Control of cell division in the adult brain by heparan sulfates in fractones and vascular basement membranes

Regulation of cell division in adult tissues and organs requires the coordination of growth factors at the surface of potentially-dividing cells in specific anatomic loci named germinal niches. However, the biological components and physiological system that control growth factors in the germinal niches are unknown. In the adult brain, no function has been attributed to fractones, the fractal-shaped extracellular matrix structures located in the subventricular zone (SVZ) next to neural stem and progenitor cells. Here, we show that BMP-7 (bone morphogenetic protein-7) and FGF-2 (fibroblast growth factor-2) modulate cell division in the SVZ only if the growth factors bind to heparan sulfates localized in fractones and adjoined vascular basement membranes. Our results strongly suggest that fractones and specialized basement membranes function as stem cell niche structures, capturing and potentiating growth factors to regulate cell division in the adult brain

Change Drivers across Supply Chains: The Case of Fishery and Aquaculture in France

AbstractChange drivers across supply chains arise either from the production area or from the goods circulation area. A change in production can have a stronger impact on supply chains than a change in goods circulation. In particular, innovations inspired by sustainable development concerns which are firstly introduced within the production system, as some authors point out [Blanquart et al. (2008)], may greatly influence logistical organizations. Their introduction within supply chains requires more time [Roussat and Fabbe-Costes (2014)].Change drivers may be institutional, commercial, technical, or managerial. Their types and features vary across periods and industries. Some may have quick-impact consequences, others will be slow in showing their effects on the whole supply chain.Three types of change drivers are currently main issues when consumer goods are concerned. Measures for preserving natural resources, with waste management and recycling of end-of-life products in order to minimize the consumption of non renewable resources, make up the first type of drivers. The second type is the ever wider use of online purchases, which disturbs B to B and B to C relationships as well as urban logistics and the last mile delivery terms. Thirdly, changes in logistical organizations of mass retailers may direct traffic flows via new logistics hubs.Food products are concerned by these change drivers in a specific way. Although some of them such as schools of fish may be renewable, natural resources must be protected. Reverse logistics processes are mainly confined to packaging because of the very nature of food. Distance purchases are steadily rising. While the market dependency upon mass retail firms is high, short supply circuits relying on local producers also attract consumers. Within the agri-food sector, the industry of fishery and aquaculture products is a major one feeding billion people around the world. In Europe, it employs approximately 267 000 full time equivalent workers [European Union (2014)], provides activity for hundreds of seaports, and positively contributes to local economies in peripheral shore areas. The paper therefore focuses on the situation of fishery and aquaculture products. The analysis highlights the situation of the whole supply chain within this specific food industry, allowing to achieve a non-fragmented view of it. It also clarifies, from a qualitative viewpoint, the respective role of sustainable development-based change drivers and the others, allowing to point out those giving impetus to changes.The analysis relies on a survey of academic literature and specialized publications, and on interviews with experts and key market players. It highlights the specific adaptations of supply chains within this valuable industry fully integrated in a global business world. It points out the first impacts of sustainable development concern decisions compared with those of other change drivers and illustrates how both kinds of impact interact to shape supply chain schemes

The completeness of intervention descriptions in published National Institute of Health Research HTA-funded trials: a cross-sectional study

ObjectivesThe objective of this study was to assess whether National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment (HTA)-funded randomised controlled trials (RCTs) published in the HTA journal were described in sufficient detail to replicate in practice.SettingRCTs published in the HTA journal.Participants98 RCTs published in the HTA journal up to March 2011. Completeness of the intervention description was assessed independently by two researchers using a checklist, which included assessments of participants, intensity, schedule, materials and settings. Disagreements in scoring were discussed in the team; differences were then explored and resolved.Primary and secondary outcome measuresProportion of trials rated as having a complete description of the intervention (primary outcome measure). The proportion of drug trials versus psychological and non-drug trials rated as having a complete description of the intervention (secondary outcome measures).ResultsComponents of the intervention description were missing in 68/98 (69.4%) reports. Baseline characteristics and descriptions of settings had the highest levels of completeness with over 90% of reports complete. Reports were less complete on patient information with 58.2% of the journals having an adequate description. When looking at individual intervention types, drug intervention descriptions were more complete than non-drug interventions with 33.3% and 30.6% levels of completeness, respectively, although this was not significant statistically. Only 27.3% of RCTs with psychological interventions were deemed to be complete, although again these differences were not significant statistically.ConclusionsEnsuring the replicability of study interventions is an essential part of adding value in research. All those publishing clinical trial data need to ensure transparency and completeness in the reporting of interventions to ensure that study interventions can be replicated

Relationship between the ATP content measured at three imbibition times and germination of onion seeds during storage at 3, 15 and 30°C

The possibility of using ATP content as an indicator of seed quality was studied in onion seeds {Allium cepa cv. Wädenswil). The percentage germination and ATP content of imbibed seeds were compared during 145 weeks of storage at three temperatures (3, 15 and 30°C). ATP content, which was undetectable in airdried seeds (moisture content: 9%, w/w), increased rapidly as a function of imbibition time, as did the fresh weight and respiration rate, reaching a steady-state level after about 17 h. After 36 weeks of storage, the rate of ATP formation was greater for the seeds stored at 3°C than for those kept at 15 and 30°C. Furthermore, the onset of ATP synthesis was delayed. These phenomena, which are likely to be an expression of seed ageing, are useful indicators, allowing the prediction of the loss of seed viability before the decrease in percentage germination which occurred beyond 36 weeks of storage. In addition, the correlation between ATP content and germination capacity of seeds during 145 weeks of storage was excellent (r=0.95 at 15°C and 0.97 at 30°C), provided that a 17 h-imbibition time, specific for onion seeds, was chosen. These results are discussed in terms of the controversy concerning the correlation between the ATP content and germination percentage of seed

A Pol V–Mediated Silencing, Independent of RNA–Directed DNA Methylation, Applies to 5S rDNA

The plant-specific RNA polymerases Pol IV and Pol V are essential to RNA–directed DNA methylation (RdDM), which also requires activities from RDR2 (RNA–Dependent RNA Polymerase 2), DCL3 (Dicer-Like 3), AGO4 (Argonaute), and DRM2 (Domains Rearranged Methyltransferase 2). RdDM is dedicated to the methylation of target sequences which include transposable elements, regulatory regions of several protein-coding genes, and 5S rRNA–encoding DNA (rDNA) arrays. In this paper, we have studied the expression of the 5S-210 transcript, a marker of silencing release at 5S RNA genes, to show a differential impact of RNA polymerases IV and V on 5S rDNA arrays during early development of the plant. Using a combination of molecular and cytological assays, we show that Pol IV, RDR2, DRM2, and Pol V, actors of the RdDM, are required to maintain a transcriptional silencing of 5S RNA genes at chromosomes 4 and 5. Moreover, we have shown a derepression associated to chromatin decondensation specific to the 5S array from chromosome 4 and restricted to the Pol V–loss of function. In conclusion, our results highlight a new role for Pol V on 5S rDNA, which is RdDM–independent and comes specifically at chromosome 4, in addition to the RdDM pathway

Activities to support the implementation of complex interventions as part of routine care: a review of the quality of reporting in cluster randomised controlled trials

Objective: To review a sample of cluster randomised controlled trials and explore the quality of reporting of (1) enabling or support activities provided to the staff during the trial, (2) strategies used to monitor fidelity throughout the trial and (3) the extent to which the intervention being tested was delivered as planned. Design: A descriptive review. Data sources and study selection: We searched MEDLINE for trial reports published between 2008 and 2014 with combinations of the search terms 'randomised', 'cluster', 'trial', 'study', 'intervention' and 'implement∗'. We included trials in which healthcare professionals (HCPs) implemented the intervention being tested as part of routine practice. We excluded trials (1) conducted in non-health services settings, (2) where the intervention explicitly aimed to change the behaviours of the HCPs and (3) where the trials were ongoing or for which only trial protocols were available. Data collection: We developed a data extraction form using the Template for Intervention Description and Replication (TIDieR checklist). Review authors independently extracted data from the included trials and assessed quality of reporting for individual items. Results: We included 70 publications (45 results publications, 25 related publications). 89% of trials reported using enabling or support activities. How these activities were provided (75.6%, n=34) and how much was provided (73.3%, n=33) were the most frequently reported items. Less than 20% (n=8) of the included trials reported that competency checking occurred prior to implementation and data collection. 64% (n=29) of trials reported collecting measures of implementation. 44% (n=20) of trials reported data from these measures. Conclusions: Although enabling and support activities are reported in trials, important gaps exist when assessed using an established checklist. Better reporting of the supports provided in effectiveness trials will allow for informed decisions to be made about financial and resource implications for wide scale implementation of effective interventions

The worker's experience following a mild traumatic brain injury and the role of their occupational therapist in regards to insurer’s influence on the return to work process

Introduction : Suite à un traumatisme craniocérébral léger (TCCL), il est reconnu que 5 à 20% des personnes vont présenter des difficultés plus de six mois suivant leur accident, ce qui est susceptible d’affecter leur participation au travail. Un bon nombre d’entre elles nécessiteront des services de réadaptation au travail, processus qui inclut une multitude d’acteurs dont les travailleurs, les assureurs et les ergothérapeutes. Lorsque les incapacités persistent et sont associées à la présence d’un assureur dans la prise en charge d’une personne victime d’un TCCL, certains écrits ont rapporté une durée d’absence au travail prolongée. Les raisons expliquant cette association restent toutefois peu documentées. Objectif : Mieux comprendre l’influence de l’assureur sur le processus de réadaptation au travail selon la perspective des travailleurs indemnisés post-TCCL et de leur ergothérapeute. Méthodes : Un dispositif qualitatif-interprétatif a été utilisé avec un échantillonnage par choix raisonné de 8 dyades (travailleur-ergothérapeute). Un guide d’entrevue basé sur le cadre conceptuel de l’étude a été développé et pré-testé. Une entrevue individuelle semi-structurée a été réalisée avec les ergothérapeutes et les travailleurs 6 à 24 mois post-accident. Une analyse thématique par dyade a été complétée en utilisant un guide de codification mixte. Résultats : Trois dimensions au contexte d’interactions avec un assureur sont mises en lumière : 1) la reconnaissance de la légitimité des plaintes des travailleurs, 2) la qualité des interactions et 3) l’accessibilité aux services appropriés. Les participants ont identifié plusieurs éléments dans ces dimensions comme favorables à la réadaptation, soit des connaissances de l’assureur jugées bonnes, la reconnaissance de la légitimité des plaintes des travailleurs, l’adoption de comportements positifs, une disponibilité de l’assureur et un accès perçu facilité aux services de santé. Seul le manque d’information transmise sur le fonctionnement du système d’assurance et la gestion difficile des documents écrits ont été jugés défavorables par les travailleurs. L’analyse combinée de ces facteurs a permis de distinguer la présence de patrons d’influences favorables, défavorables et négligeables sur la réadaptation au travail associées à la présence d’un assureur. Conclusion : Les influences de l’assureur relevées dans cette étude sont en majorité positives, ce qui contraste avec d’autres travaux. Un contexte favorable, soit des ergothérapeutes spécialisés issus du régime public d’assurance maladie et habitués à collaborer avec les assureurs peut expliquer en partie cette distinction. C’est la première fois au Québec qu’une étude aborde la perspective de deux groupes d’acteurs distincts auprès de la population TCCL, ce qui offre des pistes de réflexion sur les facteurs susceptibles d’influencer la réadaptation au travail en présence d’un assureur.Abstract: Introduction: Following a mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI), 5 to 20% of people will present difficulties more than six months following their accident, which could affect their work participation. A good number of those people will need occupational rehabilitation services, a process that includes a multitude of actors, such as workers, insurers and occupational therapists (OT). In occurrence of persistent disabilities and associated with the presence of an insurer during the management of a patient with MTBI, some literature reported an extended absence of work. The reasons behind this association are not well documented. Objective: To better understand insurer’s influence on the return to work process after MTBI from the perspective of injured workers and their OT. Method : A descriptive qualitative interpretative approach was used with a purposive sampling of 8 dyads of worker-OT. An interview guide was developed and pre-tested. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with both the OT and the workers 6-24 months after the injury. A thematic analysis by dyads was completed using a mixed coding method. Results: Results showed three dimensions to the context of interaction with an insurer: 1) recognition of the worker’s complaints legitimacy, 2) quality of the interactions and 3) accessibility to proper healthcare services. The participants identified many elements belonging to those dimensions as key to the evolution of return to work: good knowledge of MTBI by the insurer, a recognition of the link between MTBI, symptoms and occupational disabilities, adoption of positive behaviors, availability of the insurer and access to the health services required. The lack of knowledge about insurer’s system and unclear written communications were the only elements that have been considered as unfavorable by workers. The combined analysis of those factors has enabled to distinguish the presence of favorable, unfavorable or negligible influence patterns on the occupational rehabilitation associated with the presence of an insurer. Conclusion: Insurer’s influences were mainly positive, which contrast existing literature. A favorable context whereas specialised OT from the public health insurance system are used to collaborate with insurers could partly explain this distinction. It is the first time in Quebec that a study addresses the perspective of two distinct groups of actors, which offers a line of thoughts on factors that could influence the occupational rehabilitation in the presence of an insurer

Perméabilité des barrières de transmission et évaluation du risque iatrogène associé aux agents responsables des Encéphalopathies Spongiformes Transmissibles

Les Encéphalopathies Spongiformes transmissibles (EST) sont des maladies neurodégénératives fatales caractérisées par l’accumulation d’un conformère anormal (PrPSc) d’une protéine de l’hôte (PrP). Chez l’homme, plusieurs centaines de cas de transmissions iatrogènes de la maladie de Creutzfeldt Jakob (MCJ) ont été identifiées, notamment chez des patients ayant fait l’objetd’ une greffe de dure-mère, de cornée ou des injections d’hormones de croissance extractives. Plus récemment, plusieurs cas du variant de la maladie de Creutzfeldt Jakob (vMCJ) ont été observés chez des patients transfusés avec des produits sanguins issus de donneurs en incubation de la maladie. D’un point de vue sanitaire, l’évaluation du risque de contamination interindividuelle par des tissus ou des fluides biologiques issus de patients atteints représente un enjeu important en matière de santé publique. La première partie de notre travail a consisté à comparer la sensibilité relative de modèles de souris transgéniques sur-exprimant la PrP à celle de l’hôte conventionnel exprimant la même séquence. Les résultats obtenus ont validé le concept d’une absence d’impact du niveau d’expression de la PrP ou du fond génétique de l’hôte sur la sensibilité finale du modèle à l’infection. A l’aide de ces modèles de souris transgéniques, nous avons alors mesuré les niveaux d’infectiosité dans le sang de patients atteints de différentes formes d’’EST. Chez un patient atteint de vMCJ, nous avons mis en évidence de faibles niveaux d’infectiosité dans les concentrés de globules rouges, les leucocytes et le plasma. Nous avons également pu détecter de l’infectiosité dans le plasma issu de 2 patients atteints de sMCJ sur 4 testés. Parallèlement à ces expériences, nous avons démontré dans un modèle expérimental d’infection chez le mouton, que l’administration de 104 à 105 leucocytes suffisent à transmettre par voire transfusionnelle la maladie. Ces résultats soulignent l’intérêt et les limites de la leuco-déplétion appliquée de manière standard en médicine transfusionnelle, pour limiter les risques de transmission du vMCJ. Enfin, nous avons testé la capacité de différents outils in vitro à détecter la présence des Prions dans le sang. ABSTRACT : Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE) are fatal neurodegenerative disorders occurring in a wide spectrum of animals. They are characterized by accumulation of abnormally folded conformers (PrPSc) derived from normal cellular PrP protein (PrP) of the host. In human, many iatrogenic transmissions of Creutzfeldt Jakob disease (CJD) have been reported after dura mater graft, corneal graft or extractive growth hormone injections, prepared from affected donors. More recently, several cases of vCJD transmissions were reported in individuals that were transfused with blood from asymptomatic donors that subsequently developed vCJD. Risk assessment of interindividual transmission with contaminated tissues or body fluids remains a major public health issue. In a first part, we validated the final pertinence of infectious titers as measured in mice overexpressing PrP to the risk of transmitting the disease in the natural host species. In a second time, we used this model to evaluate the presence of infectivity in blood from TSE affected patients. We were able to detect the presence of infectivity in erythrocytes, leukocytes, and plasma of 1 person with vCJD and in the plasma of 2 out of 4 persons whose tests were positive for sporadic CJD. We then demonstrated in a sheep TSE model, that intravenous administration of 104 to 105 leucocytes was sufficient to cause disease in recipient sheep, underlying the efficacy and potential limits of leuko-reduction processes that are currently applied in transfusion medicine to mitigate the TSE transmission risk. Finally, using the same model, we tested different in vitro methods to detect prions in blood

Towards an Autonomic and Distributed Device Management for the Internet of Things

Best paper award at the Doctoral Symposium of ICAC 2019International audienc