Assessing the Impact of Anger State on the Three Attentional Networks With the ANT-I

Anger is a negative and highly aroused emotion. Previous research has revealed that a high level of arousal can induce the participant in a physical preparation and self-awareness. The aim of this research was to study the influence of anger on the attentional network using the Attention Network Test-Interactions (ANT-I). This test has been developed in order to assess 3 attentional networks: alerting, orienting, and executive control. Here, participants were induced in anger using the autobiographic recall procedure or in a neutral mood before the realization of the ANT-I. As expected, the results showed a better alerting score for the angry group. The possible origin of this alerting gain related to the high level of arousal is discussed. The results obtained should enlighten the interaction between emotion and the functioning of the attentional system. They also may be relevant for applied fields related to anger. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved)

Bacterial diversity on stainless steel surfaces of egg processing companies and potential of selected isolates to spoil liquid whole egg products

AimsTo assess the bacterial diversity in the French egg processing industry and to explore the adhesion and spoilage potential of selected bacteria.Methods and ResultsSterile stainless steel chips were suspended for 2 months inside the pipelines of seven egg processing companies, before and after the pasteurizer, at warm and cold seasons. After exposure, the bacterial diversity was assessed by 16S rDNA sequencing. The 231 collected isolates were mainly facultative anaerobic Gram positive bacteria, such as Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, Bacillus and Kocuria. Sixty‐five representative isolates were further characterized in vitro regarding the potential for adhesion and egg product spoilage. A high diversity was observed from one genus to another. Kocuria and Rothia isolates showed significantly higher adhesion than the isolates of the other genera. Only the isolates belonging to the genera Bacillus and Lysinibacillus, associated with high enzymatic activities on a solid egg‐based medium, were able to induce spoilage of liquid whole egg.ConclusionsBacteria collected on stainless steel surfaces placed in egg processing industries could be associated to liquid egg product spoilage.Significance and Impact of the StudyThis study provides new insights on the bacterial contamination in egg processing companies and represents a first step for the effective control of undesirable bacteria in liquid egg products

Activation of Protein Kinase A and Exchange Protein Directly Activated by cAMP Promotes Adipocyte Differentiation of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Human mesenchymal stem cells are primary multipotent cells capable of differentiating into several cell types including adipocytes when cultured under defined in vitro conditions. In the present study we investigated the role of cAMP signaling and its downstream effectors, protein kinase A (PKA) and exchange protein directly activated by cAMP (Epac) in adipocyte conversion of human mesenchymal stem cells derived from adipose tissue (hMADS). We show that cAMP signaling involving the simultaneous activation of both PKA- and Epac-dependent signaling is critical for this process even in the presence of the strong adipogenic inducers insulin, dexamethasone, and rosiglitazone, thereby clearly distinguishing the hMADS cells from murine preadipocytes cell lines, where rosiglitazone together with dexamethasone and insulin strongly promotes adipocyte differentiation. We further show that prostaglandin I2 (PGI2) may fully substitute for the cAMP-elevating agent isobutylmethylxanthine (IBMX). Moreover, selective activation of Epac-dependent signaling promoted adipocyte differentiation when the Rho-associated kinase (ROCK) was inhibited. Unlike the case for murine preadipocytes cell lines, long-chain fatty acids, like arachidonic acid, did not promote adipocyte differentiation of hMADS cells in the absence of a PPARγ agonist. However, prolonged treatment with the synthetic PPARδ agonist L165041 promoted adipocyte differentiation of hMADS cells in the presence of IBMX. Taken together our results emphasize the need for cAMP signaling in concert with treatment with a PPARγ or PPARδ agonist to secure efficient adipocyte differentiation of human hMADS mesenchymal stem cells

Modelling of multi-minerals kinetic evolution in hyper-alkaline leachate for a 15-year experiment

Cement has been widely used for low- to intermediate-level radioactive waste management; however, the long-term modelling of multiple mineral transfer between the cement leachate and the host rock of a geological disposal facility remains a challenge due to the strong physical-chemical interactions within the chemically disturbed zone. This paper presents a modelling study for a 15-year experiment simulating the reaction of crystalline basement rock with evolved near-field groundwater (pH = 10.8). A mixed kinetic equilibrium (MKE) modelling approach was employed to study the dolomite-rich fracture-filling assemblage reacting with intermediate cement leachate. The study found that the mineralogical and geochemical transformation of the system was driven by the kinetically controlled dissolution of the primary minerals (dolomite, calcite, quartz, k-feldspar and muscovite). The initial high concentration of calcium ions appeared to be the main driving force initiating the dedolomitization process, which played a significant role in the precipitation of secondary talc, brucite and Mg-aluminosilicate minerals. The modelling study also showed that most of the initially precipitated calcium silicon hydrate phases redissolved and formed more stable calcium silicon aluminium hydrate phases. The findings highlight the importance of a deep and insightful understanding of the geochemical transformations based on the type and characteristics of the host rock, where the system is under out of equilibrium conditions, and the rates of mineral reactions

Amendment of soil by biochars and activated carbons to reduce chlordecone bioavailability in piglets

International audienceChlordecone (Kepone or CLD) is a highly persistent pesticide formerly used in French West Indies. Nowadays high levels of this pesticide are still found in soils which represent a subsequent source of contamination for outdoor-reared animals. In that context, sequestering matrices like biochars or activated carbons (ACs) are believed to efficiently decrease the bioavailability of such compounds when added to contaminated soils. The present study intends to test the respective efficiency of soil amendment strategies using commercial ACs or biochars (obtained by a 500°C or 700°C pyrolysis of 4 distinct type of wood). This study involved three experimental steps. The first one characterized specific surface areas of biochars and ACs. The second one assessed CLD-availability of contaminated artificial soils (50 µg.g-1 of Dry Matter) amended with 5% of biochar or AC (mass basis). The third one assessed CLD bioavailability of those artificial soils through an in vivo assay. To limit ethically the number of animals, selections of the most promising media were performed between each experimental steps. Forty four castrated male 40-day-old piglets were exposed during 10 day to amended artificial soils according their group (n=4). Only treatment groups exposed through amended soil with AC presented a significant decrease of concentrations of CLD in liver and adipose tissue in comparison with the control group (p<0.001). A non-significant decrease was obtained by amending artificial soil with biochars. This decrease was particularly high for a coconut shell activated carbon were relative bioavailability was found lower than 3.2% for both tissues. This study leads to conclude that AC introduced in CLD contaminated soil should strongly reduce CLD bioavailability