VALIDATION OF A NEW HNO3 LINE PARAMETERS AT 7.6 μm USING LABORATORY INTENSITY MEASUREMENTS AND MIPAS SATELLITE SPECTRA

A new set of line parameters (positions, intensities and line widths) for nitric acid has been generated in the 7.6~$mu$m region using the results of recent high quality experimental laboratory studies and of theoretical calculations. The validation of this new database was performed thanks to limb emission radiances measured in 2002-2012 by the "Michelson Interferometer for Passive Atmospheric Sounding" (MIPAS) instrument on board the ENVISAT satellite. This study will help to improve HNO$_3$ satellite retrievals by allowing measurements to be performed using simultaneously 11~$mu$m and 7.6~$mu$m microwindows. Hopefully this will be the case for the forthcoming Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer New Generation (IASI-NG) instrument developed by CNES. IASI-NG will be the key payload element of the future METOP Second Generation (METOP-SG) series of EUMETSAT meteorological polar-orbit satellites

SEMIEXPERIMENTAL STRUCTURE OF THE NON-RIGID BF2OH MOLECULE BY COMBINING HIGH RESOLUTION INFRARED SPECTROSCOPY AND AB INITIO CALCULATIONS.

In BF$_2$OH, difluoroboric acid, the OH group is the subject of a large amplitude torsion motion which induces a splitting in the rotational spectrum as well as in the high-resolution infrared spectrum. It is interesting to check whether it is still posible to determine a semiexperimental equilibrium structure for such a molecule. For this goal, the rotation-vibration interactions constants have been experimentally determined by analyzing all the fondamental bands. They have also been computed ab initio using two different levels of theory. The results of the analysis as well as the determination of the structure will be reported

Formaldehyde around 3.5 and 5.7-µm: measurement and calculation of broadening coefficients

International audienceSelf- and N2-broadening coefficients of H2CO have been retrieved in both the 3.5 and 5.7-μm spectral regions. These coefficients have been measured in FT spectra for transitions with various J (from 0 to 25) and K values (from 0 to 10), showing a clear dependence with both rotational quantum numbers J and K. First, an empirical model is presented to reproduce the rotational dependence of the measured self- and N2-broadening coefficients. Then, calculations of N2-broadening of H2CO were made for some for 3296 2 transitions using the semi-classical Robert-Bonamy formalism. These calculations have been done for various temperatures in order to obtain the temperature dependence of the line widths. Finally, self- and N2-broadening coefficients, as well as temperature dependence of the N2-widths has been generated to complete the whole HITRAN 2008 version of formaldehyde (available as supplementary materials)

New vibrational assignments for the nu1 to nu17 vibrational modes of aziridine and first analysis of the high resolution infrared spectrum of aziridine between 720 cm-1 and 1050 cm-1

International audienceFourier transform spectra of aziridine (C2H4NH) were recorded at high resolution (0.002 or 0.003 cm-1) in the 600-1750 and 1750-4000 cm-1 regions, using a Bruker IFS125HR spectrometer, located at the LISA facility in Creteil. In parallel, the harmonic force field of aziridine was evaluated analytically at the optimized geometry with second-order Møller-Plesset perturbation theory (MP2) together with the correlation-consistent polarized valence triple zeta basis sets cc-pVTZ. These ab initio predictions were used to perform consistent vibrational assignments for the nu1 to nu17 fundamental bands of aziridine observed in the infrared spectra recorded during this study. Finally, a first detailed rotational assignment was performed for two B-type bands located at 772.3571 cm-1 (nu10, CH2 rock) and 997.1592 cm-1 (nu8, NH bend) and for an A-type band located at 904.0429 cm-1 nu17 , ring deform). We noticed that the nu10 band is weakly perturbed, presumably because the v10 = 1 rotational levels are coupled with those of the v18 = 1 dark band located around 817 cm-1 through B-type and C-type Coriolis resonances

A chromosomally integrated bacteriophage in invasive meningococci

Cerebrospinal meningitis is a feared disease that can cause the death of a previously healthy individual within hours. Paradoxically, the causative agent, Neisseria meningitidis, is a common inhabitant of the human nasopharynx, and as such, may be considered a normal, commensal organism. Only in a small proportion of colonized people do the bacteria invade the bloodstream, from where they can cross the blood–brain barrier to cause meningitis. Furthermore, most meningococcal disease is caused by bacteria belonging to only a few of the phylogenetic groups among the large number that constitute the population structure of this genetically variable organism. However, the genetic basis for the differences in pathogenic potential remains elusive. By performing whole genome comparisons of a large collection of meningococcal isolates of defined pathogenic potential we brought to light a meningococcal prophage present in disease-causing bacteria. The phage, of the filamentous family, excises from the chromosome and is secreted from the bacteria via the type IV pilin secretin. Therefore, this element, by spreading among the population, may promote the development of new epidemic clones of N. meningitidis that are capable of breaking the normal commensal relationship with humans and causing invasive disease

Digital Technology To Support Organic Growers ? Mesclun: A Web App To Help Designing Complex Organic Vegetable Production

For organic vegetable growers, combining long rotations involving a high level of plant diversity with intercropping can bring economic and ecological benefits but often increase management complexity and workload. To support the decision making of farmers facing such challenges, the research-action objective of the MESCLUN programme is to develop a web application based on the innovative computer technologies of knowledge graphs and semantic web. In this French transdisciplinary project, we articulate methods and frameworks from different fields (agronomy, economy, design, knowledge and computer engineering) with expertise of agricultural practitioners (organic growers, advisors, teachers, organic farming students). Through an iterative and participatory approach based on co-innovation workshops in 4 contrasted regions of France, we design, develop and test web app prototypes to help farmers to appropriate systemic thinking, explore and assess their “own” solutions in the organisation of complex organic vegetables systems. We will present functionalities/interface of the first web app prototype. We will for example show how the web app can help growers to plan their crops in space and time considering contrasted fertility and plants health strategies as well as marketing requirements. We will also illustrate how different simulations can be assessed from a socio-economic perspective (workload and income). Based on those first results, we will examine the specificities, added value and blind spots of our web app compared to other decision making tools in the organic agricultural sector. To feed a more general debate, we will provide critical discussion points on the potentialities and limitations of innovative digital solutions to support decision making in complex organic farming systems

Prebiotic effects: metabolic and health benefits

The different compartments of the gastrointestinal tract are inhabited by populations of micro-organisms. By far the most important predominant populations are in the colon where a true symbiosis with the host exists that is a key for well-being and health. For such a microbiota, 'normobiosis' characterises a composition of the gut 'ecosystem' in which micro-organisms with potential health benefits predominate in number over potentially harmful ones, in contrast to 'dysbiosis', in which one or a few potentially harmful micro-organisms are dominant, thus creating a disease-prone situation. The present document has been written by a group of both academic and industry experts (in the ILSI Europe Prebiotic Expert Group and Prebiotic Task Force, respectively). It does not aim to propose a new definition of a prebiotic nor to identify which food products are classified as prebiotic but rather to validate and expand the original idea of the prebiotic concept (that can be translated in 'prebiotic effects'), defined as: 'The selective stimulation of growth and/or activity(ies) of one or a limited number of microbial genus(era)/species in the gut microbiota that confer(s) health benefits to the host.' Thanks to the methodological and fundamental research of microbiologists, immense progress has very recently been made in our understanding of the gut microbiota. A large number of human intervention studies have been performed that have demonstrated that dietary consumption of certain food products can result in statistically significant changes in the composition of the gut microbiota in line with the prebiotic concept. Thus the prebiotic effect is now a well-established scientific fact. The more data are accumulating, the more it will be recognised that such changes in the microbiota's composition, especially increase in bifidobacteria, can be regarded as a marker of intestinal health. The review is divided in chapters that cover the major areas of nutrition research where a prebiotic effect has tentatively been investigated for potential health benefits. The prebiotic effect has been shown to associate with modulation of biomarkers and activity(ies) of the immune system. Confirming the studies in adults, it has been demonstrated that, in infant nutrition, the prebiotic effect includes a significant change of gut microbiota composition, especially an increase of faecal concentrations of bifidobacteria. This concomitantly improves stool quality (pH, SCFA, frequency and consistency), reduces the risk of gastroenteritis and infections, improves general well-being and reduces the incidence of allergic symptoms such as atopic eczema. Changes in the gut microbiota composition are classically considered as one of the many factors involved in the pathogenesis of either inflammatory bowel disease or irritable bowel syndrome. The use of particular food products with a prebiotic effect has thus been tested in clinical trials with the objective to improve the clinical activity and well-being of patients with such disorders. Promising beneficial effects have been demonstrated in some preliminary studies, including changes in gut microbiota composition (especially increase in bifidobacteria concentration). Often associated with toxic load and/or miscellaneous risk factors, colon cancer is another pathology for which a possible role of gut microbiota composition has been hypothesised. Numerous experimental studies have reported reduction in incidence of tumours and cancers after feeding specific food products with a prebiotic effect. Some of these studies (including one human trial) have also reported that, in such conditions, gut microbiota composition was modified (especially due to increased concentration of bifidobacteria). Dietary intake of particular food products with a prebiotic effect has been shown, especially in adolescents, but also tentatively in postmenopausal women, to increase Ca absorption as well as bone Ca accretion and bone mineral density. Recent data, both from experimental models and from human studies, support the beneficial effects of particular food products with prebiotic properties on energy homaeostasis, satiety regulation and body weight gain. Together, with data in obese animals and patients, these studies support the hypothesis that gut microbiota composition (especially the number of bifidobacteria) may contribute to modulate metabolic processes associated with syndrome X, especially obesity and diabetes type 2. It is plausible, even though not exclusive, that these effects are linked to the microbiota-induced changes and it is feasible to conclude that their mechanisms fit into the prebiotic effect. However, the role of such changes in these health benefits remains to be definitively proven. As a result of the research activity that followed the publication of the prebiotic concept 15 years ago, it has become clear that products that cause a selective modification in the gut microbiota's composition and/or activity(ies) and thus strengthens normobiosis could either induce beneficial physiological effects in the colon and also in extra-intestinal compartments or contribute towards reducing the risk of dysbiosis and associated intestinal and systemic pathologies

Multiplex PCR for detection of plasmid-mediated colistin resistance determinants, mcr-1, mcr-2, mcr-3, mcr-4 and mcr-5 for surveillance purposes

International audiencePlasmid-mediated colistin resistance mechanisms have been identified worldwide in the past years. A multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) protocol for detection of all currently known transferable colistin resistance genes (mcr-1 to mcr-5, and variants) in Enterobacteriaceae was developed for surveillance or research purposes. Methods: We designed four new primer pairs to amplify mcr-1, mcr-2, mcr-3 and mcr-4 gene products and used the originally described primers for mcr-5 to obtain a stepwise separation of ca 200 bp between amplicons. The primer pairs and amplification conditions allow for single or multiple detection of all currently described mcr genes and their variants present in Enterobacteriaceae. The protocol was validated testing 49 European Escherichia coli and Salmonella isolates of animal origin. Results: Multiplex PCR results in bovine and porcine isolates from Spain, Germany, France and Italy showed full concordance with whole genome sequence data. The method was able to detect mcr-1, mcr-3 and mcr-4 as singletons or in different combinations as they were present in the test isolates. One new mcr-4 variant, mcr-4.3, was also identified. Conclusions: This method allows rapid identification of mcr-positive bacteria and overcomes the challenges of phenotypic detection of colistin resistance. The multiplex PCR should be particularly interesting in settings or laboratories with limited resources for performing genetic analysis as it provides information on the mechanism of colistin resistance without requiring genome sequencing