Balancing Systems and Flexibility Tools in European Gas Markets

This report investigates on the creation of wholesale markets for natural gas, viewed as a consequence of balancing needs following market liberalization

Impact of Inverted Terminal Repeat Integrity on rAAV8 Production Using the Baculovirus/Sf9 Cells System

International audienceAdeno-associated virus (AAV) inverted terminal repeats (ITRs) are key elements of AAV. These guanine-cytosine-rich structures are involved in the replication and encapsidation of the AAV genome, along with its integration in and excision from the host genome. These sequences are the only AAV-derived DNA sequences conserved in recombinant AAV (rAAV), as they allow its replication, encapsidation, and long-term maintenance and expression in target cells. Due to the original vector design, plasmids containing the gene of interest flanked by ITRs and used for rAAV production often present incomplete, truncated, or imperfect ITR sequences. For example, pSUB201 and its derivatives harbor a truncated (14 nt missing on the external part of the ITR), flop-orientated ITR plus 46 bp of non-ITR viral DNA at each end of the rAAV genome. It has been shown that rAAV genomes can be replicated, even with incomplete, truncated, or imperfect ITR sequences, leading to the production of rAAV vectors in transfection experiments. Nonetheless, it was hypothesized that unmodified wild-type (WT) ITR sequences could lead to a higher yield of rAAV, with less non-rAAV encapsidated DNA originating from the production cells and/or baculovirus shuttle vector genomes. This work studied the impact of imperfect ITRs on the level of encapsidated rAAV genomes and baculovirus-derived DNA sequences using the baculovirus/Sf9 cells production system. Replacement of truncated ITRs with WT and additional wtAAV2 sequences has an impact on the two major features of rAAV production: (1) a rise from 10% to 40% of full capsids obtained, and (2) up to a 10-fold reduction in non-rAAV encapsidated DNA. Furthermore, this study considered the impact on these major parameters of additional ITR elements and ITRs coupled with various regulatory elements of different origins. Implementation of the use of complete ITRs in the frame of the baculovirus-based rAAV expression system is one step that will be required to optimize the quality of rAAV-based gene therapy drugs

Chlamydophila psittaci Zoonotic Risk Assessment in a Chicken and Turkey Slaughterhouse▿

Chlamydophila psittaci causes respiratory disease in poultry and can be transmitted to humans. We conducted a C. psittaci zoonotic risk assessment study of a chicken and turkey slaughterhouse. Eighty-five percent of the slaughtered chicken flocks tested positive by PCR and culture. Genotype D was discovered. Fifty-seven percent of the slaughtered turkey flocks tested positive by PCR and culture. Genotype D was present. For the chicken slaughterhouse employees, 7.5% and 6% tested positive for C. psittaci by PCR and culture, respectively. In the turkey slaughterhouse, 87% and 61% of the employees tested positive by PCR and culture, respectively. All genotyped human samples contained genotype D. Using stationary bioaerosol monitoring by means of an MAS-100 ecosampler and ChlamyTrap collection medium, chlamydial DNA, and viable organisms were detected in both the chicken and turkey slaughterhouses. Positive air samples were most frequently found in the animal reception area and evisceration room. Zoonotic transmissions were very common, especially from processed turkeys. Accurate diagnostic monitoring and reporting of C. psittaci infections should be promoted in poultry workers

Functional and Morphological Changes in the Deep Lumbar Multifidus Using Electromyography and Ultrasound

Abstract Surface electromyography (sEMG) studies have indicated that chronic low back pain (cLBP) involves altered electromyographic activity and morphological structure of the lumbar multifidus (LM) beyond pain perception; however, most studies have evaluated the superficial lumbar multifidus. It is difficult to record electromyography (EMG) signals from the deep multifidus (DM) to determine the neuromuscular activation patterns, making it difficult to determine the relationship between functional and structural changes in cLBP. We developed a novel method to record intramuscular EMG signals in the DM based on the sEMG system and fine-wire electrodes. We measured EMG signals of the DM in 24 cLBP patients and 26 pain-free healthy controls to identify changes in neuromuscular activation. We also used ultrasound to measure DM muscle thickness, cross-sectional area, and contraction activity to identify potential relationships between EMG activity and structural damage. cLBP patients had decreased average EMG and root mean square, but increased median frequency and mean power frequency. Average EMG was positively correlated with contractile activity, but not statistically correlated with noncontractile anatomical abnormalities. Our results suggest that cLBP alters the neuromuscular activation patterns and morphological structure of the contractile activity of the DM, providing insights into the mechanisms underlying pain perception