La forêt dans le Plan Climat du Pays d'Aubagne et de l'Etoile : de la stratégie à la mise en uvre -

L'exemple de la communauté d'agglomération du Pays d'Aubagne et de l'Etoile est intéressant à double titre. Nous avons ici une collectivité qui a fait le choix politique de pas subir le changement climatique et qui se propose d'anticiper les évolutions climatiques à travers la mise en place d'une politique d'adaptation. Ce territoire est aussi exemplaire en matière forestière, car tout en utilisant les outils déjà existants à sa disposition, il s'ouvre au monde de la recherche et de l'expérimentation pour essayer de répondre concrètement aux nombreuses interrogations qui demeurent

Comparison of Computational Results with a Low-g, Nitrogen Slosh and Boiling Experiment

This paper compares a fluid/thermal simulation, in Fluent, with a low-g, nitrogen slosh and boiling experiment. In 2010, the French Space Agency, CNES, performed cryogenic nitrogen experiments in a low-g aircraft campaign. From one parabolic flight, a low-g interval was simulated that focuses on low-g motion of nitrogen liquid and vapor with significant condensation, evaporation, and boiling. The computational results are compared with high-speed video, pressure data, heat transfer, and temperature data from sensors on the axis of the cylindrically shaped tank. These experimental and computational results compare favorably. The initial temperature stratification is in good agreement, and the two-phase fluid motion is qualitatively captured. Temperature data is matched except that the temperature sensors are unable to capture fast temperature transients when the sensors move from wet to dry (liquid to vapor) operation. Pressure evolution is approximately captured, but condensation and evaporation rate modeling and prediction need further theoretical analysis

Entropy and holography constraints for inhomogeneous universes

We calculated the entropy of a class of inhomogeneous dust universes. Allowing spherical symmetry, we proposed a holographic principle by reflecting all physical freedoms on the surface of the apparent horizon. In contrast to flat homogeneous counterparts, the principle may break down in some models, though these models are not quite realistic. We refined fractal parabolic solutions to have a reasonable entropy value for the present observable universe and found that the holographic principle always holds in the realistic cases.Comment: 4 pages, revtex style, 3 figures in 8 eps-file

Effects of left ventricular assist device on pulmonary functions and pulmonary hemodynamics: A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Given current evidence, the effect of left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation on pulmonary function tests remains controversial. AIM: To better understand the factors contributing to the changes seen on pulmonary function testing and the correlation with pulmonary hemodynamics after LVAD implantation. METHODS: Electronic databases were queried to identify relevant articles. The summary effect size was estimated as a difference of overall means and standard deviation on a random-effects model. RESULTS: A total of four studies comprising 219 patients were included. The overall mean forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC) and diffusion lung capacity of carbon monoxide (DLCO) after LVAD implantation were significantly lower by 0.23 L (95%CI: 0.11-0.34, P = 00002), 0.18 L (95%CI: 0.03-0.34, P = 0.02), and 3.16 mmol/min (95%CI: 2.17-4.14, P \u3c 0.00001), respectively. The net post-LVAD mean value of the cardiac index was significantly higher by 0.49 L/min/m2 (95%CI: 0.31-0.66, P \u3c 0.00001) compared to pre-LVAD value. The pulmonary capillary wedge pressure and pulmonary vascular resistance were significantly reduced after LVAD implantation by 8.56 mmHg (95%CI: 3.78-13.35, P = 0.0004), and 0.83 Woods U (95%CI: 0.11-1.55, P = 0.02), respectively. There was no significant difference observed in the right atrial pressure after LVAD implantation (0.61 mmHg, 95%CI: -2.00 to 3.32, P = 0.65). Overall findings appear to be driven by studies using HeartMateII devices. CONCLUSION: LVAD implantation might be associated with a significant reduction of the spirometric measures, including FEV1, FVC, and DLCO, and an overall improvement of pulmonary hemodynamics

Mapping QTL for bruchid resistance in rice bean (Vigna umbellata)

This research articles was published in Euphytica journal, volume 207, 2016The damage caused to stored seed by bruchids (Callosobruchus maculatus) is considered to be a major production constraint in rice bean (Vigna umbellata). Breeding for genetically determined resistance is the most environmentally benign and cost-effective means to mitigate the losses to bruchid infestation. Here, a screen of rice bean germplasm identified two sources of resistance, and determined the genetic basis of the resistance using a quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping approach. The two resistant accessions (LRB238 and JP100304) were each crossed to a common susceptible cultivar (LRB26) to generate F2 mapping populations, one of which (LRB238 × LRB26) was genotyped with a range of Vigna sp. microsatellite assays and by sequence related amplified polymorphism (SRAP) fingerprinting. The resulting linkage map comprised ten linkage groups and covered a genetic distance of 872.1 cM with a mean inter-marker distance of 32.05 cM. The subsequent QTL analysis detected the presence of 11 QTL, distributed over all ten linkage groups, most of which were associated with the % damage caused to the seed. Two major QTL, Cmpd1.5 (flanked by the SRAP markers E2M9-270 and E12M7-311) and Cmpd1.6 (flanked by the SRAP marker E7M10-141 and the microsatellite locus CEDG259) mapped within 11.9 cM and 13.0 cM of the flanking markers, respectively, accounted for, 67.3 and 77.4 % of the variance respectively, for % damaged seeds. A bulked segregation analysis carried out in the JP100304 × LRB26 population revealed that the resistance donor harboured some resistance factors not represented in LRB238

Evaluation of polygenic risk scores for breast and ovarian cancer risk prediction in BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers

Background: Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified 94 common single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with breast cancer (BC) risk and 18 associated with ovarian cancer (OC) risk. Several of these are also associated with risk of BC or OC for women who carry a pathogenic mutation in the high-risk BC and OC genes BRCA1 or BRCA2. The combined effects of these variants on BC or OC risk for BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers have not yet been assessed while their clinical management could benefit from improved personalized risk estimates. Methods: We constructed polygenic risk scores (PRS) using BC and OC susceptibility SNPs identified through population-based GWAS: for BC (overall, estrogen receptor [ER]-positive, and ER-negative) and for OC. Using data from 15 252 female BRCA1 and 8211 BRCA2 carriers, the association of each PRS with BC or OC risk was evaluated using a weighted cohort approach, with time to diagnosis as the outcome and estimation of the hazard ratios (HRs) per standard deviation increase in the PRS. Results: The PRS for ER-negative BC displayed the strongest association with BC risk in BRCA1 carriers (HR = 1.27, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.23 to 1.31, P = 8.2 x 10(53)). In BRCA2 carriers, the strongest association with BC risk was seen for the overall BC PRS (HR = 1.22, 95% CI = 1.17 to 1.28, P = 7.2 x 10(-20)). The OC PRS was strongly associated with OC risk for both BRCA1 and BRCA2 carriers. These translate to differences in absolute risks (more than 10% in each case) between the top and bottom deciles of the PRS distribution; for example, the OC risk was 6% by age 80 years for BRCA2 carriers at the 10th percentile of the OC PRS compared with 19% risk for those at the 90th percentile of PRS. Conclusions: BC and OC PRS are predictive of cancer risk in BRCA1 and BRCA2 carriers. Incorporation of the PRS into risk prediction models has promise to better inform decisions on cancer risk management