Challenges for the conservation of threatened plants and natural habitats in French overseas territories

The French overseas territories represent a broad range of climatic and biogeographical conditions, from sub-arctic to equatorial, resulting in a richness, diversity and uniqueness of their floras that mirrors that of the global flora. These territories range widely in area (from small oceanic islands to large continental regions) and human population densities, leading to more or less pronounced anthropogenic impacts on natural ecosystems. Threats to the French overseas flora are generally the same (habitat destruction, biological invasions, species overexploitation, climate change) but with varying importance depending on the territory. Conservation measures, including the establishment of lists of protected species or habitats and new protected areas, as well as habitat restoration, species reintroduction or population reinforcement of threatened species, also vary depending on the territory, in relation with their legal status, and the concern of local populations and authorities toward the conservation of their natural heritage. We underline the necessity and urgency to better know and conserve this flora (more than 10 000 vascular plants, including 3480 endemics, and with 685 protected species) of not only national but also regional and global importance.Les collectivités françaises d’outre-mer sont situées dans des contextes climatiques et biogéographiques très diversifiés, allant de conditions sub-arctiques à équatoriales, ce qui détermine des richesses, diversités et originalités floristiques bien différentes, mais largement complémentaires à une échelle mondiale. Ces territoires présentent par ailleurs des superficies variables, allant de petites îles océaniques à de grandes régions continentales, et des densités de population humaine très contrastées, se traduisant par des impacts plus ou moins prononcés des perturbations anthropiques sur les écosystèmes naturels. Les menaces sur la flore ultramarine sont globalement de même nature (destruction des habitats, invasions biologiques, surexploitation d’espèces, changements climatiques), mais d’importance variable selon les territoires. Les actions de conservation de la flore et des habitats naturels initiées, comme l’établissement de listes d’espèces ou d’habitats protégés, la mise en place d’aires protégées, les opérations de restauration d’habitats et de réintroduction ou renforcement de populations d’espèces menacées, sont très variables selon les situations dans les collectivités, en relation avec des différences de statuts législatifs et de sensibilité des populations et autorités locales par rapport à la protection de leur patrimoine naturel. Nous soulignons la nécessité et l’urgence de mieux connaître et sauvegarder la flore ultramarine française (plus de 10 000 plantes vasculaires dont 3480 endémiques strictes, avec 685 espèces menacées et protégées) d’importance nationale, mais également régionale et global

Formation and thermal evolution of insoluble reservoir bitumen in Angolan carbonate reservoirs.

Pyrobitumen resulting from the thermal cracking of crude oil is a frequent occurrence in petroleum reservoirs. Despite the detrimental implications of pyrobitumen for the poroperm qualities of the reservoir; little is known about the evolution of pyrobitumen properties as a function of increasing thermal stress. A suite of pyrobitumen-bearing reservoir cores from the carbonate Jurassic Pinda formation in offshore Angola has been studied using geochemical and petrographic techniques (including elemental analysis, Rock Eval pyrolysis, GC, FTIR, XRD, SEM, TEM) in order to characterise the physical, chemical, and optical properties of the pyrobitumen as fully as possible. The 11 core samples contain pyrobitumen at reflectance values ranging from 0.55-2.24%Ro and display varying degrees of solubility in dichloromethane from 98% insoluble bitumen to 45% insoluble, indicating a substantial spread of maturity. However, these indicators of maturity, and further classical maturity indicators such as the H/C and Tmax show surprisingly poor mutual agreement

Influence of renal replacement modalities on amikacin population pharmacokinetics in critically ill patients on continuous renal replacement therapy

The objective of this study was to describe amikacin pharmacokinetics (PK) in critically ill patients receiving equal doses (30 ml/kg of body weight/h) of continuous venovenous hemofiltration (CVVH) and continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration (CVVHDF). Patients receiving amikacin and undergoing CVVH or CVVHDF were eligible. Population pharmacokinetic analysis and Monte Carlo simulation were undertaken using the Pmetrics software package for R. Sixteen patients (9 undergoing CVVH, 11 undergoing CVVHDF) and 20 sampling intervals were analyzed. A two-compartment linear model best described the data. Patient weight was the only covariate that was associated with drug clearance. The mean +/- standard deviation parameter estimates were 25.2 +/- 17.3 liters for the central volume, 0.89 +/- 1.17 h(-1) for the rate constant for the drug distribution from the central to the peripheral compartment, 2.38 +/- 6.60 h(-1) for the rate constant for the drug distribution from the peripheral to the central compartment, 4.45 +/- 2.35 liters/h for hemodiafiltration clearance, and 4.69 +/- 2.42 liters/h for hemofiltration clearance. Dosing simulations for amikacin supported the use of high dosing regimens (>= 25 mg/kg) and extended intervals (36 to 48 h) for most patients when considering PK/pharmacodynamic (PD) targets of a maximum concentration in plasma (C-max)/MIC ratio of >= 8 and a minimal concentration o

A training-resistant anomaly detection system

Modern network intrusion detection systems rely on machine learning techniques to detect traffic anomalies and thus intruders. However, the ability to learn the network behaviour in real-time comes at a cost: malicious software can interfere with the learning process, and teach the intrusion detection system to accept dangerous traffic. This paper presents an intrusion detection system (IDS) that is able to detect common network attacks including but not limited to, denial-of-service, bot nets, intrusions, and network scans. With the help of the proposed example IDS, we show to what extent the training attack (and more sophisticated variants of it) has an impact on machine learning based detection schemes, and how it can be detected. © 2018 Elsevier Lt

Statins as antifungal agents

This poster paper describes the objectives, approach and use casesof the EC FP7 Integrated Project PERICLES. The project beganon 1st February 2013 and runs for four years. The aim is toresearch and prototype solutions for digital preservation incontinually evolving environments including changes in context,semantics and practices. The project addresses use cases focusingon digital art, media and science.Proceedings source: http://purl.pt/24107/1/iPres2013_PDF/iPres2013-Proceedings.pd

Characterization of pearl millet root architecture and anatomy reveals three types of lateral roots

Pearl millet plays an important role for food security in arid regions of Africa and India. Nevertheless, it is considered an orphan crop as it lags far behind other cereals in terms of genetic improvement efforts. Breeding pearl millet varieties with improved root traits promises to deliver benefits in water and nutrient acquisition. Here, we characterize of early pearl millet root system development using several different root phenotyping approaches that include rhizotrons and microCT. We report that early stage pearl millet root system development is characterized by a fast growing primary root that quickly colonizes deeper soil horizons. We also describe root anatomical studies that revealed 3 distinct types of lateral roots that form on both primary roots and crown roots. Finally, we detected significant variation for two root architectural traits in pearl millet inbred lines. This study provides the basis for subsequent genetic experiments to identify loci associated with interesting early root development traits in this important cereal

Evaluation of the tuberculin skin test and the interferon-γ release assay for TB screening in French healthcare workers

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Using French cut-offs for the Tuberculin Skin Test (TST), results of the TST were compared with the results of an Interferon-γ Release Assay (IGRA) in Healthcare Workers (HCW) after contact to AFB-positive TB patients.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Between May 2006 and May 2007, a total of 148 HCWs of the University Hospital in Nantes, France were tested simultaneously with IGRA und TST. A TST was considered to indicate recent latent TB infection (LTBI) if an increase of >10 mm or if TST ≥ 15 mm for those with no previous TST result was observed. For those with a positive TST, chest X-ray was performed and preventive chemotherapy was offered.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>All HCWs were BCG-vaccinated. The IGRA was positive in 18.9% and TST ≥ 10 mm was observed in 65.5%. A recent LTBI was believed to be highly probable in 30.4% following TST. Agreement between IGRA and TST was low (kappa 0.041). In 10 (16.7%) out of 60 HCWs who needed chest X-ray following TST the IGRA was positive. In 9 (20%) out of 45 HCWs to whom preventive chemotherapy was offered following TST the IGRA was positive. Of those considered TST-negative following the French guidelines, 20.5% were IGRA-positive. In a two-step strategy - positive TST verified by IGRA - 18 out of 28 (64.3%) IGRA-positive HCWs would not have been detected using French guidelines for TST interpretation.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The introduction of IGRA in contact tracings of BCG-vaccinated HCWs reduces X-rays and preventive chemotherapies. Increasing the cut-off for a positive TST does not seem to be helpful to overcome the effect of BCG vaccination on TST.</p

Transfusion Related Acute Lung Injury (TRALI) Caused by Red Blood Cell Transfusion Involving Residual Plasma Anti-HLA Antibodies: A report on two Cases and General Considerations

TRALI is considered a serious hazard among immune complications of blood transfusion and its occurrence is admitted to be globally underestimated. Each type of blood product is likely to cause TRALI. We report here on two consecutive observations of TRALI caused by red blood cell concentrates, in which anti-HLA class I and class II antibodies resulting from post-gravitational allo-immunization were evidenced in donors. HLA class I and II antigenic community between recipients and donors' husbands were found and strong reacting IgG antibodies directed at several of those common antigens were detected in the donors' serum. Both donors had more than 3 pregnancies, raising the issue of blood donor selection or of plasma reduction for cellular products

The Maunakea Spectroscopic Explorer Book 2018

(Abridged) This is the Maunakea Spectroscopic Explorer 2018 book. It is intended as a concise reference guide to all aspects of the scientific and technical design of MSE, for the international astronomy and engineering communities, and related agencies. The current version is a status report of MSE's science goals and their practical implementation, following the System Conceptual Design Review, held in January 2018. MSE is a planned 10-m class, wide-field, optical and near-infrared facility, designed to enable transformative science, while filling a critical missing gap in the emerging international network of large-scale astronomical facilities. MSE is completely dedicated to multi-object spectroscopy of samples of between thousands and millions of astrophysical objects. It will lead the world in this arena, due to its unique design capabilities: it will boast a large (11.25 m) aperture and wide (1.52 sq. degree) field of view; it will have the capabilities to observe at a wide range of spectral resolutions, from R2500 to R40,000, with massive multiplexing (4332 spectra per exposure, with all spectral resolutions available at all times), and an on-target observing efficiency of more than 80%. MSE will unveil the composition and dynamics of the faint Universe and is designed to excel at precision studies of faint astrophysical phenomena. It will also provide critical follow-up for multi-wavelength imaging surveys, such as those of the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope, Gaia, Euclid, the Wide Field Infrared Survey Telescope, the Square Kilometre Array, and the Next Generation Very Large Array.Comment: 5 chapters, 160 pages, 107 figure