2,179 research outputs found
Analysis of a time-dependent problem of mixed migration and population dynamics
In this work, we consider a system of differential equations modeling the
dynamics of some populations of preys and predators, moving in space according
to rapidly oscillating time-dependent transport terms, and interacting with
each other through a Lotka-Volterra term. These two contributions naturally
induce two separated time-scales in the problem. A generalized center manifold
theorem is derived to handle the situation where the linear terms are depending
on the fast time in a periodic way. The resulting equations are then amenable
to averaging methods. As a product of these combined techniques, one obtains an
autonomous differential system in reduced dimension whose dynamics can be
analyzed in a much simpler way as compared to original equations. Strikingly
enough, this system is of Lotka-Volterra form with modified coefficients.
Besides, a higher order perturbation analysis allows to show that the
oscillations on the original model destabilize the cycles of the averaged
Volterra system in a way that can be explicitely computed
Ethics Dumping Case Studies from North-South Research Collaborations
This book provides original, up-to-date case studies of âethics dumpingâ that were largely facilitated by loopholes in the ethics governance of low and middle-income countries. It is instructive even to experienced researchers since it provides a voice to vulnerable populations from the fore mentioned countries. Ensuring the ethical conduct of North-South collaborations in research is a process fraught with difficulties. The background conditions under which such collaborations take place include extreme differentials in available income and power, as well as a past history of colonialism, while differences in culture can add a new layer of complications. In this context, up-to-date case studies of unethical conduct are essential for research ethics training
Application of Microarray-Based Comparative Genomic Hybridization in Prenatal and Postnatal Settings: Three Case Reports
Microarray-based comparative genomic hybridization (array CGH) is a newly emerged molecular cytogenetic technique for rapid evaluation of the entire genome with sub-megabase resolution. It allows for the comprehensive investigation of thousands and millions of genomic loci at once and therefore enables the efficient detection of DNA copy number variations (a.k.a, cryptic genomic imbalances). The development and the clinical application of array CGH have revolutionized the diagnostic process in patients and has provided a clue to many unidentified or unexplained diseases which are suspected to have a genetic cause. In this paper, we present three clinical cases in both prenatal and postnatal settings. Among all, array CGH played a major discovery role to reveal the cryptic and/or complex nature of chromosome arrangements. By identifying the genetic causes responsible for the clinical observation in patients, array CGH has provided accurate diagnosis and appropriate clinical management in a timely and efficient manner
Single-center experience with mechanical valve replacement in children and adolescents : a lifelong challenge
Music Training Positively Influences the Preattentive Perception of Voice Onset Time in Children with Dyslexia: A Longitudinal Study
Previous results showed a positive influence of music training on linguistic abilities at both attentive and preattentive levels. Here, we investigate whether six months of active music training is more efficient than painting training to improve the preattentive processing of phonological parameters based on durations that are often impaired in children with developmental dyslexia (DD). Results were also compared to a control group of Typically Developing (TD) children matched on reading age. We used a Test-Training-Retest procedure and analysed the Mismatch Negativity (MMN) and the N1 and N250 components of the Event-Related Potentials to syllables that differed in Voice Onset Time (VOT), vowel duration, and vowel frequency. Results were clear-cut in showing a normalization of the preattentive processing of VOT in children with DD after music training but not after painting training. They also revealed increased N250 amplitude to duration deviant stimuli in children with DD after music but not painting training, and no training effect on the preattentive processing of frequency. These findings are discussed in view of recent theories of dyslexia pointing to deficits in processing the temporal structure of speech. They clearly encourage the use of active music training for the rehabilitation of children with language impairments
Wasl is crucial to maintain microglial core activities during glioblastoma initiation stages
Microglia actively promotes the growth of highâgrade gliomas. Within the glioma microenvironment an amoeboid microglial morphology has been observed, however the underlying causes and the related impact on microglia functions and their tumor promoting activities is unclear. Using the advantages of the larval zebrafish model, we identified the underlying mechanism and show that microglial morphology and functions are already impaired during glioma initiation stages. The presence of preâneoplastic HRasV12 expressing cells induces an amoeboid morphology of microglia, increases microglial numbers and decreases their motility and phagocytic activity. RNA sequencing analysis revealed lower expression levels of the actin nucleation promoting factor wasla in microglia. Importantly, a microglia specific rescue of wasla expression restores microglial morphology and functions. This results in increased phagocytosis of preâneoplastic cells and slows down tumor progression. In conclusion, we identified a mechanism that deâactivates core microglial functions within the emerging glioma microenvironment. Restoration of this mechanism might provide a way to impair glioma growth
Addressing policy challenges for more sustainable local-global food chains : policy frameworks and possible food âfuturesâ
© 2016 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons by Attribution (CC-BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).The article considers how policy can address the localâglobal within a wider commitment to food sustainability and draws on research conducted for the EU-funded GLAMUR project (Global and local food assessment: a multidimensional performance-based approach). Case study data identifies four key policy challenges for policymakers. Addressing these challenges in order to make links between current (and future) more sustainable food policy involves three phases. The first identifies processes of engagement in three spheres (public policy, the market and civil society); the second identifies points of engagement offered by existing policy initiatives at global, EU, national and sub-national policy levels; and the third builds scenarios as possible âfood futuresâ, used to illustrate how the projectâs findings could impact on the âbigger policy pictureâ along the localâglobal continuum. Connections are made between the policy frameworks, as processes and points of engagement for food policy, and the food âfuturesâ. It is suggested that the findings can help support policymakers as they consider the effects and value of using multi-criteria interventions.Peer reviewedFinal Published versio
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms and cannabis use after 1 year among students of the i-Share cohort
ADHD; Cannabis; StudentsTDAH; Canabis; EstudiantesTDAH; CĂ nnabis; EstudiantsBackground
Cannabis use in university students is associated with academic achievement failure and health issues. The objective of the study was to evaluate the association between attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms and cannabis use after 1 year among students according to previous cannabis use.
Methods
Students in France were recruited from February 2013 to July 2020 in the i-Share cohort. 4,270 participants were included (2,135 who never used cannabis at inclusion and 2,135 who did). The Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS) was used to assess ADHD symptoms at inclusion. Cannabis use frequency was evaluated 1 year after inclusion. Multinomial regressions were conducted to assess the association between inclusion ADHD symptoms and cannabis use after 1 year.
Results
Increase in ASRS scores was linked with a greater probability to use cannabis after 1 year and to have a higher cannabis use frequency (once a yearâonce a month adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 1.24 (1.15â1.34), more than once a month adjusted OR: 1.43 (1.27â1.61)). Among participants who never used cannabis at inclusion, this association disappeared (once a yearâonce a month adjusted OR: 1.15 (0.95â1.39), more than once a month adjusted OR: 1.16 (0.67â2)) but remained in participants who ever used cannabis at inclusion (once a yearâonce a month adjusted OR: 1.17 (1.06â1.29), more than once a month adjusted OR: 1.35 (1.18â1.55)).
Conclusions
High levels of ADHD symptoms in students could lead to continued cannabis use rather than new initiations.The preparation and initiation of the i-Share project was funded by the program âInvest for futureâ (reference ANR-10-COHO-05). The i-Share Project is currently supported by an unrestricted grant from the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Regional Council (Conseil RĂ©gional Nouvelle-Aquitaine) (grant number: 4370420) and by the Bordeaux âInitiatives dâexcellenceâ (IdEx) program of the University of Bordeaux (ANR-10-IDEX-03-02). It has also received grants from the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Regional Health Agency (Agence RĂ©gionale de SantĂ© Nouvelle-Aquitaine, grant N°6066R-8 R-8), Public Health France (SantĂ© Publique France, grant number: 19DPPP023â0), the National Cancer Institute (Insitut national du cancer, grant number: INCa_11502), and the Medical Research Foundation (Fondation pour la recherche)
The Neurotoxicity of Vesicles Secreted by ALS Patient Myotubes Is Specific to Exosome-Like and Not Larger Subtypes
Extracellular vesicles can mediate communication between tissues, affecting the physiological conditions of recipient cells. They are increasingly investigated in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, the most common form of Motor Neurone Disease, as transporters of misfolded proteins including SOD1, FUS, TDP43, or other neurotoxic elements, such as the dipeptide repeats resulting from C9orf72 expansions. EVs are classified based on their biogenesis and size and can be separated by differential centrifugation. They include exosomes, released by the fusion of multivesicular bodies with the plasma membrane, and ectosomes, also known as microvesicles or microparticles, resulting from budding or pinching of the plasma membrane. In the current study, EVs were obtained from the myotube cell culture medium of ALS patients or healthy controls. EVs of two different sizes, separating at 20,000 or 100,000 g, were then compared in terms of their effects on recipient motor neurons, astrocytes, and myotubes. Compared to untreated cells, the smaller, exosome-like vesicles of ALS patients reduced the survival of motor neurons by 31% and of myotubes by 18%, decreased neurite length and branching, and increased the proportion of stellate astrocytes, whereas neither those of healthy subjects, nor larger EVs of ALS or healthy subjects, had such effects
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