A Model of Regulatory Burden in Technology Diffusion: The Case of Plant-Derived Vaccines.

Plant-derived vaccines may soon displace conventional vaccines. Assuming there are no major technological barriers undermining the feasibility of this innovative technology, it is worthwhile to generate quantitative models of regulatory burden of producing and diffusing plant-derived vaccines in industrialized and developing countries. A dynamic simulation model of technology diffusion—and the data to populate it—has been generated for studying regulatory barriers in the diffusion of plant-derived vaccines. The role of regulatory burden is evaluated for a variety of scenarios in which plant-derived vaccines are produced and diffused. This model relates the innovative and conventional vaccine technologies and the effects of the impact of the uptake of the innovative technology on mortality and morbidity. This case study demonstrates how dynamic simulation models can be used to assess the long-term potential impact of novel technologies in terms of a variety of socio-economic indicators.dynamic simulation model; plant-derived vaccines; regulatory burden; technology transfer; vaccines;

Silver-spoon upbringing improves early-life fitness but promotes reproductive ageing in a wild bird

Early-life conditions can have long-lasting effects and organisms that experience a poor start in life are often expected to age at a faster rate. Alternatively, individuals raised in high-quality environments can overinvest in early-reproduction resulting in rapid ageing. Here we use a long-term experimental manipulation of early-life conditions in a natural population of collared flycatchers (Ficedula albicollis), to show that females raised in a low-competition environment (artificially reduced broods) have higher early-life reproduction but lower late-life reproduction than females raised in high-competition environment (artificially increased broods). Reproductive success of high-competition females peaked in late-life, when low-competition females were already in steep reproductive decline and suffered from a higher mortality rate. Our results demonstrate that ‘silver-spoon’ natal conditions increase female early-life performance at the cost of faster reproductive ageing and increased late-life mortality. These findings demonstrate experimentally that natal environment shapes individual variation in reproductive and actuarial ageing in nature

From colloidal dispersions to colloidal pastesthrough solid–liquid separation processes

Solid–liquid separation is an operation that starts with a dispersion of solid particles in a liquid and removes some of the liquid from the particles, producing a concentrated solid paste and a clean liquid phase. It is similar to thermodynamic processes where pressure is applied to a system in order to reduce its volume. In dispersions, the resistance to this osmotic compression depends on interactions between the dispersed particles. The first part of this work deals with dispersions of repelling particles, which are either silica nanoparticles or synthetic clay platelets, dispersed in aqueous solutions. In these conditions, each particle is surrounded by an ionic layer, which repels other ionic layers. This results in a structure with strong short-range order. At high particle volume fractions, the overlap of ionic layers generates large osmotic pressures; these pressures may be calculated, through the cell model, as the cost of reducing the volume of each cell. The variation of osmotic pressure with volume fraction is the equation of state of the dispersion. The second part of this work deals with dispersions of aggregated particles, which are silica nanoparticles, dispersed in water and flocculated by multivalent cations. This produces large bushy aggregates, with fractal structures that are maintained through interparticle surface– surface bonds. As the paste is submitted to osmotic pressures, small relative displacements of the aggregated particles lead to structural collapse. The final structure is made of a dense skeleton immersed in a nearly homogeneous matrix of aggregated particles. The variation of osmotic resistance with volume fraction is the compression law of the paste; it may be calculated through a numerical model that takes into account the noncentral interparticle forces. According to this model, the response of aggregated pastes to applied stress may be controlled through the manipulation of interparticle adhesion

Le rôle du soutien social, du fardeau familial et de la satisfaction des services dans la détresse psychologique et la qualité de vie des familles de personnes souffrant de schizophrénie

Cette étude, réalisée auprès d’un échantillon de convenance de 71 familles de personnes souffrant de schizophrénie, explore au moyen d’analyses de régression, les liens pouvant exister entre le soutien que ces familles reçoivent de leur réseau social personnel, le fardeau associé à leur rôle de parents, leur satisfaction des services en santé mentale, leur détresse psychologique et leur qualité de vie. Trois variables identifiées par les analyses, permettent de prédire 31 % de la variance de la détresse psychologique. Elles sont l’obtention de conseils et d’orientation provenant de leur réseau, le fardeau associé à l’implication dans les activités quotidiennes et la satisfaction des services. Cinq variables permettent d’expliquer 63 % de la qualité de vie. Il s’agit de l’obtention de conseils et d’orientation, la confirmation de leur valeur de la part des membres de leur réseau, le fardeau ressenti lors de l’implication dans les activités quotidiennes, le fardeau associé aux comportements problématiques et enfin la satisfaction des services. Les composantes du soutien social identifiées sont les prédicteurs les plus fortement associés à la santé mentale des familles de personnes souffrant de schizophrénie.This study conducted with a sample of 71 families of individuals suffering from schizophrenia, examines by means of regression analysis, the link between support that families receive from their social network, satisfaction with mental health services, family burden and their psychological distress and quality of life. These analyses reveal that three variables predict 31 % of the variance associated with psychological distress. These variables are : obtaining counselling and advisory guidance from their network, the burden associated with daily-living and the satisfaction of services. Five variables account for 63 % of the quality of life. More specifically, counselling and advisory guidance as well as reassurance of their worth by members of their network, the burden felt during daily-living, the burden associated with difficult behavior and finally, satisfaction with services. The components of social support are the strongest predictors associated with mental health of families of individuals suffering from schizophrenia.Este estudio, realizado en una muestra por conveniencia de 71 familias de personas con esquizofrenia, explora, por medio de análisis de regresión, las relaciones que pueden existir entre el apoyo que reciben estas familias por parte de su red social personal, la carga asociada a su rol de padres, su satisfacción de los servicios de salud mental, su angustia psicológica y su calidad de vida. Tres variables identificadas por los análisis permiten predecir 31% de la variación de la angustia psicológica. Éstas son la obtención de consejos y orientación provenientes de su red, la carga asociada a la implicación en las actividades cotidianas y la satisfacción de los servicios. Cinco variables permiten explicar 63% de la calidad de vida. Se trata de la obtención de consejos y orientación, la confirmación de su valor por parte de los miembros de su red, la carga resentida durante la implicación en las actividades cotidianas, la carga asociada a los comportamientos problemáticos y finalmente la satisfacción de los servicios. Los componentes del apoyo social identificados son los predicadores más fuertemente asociados a la salud mental de las familias de personas con esquizofrenia.Este estudo, realizado junto a uma amostragem por conveniência de 71 famílias de pessoas que sofrem de esquizofrenia, explora pelo meio de análises de regressão, as relações que podem existir entre o apoio que estas famílias recebem de sua rede social pessoal, o fardo associado a seu papel de pais, sua satisfação dos serviços em saúde mental, sua depressão psicológica e sua qualidade de vida. Três variáveis identificadas pelas análises permitem predizer 31% da variância da depressão psicológica. Elas são a obtenção de conselhos e de orientação vinda de sua rede, o fardo associado à implicação nas atividades quotidianas e a satisfação dos serviços. Cinco variáveis permitem explicar 63% da qualidade de vida. Trata-se da obtenção de conselhos e da orientação, a confirmação de seu valor da parte dos membros de sua rede, o fardo sentido durante a implicação nas atividades quotidianas, o fardo associado aos comportamentos problemáticos e, finalmente, a satisfação em relação aos serviços. Os componentes do apoio social identificados são índices mais profundamente associados à saúde mental das famílias de pessoas que sofrem de esquizofrenia

Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor and Host Innate Immune Defenses against Bacterial Sepsis

Macrophages are essential effector cells of innate immunity that play a pivotal role in the recognition and elimination of invasive microorganisms. Mediators released by activated macrophages orchestrate innate and adaptive immune host responses. The cytokine macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is an integral mediator of the innate immune system. Monocytes and macrophages constitutively express large amounts of MIF, which is rapidly released after exposure to bacterial toxins and cytokines. MIF exerts potent proinflammatory activities and is an important cytokine of septic shock. Recent investigations of the mechanisms by which MIF regulates innate immune responses to endotoxin and gram-negative bacteria indicate that MIF acts by modulating the expression of Toll-like receptor 4, the signal-transducing molecule of the lipopolysaccharide receptor complex. Given its role in innate immune responses to bacterial infections, MIF is a novel target for therapeutic intervention in patients with septic shoc

TERAFOR: Dexi-based multicriteria model for considering all multiple fonctions of tree formations in temperate agroforestry areas

EURAF and INRA, the French National Institute of Agronomical Research are very pleased to welcome you in Montpellier for the Third European Agroforestry Conference. Montpellier is the core center in France for Agroforestry Research and demonstration. Both temperate zone and tropical zone agroforestry are targeted by Montpellier researchers. Montpellier is also the home of RAP, the most comprehensive agroforestry experiment in France, with 20 years of uninterrupted monitoring. You will have the opportunity to visit this outstanding site during the Conference (check the RAP leaflet here). Burning issues such as resilience to climate change or the assessment of ecosystems services of Agroforestry will be in the main light. Check the program for the wide range of topics that will be discussed, from the last research findings to the practical enforcement of new agroforestry regulations at national and European scales. New fields of research will also be thoroughly discussed, such as the selection of shade tolerant crops, the use of models to perform virtual agroforestry experiments, the labelling of agroforestry products or the revival of age-old practices such as tree pollarding. And many more. Farmers are welcome, with a session that will be focused on expertise sharing between European agroforesters

Familles et réseau familial extra-résidentiel : une réflexion sur les limites de la définition statistique de la famille

Monoparentalité et recomposition familiale font dorénavant partie de la vie familiale. Dans ce contexte, souvent les parents séparés ne vivent plus au quotidien avec leurs enfants, sans que ne s’éteignent les droits et les obligations qui les unissent. Le maintien de ces relations parent-enfants met en cause la pertinence de la définition statistique de la famille fondée sur la corésidence. Les résultats d’une analyse fondée sur l’Enquête sociale générale de 2001 réalisée par Statistique Canada montrent que le nombre de ménages qui, à un moment ou l’autre, accueillent des enfants de moins de 18 ans augmente de 13 %, lorsque l’on tient compte du réseau familial extra-résidentiel. La vérification de l’existence de relations concrètes entre parents et enfants qui ne vivent pas ensemble rencontre cependant des embûches liées aux perceptions divergentes des parents selon qu’ils habitent ou non avec leurs enfants, ainsi qu’aux difficultés associées à la représentativité des échantillons des parents non résidants.Lone-parenthood and step-parenthood are now part of contemporary family life. In this context, separated parents often do not live on a daily basis with their children, while still assuming rights and responsibilities towards them. The maintenance of these parent-children relationships questions the relevance of the traditional definition of the family based on co-residence. An analysis of the 2001 General Social Survey conducted by Statistics Canada shows a 13 % increase in the number of households that include children aged less than 18 years, when taking into account the extra-residential family network. Verifying the existence of concrete relationships between family members who are not living together proves, however, to be difficult, because of the divergent perceptions of parents depending on whether or not they live with their children, and of the problems associated with reaching a representative sample of non-residing parents

REE and Hf distribution among accessory phases in H and CK chondrites.

第2回極域科学シンポジウム/第34回南極隕石シンポジウム 11月17日（木） 国立国語研究所 2階講

Differential regulation of IL-22BP in Crohn’s disease versus ulcerative colitis

International audienc