Peak-valley-peak pattern of histone modifications delineates active regulatory elements and their directionality

Formation of nucleosome free region (NFR) accompanied by specific histone modifications at flanking nucleosomes is an important prerequisite for enhancer and promoter activity. Due to this process, active regulatory elements often exhibit a distinct shape of histone signal in the form of a peak-valley-peak (PVP) pattern. However, different features of PVP patterns and their robustness in predicting active regulatory elements have never been systematically analyzed. Here, we present PARE, a novel computational method that systematically analyzes the H3K4me1 or H3K4me3 PVP patterns to predict NFRs. We show that NFRs predicted by H3K4me1 and me3 patterns are associated with active enhancers and promoters, respectively. Furthermore, asymmetry in the height of peaks flanking the central valley can predict the directionality of stable transcription at promoters. Using PARE on ChIP-seq histone modifications from four ENCODE cell lines and four hematopoietic differentiation stages, we identified several enhancers whose regulatory activity is stage specific and correlates positively with the expression of proximal genes in a particular stage. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that PVP patterns delineate both the histone modification landscape and the transcriptional activities governed by active enhancers and promoters, and therefore can be used for their prediction. PARE is freely available at http://servers.binf.ku.dk/pare

Enhancer and Transcription Factor Dynamics during Myeloid Differentiation Reveal an Early Differentiation Block in <i>Cebpa null</i> Progenitors

Transcription factors PU.1 and CEBPA are required for the proper coordination of enhancer activity during granulocytic-monocytic (GM) lineage differentiation to form myeloid cells. However, precisely how these factors control the chronology of enhancer establishment during differentiation is not known. Through integrated analyses of enhancer dynamics, transcription factor binding, and proximal gene expression during successive stages of murine GM-lineage differentiation, we unravel the distinct kinetics by which PU.1 and CEBPA coordinate GM enhancer activity. We find no evidence of a pioneering function of PU.1 during late GM-lineage differentiation. Instead, we delineate a set of enhancers that gain accessibility in a CEBPA-dependent manner, suggesting a pioneering function of CEBPA. Analyses of Cebpa null bone marrow demonstrate that CEBPA controls PU.1 levels and, unexpectedly, that the loss of CEBPA results in an early differentiation block. Taken together, our data provide insights into how PU.1 and CEBPA functionally interact to drive GM-lineage differentiation

Comparing belt positions for monitoring the descending aorta by EIT

In electrical impedance tomography, the impedance changes stemming from the descending aorta contain valuable information for haemodynamic monitoring. However, the low signal strength necessitates an optimal measurement setup. Among different belt positions investigated in this work, a transversal and low placement is the best choice for detecting signals of the descending aorta

APSIC: Training and fitting amputees during situations of daily living

Today, the prevalence of major amputation in France can be estimated between 90,000 and 100,000 and the incidence is about 8300 new amputations per year (according to French National Authority for Health estimation). This prevalence is expected to increase in the next decade due to the ageing of the population. Even if prosthetic fitting allows amputee people recovering the walking ability, their autonomy remains limited when crossing obstacles such as slopes, stairs or cross-slopes frequently encountered during outdoors displacements. The aim of the project APSIC was to complete scientific knowledge about adaptation strategies to situations of daily living compared to level walking through an extensive motion analysis study of transtibial and transfemoral amputee compared to non-amputee people. APSIC succeeded in identifying physiologic joint functions and current prosthetic joint limitations in the studied situations, which notably resulted in the design of a prototype of ankle-knee prosthesis adapted to multimodal locomotion of transfemoral amputee. Perspectives of the clinical use of motion analysis within the rehabilitation process were explored and proved to be relevant for personalized approach of motor learning

The SuperCam Instrument Suite on the Mars 2020 Rover: Science Objectives and Mast-Unit Description

On the NASA 2020 rover mission to Jezero crater, the remote determination of the texture, mineralogy and chemistry of rocks is essential to quickly and thoroughly characterize an area and to optimize the selection of samples for return to Earth. As part of the Perseverance payload, SuperCam is a suite of five techniques that provide critical and complementary observations via Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS), Time-Resolved Raman and Luminescence (TRR/L), visible and near-infrared spectroscopy (VISIR), high-resolution color imaging (RMI), and acoustic recording (MIC). SuperCam operates at remote distances, primarily 2-7 m, while providing data at sub-mm to mm scales. We report on SuperCam's science objectives in the context of the Mars 2020 mission goals and ways the different techniques can address these questions. The instrument is made up of three separate subsystems: the Mast Unit is designed and built in France; the Body Unit is provided by the United States; the calibration target holder is contributed by Spain, and the targets themselves by the entire science team. This publication focuses on the design, development, and tests of the Mast Unit; companion papers describe the other units. The goal of this work is to provide an understanding of the technical choices made, the constraints that were imposed, and ultimately the validated performance of the flight model as it leaves Earth, and it will serve as the foundation for Mars operations and future processing of the data.In France was provided by the Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES). Human resources were provided in part by the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) and universities. Funding was provided in the US by NASA's Mars Exploration Program. Some funding of data analyses at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) was provided by laboratory-directed research and development funds

Synthèse et étude cristallochimique de quelques aluminates et ferrites calciques hydratés de formule [Ca2 M(OH)6]+, [X,nH2O]- avec X=Cl, Br, I, ClO4, 1/2CO3 1/2CrO4 et 1/2SO4 et M=Al et Fe

This work deals with the synthesis and the crystallographic study of some calcium aluminate and calcium ferrite with structural formulae [Ca2Al1-xFex(OH)6]+ [X, nH2O]-, commonly named "AFm phases" by the cement workers. These compounds belong to the layered double hydroxide (LDH) family and are composed by the stacking of positively charged main layers, and negatively charged interlayers. It was shown that the structural transition of the AFm-Cl phase is due to an ordering of the hydrogen bonds network. The crystallographic structures of several phases, AFm-(Cl, Br), AFm-(Cl, CO3), AFm-(Cl, SO4) and AFm-(CrO4) are given. An application of AFm-Cl like iodide sensor by voltammetric detection is detailed. Finally, calcium ferrite study has shown that a solid solution between aluminium and iron exists. However the substitute of Al3+ by Fe3+ gives some structural modifications, which are clearly emphasised by Mössbauer spectrometry and EXAFS.Ce travail porte sur la synthèse et l'étude cristallographique de quelques aluminates et ferrites de calcium hydratés de formule structurale [Ca2Al1-xFex(OH)6]+ [X, nH2O]-, appelés "phase AFm" par les cimentiers. Ces composés appartiennent à la famille des hydroxydes doubles lamellaires (HDL) et sont formés par l'empilement de feuillets rigides chargés positivement, entre lesquels diverses espèces anioniques peuvent être insérées. La transition structurale de la phase AFm-Cl, a pour origine une organisation du réseau de liaisons hydrogène. Les structures cristallographiques de nombreuses phases, AFm-(Cl, Br), AFm-(Cl, CO3), AFm-(Cl, SO4) et AFm-(CrO4) ont été résolues. Une application de la phase AFm-Cl comme détecteur d'iodure par voltampérométrie a été réalisé. L'étude des ferrites de calcium a montré qu'une solution solide Al et Fe existe. Cependant la substitution de Al3+ par Fe3+ engendre des perturbations structurales mises en évidences par spectrométrie Mössbauer et EXAFS

Synthèse et étude cristallochimique de quelques aluminates et ferrites calciques hydratés de formule [Ca2 M(OH)6]+, [X,nH2O]- avec X=Cl, Br, I, ClO4, 1/2CO3 1/2CrO4 et 1/2SO4 et M=Al et Fe

Ce travail porte sur la synthèse et l'étude cristallographique de quelques aluminates et ferrites de calcium hydratés de formule structurale [Ca2Al1-xFex(OH)6]+ [X, nH2O]-, appelés "phase AFm" par les cimentiers. Ces composés appartiennent à la famille des hydroxydes doubles lamellaires (HDL) et sont formés par l'empilement de feuillets rigides chargés positivement, entre lesquels diverses espèces anioniques peuvent être insérées. La transition structurale de la phase AFm-Cl, a pour origine une organisation du réseau de liaisons hydrogène. Les structures cristallographiques de nombreuses phases, AFm-(Cl, Br), AFm-(Cl, CO3), AFm-(Cl, SO4) et AFm-(CrO4) ont été résolues. Une application de la phase AFm-Cl comme détecteur d'iodure par voltampérométrie a été réalisé. L'étude des ferrites de calcium a montré qu'une solution solide Al et Fe existe. Cependant la substitution de Al3+ par Fe3+ engendre des perturbations structurales mises en évidences par spectrométrie Mössbauer et EXAFS.This work deals with the synthesis and the crystallographic study of some calcium aluminate and calcium ferrite with structural formulae [Ca2Al1-xFex(OH)6]+ [X, nH2O]-, commonly named "AFm phases" by the cement workers. These compounds belong to the layered double hydroxide (LDH) family and are composed by the stacking of positively charged main layers, and negatively charged interlayers. It was shown that the structural transition of the AFm-Cl phase is due to an ordering of the hydrogen bonds network. The crystallographic structures of several phases, AFm-(Cl, Br), AFm-(Cl, CO3), AFm-(Cl, SO4) and AFm-(CrO4) are given. An application of AFm-Cl like iodide sensor by voltammetric detection is detailed. Finally, calcium ferrite study has shown that a solid solution between aluminium and iron exists. However the substitute of Al3+ by Fe3+ gives some structural modifications, which are clearly emphasised by Mössbauer spectrometry and EXAFS.NANCY1-SCD Sciences & Techniques (545782101) / SudocSudocFranceF

Bilan des apports par les affluents au Léman et au Rhône à l'aval de Genève

National audienc