Establishment and analysis of a reference transcriptome for Spodoptera frugiperda

International audienceBackground Spodoptera frugiperda (Noctuidae) is a major agricultural pest throughout the American continent. The highly polyphagous larvae are frequently devastating crops of importance such as corn, sorghum, cotton and grass. In addition, the Sf9 cell line, widely used in biochemistry for in vitro protein production, is derived from S. frugiperda tissues. Many research groups are using S. frugiperda as a model organism to investigate questions such as plant adaptation, pest behavior or resistance to pesticides.ResultsIn this study, we constructed a reference transcriptome assembly (Sf_TR2012b) of RNA sequences obtained from more than 35 S. frugiperda developmental time-points and tissue samples. We assessed the quality of this reference transcriptome by annotating a ubiquitous gene family - ribosomal proteins - as well as gene families that have a more constrained spatio-temporal expression and are involved in development, immunity and olfaction. We also provide a time-course of expression that we used to characterize the transcriptional regulation of the gene families studied.ConclusionWe conclude that the Sf_TR2012b transcriptome is a valid reference transcriptome. While its reliability decreases for the detection and annotation of genes under strong transcriptional constraint we still recover a fair percentage of tissue-specific transcripts. That allowed us to explore the spatial and temporal expression of genes and to observe that some olfactory receptors are expressed in antennae and palps but also in other non related tissues such as fat bodies. Similarly, we observed an interesting interplay of gene families involved in immunity between fat bodies and antennae

Search for gravitational-lensing signatures in the full third observing run of the LIGO-Virgo network

Gravitational lensing by massive objects along the line of sight to the source causes distortions of gravitational wave-signals; such distortions may reveal information about fundamental physics, cosmology and astrophysics. In this work, we have extended the search for lensing signatures to all binary black hole events from the third observing run of the LIGO--Virgo network. We search for repeated signals from strong lensing by 1) performing targeted searches for subthreshold signals, 2) calculating the degree of overlap amongst the intrinsic parameters and sky location of pairs of signals, 3) comparing the similarities of the spectrograms amongst pairs of signals, and 4) performing dual-signal Bayesian analysis that takes into account selection effects and astrophysical knowledge. We also search for distortions to the gravitational waveform caused by 1) frequency-independent phase shifts in strongly lensed images, and 2) frequency-dependent modulation of the amplitude and phase due to point masses. None of these searches yields significant evidence for lensing. Finally, we use the non-detection of gravitational-wave lensing to constrain the lensing rate based on the latest merger-rate estimates and the fraction of dark matter composed of compact objects

Search for eccentric black hole coalescences during the third observing run of LIGO and Virgo

Despite the growing number of confident binary black hole coalescences observed through gravitational waves so far, the astrophysical origin of these binaries remains uncertain. Orbital eccentricity is one of the clearest tracers of binary formation channels. Identifying binary eccentricity, however, remains challenging due to the limited availability of gravitational waveforms that include effects of eccentricity. Here, we present observational results for a waveform-independent search sensitive to eccentric black hole coalescences, covering the third observing run (O3) of the LIGO and Virgo detectors. We identified no new high-significance candidates beyond those that were already identified with searches focusing on quasi-circular binaries. We determine the sensitivity of our search to high-mass (total mass M>70 M⊙) binaries covering eccentricities up to 0.3 at 15 Hz orbital frequency, and use this to compare model predictions to search results. Assuming all detections are indeed quasi-circular, for our fiducial population model, we place an upper limit for the merger rate density of high-mass binaries with eccentricities 0<e≤0.3 at 0.33 Gpc−3 yr−1 at 90\% confidence level

Ultralight vector dark matter search using data from the KAGRA O3GK run

Among the various candidates for dark matter (DM), ultralight vector DM can be probed by laser interferometric gravitational wave detectors through the measurement of oscillating length changes in the arm cavities. In this context, KAGRA has a unique feature due to differing compositions of its mirrors, enhancing the signal of vector DM in the length change in the auxiliary channels. Here we present the result of a search for U(1)B−L gauge boson DM using the KAGRA data from auxiliary length channels during the first joint observation run together with GEO600. By applying our search pipeline, which takes into account the stochastic nature of ultralight DM, upper bounds on the coupling strength between the U(1)B−L gauge boson and ordinary matter are obtained for a range of DM masses. While our constraints are less stringent than those derived from previous experiments, this study demonstrates the applicability of our method to the lower-mass vector DM search, which is made difficult in this measurement by the short observation time compared to the auto-correlation time scale of DM

A complete fronthaul CWDM single fiber solution including improved monitoring scheme

International audienceFronthaul is a network segment between Remote Radio Head (RRH) situated on the antenna site, and the Base Band Unit (BBU) localized in the Central Office. It uses the Common Public Radio Interface protocol (CPRI). A point to point physical topology can be used, but the deployment of thisconfiguration uses a lot of optical resources. Coarse Wavelength Division Multiplexing (CWDM) dual fiber and single fiber links can be used to reduce the number of optical fibers. This paper focuses on single fiber links. The difficulty to build a complete fronthaul single fiber solution is to provide a monitoring system in addition to CPRI data transport. We propose to characterize, in terms of Bit Error Rate (BER) CPRI requirements, a fronthaul CWDM single fiber link up to 4.9 Gbits/s. Furthermore, an innovative single fiber monitoring scheme, based on the reduction of Rayleigh Backscattering light in the fiber is illustrated. This reduction is carried out due to the combination of a Polarization Beam Combiner and a Faraday Rotator Mirror

Chamigny (Seine-et-Marne), Rue de la Marne-RD 80 : Lieu-dit "La Grande Maison" [rapport de fouille]

La fouille prescrite au lieu-dit "La Grande Maison" a livré d'importants enseignements pour l'occupation de ce secteur à la période néolithique, ainsi que pour le premier Moyen Âge.Outre la présence d'une large fosse isolée attribuable au Néolithique ancien (VSG), la parcelle a révélé la présence d'une sépulture collective et d'un ensemble mégalithique.La sépulture collective, aménagée durant le Néolithique récent, présente une seconde occupation funéraire au Néolithique final, après l'installation d'un "sole de dallettes calcaires séparant les deux niveaux. Si son architecture originelle demeure incertaine en raison des nombreuses perturbations postérieures, la présence de larges fosses "grignotant" le pourtour de l'ensemble funéraire suggère une mise en œuvre de plusieurs orthostates : ces creusements semblent en effet liés à un épierrement lors de la mise en culture moderne de la parcelle.A 80 m à l'ouest, en limite du talweg formé par le passage du rû de la Marne, un ensemble de 3 pierres, volontairement débitées et gravées, a été retrouvé dans les niveaux de limons. Ces trois "stèles", couchées bien avant l'occupation médiévale du site, comprennent notamment un mégalithe dont la gravure pourrait s'apparenter à celle des "statues-menhirs" néolithiques.La parcelle connaît ensuite un long "abandon", puisque les traces d'une activité humaine ne ré-apparaissent qu'à l'aube du VIIe siècle. A cette période, 2 chemins parallèles semblent desservir le site : le premier constitue les prémices de la rue de La Marne, le long du rû à l'ouest, tandis que le second traverse le décapage à 150 m vers l'est. Si la "rue de la Marne" présente une forte densité d'occupation à ses abords, comparée au chemin est qui n'agrège que quelques structures limitées par un petit enclos, il est nécessaire de prendre en compte la grande disparité topographique liée à la présence du talweg, induisant un arasement très important du secteur est. Dès cette période, le site est animé par la production de céramique, notamment illustrée par la présence de deux fours distants d'une cinquantaine de mètres. Le diagnostic avait révélé la présence de rebuts de production mérovingiens également au nord-est (hors zone de fouille), le long du second chemin. L'activité potière se poursuit sur le site jusqu'à la fin du Xe siècle au moins ; elle est illustrée par la présence de trois nouveaux fours dans la zone 1, formant un véritable pôle artisanal pérenne en dessous et autour du chemin de la Grande Maison, qui s'avère très récent (tout comme le tracé du rû qui le borde). Les nombreux rebuts de céramique permettent de dresser un profil assez riche de cette production. Outre l'activité potière, une petite activité de métallurgie des alliages cuivreux semble se développer dans le secteur nord-ouest de la fouille. Au tournant des XIe-XIIe siècles, l'habitat se contracte le long de la rue de la Marne, ne formant plus qu'un îlot unique sans doute matérialisé de manière ultime par la présence d'un bâtiment à fondation de pierres et de quelques fonds de cabane en arrière-cours.Si l'artisanat n'est plus réellement attesté dans ces contextes, quelques éléments mobiliers ainsi que le profil de l'alimentation carnée semblent trahir un habitat privilégié, à mi-chemin entre l'église Saint-Étienne et la ferme Godefroy, tous deux attestés par les textes au moment de l'abandon définitif de l'habitat sur l'emprise de fouille

Performance demonstration of fiber and wireless fronthaul combination with remote powering

International audienceAn architecture combining optical fiber and wireless fronthaul is introduced. Tests have been performed on a LTE fronthaul link measuring the impact of this combination on EVM, jitter and frequency accuracy

Fronthaul Performance Demonstration in a WDM-PON-Based Convergent Network

International audienceCloud Radio Access Network (C-RAN) and Fixed Mobile Convergence (FMC) receive a lot of attention recently because of the cost decrease and the performance improvement that they represent for telecommunications’ operators. In this paper, a fixed/mobile convergent architecture is introduced based on the integration of fronthaul links with fiber access infrastructure and central office assets. Tests have been performed on a wireline business service and an LTE fronthaul link measuring performances in terms of Ethernet frame loss, BER and jitter on the CPRI protocol data transport and finally EVM and frequency accuracy on the LTE signal

Effects of in vivo exposure to tritium: a multi-biomarker approach using the fathead minnow, Pimephales promelas

International audienceTritium (3H) is a radioactive isotope of hydrogen. In the environment, the most common form of tritium is tritiated water (HTO). However, tritium can also be incorporated into organic molecules, forming organically bound tritium (OBT). The present study characterized the effects of tritium on the health of the fathead minnow, Pimephales promelas. Fish were exposed to a gradient of HTO (activity concentrations of 12,000, 25,000 and 180,000 Bq/L) and OBT using food spiked with tritiated amino acids (OBT only, with an activity concentration of 27,000 Bq/L). A combined exposure condition where fish were placed in 25,000 Bq/L water and received OBT through feed was also studied. Fish were exposed for 60 days, followed by a 60 day depuration period. A battery of health biomarkers were measured in fish tissues at seven time points throughout the 120 days required to complete the exposure and depuration phases. HTO and OBT were also measured in fish tissues at the same time points. Results showed effects of increasing tritium activity concentrations in water after 60 days of exposure. The internal dose rates of tritium, estimated from the tissue free-water tritium (TFWT) and OBT activity concentrations, reached a maximum of 0.65 µGy/h, which is relatively low considering background levels. No effects were observed on survival, fish condition, and metabolic indices (gonado-, hepato- and spleno- somatic indexes (GSI, HSI, SSI), RNA/DNA and proteins/DNA ratios). Multivariate analyses showed that several biomarkers (DNA damages, micronucleus (MN) frequency, brain acetylcholinesterase (AChE), lysosomal membrane integrity (LMI), phagocytosis activity and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production) were exclusively correlated with fish tritium internal dose rate, showing that tritium induced genotoxicity, as well as neural and immune responses. The results were compared with another study on the same fish species where fish were exposed to tritium and other contaminants in natural environments. Together with the field study, the present work provides useful data to identify biomarkers for tritium exposure and better understand modes of action of tritium on the fathead minnow