Simulations of stellar convection, pulsation and semiconvection

We report on modelling in stellar astrophysics with the ANTARES code. First, we describe properties of turbulence in solar granulation as seen in high-resolution calculations. Then, we turn to the first 2D model of pulsation-convection interaction in a cepheid. We discuss properties of the outer and the HEII ionization zone. Thirdly, we report on our work regarding models of semiconvection in the context of stellar physics.Comment: Astrophysical Dynamics: From Stars to Galaxies. IAU Symposium 27

Combined cetuximab and trastuzumab are superior to gemcitabine in the treatment of human pancreatic carcinoma xenografts

Background: Pancreatic carcinoma remains a treatment-refractory cancer with a poor prognosis. Here, we compared anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and anti-HER2 monoclonal antibodies (2mAbs) injections with standard gemcitabine treatment on human pancreatic carcinoma xenografts. Materials and methods: Nude mice, bearing human pancreatic carcinoma xenografts, were treated with either combined anti-EGFR (cetuximab) and anti-HER2 (trastuzumab) or gemcitabine, and tumor growth was observed. Results and conclusion: In first-line therapy, mice survival was significantly longer in the 2mAbs group compared with gemcitabine (P < 0.0001 for BxPC-3, P = 0.0679 for MiaPaCa-2 and P = 0.0019 for Capan-1) and with controls (P < 0.0001). In second-line therapy, tumor regressions were observed after replacing gemcitabine by 2mAbs treatment, resulting in significantly longer animal survival compared with mice receiving continuous gemcitabine injections (P = 0.008 for BxPC-3, P = 0.05 for MiaPaCa-2 and P < 0.001 for Capan-1). Therapeutic benefit of 2mAbs was observed despite K-Ras mutation. Interestingly, concerning the mechanism of action, coinjection of F(ab′)2 fragments from 2mAbs induced significant tumor growth inhibition, compared with controls (P = 0.001), indicating that the 2mAbs had an Fc fragment-independent direct action on tumor cells. This preclinical study demonstrated a significant improvement of survival and tumor regression in mice treated with anti-EGFR/anti-HER2 2mAbs in first- and second-line treatments, compared with gemcitabine, independently of the K-Ras statu

Application of Two-Part Statistics for Comparison of Sequence Variant Counts

Investigation of microbial communities, particularly human associated communities, is significantly enhanced by the vast amounts of sequence data produced by high throughput sequencing technologies. However, these data create high-dimensional complex data sets that consist of a large proportion of zeros, non-negative skewed counts, and frequently, limited number of samples. These features distinguish sequence data from other forms of high-dimensional data, and are not adequately addressed by statistical approaches in common use. Ultimately, medical studies may identify targeted interventions or treatments, but lack of analytic tools for feature selection and identification of taxa responsible for differences between groups, is hindering advancement. The objective of this paper is to examine the application of a two-part statistic to identify taxa that differ between two groups. The advantages of the two-part statistic over common statistical tests applied to sequence count datasets are discussed. Results from the t-test, the Wilcoxon test, and the two-part test are compared using sequence counts from microbial ecology studies in cystic fibrosis and from cenote samples. We show superior performance of the two-part statistic for analysis of sequence data. The improved performance in microbial ecology studies was independent of study type and sequence technology used

The effects of long-term saturated fat enriched diets on the brain lipidome

The brain is highly enriched in lipids, where they influence neurotransmission, synaptic plasticity and inflammation. Non-pathological modulation of the brain lipidome has not been previously reported and few studies have investigated the interplay between plasma lipid homeostasis relative to cerebral lipids. This study explored whether changes in plasma lipids induced by chronic consumption of a well-tolerated diet enriched in saturated fatty acids (SFA) was associated with parallel changes in cerebral lipid homeostasis. Male C57Bl/6 mice were fed regular chow or the SFA diet for six months. Plasma, hippocampus (HPF) and cerebral cortex (CTX) lipids were analysed by LC-ESI-MS/MS. A total of 348 lipid species were determined, comprising 25 lipid classes. The general abundance of HPF and CTX lipids was comparable in SFA fed mice versus controls, despite substantial differences in plasma lipid-class abundance. However, significant differences in 50 specific lipid species were identified as a consequence of SFA treatment, restricted to phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), alkyl-PC, alkenyl-PC, alkyl-PE, alkenyl-PE, cholesterol ester (CE), diacylglycerol (DG), phosphatidylinositol (PI) and phosphatidylserine (PS) classes. Partial least squares regression of the HPF/CTX lipidome versus plasma lipidome revealed the plasma lipidome could account for a substantial proportion of variation. The findings demonstrate that cerebral abundance of specific lipid species is strongly associated with plasma lipid homeostasis

Le rapport des marins-pêcheurs aux plaisanciers : un analyseur de leurs représentations de la mer comme espace professionnel

ABSTRACT The fishermen who practise inshore fishing as a trade have to share their maritime area with amateur fishermen. This situation is a real problem. What professional fishermen say about their amateur counterparts clearly indicates that they consider the sea as a natural and wild area, whose resources are often regarded as inexhaustible, and also that their representation of marketing is sometimes limited to their wives'stalls in the nearby village markets. Besides, their statements reveal two kinds of social relationships : their relationship with holiday amateur fishermen on the one hand and their relationship with retired amateur fishermen on the other hand. Holiday fishermen are often looked upon as strangers who have to bear the criticisms one would not dare to level at retired amateur fishermen. Finally the increasing number of holiday amateur fishermen who do not share the same cultural background is altering the way in which maritime space is being controlled : it is shifting from a system of informal norms specific to the profession to a system of formal norms based on official rules.RÉSUMÉ Les pêcheurs de la pêche côtière ont à se partager l'espace maritime avec les plaisanciers. Cette répartition est problématique. Les discours des pêcheurs sur les plaisanciers font état de leur représentation de la mer comme espace sauvage, naturel, souvent considéré comme inépuisable, ainsi que d'une représentation du marché qui est parfois limité à l'étal de leur femme sur les places des villages côtiers. En outre ce discours permet de faire apparaître des types de rapports sociaux : rapports aux plaisanciers vacanciers, rapports aux plaisanciers retraités ; les vacanciers étant considérés comme étrangers et devant supporter les critiques que les pêcheurs n'osent pas formuler à l'encontre des retraités. Enfin la multiplication des vacanciers n'émargeant pas à l'univers culturel de la pêche transforme les modes de régulation de l'espace marin : d'une régulation par un système de normes caractéristique de la profession à une régulation par la réglementation.Bascoul J.L., Brouat J. P. Le rapport des marins-pêcheurs aux plaisanciers : un analyseur de leurs représentations de la mer comme espace professionnel. In: Norois, n°133-135, Janvier-Septembre 1987. Espaces côtiers et sociétés littorales. Colloque international des 28, 29 et 30 novembre 1986 à Nantes. pp. 297-303

From clinker to concrete—an overall modelling

International audienceBy overall modelling we mean a relationship which links concrete strength to some major practical concerns such as cement and water contents, cement fineness and lapse of time, the constants being characteristics of the clinker only. The experimental basis covers concretes and standard mortars prepared with 52 laboratory OPCs, made from 14 industrial clinkers ground to different grades of fineness. The model allows a synthesis between the engineer’s and the chemist’s approaches, taking into account both compacity and chemical reactivity. Though empirical, it seems to be in line with current scientific knowledge