An open vibration platform to evaluate postural control using a simple reinforcement learning agent

In this paper, our research team proposes an inexpensive open vibration platform built from easily available electronic components to be used as a tool by physiotherapists in order to help them in their evaluation of the postural control of individuals at risk of postural imbalance which could lead to falls. The platform has been thought to be easily reproducible and all the code necessary to make it work is made available on the researchers’ websites. In addition, a simple reinforcement learning agent has been developed and tested to automatically calibrate the vibration motors for optimal stimulation. Finally, we present in this paper pilot experiments done on 7 healthy participants (40.8 years old) to validate the proper functioning of the platform

Reconstruction of ancestral chromosome architecture and gene repertoire reveals principles of genome evolution in a model yeast genus

International audienceReconstructing genome history is complex but necessary to reveal quantitative principles governing genome evolution. Such reconstruction requires recapitulating into a single evolutionary framework the evolution of genome architecture and gene repertoire. Here, we reconstructed the genome history of the genus Lachancea that appeared to cover a continuous evolutionary range from closely related to more diverged yeast species. Our approach integrated the generation of a high-quality genome data set; the development of AnChro, a new algorithm for reconstructing ancestral genome architecture; and a comprehensive analysis of gene repertoire evolution. We found that the ancestral genome of the genus Lachancea contained eight chromosomes and about 5173 protein-coding genes. Moreover, we characterized 24 horizontal gene transfers and 159 putative gene creation events that punctuated species diversification. We retraced all chromosomal rearrangements, including gene losses, gene duplications, chromosomal inversions and translocations at single gene resolution. Gene duplications outnumbered losses and balanced rearrangements with 1503, 929, and 423 events, respectively. Gene content variations between extant species are mainly driven by differential gene losses, while gene duplications remained globally constant in all lineages. Remarkably, we discovered that balanced chromosomal rearrangements could be responsible for up to 14% of all gene losses by disrupting genes at their breakpoints. Finally, we found that nonsynonymous substitutions reached fixation at a coordinated pace with chromosomal inversions, translocations, and duplications, but not deletions. Overall, we provide a granular view of genome evolution within an entire eukaryotic genus, linking gene content, chromosome rearrangements , and protein divergence into a single evolutionary framework

Positioning Europe for the EPITRANSCRIPTOMICS challenge

The genetic alphabet consists of the four letters: C, A, G, and T in DNA and C,A,G, and U in RNA. Triplets of these four letters jointly encode 20 different amino acids out of which proteins of all organisms are built. This system is universal and is found in all kingdoms of life. However, bases in DNA and RNA can be chemically modified. In DNA, around 10 different modifications are known, and those have been studied intensively over the past 20 years. Scientific studies on DNA modifications and proteins that recognize them gave rise to the large field of epigenetic and epigenomic research. The outcome of this intense research field is the discovery that development, ageing, and stem-cell dependent regeneration but also several diseases including cancer are largely controlled by the epigenetic state of cells. Consequently, this research has already led to the first FDA approved drugs that exploit the gained knowledge to combat disease. In recent years, the ~150 modifications found in RNA have come to the focus of intense research. Here we provide a perspective on necessary and expected developments in the fast expanding area of RNA modifications, termed epitranscriptomics.SCOPUS: no.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

AVONET: morphological, ecological and geographical data for all birds

Functional traits offer a rich quantitative framework for developing and testing theories in evolutionary biology, ecology and ecosystem science. However, the potential of functional traits to drive theoretical advances and refine models of global change can only be fully realised when species‐level information is complete. Here we present the AVONET dataset containing comprehensive functional trait data for all birds, including six ecological variables, 11 continuous morphological traits, and information on range size and location. Raw morphological measurements are presented from 90,020 individuals of 11,009 extant bird species sampled from 181 countries. These data are also summarised as species averages in three taxonomic formats, allowing integration with a global phylogeny, geographical range maps, IUCN Red List data and the eBird citizen science database. The AVONET dataset provides the most detailed picture of continuous trait variation for any major radiation of organisms, offering a global template for testing hypotheses and exploring the evolutionary origins, structure and functioning of biodiversity

Influence de la fidélité au domaine vital sur la mortalité des femelles et des faons chez le caribou forestier

RÉSUMÉ: En écologie animale, la fidélité au domaine vital est généralement considérée comme un comportement d’utilisation de l’espace avantageux pour la survie et le succès reproducteur des individus. Le caribou forestier (Rangifer tarandus caribou) est connu pour exprimer une fidélité à son domaine vital qui varie selon les saisons et le niveau de perturbations environnant. Bien que les femelles caribou de différentes hardes à travers le Canada démontrent cette stratégie d’utilisation de l’espace, la valeur adaptative de ce comportement n’avait jamais été mise en évidence chez cette espèce menacée. L’objectif de cette étude était de mesurer l’influence du comportement de fidélité au domaine vital des femelles du caribou forestier sur la survie de leur faon (durant la mise bas et l’élevage) ainsi que leur propre survie (durant l’hiver). Pour ce faire, nous avons suivi la survie et l’utilisation de l’espace interannuelle de 127 femelles caribou de cinq régions de la forêt boréale du Québec et la survie des faons pour 33 évènements de mise-bas, puis nous avons intégré la fidélité au domaine vital saisonnier à une analyse de fonction de sélection des ressources. Nos résultats indiquent que les femelles démontraient des stratégies saisonnières de fidélité contrastées, sélectionnant les secteurs utilisés l’année précédente durant la mise bas et l’élevage mais se distançant de leur domaine vital hivernal précédent à chaque année. Durant la mise bas et l’élevage, les femelles dont le faon a survécu démontraient une fidélité plus importante à leur domaine vital. En hiver par contre, la survie des adultes était affectée négativement par la fidélité. Les femelles ayant survécu tendaient à éviter les secteurs utilisés l’année précédente et à sélectionner les secteurs éloignés de leur domaine vital hivernal précédent. À notre connaissance, cette étude représente la première démonstration qu’une espèce peut augmenter sa valeur adaptative en démontrant en alternance de la fidélité et de l’infidélité à ses domaines vitaux saisonniers au cours de l’année. Nos résultats soulignent que la fidélité au domaine vital est un comportement adaptatif complexe influençant la distribution spatiale du caribou forestier durant les périodes de l’année où la mortalité juvénile et adulte sont les plus importantes. -- Mot(s) clé(s) en français : caribou, familiarité, prédation, fidélité au domaine vital, succès reproducteur, sélection des ressources, mémoire spatiale, survie, faon, fidélité au site. -- ABSTRACT: In animal ecology, range fidelity is a space-use behaviour that is usually considered beneficial for individual survival and reproductive success. Boreal populations of woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) are known to display different seasonal levels of range fidelity that can also be influenced by disturbances. Although female caribou across Canada have been shown to display this space-use tactic, the adaptive value of this behaviour had never been demonstrated in this endangered species. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of female caribou range fidelity on calf survival (during calving and summer) as well as on their own survival (during winter). To do so, we monitored the survival and inter-annual space use of 127 female caribou from five regions of the boreal forest in Quebec as well as calf survival for 33 calving events and integrated fidelity to seasonal ranges in a resource selection function analysis. Our results indicate that females displayed contrasted seasonal tactics, actively selecting areas used the previous year during calving and summer but avoiding areas where they had spent the previous winter. During calving and summer, fidelity proved a beneficial strategy as females that did not lose their calf showed greater fidelity than those that lost their calf. In winter, however, adult survival was negatively affected by range fidelity and females that survived selected areas located at greater distances from their previous winter range than females that died. To our knowledge, this study provides the first evidence that a species can increase its adaptive value by demonstrating alternately both fidelity and infidelity to its seasonal ranges across the year. Our results highlight the fact that range fidelity is a complex and adaptive behaviour influencing the distribution of woodland caribou during periods where calf and adult mortality are the greatest. -- Mot(s) clé(s) en anglais : caribou, familiarity, predation, range fidelity, reproductive success, resource selection function, spatial memory, survival, calf, site fidelity

Stiffness model for gypsum wallboard-to-wood joints

Joints simulating typical connections of GWB sheathed walls were subjected to reversed cyclic loading. Three different empirical models were analyzed for the purpose of determining the most appropriate fastener slip equation. The power model was used to develop the fastener slip equations, for nails and screws, as a function of GWB density and fastener diameter. The accuracy of the developed fastener slip model is validated against full-scale shear wall tests. The predictive models seem to be able to replicate the wall behaviour with reasonable accuracy until ultimate capacity. The results show a reasonable agreement between the model prediction and those obtained from the shear wall tests. The model perdition of for shear walls constructed with low fastener spacing is less accurate. This result was expected since the small fastener spacing violate the minimum spacing requirements in the design standard (CSA 2014) and caused a brittle failure.The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author

Elaboration de monocouches lipidiques modèles de la membrane plasmique d Escherichia coli (Etude des interactions entre la protéine FtsZ et les monocouches modèles)

L assemblage de la protéine FtsZ au niveau de la membrane plasmique est l une des premières étapes de la division des bactéries. La nature exacte du site de division n est pas établie. Pour étudier l influence des lipides membranaires sur la localisation de FtsZ, nous avons élaboré un modèle du feuillet interne de la membrane plasmique d E. coli. Un système à 2 lipides (dilauryl-phosphatidylethanolamine (DLPE) et dipalmitoyl-phosphatidylglycerol (DPPG)) et un système à 3 lipides (DLPE, DPPG et cardiolipine (CL)) ont été élaborés avec la technique de Langmuir. Ces systèmes présentent des domaines lipidiques stables dans le temps comme observés en microscopie à l angle de Brewster et en microscopie à force atomique. Dans le système à 2 lipides, FtsZ s assemble à l interface entre le DLPE et les domaines de DPPG et modifie l organisation de la monocouche. Dans le système à 3 lipides, FtsZ s assemble préférentiellement sous les domaines de CL.Assembly of the protein FtsZ at the cytoplasmic membrane is one of the earliest steps in the division of bacteria such as E. Coli. What constitutes the site at which FtsZ acts is less clear. To investigate the influence of the membrane lipids on FtsZ localization and assembly, we have elaborated a model mimicking the inner leaflet of the bacterial plasmic membrane. A 2-lipid system constituted of dilauryl-phosphatidylethanolamine (DLPE) and dipalmitoyl-phosphatidylglycerol (DPPG) and a 3-lipid system constituted of DLPE, DPPG and cardiolipin (CL) were elaborated with the Langmuir technique. Using Brewster Angle Microscopy and Atomic Force Microscopy, we found that these systems presented time stable lipid domains. In the 2-lipid system, FtsZ was found to assemble at the interface between DLPE and DPPG domains, thus modifying the monolayer organisation. In the 3-lipid system, FtsZ was found to assemble preferentially under CL domains.ROUEN-BU Sciences (764512102) / SudocSudocFranceF