Influence of Travelling Speed on the Risk of Injury Accident: a Matched Case-Control Study

This matched case-control study deals with the effect of the individual travelling speed on the risk of involvement in a road accident. The cases were cars involved in injury accidents dealt with within the framework of an in-depth accident investigation programme. The matched controls were cars passing the same road site as the crash-involved car, in the same conditions but without being involved in an accident. Only normal weather, daytime and free-flow conditions were considered. Overall, 52 cases and 817 controls were used. The speeds were obtained from kinematic reconstructions for the crash-involved cars, and using a laser speed gun for the controls. A significant positive relationship is found between the individual travelling speed and the risk of injury accident. Nevertheless, this study has limitations, due to the relatively small number of cases and to the data used (kinematic reconstructions always involve some degree of interpretation)

Influence of Travelling Speed on the Risk of Injury Accident: a Matched Case-Control Study

This matched case-control study deals with the effect of the individual travelling speed on the risk of involvement in a road accident. The cases were cars involved in injury accidents dealt with within the framework of an in-depth accident investigation programme. The matched controls were cars passing the same road site as the crash-involved car, in the same conditions but without being involved in an accident. Only normal weather, daytime and free-flow conditions were considered. Overall, 52 cases and 817 controls were used. The speeds were obtained from kinematic reconstructions for the crash-involved cars, and using a laser speed gun for the controls. A significant positive relationship is found between the individual travelling speed and the risk of injury accident. Nevertheless, this study has limitations, due to the relatively small number of cases and to the data used (kinematic reconstructions always involve some degree of interpretation)

A single amino acid change within the R2 domain of the VvMYB5b transcription factor modulates affinity for protein partners and target promoters selectivity

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Flavonoid pathway is spatially and temporally controlled during plant development and the transcriptional regulation of the structural genes is mostly orchestrated by a ternary protein complex that involves three classes of transcription factors (R2-R3-MYB, bHLH and WDR). In grapevine (<it>Vitis vinifera </it>L.), several MYB transcription factors have been identified but the interactions with their putative bHLH partners to regulate specific branches of the flavonoid pathway are still poorly understood.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In this work, we describe the effects of a single amino acid substitution (R69L) located in the R2 domain of VvMYB5b and predicted to affect the formation of a salt bridge within the protein. The activity of the mutated protein (name VvMYB5b^L, the native protein being referred as VvMYB5b^R) was assessed in different <it>in vivo </it>systems: yeast, grape cell suspensions, and tobacco. In the first two systems, VvMYB5b^Lexhibited a modified trans-activation capability. Moreover, using yeast two-hybrid assay, we demonstrated that modification of VvMYB5b transcriptional properties impaired its ability to correctly interact with VvMYC1, a grape bHLH protein. These results were further substantiated by overexpression of <it>VvMYB5b^R</it>and <it>VvMYB5b^L</it>genes in tobacco. Flowers from <it>35S::VvMYB5b^L</it>transgenic plants showed a distinct phenotype in comparison with <it>35S::VvMYB5b^R</it>and the control plants. Finally, significant differences in transcript abundance of flavonoid metabolism genes were observed along with variations in pigments accumulation.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Taken together, our findings indicate that VvMYB5b^Lis still able to bind DNA but the structural consequences linked to the mutation affect the capacity of the protein to activate the transcription of some flavonoid genes by modifying the interaction with its co-partner(s). In addition, this study underlines the importance of an internal salt bridge for protein conformation and thus for the establishment of protein-protein interactions between MYB and bHLH transcription factors. Mechanisms underlying these interactions are discussed and a model is proposed to explain the transcriptional activity of VvMYB5^Lobserved in the tobacco model.</p

Maternal Blood Lead Levels and the Risk of Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension: The EDEN Cohort Study

International audienceBACKGROUND: Prior studies revealed associations of environmental lead exposure with risks of hypertension and elevated blood pressure. OBJECTIVE: We examined the effect of blood lead levels on blood pressure and the incidence of pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. METHODS: One thousand seventeen pregnant women were enrolled in two French municipalities between 2003 and 2005 for the EDEN (Etude des Déterminants pré et post natals du développement et de la santé de l' Enfant) cohort study. Blood lead concentrations were measured by atomic absorption spectrometry in mothers between 24 and 28 weeks of gestation. RESULTS: PIH was diagnosed in 106 subjects (10.9%). Age, parity, weight gain, alcohol, smoking habits, and calcium supplementation were comparable between hypertensive and nonhypertensive women. Lead levels were significantly higher in PIH cases (mean +/- SD, 2.2 +/- 1.4 mug/dL) than in normotensive patients (1.9 +/- 1.2 mug/dL; p = 0.02). Adjustment for potential confounder effects slightly attenuated but did not eliminate the significant association between blood lead levels and the risk of PIH (adjusted odds ratio of PIH = 3.3; 95% confidence interval, 1.1-9.7). We also observed geographic differences in lead exposure and in the incidence of PIH and found significant correlations between blood lead levels and unadjusted as well as adjusted systolic and diastolic blood pressures after 24 weeks of gestation. CONCLUSIONS: These findings confirm the relationship between blood lead levels at mid-pregnancy and blood pressure and suggest that environmental lead exposure may play an etiologic role in PIH

The Changing Landscape for Stroke\ua0Prevention in AF: Findings From the GLORIA-AF Registry Phase 2

Background GLORIA-AF (Global Registry on Long-Term Oral Antithrombotic Treatment in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation) is a prospective, global registry program describing antithrombotic treatment patterns in patients with newly diagnosed nonvalvular atrial fibrillation at risk of stroke. Phase 2 began when dabigatran, the first non\u2013vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulant (NOAC), became available. Objectives This study sought to describe phase 2 baseline data and compare these with the pre-NOAC era collected during phase&nbsp;1. Methods During phase 2, 15,641 consenting patients were enrolled (November 2011 to December 2014); 15,092 were eligible. This pre-specified cross-sectional analysis describes eligible patients\u2019 baseline characteristics. Atrial fibrillation&nbsp;disease characteristics, medical outcomes, and concomitant diseases and medications were collected. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results Of the total patients, 45.5% were female; median age was 71 (interquartile range: 64, 78) years. Patients were from Europe (47.1%), North America (22.5%), Asia (20.3%), Latin America (6.0%), and the Middle East/Africa (4.0%). Most had high stroke risk (CHA2DS2-VASc [Congestive heart failure, Hypertension, Age&nbsp; 6575 years, Diabetes mellitus, previous Stroke, Vascular disease, Age 65 to 74 years, Sex category] score&nbsp; 652; 86.1%); 13.9% had moderate risk (CHA2DS2-VASc&nbsp;= 1). Overall, 79.9% received oral anticoagulants, of whom 47.6% received NOAC and 32.3% vitamin K antagonists (VKA); 12.1% received antiplatelet agents; 7.8% received no antithrombotic treatment. For comparison, the proportion of phase 1 patients (of N&nbsp;= 1,063 all eligible) prescribed VKA was 32.8%, acetylsalicylic acid 41.7%, and no therapy 20.2%. In Europe in phase 2, treatment with NOAC was more common than VKA (52.3% and 37.8%, respectively); 6.0% of patients received antiplatelet treatment; and 3.8% received no antithrombotic treatment. In North America, 52.1%, 26.2%, and 14.0% of patients received NOAC, VKA, and antiplatelet drugs, respectively; 7.5% received no antithrombotic treatment. NOAC use was less common in Asia (27.7%), where 27.5% of patients received VKA, 25.0% antiplatelet drugs, and 19.8% no antithrombotic treatment. Conclusions The baseline data from GLORIA-AF phase 2 demonstrate that in newly diagnosed nonvalvular atrial fibrillation patients, NOAC have been highly adopted into practice, becoming more frequently prescribed than VKA in&nbsp;Europe and North America. Worldwide, however, a large proportion of patients remain undertreated, particularly in&nbsp;Asia&nbsp;and North America. (Global Registry on Long-Term Oral Antithrombotic Treatment in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation [GLORIA-AF]; NCT01468701

Le physicien devant la question de l’origine aujourd’hui

Revenant sur le questionnement de la physique sur les origines de l’univers, cet article montre comment dans la remontée vers les commencements, l’Origine échappe au physicien contemporain. L’incomplétude qui en résulte n’est cependant pas une défaite de la raison mais une chance pour progresser. Introduisant le physicien à la confrontation au mystère, elle devient la condition-même de la connaissance.Examining how physics interrogates the origins of the universe, this article shows how contemporary physicists, when trying to go back to the beginnings of the world, are ultimately faced with the impossibility of retrieving the Origin. However, the resulting incompleteness must not be seen as a defeat of reason, but as an opportunity for progress : insofar as it invites the physicist to face the idea of mystery, it becomes the very condition of knowledge

Etude expérimentale du comportement en fluage et corrosion sous contrainte d'un titane non allié de grade 4 (application à un cas d'endommagement en service)

Le comportement en fluage et corrosion sous contrainte d'un titane non allié de grade 4 noté T60 est analysé en laboratoire afin d'identifier les mécanismes d'endommagement par fissuration d'un joint soudé d'une pièce en service de la DGA. A partir des conditions de mise en forme et des conditions de service, l'endommagement a pu être reproduit en laboratoire, via des sollicitations de fluage et de corrosion sous contrainte. Dans l'étude du comportement en fluage, l'influence de la charge imposée, de la température et de la vitesse de chargement est prise en compte. Une contrainte seuil, délimitant les domaines de fluage-saturation et de fluage-rupture est nettement mise en évidence. Dans le domaine du fluage-rupture, non seulement la charge imposée mais aussi la température aggravent l'endommagement (via la valeur de la contrainte seuil et du type de faciès de rupture), laissant apparaître des " conditions de fragilité " du matériau. Des essais de fluage-corrosion conduits pour reproduire les conditions de service de la pièce expertisée montrent : (i) une sensibilité au potentiel d'abandon avec une accélération du temps d'amorçage des fissures, (ii) une forte diminution de l'allongement à rupture potentiel cathodique avec un aspect fragile des faciès de rupture décrits en terme de pourcentage de clivage par rapport au fluting. Les effets de l'hydrogène sont ainsi évoqués. Ces résultats conduisent à la proposition d'un scénario d'endommagement par fissuration de la pièce, qui comprend le début de propagation par fluage-corrosion de fissures amorcées lors du soudage. Plus les fissures progressent, plus l'endommagement de fluage prend de l'importance. Une discussion en terme de faciès de rupture (fluting et clivage) permet d'étayer le scénario proposé et ouvre de nouvelles perspectives sur le comportement mécanique du titane non allié en présence d'hydrogène.GRENOBLE1-BU Sciences (384212103) / SudocSudocFranceF

Digital Driven Technosciences: Epistemological and Ethical Questioning

Technosciences such as biotechnologies aim to analyse, modify and reconstruct livings and complex biochemical components, using top-down or bottom-up approaches to simplify these complex systems. Because of the large number of involved parameters, these technosciences need more and more big data techniques (Artificial Intelligence with machine and deep learning) to find efficient correlations to predict the evolution of systems in their environments. This prediction is especially used to reconstruct livings or artificial pieces of livings in biotechnology and to give medical diagnostics in medicine. Two examples corresponding to these two different cases are analysed in this paper. The aim is to highlight interests and limitations of such digital approach in terms of human free will and responsibility, in relation to provisional scientific truth. A difference is established between classical digital-assisted technoscience and digital-driven technoscience through an epistemological analysis of this new way to practice science. This allows to precise values which are favoured in a digital driven science, what we call an « ethics of knowledge ». Thus “capabilities to predict for making “, based on efficient correlations, look more important than “capabilities to know for making » and determine complex biological mechanisms or causes of evolutions. Consequences about technoscientific mentality are drawn and practical ethical questioning is consequently reassessed