Embryomorphic Engineering: Emergent innovation through evolutionary development

Embryomorphic Engineering, a particular instance of Morpho-genetic Engineering, takes its inspiration directly from biological development to create new hardware, software or network architectures by decentralized self-assembly of elementary agents. At its core, it combines three key principles of multicellular embryogenesis: chemical gradient di usion (providing positional information to the agents), gene regulatory networks (triggering their diferentiation into types, thus patterning), and cell division (creating structural constraints, thus reshaping). This chapter illustrates the potential of Embryomorphic Engineering in di erent spaces: 2D/3D physical swarms, which can nd applications in collective robotics, synthetic biology or nan- otechnology; and nD graph topologies, which can nd applications in dis- tributed software and peer-to-peer techno-social networks. In all cases, the speci c genotype shared by all the agents makes the phenotype's complex architecture and function modular, programmable and reproducible

Monitoring Keap1-Nrf2 interactions in single live cells

AbstractThe transcription factor NF-E2 p45-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and its negative regulator Kelch-like ECH associated protein 1 (Keap1) control the expression of nearly 500 genes with diverse cytoprotective functions. Keap1, a substrate adaptor protein for Cullin3/Rbx1 ubiquitin ligase, normally continuously targets Nrf2 for degradation, but loses this ability in response to electrophiles and oxidants (termed inducers). Consequently, Nrf2 accumulates and activates transcription of its downstream target genes. Many inducers are phytochemicals, and cruciferous vegetables represent one of the richest sources of inducer activity among the most commonly used edible plants. Here we summarize the discovery of the isothiocyanate sulforaphane as a potent inducer which reacts with cysteine sensors of Keap1, leading to activation of Nrf2. We then describe the development of a quantitative Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based methodology combined with multiphoton fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) to investigate the interactions between Keap1 and Nrf2 in single live cells, and the effect of sulforaphane, and other cysteine-reactive inducers, on the dynamics of the Keap1–Nrf2 protein complex. We present the experimental evidence for the “cyclic sequential attachment and regeneration” or “conformation cycling” model of Keap1-mediated Nrf2 degradation. Finally, we discuss the implications of this mode of regulation of Nrf2 for achieving a fine balance under normal physiological conditions, and the consequences and mechanisms of disrupting this balance for tumor biology

New structural units in molybdenum oxyfluoride chemistry

This article was supported with EPSRC funding.The solvothermal syntheses and crystal structures of five new molybdenum oxyfluorides are presented. These exhibit three novel structural units, each containing Mo in a reduced oxidation state: a dimeric [MO2O4F2(C2H8N2)(2)] unit (Mo4+), a tetrameric [Mo4O8F10](6-) unit (Mo5+) and an infinite chain [MoOF3](-) unit (Mo4+). Mo-Mo bonding is observed in each of the new building units.PostprintPeer reviewe

The relationship between serotonin receptor 1B polymorphisms A-161T and alcohol dependence.

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La mesure en hydrométrie par vidéo : une innovation de 10 ans maintenant industrialisée

Video-based hydrometry: 10 years of innovation now industrialized. Since now about ten years, video-based hydrometry made significant progress. Several research teams in France and abroad now contribute to the development of this new monitoring approach. Near ten sites were equipped with cameras, some of them within operational services of civil authorities. Some of them are running since years and are taking several pictures every 6 minutes. Therefore, different sites conditions could be sampled and near one million pictures could be collected. If some more progress can obviously be made, analyses showed that images analyses were reliable in around 85% of the time. Water levels could be estimated with an accuracy of around 1/ 10mm per meter of distance between the camera and the river. Surface velocities were estimated with an average accuracy of 10-15% while rating curves were close to 5% from already established ones. Video-based hydrometry may offer several interesting advantages : it is a non-intrusive approach that reduces then its vulnerability to floods compared to classical sensors, measurements can still be made while classical sensors may be out of order or even destroyed by floods, rating curves are automatically established (continuous gauging), teletransmission of images allows a real-time validation of measurements. It may then be concluded that this video-based approach can be a valuable contribution to hydrometry.Depuis plus de dix ans, l’analyse d’images appliquée à l’hydrométrie a réalisé des progrès significatifs. Plusieurs équipes contribuent maintenant au développement de ces approches. Une petite dizaine de sites ont été équipés dont certains au sein de services opérationnels de l’Etat, certains sur plusieurs années avec des prises d’images toutes les 6 minutes. Une variabilité de sites et de conditions de prises de vues a pu ainsi être échantillonnées et près d’un million d’images de rivières ainsi collectées. Si des marges de progression sont encore possibles, les analyses ont permis de conclure que l’analyse d’image est fiable dans 80-85% des cas et permettent une mesure des niveaux d’eau à une précision de 1/10mm par mètre d’éloignement entre l’appareil de prises de vues et le plan d’eau, 10-15% pour les vitesses de surface et de l’ordre de 5% sur la courbe de tarage. Les avantages ce cette approche de l’hydrométrie par analyses d’images sont pluriels : technique non intrusive et donc beaucoup moins vulnérable aux crues, mesures effectuées alors que les capteurs classiques sont hors de leur gamme de fonctionnement voire détruits, établissement automatique des courbes de tarage, transmission des images pour une validation temps réel des mesures effectuées, etc. Il semble donc que cette approche de l’hydrométrie maintenant à un stade industriel puisse contribuer à l’arsenal classique des hydrologues.Saulnier Georges-Marie, Fourquet Guillaume, Malet Emmanuel, Castaings William, Brun Arnaud, Thomas David. La mesure en hydrométrie par vidéo : une innovation de 10 ans maintenant industrialisée. In: 35es journées de l’hydraulique de la Société Hydrotechnique de France. Hydrométrie 2013. Paris, 15-16 mai 2013. 2013

Reciprocal association between participation to a national election and the epidemic spread of COVID-19 in France: nationwide observational and dynamic modeling study.

Objective: To investigate possible reciprocal associations between the intensity of the COVID-19 epidemic in France and the level of participation at national elections. Design: Observational study and dynamic modelling using a sigmoidal mixed effects model. Setting: All hospitals where patients were admitted for COVID-19. Participants: All admitted patients from March 18, 2020 to April 17, 2020. Main outcome measures: Abstention and admission rate for COVID-19. Results: Mean abstention rate in 2020 among departments was 52.5%+/-6.4 and had increased by a mean of 18.8% as compared with the 2014 election. There was a high degree of similarity of abstention between the two elections among the departments (p<0.001). Among departments with a high outbreak intensity before the election, those with a higher participation were not affected by a significantly higher number of COVID-19 admissions after the elections. The sigmoidal model fitted the data from the different departments with a high degree of consistency. The covariate analysis showed that a significant association between participation and number of admitted patients was observed for both elections (2020: B=-5.36, p<1e-9 and 2014: B=-3.15, p<1e-6) contradicting a direct specific causation of the 2020 election. Participation was not associated with the position of the inflexion point suggesting no effect in the speed of spread. Conclusions: Our results suggest that the surrounding intensity of the COVID-19 epidemic in France did not have any local impact on citizens participation to a national election. The level of participation to the 2020 election had no impact on the spread of the pandemic

« Si je te touche, je t’influence » : perception du demandeur et effet du toucher.

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Les médias numériques qu’on touche, Effets des écrans tactiles et des serious games sur les apprentissages et les comportements

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