Automated MRI-based volumetry of basal ganglia and thalamus at the chronic phase of cortical stroke

Purpose We aimed at assessing the potential of automated MR morphometry to assess individual basal ganglia and thalamus volumetric changes at the chronic phase after cortical stroke. Methods Ninety-six patients (mean age: 65 ± 18 years, male 55) with cortical stroke at the chronic phase were retrospectively included. Patients were scanned at 1.5 T or 3 T using a T1-MPRAGE sequence. Resulting 3D images were processed with the MorphoBox prototype software to automatically segment basal ganglia and thalamus structures, and to obtain Z scores consid- ering the confounding effects of age and sex. Stroke volume was estimated by manual delineation on T2-SE imaging. Z scores were compared between ipsi- and contralateral stroke side and according to the vascular territory. Potential relationship between Z scores and stroke volume was assessed using the Spearman correlation coefficient. Results Basal ganglia and thalamus volume Z scores were lower ipsilaterally to MCA territory stroke (p values < 0.034) while they were not different between ipsi- and contralateral stroke sides in non-MCA territory stroke (p values > 0.37). In MCA territory stroke, ipsilateral caudate nucleus (rho = − 0.34, p = 0.007), putamen (rho = − 0.50, p < 0.001), pallidum (rho = − 0.44, p < 0.001), and thalamus (rho = − 0.48, p < 0.001) volume Z scores negatively correlated with the cortical stroke volume. This relation was not influenced by cardiovascular risk factors or time since stroke. Conclusion Automated MR morphometry demonstrated atrophy of ipsilateral basal ganglia and thalamus at the chronic phase after cortical stroke in the MCA territory. The atrophy was related to stroke volume. These results confirm the potential role for automated MRI morphometry to assess remote changes after stroke

Cis- and Trans-Acting Elements Regulate the Mouse Psmb9 Meiotic Recombination Hotspot

In most eukaryotes, the prophase of the first meiotic division is characterized by a high level of homologous recombination between homologous chromosomes. Recombination events are not distributed evenly within the genome, but vary both locally and at large scale. Locally, most recombination events are clustered in short intervals (a few kilobases) called hotspots, separated by large intervening regions with no or very little recombination. Despite the importance of regulating both the frequency and the distribution of recombination events, the genetic factors controlling the activity of the recombination hotspots in mammals are still poorly understood. We previously characterized a recombination hotspot located close to the Psmb9 gene in the mouse major histocompatibility complex by sperm typing, demonstrating that it is a site of recombination initiation. With the goal of uncovering some of the genetic factors controlling the activity of this initiation site, we analyzed this hotspot in both male and female germ lines and compared the level of recombination in different hybrid mice. We show that a haplotype-specific element acts at distance and in trans to activate about 2,000-fold the recombination activity at Psmb9. Another haplotype-specific element acts in cis to repress initiation of recombination, and we propose this control to be due to polymorphisms located within the initiation zone. In addition, we describe subtle variations in the frequency and distribution of recombination events related to strain and sex differences. These findings show that most regulations observed act at the level of initiation and provide the first analysis of the control of the activity of a meiotic recombination hotspot in the mouse genome that reveals the interactions of elements located both in and outside the hotspot

Mission ornithologique sur l'île Matthew, 16-19 avril 2008

A census of the birds of Matthew Island, south-east of the New Hebrides chain, was taken during a trip of frigateship Vendémiaire of the French Navy, from 16 to 19 April 2008. Fourteen bird species were observed on the islets, including 8 seabirds breeding or potentially breeding (black-winged petrel Pterodroma nigripennis, wedge-tailed shearwater Ardenna pacifica, masked booby Sula dactylatra, brown booby S. leucogaster, red-tailed tropicbird Phaethon rubricauda, brown noddy Anous stolidus, grey noddy Anous albivitta and sooty tern Onychoprion fuscatus), three other seabirds (roosting red-footed booby S. sula, lesser frigatebird Fregata ariel and Pacific frigatebird F. minor), three shorebirds (turnstone Arenaria interpres, Pacific golden plover Pluvialis fulva and tattler Tringa sp.) and the sacred kingfisher Todirhamphus sanctus. No hen or cock (Gallus gallus) was sighted, unlike during previous visits to the island. Series of traps were set overnight for rats but no rodent was captured. Wedge-tailed shearwaters were abundant at sea and in the South-West lagoon of New Caledonia; flocks of migrating short-tailed shearwaters Ardenna tenuirostris were sighted in the Loyalty basin.Un recensement des oiseaux de l’île Matthew, au sud-est de la chaîne des Nouvelles-Hébrides, a été fait à l’occasion d’une mission de souveraineté de la frégate Vendémiaire de la Marine nationale, du 16 au 19 avril 2008. Quatorze espèces d’oiseaux furent observées sur l’île, dont huit oiseaux marins nicheurs ou potentiellement nicheurs (pétrel à ailes noires Pterodroma nigripennis, puffin fouquet Ardenna pacifica, fou masqué Sula dactylatra, fou brun S. leucogaster, phaéton à brins rouges Phaethon rubricauda, noddi brun Anous stolidus, noddi gris Anous albivitta et sterne fuligineuse Onychoprion fuscatus), trois oiseaux marins non nicheurs (fou à pieds rouges S. sula, frégate ariel Fregata ariel et frégate du Pacifique F. minor), trois limicoles (tournepierre à collier Arenaria interpres, pluvier fauve Pluvialis fulva et chevalier Tringa sp.) et le martin-chasseur sacré Todirhamphus sanctus. Aucun coq ni poule (Gallus gallus) n’a été aperçu, à la différence des missions précédentes. Une série de pièges à rats, posés pour la nuit, n’ont capturé aucun rongeur. Le puffin fouquet était abondant en mer et dans le lagon sud-ouest de la Grande Terre ; des rassemblements de puffins à bec grêle Ardenna tenuirostris en migration ont été observés dans le bassin des Loyauté

Morphométrie quantitative automatisée des noyaux gris centraux après AVC cortical : étude de faisabilité

1. Introduction Les modifications du volume cérébral notamment ceux incluant les ganglions de la base et le thalamus pourrait refléter la plasticité cérébrale après un accident vasculaire cérébral (AVC) touchant le cortex hémisphérique. Notre étude s’intéresse au potentiel de la morphométrie cérébrale automatisée par IRM et à son application au niveau individuel afin de quantifier les changements volumétriques à la phase chronique d’un AVC cortical. 2. Méthodologie Dix-neuf patients (âge moyen : 68 ± 21 ans ; homme 9 ; femme 10) présentant un AVC (i.e. un infarctus cérébral) cortical à la phase chronique ont été inclus dans l’étude de manière rétrospective. Tous les patients ont bénéficié d’une IRM cérébrale à 3 Tesla (MAGNETOM Skyra®, Prisma® ou Verio® ; Siemens Healthcare, Erlangen, Germany) utilisant la séquence T1- MPRAGE. Les images 3D ont été traitées de manière automatique avec le prototype Morphobox® (Siemens Healthcare, Erlangen, Germany) afin de segmenter les structures cérébrales suivantes : noyau caudé, pallidum, putamen et thalamus et d’en calculer la volumétrie. Pour chaque sujet, ces volumes ont été divisés par le volume total intracrânien individuel pour obtenir le volume relatif de chaque structure en pourcentage. Ces valeurs ont ensuite été comparées aux valeurs de référence inclues dans Morphobox®, afin d’obtenir pour chaque structure le score z, c’est-à-dire la déviation par rapport à l’intervalle de référence en tenant compte du genre et de l’âge des patients. Dans un deuxième temps, les ganglions de la base et le thalamus ont aussi été classés selon un score de trophicité en 3 points : atrophie (volume < 10ème percentile), normal (≥ 10ème et ≤ 90ème percentile) ou hypertrophie (volume > 90ème percentile). Pour chaque patient inclus dans l’étude, le volume de l’infarctus en mL a été délimité de manière manuelle sur la série T2 axiale écho de spin (T2SE). Les scores z et de trophicité ont été comparés entre le côté ipsilatéral et controlatéral aux AVCs et en fonction des territoires vasculaires atteints grâce au test de Wilcoxon pour les scores z et au test de Fisher pour les scores de trophicité. La relation potentielle entre les scores z des ganglions de la base et du thalamus et le volume de l’AVC a été évaluée en utilisant le coefficient de corrélation rho de Spearman. 3. Résultats Au total, huit patients avaient un AVC cortical touchant l’hémisphère gauche et onze patients avaient un AVC cortical touchant l’hémisphère droit. Douze patients présentaient un infarctus cérébral touchant la vascularisation de l’artère cérébrale moyenne (ACM) et sept patients avaient un infarctus touchant un autre territoire vasculaire (i.e. artère cérébrale antérieure [ACA] ou postérieure [ACP]). Le volume moyen de l’infarctus était de 65 ± 84 mL. Les scores z des volumes du putamen, pallidum et thalamus étaient plus faibles du côté ipsilatéral à l’AVC lorsque celui affectait le territoire de l’ACM (valeurs p < 0.05), alors que le score z du noyau caudé n’était pas significativement différent entre le côté ipsilatéral et controlatéral à l’AVC, ceci quel que soit le territoire vasculaire atteint. En outre, lorsque l’AVC touchait le territoire de l’ACM, il existait une corrélation négative significative entre le volume de l’infarctus cortical et les scores z des volumes du putamen, pallidum et thalamus du côté ipsilatéral à l’AVC (respectivement p = 0.0076, p = 0.06 et p = 0.0037). Finalement en cas d’AVC dans un territoire non vascularisé par l’ACM, une hypertrophie du noyau caudé et du thalamus a été observée plus fréquemment du côté controlatéral à l’AVC (p = 0.048). 4. Discussion et conclusion La segmentation IRM automatique a permis de démonter une atrophie du putamen, pallidum et thalamus à la phase chronique d’un AVC cortical du territoire de l’ACM, du côté ipsilatéral à l’AVC, cette atrophie corrélant avec le volume de l’AVC. Par ailleurs en cas d’AVC cortical dans un territoire autre que l’ACM, une hypertrophie controlatérale plus fréquente a été observée pour le noyau caudé et le thalamus. Ces résultats suggèrent donc des changements induits par la plasticité cérébrale après une AVC cortical. Ainsi pour le patient, la segmentation IRM automatique permettrait d’aider dans la caractérisation de la morphologie cérébrale après un AVC et permettrait d’adapter la prise en charge du déclin des fonctions motrices et cognitives secondaire à l’atrophie des ganglions de la base

L’architecte, l’image et le mot : Le Corbusier dans Cahiers d’art (1926-1933)

Cahiers d’Art, revue éclectique dirigée par Christian Zervos, a accordé, de 1926 à 1933, une place de choix à la personnalité de Le Corbusier, grâce au soutien du directeur et du chroniqueur des pages consacrées à l’architecture, l’historien Siegfried Giedion. L’étude de ce cas précis montre comment Le Corbusier, au-delà de son travail de constructeur, s’impliquait pleinement dans la vie médiatique de son époque. Non content de son activité d’architecte, il fut homme de lettre, homme de presse, publicitaire et propagandiste. Comment l’architecte s’est-il accommodé de ces outils nouveaux qu’étaient pour lui l’image et le mot ?From 1926 to 1933, Cahiers d’Art, the eclectic magazine edited by Christian Zervos, prominently featured – thanks to the support of the editor and of the architecture columnist, historian Siegfried Giedion – Le Corbusier. The study of this specific case demonstrates how Le Corbusier, beyond his work as a builder, was fully involved in the media of his age. In addition to his activity as an architect, he was a man of letters, journalist, adman and propagandist. How did the architect adapt to the new tools of images and words

The Egyptian vulture, a priority conservation issue for Biosphere reserve Luberon-Lure

Depuis sa création en 1977, le Parc naturel régional du Luberon (PNRL) oeuvre à la préservation du Vautour percnoptère Neophron percnopterus. Cet article est basé sur une synthèse bibliographique (non exhaustive) concernant cette espèce en danger d’extinction au niveau mondial (UICN : EN). Un résumé des actions menées par le PNRL est proposé ainsi que des orientations de gestion. La stratégie de conservation préconisée s’appuie sur une extension du dispositif de placettes de soutien alimentaire, progressivement recentré sur la remise à disposition des vautours de la ressource liée au pastoralisme (implication des éleveurs). Le renforcement des actions pour limiter les dérangements humains durant la nidification est aussi nécessaire. L’acquisition de connaissances doit être poursuivie, notamment sur l’évolution des milieux ouverts dans la Réserve de biosphère, l’étude des domaines vitaux des oiseaux durant la nidification, et l’évaluation des menaces au long du couloir de migration et dans les quartiers d’hiver en Afrique. Une démarche concertée en inter-parcs est préconisée.Since its creation in 1977, Luberon Regional Natural Park (LRNP) is implementing conservation actions to preserve the Egyptian vulture Neophron percnopterus. This paper is based on a bibliographical review (not comprehensive) on this globally endangered species (IUCN : EN). Actions implemented by LRNP are summarized, and main management lines for future conservation actions are suggested. The conservation strategy should rely on developing the network of supplementary feeding stations, to progressively reinforce their use by local farmers, in order for this food resource linked to pastoralism to be available again for the vultures. Actions against human disturbances on breeding sites have to be reinforced too. Scientific research and technical studies should continue. Notably to understand the current evolution of open areas within the Biosphere Reserve, to study breeding birds’ home range and to evaluate threats along migration pathway and within wintering quarters in Africa. Cooperation between natural parks is advocated

Development of alcohol use disorder in young Swiss men: The influence of retrospectively perceived parenting profiles

This four-wave longitudinal study aimed to examine the associations between retrospectively perceived parenting profiles in adolescence and the development of alcohol use disorder (AUD) throughout emerging adulthood. The cohort consisted of 190 young Swiss men who completed retrospective reports of parenting at baseline and a short AUD self-report screening tool at four measurement times (mean age at baseline = 20.18; Time 1: 21.52; Time 2: 25.61; Time 3: 26.99). Latent profile analysis revealed three parenting profiles in adolescence based on retrospective measures of parenting styles and practices: Optimal (the highest levels of involvement, structure and knowledge; 69%), Uninformed (high levels of involvement, moderate levels of structure and the lowest levels of knowledge; 17%), Low Support (the lowest levels of involvement, moderate levels of structure and knowledge; 14%). Using latent growth curve analysis, we found that young men in the Low Support profile experienced a greater increase in AUD severity compared with those in the Uninformed and Optimal profiles. Young men in the Uninformed profile reported higher levels of AUD severity at baseline than those in the Optimal profile. These findings highlight the associations between retrospectively perceived parenting profiles during adolescence and the development of AUD during emerging adulthood

ERBlox: Combining Matching Dependencies with Machine Learning for Entity Resolution

Entity resolution (ER), an important and common data cleaning problem, is about detecting data duplicate representations for the same external entities, and merging them into single representations. Relatively recently, declarative rules called matching dependencies (MDs) have been proposed for specifying similarity conditions under which attribute values in database records are merged. In this work we show the process and the benefits of integrating three components of ER: (a) Classifiers for duplicate/non-duplicate record pairs built using machine learning (ML) techniques, (b) MDs for supporting both the blocking phase of ML and the merge itself; and (c) The use of the declarative language LogiQL -an extended form of Datalog supported by the LogicBlox platform- for data processing, and the specification and enforcement of MDs.Comment: To appear in Proc. SUM, 201

Intercomparison exercise on difficult to measure radionuclides in spent ion exchange resin

A need for method validation in radiochemical analyses of decommissioning waste is a challenging task due to lack of commercial reference materials. Participation in an intercomparison exercise is one way for a laboratory to assess their performance and validate their analysis results. A three-year project within the Nordic Nuclear Safety Research (NKS) community was initiated in order to carry out intercomparison exercises on difficult to measure (DTM) radionuclides in real decommissioning waste. Both Nordic and Non-Nordic laboratories participated. This paper reports the results from the final year of the project focusing on beta- and gamma emitter (i.e., easy to measure, ETM) analysis in spent ion exchange resin. The assigned values were derived from the participants' results according to ISO 13528 standard and the performances were assessed using z scores. The results showed generally good performances for both DTMs and ETMs.Peer reviewe

Adolescents’ responses to parental regulation: The role of communication style and self-determination

This study examined whether adolescents’ perceptions and reactions to parental regulation were predicted by parents’ communication style and by adolescents’ self-determination. Adolescents (N = 294; Mage = 14.3) reported their self determination, and then read a hypothetical scenario of parental regulation of their academic behavior, whereby parents’ communication style was either autonomy-supportive or psychologically controlling. Following the scenario, adolescents reported their perceptions of the situation (i.e., autonomy satisfaction, autonomy frustration, legitimacy) and their anticipated responses (i.e., oppositional defiance, negotiation). In response to psychological control, adolescents reported less autonomy satisfaction, more autonomy frustration, less legitimacy, and more defiance. Further, adolescents higher in self-determination reported less autonomy frustration, more legitimacy, less defiance, and more negotiation. Finally, self-determination moderated two effects of communication style: adolescents low on self-determination reported less legitimacy and more defiance in response to the psychologically controlling (vs. autonomy-supportive) situation. For adolescents high on self determination, these between-vignette differences were not significant