Investigating tropospheric effects and seasonal position variations in GPS and DORIS time-series from the Nepal Himalaya

Geodetic time-series from continuous GPS (cGPS) and 1 DORIS stations across the Himalaya of central Nepal show strong seasonal fluctuations observed on the horizontal and vertical components. Because the fluctuations determined at the different stations have similar phase but different amplitudes, these observations would imply that the secular shortening across the range is modulated by a seasonal strain. Given the geographic and climatic setting, there is however a possibility that the GPS positions be biased by tropospheric effects. We process these data using two different software packages and two different analysis strategies. Our analysis shows evidence for 1-strong seasonal fluctuation of zenithal delays consistent with in situ meteorological data and two strong horizontal tropospheric gradients in particular in the EW direction, that is, parallel to the mountain front at Gumba, also detected in DORIS results. We show that the tropospheric effects cannot however be the source of the observed seasonality of horizontal strain. This study supports the view that the seasonal strain in the Himalaya is real and probably driven by seasonal surface load variations. Our study adds support to the view that seasonal variations of seismicity in the Himalaya reflects seasonal variations of geodetic strain

La diversité culturelle à l’aune de la Convention de l’UNESCO sur la protection et la promotion de la diversité des expressions culturelles

International audienceLa diversité culturelle, consacrée par l’UNESCO comme patrimoine commun de l’humanité, s’inscrit dans le double cadre de la culture et de la mondialisation, deux notions aux contours flous. Elle constitue pour l’UNESCO une fin en soi, afin de ne pas réduire la culture à sa seule dimension commerciale. Le texte de l’UNESCO soutient la spécificité des biens et des services culturels « porteurs d’identité, de valeurs et de sens » ne pouvant donc être « considérés comme des marchandises ou des biens de consommation comme les autres ». Cependant de la réflexion des États membres perturbée par les avis dissidents des États-Unis, est née une Convention sur la protection et la promotion de la diversité des expressions culturelles. Il s’agit alors de protéger la diversité des expressions culturelles. Cette différence terminologique traduit l’édulcoration du contenu. Doit-on en conclure qu’il s’agit d’un texte assurant le triomphe de la culture, ou confortant la domination du commerce ? Reste que le débat houleux sur la diversité culturelle a donné naissance à un texte consensuel dont il convient de dresser les grandes lignes

Contribution of Acquired Carbapenem-Hydrolyzing Oxacillinases to Carbapenem Resistance in Acinetobacter baumannii

Carbapenem-hydrolyzing oxacillinases are reported increasingly in Acinetobacter baumannii. Since they hydrolyze carbapenems at low levels, the roles of carbapenem-hydrolyzing oxacillinases OXA-23, OXA-40, and OXA-58 in A. baumannii were determined. The bla(OXA-23), bla(OXA-40), and bla(OXA-58) genes were inserted in broad-host-range plasmid pAT801 and transformed in Escherichia coli DH10B and in A. baumannii CIP 70.10 and its point mutant derivative A. baumannii BM4547, which overexpresses the efflux pump AdeABC. Natural plasmids harboring the bla(OXA-23) and bla(OXA-58) genes were also transformed in A. baumannii CIP 70.10. In addition, the bla(OXA-40) gene was inactivated at its chromosome location in A. baumannii CLA-1. Intermediate levels of resistance or reduced susceptibilities to carbapenems were observed for A. baumannii transformants expressing OXA-23, OXA-40, and OXA-58. The inactivation of bla(OXA-40) in A. baumannii CLA-1 yielded reduced susceptibilities to carbapenems. Carbapenem-hydrolyzing oxacillinases OXA-23, OXA-40, and to a lesser extent OXA-58 play a role in carbapenem resistance in A. baumannii, and overexpression of efflux pump AdeABC may also contribute to higher levels of resistance to β-lactams, including carbapenems

Recombinant factor VIII products and inhibitor development in previously untreated boys with severe hemophilia A.

International audienceSix recombinant factor VIII (rFVIII) products have been marketed worldwide. In 2013, the Research of Determinants of Inhibitor Development (RODIN) study group reported an unexpectedly high risk of inhibitor development with a second-generation full-length rFVIII (Product D) in previously untreated patients (PUPs) with severe hemophilia A (HA). In 1994, French public health authorities established a prospective cohort to monitor hemophilia treatment safety. A PUP subgroup was designed to investigate inhibitor risk factors. We analyzed this subcohort in view of the RODIN findings. After excluding 50 patients who participated in the RODIN study, the primary analysis focused on 303 boys with severe HA first treated with a rFVIII product. A clinically significant inhibitor was detected in 114 boys (37.6%). The inhibitor incidence was higher with Product D vs the most widely used rFVIII product (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 1.55; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.97-2.49). Similar results were found for high-titer inhibitors and in 10 sensitivity analyses. No heterogeneity was observed between RODIN and our results. Combined aHRs were 1.58 (95% CI, 1.17-2.14) for all inhibitors and 1.70 (95% CI, 1.15-2.52) for high-titer inhibitors. Our results confirm the higher immunogenicity of Product D vs other rFVIII products in PUPs with severe HA