Oceanic control of multidecadal variability in an idealized coupled GCM

Idealized ocean models are known to develop intrinsic multidecadal oscillations of the meridional overturning circulation (MOC). Here we explore the role of ocean–atmosphere interactions on this low-frequency variability. We use a coupled ocean–atmosphere model set up in a flat-bottom aquaplanet geometry with two meridional boundaries. The model is run at three different horizontal resolutions (4°, 2° and 1°) in both the ocean and atmosphere. At all resolutions, the MOC exhibits spontaneous variability on multidecadal timescales in the range 30–40 years, associated with the propagation of large-scale baroclinic Rossby waves across the Atlantic-like basin. The unstable region of growth of these waves through the long wave limit of baroclinic instability shifts from the eastern boundary at coarse resolution to the western boundary at higher resolution. Increasing the horizontal resolution enhances both intrinsic atmospheric variability and ocean–atmosphere interactions. In particular, the simulated atmospheric annular mode becomes significantly correlated to the MOC variability at 1° resolution. An ocean-only simulation conducted for this specific case underscores the disruptive but not essential influence of air–sea interactions on the low-frequency variability. This study demonstrates that an atmospheric annular mode leading MOC changes by about 2 years (as found at 1° resolution) does not imply that the low-frequency variability originates from air–sea interactions

Vallée de la Dives : étude des terrasses à Morteaux-Couliboeuf (L’Herbage Vieille), Le Mesnil-Mauger (Écajeul) et Biéville-Quétiéville (Quétiéville)

Dans le cadre des projets soutenus par le PCR « les premiers Hommes en Normandie », de nouvelles recherches de terrain portant sur l’étude géomorphologique et sédimentaire de vallées fluviatiles pléistocènes de la Dives ont été engagées, afin de préciser les contextes environnementaux et de tenter de mettre en évidence d’éventuelles occupations humaines. Le fleuve Dives s’inscrit dans le contexte de bordure du système Manche-Atlantique qui a laissé des replats recouverts de nappes alluviales ..

Saint-Pierre-lès-Elbeuf – Le Mont Énot

Le site se trouve à l’est d’Elbeuf, à la confluence de la Seine et de l’Oison, maintenant très encaissée. L’enregistrement stratigraphique correspond aux dépôts lœssiques du Pléistocène moyen et supérieur. L’épaisseur exceptionnelle de lœss ancien s’explique par la présence d’une falaise fossile élevée, associée à la terrasse moyenne (dite de 30 m), qui a protégé le limon de l’érosion. Ce site, connu et décrit depuis la fin du xixe s., a fait l’objet d’une étude détaillée de la part de J.-P. ..

GeneFarm, structural and functional annotation of Arabidopsis gene and protein families by a network of experts

Genomic projects heavily depend on genome annotations and are limited by the current deficiencies in the published predictions of gene structure and function. It follows that, improved annotation will allow better data mining of genomes, and more secure planning and design of experiments. The purpose of the GeneFarm project is to obtain homogeneous, reliable, documented and traceable annotations for Arabidopsis nuclear genes and gene products, and to enter them into an added-value database. This re-annotation project is being performed exhaustively on every member of each gene family. Performing a family-wide annotation makes the task easier and more efficient than a gene-by-gene approach since many features obtained for one gene can be extrapolated to some or all the other genes of a family. A complete annotation procedure based on the most efficient prediction tools available is being used by 16 partner laboratories, each contributing annotated families from its field of expertise. A database, named GeneFarm, and an associated user-friendly interface to query the annotations have been developed. More than 3000 genes distributed over 300 families have been annotated and are available at http://genoplante-info.infobiogen.fr/Genefarm/. Furthermore, collaboration with the Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics is underway to integrate the GeneFarm data into the protein knowledgebase Swiss-Prot

GeneFarm, structural and functional annotation of Arabidopsis gene and protein families by a network of experts

Genomic projects heavily depend on genome annotations and are limited by the current deficiencies in the published predictions of gene structure and function. It follows that, improved annotation will allow better data mining of genomes, and more secure planning and design of experiments. The purpose of the GeneFarm project is to obtain homogeneous, reliable, documented and traceable annotations for Arabidopsis nuclear genes and gene products, and to enter them into an added-value database. This re-annotation project is being performed exhaustively on every member of each gene family. Performing a family-wide annotation makes the task easier and more efficient than a gene-by-gene approach since many features obtained for one gene can be extrapolated to some or all the other genes of a family. A complete annotation procedure based on the most efficient prediction tools available is being used by 16 partner laboratories, each contributing annotated families from its field of expertise. A database, named GeneFarm, and an associated user-friendly interface to query the annotations have been developed. More than 3000 genes distributed over 300 families have been annotated and are available at http://genoplante-info.infobiogen.fr/Genefarm/. Furthermore, collaboration with the Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics is underway to integrate the GeneFarm data into the protein knowledgebase Swiss-Pro

Interest of Pet Imaging in Multiple Myeloma

The interest of 18Fluoro-deoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) imaging in the management of patients with multiple myeloma (MM) for the workup at diagnosis and for therapeutic evaluation has recently been demonstrated. FDG-PET is a powerful imaging tool for bone lesions detection at initial diagnosis with high sensitivity and specificity values. The independent pejorative prognostic value on progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) of baseline PET-derived parameters (presence of extra-medullary disease (EMD), number of focal bone lesions (FLs), and maximum standardized uptake values [SUVmax]) has been reported in several large independent prospective studies. During therapeutic evaluation, FDG-PET is considered as the reference imaging technique, because it can be performed much earlier than MRI which lacks specificity. Persistence of significant FDG uptake after treatment, notably before maintenance therapy, is an independent pejorative prognostic factor, especially for patients with a complete biological response. So FDG-PET and medullary flow cytometry are complementary tools for detection of minimal residual disease before maintenance therapy. However, the definition of PET metabolic complete response should be standardized. In patients with smoldering multiple myeloma, the presence of at least one hyper-metabolic lytic lesions on FDG-PET may be considered as a criterion for initiating therapy. FDG-PET is also indicated for initial staging of a solitary plasmacytoma so as to not disregard other bone or extra-medullary localizations. Development of nuclear medicine offer new perspectives for MM imaging. Recent PET tracers are willing to overcome limitations of FDG. (11)C-Methionine, which uptake reflects the increased protein synthesis of malignant cells seems to correlate well with bone marrow infiltration. Lipid tracers, such as Choline or acetate, and some peptide tracers, such as (68) Ga-Pentixafor, that targets CXCR4 (chemokine receptor-4, which is often expressed with high density by myeloma cells), are other promising PET ligands. 18F-fludarabine and immuno-PET targeting CD138 and CD38 also showed promising results in preclinical models

Development of a Deep Water High Speed Retrievable Instrument Sledge

OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS STUDIES HAVE BEEM UNDERTAKEN TO DEVELOP AN ACOUSTIC LOW FREQUENCY TRANSMITTER CAPABLE OF TRANSMITTING DATA FROM SPECIALIZED SENSORS EMBEDDED UP TO 50 M IN OCEANIC SEDIMENTARY FORMATIONS IN WATER DEPTH OF 5 - 6 KM. DUE TO THE EXTREME CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYEMENT OF THIS INSTRUMENTATION, HIGH IMPACT VELOCITIES (200 KM/H), LARGE DECELERATIONS (>10 G) AND HIGH AMBIENT PRESSURES (ABOUT 600 BARS), PROBLEMS WERE ENCOUNTERED DURING INITIAL TESTS RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF A NUMBER OF UNITS. IN ORDER TO PHYSICALLY RECOVER THE INSTRUMENTATION FOR SUBSEQUENT INSPECTION, THE JOINT RESEARCH CENTRE DESIGNED AND CONSTRUCTED A DEEP WATER HIGH SPEED RETRIEVABLE INSTRUMENT SLEDGE. THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SLEDGE AND THE RESULTS OF CARRIED OUT ON THE M.V. TYRO ARE REPORTED IN THE PRESENT PAPERNA-NOT AVAILABL

Introduction

Le spectacle sportif ou la mise en scène des identités Les spectateurs d’un match de football ou de basket, d’une compétition de surf ou de décathlon, en direct, ou par le biais de la télévision, « prennent parti » le plus souvent. Ce parti pris peut-être circonstanciel, occasionnel, il ne vaut alors que pour la durée d’un spectacle. Il est durable pour les passionnés, les « supporters », ceux qui s’investissent, se mobilisent, se reconnaissent, s’identifient à un sportif, une équipe, u..

Introduction

Les sciences humaines face à la performance et au spectacle sportif Peut-on dresser un tableau des recherches en sciences humaines traitant du sport de haut niveau et du sport professionnel en région ? La tâche peut paraître bien périlleuse. P. Chifflet, en s’y attelant, insiste justement sur le caractère incomplet de son travail. Son texte est surtout l’occasion de réfléchir sur les raisons du petit nombre de travaux dans ces domaines. Mais la faiblesse numérique ne tient-elle pas aux ..