Quelles stratégies d'entreprise pour une économie circulaire moteur de croissance ?: Amorcer la transition, construire le modèle de demain

Firms operate in a globalized economic system, which is increasingly characterized by natural resources scarcity, energy costs increase, environmental degradations and social imbalances.Circular economy offers firms concrete solutions to face these issues, through operational strategies such as recycling, reuse, remanufacturing, eco-design, functional economy or industrial ecology. Therefore, it constitutes a true and applied sustainable development model, which could decouple economic value creation from natural resources use and environmental impacts, while creating jobs.Number of pioneering companies have already identified the opportunities that are associated with these strategies, and changed their business model based on circular economy strategies. These volunteer approaches generates new economic, social and environmental dynamics, as well as innovative business positioning.The supporting material of this study, which is realized by the French Institute for circular economy, is the feedback from these firms. Its objective is to develop a better understanding of the motivations that pushed these firms to launch these strategies, as well as the incentives and the obstacles faced by these pioneers, both within their company and in their direct and indirect environment. It also aims, through case studies, to pave the way to potential actors who would wish to engage in circular economy strategies, and to outline areas for improvement and generalization of these approaches.Les entreprises évoluent au sein d’un système économique mondialisé, qui se trouve aujourd’hui bouleversé par des problématiques telles que la raréfaction des ressources naturelles, le renchérissement du coût de l’énergie, les dégradations environnementales et lesdéséquilibres sociaux.L’économie circulaire propose aux entreprises des solutions concrètes à ces enjeux, au travers des démarches opérationnelles telles que le recyclage, le réemploi, la réutilisation, l’éco-conception, l’économie de la fonctionnalité et l’écologie industrielle et territoriale. En ce sens, elle constitue un véritable modèle appliqué de développement soutenable, capable de découpler la création de valeurs de l’utilisation de ressources non renouvelables et des impacts environnementaux, tout en étant créatrice d’emplois.Nombre d’entreprises pionnières ont d’ores et déjà identifié les opportunités liées à ces démarches, et opéré un changement de leur business model en s’appuyant sur une stratégie d’économie circulaire. Ces démarches, volontaires, sont à l’origine de dynamiques économiques, sociales et environnementales vertueuses mais également de positionnements commerciaux pionniers.Les retours d’expérience de ces entreprises constituent la base de cette étude menée par l’Institut de l’économie circulaire ayant pour objectif la compréhension des motivations à l’origine de ces démarches ainsi que des freins et leviers rencontrés par ces pionniers, aussi bien au sein de leur entreprise que dans leur environnement direct et indirect. Il s’agit également, à travers les exemples développés, de montrer la voie aux acteurs qui souhaiteraient s’engager dans des stratégies d’économie circulaire, et d’esquisser des pistes d’amélioration et de généralisation des démarches

Heterozygous Variants in KMT2E Cause a Spectrum of Neurodevelopmental Disorders and Epilepsy.

We delineate a KMT2E-related neurodevelopmental disorder on the basis of 38 individuals in 36 families. This study includes 31 distinct heterozygous variants in KMT2E (28 ascertained from Matchmaker Exchange and three previously reported), and four individuals with chromosome 7q22.2-22.23 microdeletions encompassing KMT2E (one previously reported). Almost all variants occurred de novo, and most were truncating. Most affected individuals with protein-truncating variants presented with mild intellectual disability. One-quarter of individuals met criteria for autism. Additional common features include macrocephaly, hypotonia, functional gastrointestinal abnormalities, and a subtle facial gestalt. Epilepsy was present in about one-fifth of individuals with truncating variants and was responsive to treatment with anti-epileptic medications in almost all. More than 70% of the individuals were male, and expressivity was variable by sex; epilepsy was more common in females and autism more common in males. The four individuals with microdeletions encompassing KMT2E generally presented similarly to those with truncating variants, but the degree of developmental delay was greater. The group of four individuals with missense variants in KMT2E presented with the most severe developmental delays. Epilepsy was present in all individuals with missense variants, often manifesting as treatment-resistant infantile epileptic encephalopathy. Microcephaly was also common in this group. Haploinsufficiency versus gain-of-function or dominant-negative effects specific to these missense variants in KMT2E might explain this divergence in phenotype, but requires independent validation. Disruptive variants in KMT2E are an under-recognized cause of neurodevelopmental abnormalities

Does air pollution play a role in infertility?: a systematic review

Abstract Background Air pollution is involved in many pathologies. These pollutants act through several mechanisms that can affect numerous physiological functions, including reproduction: as endocrine disruptors or reactive oxygen species inducers, and through the formation of DNA adducts and/or epigenetic modifications. We conducted a systematic review of the published literature on the impact of air pollution on reproductive function. Eligible studies were selected from an electronic literature search from the PUBMED database from January 2000 to February 2016 and associated references in published studies. Search terms included (1) ovary or follicle or oocyte or testis or testicular or sperm or spermatozoa or fertility or infertility and (2) air quality or O3 or NO2 or PM2.5 or diesel or SO2 or traffic or PM10 or air pollution or air pollutants. The literature search was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. We have included the human and animal studies corresponding to the search terms and published in English. We have excluded articles whose results did not concern fertility or gamete function and those focused on cancer or allergy. We have also excluded genetic, auto-immune or iatrogenic causes of reduced reproduction function from our analysis. Finally, we have excluded animal data that does not concern mammals and studies based on results from in vitro culture. Data have been grouped according to the studied pollutants in order to synthetize their impact on fertility and the molecular pathways involved. Conclusion Both animal and human epidemiological studies support the idea that air pollutants cause defects during gametogenesis leading to a drop in reproductive capacities in exposed populations. Air quality has an impact on overall health as well as on the reproductive function, so increased awareness of environmental protection issues is needed among the general public and the authorities

Alterations of beta3-adrenoceptors expression and their myocardial functional effects in physiological model of chronic exercise-induced cardiac hypertrophy.

International audiencePhysical training induces cardiovascular autonomic nervous system regulation adaptations, which could result from beta adrenergic receptor (AR) modifications. Among them, beta(3 )AR alterations have been recently reported but their functional effect remained to discuss. To explain the beta(3) AR gene expression in relation to function, we simultaneously studied the left ventricle (LV) beta(3) AR mRNA and protein levels and the myocardial functional effects of a beta(3) AR agonist following physical training. Forty rats were assigned to either a control (C; N = 20) or a trained (T; N = 20) group. The treadmill running protocol was performed for 8 weeks. Histological measurements on LV slices were quantified. The beta(3) AR mRNA abundance was studied with RT-PCR and beta(3) AR protein density with Western-Blot analysis. Myocardial functional effects of a beta(3) AR agonist, BRL37344 (10(-8) M), were studied in Langendorff-perfused hearts. Histological data confirmed the adapted patterns of the physiological cardiac hypertrophy observed in T (P < 0.01), with a significant increase in arteries density (P < 0.01) and an unchanged collagen concentration. The beta(3) AR protein density was increased in T (154 +/- 38% in T vs. 100 +/- 24% in C; P < 0.05), but no change was noted concerning the beta(3) AR mRNA level. After BRL37344 perfusion LVDP, +dP/dT and -dP/dT, in C (P < 0.01), and only +dP/dT in T (P < 0.05) were decreased. Moreover, all LV hemodynamic parameters were more altered after BRL37344 in C than in T (P < 0.01). Thus, in this physiological model of cardiac hypertrophy, an increase of beta(3) AR density without beta(3) AR mRNA alteration was observed. Classical negative myocardial lusitropic and inotropic effects induced by a specific agonist of beta(3) AR were diminished in trained rats

Recent Advances in Anticoagulant Treatment of Immune Thrombosis: A Focus on Direct Oral Anticoagulants in Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia and Anti-Phospholipid Syndrome

For more than 10 years, direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) have been increasingly prescribed for the prevention and treatment of thrombotic events. However, their use in immunothrombotic disorders, namely heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) and antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), is still under investigation. The prothrombotic state resulting from the autoimmune mechanism, multicellular activation, and platelet count decrease, constitutes similarities between HIT and APS. Moreover, they both share the complexity of the biological diagnosis. Current treatment of HIT firstly relies on parenteral non-heparin therapies, but DOACs have been included in American and French guidelines for a few years, providing the advantage of limiting the need for treatment monitoring. In APS, vitamin K antagonists are conversely the main treatment (+/&minus; anti-platelet agents), and the use of DOACs is either subject to precautionary recommendations or is not recommended in severe APS. While some randomized controlled trials have been conducted regarding the use of DOACs in APS, only retrospective studies have examined HIT. In addition, vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT) is now a part of immunothrombotic disorders, and guidelines have been created concerning an anticoagulant strategy in this case. This literature review aims to summarize available data on HIT, APS, and VITT treatments and define the use of DOACs in therapeutic strategies

Histoires de migrations

L’immigration constitue un paradoxe : à la fois invisible à plusieurs égards et hyper-visible depuis quelques décennies, notamment dans son traitement politique et médiatique. Partant d’objets du quotidien, évoquant souvenirs et parcours personnels, ce livre propose un itinéraire informatif et sensible à travers des témoignages d’individus déracinés. Par le biais d'un tel cheminement qui mène de l'invisible au visible et de l'intime au public, le lecteur appréhende le processus migratoire de l’intérieur

The "Pole Allongement de la vie Charles Foix" program to design and evaluate gerontechnology

International audienceIn France, as in other industrial countries, the number of ill and dependant elderly people is increasing significantly. At the same time, the number of health professionals and the financial resources remain constant. Consequently, there is a growing interest in providing products and services more adapted to elderly people in autonomy loss situations and to their carers, as well as fostering industries and start-ups to design new successful products and services. However in France, the gerontechnologies which are presently developed are expensive, not adapted to home and institution environments, not flexible enough to be adapted to the variability of situations and disabilities, not refunded and not seriously evaluated. Finally they are remote from the elderly‟s needs, particularly for progressive diseases (Alzheimer, Parkinson). The "Pole Allongement de la Vie Charles Foix‟ was developed in those health and industrial contexts. Created in 1996, it is located in Ivry sur Seine, near Paris, and is part of "Charles Foix Hospital‟.It is affiliated to "Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris‟ (AP-HP) and to "Université Pierre et Marie Curie‟. It provides a geriatric expertise for more than 10 years, and the will to follow, to support, to advise and to promote the innovative projects in each step of their industrial development. Moreover a fundamental research center on normal and pathological aging (on animal models) is under construction in "Charles Foix Hospital‟. Finally it has been growing a strong partnerships network for many years, notably a first public and private partnership, that was embodied by the signature of a management agreement between "AP-HP‟ and Médialis in 2007

The histone demethylase KDM3 prevents auto-immune piRNAs production in <i>Drosophila</i>

SUMMARYIn animals, genome integrity of the germ line is protected from transposable element (TE) activity by small, non-coding, dedicated RNAs acting as an immune system against TEs, and called PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) 1,2. In Drosophila, the production of piRNAs is initiated from heterochromatic loci containing remnants of TEs and enriched in histone H3 trimethylated on lysine 9 (H3K9me3) 3–5. These loci, called piRNA clusters, constitute a memory of past TE invasions. Little is known about how piRNA clusters are genetically defined. Using a genetic screen combined with a bimodal epigenetic state piRNA cluster (BX2), we identified the splicing factor Half pint (Hfp) and the histone demethylase KDM3 as being able to prevent BX2 piRNA production. Furthermore, we showed that Hfp is needed to splice Kdm3 transcripts. Germline expression of Kdm3 coding sequence (splicing-independent) rescued the hfp germline knock-down (GLKD) effect demonstrating that Kdm3 is sufficient to prevent BX2 piRNA production. Our data revealed that in the absence of Kdm3, dozens of gene-containing regions become bona fide germinal dual strand piRNA clusters. Indeed, they produce piRNAs originating from both DNA strands, become transcribed in a Moonshiner-dependent manner and enriched in di-and tri-methylation of lysine 9 of histone H3 (H3K9me2/3) and in Rhino, an HP1-like protein. Eggs laid by Kdm3 GLKD females do not hatch and show developmental defects phenocopying loss of function of genes included into the new piRNA clusters, suggesting an inheritance of functional ovarian “auto-immune” piRNAs. Our results demonstrate that some gene-containing regions are actively prevented for piRNA production by proteins that counteract piRNA cluster emergence. Hence, a non-piRNA-producing state is therefore not a “by default” state but rather a cellular lock that is actively controlled for some genomic loci.KEY FACTSHfp regulates the expression of Kdm3 via its splicingKdm3 prevents genomic regions containing coding genes from becoming piRNA clustersEmbryos from Kdm3 mutant females show developmental phenotypes suggesting that auto-immune piRNAs are functional and alter the expression of genes embedded in newly established piRNA clusters</jats:sec

Asymmetric switch-costs and ERPs reveal facial identity dominance over expression

International audienc