Monitoring soil moisture from middle to high elevation in Switzerland: set-up and first results from the SOMOMOUNT network

Besides its important role in the energy and water balance at the soil–atmosphere interface, soil moisture can be a particular important factor in mountain environments since it influences the amount of freezing and thawing in the subsurface and can affect the stability of slopes. In spite of its importance, the technical challenges and its strong spatial variability usually prevents soil moisture from being measured operationally at high and/or middle altitudes. This study describes the new Swiss soil moisture monitoring network SOMOMOUNT (soil moisture in mountainous terrain) launched in 2013. It consists of six entirely automated soil moisture stations distributed along an altitudinal gradient between the Jura Mountains and the Swiss Alps, ranging from 1205 to 3410 m a.s.l. in elevation. In addition to the standard instrumentation comprising frequency domain sensor and time domain reflectometry (TDR) sensors along vertical profiles, soil probes and meteorological data are available at each station. In this contribution we present a detailed description of the SOMOMOUNT instrumentation and calibration procedures. Additionally, the liquid soil moisture (LSM) data collected during the first 3 years of the project are discussed with regard to their soil type and climate dependency as well as their altitudinal distribution. The observed elevation dependency of LSM is found to be non-linear, with an increase of the mean annual values up to  ∼  2000 m a.s.l. followed by a decreasing trend towards higher elevations. This altitude threshold marks the change between precipitation-/evaporation-controlled and frost-affected LSM regimes. The former is characterized by high LSM throughout the year and minimum values in summer, whereas the latter typically exhibits long-lasting winter minimum LSM values and high variability during the summer

Mountain permafrost degradation documented through a network of permanent electrical resistivity tomography sites

Mountain permafrost is sensitive to climate change and is expected to gradually degrade in response to the ongoing atmospheric warming trend. Long-term monitoring of the permafrost thermal state is a key task, but problematic where temperatures are close to 0 ∘C because the energy exchange is then dominantly related to latent heat effects associated with phase change (ice–water), rather than ground warming or cooling. Consequently, it is difficult to detect significant spatio-temporal variations in ground properties (e.g. ice–water ratio) that occur during the freezing–thawing process with point scale temperature monitoring alone. Hence, electrical methods have become popular in permafrost investigations as the resistivities of ice and water differ by several orders of magnitude, theoretically allowing a clear distinction between frozen and unfrozen ground. In this study we present an assessment of mountain permafrost evolution using long-term electrical resistivity tomography monitoring (ERTM) from a network of permanent sites in the central Alps. The time series consist of more than 1000 datasets from six sites, where resistivities have been measured on a regular basis for up to 20 years. We identify systematic sources of error and apply automatic filtering procedures during data processing. In order to constrain the interpretation of the results, we analyse inversion results and long-term resistivity changes in comparison with existing borehole temperature time series. Our results show that the resistivity dataset provides valuable insights at the melting point, where temperature changes stagnate due to latent heat effects. The longest time series (19 years) demonstrates a prominent permafrost degradation trend, but degradation is also detectable in shorter time series (about a decade) at most sites. In spite of the wide range of morphological, climatological, and geological differences between the sites, the observed inter-annual resistivity changes and long-term tendencies are similar for all sites of the network

Lessons From 20 Years of Studies of Wheat Genotypes in Multiple Environments and Under Contrasting Production Systems

Identifying opportunities and limitations for closing yield gaps is essential for setting right the efforts dedicated to improve germplasm and agronomic practices. This study analyses genotypes × environments interaction (G × E), genetic progress, and grain yield stability under contrasting production systems. For this, we analyzed datasets obtained from three Swiss trial-networks of winter wheat that were designed to evaluate genotypes under organic farming conditions, conventional management with low-inputs (150 kg nitrogen (N) ha−1 with no fungicide application) and conventional management with high-inputs (170 kg N ha−1 with fungicide application). The datasets covered the periods from 1998 to 2018 for organic and conventional management with low-inputs and from 2008 to 2018 for conventional management with high-inputs. The trial-networks evaluated each year an average of 36 winter wheat genotypes that included released varieties, advanced breeding lines, and lines for registration and post-registration in Switzerland. We investigated within each trial-network the influence of years, genotypes, environments and their interactions on the total variance in grain yield and grain N concentration using variance components analyses. We further applied mixed models with regression features to dissect genetic components due to breeding efforts from non-genetic components. The genotype as a single factor or as a factor interacting with the environment or the year (G × E, G × year, and G × E × year) explained 13% (organic), 20% (conventional low-inputs), and 24% (conventional high-inputs) of the variance in grain yield, while the corresponding values for grain N concentration were 29%, 25%, and 32%. Grain yield has stagnated since 1990 for conventional systems while the trend under organic management was slightly negative. The dissection of a genetic component from the grain yield trends under conventional management showed that genetic improvements contributed with 0.58 and 0.68 t ha−1 y−1 with low- and high- inputs, respectively. In contrast, a significant genetic source in the grain yield trend under organic management was not detected. Therefore, breeding efforts have been less effective on the wheat productivity for organic farming conditions than for conventional ones

The antimalarial MMV688533 provides potential for single-dose cures with a high barrier to

The emergence and spread of Plasmodium falciparum resistance to first-line antimalarials creates an imperative to identify and develop potent preclinical candidates with distinct modes of action. Here, we report the identification of MMV688533, an acylguanidine that was developed following a whole-cell screen with compounds known to hit high-value targets in human cells. MMV688533 displays fast parasite clearance in vitro and is not cross-resistant with known antimalarials. In a P. falciparum NSG mouse model, MMV688533 displays a long-lasting pharmacokinetic profile and excellent safety. Selection studies reveal a low propensity for resistance, with modest loss of potency mediated by point mutations in PfACG1 and PfEHD. These proteins are implicated in intracellular trafficking, lipid utilization, and endocytosis, suggesting interference with these pathways as a potential mode of action. This preclinical candidate may offer the potential for a single low-dose cure for malaria

The antimalarial MMV688533 provides potential for single-dose cures with a high barrier to

The emergence and spread of Plasmodium falciparum resistance to first-line antimalarials creates an imperative to identify and develop potent preclinical candidates with distinct modes of action. Here, we report the identification of MMV688533, an acylguanidine that was developed following a whole-cell screen with compounds known to hit high-value targets in human cells. MMV688533 displays fast parasite clearance in vitro and is not cross-resistant with known antimalarials. In a P. falciparum NSG mouse model, MMV688533 displays a long-lasting pharmacokinetic profile and excellent safety. Selection studies reveal a low propensity for resistance, with modest loss of potency mediated by point mutations in PfACG1 and PfEHD. These proteins are implicated in intracellular trafficking, lipid utilization, and endocytosis, suggesting interference with these pathways as a potential mode of action. This preclinical candidate may offer the potential for a single low-dose cure for malaria

Distinct Genetic Loci Control Plasma HIV-RNA and Cellular HIV-DNA Levels in HIV-1 Infection: The ANRS Genome Wide Association 01 Study

Previous studies of the HIV-1 disease have shown that HLA and Chemokine receptor genetic variants influence disease progression and early viral load. We performed a Genome Wide Association study in a cohort of 605 HIV-1-infected seroconverters for detection of novel genetic factors that influence plasma HIV-RNA and cellular HIV-DNA levels. Most of the SNPs strongly associated with HIV-RNA levels were localised in the 6p21 major histocompatibility complex (MHC) region and were in the vicinity of class I and III genes. Moreover, protective alleles for four disease-associated SNPs in the MHC locus (rs2395029, rs13199524, rs12198173 and rs3093662) were strikingly over-represented among forty-five Long Term HIV controllers. Furthermore, we show that the HIV-DNA levels (reflecting the HIV reservoir) are associated with the same four SNPs, but also with two additional SNPs on chromosome 17 (rs6503919; intergenic region flanked by the DDX40 and YPEL2 genes) and chromosome 8 (rs2575735; within the Syndecan 2 gene). Our data provide evidence that the MHC controls both HIV replication and HIV reservoir. They also indicate that two additional genomic loci may influence the HIV reservoir

Schizophrénie et capacité de sélection (quel rôle de l'inhibition et du contrôle attentionnel ?)

Les patients schizophrènes présentent des difficultés dans leur vie quotidienne dont certaines dépendent directement d un trouble du traitement de l information ou d un dysfonctionnement plus général des processus cognitifs. Dans la littérature, de nombreuses données suggèrent qu un trouble de l inhibition de l information non pertinente puisse être à l origine des échecs dans le traitement de l information pertinente. Notre objectif est de montrer que ces échecs peuvent aussi être induit par un défaut de contrôle attentionnel. A partir de deux modifications du paradigme de récupération répétée (Anderson et al., 1994) nous montrons que l effet RIF (Retrieval Induced Forgetting) serait plutôt la résultante d un manque de contrôle attentionnel que d une inhibition de récupération. De plus, vis à vis des patients schizophrènes nos résultats suggèrent que le déficit de sélection de l information pertinente soit la conséquence d un dysfonctionnement de la fonction de contrôle plutôt que d un déficit d inhibition. Si les patients schizophrènes sont déficitaires sur une tâche impliquant l initiation de processus de contrôle (Jacoby, 1991), ils sont capables de saisir une stratégie s appuyant sur un traitement automatique de l environnement (effet de révélation). La schizophrénie serait associée à une inefficience du SAS (Norman et Shallice, 1986), les patients s appuieraient donc sur des processus automatiques pour interagir avec l environnement. Dans une perspective de prise en charge des déficits cognitifs associés à la schizophrénie nos résultats suggèrent la nécessité de proposer des stratégies ou des prothèses cognitives s appuyant sur l intégrité des processus automatiques.Schizophrenic patients have difficulties proceeding correctly everyday life s information as they have in cognitive tests. For the present work we wanted to investigate which dysfunctions of the cognitive processes are able to explain those difficulties. Literature shows that inhibition troubles of non pertinent information cause a false processing of schizophrenic patients information. Our objectives is to show that those failures can also be lead by a lack of attentionnal control. Modifying the paradigm of repeated recuperation (Anderson et al., 1994) we were able to show that the RIFeffect (Retrieval Induced Forgetting) could rather be a result of a lack of attentionnal control than of an inhibition of recuperation. In the same way, looking at schizophrenic patients, our results show that a deficiency in the selection of pertinent information could be a consequence of a dysfunction of the control function rather than a consequence of an inhibition deficiency. If schizophrenic patients are unable to complete a task implying a control process (Jacoby, 1991), they are able to apply a strategy using an automatic processing of the environment (revelation effect). Schizophrenia could be associated with SAS inefficiency (Norman and Shallice, 1986), so the patients suffering from it use automatic processes to interact with the environment. In order to cure cognitive deficiencies associated with schizophrenia our results show the need of applying strategies or cognitive aid implicating the integrity of automatic processes.MONTPELLIER-BU Lettres (341722103) / SudocSudocFranceF

Separation of Am (III) by solvent extraction using water-soluble H4tpaen derivatives

International audienc

On the importance of intraspecific variability for the quantification of functional diversity

International audienc

Recovery of uranium (VI) from concentrated phosphoric acid using bifunctional reagents

International audienc