Combined Liver-Kidney Transplantation With Preformed Anti-human Leukocyte Antigen Donor-Specific Antibodies

Introduction: the impact of preformed donor-specific anti-human leukocyte antigen (HLA) antibodies (pDSAs) after combined liver-kidney transplantation (CLKT) is still uncertain. Methods: we conducted a retrospective study in 8 European high-volume transplant centers and investigated the outcome of 166 consecutive CLKTs, including 46 patients with pDSAs. Results: patient survival was lower in those with pDSAs (5-year patient survival rate of 63% and 78% with or without pDSA, respectively; P = 0.04). The presence of pDSAs with a mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) ≥ 5000 (hazard ratio 4.96; 95% confidence interval: 2.3-10.9; P < 0.001) and the presence of 3 or more pDSAs (hazard ratio 6.5; 95% confidence interval: 2.5-18.8; P = 0.05) were independently associated with death. The death-censored liver graft survival was similar in patients with or without pDSAs. Kidney graft survival was comparable in both groups. (The 1- and 5-year death-censored graft survival rates were 91.6% and 79.5%, respectively, in patients with pDSAs and 93% and 88%, respectively, in the donor-specific antibody [DSA]-negative group, P = not significant). Despite a higher rate of kidney graft rejection in patients with pDSAs (5-year kidney graft survival rate without rejection of 87% and 97% with or without pDSAs, respectively; P = 0.04), kidney function did not statistically differ between both groups at 5 years post-transplantation (estimated glomerular filtration rate 45 ± 17 vs. 57 ± 29 ml/min per 1.73 m2, respectively, in patients with and without pDSAs). Five recipients with pDSAs (11.0%) experienced an antibody-mediated kidney rejection that led to graft loss in 1 patient. Conclusion: our results suggest that CLKT with pDSAs is associated with a lower patients' survival despite good recipients', liver and kidney grafts' outcome

Aux marges des villes modernes

Précisément étudiés par les historiens du Moyen Âge et de la période contemporaine, les faubourgs demeurent assez méconnus à la période moderne : il s’agit ici de la première étude d’ampleur consacrée aux espaces suburbains de la modernité. Situés en dehors des limites de la ville, matérialisées le plus souvent par des fortifications ou des promenades, les faubourgs apparaissent pourtant essentiels au développement urbain. Loin de constituer des aires de relégation, ils étaient à l’époque moderne le lieu d’une réelle dynamique, concurrençant parfois les villes. À l’aide de nombreux fonds d’archives, l’auteur se penche sur les rapports complexes entre la ville, les faubourgs et les campagnes, dégageant peu à peu la spécificité et la diversité de ces territoires en marge. Par la variété des sources mobilisées et des approches adoptées (la démographie, les migrations, les secteurs économiques, les catégories socioprofessionnelles des faubouriens ou encore l’architecture), l’ouvrage déploie une fine analyse de ces espaces en mouvement constant, illustrant l’intérêt qu’ils présentent pour les recherches actuelles, dans une perspective tant historique que sociale

Reciprocal interactions between the native Mentha aquatica and the invasive Ludwigia hexapetala in an outdoor experiment

International audienceThe invasion of aquatic ecosystems by non-native species often leads to competitive interactions with native species. However, non-native and native species can co-occur. This study presents a comparison between two wetlands species differing in origin the invasive plant Ludwigia hexapetala (Lh) and the native plant Mentha aquatica (Ma). Both species were grown for three months in monocultures and in mixtures at different planting ratios (6Ma/0Lh, 5Ma/1Lh, 3Ma/3Lh, 1Ma/5Lh; 0Ma/6Lh). We assessed species performance in an experimental, outdoor garden. The shoot length, and flower production were measured weekly. At the end of the experiment, root and shoot biomasses were determined, the number of lateral branches was counted, and shoot lengths were measured. Based on biomass, two competition indices were calculated the Relative Yield Total (RYTab) index, and the Relative Competition Intensity (RCI) index. The RCI index suggested a facilitation effect for Mentha and for Ludwigia at the ratio of 1Ma/5Lh, whereas competition was established for both species at the ratio of 3Ma/3Lh. Both the total biomass of L. hexapetala and its production of lateral branches were significantly reduced when grown as a monoculture, suggesting intra-specific competition within L. hexapetala populations. The number of flowers produced by L. hexapetala was highest in the presence of a high ratio of M. aquatica individuals. However, when L. hexapetala outnumbered M. aquatica, its ratio of below/above-ground biomass decreased, indicating an inter-specific competition effect. The intra-specific competition for L. hexapetala was much stronger than interspecific competition. © 2019 Elsevier B.V

Functional structure and impact on biomass production (wet grassland)

International audienc

GeoNature, Open-Source FAIR Biodiversity Data Management

Huge improvements have been made throughout the years in collecting and standardising biodiversity data (Bisby 2000, Osawa 2019, Hardisty and Roberts 2013) and in overhauling how to make information in the field of biodiversity data management more FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) (Simons 2021), but there is still room for improvement. Most professionals working in protected areas, conservation groups, and research organisations lack the required know-how to improve the reuse ratio of their data. The GeoNature and GeoNature-Atlas (Monchicourt 2018, Corny et al. 2019) are a set of open-source software that facilitate data collection, management, validation, sharing (e.g., via Darwin Core standard) and visualisation. It is a powerful case study of collaborative work, which includes teams from private and public sectors with at least fifteen national parks and forty other organisations currently using and contributing to the package in France and Belgium (view it on github)

Functional structure and impact on biomass production (wet grassland)

International audienc

Vegetation heterogeneity and functional structure drive forage production of grazed wet grassland

International audienc

Alternatives Analysis of Residential Users Choosing Demand Response Electricity Rates with Smart Meters

本文針對住宅用戶觀點，模擬七種時間電價相關方案之電費支出水準，及利用參與者檢定(Participant Cost Test, PCT)，評估用戶參與各種電價方案前之成本效益，最後對研究變數中之智慧電表成本及折現率作敏感度分析。從各電價方案對用戶電費支出實證結果顯示，選用現行二段式時間電價方案其電費最高，其次為二段式時間電價A-1方案，最低者為即時電價C方案。用戶改選用不同電價方案後，參與者檢定結果顯示：以現行非時間電價方案為基準，多數用戶益本比未達1，僅用戶甲夏月及用戶戊選用即時電價方案有通過檢定，以現行二段式時間電價方案為基準：益本比大小依序為即時電價C、二段式時間電價A-2、三段式時間電價B、二段式時間電價A-1。 由智慧電表成本及折現率為變數之敏感度分析結果顯示：以現行非時間電價方案為基準，在不同折現率情境下，多數用戶益本比未通過檢定，僅有用戶甲夏月與用戶戊在智慧電表成本為3000 元及6000元時選用即時電價C方案，益本比會大於1。以現行二段式時間電價方案為基準：智慧電表成本為3000元~9000元時，益本比多數大於1，通過成本效益檢定，當智慧電表成本達15000元時，多數用戶益本比則小於1。此隱示智慧電表成本之高低，將會影響住宅用戶採用各種需求面管理方案之意願。This article aims at looking from the residential users' perspective. It simulates seven electricity rate programs pertaining to time-of-use rate or non-time-of-use rate, utilizing Participant Cost Test (PCT) to assess those residential customers' programs and the cost-benefit analysis. The costs and the discount rate of the smart meter are also artificially varied in this study for sensitive analysis. For each of the tariff programs, the electricity expenditure for the users are compared and shows the following results: those users selecting the present two-tier time-of-use rate program has the highest expenditures, followed by the two-tier time-of-use rate scheme A-1. Those with the lowest expenditures were those who chose the Real-Time Pricing program. When those who have taken the Participant Cost Test for the cost-benefit analysis, taking the existing non-time-of-use program as a benchmark, most of the ratio are less than 1, only the userU1 in a summer month and userU5 selecting the Real-Time Pricing have passed the PCT test. Using the present two-tier time-of-use rate scheme as a benchmark: the cost benefit ratio is highest for Real-Time Pricing, followed by Two-tier Time-of-Use, Three-tier Time-of-Use and the Two-tire Time-of-Use A-1. The cost of the smart meter and the discount rate for sensitive analysis. With existing non-time-of-use rate program as a benchmark and the discount rate with different scenarios, most users' cost benefit ratio cannot pass the PCT test. Only user U1 in a summer month and user U5 choosing Real-Time Pricing with smart meters costing betweenNT$3000 to NT$6000, then the cost benefit ratio will be greater than1. Taking the present two-tier time-of-use rate program as a benchmark, when the smart meter costs between NT$3000 to NT$9000, the ratio for the majority of users will be greater than 1, thus passing the Participant Cost Test. However, when the smart meter reaches NT$15000, then most users benefit cost ratio will plummet to less than 1. This implies that the cost of the smart meter does matter to the adoption willingness of the demand-side management programs for residential users.目次 第一章 緒論 1 第一節 研究動機 1 第二節 研究目的 3 第三節 研究架構 4 第二章 智慧電表發展概況與文獻探討 6 第一節 國內智慧電表發展概況 6 第二節 需量反應文獻回顧 7 第三節 成本效益分析文獻回顧 15 第三章 研究方法與資料說明 19 第一節 參與者檢定 19 第二節 實證資料 20 第四章 實證結果分析 21 第一節 電費支出水準 21 第二節 成本效益分析之結果 33 第三節 敏感度分析 37 第五章 結論與建議 47 第一節 結論 47 第二節 未來研究建議 49 參考文獻 5

Variation of thermal plasticity for functional traits between populations of an invasive aquatic plant from two climatic regions

International audienceTemperature inducible phenotypic plasticity is a major player in plant responses to climate warming. Functional responses and their role in determining thermal plasticity of plants remain poorly understood. Our objective was to compare trait responses of six populations of Ludwigia peploides resulting from seed from Oceanic climate and from Mediterranean climate after an exposure at three temperatures (16, 24, and 30°C). A comparative analysis showed that at 30°C, the six populations of L. peploides shared different morphological responses, whereas a common pattern of morphological responses was found for the six populations at 16°C. At 16°C, the growth was very low suggesting a stress. At 30°C, the three Mediterranean populations of L. peploides accumulated ≈ sevenfold more total biomass than the populations from Oceanic region. Despite drawing similar response pattern to temperature, the populations showed several different metabolic responses. The thermal plastic responses to the highest temperature differed according to the origin of the populations. The Mediterranean populations of L. peploides could be better adapted to rising temperature. These abilities could allow them to take advantage from climate warming if the temperature is not warming up to temperature above a critical threshold