Belgrand : un grand équipement pour l'utilisation des bases de données dans le domaine de la ville et de la mobilité

National audienceLes équipes de recherche ont intérêt à mutualiser les acquis des travaux d'ingénierie pour l'intégration de données sur la ville, qu'elles soient statistiques, géographiques, environnementales, techniques ou résultant de simulation, mais aussi les démarches pour l'acquisition de ces données. Le projet de centre de ressources " Belgrand " vise à répondre à cet enjeu majeur en s'appuyant sur: (1) un réseau scientifique multidisciplinaire ; (2) un portail web de référencement des projets, données, méthodes et outils, simulation et modèles, le cas échéant ; (3) des travaux méthodologiques mettant l'accent sur la référence spatiale, clé naturelle de croisement des données portant sur la ville ; (4) un séminaire régulier. L'infrastructure web Belgrand mettra en lien projets, équipes et terrains, offrant une vue synoptique des travaux de modélisation urbaine pour les chercheurs et les décideurs

Par Jean-Hubert Martin

Il n’est pas d’usage que les organisateurs d’une exposition répondent aux critiques. Mais lorsque le compte rendu, au lieu de donner un avis sur ce qui est donné à voir, s’emploie à décrire les antécédents de l’exposition et à spéculer sur les intentions des commissaires, on peut s’attendre à quelques rectifications. L’exposition Magiciens de la terre voulait effectivement « montrer qu’il existait une création contemporaine dans les pays non occidentaux ». Je n’ai par contre jamais eu la naïv..

Nicolas Bourriaud, Radicant : pour une esthétique de la globalisation

L’entreprise consiste à établir un nouvel axe de réflexion pour l’art du monde entier aujourd’hui appelé « altermodernité » à la suite du constat du double échec du post-modernisme et des cultural studies. Stigmatisant le nivellement des valeurs, le vide créé par les études postcoloniales de même que la juxtaposition relativiste de cultures ancrées dans leur tradition, cette nouvelle voie trouve dans la modernité les germes d’un renouveau à partir de certaines de ses composantes : fluidité du..

Post-cutting Mortality Following Experimental Silvicultural Treatments in Unmanaged Boreal Forest Stands

Partial cutting has been recommended as an alternative harvesting method to ensure the sustainable management of boreal forests. The success of this approach is closely linked to the survival of residual trees as additional losses through mortality could affect post-cutting timber production at harvest. To better quantify post-cutting mortality in previously unmanaged boreal forests, we addressed two main questions: (1) what is the level of mortality 10 years after cutting? and (2) what ecological factors are involved in this phenomenon? Even-aged black spruce [Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P.] stands in the Canadian boreal forest were subjected to three experimental shelterwood treatments, a seed-tree treatment and an untreated control. Tree status (live/dead) was recorded prior to cutting and 10 years after cutting. Dead trees were classified as standing dead, overturned or broken. Ten years after experimental seed-tree treatment, 60% of residual trees were dead, compared to 30% for the shelterwood cuttings. Windthrow (overturned and broken trees) represented 80% of residual tree mortality; only the amount of overturning was influenced by treatment. Broken trees were associated with small-diameter trunks, stands having high growth prior to cutting, younger stands or forest plots located near to adjacent cuts (<200 m). Overturning was associated with a high harvesting intensity and large-diameter trees. Standing dead mortality was the most difficult to explain: it was related to untreated plots having suppressed and small-diameter trees. Based on these results, applying intermediate levels of harvest intensity could reduce post-cutting damage. Understanding tree mortality after cutting is essential to reduce economic losses, improve silvicultural planning and stand selection and ensure ultimately the sustainable harvest of North American boreal forests

Fluoxetine regulates the expression of neurotrophic/growth factors and glucose metabolism in astrocytes

Rationale: The pharmacological actions of most antidepressants are ascribed to the modulation of serotonergic and/or noradrenergic transmission in the brain. During therapeutic treatment for major depression, fluoxetine, one of the most commonly prescribed selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants, accumulates in the brain, suggesting that fluoxetine may interact with additional targets. In this context, there is increasing evidence that astrocytes are involved in the pathophysiology of major depression. Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine the effects of fluoxetine on the expression of neurotrophic/growth factors that have antidepressant properties and on glucose metabolism in cultured cortical astrocytes. Results: Treatment of astrocytes with fluoxetine and paroxetine, another SSRI antidepressant, upregulated brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and VGF mRNA expression. In contrast, the tricyclic antidepressants desipramine and imipramine did not affect the expression of these neurotrophic/growth factors. Analysis of the effects of fluoxetine on glucose metabolism revealed that fluoxetine reduces glycogen levels and increases glucose utilization and lactate release by astrocytes. Similar data were obtained with paroxetine, whereas imipramine and desipramine did not regulate glucose metabolism in this glial cell population. Our results also indicate that the effects of fluoxetine and paroxetine on glucose utilization, lactate release, and expression of BDNF, VEGF, and VGF are not mediated by serotonin-dependent mechanisms. Conclusions: These data suggest that, by increasing the expression of specific astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factors and lactate release from astrocytes, fluoxetine may contribute to normalize the trophic and metabolic support to neurons in major depressio

Jean-Hubert Martin et la pensée visuelle

Carlo Severi : Votre travail a profondément marqué la présence des arts non occidentaux dans l’art contemporain. J’ai été frappé par cette déclaration, dans l’un de vos textes : « La nécessité d’ouvrir le cercle fermé de l’art contemporain occidental me hante depuis plusieurs années. » C’est sur ce projet d’ouvrir le champ des possibles dans l’art contemporain que je voudrais axer notre conversation. Vous avez beaucoup fait discuter les anthropologues mais, paradoxalement, vous n’en avez pas ..

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY ACTIVITIES OF FRUIT AND LEAVES EXTRACT OF LANNEA MICROCARPA ENGLAND K. KRAUS (ANACARDIACEAE)

Objective:  To investigate the anti-inflammatory activity as well as carotenoid content of crude hydro-acetonic extract of fruit and leaves of Lannea microcarpa (L. microcarpa) and to elucidate the possible anti-inflammatory mechanism by enzymatic and non-enzymatic methods.Methods:  Anti-inflammatory activity was determined by using carrageenan induced paw edema in mice;  the anti-inflammatory mechanism may have been assessed using the inhibitory effect of the extracts, on the lipoxygenase, xanthine oxidase, lipid peroxidation and the reduction of Fe3+.Results:  At the doses of 100mg/kg, 200mg/kg, 400mg/kg, the extracts of both fruit and leaves reduced the carrageenan-induced paw edema while the dose of 200 mg/kg has produced a maximum percentage of inhibition of mice paw edema both for fruit (78.44%) and leaves (58.02%) at the fifth hour compared to control. Significant lipoxigenase and xanthine oxidase inhibitory effect was obtained with both fruit and leaves extract ethyl acetate fraction. Ethyl acetate fraction from both extracts inhibited lipid peroxidation. The fruit and leaves extract ethyl acetate fraction also inhibited lipid peroxidation with 32.85% and 78.07% respectively. Crude acetonic extract of leaves of Lannea microcarpa has shown a significantly reducing power of Fe3+ by 9.46±0.26 and high carotenoids content compared to those of fruit extract.Conclusion: The results obtained from the present study suggest that Lannea microcarpa fruit and leaves extract possess significant anti-inflammatory and antioxidant capacities (mg AAE/100 mg). Therefore, they could be useful for food and pharmaceutics industries.Â

An Ion Transport-Independent Role for the Cation-Chloride Cotransporter KCC2 in Dendritic Spinogenesis In Vivo

The neuron-specific K-Cl cotransporter, KCC2, is highly expressed in the vicinity of excitatory synapses in pyramidal neurons, and recent in vitro data suggest that this protein plays a role in the development of dendritic spines. The in vivo relevance of these observations is, however, unknown. Using in utero electroporation combined with post hoc iontophoretic injection of Lucifer Yellow, we show that premature expression of KCC2 induces a highly significant and permanent increase in dendritic spine density of layer 2/3 pyramidal neurons in the somatosensory cortex. Whole-cell recordings revealed that this increased spine density is correlated with an enhanced spontaneous excitatory activity in KCC2-transfected neurons. Precocious expression of the N-terminal deleted form of KCC2, which lacks the chloride transporter function, also increased spine density. In contrast, no effect on spine density was observed following in utero electroporation of a point mutant of KCC2 (KCC2-C568A) where both the cotransporter function and the interaction with the cytoskeleton are disrupted. Transfection of the C-terminal domain of KCC2, a region involved in the interaction with the dendritic cytoskeleton, also increased spine density. Collectively, these results demonstrate a role for KCC2 in excitatory synaptogenesis in vivo through a mechanism that is independent of its ion transport functio

Metals retention after weathering of a sulphide ore body: unexploited gossan versus mine tailings.

Numerous studies have highlighted the fact that the bioavailability of potentially toxic trace elements (PTTE), such as As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, and Pb, is strongly related to the redox state and chemical form. Since dissolved forms of trace elements are the most bioavailable, the issue of greatest concern is to define the conditions under which these elements may be remobilized in solution up to levels higher than those recommended by National agencies as e.g. the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In order to understand and then ideally to prevent trace element mobilization, the characterisation of the contaminant sources, i.e. the solid fraction, is crucial

Viral Mimicry Response Is Associated With Clinical Outcome in Pleural Mesothelioma

Introduction The aim of this study was to investigate endogenous retrovirus (ERV) expression and type I interferon (IFN) activation in human pleural mesothelioma (PM) and their association with clinical outcome. Methods The expression of ERV was determined from PM cohorts and mesothelial precursor RNA sequencing data. The expression of ERV was confirmed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Methylation of genomic DNA was assessed by quantitative methylation-specific PCR. DNA demethylation was induced in cells by demethylating agent 5-Aza-2’-deoxycytidine (5-Aza-CdR) treatment. To block type I IFN signaling, the cells were treated with ruxolitinib or MAVS silencing. The expression of IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs) was determined by qPCR and Western blot. Circulating ERVs were detected by qPCR. Results Long terminal repeats (LTRs) represent the most abundant transposable elements up-regulated in PM. Within the LTR, ERVmap_1248 and LTR7Y, which are specifically enriched in PM, were further analyzed. The 5-Aza-CdR treatment increased the levels of ERVmap_1248 expression and induced ERVmap_1248 promoter demethylation in mesothelial cells. In addition, ERVmap_1248 promoter was more demethylated in the mesothelioma tissue compared with nontumor tissue. The 5-Aza-CdR treatment of the mesothelial cells also increased the levels of ISGs. Basal ISG expression was higher in the mesothelioma cells compared with the mesothelial cells, and it was significantly decreased by ruxolitinib treatment or MAVS silencing. Furthermore, ISG expression was higher in the tumor tissue with high expression levels of ERVmap_1248. High expression of ERVmap_1248 was associated with longer overall survival and BAP1 mutations. ERVmap_1248 and LTR7Y can be detected in the PM plasma. Conclusions We provide clues for patient stratification especially for immunotherapy where best clinical responses are associated with an activated basal immune response