A Comparison of Computerized Chemical Models for Equilibrium Calculations in Aqueous Systems

A survey of computer programs which are currently being used to calculate the distribution of species in aqueous solutions, especially natural waters, has been made in order to 1) provide an inventory of available programs with a short description of their uses, 2) compare the consistency of their output for two given test solutions and 3) identify major weaknesses or problems encountered from their use. More than a dozen active programs which can be used for distribution of species and activity calculations for homogeneos equilibria among the major anions and cations of natural waters have been inventoried. Half of these programs can also accept several trace elements including Fe, Al, Mn, Cu, Ni, Zn, Cd, Pb, Ag, Hg, As, Ba, Sr, and B. Consistency between programs was evaluated by comparing the log of the molal concentrations of free ions and complexes for two test solutions: a hypothetical seawater analysis and a hypothetical river water analysis. Comparison of the free major ion concentrations in the river water test case shows excellent agreement for the major species. In the seawater test case there is less agreement and for both test cases the minor species commonly show orders of magnitude differences in concentrations. These differences primarily reflect differences in the thermodynamic data base of each chemical model although other factors such as activity coefficient calculations, redox assumptions, temperature corrections, alkalinity corrections and the number of complexes used all have an affect on the output

Gender differences in the use of cardiovascular interventions in HIV-positive persons; the D:A:D Study

Peer reviewe

Spécificités de la commercialisation des produits dermo-cosmétiques à l'épreuve d'internet

Les produits dermo-cosmétiques sont vendus par un circuit de distribution sélective qui impose la présence physique d'un pharmacien sur le lieu de vente. Avec l'essor d'Internet, de nombreux sites vendent ces produits. Internet est-il un réel circuit de distribution sélective pertinent pour ces produits? La complexité de la situation est au cœur de la décision de l'entreprise et de son expertise réglementaire et commerciale. L'industrie ne perd-t-elle pas, sur Internet, sa crédibilité vis-à-vis du consommateur mais aussi vis-à-vis de son réseau fidèle de distribution actuel? Auront-elles toujours la liberté de refuser ce nouveau circuit de distribution? Un site Internet peut permettre de communiquer de façon plus moderne, toucher un plus grand nombre de personnes, remplir une mission d'éducation des internautes, d'information, de prévention et de protection du capital santé des internautes. Elles doivent s'adapter à ce nouveau mode de communication et savoir l'utiliser à bon escient.TOULOUSE3-BU Santé-Centrale (315552105) / SudocPARIS-BIUP (751062107) / SudocSudocFranceF

Trois poèmes

Heaney Seamus, Lafon Florence. Trois poèmes. In: Études irlandaises, n°10, 1985. pp. 19-22

Projet DISCOBOLE : impact du changement climatique sur les aménagements côtiers

Answering to the call for proposal « Vulnérabilité des infrastructures vis-à-vis du changement climatique » (equipment vulnerability to climate change), conducted by the French Ministry of Equipment, EDF R&D signed an agreement with CETMEF (Centre d’Etudes Techniques Maritimes et Fluviales), the Géomer team from the Université de Bretagne Occidentale and the Laboratoire de Géographie Physique (CNRS) to submit a proposition regarding a work programme covering 4 years since 2004, named Discobole (Données pour le dImensionnement des Structures Côtières et des Ouvrages de BOrd de mer à Longue Echéance, or in English Data for coastal structure and maritime work long-term design). The project aims at predicting the long-term (100 years) behaviour of some consequences of climate change on maritime and shore climatology, in order to provide a better design and long-term maintenance to waterworks (sea defence, breakwaters, etc.). Numerical simulation allowed us to estimate past trends relative to the spatial distribution of extreme storm surges and wind waves on the French shoreline (Atlantic/English Channel/North Sea). By building plausible meteorological data fields corresponding to the end of the XXIst century, we also investigated the effect of climate change on the future evolution of extreme storm surges. Although the methodology is subject to many uncertainties, it points out new quantitative elements regarding the possible future change of hydrodynamical phenomena which are rather difficult to estimate

Comparison of G protein sequences of South African street rabies viruses showing distinct progression of the disease in a mouse model of experimental rabies

International audienceRabies is a fatal zoonotic disease and infections generally lead to a fatal encephalomyelitis in both humans and animals. In South Africa, domestic (dogs) and the wildlife (yellow mongoose) host species maintain the canid and mongoose rabies variants respectively. In this study, pathogenicity differences of South African canid and mongoose rabies viruses were investigated in a murine model, by assessing the progression of clinical signs and survivorship. Comparison of glycoprotein gene sequences revealed amino acid differences that may underpin the observed pathogenicity differences. Cumulatively, our results suggest that the canid rabies virus may be more neurovirulent in mice than the mongoose rabies variant

Strategies to interfere with PDZ-mediated interactions in neurons: What we can learn from the rabies virus

International audiencePDZ (PSD-95/Dlg/ZO-1) domains play a major role in neuronal homeostasis in which they act as scaffold domains regulating cellular trafficking, self-association and catalytic activity of essential proteins such as kinases and phosphatases. Because of their central role in cell signaling, cellular PDZ-containing proteins are preferential targets of viruses to hijack cellular function to their advantage. Here, we describe how the viral G protein of the rabies virus specifically targets the PDZ domain of neuronal enzymes during viral infection. By disrupting the complexes formed by cellular enzymes and their ligands, the virus triggers drastic effect on cell signaling and commitment of the cell to either survival (virulent strains) or death (vaccinal strains). We provide structural and biological evidences that the viral proteins act as competitors endowed with specificity and affinity in an essential cellular process by mimicking PDZ binding motif of cellular partners. Disruption of critical endogenous protein-protein interactions by viral protein drastically alters intracellular protein trafficking and catalytic activity of cellular proteins that control cell homeostasis. This work opens up many perspectives to mimic viral sequences and developing innovative therapies to manipulate cellular homeostasis