The use of passive seismological imaging in speleogenetic studies: an example from Kanaan Cave, Lebanon

Among many parameters that control the evolution of caves stands the volume of unconsolidated clay sediments generally produced by the alteration of the calcareous rocks. Here we introduce the use of a passive seismological imaging technique to investigate the clay deposits and estimate its total volume in a cave. Applied for the first time for speleogenesis studies, the HVSR (Horizontal / Vertical Spectral Ration) is a geophysical technique that can help better interpret cave geomorphology. We apply seismological spectral techniques (H/V ratio) on ambient noise vibrations to derive the clay volume, as well as its shape. This technique applied on the clay volume reveals some internal details, such as fallen blocks prior to the deposit accumulation and helps to understand deposit evacuation dynamics. The study focuses on the Kanaan Cave, located in Metn District, Lebanon, and reveals new stages related to the cave speleogenesis. This technique could be applied on ‘paragenetic’ caves where clay volume is frequently present in order to constrain the clay volume and reconstruct the buried floor shape of the cave, underneath the clay deposit

A Phase 2 Study of Coltuximab Ravtansine (SAR3419) Monotherapy in Patients with Relapsed or Refractory Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL)

International audienceBackground Long-term disease-free survival in adult patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) remains unsatisfactory, and treatment options are limited for those patients who relapse or fail to respond following initial therapy. We conducted a dose-escalation/expansion phase 2, multicenter, single-arm study to determine the optimal dose of coltuximab ravtansine (SAR3419), an anti-CD19 antibody-drug conjugate, in this setting. Patients and Methods The dose-escalation part of the study determined the selected dose of coltuximab ravtansine for evaluation of efficacy and safety in the dose-expansion phase. Patients received coltuximab ravtansine induction therapy (up to 8 weekly doses); responding patients were eligible for maintenance therapy (biweekly administrations for up to 24 weeks). Three dose levels of coltuximab ravtansine were examined: 55, 70, and 90 mg/m2. The primary endpoint was objective response rate (ORR). Secondary endpoints included duration of response (DOR) and safety. Results A total of 36 patients were treated: 19 during dose escalation; 17 during dose expansion. One dose-limiting toxicity was observed at 90 mg/m2 (grade 3 peripheral motor neuropathy), and therefore 70 mg/m2 was selected for the dose-expansion phase. Five patients discontinued therapy due to adverse events (AEs). The most common AEs were pyrexia, diarrhea, and nausea. Of 17 evaluable patients treated at the selected dose, 4 responded (estimated ORR using Bayesian methodology: 25.47% [80% confidence interval: 14.18-39.6%]); DOR was 1.94 (range: 1-5.6) months. Based on these results, the study was prematurely discontinued. Conclusions Coltuximab ravtansine is well tolerated but is associated with a low clinical response rate in patients with relapsed/refractory AL

Aberrant DNA Methylation Is Associated with Disease Progression, Resistance to Imatinib and Shortened Survival in Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia

The epigenetic impact of DNA methylation in chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) is not completely understood. To elucidate its role we analyzed 120 patients with CML for methylation of promoter-associated CpG islands of 10 genes. Five genes were identified by DNA methylation screening in the K562 cell line and 3 genes in patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms. The CDKN2B gene was selected for its frequent methylation in myeloid malignancies and ABL1 as the target of BCR-ABL translocation. Thirty patients were imatinib-naïve (mostly treated by interferon-alpha before the imatinib era), 30 were imatinib-responsive, 50 were imatinib-resistant, and 10 were imatinib-intolerant. We quantified DNA methylation by bisulfite pyrosequencing. The average number of methylated genes was 4.5 per patient in the chronic phase, increasing significantly to 6.2 in the accelerated and 6.4 in the blastic phase. Higher numbers of methylated genes were also observed in patients resistant or intolerant to imatinib. These patients also showed almost exclusive methylation of a putative transporter OSCP1. Abnormal methylation of a Src suppressor gene PDLIM4 was associated with shortened survival independently of CML stage and imatinib responsiveness. We conclude that aberrant DNA methylation is associated with CML progression and that DNA methylation could be a marker associated with imatinib resistance. Finally, DNA methylation of PDLIM4 may help identify a subset of CML patients that would benefit from treatment with Src/Abl inhibitors

Infrastructures de données spatiales: Évaluation socio-économique: retours d'expérience, concepts et méthodes

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Infrastructures de données spatiales: Évaluation socio-économique: retours d'expérience, concepts et méthodes

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Évaluation socio-économique des Infrastructures de Données Spatiales. Retours d’expérience et recommandations méthodologiques

Réalisé dans le cadre d’un contrat du programme TOSCA financé par le CNES, ce guide vise à familiariser les opérateurs et usagers divers liés au monde de l’information satellitaire aux dimensions socio-économiques requises pour caractériser et mesurer les effets résultant des IDS. Il s’agit d’offrir un niveau minium de compréhension de ces processus de façon, selon les types de lecteurs, à:Prendre conscience de la diversité des effets et des composantes de la valeur des IDS ;Orienter les choix méthodologiques pour des études futures en fonction des questions posées, en particulier s’agissant de la rédaction de futurs cahiers des charges d’études dans ce domaine ; Comprendre et éventuellement vérifier la pertinence méthodologique de travaux d’évaluation réalisés dans ce domaine ;Aider des équipes désireuses de réaliser des enquêtes pour évaluer divers dispositifs relevant des IDS.</ul

Infrastructures de données spatiales. Evaluation économique : concepts, méthodes et retours d’expérience

International audienceLes demandes et les usages des données spatiales satellitaires se développent et se diversifient de façon importante, en lien avec la précision, la fréquence des prises de vue et la taille des images. Ainsi, il convient de comprendre et de rendre compte des impacts de cette production croissante sur l’organisation et la rationalisation des structures qui les utilisent, mais aussi sur l’efficacité et la transparence des politiques publiques mobilisant ces informations. Les infrastructures de données spatiales (IDS) représentent des dispositifs essentiels : elles facilitent l’accès aux images (acquisition, traitement, archivage), ainsi que les processus de mutualisation et d’innovations méthodologiques. Elles constituent des biens publics informationnels et mobilisent des moyens croissants qui nécessitent de questionner les types de « modèles économiques » dont elles relèvent.Ce guide, pédagogique et opérationnel, s’adresse à l’ensemble des acteurs liés à la production ou à l’usage des informations spatiales. Il permet une lecture à la carte en fonction des centres d’intérêt et des disciplines, à travers de multiples encadrés et exemples. Il présente les concepts et les méthodes d’évaluation économique appliqués à l’information spatiale, en détaillant trois types d’approches selon que l’on veut estimer la valeur de l’information spatiale, mesurer les retombées économiques d’une IDS ou caractériser ses impacts par des approches multicritères

Infrastructures de données spatiales: Évaluation socio-économique: retours d'expérience, concepts et méthodes

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Styrofoam<TM> Weathermate<TM> Plus - Air Barrier Material

Aussi disponible en fran\ue7aisPeer reviewed: NoNRC publication: Ye

Infrastructures de données spatiales: Évaluation socio-économique: retours d'expérience, concepts et méthodes

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