[Thu-P1-027] Pheromone-induced odour learning and outstanding detection abilities in the newborn rabbit

International audiencePerception of the wide, complex and changing odour environment requires that the olfactory system engages processing mechanisms ensuring efficient detection and discrimination of stimuli ending in specific motor actions and in adaptation. In newborn rabbits detecting and responding to the mammary pheromone (MP) emitted by the mother is crucial for survival, since the MP is a strong releaser of typical head-searching/oral grasping behaviour allowing to locate and orally grasp the maternal nipples during the daily nursing. Strikingly, the MP also functions as a natural reinforcer, i.e. as an unconditioned stimulus able to promote appetitive conditioning to a new odorant (CS) in a single and very brief (5 min) association. We have already shown that such MP-induced odour learning, which involves peripheral plasticity (induction) and cerebral plasticity, results in an increase in detection threshold of the CS. These results were obtained when the CS was used at a single concentration (10-5 g/ml). Here, we investigated whether and how the use of a CS (ethyl isobutyrate) at different concentrations (from 10-5 to 10-23 g/ml) during pairing with the MP, influences post-conditioning detection threshold of the CS. The results highlight that the lower the CS concentration, the lower the detection threshold. However, below a certain concentration level, the response range no longer includes the highest CS concentrations but shifts and focuses around the conditioning concentration. These results are original both because they pinpoint 1) detection capability of a learned odorant at exceptionally low concentrations, and 2) that for low concentrations, the perceived quality of the CS is altered. The study provides a novel insight into olfactory perceptual sensitivity in neonates, as well as evidence of discontinuity in perceived odorant quality at very low intensity

[Thu-P1-027] Pheromone-induced odour learning and outstanding detection abilities in the newborn rabbit

International audiencePerception of the wide, complex and changing odour environment requires that the olfactory system engages processing mechanisms ensuring efficient detection and discrimination of stimuli ending in specific motor actions and in adaptation. In newborn rabbits detecting and responding to the mammary pheromone (MP) emitted by the mother is crucial for survival, since the MP is a strong releaser of typical head-searching/oral grasping behaviour allowing to locate and orally grasp the maternal nipples during the daily nursing. Strikingly, the MP also functions as a natural reinforcer, i.e. as an unconditioned stimulus able to promote appetitive conditioning to a new odorant (CS) in a single and very brief (5 min) association. We have already shown that such MP-induced odour learning, which involves peripheral plasticity (induction) and cerebral plasticity, results in an increase in detection threshold of the CS. These results were obtained when the CS was used at a single concentration (10-5 g/ml). Here, we investigated whether and how the use of a CS (ethyl isobutyrate) at different concentrations (from 10-5 to 10-23 g/ml) during pairing with the MP, influences post-conditioning detection threshold of the CS. The results highlight that the lower the CS concentration, the lower the detection threshold. However, below a certain concentration level, the response range no longer includes the highest CS concentrations but shifts and focuses around the conditioning concentration. These results are original both because they pinpoint 1) detection capability of a learned odorant at exceptionally low concentrations, and 2) that for low concentrations, the perceived quality of the CS is altered. The study provides a novel insight into olfactory perceptual sensitivity in neonates, as well as evidence of discontinuity in perceived odorant quality at very low intensity

[Thu-P1-027] Pheromone-induced odour learning and outstanding detection abilities in the newborn rabbit

International audiencePerception of the wide, complex and changing odour environment requires that the olfactory system engages processing mechanisms ensuring efficient detection and discrimination of stimuli ending in specific motor actions and in adaptation. In newborn rabbits detecting and responding to the mammary pheromone (MP) emitted by the mother is crucial for survival, since the MP is a strong releaser of typical head-searching/oral grasping behaviour allowing to locate and orally grasp the maternal nipples during the daily nursing. Strikingly, the MP also functions as a natural reinforcer, i.e. as an unconditioned stimulus able to promote appetitive conditioning to a new odorant (CS) in a single and very brief (5 min) association. We have already shown that such MP-induced odour learning, which involves peripheral plasticity (induction) and cerebral plasticity, results in an increase in detection threshold of the CS. These results were obtained when the CS was used at a single concentration (10-5 g/ml). Here, we investigated whether and how the use of a CS (ethyl isobutyrate) at different concentrations (from 10-5 to 10-23 g/ml) during pairing with the MP, influences post-conditioning detection threshold of the CS. The results highlight that the lower the CS concentration, the lower the detection threshold. However, below a certain concentration level, the response range no longer includes the highest CS concentrations but shifts and focuses around the conditioning concentration. These results are original both because they pinpoint 1) detection capability of a learned odorant at exceptionally low concentrations, and 2) that for low concentrations, the perceived quality of the CS is altered. The study provides a novel insight into olfactory perceptual sensitivity in neonates, as well as evidence of discontinuity in perceived odorant quality at very low intensity

Éducation Thérapeutique du Patient (ETP) dans la maladie d’Alzheimer et les maladies apparentées en France : état des lieux et retours d’expérience

Introduction : L’Éducation Thérapeutique du Patient (ETP) fait partie des approches non médicamenteuses proposées aux patients atteints de maladie d’Alzheimer et maladies apparentées (MA2). Elle est recommandée par la Haute Autorité de santé et les plans Alzheimer mais reste peu développée. Objectifs : Nos objectifs sont (i) exposer l’offre d’ETP s’adressant à ces patients en France, (ii) recueillir les retours d’expérience des professionnels de santé, patients et aidants impliqués, (iii) décrire les difficultés rencontrées et les pistes proposées. Méthode : Nous avons répertorié les programmes d’ETP validés par les Agences Régionales de Santé (ARS) s’adressant aux patients atteints de MA2, ayant réalisé au moins un cycle d’ETP. Les retours d’expérience ont été recueillis par entretiens semi-dirigés. Résultats : Parmi les 49 programmes validés par les ARS, 30 répondaient à nos critères. Nous avons constaté une grande hétérogénéité territoriale, organisationnelle et clinique. Établir un schéma d’ETP classique auprès d’une population atteinte de troubles cognitifs s’avère complexe, néanmoins les équipes s’adaptent. Conclusion : Notre travail souligne la dimension psycho-sociale de l’ETP dans le parcours de soin des patients atteints de MA2. Son développement reste un défi et doit être facilité via une coordination des équipes et une harmonisation des pratiques portées entre autres par la Fédération des Centres Mémoire (FCM)

Differential dynamics of amino acid release in the amygdala and olfactory cortex during odor fear acquisition as revealed with simultaneous high temporal resolution microdialysis

International audienceAlthough the amygdala seems to be essential to the formation and storage of fear memories, it might store only some aspects of the aversive event and facilitate the storage of more specific sensory aspects in cortical areas. We addressed the time course of amygdala and cortical activation in the context of odor fear conditioning in rats. Using high temporal resolution (1-min sampling) intracerebral microdialysis, we investigated the dynamics of glutamate and GABA fluctuations simultaneously in basolateral amygdala (BLA) and posterior piriform cortex (pPCx) during the course of the acquisition session, which consisted of six odor (conditioned stimulus)-footshock (unconditioned stimulus) pairings. In BLA, we observed a transient increase in amino acid concentrations following the first odor-shock pairing, after which concentrations returned to baseline levels or slightly below. In pPCx, transient increases were seen after each pairing and were also observed after the last odor-shock pairing, corresponding to the predicted times of anticipated trials. Furthermore, we observed that for the first pairing, the increase in BLA occurred earlier than the increase in pPCx. These data suggest that the amygdala is engaged early during acquisition and precedes the activation of the olfactory cortex, which is maintained until the end of the session. In addition, our data raise the challenging idea that the olfactory cortex might store certain aspects of fear conditioning related to the timing of the associations

The vulnerable Osprey breeding population of the Al Hoceima National Park, Morocco: present status and threats

In the Mediterranean, most areas belonging to the initial distribution range of the Osprey Pandion haliaetus have been lost and local populations have disappeared in recent decades because of persecution. Even though direct management actions have allowed local partial recovery, the Mediterranean population currently only holds a few tens of breeding pairs and is still exposed to local extinction risks. One of the last Mediterranean Osprey breeding areas lies along the North African coast between Morocco and Algeria. In this paper, we report new information on the Osprey population within the Al Hoceima National Park, Morocco. The status of the population for 2012 and 2013 is reported and compared with data collected during the period 1983–1990. A reduction in number of nests and breeding pairs was observed and a 35.7% decrease in the population size recorded. In addition, we discuss the main identified threats to Osprey habitats (e.g. dynamite and poison fishing) that affect the Osprey breeding population in this area. In this context, we stress the necessity for urgent measures to be adopted at the local scale for the protection of this vulnerable population in the light of a sound conservation strategy also at the scale of the Mediterranean.Keywords: conservation, Morocco, Pandion haliaetus, population, threats OSTRICH 2013, 84(3): 199–20

PICSAR-QED: A Monte Carlo module to simulate strong-field quantum electrodynamics in particle-in-cell codes for exascale architectures

Physical scenarios where the electromagnetic fields are so strong that quantum electrodynamics (QED) plays a substantial role are one of the frontiers of contemporary plasma physics research. Investigating those scenarios requires state-of-the-art particle-in-cell (PIC) codes able to run on top high-performance computing (HPC) machines and, at the same time, able to simulate strong-field QED processes. This work presents the PICSAR-QED library, an open-source, portable implementation of a Monte Carlo module designed to provide modern PIC codes with the capability to simulate such processes, and optimized for HPC. Detailed tests and benchmarks are carried out to validate the physical models in PICSAR-QED, to study how numerical parameters affect such models, and to demonstrate its capability to run on different architectures (CPUs and GPUs). Its integration with WarpX, a state-of-the-art PIC code designed to deliver scalable performance on upcoming exascale supercomputers, is also discussed and validated against results from the existing literature

PICSAR-QED: a Monte Carlo Module to Simulate Strong-Field Quantum Electrodynamics in Particle-In-Cell Codes for Exascale Architectures

Physical scenarios where the electromagnetic fields are so strong that quantum electrodynamics (QED) plays a substantial role are one of the frontiers of contemporary plasma physics research. Investigating those scenarios requires state-of-the-art particle-in-cell (PIC) codes able to run on top high-performance computing (HPC) machines and, at the same time, able to simulate strong-field QED processes. This work presents the PICSAR-QED library, an open-source, portable implementation of a Monte Carlo module designed to provide modern PIC codes with the capability to simulate such processes, and optimized for HPC. Detailed tests and benchmarks are carried out to validate the physical models in PICSAR-QED, to study how numerical parameters affect such models, and to demonstrate its capability to run on different architectures (CPUs and GPUs). Its integration with WarpX, a state-of-the-art PIC code designed to deliver scalable performance on upcoming exascale supercomputers, is also discussed and validated against results from the existing literature

Inappropriately low glycated hemoglobin values and hemolysis in HIV-infected patients.: Glycated hemoglobin in HIV - infected patients

International audienceIn order to test the accuracy of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in predicting mean glycemia in HIV-infected patients, we recorded consecutive HbA1c measurements from 1238 non-HIV-infected and 112 HIV-infected patients, all devoid of any hemoglobinopathy, in a retrospective, transversal study. Mean fasting glycemia from the six previous weeks (measured-Gly) and HbA1c-estimated glycemia [HbA1c-Gly (1.85x%HbA1c-4.78) mM] were compared. Mean hemoglobin, red cell volume, serum creatinine, CD4 count, and HIV viral load from the same period were collected in HIV-infected patients. Although measured-Gly was not significantly different between non-HIV-infected (6.95+/-3.23 mM) and HIV-infected patients (6.62+/-2.42 mM), HbA1c underestimated the mean fasting glycemia by 12.3% in HIV-infected as compared to non-HIV-infected patients (p=0.0001). The difference "measured-Gly-HbA1c-Gly" was correlated with the red cell volume (p<0.0001) in HIV-infected patients. We then searched for the presence of subclinical hemolysis, a cause of both macrocytosis and reduced HbA1c levels, in HIV-infected patients. To this end, we prospectively measured serum haptoglobin in 249 consecutive samples from HIV-infected subjects without any known cause of hemolysis. A very low haptoglobin level, a marker of hemolysis, was frequent and negatively correlated with the red cell volume in these patients. Treatment with nucleoside analogues was significantly associated with macrocytosis and low haptoglobin. In conclusion, HbA1c could be inappropriately low in HIV-infected patients. Its underestimation of mean fasting glycemia could be due to an antiretroviral-induced subclinical hemolysis, but further studies are needed to explore this hypothesis. Self-monitoring of blood glucose and search for latent hemolysis should be promoted in diabetic HIV-infected patients

Probing Strong-Field QED with Doppler-Boosted Petawatt-Class Lasers

International audienceWe propose a scheme to explore regimes of strong-field quantum electrodynamics (SF QED) otherwise unattainable with the currently available laser technology. The scheme relies on relativistic plasma mirrors curved by radiation pressure to boost the intensity of petawatt-class laser pulses by Doppler effect and focus them to extreme field intensities. We show that very clear SF QED signatures could be observed by placing a secondary target where the boosted beam is focused