymorphism in Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax antigens detected with rapid diagnostic tests for malaria

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) are becoming increasingly indispensable in malaria management, as a means of increasing the accuracy of diagnosis. The WHO has issued recommendations, but the selection of the most suitable RDT remains difficult for users in endemic countries. The genetic variability of the antigens detected with RDTs has been little studied, but may affect the sensitivity of RDTs. This factor has been studied by comparisons between countries at continental level, but little information is available concerning antigen variability within a given country.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A country-wide assessment of polymorphism of the PfHRP2, PfHRP3, pLDH and aldolase antigens was carried out in 260 <it>Plasmodium falciparum </it>and 127 <it>Plasmodium vivax </it>isolates, by sequencing the genes encoding these antigens in parasites originating from the various epidemiological strata for malaria in Madagascar.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Higher levels of polymorphism were observed for the <it>pfhrp2 </it>and <it>pfhrp3 </it>genes than for the <it>P. falciparum </it>and <it>P. vivax aldolase </it>and <it>pldh </it>genes. <it>Pfhrp2 </it>sequence analysis predicted that 9% of Malagasy isolates would not be detected at parasite densities ≤ 250 parasites/μl (ranging from 6% in the north to 14% in the south), although RDTs based on PfHRP2 detection are now recommended in Madagascar.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These findings highlight the importance of training of health workers and the end users of RDTs in the provision of information about the possibility of false-negative results for patients with clinical symptoms of malaria, particularly in the south of Madagascar.</p

A quantitative risk assessment approach for mosquito-borne diseases: malaria re-emergence in southern France

Contains fulltext : 69138.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access)BACKGROUND: The Camargue region is a former malaria endemic area, where potential Anopheles vectors are still abundant. Considering the importation of Plasmodium due to the high number of imported malaria cases in France, the aim of this article was to make some predictions regarding the risk of malaria re-emergence in the Camargue. METHODS: Receptivity (vectorial capacity) and infectivity (vector susceptibility) were inferred using an innovative probabilistic approach and considering both Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax. Each parameter of receptivity (human biting rate, anthropophily, length of trophogonic cycle, survival rate, length of sporogonic cycle) and infectivity were estimated based on field survey, bibliographic data and expert knowledge and fitted with probability distributions taking into account the variability and the uncertainty of the estimation. Spatial and temporal variations of the parameters were determined using environmental factors derived from satellite imagery, meteorological data and entomological field data. The entomological risk (receptivity/infectivity) was calculated using 10,000 different randomly selected sets of values extracted from the probability distributions. The result was mapped in the Camargue area. Finally, vulnerability (number of malaria imported cases) was inferred using data collected in regional hospitals. RESULTS: The entomological risk presented large spatial, temporal and Plasmodium species-dependent variations. The sensitivity analysis showed that susceptibility, survival rate and human biting rate were the three most influential parameters for entomological risk. Assessment of vulnerability showed that among the imported cases in the region, only very few were imported in at-risk areas. CONCLUSION: The current risk of malaria re-emergence seems negligible due to the very low number of imported Plasmodium. This model demonstrated its efficiency for mosquito-borne diseases risk assessment

Malaria risk in Corsica, former hot spot of malaria in France

Background: The prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax malaria was very high in Corsica just before the Second World War. The last outbreak was in 1972 and the most recent indigenous case was in 2006. Results: Analysis of historical data shows that anopheline vectors were abundant. Recent surveys demonstrated that potential vectors are still present in Corsica, despite the likely disappearance of Anopheles sacharovi. Moreover, P. falciparum can develop experimentally into these mosquitoes, notably Anopheles labranchiae, which is locally abundant, and parasites are regularly introduced into the island. Discussion, Conclusions: The presence of vectors, the introduction of parasites and the conducive climate raise questions about the possibility of malaria re-emerging and becoming re-established in Corsica. Analysis of historic and current parasitological and entomological data shows that the current theoretical risk of indigenous cases or malaria foci is negligible, particularly since there is very little contact between humans and Anopheles mosquitoes, Plasmodium carriers are reliably treated and there is a widespread vector control on the island

Interplay between DNA N-glycosylases/AP lyases at multiply damaged sites and biological consequences

Evidence has emerged that repair of clustered DNA lesions may be compromised, possibly leading to the formation of double-strand breaks (DSB) and, thus, to deleterious events. The first repair event occurring at a multiply damaged site (MDS) is of major importance and will largely contribute to the hazardousness of MDS. Here, using protein extracts from wild type or hOGG1-overexpressing Chinese hamster ovary cells, we investigated the initial incision rate at base damage and the formation of repair intermediates in various complex MDS. These MDS comprise a 1 nt gap and 3–4 base damage, including 8-oxoguanine (oG) and 5-hydroxyuracil (hU). We report a hierarchy in base excision that mainly depends on the nature and the distribution of the damage. We also show that excision at both oG and hU, and consequently DSB formation, can be modulated by hOGG1 overexpression. Anyhow, for all the MDS analyzed, DSB formation is limited, due to impaired base excision. Interestingly, repair intermediates contain a short single-stranded region carrying a potentially mutagenic base damage. This in vitro study provides new insight into the processing of MDS and suggests that repair intermediates resulting from the processing of such MDS are rather mutagenic than toxic