2013-14 UNOPA General Meeting Minutes

(Retrouvez l'archive sonore à la fin de ce billet) Jacques Emile Blamont, professeur émérite à l’université de Pierre et Marie Curie et membre de l’Académie des sciences, a joué un rôle déterminant dans la naissance des activités spatiales. On lui doit notamment l’idée d’envoyer des ballons atmosphériques sur Vénus, la découverte du vent interstellaire et de l’enveloppe des comètes (1971). Dans une démarche de préservation de l’histoire via les archives sonores, il a accepté de nous livrer so..

Supervivència de pacients amb càncer de pròstata localitzat amb models de riscos proporcionals

Les dades d'aquest treball provenen d'un estudi de seguiment de 766 pacients diagnosticats de càncer de pròstata localitzat i reclutats consecutivament en 10 departaments hospitalaris espanyols. Per tal de comparar l'efectivitat de les 3 opcions terapèutiques més establertes per a aquest càncer (Prostatectomia Radical, Braquiteràpia Prostàtica, Radioteràpia Conformacional Externa 3D) s'ha utilitzat el model de riscos proporcionals de Cox. També s'ha fet un estudi exhaustiu dels residus

Supervivència de pacients amb càncer de pròstata localitzat amb models de riscos proporcionals

Les dades d'aquest treball provenen d'un estudi de seguiment de 766 pacients diagnosticats de càncer de pròstata localitzat i reclutats consecutivament en 10 departaments hospitalaris espanyols. Per tal de comparar l'efectivitat de les 3 opcions terapèutiques més establertes per a aquest càncer (Prostatectomia Radical, Braquiteràpia Prostàtica, Radioteràpia Conformacional Externa 3D) s'ha utilitzat el model de riscos proporcionals de Cox. També s'ha fet un estudi exhaustiu dels residus

Lecciones aprendidas (en «estética de la demarcación»)

Quisiera comenzar trasparentando el modo como me he vinculado con el libro aquí referido —«Estética de la demarcación», por Rodrigo Zúñiga— pues ello permitirá aclarar también la forma como he dialogado con aquel respecto a muchos de sus argumentos, cuestión que luego detallaré: en primer lugar, mientras varias voces opinan que debiésemos olvidar las relaciones paternales con la figura de «los maestros» —en la medida en que debilitan las posibles potencias de la actualidad al rendirles constantes y sometidos tributos— los que me conocen sabrán que no tengo reparos en declarar públicamente que sigo aprendiendo con las lecciones del autor de este escrito. Por ello, cuando recibí un borrador casi finalizado, mi primera aproximación fue la de quien se apresta con voracidad a encontrar nuevas respuestas sobre viejas preguntas, en este caso, aquellas que parecen enmarcar el decurso de la disciplina estética en oc- cidente, es decir, los asuntos adscritos a la ética generada por la realización artística como problema por ser reflexionado. Por supuesto, mis expectativas no fueron defraudadas

Characterization of lead-recycling facility emissions at various workplaces: Major insights for sanitary risks assessment

Most available studies on lead smelter emissions deal with the environmental impact of outdoor particles, but only a few focus on air quality at workplaces. The objective of this study is to physically and chemically characterize the Pb-rich particles emitted at different workplaces in a lead recycling plant. A multiscale characterization was conducted from bulk analysis to the level of individual particles, to assess the particles properties in relation with Pb speciation and availability. Process PM from various origins were sampled and then compared; namely Furnace and Refining PM respectively present in the smelter and at refinery workplaces, Emissions PM present in channeled emissions. These particles first differed by their morphology and size distribution, with finer particles found in emissions. Differences observed in chemical composition could be explained by the industrial processes. All PM contained the same major phases (Pb, PbS, PbO, PbSO4 and PbO·PbSO4) but differed on the nature and amount of minor phases. Due to high content in PM, Pb concentrations in the CaCl2 extractant reached relatively high values (40mgL−1). However, the ratios (soluble/total) of CaCl2 exchangeable Pb were relatively low (<0.02%) in comparison with Cd (up to 18%). These results highlight the interest to assess the soluble fractions of all metals (minor and major) and discuss both total metal concentrations and ratios for risk evaluations. In most cases metal extractability increased with decreasing size of particles, in particular, lead exchangeability was highest for channeled emissions. Such type of study could help in the choice of targeted sanitary protection procedures and for further toxicological investigations. In the present context, particular attention is given to Emissions and Furnace PM. Moreover, exposure to other metals than Pb should be considered

Metal and metalloid foliar uptake by various plant species exposed to atmospheric industrial fallout: Mechanisms involved for lead

Fine and ultrafine metallic particulatematters (PMs) are emitted frommetallurgic activities in peri-urban zones into the atmosphere and can be deposited in terrestrial ecosystems. The foliar transfer ofmetals andmetalloids and their fate in plant leaves remain unclear, although this way of penetration may be a major contributor to the transfer of metals into plants. This study focused on the foliar uptake of various metals and metalloids from enriched PM(Cu, Zn, Cd, Sn, Sb, As, and especially lead (Pb)) resulting fromthe emissions of a battery-recycling factory.Metal and metalloid foliar uptake by various vegetable species, exhibiting different morphologies, use (food or fodder) and life-cycle (lettuce, parsley and rye-grass) were studied. The mechanisms involved in foliar metal transfer from atmospheric particulate matter fallout, using lead (Pb) as a model element was also investigated. Several complementary techniques (micro-X-ray fluorescence, scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry) were used to investigate the localization and the speciation of lead in their edible parts, i.e. leaves. The results showed lead-enriched PM on the surface of plant leaves. Biogeochemical transformations occurred on the leaf surfaces with the formation of lead secondary species (PbCO3 and organic Pb). Some compounds were internalized in their primary form (PbSO4) underneath an organic layer. Internalization through the cuticle or penetration through stomata openings are proposed as two major mechanisms involved in foliar uptake of particulate matter

Neurotensin receptors (version 2019.4) in the IUPHAR/BPS Guide to Pharmacology Database

Neurotensin receptors (nomenclature as recommended by NC-IUPHAR [38]) are activated by the endogenous tridecapeptide neurotensin (pGlu-Leu-Tyr-Glu-Asn-Lys-Pro-Arg-Arg-Pro-Tyr-Ile-Leu) derived from a precursor (NTS, 30990), which also generates neuromedin N, an agonist at the NTS2 receptor. [3H]neurotensin (human, mouse, rat) and [125I]neurotensin (human, mouse, rat) may be used to label NTS1 and NTS2 receptors at 0.1-0.3 and 3-5 nM concentrations respectively

Neurotensin receptors in GtoPdb v.2023.1

Neurotensin receptors (nomenclature as recommended by NC-IUPHAR [39]) are activated by the endogenous tridecapeptide neurotensin (pGlu-Leu-Tyr-Glu-Asn-Lys-Pro-Arg-Arg-Pro-Tyr-Ile-Leu) derived from a precursor (NTS, 30990), which also generates neuromedin N, an agonist at the NTS2 receptor. [3H]neurotensin (human, mouse, rat) and [125I]neurotensin (human, mouse, rat) may be used to label NTS1 and NTS2 receptors at 0.1-0.3 and 3-5 nM concentrations respectively

Sampling, defining, characterising and modeling the rhizosphere—the soil science tool box

We review methods and models that help to assess how root activity changes soil properties and affects the fluxes of matter in the soil. Subsections discuss (1) experimental systems including plant treatments in artificial media, studying the interaction of model root and microbial exudates with soil constituents, and microcosms to distinguish between soil compartments differing in root influence, (2) the sampling and characterization of rhizosphere soil and solution, focusing on the separation of soil at different distances from roots and the spatially resolved sampling of soil solution, (3) cutting-edge methodologies to study chemical effects in soil, including the estimation of bioavailable element or ion contents (biosensors, diffusive gradients in thin-films), studying the ultrastructure of soil components, localizing elements and determining their chemical form (microscopy, diffractometry, spectroscopy), tracing the compartmentalization of substances in soils (isotope probing, autoradiography), and imaging gradients in-situ with micro electrodes or gels or filter papers containing dye indicators, (4) spectroscopic and geophysical methods to study the plants influence on the distribution of water in soils, and (5) the modeling of rhizosphere processes. Macroscopic models with a rudimentary depiction of rhizosphere processes are used to predict water or nutrient requirements by crops and forests, to estimate biogeochemical element cycles, to calculate soil water transport on a profile scale, or to simulate the development of root systems. Microscopic or explanatory models are based on mechanistic or empirical relations that describe processes on a single root or root system scale and/or chemical reactions in soil solution. We conclude that in general we have the tools at hand to assess individual processes on the microscale under rather artificial conditions. Microscopic, spectroscopic and tracer methods to look at processes in small "aliquots” of naturally structured soil seem to step out of their infancy and have become promising tools to better understand the complex interactions between plant roots, soil and microorganisms. On the field scale, while there are promising first results on using non-invasive geophysical methods to assess the plant's influence on soil moisture, there are no such tools in the pipeline to assess the spatial heterogeneity of chemical properties and processes in the field. Here, macroscopic models have to be used, or model results on the microscopic level have to be scaled up to the whole plant or plot scale. Upscaling is recognized as a major challeng

Prevalence of claims-based recurrent low back pain in a Canadian population: A secondary analysis of an administrative database

BACKGROUND: There is a vast literature reporting that the point prevalence of low back pain (LBP) is high and increasing. It is also known that a large proportion of acute LBP episodes are recurrent within 12 months. However, few studies report the annual trends in the prevalence of recurrent LBP or describe these trends according to age and sex categories. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study involving 401 264 adults selected from the administrative database of physician claims for the province of Quebec, Canada. These adults, aged 18 years and over, met the criteria of having consulted a physician three times within a 365-day period between 2000 and 2007 for a LBP condition corresponding to ICD-9 codes 721, 722, 724 or 739. All data were analyzed by sex and clustered according to specific age categories. RESULTS: We observed a decrease from 1.64% to 1.33% in the annual prevalence between 2000 and 2007 for men. This decrease in prevalence was mostly observed between 35 and 59 years of age. Older (≥65 years) women were 1.35 times more at risk to consult a physician for LBP in a recurrent manner than older men. The most frequently reported diagnosis was non-specific LBP between 2000 to 2007. During the same period, sequelae of previous back surgery and spinal stenosis were the categories with the largest increases. CONCLUSION: The annual prevalence of claims-based recurrent LBP progressively decreased between 2000 and 2007 for younger adults (<65 years) while older adults (≥65 years) showed an increase. Given the aging Canadian population, recurrent low back pain could have an increasing impact on the quality of life of the elderly as well as on the healthcare system