Phase sensitivity to axial strain of microstrustured optical silica fibers

International audienceWe compare, thanks to a Sagnac interferometer, the phase sensitivity to strain of different microstructured optical silica fibers (MSF) that we design and fabricate. Our results show that when a same elongation is applied to different MSF, the induced phase change is equal or lower than the one obtained for a standard fiber, showing no advantage on this parameter for sensing applications

C3PO: a Spontaneous and Ephemeral Social Networking Framework for a collaborative Creation and Publishing of Multimedia Contents

International audienceOnline social networks have been adopted by a large part of the population, and have become in few years essential communication means and a source of information for journalists. Nevertheless, these networks have some drawbacks that make people reluctant to use them, such as the impossibility to claim for ownership of data and to avoid commercial analysis of them, or the absence of collaborative tools to produce multimedia contents with a real editorial value. In this paper, we present a new kind of social networks, namely spontaneous and ephemeral social networks (SESNs). SESNs allow people to collaborate spontaneously in the production of multimedia documents so as to cover cultural and sport events

Gag Mutations Strongly Contribute to HIV-1 Resistance to Protease Inhibitors in Highly Drug-Experienced Patients besides Compensating for Fitness Loss

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) resistance to protease inhibitors (PI) results from mutations in the viral protease (PR) that reduce PI binding but also decrease viral replicative capacity (RC). Additional mutations compensating for the RC loss subsequently accumulate within PR and in Gag substrate cleavage sites. We examined the respective contribution of mutations in PR and Gag to PI resistance and RC and their interdependence using a panel of HIV-1 molecular clones carrying different sequences from six patients who had failed multiple lines of treatment. Mutations in Gag strongly and directly contributed to PI resistance besides compensating for fitness loss. This effect was essentially carried by the C-terminal region of Gag (containing NC-SP2-p6) with little or no contribution from MA, CA, and SP1. The effect of Gag on resistance depended on the presence of cleavage site mutations A431V or I437V in NC-SP2-p6 and correlated with processing of the NC/SP2 cleavage site. By contrast, reverting the A431V or I437V mutation in these highly evolved sequences had little effect on RC. Mutations in the NC-SP2-p6 region of Gag can be dually selected as compensatory and as direct PI resistance mutations, with cleavage at the NC-SP2 site behaving as a rate-limiting step in PI resistance. Further compensatory mutations render viral RC independent of the A431V or I437V mutations while their effect on resistance persists

Erratum to: 36th International Symposium on Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1186/s13054-016-1208-6.]

COVID-19 symptoms at hospital admission vary with age and sex: results from the ISARIC prospective multinational observational study

Background: The ISARIC prospective multinational observational study is the largest cohort of hospitalized patients with COVID-19. We present relationships of age, sex, and nationality to presenting symptoms. Methods: International, prospective observational study of 60 109 hospitalized symptomatic patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 recruited from 43 countries between 30 January and 3 August 2020. Logistic regression was performed to evaluate relationships of age and sex to published COVID-19 case definitions and the most commonly reported symptoms. Results: ‘Typical’ symptoms of fever (69%), cough (68%) and shortness of breath (66%) were the most commonly reported. 92% of patients experienced at least one of these. Prevalence of typical symptoms was greatest in 30- to 60-year-olds (respectively 80, 79, 69%; at least one 95%). They were reported less frequently in children (≤ 18 years: 69, 48, 23; 85%), older adults (≥ 70 years: 61, 62, 65; 90%), and women (66, 66, 64; 90%; vs. men 71, 70, 67; 93%, each P < 0.001). The most common atypical presentations under 60 years of age were nausea and vomiting and abdominal pain, and over 60 years was confusion. Regression models showed significant differences in symptoms with sex, age and country. Interpretation: This international collaboration has allowed us to report reliable symptom data from the largest cohort of patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19. Adults over 60 and children admitted to hospital with COVID-19 are less likely to present with typical symptoms. Nausea and vomiting are common atypical presentations under 30 years. Confusion is a frequent atypical presentation of COVID-19 in adults over 60 years. Women are less likely to experience typical symptoms than men

NMR reveals the intrinsically disordered domain 2 of NS5A protein as an allosteric regulator of the hepatitis C virus RNA polymerase NS5B

Non-structural protein 5B (NS5B) is the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase that catalyzes replication of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA genome and therefore is central for its life cycle. NS5B interacts with the intrinsically disordered domain 2 of NS5A (NS5A-D2), another essential multifunctional HCV protein that is required for RNA replication. As a result, these two proteins represent important targets for anti-HCV chemotherapies. Despite this importance and the existence of NS5B crystal structures, our understanding of the conformational and dynamic behavior of NS5B in solution and its relationship with NS5A-D2 remains incomplete. To address these points, we report the first detailed NMR spectroscopic study of HCV NS5B lacking its membrane anchor (NS5B(21)). Analysis of constructs with selective isotope labeling of the 1 methyl groups of isoleucine side chains demonstrates that, in solution, NS5B(21) is highly dynamic but predominantly adopts a closed conformation. The addition of NS5A-D2 leads to spectral changes indicative of binding to both allosteric thumb sites I and II of NS5B(21) and induces long-range perturbations that affect the RNA-binding properties of the polymerase. We compared these modifications with the short- and long-range effects triggered in NS5B(21) upon binding of filibuvir, an allosteric inhibitor. We demonstrate that filibuvir-bound NS5B(21) is strongly impaired in the binding of both NS5A-D2 and RNA. NS5A-D2 induces conformational and functional perturbations in NS5B similar to those triggered by filibuvir. Thus, our work highlights NS5A-D2 as an allosteric regulator of the HCV polymerase and provides new insight into the dynamics of NS5B in solution

La race bovine Salers : un atout pour le développement de son territoire d'origine par son identité forte et des produits qualifiés

La race bovine Salers bénéficie d’une image forte et reconnue, indépendante du système de production, laitier pour 5 % des élevages, ou allaitant pour 95 %. Pour autant le développement du « berceau de la race » peut-il s’appuyer sur les combinaisons de productions spécifiques et identifiées qu’autorise cette race ? Des recherches multidisciplinaires (zootechnie, économie, qualité des aliments) et des méthodes d’investigation variées (enquêtes, suivis, expérimentation) ont été mises en œuvre pour répondre à cette question. Les expérimentations ont porté sur la maîtrise des itinéraires de production (lait, carcasses) et la connaissance fine des produits (fromages, viandes), compte tenu des aptitudes et du comportement de la race. Une conduite alimentaire privilégiant le lait et les fourrages avant sevrage est ainsi plus efficace pour la production d’un jeune bovin Salers (15 mois). La viande de ces taurillons est claire, classée en gamme intermédiaire, mais peut se valoriser en grande et moyenne distribution. Le lait des vaches Salers diffère de celui des vaches Holstein surtout par la nature de ses acides gras. La tétée d’amorçage du veau spécifique de la race et difficile à supprimer, renforce les différences de composition. Les fromages fabriqués avec ce lait traité à l’état cru diffèrent par leurs textures et arômes. Une filière laitière pérenne pourrait bien valoriser ces différences mais la pénibilité de la traite faite obligatoirement en présence du veau reste un obstacle. Des enquêtes auprès de consommateurs ont confirmé la forte image de la race vectrice de valorisation économique. Leur consentement à payer pour des produits identifiés est cependant plus fort pour le fromage (jusqu’à 30 %) que pour la viande (jusqu’à 10 %). Les qualités reconnues des produits identifiés comme issus de vaches Salers et l’originalité des systèmes de production peuvent apporter des plus-values significatives aux divers acteurs locaux, ce qui peut correspondre à une forme de rente territoriale.No matter which production system is considered (5% milk farms, 95% meatfarms), the Salers breed of cattle carries a strong image. Our work aims at showing that the development of the main territory in which the breed is found may rely on specific and identified products afforded by the breed. Multidisciplinary research (animal science, economics, food quality) and different methods (surveys, follow-up, and experimentation) were implemented. The experiments focused on the control of various types of production (milk, carcasses) and on a detailed description of the products (meat, cheese), given the attributes and the special behaviour of the animals. A before-weaning feeding approach favouring milk and forage later proves more efficient for finishing the young Salers male (15 months). The meat from these young bulls is clear, classified as mid-range quality, and can be sold in supermarkets. Parallel observations were made on farms and specific protein markers of juiciness were identified. Milk from Salers cows differs from that of Holstein especially in the nature of the fatty acids. Calf suckling before milking reinforces the differences. Cheeses made with raw milk from the breed differ in their textures and flavours. The cow must however be milked with her calf and the level of labour required impedes economic valorisation of the breed. Consumer surveys have confirmed the strong image of the breed that has a good potential for commercial development. Willingness to pay for identified products, however, is stronger for cheese (up to 30%) than for meat (up to 10%). Recognized qualities of products identified as issued from Salers cattle and originality in production systems can bring significant gains to various local actors, which can be considered as territorial rents