High prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and low prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in cats recently exposed to human cases

Background The primary objective of this cross-sectional study, conducted in Québec and Bristish Columbia (Canada) between February 2021 and January 2022, was to measure the prevalence of viral RNA in oronasal and rectal swabs and serum antibodies to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) amongst cats living in households with at least one confirmed human case. Secondary objectives included a description of potential risk factors for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and an estimation of the association between the presence of viral RNA in swabs as well as SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and clinical signs. Oronasal and rectal swabs and sera were collected from 55 cats from 40 households at most 15 days after a human case confirmation, and at up to two follow-up visits. A RT-qPCR assay and an ELISA were used to detect SARS-CoV-2 RNA in swabs and serum SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies, respectively. Prevalence and 95% Bayesian credibility intervals (BCI) were calculated, and associations were evaluated using prevalence ratio and 95% BCI obtained from Bayesian mixed log-binomial models. Results Nine (0.16; 95% BCI = 0.08–0.28) and 38 (0.69; 95% BCI = 0.56–0.80) cats had at least one positive RT-qPCR and at least one positive serological test result, respectively. No risk factor was associated with the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 serum antibodies. The prevalence of clinical signs suggestive of COVID-19 in cats, mainly sneezing, was 2.12 (95% BCI = 1.03–3.98) times higher amongst cats with detectable viral RNA compared to those without. Conclusions We showed that cats develop antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 when exposed to recent human cases, but detection of viral RNA on swabs is rare, even when sampling occurs soon after confirmation of a human case. Moreover, cats with detectable levels of virus showed clinical signs more often than cats without signs, which can be useful for the management of such cases

Pineoblastoma segregates into molecular sub-groups with distinct clinico-pathologic features: a Rare Brain Tumor Consortium registry study

Pineoblastomas (PBs) are rare, aggressive pediatric brain tumors of the pineal gland with modest overall survival despite intensive therapy. We sought to define the clinical and molecular spectra of PB to inform new treatment approaches for this orphan cancer. Tumor, blood, and clinical data from 91 patients with PB or supratentorial primitive neuroectodermal tumor (sPNETs/CNS-PNETs), and 2 pineal parenchymal tumors of intermediate differentiation (PPTIDs) were collected from 29 centres in the Rare Brain Tumor Consortium. We used global DNA methylation profiling to define a core group of PB from 72/93 cases, which were delineated into five molecular sub-groups. Copy number, whole exome and targeted sequencing, and miRNA expression analyses were used to evaluate the clinico-pathologic significance of each sub-group. Tumors designated as group 1 and 2 almost exclusively exhibited deleterious homozygous loss-of-function alterations in miRNA biogenesis genes (DICER1, DROSHA, and DGCR8) in 62 and 100% of group 1 and 2 tumors, respectively. Recurrent alterations of the oncogenic MYC-miR-17/92-RB1 pathway were observed in the RB and MYC sub-group, respectively, characterized by RB1 loss with gain of miR-17/92, and recurrent gain or amplification of MYC. PB sub-groups exhibited distinct clinical features: group 1–3 arose in older children (median ages 5.2–14.0 years) and had intermediate to excellent survival (5-year OS of 68.0–100%), while Group RB and MYC PB patients were much younger (median age 1.3–1.4 years) with dismal survival (5-year OS 37.5% and 28.6%, respectively). We identified age

Death and the Societies of Late Antiquity

Ce volume bilingue, comprenant un ensemble de 28 contributions disponibles en français et en anglais (dans leur version longue ou abrégée), propose d’établir un état des lieux des réflexions, recherches et études conduites sur le fait funéraire à l’époque tardo-antique au sein des provinces de l’Empire romain et sur leurs régions limitrophes, afin d’ouvrir de nouvelles perspectives sur ses évolutions possibles. Au cours des trois dernières décennies, les transformations considérables des méthodologies déployées sur le terrain et en laboratoire ont permis un renouveau des questionnements sur les populations et les pratiques funéraires de l’Antiquité tardive, période marquée par de multiples changements politiques, sociaux, démographiques et culturels. L’apparition de ce qui a été initialement désigné comme une « Anthropologie de terrain », qui fut le début de la démarche archéothanatologique, puis le récent développement d’approches collaboratives entre des domaines scientifiques divers (archéothanatologie, biochimie et géochimie, génétique, histoire, épigraphie par exemple) ont été décisives pour le renouvellement des problématiques d’étude : révision d’anciens concepts comme apparition d’axes d’analyse inédits. Les recherches rassemblées dans cet ouvrage sont articulées autour de quatre grands thèmes : l’évolution des pratiques funéraires dans le temps, l’identité sociale dans la mort, les ensembles funéraires en transformation (organisation et topographie) et les territoires de l’empire (du cœur aux marges). Ces études proposent un réexamen et une révision des données, tant anthropologiques qu’archéologiques ou historiques sur l’Antiquité tardive, et révèlent, à cet égard, une mosaïque de paysages politiques, sociaux et culturels singulièrement riches et complexes. Elles accroissent nos connaissances sur le traitement des défunts, l’emplacement des aires funéraires ou encore la structure des sépultures, en révélant une diversité de pratiques, et permettent au final de relancer la réflexion sur la manière dont les sociétés tardo-antiques envisagent la mort et sur les éléments permettant d’identifier et de définir la diversité des groupes qui les composent. Elles démontrent ce faisant que nous pouvons véritablement appréhender les structures culturelles et sociales des communautés anciennes et leurs potentielles transformations, à partir de l’étude des pratiques funéraires.This bilingual volume proposes to draw up an assessment of the recent research conducted on funerary behavior during Late Antiquity in the provinces of the Roman Empire and on their borders, in order to open new perspectives on its possible developments. The considerable transformations of the methodologies have raised the need for a renewal of the questions on the funerary practices during Late Antiquity, a period marked by multiple political, social, demographic and cultural changes. The emergence field anthropology, which was the beginning of archaeothanatology, and then the recent development of collaborative approaches between various scientific fields (archaeothanatology, biochemistry and geochemistry, genetics, history, epigraphy, for example), have been decisive. The research collected in this book is structured around four main themes: Evolution of funerary practices over time; Social identity through death; Changing burial grounds (organisation and topography); Territories of the Empire (from the heart to the margins). These studies propose a review and a revision of the data, both anthropological and archaeological or historical on Late Antiquity, and reveal a mosaic of political, social, and cultural landscapes singularly rich and complex. In doing so, they demonstrate that we can truly understand the cultural and social structures of ancient communities and their potential transformations, based on the study of funerary practices

Realistic Model to Predict the Macrostructure of GTAW Welds for the Simulation of Ultrasonic Non destructive Testing

International audienc

Towards a model for predicting the macrostructure of multipass GTAW weld of austenitic stainless steel

International audienceUltrasonic testing of austenitic stainless steel multipass welds is complex. Because the welded structure is both anisotropic and heterogeneous, the propagation of the ultrasonic beam is disturbed (attenuation, deviation, splitting), making diagnosis difficult. This diagnosis can be improved by modelling the ultrasonic propagation in the inspected weld. For this purpose, a description of the macrostructure is required. This can be obtained by optical means which provide a macrograph, but this involves a destructive cutting of the weld, or a weld sample. In the latter case, the sample must have been made and stored, and it must be representative of the inspected weld. As an alternative, it is possible to predict the macrostructure of the weld by using a numerical model more or less realistic. For example, Ogilvy’s model is an analytical model which predicts the macrostructure by considering a symmetrical structure of the weld. But this assumption is often non-realistic. Since 2000, EDF and the LMA develop another model called MINA which is a phenomenological model and so realistic one. MINA model predicts the macrostructure of Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) multipass welds, taking account information from welding conditions. It is then coupled to an ultrasonic simulation code, to simulate the impact of welding on ultrasonic propagation and therefore control. In our study the welds are made with Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW) process. In this paper we first show that existing models are not adapted to this welding process. Then, we present the adopted scientific approach and the first advances aiming at the development of a new model relevant for GTAW welds

Towards a model for predicting the macrostructure of multipass GTAW weld of austenitic stainless steel

International audienceUltrasonic testing of austenitic stainless steel multipass welds is complex. Because the welded structure is both anisotropic and heterogeneous, the propagation of the ultrasonic beam is disturbed (attenuation, deviation, splitting), making diagnosis difficult. This diagnosis can be improved by modelling the ultrasonic propagation in the inspected weld. For this purpose, a description of the macrostructure is required. This can be obtained by optical means which provide a macrograph, but this involves a destructive cutting of the weld, or a weld sample. In the latter case, the sample must have been made and stored, and it must be representative of the inspected weld. As an alternative, it is possible to predict the macrostructure of the weld by using a numerical model more or less realistic. For example, Ogilvy’s model is an analytical model which predicts the macrostructure by considering a symmetrical structure of the weld. But this assumption is often non-realistic. Since 2000, EDF and the LMA develop another model called MINA which is a phenomenological model and so realistic one. MINA model predicts the macrostructure of Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) multipass welds, taking account information from welding conditions. It is then coupled to an ultrasonic simulation code, to simulate the impact of welding on ultrasonic propagation and therefore control. In our study the welds are made with Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW) process. In this paper we first show that existing models are not adapted to this welding process. Then, we present the adopted scientific approach and the first advances aiming at the development of a new model relevant for GTAW welds

How did European dogs look like prior to the Bronze Age? A 3D analysis based on the mandible

International audienc

How did European dogs look like prior to the Bronze Age? A 3D analysis based on the mandible

International audienc

How did European dogs look like prior to the Bronze Age? A 3D analysis based on the mandible

International audienc

Denis Roche

Denis Roche est l’auteur d’une œuvre où l’écriture et la photographie ne cessent de se croiser. Elles s’informent, s’emboîtent, se joignent, se saisissent l’une de l’autre, s’infléchissent, se transcrivent, se transposent. Il en résulte une œuvre difficile, énergumène, rétive à la reprise critique, dessinant une trajectoire capricieuse : courbes, diagonales, sauts d’obstacles, apparentes ruptures. C’est la logique de ces mouvements (et de leurs vitesses, de leurs rythmes, de leurs coupes) que l’on essaie ici d’interroger à nouveau, avec les outils qu’il faut (on les invente au besoin) pour circuler dans cette œuvre par voie technique, poétologique, performative, circonstancielle, projective, comparative, littérale. Il s’agit de lire Denis Roche au collimateur, aux machines, ou encore de l’observer à la lumière des lucioles