Phosphorylation of p65(RelA) on Ser547 by ATM Represses NF-κB-Dependent Transcription of Specific Genes after Genotoxic Stress

The NF-κB pathway is involved in immune and inflammation responses, proliferation, differentiation and cell death or survival. It is activated by many external stimuli including genotoxic stress. DNA double-strand breaks activate NF-κB in an ATM-dependent manner. In this manuscript, a direct interaction between p65(RelA) and the N-terminal extremity of ATM is reported. We also report that only one of the five potential ATM-(S/T)Q target sites present in p65, namely Ser547, is specifically phosphorylated by ATM in vitro. A comparative transcriptomic analysis performed in HEK-293 cells expressing either wild-type HA-p65 or a non-phosphorylatable mutant HA-p65S547A identified several differentially transcribed genes after an etoposide treatment (e.g. IL8, A20, SELE). The transcription of these genes is increased in cells expressing the mutant. Substitution of Ser547 to alanine does not affect p65 binding abilities on the κB site of the IL8 promoter but reduces p65 interaction with HDAC1. Cells expressing p65S547A have a higher level of histone H3 acetylated on Lys9 at the IL8 promoter, which is in agreement with the higher gene induction observed. These results indicate that ATM regulates a sub-set of NF-κB dependent genes after a genotoxic stress by direct phosphorylation of p65

Disaggregation of SMOS soil moisture over West Africa using the Temperature and Vegetation Dryness Index based on SEVIRI land surface parameters

The overarching objective of this study was to produce a disaggregated SMOS Soil Moisture (SM) product using land surface parameters from a geostationary satellite in a region covering a diverse range of ecosystem types. SEVIRI data at 15 minute temporal resolution were used to derive the Temperature and Vegetation Dryness Index (TVDI) that served as SM proxy within the disaggregation process. West Africa (3 N, 26 W; 28 N, 26 E) was selected as a case study as it presents both an important North-South climate gradient and a diverse range of ecosystem types. The main challenge was to set up a methodology applicable over a large area that overcomes the constraints of SMOS (low spatial resolution) and TVDI (requires similar atmospheric forcing and triangular shape formed when plotting morning rise temperature versus fraction of vegetation cover) in order to produce a 0.05 degree resolution disaggregated SMOS SM product at sub-continental scale. Consistent cloud cover appeared as one of the main constraints for deriving TVDI, especially during the rainy season and in the southern parts of the region and a large adjustment window (105x105 SEVIRI pixels) was therefore deemed necessary. Both the original and the disaggregated SMOS SM products described well the seasonal dynamics observed at six locations of in situ observations. However, there was an overestimation in both products for sites in the humid southern regions; most likely caused by the presence of forest. Both TVDI and the associated disaggregated SM product was found to be highly sensitive to algorithm input parameters; especially of conditions of high fraction of vegetation cover. Additionally, seasonal dynamics in TVDI did not follow the seasonal patters of SM. Still, its spatial heterogeneity was found to be a good proxy for disaggregating SMOS SM data; main river networks and spatial patterns of SM extremes (i.e. droughts and floods) not seen in the original SMOS SM product were revealed in the disaggregated SM product for a test case of July-September 2012. The disaggregation methodology thereby successfully increased the spatial resolution of SMOS SM, with potential application for local drought/flood monitoring of importance for the livelihood of the population of West Africa

Northern Eurasia Future Initiative (NEFI): facing the challenges and pathways of global change in the 21st century

During the past several decades, the Earth system has changed significantly, especially across Northern Eurasia. Changes in the socio-economic conditions of the larger countries in the region have also resulted in a variety of regional environmental changes that can have global consequences. The Northern Eurasia Future Initiative (NEFI) has been designed as an essential continuation of the Northern Eurasia Earth Science Partnership Initiative (NEESPI), which was launched in 2004. NEESPI sought to elucidate all aspects of ongoing environmental change, to inform societies and, thus, to better prepare societies for future developments. A key principle of NEFI is that these developments must now be secured through science-based strategies co-designed with regional decision makers to lead their societies to prosperity in the face of environmental and institutional challenges. NEESPI scientific research, data, and models have created a solid knowledge base to support the NEFI program. This paper presents the NEFI research vision consensus based on that knowledge. It provides the reader with samples of recent accomplishments in regional studies and formulates new NEFI science questions. To address these questions, nine research foci are identified and their selections are briefly justified. These foci include: warming of the Arctic; changing frequency, pattern, and intensity of extreme and inclement environmental conditions; retreat of the cryosphere; changes in terrestrial water cycles; changes in the biosphere; pressures on land-use; changes in infrastructure; societal actions in response to environmental change; and quantification of Northern Eurasia's role in the global Earth system. Powerful feedbacks between the Earth and human systems in Northern Eurasia (e.g., mega-fires, droughts, depletion of the cryosphere essential for water supply, retreat of sea ice) result from past and current human activities (e.g., large scale water withdrawals, land use and governance change) and potentially restrict or provide new opportunities for future human activities. Therefore, we propose that Integrated Assessment Models are needed as the final stage of global change assessment. The overarching goal of this NEFI modeling effort will enable evaluation of economic decisions in response to changing environmental conditions and justification of mitigation and adaptation efforts

Bulletin agrométéorologique - Juin 2004

Les paramètres climatiques du mois de juin furent tous proches de la moyenne, exception faite de l'ensoleillement qui fut largement déficitaire sur l’est du pays. La situation des céréales d’hiver et de la pomme de terre est globalement favorable laissant entrevoir des rendements généralement supérieurs à ceux de 2003. Par contre, les prévisions relatives au maïs fourrager et à la betterave sucrière montrent que ces cultures pourraient connaître, au niveau national, une légère baisse par rapport à l’année passée

Bulletin agrométéorologique - mai 2005

Si la situation météorologique est globalement normale en Belgique, dans certaines régions, le manque de précipitations cumulées depuis le début du printemps commence à inquiéter. A ce stade de l’année culturale, les prévisions de rendements indiquent le maïs fourrager comme étant la culture la plus touchée par les conditions climatiques qui prévalent depuis plusieurs mois. Par contre, sur le plan national, par rapport à l’année passée, l’orge d’hiver et la pomme de terre Bintje marquent une certaine stabilité, tandis que le froment d’hiver et la betterave sucrière devraient voir leurs rendements légèrement augmenter

Bulletin agrométéorologique - Mai 2004

Les températures et l'ensoleillement du mois de mai furent légèrement inférieurs à la moyenne. En revanche, les précipitations déficitaires furent généralisées et les périodes sans pluie ont atteint près de trois semaines en certaines régions. La situation des cultures est globalement favorable laissant entrevoir des rendements généralement semblables, voire supérieurs à ceux de 2003

Bulletin agrométéorologique - Août 2004

Le mois d’août a été caractérisé par des précipitations, des vitesses de vent et une humidité anormalement élevées. Les valeurs de rayonnement étaient par contre anormalement faibles. Les rendements prévus pour le maïs fourrager sont légèrement inférieurs à ceux observés au cours des cinq années antérieures. Par contre, concernant la betterave sucrière et la pomme de terre mi-hâtive, la tendance est inverse avec des estimations globalement supérieures à la moyenne des cinq dernières années

Bulletin agrométéorologique - Septembre 2005

Le mois de septembre fut anormalement chaud et ensoleillé. Les précipitations furent par contre inférieures à la moyenne. A ce stade-ci de l’année, seules les prévisions relatives aux rendements du maïs fourrager et de la betterave sucrière sont calculées. Par rapport à l’année dernière et, sur l’ensemble du territoire, les prévisions de rendements de la betterave sucrière sont équivalentes, tandis que celles du maïs sont légèrement à la baisse

Bulletin agrométéorologique - Août 2005

Le mois d’août a été caractérisé par des valeurs climatiques proches de la normale. Cependant, les températures et les valeurs de rayonnement étaient anormalement faibles. Par rapport à l’année dernière et, sur l’ensemble du territoire, les prévisions de rendements des principales cultures printanières sont équivalentes dans le cas de la betterave sucrière, et à la baisse pour le maïs fourrager et la pomme de terre Bintje