Analysis of the genetic diversity of Tunisian natural populations of Brachypodium

Over the last decade, Tunisia has been invaded by recurrent drought periods which caused an extension of desertification along the North-South axis. Accompanied with various anthropogenic factors, the low and erratic rainfall results in frequent periods of serious drought alternating with periods of floods have caused major damages in the natural forage resources. Face to this situation, The Tunisian Government has recently engaged a vast program for the management, conservation and mobilization of natural genetic resources: national strategies for soil and water conservation, water resources, forage resources and rangelands rehabilitation. Because of its great ecological, agronomic and economic properties, the genus Brachypodium, has been developed as a model for temperate cereals, biofuel and grass crop. In order to define a strategy for improving and managing genetic resources of Brachypodium species in Tunisia, we have characterized the morpho-phenologic and the genetic variation of 180 lines of the complex of species B. distachyon, B. stacei and B. hybridum through 18 quantitatives traits and a large set of SSR and InDels markers. The first results of our analysis showed that the species allotetraploid B. hybridum is the predominant species in Tunisia, while the two diploid species B. distachyon and B.stacei are less frequent. The analysis of morpho-genetic diversity of this complex of species by the 18 morpho-phenologic traits and 15 SSR markers showed that the morphogenetic variation between species dominate that within species. However, the allotetraploid species was found to be more morphologically and genetically variable its two parental species. The detailed analysis of the morpho-phenologic diversity of the Tunisian B. hybridum germplasm (9 natural populations) showed a considerable variation between populations and eco-regions in all studied traits Variation was relatively higher for reproductive (34.8 %) than for vegetative (32.8 %) traits. The majority of traits showed very low ( 0.3) heritability with low border value for average length of spikelet and an average value of 0.64. Analysis of the morpho-phenologic between populations revealed that populations originated from Ain Drahem and Jbel Zaghouan (0.61) are the most differenciated while those Haouria and Raoued are the most morphologically closes (Qst = 0.1) (Overal Qst = 0.32). Moreover, the results showed also that the morphological differentiation between populations is not affected neither by geographic distances nor altitudinal differences. The genetic variation the Tunisian B. hybridum germplasm analyzed by SSR and InDels markers showed that the studied populations of B. hybrdium are characterized by high genetic variability. The results of SSR analysis revealed 100% of polymorphism and an average of genetic diversity (expected heterozygosity) of 0.79 across populations, while those revealed by InDels markers showed that the studied populations exhibited 90% of polymorphism and 35% of genetic variation. The extensive intra-population genetic variation is accompanied by a recurrent inter-populational gene flow (Nm> 2) promoting a homogeneous intra-population genetic variation a relatively low inter-populations genetic differentiation. Indeed, the analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) based on SSR and Indels data revealed that most of genetic variation was attributed to the within populations component. The level of genetic differentiation among populations was doesn\u2019t exceeds 2% for SSR markers (\uf046PT = 0.023) and 20% for InDels markers (\uf046PT = 0.196). Moreover, the spatial genetic structure established through Cluster analysis (UPGMA) principal co-ordinate analysis (PCoA) and Bayesian approach grouped populations from distinct geographic area and altitudinal classes, suggesting that neither geographical distances nor altitudinal differences constrain the relationships among the populations. Taken together, the results the morpho-phenologic and molecular approaches suggest that the genetic structure of the Tunisian natural populations of B. hybridum is influenced by both, a gene flow via long seed dispersal and the natural selection

Design of a high-torque machine with two integrated motors axes reducing the electric vehicle consumption

The motorization of electric vehicle needs to work at a constant power on a wide range of speed. In order to be able to satisfy these requirements, we describe in this paper a solution, which consists in modifying of a simple structure of a permanent magnet motor by a double rotor structure integrating two motor axes into the same machine. This article describes, then, a design methodology of a permanent magnet motor with double rotor, radial flux, and strong starting torque for electric vehicles. This work consists on the analytical dimensioning of the motor by taking into account several operation constraints followed by a modelling by the finite elements method. This study is followed by the comparison between this motor and a motor with one rotor. A global model of the motor- converter is developed for the purpose to answer several optimisation problem

Gale hyperkératosique chez un patient âgé immunocompétent.

Introduction :La gale norvégienne est une forme de gale hyperkératosique extrêmement contagieuse liée à une infestation par des Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis. Elle survient classiquement chez l’immunodéprimé.Observation :Nous rapportons un cas de gale norvégienne survenant chez un homme de 75 ans, sans antécédents particuliers, qui présentait depuis un an des lésions érythémateux-maculo-papuleuses évoluant vers la desquamation et étendu dans tous le corps en épargnant le visage et le cuir chevelu. Plusieurs diagnostic ont été évoqué à tort notamment le psoriasis. L'évolution était marquée par l'apparition de lésions croûteuses avec des squames hyperkératosiques. L’examen parasitologique direct, réalisé sur des lames préparées à partir de plusieurs prélèvements, obtenus par grattage des lésions cutanées, a mis en évidence de nombreux Sarcoptes scabiei et des galeries d’œufs, conduisant au diagnostic de la gale norvégienne. Après un traitement à base de benzoate de benzyle, le patient décédait dans un tableau de choc septique.Discussion et conclusion :La gale norvégienne devient de plus en plus rependue avec l’utilisation plus large des immunosuppresseurs. Son diagnostic est souvent porté tardivement et son traitement est difficile. Non traitée, l’infestation modifie le microbiote cutané et les surinfections sont fréquentes d’où l'importance d’un diagnostic précoce notamment chez le sujet âgé à fin d'éviter des complications potentiellement mortelles

Sobolev type spaces associated with the q-Rubin's operator

In this paper we introduce and   study   some $q$-Sobolev type spaces by using the harmonic analysis associated with the q-Rubin operator. In particular, embedding theorems for these spaces are established.  Next, we introduce the q-Rubin potential spaces and study some of its properties

Motion-corrected simultaneous cardiac positron emission tomography and coronary MR angiography with high acquisition efficiency

PURPOSE: Develop a framework for efficient free-breathing simultaneous whole-heart coronary magnetic resonance angiography (CMRA) and cardiac positron emission tomography (PET) on a 3 Tesla PET-MR system.METHODS: An acquisition that enables nonrigid motion correction of both CMRA and PET has been developed. The proposed method estimates translational motion from low-resolution 2D MR image navigators acquired at each heartbeat and 3D nonrigid respiratory motion between different respiratory bins from the CMRA data itself. Estimated motion is used for correcting the CMRA as well as the emission and attenuation PET data sets to the same respiratory position. The CMRA approach was studied in 10 healthy subjects and compared for both left and right coronary arteries (LCA, RCA) against a reference scan with diaphragmatic navigator gating and tracking. The PET-CMRA approach was tested in 5 oncology patients with (18) F-FDG myocardial uptake. PET images were compared against uncorrected and gated PET reconstructions.RESULTS: For the healthy subjects, no statistically significant differences in vessel length and sharpness (P &gt; 0.01) were observed between the proposed approach and the reference acquisition with navigator gating and tracking, although data acquisition was significantly shorter. The proposed approach improved CMRA vessel sharpness by 37.9% and 49.1% (LCA, RCA) and vessel length by 48.0% and 36.7% (LCA, RCA) in comparison with no motion correction for all the subjects. Motion-corrected PET images showed improved sharpness of the myocardium compared to uncorrected reconstructions and reduced noise compared to gated reconstructions.CONCLUSION: Feasibility of a new respiratory motion-compensated simultaneous cardiac PET-CMRA acquisition has been demonstrated. Magn Reson Med, 2017. © 2017 The Authors Magnetic Resonance in Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.</p

Simultaneous 13N-Ammonia and gadolinium first-pass myocardial perfusion with quantitative hybrid PET-MR imaging: a phantom and clinical feasibility study

Background Positron emission tomography (PET) is the non-invasive reference standard for myocardial blood flow (MBF) quantification. Hybrid PET-MR allows simultaneous PET and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) acquisition under identical experimental and physiological conditions. This study aimed to determine feasibility of simultaneous 13N-Ammonia PET and dynamic contrast-enhanced CMR MBF quantification in phantoms and healthy volunteers. Methods Images were acquired using a 3T hybrid PET-MR scanner. Phantom study: MBF was simulated at different physiological perfusion rates and a protocol for simultaneous PET-MR perfusion imaging was developed. Volunteer study: five healthy volunteers underwent adenosine stress. 13N-Ammonia and gadolinium were administered simultaneously. PET list mode data was reconstructed using ordered subset expectation maximisation. CMR MBF was quantified using Fermi function-constrained deconvolution of arterial input function and myocardial signal. PET MBF was obtained using a one-tissue compartment model and image-derived input function. Results Phantom study: PET and CMR MBF measurements demonstrated high repeatability with intraclass coefficients 0.98 and 0.99, respectively. There was high correlation between PET and CMR MBF (r = 0.98, p < 0.001) and good agreement (bias − 0.85 mL/g/min; 95% limits of agreement 0.29 to − 1.98). Volunteer study: Mean global stress MBF for CMR and PET were 2.58 ± 0.11 and 2.60 ± 0.47 mL/g/min respectively. On a per territory basis, there was moderate correlation (r = 0.63, p = 0.03) and agreement (bias − 0.34 mL/g/min; 95% limits of agreement 0.49 to − 1.18). Conclusion Simultaneous MBF quantification using hybrid PET-MR imaging is feasible with high test repeatability and good to moderate agreement between PET and CMR. Future studies in coronary artery disease patients may allow cross-validation of techniques

Who let the DOGS out: Anonymous but Auditable communications using Group Signature schemes with Distributed Opening

Over the past two decades, group signature schemes have been developed and used to enable authenticated and anonymous peer-to-peer communications. Initial protocols rely on two main authorities, Issuer and Opener, which are given substantial capabilities compared to (regular) participants, such as the ability to arbitrarily identify users. Building efficient, fast, and short group signature schemes has been the focus of a large number of research contributions. However, only a few dealt with the major privacy-preservation challenge of group signatures; this consists in providing user anonymity and action traceability while not necessarily relying on a central and fully trusted authority. In this paper, we present DOGS, a privacy-preserving Blockchain-supported group signature scheme with a distributed Opening functionality. In DOGS, participants no longer depend on the Opener entity to identify the signer of a potentially fraudulent message; they instead collaborate and perform this auditing process themselves. We provide a high-level description of the DOGS scheme and show that it provides both user anonymity and action traceability. Additionally, we prove how DOGS is secure against message forgery and anonymity attacks