Concordance between SIVA, IVAN, and VAMPIRE software tools for semi-automated analysis of retinal vessel caliber

We aimed to compare measurements from three of the most widely used software packages in the literature and to generate conversion algorithms for measurement of the central retinal artery equivalent (CRAE) and central retinal vein equivalent (CRVE) between SIVA and IVAN and between SIVA and VAMPIRE. We analyzed 223 retinal photographs from 133 human participants using both SIVA, VAMPIRE and IVAN independently for computing CRAE and CRVE. Agreement between measurements was assessed using Bland–Altman plots and intra-class correlation coefficients. A conversion algorithm between measurements was carried out using linear regression, and validated using bootstrapping and root-mean-square error. The agreement between VAMPIRE and IVAN was poor to moderate: The mean difference was 20.2 µm (95% limits of agreement, LOA, −12.2–52.6 µm) for CRAE and 21.0 µm (95% LOA, −17.5–59.5 µm) for CRVE. The agreement between VAMPIRE and SIVA was also poor to moderate: the mean difference was 36.6 µm (95% LOA, −12.8–60.4 µm) for CRAE, and 40.3 µm (95% LOA, 5.6–75.0 µm) for CRVE. The agreement between IVAN and SIVA was good to excellent: the mean difference was 16.4 µm (95% LOA, −4.25–37.0 µm) for CRAE, and 19.3 µm (95% LOA, 0.09–38.6 µm) for CRVE. We propose an algorithm converting IVAN and VAMPIRE measurements into SIVA-estimated measurements, which could be used to homogenize sets of vessel measurements obtained with different software packages

Metabolic Adaptation of Ralstonia solanacearum during Plant Infection: A Methionine Biosynthesis Case Study

MetE and MetH are two distinct enzymes that catalyze a similar biochemical reaction during the last step of methionine biosynthesis, MetH being a cobalamin-dependent enzyme whereas MetE activity is cobalamin-independent. In this work, we show that the last step of methionine synthesis in the plant pathogen Ralstonia solanacearum is under the transcriptional control of the master pathogenicity regulator HrpG. This control is exerted essentially on metE expression through the intermediate regulator MetR. Expression of metE is strongly and specifically induced in the presence of plant cells in a hrpG- and metR-dependent manner. metE and metR mutants are not auxotrophic for methionine and not affected for growth inside the plant but produce significantly reduced disease symptoms on tomato whereas disruption of metH has no impact on pathogenicity. The finding that the pathogen preferentially induces metE expression rather than metH in the presence of plant cells is indicative of a probable metabolic adaptation to physiological host conditions since this induction of metE occurs in an environment in which cobalamin, the required co-factor for MetH, is absent. It also shows that MetE and MetH are not functionally redundant and are deployed during specific stages of the bacteria lifecycle, the expression of metE and metH being controlled by multiple and distinct signals

Comparison of Topical Instillation from Single- and Multi-dose Eye Drop Containers in Glaucoma

International audienc

Guide pour la mise en oeuvre de la gouvernance en appui au développement durable des territoires

Les multiples réformes des collectivités et des politiques publiques, associées à la croissance des pratiques participatives, induisent une complexité croissante des processus de développement territorial. Celle-ci interroge les modalités d'accompagnement de la gouvernance territoriale pour qu'elle ne soit ni un mythe, ni une figure rhétorique, mais un outil d'intelligence territoriale en faveur d'un développement partagé et harmonieux des territoires. Ces évolutions génèrent d'importants besoins d'adaptation auxquels ce guide tente de répondre en tant qu'"outil" facilitant l'apprentissage et stimulant la réflexivité. Il constitue en effet un "outil" de réflexivité et d'accompagnement pour la mise en oeuvre d'actions en appui à la gouvernance territoriale. En cela, il contribue à l'ingénierie de la gouvernance territoriale définie comme "l'ensemble des méthodes et outils permettant la coordination, la participation et l'apprentissage des acteurs ainsi que le pilotage des projets de territoires". Cette ingénierie de la gouvernance intègre ainsi une partie de l'ingénierie territoriale. L'ensemble des dimensions de la gouvernance est abordé, et pas uniquement ses aspects relatifs à la participation ou la concertation auxquels la gouvernance a trop souvent tendance à être assimilée et pour lesquels il existe déjà de nombreux guides