Hybrid data driven/thermal simulation model for comfort assessment

Machine learning models improve the speed and quality of physical models. However, they require a large amount of data, which is often difficult and costly to acquire. Predicting thermal comfort, for example, requires a controlled environment, with participants presenting various characteristics (age, gender, ...). This paper proposes a method for hybridizing real data with simulated data for thermal comfort prediction. The simulations are performed using Modelica Language. A benchmarking study is realized to compare different machine learning methods. Obtained results look promising with an F1 score of 0.999 obtained using the random forest model

An apple amiRNA efficiently silences the phytoene desaturase gene in apple.

National audienceArtificial miRNA (amiRNA) is a powerful technology to silence genes of interest with a high specificity, either to validate their function or to create new traits. To set up such a gene regulation tool for apple, we designed two amiRNA constructs based on an apple endogenous miRNA backbone that was previously characterized (Md-miRNA156h), and we checked their efficiency on an easily scorable marker gene: the phytoene desaturase gene (PDS). Two pairs of miRNA:miRNA* regions were designed according to the recommendations published by Whartman et al. (2008). The monocistronic Md-miRNA156h with these PDS targets was placed under the CaMV 35S promoter and cloned using the Gateway recombination method in the destination plasmid pK7WG2D, generating the two plasmids pAmiPDS-h and pAmiPDS-w. Two Agrobacterium-mediated transformation experiments were performed on the cultivar ‘Gala’, with a rate of transformation of 2 % for pAmiPDS-w and 3.4 % for pAmiPDS-h. In total, 5 and 10 independent transgenic clones were recovered, respectively. Most transgenic lines had a typical albino and dwarf phenotype. However, three clones had a wild type green phenotype. Molecular analyses are underway to correlate the phenotype with the degree of expression of the amiRNA gene and of the PDS gene. This study is the first demonstration in apple of the functionality of an amiRNA based on an endogenous miRNA backbone. It provides important opportunities for apple genetic functional studies as well as apple genetic improvement projects

High-affinity nitrate/nitrite transporter genes (Nrt2) in Tisochrysis lutea: identification and expression analyses reveal some interesting specificities of Haptophyta microalgae

Microalgae have a diversity of industrial applications such as feed, food ingredients, depuration processes and energy. However, microalgal production costs could be substantially improved by controlling nutrient intake. Accordingly, a better understanding of microalgal nitrogen metabolism is essential. Using in silico analysis from transcriptomic data concerning the microalgae Tisochrysis lutea, four genes encoding putative high-affinity nitrate/nitrite transporters (TlNrt2) were identified. Unlike most of the land plants and microalgae, cloning of genomic sequences and their alignment with complementary DNA (cDNA) sequences did not reveal the presence of introns in all TlNrt2 genes. The deduced TlNRT2 protein sequences showed similarities to NRT2 proteins of other phyla such as land plants and green algae. However, some interesting specificities only known among Haptophyta were also revealed, especially an additional sequence of 100 amino acids forming an atypical extracellular loop located between transmembrane domains 9 and 10 and the function of which remains to be elucidated. Analyses of individual TlNrt2 gene expression with different nitrogen sources and concentrations were performed. TlNrt2.1 and TlNrt2.3 were strongly induced by low NO3− concentration and repressed by NH4+ substrate and were classified as inducible genes. TlNrt2.2 was characterized by a constitutive pattern whatever the substrate. Finally, TlNrt2.4 displayed an atypical response that was not reported earlier in literature. Interestingly, expression of TlNrt2.4 was rather related to internal nitrogen quota level than external nitrogen concentration. This first study on nitrogen metabolism of T. lutea opens avenues for future investigations on the function of these genes and their implication for industrial applications

A BIODIVERSITY PROGRAM FOR GOLF COURSES - A national study program to improve the knowledge about biodiversity, its conservation, fostering its establishement on French golf courses

In France, the total surface occupied by golf courses is of 30 000 ha. On most of golf courses, playing areas represent about 1/2 of the total surface. The remaining areas are usually natural ones such as meadows, ponds, hedges, etc. Golf courses can thus host a wide range of unrecognized and therefore underestimated biodiversity. Since 2016, the French Golf Federation (ffgolf) and the National Museum of Natural History (MNHN) have entered a partnership. One of the objectives of such a collaboration is to design a methodological support to develop a database and a tool to assess and monitor biodiversity at golf course scale: The Biodiversity Program on French golf courses was born. The objectives of this program are to assess the ecological issues on golf courses at a national scale, to improve the knowledge, the management and the conservation of biodiversity on golf courses. 1) Develop and share knowledge relating to nature and increase awareness about the natural heritage in order to foster its value. 2) Promote the conservation of biodiversity on golfing areas, improving its integration and developing hosting areas. 3) Raise awareness for ecological issues. 4) Build constructive partnerships at a local scale with biodiversity stakeholders. Through 3 progressive levels, the Program, a voluntary approach, helps golf courses to take into account biodiversity. The Program coordinates the implementation of naturalist studies, with the support of local naturalist bodies. All naturalist standardized data are integrated into the French natural heritage data platform (INPN: https://inpn.mnhn.fr). Ecological issues are identified and put in perspective with golf courses' management teams who are encouraged to improve their practices applying the recommendations. The Program has already been tested with success on 4 different golf courses. 2017 has been the ‘pilot’ year of the Biodiversity Program for Golf courses. 2018 is the official kick-off year of the Program and we present the first results. We are already considering to develop a similar Program for French Overseas Territories with a deployment to foreign countries and many other sports federations.peerReviewe

Towards the optimization of genetic polymorphism with EMS-induced mutagenesis in Phaeodactylum tricornutum

Microalgae remain an exciting target for biotechnology as they offer a largely unexploited reservoir of novel and valuable bioactive compounds. Strain improvement programs are an expanding research field aiming to multiply microalgal potential. This study evaluates the genetic diversity created in populations of the diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum subjected to random mutagenesis. We explored the genetic diversity using genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) to estimate and compare the impact of the most common chemical mutagen (ethyl methanesulfonate, EMS). Five microalga populations obtained following EMS treatment had survival rates between 1 and 98 %. High genetic diversity was obtained for only one of these P. tricornutum populations, with a survival rate close to 30 %

Genetic and phenotypic intra-species diversity of alga Tisochrysis lutea reveals original genetic structure and domestication potential

Oceanic phytoplankton species are generally composed of many strains, with intra-species diversity consisting of genetic and phenotypic variability. Despite its importance in ecological and biotechnological contexts, this intra-species diversity and variation among strains has been little studied. We investigated the intra-species diversity of the microalga Tisochrysis lutea, a haptophyte of the Isochrysidales order. Inter-strain diversity of T. lutea was studied because of the economic importance of the species as a feed in aquaculture and for antioxidant metabolite production, particularly fucoxanthin and other carotenoids, which have health benefits. We analysed Tara Ocean datasets which revealed that T. lutea was present in the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans but not in the Arctic or Austral Oceans. We next made phenotypic and genotypic comparisons of 11 strains of T. lutea from worldwide algal collections. All strains were cultivated in the same controlled conditions for one week, and several phenotypic traits were measured, notably antioxidant content. In parallel, the genomes of each strain were sequenced, and genetic variants identified. At the genetic and phenotypic levels, the strains were distinct from each other and our analysis revealed natural trait variations of interest in relation to further exploitation in domestication programmes. A large number of genetic variations were identified among the strains, but no major differences in genome size were observed. Moreover, limited genetic structure was observed among these strains, which could be a consequence of the complex life history of species within the Isochrysidales. Our study provides new knowledge on the intra-species diversity that should be considered in future environmental studies and breeding programmes. Highlights Tisochrysis lutea is found in many parts of the world’s oceans. T. lutea has high inter-strain phenotypic and genomic variation. Genetic structure of strains from culture collections is limited

Er3+-doped Ga-Ge-Sb-S Thin Films: A Comparative Study of Sputtering and Pulsed Laser Deposition Techniques

International audienc

Er3+-doped Ga-Ge-Sb-S Thin Films: A Comparative Study of Sputtering and Pulsed Laser Deposition Techniques

International audienc