Depth Of Maximum Of Air-shower Profiles At The Pierre Auger Observatory. I. Measurements At Energies Above 1017.8ev

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Search for patterns by combining cosmic-ray energy and arrival directions at the Pierre Auger Observatory

Energy-dependent patterns in the arrival directions of cosmic rays are searched for using data of the Pierre Auger Observatory. We investigate local regions around the highest-energy cosmic rays with E > = 6×1019 eV by analyzing cosmic rays with energies above E > = 5×1018 eV arriving within an angular separation of approximately 15°. We characterize the energy distributions inside these regions by two independent methods, one searching for angular dependence of energy-energy correlations and one searching for collimation of energy along the local system of principal axes of the energy distribution. No significant patterns are found with this analysis. The comparison of these measurements with astrophysical scenarios can therefore be used to obtain constraints on related model parameters such as strength of cosmic-ray deflection and density of point sources

Pyrosequencinq analysis of the oral microflora of healthy adults

A good definition of commensal microflora and an understanding of its relation to health are essential in preventing and combating disease. We hypothesized that the species richness of human oral microflora is underestimated. Saliva and supragingival plaque were sampled from 71 and 98 healthy adults, respectively. Amplieons from the V6 hypervariable region of the small-subunit ribosomal RNA gene were generated by PCR, pooled into saliva and plaque pools, and sequenced by means of the Genome Sequencer 20 system at 454 Life Sciences. Data were evaluated by taxonomic and rarefaction analyses. The 197,600 sequences generated yielded about 29,000 unique sequences, representing 22 taxonomic phyla. Grouping the sequences in operational taxonomic units (6%) yielded 3621 and 6888 species-level phylotypes in saliva and plaque, respectively. This work gives a radically new insight into the diversity of human oral microflora, which, with an estimated number of 19,000 phylotypes, is considerably higher than previously reported

Inventory of 'atherosclerotic genes' induced or repressed in endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells by differential display rt-pcr

Initiation and progression of atherosclerosis requires differential expression of a distinct set of known and novel genes in various cell types, e.g vascular endothelial cells (ECs) and smooth muscle cells (SMCs). We set out to identify genes with a reproducibly altered, time-dependent expression in either cultured human ECs or SMCs, activated by TNF-a or by conditioned medium of oxLDL activated monocytes (CM-MC). An unbiased method (differential display RT-PCR) was employed to make an inventory of differential gene expression. Theoretically, the combinations of 12 anchored primers (5'T,NN) and 12 arbitrary 10-mers displays approximately 80% of a cell's mRNA repertoire. Depending on the abundance of differential transcription, confirmation was done by Northern blotting, RNase protection or by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. Accordingly, we identified 106 TNF-a/CM-MC responsive genes in cultured ECs and 46 genes in SMCs. Strikingly, only 3 known genes (GM-CSF, IL-8, IAP-C) were found to be induced both in ECs and SMCs, illustrating that ECs and SMCs express different genes in response to the same atherogenic stimulus. Probes corresponding to these genes are then employed for in situ hybridization with human specimen, obtained either from major vascular surgery or from donors, representing different stages of the disease. At present, in situ hybridization demonstrated SMC-specific expression in specimen for three novel unknown genes. The in vim mRNA expression pattern markedly differs, suggesting a differential function in early or advanced lesions. Full-length cDNA cloning and, subsequent, functional characterization of the corresponding gene products is in progress

STICS. Modèle de simulation de culture. Bilan hydrique. Bilan azoté. Notice utilisateur

* INRA, Centre de Recherche d'Orléans, URD, Ardon 45160 Olivet (FRA) Diffusion du document : INRA, Centre de Recherche d'Orléans, URD, Ardon 45160 Olivet (FRA)National audienc

STICS. Modèle de simulation de culture. Bilan hydrique. Bilan azoté. Notice utilisateur

* INRA, Centre de Recherche d'Orléans, URD, Ardon 45160 Olivet (FRA) Diffusion du document : INRA, Centre de Recherche d'Orléans, URD, Ardon 45160 Olivet (FRA)National audienc

STICS. Modèle de simulation de culture. Bilan hydrique. Bilan azoté. Notice utilisateur

* INRA, Centre de Recherche d'Orléans, URD, Ardon 45160 Olivet (FRA) Diffusion du document : INRA, Centre de Recherche d'Orléans, URD, Ardon 45160 Olivet (FRA)National audienc

STICS : un modèle générique pour simuler les cultures et leurs bilans hydrique et azoté. I. Théorie et paramétrage appliqués au blé et au maïs

International audienceSTICS (Simulateur mulTIdiscplinaire pour les Cultures Standard) is a crop model constructed as a simulation tool capable of working under agricultural conditions. Outputs comprise the production (amount and quality) and the environment. Inputs take into account the climate, the soil and the cropping system. STICS is presented as a model exhibiting the following qualities: robustness, an easy access to inputs and an uncomplicated future evolution thanks to a modular (easy adaptation to various types of plant) nature and generic. However, STICS is not an entirely new model since most parts use classic formalisms or stem from existing models. The main simulated processes are the growth, the development of the crop and the water and nitrogenous balance of the soil-crop system. The seven modules of STICS - development, shoot growth, yield components, root growth, water balance, thermal environment and nitrogen balance - are presented in turn with a discussion about the theoretical choices in comparison to other models. These choices should render the model capable of exhibiting the announced qualities in classic environmental contexts. However, because some processes (e.g. ammoniac volatilization, drought resistance, etc.) are not taken into account, the use of STICS is presently limited to several cropping systems. (© Inra/Elsevier, Paris.)STICS est un modèle de culture conçu comme un outil de simulation opérationnel en conditions agricoles. Ses variables de sortie sont relatives à la production, à la fois en quantité et en qualité, et à l’environnement. Ses entrées sont relatives au climat, au sol et au système de culture. STICS est présenté comme un modèle montrant les qualités suivantes : robustesse, facilité d’accès aux données d’entrée, souplesse d’évolution par une présentation modulaire et généricité (facilité d’adaptation à divers types de plantes). Pourtant, il ne s’agit pas d’un modèle entièrement nouveau dans les formalismes utilisés. Ils sont, pour la plupart, issus de modèles existants. Les grands processus simulés sont la croissance et le développement de la culture ainsi que les bilans hydrique et azoté du système sol-culture. Les sept modules de STICS sont décrits successivement avec une discussion sur les choix théoriques comparés à ceux d’autres modèles : développement, croissance aérienne, composantes du rendement, croissance racinaire, bilan hydrique, environnement thermique de la culture, bilan azoté. Il ressort que ces choix confèrent à priori au modèle les qualités annoncées dans un contexte environnemental classique. Cependant, l’absence de prise en compte de certains processus (exemples : volatilisation de l’ammoniac, résistance à la sécheresse, ...) restreint pour l’instant son utilisation à certains systèmes de culture. (© Inra/Elsevier, Paris.

Relações do parâmetro S para algumas propriedades físicas de solos do sul do Brasil Relationships of the S parameter of some physical properties of soils of southern Brazil

O parâmetro S representa o valor da inclinação da curva de retenção de água no seu ponto de inflexão. Um aumento nos valores de S indica uma ampla distribuição de tamanho de poros, condizente com condições estruturais que estabelecem um adequado funcionamento físico do solo. Neste trabalho, testou-se a sensibilidade do parâmetro S, proposto na literatura, em relação a algumas propriedades físicas de solos do Sul do Brasil. O parâmetro S não se relacionou com o teor de argila total, nem com o teor de argila dispersa dos sete solos utilizados neste trabalho. Para o grupamento dos solos argilosos e muito argilosos, o parâmetro S apresentou decréscimo exponencial com o aumento da densidade do solo e um crescimento exponencial com o aumento da matéria orgânica do solo. Nesses solos, a água disponível às plantas aumentou de forma linear (ADP= 3,19*S) passando pela origem e a pressão de pré-consolidação reduziu exponencialmente com o aumento do valor de S. Conclui-se que o parâmetro S apresentou sensibilidade para determinar a qualidade física dos solos de textura argilosa e muito argilosa.<br>The S index corresponds to the slope of the soil water retention curve at its inflection point. A high S value indicates the presence of structural pores, which are essential for a good soil physical condition. The objective of this study was to evaluate the sensitivity of the index of soil physical quality (S), as proposed in the literature for some physical properties of soils from Southern Brazil. In the seven soils used here, no relationship was found between clay and water dispersible clay content with soil physical quality index S. However, in soils with high clay content, the S index decreases with an increase in soil bulk density and increases with an increase in soil organic matter content. For a given texture class, plant available water increased linearly (PAW= 3.19*S) to the origin and the preconsolidation pressure decreased exponentially with the increasing S index. The S index is sensitive to be used as an index of soil physical quality for soils with a high clay content