Seasonal changes in the population dynamics of Aurelia aurita in Thau lagoon

Seasonal dynamics of the scyphomedusae, Aurelia aurita, was investigated twice a month from January 2010 to June 2011 and related to environmental conditions in Thau lagoon, southwestern Mediterranean Sea. Strobilation, indicated by the presence of 1 mm ephyrae, occurred from November to the middle of April. Maximum abundances up to 330 ind.100 m-3 were reached in May 2011, few weeks after the last ephyrae release. The population declines afterwards steadily until disappearing from the water column. Concurrent with increased water temperature and mesozooplankton predation during May, growth rates increased from 0.04 mm.day-1 to a peak of 4.5 mm.day-1, with a maximum bell diameter of 11.3 cm reached on the 7th May. During the study period, there was no advection of A. aurita between Thau lagoon and the coastal waters

Interannual size changes of adult Aurelia sp.5 medusae stage in the Marine Protected Area of Mljet Island South Adriatic

Aurelia aurita s.l. is the most widespread scyphozoan jellyfish that recurrently appear "en mass" and forms large aggregations mainly in coastal waters, embayments and estuaries. Beside anthropogenic factors controlling jellyfish populations climate change may play an important role. The aim of this study was to assess whether climate-related factors in absence of other anthropogenically induced stressor influence medusae size. We investigated seasonal and interannual changes in the size of Aurelia in a "jelly lake" in the National Park of Mljet Island (Croatia) where minimal human impact on the environment makes the Veliko Jezero a natural mesocosm for understanding the impact of climate change on the Aurelia population. The observed changes suggest Aurelia medusa population response to changing environment, in particular to enhanced temperature, by reduced body sizes. Comparison of Aurelia population dynamics from different regions in the Mediterranean Sea revealed the unique feature of the Veliko Jezero population. Despite the similarity of the environmental windows of medusae occurrences in the Veliko Jezero and regions in the Mediterranean Sea, medusae in the Veliko Jezero are present all year round. It seems that the lake bathymetry enables medusae to vertically migrate to deeper and cooler water layer, avoiding the limiting temperatures developed in the upper layer during the summer. These conditions may prolong the Aurelia medusae life span and together with continuous strobilation support the stability of the Aurelia medusae population all year round

Pelagic population dynamics of Aurelia sp in French Mediterranean lagoons

The pelagic dynamics of the cosmopolitan scyphozoan Aurelia sp. was investigated in three French Mediterranean lagoons, Thau, Berre and Bages-Sigean, which harbour resident populations. The annual cycles showed a common univoltine pattern in all lagoons where the presence of pelagic stages in the water column lasted similar to 8 months. Field observations showed a release of ephyrae in winter time followed by pronounced growth between April and July, when individuals reached the largest sizes, before disappearing from the water column. Maximum abundance of ephyrae and medusae were registered in Thau. Medusae abundance attained a maximum of 331 ind 100 m(-3) in Thau, 18 ind 100 m(-3) in Berre and 7 ind 100 m(-3) in Bages-Sigean lagoons. Temperature and zooplankton abundance appeared as leading factors of growth, where Bages-Sigean showed the population with higher growth rates (2.66 mm day(-1)) and maximum size (32 cm), followed by Thau (0.57-2.56 mm day(-1); 22.4 cm) and Berre (1.57-2.22 mm day(-1); 17 cm). The quantification of environmental windows used by the species showed wider ranges than previously reported in the Mediterranean Sea, which suggests a wide ecological plasticity of Aurelia spp. populations in north-western Mediterranean lagoons.GELAMED project; Total foundation [189 - "Recherche" 18902 C]; EC2CO "Ecosphere Continentale et Cotiere" programme through the DYNAMO project; OSU-OREM

Asymptotic analysis for criticality assessment of defects in mechanical structures

International audienceThe presented work is a step towards designing a numerical strategy capable of assessing the nocivity of a small defect in terms of its size and position in the structure with low computational cost, using only a mesh of the defect-free reference structure. The proposed strategy would allow to assess the criticality of defects by introducing trial micro-defects with varying positions, sizes and me- chanical properties. The main focus of the this work is to present two computational scenarios allowing to efficiently evaluate criticality considering the effect of either a fixed flaw on a region of interest or varying flaws on a fixed evaluation point

Application of asymptotic analysis to the two-scale modeling of small defects in mechanical structures

International audienceThis work aims at designing a numerical strategy towards assessing the nocivity of a small defect in terms of its size and position in a structure, at low computational cost, using only a mesh of the defect-free reference structure. The modification of the fields induced by the presence of a small defect is taken into account by using asymptotic corrections of displacements or stresses. This approach helps determining the potential criticality of defects by considering trial micro-defects with varying positions, sizes and mechanical properties, taking advantage of the fact that parametric studies on defect characteristics become feasible at virtually no extra computational cost. The proposed treatment is validated and demonstrated on two numerical examples involving 2D elastic configurations

Chain and conformation stability of solid-state DNA: implications for room temperature storage

There is currently wide interest in room temperature storage of dehydrated DNA. However, there is insufficient knowledge about its chemical and structural stability. Here, we show that solid-state DNA degradation is greatly affected by atmospheric water and oxygen at room temperature. In these conditions DNA can even be lost by aggregation. These are major concerns since laboratory plastic ware is not airtight. Chain-breaking rates measured between 70°C and 140°C seemed to follow Arrhenius’ law. Extrapolation to 25°C gave a degradation rate of about 1–40 cuts/105 nucleotides/century. However, these figures are to be taken as very tentative since they depend on the validity of the extrapolation and the positive or negative effect of contaminants, buffers or additives. Regarding the secondary structure, denaturation experiments showed that DNA secondary structure could be preserved or fully restored upon rehydration, except possibly for small fragments. Indeed, below about 500 bp, DNA fragments underwent a very slow evolution (almost suppressed in the presence of trehalose) which could end in an irreversible denaturation. Thus, this work validates using room temperature for storage of DNA if completely protected from water and oxygen

Godišnje promjene veličine adultnih primjeraka meduze Aurelia sp.5 u zaštićenom području otoka Mljeta, južni Jadran

Aurelia aurita s.l. is the most widespread scyphozoan jellyfish that recurrently appear “en mass” and forms large aggregations mainly in coastal waters, embayments and estuaries. Beside anthropogenic factors controlling jellyfish populations climate change may play an important role. The aim of this study was to assess whether climate-related factors in absence of other anthropogenically induced stressor influence medusae size. We investigated seasonal and interannual changes in the size of Aurelia in a “jelly lake” in the National Park of Mljet Island (Croatia) where minimal human impact on the environment makes the Veliko Jezero a natural mesocosm for understanding the impact of climate change on the Aurelia population. The observed changes suggest Aurelia medusa population response to changing environment, in particular to enhanced temperature, by reduced body sizes. Comparison of Aurelia population dynamics from different regions in the Mediterranean Sea revealed the unique feature of the Veliko Jezero population. Despite the similarity of the environmental windows of medusae occurrences in the Veliko Jezero and regions in the Mediterranean Sea, medusae in the Veliko Jezero are present all year round. It seems that the lake bathymetry enables medusae to vertically migrate to deeper and cooler water layer, avoiding the limiting temperatures developed in the upper layer during the summer. These conditions may prolong the Aurelia medusae life span and together with continuous strobilation support the stability of the Aurelia medusae population all year round.Aurelia aurita s.l. je najrasprostranjenija vrsta meduze unutar razreda režnjaka (Scyphozoa) koje se opetovano pojavljuje u nakupinama. Stvaraju velike agregacije većinom u obalnim vodama, zaljevima i estuarijima. Osim antropogenog, važan utjecaj na populaciju meduza mogu imati i klimatske promjene. Cilj ovog istraživanja je procjeniti u kolikoj mjeri utjecaji povezani s klimatskim promjenama, u odsutnosti drugih antropogeno induciranih stresova, utječu na veličinu meduza. Istraživali smo sezonske i godišnje promjene veličine vrste Aurelia u morskim jezerima Nacionalnog parka Mljet (hrvatska), gdje se Veliko jezero pokazalo kao idealan prirodni mezokosmos za istraživanje i razumijevanje utjecaja klimatskih promjena na populaciju ove vrste. Uočene promjene ukazuju da populacija meduze Aurelia odgovara na promjene okoliša, posebno na povišenu temperaturu smanjujući veličinu tijela. Usporedba dinamike populacije Aurelia u različitim dijelovima Sredozemlja otkriva jedinstvenu značajku populacije u Velikom jezeru. Unatoč sličnosti uvjeta okoliša u kojima se meduze pojavljuju u Velikom jezeru i ostalim područjima Sredozemlja, u Velikom jezeru su prisutne tijekom cijele godine. Očigledno, batimetrija jezera omogućava meduzama avertikalnu migraciju u dublje i hladnije slojeve, izbjegavajući površinski sloj sa povišenim vrijednostima temperature koje se razvijaju tijekom ljeta. Ovi uvjeti mogu utjecati na produžen životni vijek meduza te omogućiti stalnu strobilaciju i stabilnost populacije ove vrste tijekom cijele godine

Sanctuaire de source, sanctuaire des eaux ou simple sanctuaire en milieu humide? Découverte d'un complexe cultuel antique à Magny-Cours (Nièvre)

In advance of the future extension of the "technopole" and the construction of a service station in the district of Magny-Cours, the undertaking of two evaluations covering 15 hectares and 4 hectares, respectively, has revealed dense occupation of the site from the Neolithic period to the Middle Ages. The most important remains are associated with the Roman period and belong to a complex endowed with public buildings including several temples in an organised arrangement. This paper, preliminary to a larger study that will report on the whole of the site, is concerned specifically with the results obtained in a waterlogged area comprised within a zone that was excluded from the rescue excavations. Located near the cult buildings, this area was found to contain a deposit of ex-votos belonging to the beginning of the Roman era.À l'occasion de la future extension du " technopole " sur la commune de Magny-Cours et la création d'une aire de service, la réalisation de deux diagnostics sur 15 ha et 4 ha a permis la mise en évidence d'une occupation dense du Néolithique au Moyen Âge. La période antique rassemble l'essentiel des vestiges, appartenant à un complexe doté de monuments publics dont plusieurs temples à plan centré. Cet article, préambule à une étude globale qui concernera l'ensemble du site, se limite à la présentation des résultats acquis dans une zone humide exclue de la fouille préventive. Située à proximité d'édifices cultuels, elle a livré un dépôt d'ex-voto remontant au début de la période romaine

Pharmacology of EAPB0203, a novel imidazo[1,2-a]quinoxaline derivative with anti-tumoral activity on melanoma

International audienceIn spite of the development of new anticancer drugs by the pharmaceutical industry, melanoma and T lymphomas are diseases for which medical advances remain limited. Thus, there was an urgent need of new therapeutics with an original mechanism of action. Since several years, our group develops quinox-alinic compounds. In this paper, the first preclinical results concerning one lead compound, EAPB0203, are presented. This compound exhibits in vitro cytotoxic activity on A375 and M4Be human melanoma cell lines superior to that of imiquimod and fotemustine. A liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry method was first validated to simultaneously quantify EAPB0203 and its metabolite, EAPB0202, in rat plasma. Thereafter, the pharmacokinetic profiles of EAPB0203 were studied in rat after intravenous and intraperitoneal administrations. After intraperitoneal administration the absolute bioavailability remains limited (22.7%). In xenografted mouse, after intraperitoneal administration of 5 and 20 mg/kg, EAPB0203 is more potent than fotemustine. The survival time was increased up to 4 and 2 weeks compared to control mice and mice treated by fotemustine, respectively. The results of this study demonstrate the relationship between the dose of EAPB0203 and its effects on tumor growth. Thus, promising efficacy, tolerance and pharmacokinetic data of EAPB0203 encourage the development towards patient benefit

Thrombin modifies growth, proliferation and apoptosis of human colon organoids: a protease-activated receptor 1- and protease-activated receptor 4-dependent mechanism

International audienceExperimental Approach: Crypts were isolated from human colonic resections and cultured for 6 days, forming human colon organoids. Cultured organoids were exposed to 10 and 50 mU·mL−1 of thrombin, in the presence or not of protease‐activated receptor (PAR) antagonists. Organoid morphology, metabolism, proliferation and apoptosis were followed.Key Results: Thrombin favoured organoid maturation leading to a decreased number of immature cystic structures and a concomitant increased number of larger structures releasing cell debris and apoptotic cells. The size of budding structures, metabolic activity and proliferation were significantly reduced in organoid cultures exposed to thrombin, while apoptosis was dramatically increased. Both PAR1 and PAR4 antagonists inhibited apoptosis regardless of thrombin doses. Thrombin‐induced inhibition of proliferation and metabolic activity were reversed by PAR4 antagonist for thrombin's lowest dose and by PAR1 antagonist for thrombin's highest dose.Conclusions and Implications: Overall, our data suggest that the presence of thrombin in the vicinity of human colon epithelial cells favours their maturation at the expense of their regenerative capacities. Our data point to thrombin and its two receptors PAR1 and PAR4 as potential molecular targets for epithelial repair therapies