(Not) Keeping the stem straight: a proteomic analysis of maritime pine seedlings undergoing phototropism and gravitropism

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Plants are subjected to continuous stimuli from the environment and have evolved an ability to respond through various growth and development processes. Phototropism and gravitropism responses enable the plant to reorient with regard to light and gravity.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We quantified the speed of maritime pine seedlings to reorient with regard to light and gravity over 22 days. Seedlings were inclined at 15, 30 and 45 degrees with vertical plants as controls. A lateral light source illuminated the plants and stem movement over time was recorded. Depending on the initial angle of stem lean, the apical response to the lateral light source differed. In control and 15° inclined plants, the apex turned directly towards the light source after only 2 h. In plants inclined at 30° and 45°, the apex first reoriented in the vertical plane after 2 h, then turned towards the light source after 24 h. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis coupled with mass spectrometry was then used to describe the molecular response of stem bending involved in photo- and gravi-tropism after 22 hr and 8 days of treatment. A total of 486 spots were quantitatively analyzed using image analysis software. Significant changes were determined in the protein accumulation of 68 protein spots. Early response gravitropic associated proteins were identified, which are known to function in energy related and primary metabolism. A group of thirty eight proteins were found to be involved in primary metabolism and energy related metabolic pathways. Degradation of Rubisco was implicated in some protein shifts.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our study demonstrates a rapid gravitropic response in apices of maritime pine seedlings inclined >30°. Little or no response was observed at the stem bases of the same plants. The primary gravitropic response is concomitant with a modification of the proteome, consisting of an over accumulation of energy and metabolism associated proteins, which may allow the stem to reorient rapidly after bending.</p

Temporal structure of consciousness and minimal self in schizophrenia

International audienceThe concept of the minimal self refers to the consciousness of oneself as an immediate subject of experience. According to recent studies, disturbances of the minimal self may be a core feature of schizophrenia. They are emphasized in classical psychiatry literature and in phenomenological work. Impaired minimal self-experience may be defined as a distortion of one's first-person experiential perspective as, for example, an " altered presence " during which the sense of the experienced self (" mineness ") is subtly affected, or " altered sense of demarcation, " i.e., a difficulty discriminating the self from the non-self. Little is known, however, about the cognitive basis of these disturbances. In fact, recent work indicates that disorders of the self are not correlated with cognitive impairments commonly found in schizophrenia such as working-memory and attention disorders. In addition, a major difficulty with exploring the minimal self experimentally lies in its definition as being non-self-reflexive, and distinct from the verbalized, explicit awareness of an " I. " In this paper, we shall discuss the possibility that disturbances of the minimal self observed in patients with schizophrenia are related to alterations in time processing. We shall review the literature on schizophrenia and time processing that lends support to this possibility. In particular we shall discuss the involvement of temporal integration windows on different time scales (implicit time processing) as well as duration perception disturbances (explicit time processing) in disorders of the minimal self. We argue that a better understanding of the relationship between time and the minimal self as well of issues of embodiment require research that looks more specifically at implicit time processing. Some methodological issues will be discussed

Enquêtes sur les vitrines du marché : affichage, emballage, étiquetage

L’information économique, environnementale et sanitaire est à l’affiche. D’un côté, la transformation des usagers en clients (Fijalkow, 2006), et la conversion des clients en citoyens (Callon et al., 2001 ; Dubuisson, 2009) participent à la montée d’un consommateur de plus en plus actif (Cova et Cova, 2009) à la recherche d’appuis cognitifs susceptibles de soutenir leur engagement dans l’action. De l’autre, les acteurs institutionnels publics ou privés tentent de porter leur voix sous forme d..

Etude des potentialités du lavage biologique pour le traitement d'un mélange complexe de composés organiques volatils.

L'objectif de ce travail est d'étudier les potentialités d'une unité pilote semi-industrielle de lavage biologique pour le traitement d'un mélange complexe de Composés Organiques Volatils (COV). Son originalité réside dans la complexité du mélange traité, qui contient onze polluants de natures chimiques différentes (esters, cétones, alcool, composés aromatiques et chlorés). Dans un premier temps, l'unité pilote a été équipée d'une colonne à garnissage. Ces essais ont montré, en terme d'élimination des composés, une amélioration de l'abattement des composés peu solubles par leur traitement en mélange avec des composés hydrophiles. En terme d'adaptation de la microflore, il a été montré que l'élimination des composés par les micro-organismes présentant des potentialités de dégradation des COV serait induite par l'accumulation de ces composés dans la phase aqueuse. L'atteinte d'une valeur seuil (70-80 mg/l eau) serait nécessaire pour amorcer la biodégradation. A l'état stationnaire, les composés transférés dans la phase aqueuse sont éliminés par la microflore. Le liquide de lavage est par conséquent régénéré avant son renvoi en tête de colonne. De plus, la perturbation engendrée par l'augmentation de la charge polluante est transitoire, un nouvel état stationnaire se dégageant au bout d'un certain temps. Néanmoins, les limites d'utilisation du système ont été approchées : le transfert de masse gaz/liquide des composés hydrophobes et le colmatage de la colonne au bout de vingt semaines d'utilisation. Puis, la colonne de lavage à garnissage a été remplacée par une colonne à pulvérisation. Les résultats ont montré que les pourcentages d'élimination restent globalement similaires pour chaque composé. L'utilisation de la colonne à pulvérisation affranchit le système des problèmes de colmatages. La limite d'utilisation de l'unité pilote reste le transfert de masse gaz/liquide des composés hydrophobes. Pour optimiser ce transfert des composés hydrophobes, un tiers solvant a été utilisé en mélange avec liquide de lavage. Des essais préliminaires ont été menés sur un dispositif d'absorption en réacteur semi continu. Il a été montré une amélioration des constantes de transfert et des concentrations de saturation dans la phase liquide pour les composés aromatiques. La transposition sur le pilote semi-industriel a montré une nette amélioration des pourcentages d'abattement de ces composés.The objective of this work is to study the potential of a semi-industrial pilot bioscrubber for the treatment of a complex mixture of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC). Its originality lies in the complexity of the treated mixture, which contains eleven pollutants of various chemical nature (esters, ketones, alcohol, aromatic and chlorinated compounds). Initially, the pilot unit was equipped with a packed column. The tests showed that, in terms of elimination of the compounds, there is an improvement of the abatement of poorly soluble componunds when they are mixed with hydrophilic compounds. In terms of microflore adaptation, it was shown that the elimination of VOC's by micro-organisms would be induced by the accumulation of these compounds in the aqueous phase. Attaining of a value threshold (70-80 mg/l water) would be necessary to start the biological breakdown of these compounds. In the stationary state, the compounds transferred in the aqueous phase are eliminated by the microflore. The scrubbing liquid is consequently regenerated before its return at the head of column and the percentage of abatement is thus comparable to the percentage of elimination of the compounds. Moreover, the disturbance generated by the increase of the pollutant load is transitory, because a new stationary state emerged. Nevertheless, it was possible to approximate the operational limits of the system: the liquid/gas mass transfer of the hydrophobic compounds and the clogging of the column after twenty weeks of use. To overcome these problems, the packed column was replaced by a spraying column. The results showed that the percentages of elimination were the same. The use of the spraying column freed the system from the clogging. However, the operational limit of the pilot unit remains the liquid/gas mass transfer of the hydrophobic compounds. To optimize this transfer, a second dispersed liquid phase was used. Preliminary tests were carried out on an absorption assembly. An improvement of the transfer in the liquid phase for the aromatic compounds was shown. The transposition on the semi-industrial pilot demonstrated a clear improvement of the percentages of abatement of these compounds.PAU-BU Sciences (644452103) / SudocSudocFranceF

Table ronde

Journaux Éric, Lagarde Franck, Lalanne Bernard, Mulot Jean-Jacques, Vailleau Daniel. Table ronde. In: Les Cahiers de l'INSEP, n°45, 2010. Quels équipements sportifs pour demain ? pp. 153-162

Hydrogeochemical and multi-tracer investigations of arsenic-affected aquifers in semi-arid West Africa

The semi-arid Sahel regions of West Africa rely heavily on groundwater from shallow to moderately deep (10 μg/L) stemming from the oxidation of sulphide minerals (pyrite, arsenopyrite) in mineralised zones. These aquifers are still little investigated, especially concerning groundwater residence times and the influence of the annual monsoon season on groundwater chemistry. To gain insights on the temporal aspects of As contamination, we have used isotope tracers (noble gases, 3H, stable water isotopes (2H, 18O)) and performed hydrochemical analyses on groundwater abstracted from tube wells and dug wells in a small study area in southwestern Burkina Faso. Results revealed a great variability in groundwater properties (e.g. redox conditions, As concentrations, water level, residence time) over spatial scales of only a few hundred metres, characteristic of the highly heterogeneous fractured underground. Elevated As levels are found in oxic groundwater of circum-neutral pH and show little relation with any of the measured parameters. Arsenic concentrations are relatively stable over the course of the year, with little effect seen by the monsoon. Groundwater residence time does not seem to have an influence on As concentrations, as elevated As can be found both in groundwater with short (103 a) residence times as indicated by 3He/4He ratios spanning three orders of magnitude. These results support the hypothesis that the proximity to mineralised zones is the most crucial factor controlling As concentrations in the observed redox/pH conditions. The existence of very old water portions with residence times >103 years already at depths of <50 m b.g.l. is a new finding for the shallow fractured bedrock aquifers of Burkina Faso, suggesting that overexploitation of these relatively low-yielding aquifers may be an issue in the future

Indicator species of intertidal boulder fields on the French Basque coast

The rocky Basque coast presents an interest both in terms of biogeography and its patrimonial situation, alongside its habitats, fauna and flora. The aim of the BIGORNO project (Intertidal Biodiversity of the south of the Bay of Biscay and Observation for New research and Monitoring for decision support), financed by the Agency of Marine Protected Areas (AAMP) and the Departmental Council (CD 64), is to respond to significant deficiencies on biocenosis in the southern marine subregion “Bay of Biscay”. Investigations carried out in the WFD, since 2008, constitute an important basis of work for integration of fauna. Field studies undertaken since 2015 consisting of a sampling design suited to the substrates heterogeneity and the presence of microhabitats were established on an intertidal area specifically on a "Boulder fields" habitat. Assessment was undertaken by sampling quadrats of 0.1 m² drawn randomly from a spatially stratified sampling plan. Our study aims for a better understanding of stratification of this habitat and allowed us to highligh tindicator taxa of the "Boulder fields" habitat. Functions included in the package indicspecies (CRAN) were used to conduct indicator species analysis and to assess the significance of the relationship between taxa or taxa combinations and the habitat. It is therefore possible to describe some species or species groups which are specific to boulder fields through the assessment of their functional traits and local biodiversity. These various analyses allow for a sustainable way of monitoring the Basque intertidal rocky shore

BIGORNO. Biodiversité Intertidale sud Gascogne Observation et Recherche de Nouveaux Outils de surveillance et d'aide à la décision - Rapport fiinal

This report presents the results obtained during the BIGORNO project whose main objective is to overcome knowledge gaps on the biocenoses of the southern sub-region "Bay of Biscay" to propose a sampling protocol adapted to biogeographic and environmental specific conditions. A stratified random sampling design considering spatial heterogeneity has been implemented. Biodiversity was considered on 0.1 m²quadrats. These data have revealed the organization of benthic communities and the relevant taxa to be considered (species or assemblages of indicator species) in the context of establishing perennial monitoring of intertidal habitats. Proposals are made to implement the descriptors and indicators defined in the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD).Ce rapport présente les résultats obtenus au cours du projet BIGORNO dont l'objectif majeur est de pallier aux lacunes de connaissances sur les biocénoses du sud de la sous-région marine « golfe de Gascogne » pour proposer un protocole d’échantillonnage adapté aux spécificités biogéographiques et environnementales du sud du golfe de Gascogne. Un plan d'échantillonnage aléatoire stratifié tenant compte de l’hétérogénéité spatiale a été mis en œuvre. La biodiversité (macroalgue et macrofaune) a été considérée sur des quadrats de 0,1 m². Ces données ont mis en évidence les modalités d'organisation des communautés benthiques et les taxons pertinents à considérer (espèces ou assemblages d'espèces indicatrices) dans le cadre de mise en place de suivis pérennes des habitats ou microhabitats intertidaux. Des propositions sont formulées pour la suite de ce travail afin que les travaux puissent venir alimenter les descripteurs et les indicateurs définis dans le cadre de la Directive Cadre Stratégie pour les Milieux Marins (DCSMM)