A map of the large day-night temperature gradient of a super-Earth exoplanet.

Over the past decade, observations of giant exoplanets (Jupiter-size) have provided key insights into their atmospheres, but the properties of lower-mass exoplanets (sub-Neptune) remain largely unconstrained because of the challenges of observing small planets. Numerous efforts to observe the spectra of super-Earths--exoplanets with masses of one to ten times that of Earth--have so far revealed only featureless spectra. Here we report a longitudinal thermal brightness map of the nearby transiting super-Earth 55 Cancri e (refs 4, 5) revealing highly asymmetric dayside thermal emission and a strong day-night temperature contrast. Dedicated space-based monitoring of the planet in the infrared revealed a modulation of the thermal flux as 55 Cancri e revolves around its star in a tidally locked configuration. These observations reveal a hot spot that is located 41 ± 12 degrees east of the substellar point (the point at which incident light from the star is perpendicular to the surface of the planet). From the orbital phase curve, we also constrain the nightside brightness temperature of the planet to 1,380 ± 400 kelvin and the temperature of the warmest hemisphere (centred on the hot spot) to be about 1,300 kelvin hotter (2,700 ± 270 kelvin) at a wavelength of 4.5 micrometres, which indicates inefficient heat redistribution from the dayside to the nightside. Our observations are consistent with either an optically thick atmosphere with heat recirculation confined to the planetary dayside, or a planet devoid of atmosphere with low-viscosity magma flows at the surface

La France face aux conflits rwandais (1990-94)

Cette recherche se veut une analyse approfondie de la politique menée par la France au pays des mille collines entre le 1er octobre 1990 (attaque du FPR) et le 22 août 1994 (retrait du Rwanda des derniers soldats français de l'opération Turquoise). Ce faisant, elle tente de dresser le bilan de quatre années de présence militaire française au Rwanda, et, dans cette perspective, décrit et analyse les multiples aspects de la politique de la carotte (coopération militaire) et du bâton (pressions diplomatiques) menée par les autorités françaises à l'égard du régime du président Habyarimana La première partie constitue une mise en perspective générale de la politique africaine de la France depuis l'indépendance des colonies jusqu'à 1990, et ce afin de resituer la politique de la France au Rwanda dans le contexte global de l'Afrique subsaharienne et de la politique africaine française au lendemain de la fin de la Guerre froide (chapitre 1). La deuxième partie s'intéresse au premier conflit rwandais et à la politique française au Rwanda jusqu'au génocide. Après un rapide survol de l'histoire du Rwanda avant 1990 (chapitre 2), le chapitre 3 retrace les différentes étapes du conflit depuis l'attaque du FPR en octobre 1990 jusqu'à la conclusion des accords d'Arusha le 4 août 1994 et analyse la période de transition qui voit le Rwanda sombrer peu à peu dans le spectre de la reprise de la guerre, et ce en dépit du déploiement de la force des Nations unies. Le chapitre 4 est enfin consacré à la description et à l'analyse de la politique étrangère de la France à l'égard du Rwanda tout au long de cette période, depuis le déclenchement de l'opération Noroît en octobre 1990 jusqu'à la veille du génocide. La troisième et dernière partie est quant à elle consacrée au génocide rwandais. Le chapitre 5 s'attache à retracer les grandes lignes de l'histoire du Rwanda au printemps 1994, de l'attentat du 6 avril à la victoire militaire du FPR le 17 juillet en passant par la mise en oeuvre du projet d'extermination des Tutsi et des Hutu démocrates par les extrémistes hutu. Après avoir consacré de nombreuses pages au génocide en lui-même (stratégie, acteurs, causes, bilan), le cinquième chapitre aborde la stratégie mise en oeuvre par le FPR pendant le génocide. Le sixième et dernier chapitre enfin s'attache à décrypter la politique menée par la France pendant le génocide. Après avoir analysé les différents aspects de cette politique au cours des dix premières semaines du génocide - évacuation des expatriés (opération Amaryllis), maintien discret de militaires français aux côtés des FAR, recherche d'un improbable cessez-le-feu, diplomatie en faveur d'un renforcement de la MINUAR - nous aborderons l'opération Turquoise, le processus de décision ayant conduit à son déclenchement, ses aspects juridiques, son dispositif, son déroulement, les réactions qu'elle suscita, et surtout, les différentes thèses circulant quant à ses motivations. Nous nous efforcerons à cet égard de faire le point sur les multiples accusations de « complicité de génocide » lancées en 2004 à l'encontre de soldats français de l'opération Turquoise.Doctorat en sciences politiques (POL 3)--UCL, 200

André Lanotte : sixty years of religious arts

Interview du chanoine André Lanotte (1914-2010) sur son oeuvre de modernisation de l'art religieux dans le diocèse de Namur-Luxembourg (Belgique)Interview of the canon André Lanotte (1914-2010) concerning the modernization the Christian art in the bishopric of Namur-Luxembourg (Belgique

Seven Years Leptospirosis Follow-Up in a Critical Care Unit of a French Metropolitan Hospital; Role of Real Time PCR for a Quick and Acute Diagnosis

International audience(1) Background: Leptospirosis infection can lead to multiple organ failure, requiring hospitalization in an intensive care unit for supportive care, along with initiation of an adapted antibiotic therapy. Achieving a quick diagnosis is decisive in the management of these patients. (2) Methods: We present here a review of leptospirosis cases diagnosed in the intensive care unit of our hospital over seven years. Clinical and biological data were gathered, and we compared the differences in terms of diagnostic method. (3) Results: Molecular biology method by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) allowed quick and reliable diagnosis when performed in the first days after the symptoms began. Moreover, we identified that sampling blood and urine for PCR was more efficient than performing PCR on only one type of biological sample. (4) Conclusions: Our results confirm the efficiency of PCR for the quick diagnosis of leptospirosis and suggest that testing both blood and urine early in the disease might improve diagnosis

Identification of Streptococcus agalactiae Isolates from Various Phylogenetic Lineages by Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization-Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry▿

Variations in proteins related to bacterial diversity may affect species identification performed using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI)-time of flight mass spectrometry. Using this method, we identified 110 Streptococcus agalactiae isolates characterized by serotyping and multilocus sequence typing. Serotype III and sequence type 23 strains expressed the widest variation in molecular weight of putative “species-identifying” biomarker ions. Recognition of the diversity of MALDI patterns observed in strains that represent all major intraspecies lineages assists in the constitution of an optimal reference database

ITCH-dependent proteasomal degradation of c-FLIP induced by the anti-HER3 antibody 9F7-F11 promotes DR5/caspase 8-mediated apoptosis of tumor cells

International audienceBACKGROUND:HER3/ErbB3 receptor deletion or blockade leads to tumor cell apoptosis, whereas its overexpression confers anti-cancer drug resistance through upregulation of protective mechanisms against apoptosis. We produced the anti-HER3 antibody 9F7-F11 that promotes HER3 ubiquitination and degradation via JNK1/2-dependent activation of the E3 ubiquitin ligase ITCH, and that induces apoptosis of cancer cells. Cellular FLICE-like inhibitory protein (c-FLIP) is a key regulator of apoptotic pathways. Here, we wanted to determine the mechanisms underlying the pro-apoptotic effect of 9F7-F11.METHODS:Anti-HER3 antibody-induced apoptosis was assessed by western blot, and by flow cytometry measurement of Annexin V/7-AAD-labelled tumor cells (BxPC3, MDA-MB-468 and DU145 cell lines). c-FLIP/ITCH interaction and subsequent degradation/ubiquitination were investigated by co-immunoprecipitation of ITCH-silenced vs scramble control cells. The relationship between ITCH-mediated c-FLIP degradation and antibody-induced apoptosis was examined by western blot and flow cytometry of tumor cells, after ITCH RNA interference or by pre-treatment with ITCH chemical inhibitor chlorimipramine (CI).RESULTS:Following incubation with 9F7-F11, cancer cell apoptosis occurs through activation of caspase-8, - 9 and - 3 and the subsequent cleavage of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). Moreover we showed that ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation of the anti-apoptotic protein c-FLIP was mediated by USP8-regulated ITCH recruitment. This effect was abrogated by ITCH- and USP8-specific RNA interference (siRNA), or by the ITCH chemical inhibitor CI. Specifically, ITCH silencing or CI blocked 9F7-F11-induced caspase-8-mediated apoptosis of tumor cells, and restored c-FLIP expression. ITCH-silencing or CI concomitantly abrogated HER3-specific antibody-induced apoptosis of Annexin V/7-AAD-labelled BxPC3 cells. 9F7-F11 favored the extrinsic apoptosis pathway by inducing TRAIL-R2/DR5 upregulation and TRAIL expression that promoted the formation of death-inducing signaling complex (DISC), leading to caspase-8-mediated apoptosis. Incubation with 9F7-F11 also induced BID cleavage, BAX upregulation and BIM expression, which initiated the caspase-9/3-mediated mitochondrial death pathway. The anti-HER3 antibody pro-apoptotic effect occurred concomitantly with downregulation of the pro-survival proteins c-IAP2 and XIAP.CONCLUSIONS:The allosteric non-neuregulin competing modulator 9F7-F11, sensitizes tumor cells to DR5/caspase-8-mediated apoptosis through ITCH-dependent downregulation of c-FLIP

Mont ABU 2.5m Telescope: How to assess large telescope performances in factory?

Before the transport of a large telescope on site, it is suitable to perform factory tests to guarantee the optical performances. AMOS SA has been awarded of the contract from the design to on-site installation (in Rajasthan) of the 2.5-m Class Telescope for Physical Research Laboratory. The 20-m-focal-length telescope has a Ritchey-Chrétien optical configuration and provides at Cassegrain location one axial port and two side ports. It is equipped with a primary active mirror and a first order adaptive optical system. It operates in the 0.37-4 μm spectral range. The project fulfillment relies on the AMOS multidisciplinary expertise in design and manufacturing of high-accuracy optical, mechanical and opto-mechanical systems. This paper presents the test results carried out at AMOS factory to assess the telescope performances (e.g. active optic control loop, pointing, tracking). It relies on extensive tests on the mount control, and the optical and mechanical sub-systems before assembly

Factors Associated With Severe Nonmeningitis Invasive Pneumococcal Disease in Adults in France

International audienceBackground. In France, pneumococcal vaccination in adults is recommended for risk groups (chronic conditions/immunosuppression). We conducted a study on invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) in adults to identify factors associated with disease severity and death. Methods. We included IPD cases, excluding meningitis, from 25 acute care hospitals in 6 regions. We defined severe cases as those with shock or severe sepsis or intensive care unit admission/mechanical ventilation. We included deaths occurring within 30 days of hospitalization. Infectious disease specialists collected clinical/microbiological data on cases. Results. During 2014-2017, 908 nonmeningitis IPD cases were diagnosed; 48% were severe, 84% had comorbidities, 21% died. Ninety percent of cases with comorbidities who previously sought health care were not vaccinated against pneumococcus. Compared with previously healthy cases, the risk of severe IPD increased from 20% (adjusted risk ratio [aRR], 1.2; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.0-1.4) in cases with 1-2 chronic diseases to 30% (aRR, 1.3; 95% CI, 1.0-7.0) in those with >2 chronic diseases. Among risk groups, 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) serotypes and 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) nonPCV13 serotypes were more likely to induce severe IPD compared with nonvaccine serotypes (aRR, 1.5; 95% CI, 1.3-1.9; aRR, 1.3; 95% CI, 1.0-1.5, respectively). Conclusions. We observed a cumulative effect of concurrent comorbidities on severe IPD. Vaccine serotypes were more likely to induce severe IPD among risk groups. The missed opportunities for vaccination underscore the need to enhance vaccination in risk groups