Combined Characterisation of GOME and TOMS Total Ozone Using Ground-Based Observations from the NDSC

Several years of total ozone measured from space by the ERS-2 GOME, the Earth Probe Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS), and the ADEOS TOMS, are compared with high-quality ground-based observations associated with the Network for the Detection of Stratospheric Change (NDSC), over an extended latitude range and a variety of geophysical conditions. The comparisons with each spaceborne sensor are combined altogether for investigating their respective solar zenith angle (SZA) dependence, dispersion, and difference of sensitivity. The space- and ground-based data are found to agree within a few percent on average. However, the analysis highlights for both Global Ozone Monitoring Experiment (GOME) and TOMS several sources of discrepancies, including a dependence on the SZA at high latitudes and internal inconsistencies

Transcriptional Activation of REST by Sp1 in Huntington's Disease Models

In Huntington's disease (HD), mutant huntingtin (mHtt) disrupts the normal transcriptional program of disease neurons by altering the function of several gene expression regulators such as Sp1. REST (Repressor Element-1 Silencing Transcription Factor), a key regulator of neuronal differentiation, is also aberrantly activated in HD by a mechanism that remains unclear. Here, we show that the level of REST mRNA is increased in HD mice and in NG108 cells differentiated into neuronal-like cells and expressing a toxic mHtt fragment. Using luciferase reporter gene assay, we delimited the REST promoter regions essential for mHtt-mediated REST upregulation and found that they contain Sp factor binding sites. We provide evidence that Sp1 and Sp3 bind REST promoter and interplay to fine-tune REST transcription. In undifferentiated NG108 cells, Sp1 and Sp3 have antagonistic effect, Sp1 acting as an activator and Sp3 as a repressor. Upon neuronal differentiation, we show that the amount and ratio of Sp1/Sp3 proteins decline, as does REST expression, and that the transcriptional role of Sp3 shifts toward a weak activator. Therefore, our results provide new molecular information to the transcriptional regulation of REST during neuronal differentiation. Importantly, specific knockdown of Sp1 abolishes REST upregulation in NG108 neuronal-like cells expressing mHtt. Our data together with earlier reports suggest that mHtt triggers a pathogenic cascade involving Sp1 activation, which leads to REST upregulation and repression of neuronal genes

Suppression of MAPK11 or HIPK3 reduces mutant Huntingtin levels in Huntington's disease models.

Most neurodegenerative disorders are associated with accumulation of disease-relevant proteins. Among them, Huntington disease (HD) is of particular interest because of its monogenetic nature. HD is mainly caused by cytotoxicity of the defective protein encoded by the mutant Huntingtin gene (HTT). Thus, lowering mutant HTT protein (mHTT) levels would be a promising treatment strategy for HD. Here we report two kinases HIPK3 and MAPK11 as positive modulators of mHTT levels both in cells and in vivo. Both kinases regulate mHTT via their kinase activities, suggesting that inhibiting these kinases may have therapeutic values. Interestingly, their effects on HTT levels are mHTT-dependent, providing a feedback mechanism in which mHTT enhances its own level thus contributing to mHTT accumulation and disease progression. Importantly, knockout of MAPK11 significantly rescues disease-relevant behavioral phenotypes in a knockin HD mouse model. Collectively, our data reveal new therapeutic entry points for HD and target-discovery approaches for similar diseases

A chemical model for the atmosphere of hot Jupiters

Our purpose is to release a chemical network, and the associated rate coefficients, developed for the temperature and pressure range relevant to hot Jupiters atmospheres. Using this network, we study the vertical atmospheric composition of the two hot Jupiters (HD209458b, HD189733b) with a model that includes photolyses and vertical mixing and we produce synthetic spectra. The chemical scheme is derived from applied combustion models that have been methodically validated over a range of temperatures and pressures typical of the atmospheric layers influencing the observations of hot Jupiters. We compare the predictions obtained from this scheme with equilibrium calculations, with different schemes available in the literature that contain N-bearing species and with previously published photochemical models. Compared to other chemical schemes that were not subjected to the same systematic validation, we find significant differences whenever non-equilibrium processes take place. The deviations from the equilibrium, and thus the sensitivity to the network, are more important for HD189733b, as we assume a cooler atmosphere than for HD209458b. We found that the abundances of NH3 and HCN can vary by two orders of magnitude depending on the network, demonstrating the importance of comprehensive experimental validation. A spectral feature of NH3 at 10.5$\mu$m is sensitive to these abundance variations and thus to the chemical scheme. Due to the influence of the kinetics, we recommend the use of a validated scheme to model the chemistry of exoplanet atmospheres. Our network is robust for temperatures within 300-2500K and pressures from 10mbar up to a few hundreds of bars, for species made of C,H,O,N. It is validated for species up to 2 carbon atoms and for the main nitrogen species.Comment: 20 pages, 10 figures. Accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysic

ANALYSIS OF THE EMISSION SPECTRUM OF NH2NH_{2}: MOLECULAR CONSTANTS FOR THE LOW-LYING VIBRATIONAL LEVELS OF THE GROUND STATE

Author Institution:The high resolution emission spectrum of $NH_{2}$ has been photographed in the region 4200-8900 {\AA}. Rotational, analysis, assisted by laser fluorescence studies, has been carried out. About 8000 lines have been assigned. For the 000 and 010 vibrational levels of the ground state, rotational levels up to $K_{a}’‘ = 18$ and $K_{a}’‘ = 8$ have been observed, respectively. For the 020, 030 and 100 levels, rotational levels up to $K_{a}’‘ = 5$ have been determined. Some perturbations have been found in the rotational levels of 100 on the basis of laser fluorescence studies; these perturbations are interpreted in terms of a Coriolis interaction with the 001 rotational levels. Effective molecular constants are proposed for the 000, 010, 020, 030 and 100 levels of the ground state

The Simaction project

Import JabRef | WosArea EngineeringInternational audienceThe SimAction project aimed at developing new methods for motor retraining based on mechanisms of coupling between action perception and action execution. The main objective was to create tools for observational training that could complement conventional methods of physical rehabilitation. The devices developed should first be oriented towards an elderly population. This project allowed collaboration between movement physiologists, clinicians, research teams specialized in computer science, image processing, cognitive sciences and ergonomics, as well as two industrial partners. Throughout this project, we evaluated the abilities for implicit motor simulation associated with movement observation in an elderly population. We recorded a deterioration of these abilities with ageing, suggesting that perceptual retraining could be beneficial. Further, we measured a positive impact of perceptual training on motor performances, considering, two daily life movements essential to people's autonomy: walking and sit-to-stand/back-to-sit/sit-to-stand transfers. Finally, the integration of virtual reality technologies could allow an improvement of perceptual retraining by optimizing interaction between patient and virtual avatar/professor, and enabling a precise measure of motor progresses during the learning process. (C) 2011 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved

OBSERVATION AND ANALYSIS OF THE WATER ABSORPTION SPECTRUM FROM NEAR IR TO NEAR UV REGION

Author Institution: Department of Physics and Astronomy, University College London; Dept. of Chemistry, University of Waterloo; Universite Libre de Bruxelles, Service de Chimie Physique Moleculaire; Spectrometrie Moleculaire et Atmospherique, UFR Sciences, Moulin de la Housse; Institut d'Aernomie Spatiale de Belgique, 3 av. CirculaireIn the region extending from near IR to UV, the spectral composition of the solar radiation that reaches the surface of the Earth is mainly determined by the absorption of water vapor. It is important, therefore, to know the line positions of water in this region for modelling purposes. A large fraction of the lines (up to one third) observed previously in this region has remained unassigned for more than a decade. Recently we have assigned virtually all of the unassigned lines in the region up to $16 000 cm^{-1}$. We report here the observation of the water vapor lines in the region between $10 000 cm^{-1}$ and $25 000 cm^{-1}$. Using the 50 m baselength multiple reflection cell of the Universite de Reims optically coupled to the BRUKER IFS120M Fourier transform spectrometer of the Universite Libre de Bruxelles, the $H_{2}O$ absorption spectrum has been recorded at high resolution at room temperature. Absorption path was 600m and water pressure variing from 1.1 to 15 torr. In average about twice as many lines as reported earlier were recorded. We present here the results of the analysis of these lines. Thousands of newly assigned lines belonging to the known bands as well as lines from newly observed vibrational states are presented. Altogether the energy levels of more than 15 new vibrational states of water were derived

Unreported RSK2 missense mutation in two male sibs with an unusually mild form of Coffin-Lowry syndrome

International audienceAn unreported missense mutation of the ribosomal S6 kinase 2 (RSK2) gene has been identified in two male sibs with a mild form of Coffin-Lowry syndrome (CLS) inherited from their healthy mother. They exhibit transient severe hypotonia, macrocephaly, delay in closure of the fontanelles, normal gait, and mild mental retardation, associated in the first sib with transient autistic behaviour. Some dysmorphic features of CLS (in particular forearm fullness and tapering fingers) and many atypical findings (some of which were reminiscent of FG syndrome) were observed as well. The moderate phenotypic expression of this mutation extends the CLS phenotype to include less severe mental retardation and minor, hitherto unreported signs. The missense mutation identified may be less deleterious than those previously described. As this mutation occurs in a protein domain with no predicted function, it could be responsible for a conformational change affecting the protein catalytic function, since a non-polar amino acid is replaced by a charged residue