Hierarchical Pressure In The Cockpit: An ERP Study

Many accident reports have stressed the fact that first officers sometimes follow risky choices made by captains, resulting in the mitigation of flight safety. While this tendency is well known in the field of aviation, few studies have examined the impact of captains’ influence on first officers’ decision-making and the associated neural correlates. The present study aimed to investigate the extent to which first officers are influenced by captains when the latter adopt a risky behavior. Student pilots who were about to complete their training participated in this study. In the first part of the experiment, they were presented with 50 different landing situations (i.e., pictures of Primary Flight Display, PFD)

Cost-effectiveness of non-invasive methods for assessment and monitoring of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis in patients with chronic liver disease: systematic review and economic evaluation

BACKGROUND: Liver biopsy is the reference standard for diagnosing the extent of fibrosis in chronic liver disease; however, it is invasive, with the potential for serious complications. Alternatives to biopsy include non-invasive liver tests (NILTs); however, the cost-effectiveness of these needs to be established. OBJECTIVE: To assess the diagnostic accuracy and cost-effectiveness of NILTs in patients with chronic liver disease. DATA SOURCES: We searched various databases from 1998 to April 2012, recent conference proceedings and reference lists. METHODS: We included studies that assessed the diagnostic accuracy of NILTs using liver biopsy as the reference standard. Diagnostic studies were assessed using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies (QUADAS-2) tool. Meta-analysis was conducted using the bivariate random-effects model with correlation between sensitivity and specificity (whenever possible). Decision models were used to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the NILTs. Expected costs were estimated using a NHS perspective and health outcomes were measured as quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs). Markov models were developed to estimate long-term costs and QALYs following testing, and antiviral treatment where indicated, for chronic hepatitis B (HBV) and chronic hepatitis C (HCV). NILTs were compared with each other, sequential testing strategies, biopsy and strategies including no testing. For alcoholic liver disease (ALD), we assessed the cost-effectiveness of NILTs in the context of potentially increasing abstinence from alcohol. Owing to a lack of data and treatments specifically for fibrosis in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), the analysis was limited to an incremental cost per correct diagnosis. An analysis of NILTs to identify patients with cirrhosis for increased monitoring was also conducted. RESULTS: Given a cost-effectiveness threshold of £20,000 per QALY, treating everyone with HCV without prior testing was cost-effective with an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of £9204. This was robust in most sensitivity analyses but sensitive to the extent of treatment benefit for patients with mild fibrosis. For HBV [hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-negative)] this strategy had an ICER of £28,137, which was cost-effective only if the upper bound of the standard UK cost-effectiveness threshold range (£30,000) is acceptable. For HBeAg-positive disease, two NILTs applied sequentially (hyaluronic acid and magnetic resonance elastography) were cost-effective at a £20,000 threshold (ICER: £19,612); however, the results were highly uncertain, with several test strategies having similar expected outcomes and costs. For patients with ALD, liver biopsy was the cost-effective strategy, with an ICER of £822. LIMITATIONS: A substantial number of tests had only one study from which diagnostic accuracy was derived; therefore, there is a high risk of bias. Most NILTs did not have validated cut-offs for diagnosis of specific fibrosis stages. The findings of the ALD model were dependent on assuptions about abstinence rates assumptions and the modelling approach for NAFLD was hindered by the lack of evidence on clinically effective treatments. CONCLUSIONS: Treating everyone without NILTs is cost-effective for patients with HCV, but only for HBeAg-negative if the higher cost-effectiveness threshold is appropriate. For HBeAg-positive, two NILTs applied sequentially were cost-effective but highly uncertain. Further evidence for treatment effectiveness is required for ALD and NAFLD. STUDY REGISTRATION: This study is registered as PROSPERO CRD42011001561. FUNDING: The National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment programme

The giant diploid faba genome unlocks variation in a global protein crop

Publisher Copyright: © 2023, The Author(s).Increasing the proportion of locally produced plant protein in currently meat-rich diets could substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions and loss of biodiversity1. However, plant protein production is hampered by the lack of a cool-season legume equivalent to soybean in agronomic value2. Faba bean (Vicia faba L.) has a high yield potential and is well suited for cultivation in temperate regions, but genomic resources are scarce. Here, we report a high-quality chromosome-scale assembly of the faba bean genome and show that it has expanded to a massive 13 Gb in size through an imbalance between the rates of amplification and elimination of retrotransposons and satellite repeats. Genes and recombination events are evenly dispersed across chromosomes and the gene space is remarkably compact considering the genome size, although with substantial copy number variation driven by tandem duplication. Demonstrating practical application of the genome sequence, we develop a targeted genotyping assay and use high-resolution genome-wide association analysis to dissect the genetic basis of seed size and hilum colour. The resources presented constitute a genomics-based breeding platform for faba bean, enabling breeders and geneticists to accelerate the improvement of sustainable protein production across the Mediterranean, subtropical and northern temperate agroecological zones.Peer reviewe

ANALYSE NON LISSE (- FONCTION D'APPUI DE LA JACOBIENNE GENERALISEE DE CLARKE - QUELQUES APPLICATIONS AUX EQUATIONS DE HAMILTON-JACOBI DU PREMIER ORDRE (FORMULES DE HOPF-LAX, HAMILTONIENS DIFF. CONVEXES ET ENVELOPPES DE SOLUTIONS SCI))

TOULOUSE3-BU Sciences (315552104) / SudocSudocFranceF

Les fonctions d'appui de la jacobienne généralisée de Clarke et de son enveloppe plénière

International audienceEtant donné $F : {\cal O} \subset \R ^n \rightarrow \R^m$ localement lipschitzienne et \jacf sa jacobienne généralisée (au sens de Clarke) en $\bar{x} \in {\cal O}$, nous déterminons la fonction d'appui de \jacf, c'est-à-dire : \max \{ \scg X, M \scd | \; X \in \jacf \} pour tout $M \in M_{m,n}(\R).$ L'enveloppe plénière de \jacf est définie par \{ X \in M_{m,n}(\R) \; | \; Xu \in \jacf u \mbox{ pour tout } u \in \R^n \}; c'est un convexe compact dont nous déterminons également la fonction d'appui

NeoLeg, a graph database for translational research in pulses

National audienceLegumes, and especially pulses, are an important source of protein for food and feed, and are appreciated or their positive impact on the “one health”. However their yields are sometimes unstable and their tolerance to some biotic and abiotic stresses highlight the need for varietal improvement to increase the cultivated area and stabilize the production.With the advent of sequencing technologies, a large pool of genetic and genomic resources, heterogeneous at the inter- and intra-species scale, is emerging. Thus, it is now time to capitalize on these scattered heterogeneous data to develop translationnal research and boost breeding projects.To meet this need, we undertook the development of NeoLeg, a graph-based database using Neo4j and dedicated for translational research between legumes. Starting from genome sequences and annotation files, we inferred orthologous relationships between genes, and proposed associated syntenic blocks between the chromosomes of four pulse species, namely Pisum sativum, Vicia faba, Lens culinaris and Vigna radiata, and model legume Medicago truncatula. Available information on quantitative trait loci (QTL) for multiple traits are being included. The proposed modeling was tested in basic case studies and for other scenarios related to the identification of the genetic determinants of resistance to an insect pest. The main achievements as well as remaining challenges and perspectives will be discussed

Translational genomics for identifying the biological functions linked to pulse stress resistance and adaptation to agroecological cropping systems

National audienceLegumes, and especially pulses, are an important source of protein for food and feed, and areappreciated for their positive impact on the “one health”. However, their unstable yields andtheir susceptibility to biotic and abiotic stresses highlight the need for varietal improvement inorder to increase the cultivated areas and productivity. With the advent of sequencingtechnologies, a large pool of genetic and -omic resources, heterogeneous at the inter- and intraspecies scale, is emerging. Thus, it is important to capitalize on these scattered heterogeneousdata to develop translational research and boost breeding projects and crop diversification.To meet this need, we undertook the development of NeoLeg, a NoSQL graph-based databaseusing Neo4j, dedicated for translational research in pulses. Starting from genome sequencesand annotation files, we inferred orthologous relationships between genes, and proposedassociated syntenic blocks between the chromosomes of four cultivated crops, namely Pisumsativum, Vicia faba, Lens culinaris and Vigna radiata, and model legume Medicago truncatula.Available information on quantitative trait loci (QTL) for multiple traits are being included aswell as expression data. The proposed modeling was evaluated in studying the conservation ofa flowering-promoting gene. The main achievements as well as remaining challenges andperspectives will be discusse

Development of a knowledge graph framework to ease and empower translational approaches in plant research: a use-case study on grain legumes

International audienceWhile the continuing decline in genotyping and sequencing costs has largely benefited plant research, some key species for meeting the challenges of agriculture remain largely understudied. As a result, heterogeneous datasets for different traits are available for a significant number of these species. As gene structures and functions are to some extent conserved through evolution, comparative genomics can be used to transfer available knowledge from one species to another. However, such a translational research approach is complex due to the multiplicity of data sources and the non-harmonized description of the data.Here, we provide two pipelines, referred to as structural and functional pipelines, to create a framework for a NoSQL graph-database (Neo4j) to integrate and query heterogeneous data from multiple species. We call this framework Orthology-driven knowledge base framework for translational research (Ortho_KB). The structural pipeline builds bridges across species based on orthology. The functional pipeline integrates biological information, including quantitative trait loci (QTL), RNA-seq datasets, and uses the backbone from the structural pipeline to connect orthologs in the database. Queries can be written using the Neo4j Cypher language and can, for instance, lead to identify genes controlling main traits across species. To explore the possibilities offered by such a framework, we populated Ortho_KB to obtain OrthoLegKB, an instance dedicated to legumes. The proposed model was evaluated by studying the conservation of a flowering-promoting gene. Through a series of queries, we have demonstrated that our knowledge graph base provides an intuitive and powerful platform to support research and development programme

Translational research opportunities in grain legumes: where are we?

International audienceResearchers are under constant pressure to provide solutions to meet the challenges of a growing world population and advance One Health. Translational biology can play an important role in achieving these goals by transforming basic research discoveries into practice quickly and efficiently. In plants, basic science can indeed be translated into methods to developand improve crop varieties and thus achieve food security in a sustainable and safe way. Grain legumes are an important source of protein for animal and human nutrition. They are part of a large plant family with several, closely-related, agronomically-important crops. As the demand for plant-based protein continues to grow, more land is being devoted to these crops, but many environmental influences still constrain their productivity. Improving the response of grain legumes to limiting factors is key to ensuring the stability of yield and grain quality. Here, we report the development of OrthoLegKB, aknowledge graph database for grain legumes. The framework relies heavily on orthology and synteny relationships to build bridges between species, and transfer and/or compare information between them. Users can integrate published and unpublished data related to their species of interest including genetic, genomic and transcriptomic information. Heterogeneous datasets from multiple species can be accessed and explored with quasi-instantaneous query times, allowing relevant biological questions to be addressed, hypotheses to be generated, and information from a single or group of species to be transferred to others. OrthoLegKB is a significant step towards translational approaches in grain legumes and a great tool for research and breeding. The number of legume species will be constantly increased. Future developments to accommodate pangenomic datasets as well as proteomic and metabolomic information will further enrich the query capabilities