Extending SMTCoq, a Certified Checker for SMT (Extended Abstract)

This extended abstract reports on current progress of SMTCoq, a communication tool between the Coq proof assistant and external SAT and SMT solvers. Based on a checker for generic first-order certificates implemented and proved correct in Coq, SMTCoq offers facilities both to check external SAT and SMT answers and to improve Coq's automation using such solvers, in a safe way. Currently supporting the SAT solver zChaff, and the SMT solver veriT for the combination of the theories of congruence closure and linear integer arithmetic, SMTCoq is meant to be extendable with a reasonable amount of effort: we present work in progress to support the SMT solver CVC4 and the theory of bit vectors.Comment: In Proceedings HaTT 2016, arXiv:1606.0542

Determination of the effect of geological reservoir variability on carbon dioxide storage using numerical experiments

International audienceThe simulations of carbon dioxide storage in sedimentary reservoirs model the fluid and gas flow and the chemical reactions which occur between the minerals (calcite and dolomite) and the injected CO2 [André et al. (2007) Energy Convers. Manage. 48, 1782-1797; Gunter et al. (1999) Appl. Geochem. 4, 1-11]. However because of the lack of data, these reservoirs are always partially known and the fitted variograms of petrophysical and mineralogical quantities are approximate. The aim is to quantify the impact of uncertainties on reservoir characteristics on the storage predictions. We focus on two operational parameters: the quantity of the stored carbon dioxide and the mean variation of the porosity. Two sources of uncertainties are examined: the draw dispersion and the approximation on the variogram parameters. To study the influence of the draw dispersion, variogram parameters are kept fixed and different simulations are run; the associated variance on the operational parameters then has the meaning of a repeatability error. In the second case, a sensibility analysis is carried out to study the influence of variogram parameters variations (sill, range, nugget effect) on the CO2 storage. The chosen methodology is the designs of experiments. The simulations are carried out using reactive transport software. The studied carbonated reservoir is built in reference to the Dogger formation of Paris Basin (France) [Diedro (2009) Thèse, École Nationale Supérieure des Mines de St-Étienne]. This reservoir is composed of several minerals, some of them being disposed in spots. The results show that the impact of the draw dispersion remains lower than the impact of the variogram parameters. The effect of the size of the dolomite spots within the rock on the stored carbon dioxide is to be noticed. Larger spots of the dolomite field with low concentration lead to a greater precipitation of carbonate and reduction of porosity than little spots with higher concentrations. The interaction between the sill and the range of the variogram of the initial dolomite concentration is also important. The initial calcite concentration has a slight influence only on the average porosity in the reservoir. Except for the variations of the size of the dolomite spots within the rock, small variations on the variogram parameters of the mineralogical concentration do not involve important modification of stored carbon nor of the final porosity.Détermination de la variabilité des réservoirs géologiques sur le stockage du CO2 par la méthodologie des plans d'expériencesDans le contexte de l'étude du stockage géologique du dioxyde de carbone dans les réservoirs sédimentaires, les simulations tentent de reproduire le plus fidèlement possible les écoulements fluides et gaz, ainsi que les réactions chimiques entre les minéraux (calcite et dolomite) et le CO2 injecté [André et al. (2007) Energy Convers. Manage. 48, 1782-1797; Gunter et al. (1999) Appl. Geochem. 4, 1-11]. Cependant, les réservoirs étudiés sont généralement mal connus. Les observations sont peu nombreuses et par suite les variogrammes des propriétés pétrophysiques et minéralogiques sont approchés. L'article vise à quantifier les incertitudes sur les prévisions de stockage du CO2. Nous examinons en particulier l'effet des incertitudes sur deux paramètres opérationnels : la quantité de dioxyde de carbone stockée et la variation moyenne de la porosité. Les sources d'incertitudes retenues sont la variabilité du tirage (dispersion statistique) et l'incertitude sur les paramètres du variogramme. Pour examiner la variabilité liée au tirage, les paramètres du variogramme sont fixés et plusieurs simulations sont réalisées, ce qui fournit une distribution de valeurs pour les paramètres opérationnels et permet le calcul d'une variance, apparentée à une variance de répétabilité. Dans le second cas, une analyse de sensibilité permet d'examiner l'influence des paramètres des variogrammes (palier, portée, effet de pépite) sur le stockage du CO2. À cet effet, la méthodologie des plans d'expériences est utilisée. Les simulations sont réalisées à l'aide d'un logiciel de transport réactif. Le gisement étudié est construit en référence à la formation du Dogger du Bassin de Paris (France) [Diedro (2009) Thèse, École Nationale Supérieure des Mines de St-Étienne]. Les réservoirs simulés comportent plusieurs minéraux avec pour certains des taches de dolomite. Les résultats montrent que la variabilité du tirage reste inférieure à l'effet dû à l'incertitude sur les paramètres du variogramme. L'effet de la taille des taches de dolomite sur le dioxyde de carbone a été également mis en évidence. Les grandes taches à concentration moyenne favorisent une .importante précipitation de carbonate entrainant ainsi une baisse de la porosité moyenne contrairement à des taches plus petites mais à plus forte concentration. L'interaction entre le palier et la portée du variogramme de la dolomite initiale est également importante. La concentration initiale de calcite n'a d'influence que sur la porosité moyenne dans le réservoir et cette influence reste modeste. De petites variations sur les autres paramètres du variogramme de la concentration minéralogique modifient peu le carbone stocké ou la porosité finale

Facteurs influençant l'apparition précoce d'une pneumoconiose chez le mineur de charbon

National audienceL'incidence de la pneumonoconiose a diminue continuellement parmi les mineurs des houilleres pendant les 30 dernieres annees. Actuellement la plupart des cas sont diagnostiques chez les retraites en moyenne vers l'age de 56 ans. Dans ce contexte l'apparition precoce d'une pneumoconiose est un important probleme de sante au travail

Radiotherapy in breast cancer: current standards of treatment, prediction of local recurrence and open questions

K

Role of TASK2 Potassium Channels Regarding Volume Regulation in Primary Cultures of Mouse Proximal Tubules

Several papers reported the role of TASK2 channels in cell volume regulation and regulatory volume decrease (RVD). To check the possibility that the TASK2 channel modulates the RVD process in kidney, we performed primary cultures of proximal convoluted tubules (PCT) and distal convoluted tubules (DCT) from wild-type and TASK2 knockout (KO) mice. In KO mice, the TASK2 coding sequence was in part replaced by the lac-Z gene. This allows for the precise localization of TASK2 in kidney sections using β-galactosidase staining. TASK2 was only localized in PCT cells. K+ currents were analyzed by the whole-cell clamp technique with 125 mM K-gluconate in the pipette and 140 mM Na-gluconate in the bath. In PCT cells from wild-type mice, hypotonicity induced swelling-activated K+ currents insensitive to 1 mM tetraethylammonium, 10 nM charybdotoxin, and 10 μM 293B, but blocked by 500 μM quinidine and 10 μM clofilium. These currents were increased in alkaline pH and decreased in acidic pH. In PCT cells from TASK2 KO, swelling-activated K+ currents were completely impaired. In conclusion, the TASK2 channel is expressed in kidney proximal cells and could be the swelling-activated K+ channel responsible for the cell volume regulation process during osmolyte absorptions in the proximal tubules

Investigation of PARP-1, PARP-2, and PARG interactomes by affinity-purification mass spectrometry

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerases (PARPs) catalyze the formation of poly(ADP-ribose) (pADPr), a post-translational modification involved in several important biological processes, namely surveillance of genome integrity, cell cycle progression, initiation of the DNA damage response, apoptosis, and regulation of transcription. Poly(ADP-ribose) glycohydrolase (PARG), on the other hand, catabolizes pADPr and thereby accounts for the transient nature of poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation. Our investigation of the interactomes of PARP-1, PARP-2, and PARG by affinity-purification mass spectrometry (AP-MS) aimed, on the one hand, to confirm current knowledge on these interactomes and, on the other hand, to discover new protein partners which could offer insights into PARPs and PARG functions.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>PARP-1, PARP-2, and PARG were immunoprecipitated from human cells, and pulled-down proteins were separated by gel electrophoresis prior to in-gel trypsin digestion. Peptides were identified by tandem mass spectrometry. Our AP-MS experiments resulted in the identifications of 179 interactions, 139 of which are novel interactions. Gene Ontology analysis of the identified protein interactors points to five biological processes in which PARP-1, PARP-2 and PARG may be involved: RNA metabolism for PARP-1, PARP-2 and PARG; DNA repair and apoptosis for PARP-1 and PARP-2; and glycolysis and cell cycle for PARP-1.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This study reveals several novel protein partners for PARP-1, PARP-2 and PARG. It provides a global view of the interactomes of these proteins as well as a roadmap to establish the systems biology of poly(ADP-ribose) metabolism.</p

Enseigner des valeurs à l'ordre collégial

Dans le contexte social et scolaire actuel, il existe une volonté de plus en plus grande des cégeps de donner un sens à la formation technique en enseignant les valeurs rattachées au métier, tout en faisant de la réussite des études une entreprise personnelle. À cet égard, un partenariat entre le Cégep Limoilou et l’Université Laval a permis de développer des activités pédagogiques concrètes pour l’enseignement de valeurs entrepreneuriales dans la formation technique. Cet article présente Ça me tient à cœur !, une activité élaborée en vue de l’acquisition de valeurs entrepreneuriales dans une perspective de développement durable. On y expose les visées de l’activité, les modalités de son déroulement et les résultats de son expérimentation en classe. Réalisée dans un programme technique spécifique, à savoir le programme de Technologie de la mécanique du bâtiment, l’activité présentée est néanmoins transférable à tout programme collégial dont les buts recouvrent le développement de valeurs ou la formation citoyenne. L’article évoque enfin trois autres activités visant le développement d’un système de valeur par les étudiants

PARPs database: A LIMS systems for protein-protein interaction data mining or laboratory information management system

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In the "post-genome" era, mass spectrometry (MS) has become an important method for the analysis of proteins and the rapid advancement of this technique, in combination with other proteomics methods, results in an increasing amount of proteome data. This data must be archived and analysed using specialized bioinformatics tools.</p> <p>Description</p> <p>We herein describe "PARPs database," a data analysis and management pipeline for liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) proteomics. PARPs database is a web-based tool whose features include experiment annotation, protein database searching, protein sequence management, as well as data-mining of the peptides and proteins identified.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Using this pipeline, we have successfully identified several interactions of biological significance between PARP-1 and other proteins, namely RFC-1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.</p

Lower serum estradiol levels in assigned female at birth transgender people with initiation of testosterone therapy : results from the European Network for the Investigation of Gender Incongruence

Purpose: Concerns have been raised about undesired estrogenic effects in assigned female at birth (AFAB) transgender people on testosterone therapy. How serum estradiol levels change after initiation of testosterone therapy and if these levels should be monitored remain unclear. Methods: This prospective cohort study was part of the European Network for the Investigation of Gender Incongruence. Serum levels of sex steroids were assessed in 746 AFAB transgender people during a 3-year follow-up period, starting at the initiation of hormone treatment. Results: Estradiol levels decreased from median [P25-P75] 45.6 [24.0-102.2] pg/mL to 36.5 [25.0-46.2] pg/mL over 3 years (p < 0.001); a change was already noticeable during the first 3 months (mean -17.1 pg/mL, 95% confidence interval -23.8 to -10.6, p < 0.001). Serum estradiol levels were lower in people without endogenous estradiol production from ovarian source (contraceptive users or post hystero-oophorectomy) at baseline and after 3 months, compared with people with endogenous estradiol production. Using long-acting testosterone undecanoate injections resulted in a more prominent decrease in serum estradiol values over 12 months, compared with short-acting mixed testosterone esters (p < 0.001) or testosterone gel (p = 0.001). Changes in serum estradiol were positively correlated to changes in luteinizing hormone (rho = 0.107, p < 0.001) and negatively correlated to changes in follicle-stimulating hormone levels (rho = -0.167, p < 0.001) and body mass index (rho = -0.082, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Testosterone administration in AFAB transgender people resulted in decreasing serum estradiol levels. Our results suggest that testosterone therapy leads to central suppression of estradiol production, with partial restitution due to aromatization