Stakeholder perspectives on shale gas fracking: A Q-method study of environmental discourses

The rapid expansion of shale gas exploration worldwide is a significant source of environmental controversy. Successful shale gas policymaking is dependent upon a clear understanding of the dynamics of competing stakeholder perspectives on these issues, and so methods are needed to delineate the areas of agreement and conflict that emerge. This empirical study, based in the United Kingdom, examines emergent perspectives on a range of environmental, health and socio-economic impacts associated with shale gas fracking using Q- methodology: a combined qualitative-quantitative approach. The analysis reveals three typologies of perspectives amongst key industry, civil society and non-affiliated citizen stakeholders; subsequently contextualised in relation to Dryzek’s typology of environmental discourses. These are labelled A) “Don’t trust the fossil fuels industry: campaign for renewables” (mediating between sustainable development and democratic pragmatism discourses); B) “Shale gas is a bridge fuel: economic growth and environmental scepticism” (mediating between economic rationalism and ecological modernisation discourses); and C) “Take place protective action and legislate in the public interest” (reflecting a discourse of administrative rationalism). The implications of these competing discourses for nascent shale gas policy in the UK are discussed in light of recent Government public consultation on changes to national planning policy

The Local Economic Impact of Shale Gas Extraction

Advocates of UK shale gas expansion have focused upon predicted national economic benefits, but local and/or regional impact has been largely neglected. This paper seeks to address this deficit by creating a unique dataset, combining industry data with consumer and supply chain surveys, thereby overcoming the current absence of suitable secondary data. Local economic impact in the Bowland field is estimated via a simple Keynesian local income multiplier model. Results emphasize the importance of facilitating local employment opportunities, through skills initiatives, and development of regional supply chain clusters, to anchor economic benefits within the local economy. Policy implications are discussed

INTEREST OF CSF ABETA/TAU INDEX IN ALZHEIMER’S POSITIVE DIAGNOSIS.

International audienceBackground : Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a devastating neurodegenerative affection that is approaching epidemic proportions in the industrialized world due to aging of the populations. Recently, new revisited AD diagnosis criteria point out the major interest of CSF biomarkers. The dosage of tau, its phosphorylated form p-tau181 and amyloïd Aβ42 peptide in CSF have come to the fore. Based on Aβ42 and tau values obtained using Innogenetics ELSIA kits, a index called IATI could be calculated and seemed very interesting to discriminate AD from other dementias. Aim : To investigate the diagnostic value of CSF IATI in AD positive diagnosis. Method : CSF tau, p-tau181 and Aβ42 biomarkers were analysed in a consecutive cohort of 167 patients with neurological disease. Eighteen AD and 46 non Alzheimer’s dementias were identified in this population. The AD diagnosis was based on NINCDS/ADRDA criteria. Lombar punctures were performed after informed consent was obtained from the patient or the legal representative. The IATI was defined as Aβ42(240+1.18 x tau). The sensitivity, sensibility and ROC analysis were computed. Results : The IATI is considered pathologic if inferior to 1. The IATI sensitivity was above 90% in our series while its specificity was lower, around 60%. On the other hand, p-tau had a better specificity (>90%) but a lower sensitivity (close to 80%). Discussion : Depending on the clinical situation, the utilization of IATI, p-tau or both appears to be very interesting. The IATI<1 provides an excellent sensibility to confirm a positive diagnosis of AD in patients with strong clinical diagnostic presumption. Besides, when the diagnosis is doubtful, p-tau is a useful biomarker to identify AD from other dementias

Est-ce que les compétences rythmiques et musicales influencent la réponse à l’indiçage auditif au cours de la maladie de Parkinson ?

International audienc

A single chemotherapy administration induces muscle atrophy, mitochondrial alterations and apoptosis in breast cancer patients

Abstract Background Breast cancer patients are commonly treated with sequential administrations of epirubicin–cyclophosphamide (EC) and paclitaxel (TAX). The chronic effect of this treatment induces skeletal muscle alterations, but the specific effect of each chemotherapy agent is unknown. This study aimed to investigate the effect of EC or TAX administration on skeletal muscle homeostasis in breast cancer patients. Methods Twenty early breast cancer patients undergoing EC followed by TAX chemotherapies were included. Two groups of 10 women were established and performed vastus lateralis skeletal muscle biopsies either before the first administration (pre) of EC (50 ± 14 years) or TAX (50 ± 16 years) and 4 days later (post). Mitochondrial respiratory capacity recording, reactive oxygen species production, western blotting and histological analyses were performed. Results Decrease in muscle fibres cross‐sectional area was only observed post‐EC (−25%; P < 0.001), associated with a reduction in mitochondrial respiratory capacity for the complex I (CI)‐linked substrate state (−32%; P = 0.001), oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) by CI (−35%; P = 0.002), CI&CII (−26%; P = 0.022) and CII (−24%; P = 0.027). If H2O2 production was unchanged post‐EC, an increase was observed post‐TAX for OXPHOS by CII (+25%; P = 0.022). We found a decrease in makers of mitochondrial content, as shown post‐EC by a decrease in the protein levels of citrate synthase (−53%; P < 0.001) and VDAC (−39%; P < 0.001). Despite no changes in markers of mitochondrial fission, a decrease in the expression of a marker of mitochondrial inner‐membrane fusion was found post‐EC (OPA1; −60%; P < 0.001). We explored markers of mitophagy and found reductions post‐EC in the protein levels of PINK1 (−63%; P < 0.001) and Parkin (−56%; P = 0.005), without changes post‐TAX. An increasing trend in Bax protein level was found post‐EC (+96%; P = 0.068) and post‐TAX (+77%; P = 0.073), while the Bcl‐2 level was decreased only post‐EC (−52%; P = 0.007). If an increasing trend in TUNEL‐positive signal was observed post‐EC (+68%; P = 0.082), upregulation was highlighted post‐TAX (+86%; P < 0.001), suggesting activation of the apoptosis process. Conclusions We demonstrated that a single administration of EC induced, in only 4 days, skeletal muscle atrophy and mitochondrial alterations in breast cancer patients. These alterations were characterized by reductions in mitochondrial function and content as well as impairment of mitochondrial dynamics and an increase in apoptosis. TAX administration did not worsen these alterations as this group had already received EC during the preceding weeks. However, it resulted in an increased apoptosis, likely in response to the increased H2O2 production

J Agric Food Chem

Pulsed electric field (PEF) treatment is an emerging technology that is arousing increasing interest in vinification processes for its ability to enhance polyphenol extraction performance. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of PEF treatment on grape skin histocytological structures and on the organization of skin cell wall polysaccharides and tannins, which, until now, have been little investigated. This study relates to the effects of two PEF treatments on harvested Cabernet Sauvignon berries: PEF1 (medium strength (4 kV/cm); short duration (1 ms)) and PEF2 (low intensity (0.7 kV/cm); longer duration (200 ms)). Histocytological observations and the study of levels of polysaccharidic fractions and total amounts of tannins allowed differentiation between the two treatments. Whereas PEF1 had little effect on the polyphenol structure and pectic fraction, PEF2 profoundly modified the organization of skin cell walls. Depending on the PEF parameters, cell wall structure was differently affected, providing variable performance in terms of polyphenol extraction and wine quality