504 research outputs found
Unraveling the involvement of ABA in the water deficit-induced modulation of nitrogen metabolism in Medicago truncatula seedlings
Effects of water deficit and/or abscisic acid (ABA) were investigated on early seedling growth of Medicago truncatula, and on glutamate metabolism under dark conditions. Water deficit (simulated by polyethylene glycol, PEG), ABA and their combination resulted in a reduction in growth rate of the embryo axis, and also in a synergistic increase of free amino acid (AA) content. However, the inhibition of water uptake retention induced by water deficit seemed to occur in an ABA-independent manner. Expression of several genes involved in glutamate metabolism was induced during water deficit, whereas ABA, in combination or not with PEG, repressed them. The only exception came from a gene encoding 1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthetase (P5CS) which appeared to be induced in an ABA-dependent manner under water deficit. Our results demonstrate clearly the involvement of an ABA-dependent and an ABA-independent regulatory system, governing growth and glutamate metabolism under water deficit
Effect of hypoxia/reoxygenation on the cytokine-induced production of nitric oxide and superoxide anion in cultured osteoarthritic synoviocytes
SummaryObjectiveHypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) is an important feature in the osteoarthritis (OA) physiopathology. Nitric oxide (NO) is a significant proinflammatory mediator in the inflamed synovium. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of H/R on inducible NO synthase (iNOS) activity and expression in OA synoviocytes. In addition we studied the relationship between nitrosative stress and NADPH oxidase (NOX) in such conditions.MethodsHuman cultured synoviocytes from OA patients were treated for 24 h with interleukin 1-ÎČ (IL-1ÎČ), tumour necrosis factor α (TNF-α) or neither; for the last 6 h, they were submitted to either normoxia or three periods of 1-h of hypoxia followed by 1-h of reoxygenation. NO metabolism (iNOS expression, nitrite and peroxynitrite measurements) was investigated. Furthermore, superoxide anion O2â production, NOX subunit expression and nitrosylation were also assessed.ResultsiNOS expression and nitrite (but not peroxynitrite) production were significantly increased under H/R conditions when compared with to normoxia (P < 0.05). H/R conditions decreased O2â production from âŒ0.20 to âŒ0.12 nmol minâ1 mg proteinsâ1 (P < 0.05), while NOXs' subunit expression and p47-phox phosphorylation were increased. NOXs and p47-phox were dramatically nitrosylated under H/R conditions (P < 0.05 vs normoxia). Using NOS inhibitors under H/R conditions, p47-phox nitrosylation was prevented and O2â production was restored at normoxic levels (0.21 nmol minâ1 mg of proteinsâ1).ConclusionsOur results provide evidence for an up-regulation of iNOS activity in OA synoviocytes under H/R conditions, associated to a down-regulation of NOX activity through nitrosylation. These findings highlight the importance of radical production to OA pathogenesis, and appraise the metabolic modifications of synovial cells under hypoxia
High resolution spectroscopy of Pluto's atmosphere: detection of the 2.3 m CH bands and evidence for carbon monoxide
The goal is to determine the composition of Pluto's atmosphere and to
constrain the nature of surface-atmosphere interactions.
We perform high--resolution spectroscopic observations in the 2.33--2.36
m range, using CRIRES at the VLT.
We obtain (i) the first detection of gaseous methane in this spectral range,
through lines of the + and + bands (ii) strong
evidence (6- confidence) for gaseous CO in Pluto. For an isothermal
atmosphere at 90 K, the CH and CO column densities are 0.75 and 0.07 cm-am,
within factors of 2 and 3, respectively. Using a physically--based thermal
structure model of Pluto's atmosphere also satisfying constraints from stellar
occultations, we infer CH and CO mixing ratios q=
0.6% (consistent with results from the 1.66 m range) and
q = 0.5. The CO atmospheric abundance is
consistent with its surface abundance. As for Triton, it is probably controlled
by a thin, CO-rich, detailed balancing layer resulting from seasonal transport
and/or atmospheric escape.Comment: Astronomy and Astrophysics Letters, in pres
Quantum Computing of Poincare Recurrences and Periodic Orbits
Quantum algorithms are built enabling to find Poincar\'e recurrence times and
periodic orbits of classical dynamical systems. It is shown that exponential
gain compared to classical algorithms can be reached for a restricted class of
systems. Quadratic gain can be achieved for a larger set of dynamical systems.
The simplest cases can be implemented with small number of qubits.Comment: revtex, 5 pages, research at Quantware MIPS Center (see
http://www.quantware.ups-tlse.fr); minor changes and references adde
A new access control unit for GANIL and SPIRAL 2
International audienceFor the GANIL safety revaluation and the new project of accelerator SPIRAL 2, it was decided to replace theexisting access control system for radiological controlled areas. These areas are all cyclotron rooms and experimental areas. The existing system is centralized around VME cards. Updating is becoming very problematic. The new UGA (access control unit) will becomposed of a pair of PLC to ensure the safety of each room. It will be supplemented by a system UGB (radiological control unit) that will assure the radiological monitoring of the area concerned
Quantum Computing of Classical Chaos: Smile of the Arnold-Schrodinger Cat
We show on the example of the Arnold cat map that classical chaotic systems
can be simulated with exponential efficiency on a quantum computer. Although
classical computer errors grow exponentially with time, the quantum algorithm
with moderate imperfections is able to simulate accurately the unstable chaotic
classical dynamics for long times. The algorithm can be easily implemented on
systems of a few qubits.Comment: revtex, 4 pages, 4 figure
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