SynDEx executive kernel development for DSPs TI C6x applied to real-time and embedded multiprocessors architectures

International audienceReal time signal, image and control applications have very important time constraints, involving the use of several powerful numerical calculation units. The aim of our project is to develop a fast prototyping process dedicated to parallel architectures made of several last generation Texas Instruments digital signal processors : TMS320C6X DSP. We use SynDEx, a CAD software developed to improve algorithm implementation onto multiprocessor architectures, finding the best matching between an algorithm and an architecture. We have developed a SynDEx executive kernel for the C6X DSP family, in order to automatically generate a distributed and optimized static executive of the specified algorithm onto those processors

A new AMPK activator, GSK773, corrects fatty acid oxidation and differentiation defect in CPT2-deficient myotubes

International audienceCarnitine palmitoyl transferase 2 (CPT2) deficiency is one of the most common inherited fatty acid oxidation (FAO) defects and represents a prototypical mitochondrial metabolic myopathy. Recent studies have suggested a pivotal role of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in skeletal muscle plasticity and mitochondrial homeostasis. Thus, we tested the potential of GSK773, a novel direct AMPK activator, to improve or correct FAO capacities in muscle cells from patients harboring various mutations. We used controls' and patients' myotubes and studied the parameters of FAO metabolism, of mitochondrial quantity and quality and of differentiation. We found that AMPK is constitutively activated in patients' myotubes, which exhibit both reduced FAO and impaired differentiation. GSK773 improves or corrects several metabolic hallmarks of CPT2 deficiency (deficient FAO flux and C16-acylcarnitine accumulation) by upregulating the expression of CPT2 protein. Beneficial effects of GSK773 are also likely due to stimulation of mitochondrial biogenesis and induction of mitochondrial fusion, by decreasing dynamin-related protein 1 and increasing mitofusin 2. GSK773 also induces a shift in myosin heavy chain isoforms toward the slow oxidative type and, therefore, fully corrects the differentiation process. We establish, through small interfering RNA knockdowns and pharmacological approaches, that these GSK773 effects are mediated through peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma co-activator 1-alpha, reactive oxygen species and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, all key players of skeletal muscle plasticity. GSK773 recapitulates several important features of skeletal muscle adaptation to exercise. The results show that AMPK activation by GSK773 evokes the slow, oxidative myogenic program and triggers beneficial phenotypic adaptations in FAO-deficient myotubes. Thus, GSK773 might have therapeutic potential for correction of CPT2 deficiency

Natural-Killer-like B Cells Display the Phenotypic and Functional Characteristics of Conventional B Cells

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The DeepFaune initiative: a collaborative effort towards the automatic identification of Europeanfauna in camera trap images

Camera traps have revolutionized how ecologists monitor wildlife, but their full potential is realized only when the hundreds of thousands of collected images can be readily classified with minimal human intervention. Deep-learning classification models have allowed extraordinary progress towards this end, but trained models remain rare and are only now emerging for European fauna. We report on the first milestone of the DeepFaune initiative (https://www.deepfaune.cnrs.fr), a large-scale collaboration between more than 50 partners involved in wildlife research, conservation and management in France. We developed aclassification model trained to recognize 26 species or higher-level taxa that are common in Europe, with an emphasis on mammals. The classification model achieved 0.97 validation accuracy and often >0.95 precision and recall for many classes. These performances were generally higher than 0.90 when tested on independent out-of-sample datasets for which we used image redundancy contained in sequences of images. We implemented our model in a software to classify images stored locally on a personal computer, so as to provide a free, user-friendly and high-performance tool for wildlife practitioners to automatically classify camera trap images. The DeepFaune initiative is an ongoing project, with new partners joining regularly,which allows us to continuously add new species to the classification model