''It''+''I'': Virtual Embodiments as Hybrid Experiences

International audienceA dichotomy exists in the way virtual embodiments are currently studied: embodied entities are considered by conversational approaches as other selves whereas avatar approaches study them as users' hosts. Virtual reality applications such as in our case study often propose a different, in between embodiment experience. In the context of a virtual house for sale visit, this paper aims at examining the user's self-reported embodiment perception resulting from such a hybrid experience. To induce variability in this embodiment experience, we manipulated avatar representations (high versus low anthropomorphism) and frame of reference (egocentric versus exocentric). Results show the importance of the entity humanness to foster both experiences. When controlled by humanness, having a conversational experience appears uncorrelated to an avatar experience. This highlights the need to study these hybrid experiences as a combination of both approaches

Un flou adaptatif en fonction du point de focalisation pour réduire la fatigue visuelle en vision stéréoscopique

National audienceDepuis quelques années, de plus en plus de contenus stéréoscopiques sont disponibles au grand public. Si l'impression de relief est remarquable, il n'en reste pas moins que la vision artificielle stéréoscopique demeure fatigante. Une cause de cette fatigue est le conflit accommodation convergence. Dans cet article, nous proposons d'ajouter un flou dans la vision périphérique (le point de focalisation étant déterminé avec un eye-tracking) pour limiter ce conflit et donc limiter la fatigue visuelle

ArchaeDyn. Dynamique spatiale du peuplement et ressources naturelles : vers une analyse intégrée dans le long terme, de la Préhistoire au Moyen Âge,. ACI Espaces et territoires (contrat ET28, 2005-2007)

Rapport de fin de contrat ACIRapport de fin de contrat d'ACIProject final repor

Which Ocular Dominance Should Be Considered for Monocular Augmented Reality Devices?

A monocular augmented reality device allows the user to see information that is superimposed on the environment. As it does not stimulate both eyes in the same way, it creates a phenomenon known as binocular rivalry. The question therefore arises as to whether monocular information should be displayed to a particular eye and if an ocular dominance test can determine it. This paper contributes to give a better understanding of ocular dominance by comparing nine tests. Our results suggest that ocular dominance can be divided into sighting and sensorial dominance. However, different sensorial dominance tests give different results, suggesting that it is composed of distinct components that are assessed by different tests. There is a need for a comprehensive test that can consider all of these components, in order to identify on which eye monocular information should be directed to when using monocular augmented reality devices

Hidden genetic variation in LCA9-associated congenital blindness explained by 5′UTR mutations and copy-number variations of NMNAT1

Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA) is a severe autosomal-recessive retinal dystrophy leading to congenital blindness. A recently identified LCA gene is NMNAT1, located in the LCA9 locus. Although most mutations in blindness genes are coding variations, there is accumulating evidence for hidden noncoding defects or structural variations (SVs). The starting point of this study was an LCA9-associated consanguineous family in which no coding mutations were found in the LCA9 region. Exploring the untranslated regions of NMNAT1 revealed a novel homozygous 5'UTR variant, c.-70A>T. Moreover, an adjacent 5'UTR variant, c.-69C>T, was identified in a second consanguineous family displaying a similar phenotype. Both 5'UTR variants resulted in decreased NMNAT1 mRNA abundance in patients' lymphocytes, and caused decreased luciferase activity in human retinal pigment epithelial RPE-1 cells. Second, we unraveled pseudohomozygosity of a coding NMNAT1 mutation in two unrelated LCA patients by the identification of two distinct heterozygous partial NMNAT1 deletions. Molecular characterization of the breakpoint junctions revealed a complex Alu-rich genomic architecture. Our study uncovered hidden genetic variation in NMNAT1-associated LCA and emphasized a shift from coding to noncoding regulatory mutations and repeat-mediated SVs in the molecular pathogenesis of heterogeneous recessive disorders such as hereditary blindness

Is the typicality of “Provence Rosé wines” only a matter of color?

Aims: Given the diversity of French dry Rosé wines, Provence Rosé producers (France) wish to evaluate the typicality of their wines in order to better identify their typical characteristics. A clear pink color is one of them but they would also like to identify some specific odors and aromas. Here, we address these issues by: (i) assessing whether the identity of Provence Rosé wines is perceptible by tasting and shared by professionals based on specific odors and aromas (disregarding color as indicator using black glasses), and (ii) evaluating the impact of color on Provence Rosé wine typicality. Methods and results: Complementary methods were used: exemplarity measurements by a panel of wine professionals, sensory evaluation by a trained expert panel, and color assessment. It was confirmed that Provence Rosé wine typicality is based on color because the clearest wines were found to be more typical. However, typicality in odors and aromas was also demonstrated. Using black glasses, wine professionals from Provence agreed on ‘citrus fruit’, ‘exotic fruit’ and ‘fresh floral’ odors and aromas being typical attributes of Provence Rosé wines. Next, when using transparent glasses, the color of the wines clearly modified the perception of exemplarity. Conclusion: There is no single sensory profile of typical Provence Rosé wines. Variability within the sensory profiles of this specific Rosé wine area was observed, but some common aromatic and visual characteristics were identified. Significance and impact of the study: These results could be used as a marketing tool to better highlight the specific intrinsic characteristics of Provence Rosé wines. It will now be interesting to investigate the Provence area further in order to evaluate potential sub-area specificities linked to “terroir” factors

Immunological response to highly active antiretroviral therapy following treatment for prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV-1: a study in Côte d'Ivoire

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Information is currently limited on the long-term follow up of HIV-1 infected women who are on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) that contains nevirapine and lamivudine and who were previously exposed to antiretroviral drugs for the prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We studied the 36-month immunological response to HAART in HIV-1 infected women in Côte d'Ivoire. The women were previously exposed to antiretroviral drug regimens for PMTCT, including single-dose nevirapine and/or short-course zidovudine with or without lamivudine. All HAART regimens included a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>At 36 months: the median absolute increase in CD4+ T cell count was +359 cells/mm³(IQR: 210-466) in 200 women who had undergone 36-month follow-up visits; +359 cells/mm³(IQR: 222-491) in 88 women not exposed to PMTCT antiretrovirals; and +363 cells/mm³(IQR: 200-464) in 112 women exposed to at least one antiretroviral PMTCT regimen. Overall, 49 (19.8%) of the 247 women who initiated HAART met the immunological failure criteria at least once during follow up. The overall probability of immunological failure was 0.08 (95% CI: 0.12-0.15) at 12 months, and 0.21 (95% CI: 0.16-0.27) at 36 months. No difference was observed according to the presence or absence of resistance mutations to nevirapine or lamivudine in women tested at four weeks postpartum. In addition, at 36 months, 23% of women were lost to follow up, dead or had stopped their treatment.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>A non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor-based antiretroviral regimen, initiated a year or more after PMTCT exposure and that includes nevirapine, remains a good option for at least the first 36 months of treatment.</p

Dynamique paysagère tardiglaciaire et holocène dans la vallée du Loir à Pezou (Loir-et-Cher) : développements méthodologiques et premiers résultats

Dans la vallée du Loir, une recherche a été initiée dans le cadre d’une thèse de doctorat à l’université d’Angers (J. Piana, en cours). L’objectif de l’étude est de reconstituer la trajectoire paysagère de la vallée du Loir au cours des derniers 15 000 ans (sous le contrôle des facteurs climatiques et anthropiques qui se sont exercés à l’échelle du bassin-versant) à partir d’un diagnostic des formes paysagères (construction et évolution des lits fluviaux et de la plaine alluviale, végétation, parcellaire, pratiques culturales…) et de l’identification des processus dynamiques qui les ont transformées et transmises (crise, rupture, héritage, résilience…). Dans le bassin-versant moyen du Loir (secteur de Pezou), les premiers résultats révèlent un enregistrement sédimentaire fin et permettent d’entrevoir l’évolution des paysages de la vallée en relation avec les changements climatiques et les occupations humaines au cours du Tardiglaciaire et de l’Holocène. Au début de l’Holocène, les paysages fluviaux héritent de morphologies à chenaux multiples mises en place durant le dernier glaciaire (Weichsélien). La transition Tardiglaciaire-Holocène est marquée par une métamorphose vers un système à chenal unique et un comblement argilo-tourbeux des bras secondaires. Ce comblement se poursuit jusqu’au Néolithique, période durant laquelle le changement de l’activité fluviale conduit à une nouvelle phase d’incision et vraisemblablement à une réactivation des bras latéraux. À l’Âge du Fer, une importante déforestation, associée à la pratique de l’élevage et de l’agriculture est mise en évidence. À partir de la période gallo-romaine, le contrôle anthropique des processus hydro-sédimentaires est croissant et conduit à l’augmentation de l’érosion des versants et à une forte aggradation verticale de la plaine alluviale de la vallée du Loir. Des travaux en cours visent à affiner la résolution temporelle de cette variabilité paysagère et à spatialiser cette dernière au sein de la vallée et du bassin-versant du Loir.In the Loir River valley, a research was started within a PhD thesis at Angers University (J. Piana, in progress). The study’s goal is to reconstitute the landscape trajectory of the Loir River fluvial space over the last 15.000 years (taking into account climate and anthropogenic driving factors at the level of the watershed) on the basis of the landscape forms analysis (building and evolution of river beds and alluvial plain, vegetation, cadastre, cultural practices) and identifying dynamical processes which transform and transmit those forms (crisis, rupture, heritage, resiliency…). First results, in the Middle Loir River watershed (sector of Pezou) show high-resolution fluvial records and lead to an overview of the landscape evolution of the valley in relation to climatic change and human settlements during the Lateglacial and the Holocene. At the beginning of the Holocene, fluvial landscapes inherite from a Weichselian multi-channel pattern. The Lateglacial-Holocene transition is marked by a metamorphosis to a meandering pattern and a clayey-peaty infilling of the abandoned channels. This filling runs until the Neolithic period. Then, an increased fluvial activity leads to a new incision period and probably to a reactivation of the lateral channels. From Iron Age, we observe an important deforestation, the opening of the vegetal landscape and the practice of cattle raising activity. From the Gallo-roman period, anthropogenic control on sedimentary processes is increasing and leads to slope wearing and aggradation in the alluvial plain

Ternary Copper(II) Complexes With Indomethacin, a Potent Non-Steroidal Antiinflammatory Drug. Crystal Structure of Bis (Dimethylformamide)-Tetrakis[1-(4-Chlorobenzoyl)-5-Methoxy-2-Methyl-1-H-Indole-3-Acetato]Dicopper(II). Antiinflammatory Properties and Prevention of Gastrointestinal Side Effects by Nanocapsules

Two ternary copper(ll) complexes of indomethacin [1-(4-chlorobenzoyl)-5-methoxy-2- methyl-1-H-indole-3-acetic acid] called hereafter lndo, were prepared and characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The first complex Cu2(Indo)4(DMF)2 I crystallizes in space group P-1 (a = 10.829(2), b = 13.379(2), c = 16.491(3) Å; α = 105.58(2), β = 101.06(2), γ = 106.96(2)°; V= 2104.6(6) Å3, Z= 1). The title molecule is a centrosymmetric binuclear complex, with Cu atoms bridged by the carboxylate moieties of four indomethacinate ligands. The four nearest O atoms around each Cu atom form a square planar arrangement with the square pyramidal coordination completed by the O atom of N,N′-dimethylformamide. Daily administration for seven days of 1 mg/kg of indomethacin, I and I encapsulated into liposomes induces a weak inflammation of rat gastrointestinal tract. I was less inflammatory than indomethacin but the better protection was brought by encapsulation of the compound. This might be of interest in sustained therapies of chronic inflammatory diseases

AGATHE: A tool for personalized rehabilitation of cognitive functions

Stroke, traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's... Every year in France, tens of thousands of people fall victim to one of those neurological pathologies. Acquired brain injury leads to cognitive impairment and heavy loss of autonomy. Rehabilitation interventions are needed to enable people to recover capacity and return to Activities of Daily Living (ADL), such as grocery shopping. Unfortunately, the resources made available in cognitive rehabilitation are insufficient for the growing needs of victims of brain damage. The assets of virtual reality to address this big problem of public health are today scientifically recognized [Rizzo and Kim 2005; Klinger, et al. 2010]. In this context, we designed the AGATHE tool (Adaptable, configurable and upgradable tool for the generation of personalized therapeutic applications in cognitive rehabilitation) (AGATHE project, ANR-09-TECS-002).French National Research Agency (ANR) Laval Agglomération et Conseil Général de la Mayenn