Essai d'une définition de la notion de « baroque littéraire »

Insuffisamment assimilé par la critique, l’histoire et l’esthétique littéraire, le « baroque littéraire » est resté un terme assez confus et équivoque, gros de difficultés et de contradictions. La critique et l’histoire littéraire traditionnelles hésitent ou, parfois même, évitent de l’adopter eu toute confiance. Par contre, les revues littéraires, surtout en France, en font un emploi assez abusif et chaotique. Entre ces deux extrêmes, le concept de baroque se fraye difficilement un chemin, l..

Kidney: ALK-rearranged renal cell carcinoma

Review on ALK-rearranged renal cell carcinoma, summarizing clinical and genetic dat

Range Management Affects Native Ungulate Populations in Penísula Valdés, a World Natural Heritage

Sheep rearing is the main productive activity in Patagonian rangelands, where guanacos are the only native ungulate. Ranchers perceive a decrease in range carrying capacity as guanaco numbers increase, therefore guanaco conservation within private lands becomes a considerable challenge. This issue is particularly evident in the World Natural Heritage Penı´nsula Valde´s (PV), where there is a need to harmonize livestock production and biodiversity conservation. While sheep rearing prevails as the primary land use in the area, some ecotourism initiatives have been implemented to complement livestock production. In order to study how land use affected guanaco distribution, we characterized PV’s ranches in termsof land subdivision, primary productivity, stocking-rate and management type, and assess how these variables affected guanaco encounter rates. Smaller ranches were composed of smaller paddocks (mean size 4.8 km2 ), which showed highervalues of the remote-sensing derived Enhance Vegetation Index (EVI) (mean 0.14) and held higher sheep densities (mean 108.0 sheep/km2 ), while larger management units (mean size 23.8 km2 ), showed lower EVI values (mean 0.12) and lower stocking-rates (mean 36.7 sheep/km2). This pattern suggests that primary productivity has been a decisive factor to determine the minimal paddock size set by ranchers in PV, apparently precluding excessive land-subdivision in less productive areas. Guanaco encounter rate, expressed as number of guanacos per travelled kilometre, was inversely relatedto EVI and stocking-rate. However, land subdivision was the better predictor of guanaco encounter-rate within only sheep ranches, finding more guanacos per kilometre as paddock size increased. In contrast, in ranches where ecotourism was implemented as a complementary activity, guanaco encounter-rates were greater, regardless of paddock size. Our results suggest that the implementation of an additional activity by which landowners derive benefits from wildlife has prompted a beneficial outcome for guanacos, presumably through a decrease in harassment intensity. Finally, we propose possible mechanisms by which land subdivision may affect guanaco distribution and potential alternatives for the inclusion of wildlife conservation in a context of extensive livestock production.Fil: Nabte, Marcela Janina. Consejo Nacional de Invest.cientif.y Tecnicas. Centro Nacional Patagonico;Fil: Marino, Andrea Ivana. Consejo Nacional de Invest.cientif.y Tecnicas. Centro Nacional Patagonico;Fil: Rodriguez, Maria Victoria. Consejo Nacional de InvesOt.cientif.y Tecnicas. Centro Nacional Patagonico;Fil: Monjeau, Jorge Adrian. Consejo Nacional de Invest.cientif.y Tecnicas;Fil: Saba, Sergio Leonardo. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia "san Juan Bosco"

Second order convex maximum entropy approximants with applications to high order PDE

We present a new approach for second order maximum entropy (max-ent) meshfree approximants that produces positive and smooth basis functions of uniform aspect ratio even for non-uniform node sets, and prescribes robustly feasible constraints for the entropy maximization program defining the approximants. We examine the performance of the proposed approximation scheme in the numerical solution by a direct Galerkin method of a number of partial differential equations (PDEs), including structural vibrations, elliptic second order PDEs, and fourth order PDEs for Kirchhoff-Love thin shells and for a phase field model describing the mechanics of biomembranes. The examples highlight the ability of the method to deal with non-uniform node distributions, and the high accuracy of the solutions. Surprisingly, the first order meshfree max-ent approximants with large supports are competitive when compared to the proposed second order approach in all the tested examples, even in the higher order PDEs.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Pesticides: perception of environmental risk and quantification of glyphosate in atmospheric deposition (Entre Ríos, Argentina)

In Argentina there has been a growing conflict about the use of pesticides and their impacts, mainly with regard to the air compartment and areas with close proximity between agricultural and residential land uses. The present study focuses on this problem in Oro Verde (Entre Ríos, Argentina) using the case study methodology. The aim was to examine the use of agricultural pesticides in urban-rural interface areas as a factor considered problematic by the local population and that affects the air quality in the locality analyzed. The study was conducted in 2016/2018, with a mixed methodological approach. The analysis of perception of the urban population through surveys and interviews with inhabitants who consider themselves affected showed that a large proportion of them identify this problem, emphasizing impacts on the air, and consider it unresolved. Although interviewees mentioned the proximity of the houses to the spraying as an important factor, they also considered that there are other routes of entry of pesticides, for which other solutions are necessary. Determinations of the herbicide glyphosate (GLP) and its metabolite aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA) in atmospheric deposition (15 sites- three sampling periods) showed their presence in both urban and rural areas, in 60% of the sampling sites. The second sampling period showed higher amounts of GLP+AMPA than the first (11.82 μg/m²/15 days). The differences were not attributable to the proximity to agricultural areas, so other factors determining their emission and environmental dynamics should be discussed. The integration and analysis of the population’s viewpoints of and environmental measurements are considered necessary to address socio-environmental problems and generate knowledge that can contribute to local planning and development.En los últimos años se evidencia en Argentina una creciente conflictividad respecto al uso de plaguicidas y sus impactos, fundamentalmente en lo referido al compartimento aire y a las áreas de interfase urbano-rural con cercanía de usos del suelo agropecuario y residencial. Esta problemática fue analizada en la localidad de Oro Verde (Entre Ríos, Argentina) mediante la metodología de estudio de caso. El objetivo fue analizar el uso de plaguicidas agrícolas en las zonas de interfase urbano-rural como un factor que se constituye en un problema para la población y que afecta la calidad de aire en la localidad. Se llevó a cabo en el periodo 2016/2018 y presenta un enfoque metodológico mixto. El relevamiento y análisis de percepción a la población urbana mediante encuestas y entrevistas evidenció que una gran proporción identifica esta problemática, enfatizando los impactos en el aire e incluso consideran que la misma no se encuentra solucionada. Si bien el factor “cercanía de las viviendas con respecto a las pulverizaciones” se remarca como un importante riesgo, se considera que existen otras vías de ingreso de plaguicidas, para lo cual son necesarias otras soluciones. Las determinaciones del herbicida glifosato (GLP) y su metabolito aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA) en la depositación atmosférica (15 sitios-tres periodos de muestreo) mostraron su presencia en este compartimento en zonas urbanas y rurales, con un 60% de sitios con detección. El segundo periodo present mayor carga de GLP+AMPA respecto al primer periodo (11,82 μg/m²/15 días). Al no encontrarse diferencias atribuibles a la cercanía con zonas agrícolas, se abre la discusión respecto de otros factores que se encuentran determinando su emisión y dinámica ambiental y frente a lo cual adquieren relevancia los puntos de vistas expuestos por la población. La integración y análisis de estos aspectos se considera necesario al abordar problemáticas socioambientales, generando conocimientos que luego puedan aportar a la planificación y desarrollo local.EEA ParanáFil: Seehaus, Mariela. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Paraná; ArgentinaFil: Sasal, María Carolina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Paraná; ArgentinaFil: Feito, María Carolina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Van Opstal, Natalia Veronica. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Paraná; ArgentinaFil: Gabioud, Emmanuel Adrian. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Paraná; ArgentinaFil: Beghetto, Stella. Ministerio de Economía de la Nación. Programa Cambio Rural; ArgentinaFil: Wingeyer, Ana Beatriz. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Paraná; ArgentinaFil: Wilson, Marcelo German. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Paraná; Argentina.Fil: Marino, D. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Centro de Investigaciones del Medio Ambiente; Argentin

Unique dominant negative mutation in the N-terminal mitochondrial targeting sequence of StAR, causing a variant form of congenital lipoid adrenal hyperplasia

Context: Steroid acute regulatory (StAR) protein is a mitochondria-targeted protein that is part of the transduceosome complex crucial for transport of cholesterol to mitochondria. Recessive mutations cause classic and nonclassic congenital lipoid adrenal hyperplasia. Objective: The aim of this study was to report the clinical, hormonal, genetic, and functional data of a novel heterozygous mutation in the StAR gene found in a 46,XY patient with ambiguous genitalia and neonatal severe steroidogenic deficiency. Patient: Undetectable serum steroids with high ACTH and plasma renin activity but normal acute GnRH response were found in infancy. After gonadectomy (at 3 yr of age), serum LH and testosterone were undetectable, whereas FSH was normal but increased slowly afterward. Estrogen replacement therapy, started at 10.2 yr of age, suppressed gonadotropins (for 2 yr). However, after 1 month off estrogens, the patient showed castrated levels. At 11.9 yr old, after fludrocortisone withdrawal because of hypertension, plasma renin activity and aldosterone remained normal, suggesting mineralocorticoid recovery by a StAR-independent mechanism. Results: We found a de novo heterozygous IVS-2A>G StAR mutation and the reported heterozygous p.G146A SF1 polymorphism with normal CYP11A1, FDXR, FDX1, VDAC1, and TSPO genes. The mutant StAR transcript lacked exon 2, resulting in the in-frame loss of amino acids 22 to 59 in the N-terminal mitochondrial targeting signal. In vitro, the mutant protein exhibited reduced StAR activity in a dominant-negative manner and almost no mitochondria localization. Conclusions: A misfolded p.G22-L59del StAR might interfere with wild-type StAR activity by blocking the transduceosome complex, causing an autosomal dominant form of StAR deficiency, explaining the clinical phenotype. We speculated that estrogen might have modulated mineralocorticoid function and pubertal maturation in a human natural model lacking endogenous steroid production.Fil: Baquedano, María Sonia. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital de Pediatría "Juan P. Garrahan"; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Guercio, Gabriela Viviana. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital de Pediatría "Juan P. Garrahan"; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Marino, Roxana Marcela. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital de Pediatría "Juan P. Garrahan"; ArgentinaFil: Berensztein, Esperanza Beatriz. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital de Pediatría "Juan P. Garrahan"; ArgentinaFil: Costanzo, Mariana. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital de Pediatría "Juan P. Garrahan"; ArgentinaFil: Bailez, Marcela. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital de Pediatría "Juan P. Garrahan"; ArgentinaFil: Vaiani, Elisa. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital de Pediatría "Juan P. Garrahan"; ArgentinaFil: Maceiras, Mercedes Carmen. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital de Pediatría "Juan P. Garrahan"; ArgentinaFil: Ramirez, Pablo. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital de Pediatría "Juan P. Garrahan"; ArgentinaFil: Chaler, Eduardo Adrian. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital de Pediatría "Juan P. Garrahan"; ArgentinaFil: Rivarola, Marco Aurelio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital de Pediatría "Juan P. Garrahan"; ArgentinaFil: Belgorosky, Alicia. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital de Pediatría "Juan P. Garrahan"; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

Cohort-based association study of germline genetic variants with acute and chronic health complications of childhood cancer and its treatment: Genetic Risks for Childhood Cancer Complications Switzerland (GECCOS) study protocol

INTRODUCTION: Childhood cancer and its treatment may lead to various health complications. Related impairment in quality of life, excess in deaths and accumulated healthcare costs are relevant. Genetic variations are suggested to contribute to the wide inter-individual variability of complications but have been used only rarely to risk-stratify treatment and follow-up care. This study aims to identify germline genetic variants associated with acute and late complications of childhood cancer. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The Genetic Risks for Childhood Cancer Complications Switzerland (GECCOS) study is a nationwide cohort study. Eligible are patients and survivors who were diagnosed with childhood cancers or Langerhans cell histiocytosis before age 21 years, were registered in the Swiss Childhood Cancer Registry (SCCR) since 1976 and have consented to the Paediatric Biobank for Research in Haematology and Oncology, Geneva, host of the national Germline DNA Biobank Switzerland for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders (BISKIDS).GECCOS uses demographic and clinical data from the SCCR and the associated Swiss Childhood Cancer Survivor Study. Clinical outcome data consists of organ function testing, health conditions diagnosed by physicians, second primary neoplasms and self-reported information from participants. Germline genetic samples and sequencing data are collected in BISKIDS. We will perform association analyses using primarily whole-exome or whole-genome sequencing to identify genetic variants associated with specified health conditions. We will use clustering and machine-learning techniques and assess multiple health conditions in different models. DISCUSSION: GECCOS will improve knowledge of germline genetic variants associated with childhood cancer-associated health conditions and help to further individualise cancer treatment and follow-up care, potentially resulting in improved efficacy and reduced side effects. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The Geneva Cantonal Commission for Research Ethics has approved the GECCOS study.Research findings will be disseminated through national and international conferences, publications in peer-reviewed journals and in lay language online

Chloride currents from the transverse tubular system in adult mammalian skeletal muscle fibers

Chloride fluxes are the main contributors to the resting conductance of mammalian skeletal muscle fibers. ClC-1, the most abundant chloride channel isoform in this preparation, is believed to be responsible for this conductance. However, the actual distribution of ClC-1 channels between the surface and transverse tubular system (TTS) membranes has not been assessed in intact muscle fibers. To investigate this issue, we voltageclamped enzymatically dissociated short fibers using a two-microelectrode configuration and simultaneously recorded chloride currents (ICl) and di-8-ANEPPS fluorescence signals to assess membrane potential changes in the TTS. Experiments were conducted in conditions that blocked all but the chloride conductance. Fibers were equilibrated with 40 or 70 mM intracellular chloride to enhance the magnitude of inward ICl, and the specific ClC-1 blocker 9-ACA was used to eliminate these currents whenever necessary. Voltage-dependent di-8-ANEPPS signals and ICl acquired before (control) and after the addition of 9-ACA were comparatively assessed. Early after the onset of stimulus pulses, di-8-ANEPPS signals under control conditions were smaller than those recorded in the presence of 9-ACA. We defined as attenuation the normalized time-dependent difference between these signals. Attenuation was discovered to be ICl dependent since its magnitude varied in close correlation with the amplitude and time course of ICl. While the properties of ICl, and those of the attenuation seen in optical records, could be simultaneously predicted by model simulations when the chloride permeability (PCl) at the surface and TTS membranes were approximately equal, the model failed to explain the optical data if PCl was precluded from the TTS membranes. Since the ratio between the areas of TTS membranes and the sarcolemma is large in mammalian muscle fibers, our results demonstrate that a significant fraction of the experimentally recorded ICl arises from TTS contributions

The Na conductance in the sarcolemma and the transverse tubular system membranes of mammalian skeletal muscle fibers

Na (and Li) currents and fluorescence transients were recorded simultaneously under voltage-clamp conditions from mouse flexor digitorum brevis fibers stained with the potentiometric dye di-8-ANEPPS to investigate the distribution of Na channels between the surface and transverse tubular system (TTS) membranes. In fibers rendered electrically passive, voltage pulses resulted in step-like fluorescence changes that were used to calibrate the dye response. The effects of Na channel activation on the TTS voltage were investigated using Li, instead of Na, because di-8-ANEPPS transients show anomalies in the presence of the latter. Na and Li inward currents (INa, ILi; using half of the physiological ion concentration) showed very steep voltage dependences, with no reversal for depolarizations beyond the calculated equilibrium potential, suggesting that most of the current originates from a noncontrolled membrane compartment. Maximum peak ILi was ∼30% smaller than for INa, suggesting a Li-blocking effect. ILi activation resulted in the appearance of overshoots in otherwise step-like di-8-ANEPPS transients. Overshoots had comparable durations and voltage dependence as those of ILi. Simultaneously measured maximal overshoot and peak ILi were 54 ± 5% and 773 ± 53 µA/cm2, respectively. Radial cable model simulations predicted the properties of ILi and di-8-ANEPPS transients when TTS access resistances of 10–20 Ωcm2, and TTS-to-surface Na permeability density ratios in the range of 40:60 to 70:30, were used. Formamide-based osmotic shock resulted in incomplete detubulation. However, results from a subpopulation of treated fibers (low capacitance) provide confirmatory evidence that a significant proportion of ILi, and the overshoot in the optical signals, arises from the TTS in normal fibers. The quantitative evaluation of the distribution of Na channels between the sarcolemma and the TTS membranes, as provided here, is crucial for the understanding of the radial and longitudinal propagation of the action potential, which ultimately govern the mechanical activation of muscle in normal and diseased conditions