Role of Dicer1-DependentFactors in the Paracrine Regulation of Epididymal Gene Expression

Dicer1 is an endoribonuclease involved in the biogenesis of functional molecules such as microRNAs (miRNAs) and endogenous small interfering RNAs (endo-siRNAs). These small non-coding RNAs are important regulators of post-transcriptional gene expression and participate in the control of male fertility. With the knowledge that 1) Dicer1-dependent factors are required for proper sperm maturation in the epididymis, and that 2) miRNAs are potent mediators of intercellular communication in most biological systems, we investigated the role of Dicer1-dependent factors produced by the proximal epididymis (initial segment/caput)-including miRNAs-on the regulation of epididymal gene expression in the distal epididymis regions (i.e. corpus and cauda). To this end, we performed comparative microarray and ANOVA analyses on control vs. Defb41(iCre/wt); Dicer1(fl/fl) mice in which functional Dicer1 is absent from the principal cells of the proximal epididymis. We identified 35 and 33 transcripts that displayed significant expression level changes in the corpus and cauda regions (Fold change > 2 or 2 or < -2; p < 0.01). These miRNAs are secreted via extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from the DC2 epididymal principal cell line, and their expression correlates with target transcripts involved in distinct biological pathways, as evidenced by in silico analysis. Albeit correlative and based on in silico approach, our study proposes that Dicer1-dependent factors trigger-directly or not-significant genes expression changes in distinct regions of this organ. The paracrine control of functions important to post-testicular sperm maturation by Dicer1-dependent factors may open new avenues for the identification of molecular targets important to male fertility control

Les Houches 2015: Physics at TeV colliders - new physics working group report

We present the activities of the 'New Physics' working group for the 'Physics at TeV Colliders' workshop (Les Houches, France, 1-19 June, 2015). Our report includes new physics studies connected with the Higgs boson and its properties, direct search strategies, reinterpretation of the LHC results in the building of viable models and new computational tool developments. Important signatures for searches for natural new physics at the LHC and new assessments of the interplay between direct dark matter searches and the LHC are also considered.Comment: Proceedings of the New Physics Working Group of the 2015 Les Houches Workshop, Physics at TeV Colliders, Les Houches 1-19 June 2015. 197 page

Immunogenicity and safety of a quadrivalent high-dose inactivated influenza vaccine compared with a standard-dose quadrivalent influenza vaccine in healthy people aged 60 years or older: a randomized Phase III trial

A quadrivalent high-dose inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV4-HD) is licensed for adults 6565&nbsp;y of age based on immunogenicity and efficacy studies. However, IIV4-HD has not been evaluated in adults aged 60\u201364&nbsp;y. This study compared immunogenicity and safety of IIV4-HD with a standard-dose quadrivalent influenza vaccine (IIV4-SD) in adults aged 6560&nbsp;y. This Phase III, randomized, modified double-blind, active-controlled study enrolled 1,528 participants aged 6560&nbsp;y, randomized 1:1 to a single injection of IIV4-HD or IIV4-SD. Hemagglutination inhibition (HAI) geometric mean titers (GMTs) were measured at baseline and D 28 and seroconversion assessed. Safety was described for 180&nbsp;d after vaccination. The primary immunogenicity objective was superiority of IIV4-HD versus IIV4-SD, for all four influenza strains 28&nbsp;d post vaccination in participants aged 60\u201364 and 6565&nbsp;y. IIV4-HD induced a superior immune response versus IIV4-SD in terms of GMTs in participants aged 60\u201364 y and those aged 6565&nbsp;y for all four influenza strains. IIV4-HD induced higher GMTs in those aged 60\u201364 y than those aged 6565 y. Seroconversion rates were higher for IIV4-HD versus IIV4-SD in each age-group for all influenza strains. Both vaccines were well tolerated in participants 6560&nbsp;y of age, with no safety concerns identified. More solicited reactions were reported with IIV4-HD than with IIV4-SD. IIV4-HD provided superior immunogenicity versus IIV4-SD and was well tolerated in adults aged 6560 y. IIV4-HD is assumed to offer improved protection against influenza compared with IIV4-SD in adults aged 6560 y, as was previously assessed for adults aged 6565&nbsp;y

Numerical identification of the mechanical behaviour of a fluoroelastomer (FKM) using nanoindentation test

International audienc

Une analyse des grandes visions prospectives internationales sur le devenir de l’environnement : l’étude ScénEnvi

International audienceTo contribute to French scientific planning in the environmental sciences, a study of major scenarios from around the world on the possible futures for the environment was made under the auspices of Alliance AllEnvi. For the more than 300 scenarios analyzed, governance and the economy turned out to be the major factors for differentiating them. Eleven families of scenarios were placed in three groups : decline, no priority for the environment, and priority for the environment. The first two groups correspond to a severely deteriorated environment, but the third has a more encouraging outcome despite the inefficiency of certain orientations. A detailed analysis of the methodology and findings is proposed while focusing on the factors “environment” and “sciences and technology”, which are decisive for AllEnvi.Pour contribuer à la programmation scientifique française dans le domaine des sciences de l’environnement, une étude des grandes visions de prospective à travers le monde sur les devenirs possibles de l’environnement a été entreprise dans le cadre de l’Alliance AllEnvi. Plus de 300 scénarios ont été analysés, révélant la prédominance de la gouvernance et de l’économie comme facteurs différenciant ces scénarios. La démarche a défini 11 familles de scénarios regroupant les différentes tendances qui se structurent en 3 groupes : le déclin, l’absence de priorité environnementale et la priorité accordée à l’environnement. Si les deux premiers groupes correspondent à des dégradations plus ou moins sévères de l’environnement, le troisième conduit à des résultats plutôt encourageants, même si certaines orientations s’avèrent in fine peu efficaces. Une analyse détaillée de la démarche déployée et des résultats obtenus est proposée ici en apportant une attention particulière aux facteurs « Environnement » et « Sciences et Technologie », qui sont structurants pour les missions d’AllEnvi