Planetary Science Virtual Observatory architecture

In the framework of the Europlanet-RI program, a prototype of Virtual Observatory dedicated to Planetary Science was defined. Most of the activity was dedicated to the elaboration of standards to retrieve and visualize data in this field, and to provide light procedures to teams who wish to contribute with on-line data services. The architecture of this VO system and selected solutions are presented here, together with existing demonstrators

Coping with citizen demands: a field study of suckling processes in dairy herds

In dairy farms calves and cows are usually separated shortly after birth but this practice raises the question of animal welfare. This social concern may lead to bring back dairy calves to their mother. Even though suckling is quite seldom in dairy production, some farmers are using such a practice for many years. The present study aims to better know farmer’s motivations, practical implementation and farmer’s perception of the impact of suckling on performance and animal behaviour. In January 2018 a semi-quantitative survey was performed on 44 farms where calves suckle at least 24 hours their mother or a nurse cow. The farming systems differed on the size (20 to 140 cows), the type (19 conventional, 25 organic farms), the suckling (28 by the mothers, 16 by nurses), and the breed. Results indicate that main farmers’ motivations are calves’ health (52%), better working conditions (41%) and saving time (34%), with little consideration on animal welfare (7%). Numerous practices were found in terms of allowance of daily cow-calf contact and suckling duration with a difference between male and female calves. According to farmers, these practices were efficient to improved calves’ health (70%), save time (75%) and improved working conditions (52%). Weaning was considered as a stressful situation, especially after long suckling periods. Cow mooing usually stopped 2.5 d after weaning. At least 34 farmers are fully satisfied with this practice. The main challenge appears to be the management of the wildness of future heifers, by investing time to manipulate calves before weaning. The results of this survey could help to propose solutions to farmers who want to cope with the societal demand of keeping calves with dams in dairy herds

Répartition de la chevêche d'athéna (athene noctua scop.) et variation d'échelle d'analyse des paysages

Une typologie paysagère établie à partir de pixels élémentaires de 250 m de côté dans trois zones en France (Vosges du Nord, Scarpe-Escaut et Causse Méjean) a permis de déterminer 5 à 8 types primaires, permettant d'expliquer la répartition des Chevêches d'Athéna (Athene noctua). Les milieux favorables sont anthropisés, avec des modes d'occupation du sol conduits sur de petites surfaces. Une typologie secondaire réalisée pour différentes échelles d'analyse par agglomération de pixels élémentaires révèle une certaine diversité incluant des éléments paysagers favorables. Ainsi les fenêtres obtenues par agglomération de pixels élémentaires adjacents les plus favorables ne sont pas uniquement formées de pixels favorables aux chouettes. Cette typologie secondaire a permis de déterminer une échelle d'analyse de l'habitat expliquant la répartition de l'espèce et qui varie de 56 à 156 ha selon les zones d'étude.Distribution of the Little Owl (Athene noctua) is accounted for by reference to primary landscape types identified from a grid of 250 m x 250 m cells in three areas of France (Northem Vosges, Scarpe-Escaut Plain, and Causse Méjean) . Preferred environments are those affected by human activity where small areas are given over to different land uses. Secondary landscape types constructed for different scales by aggregating cells of primary landscape types of analysis reveal a very heterogeneous landscape mosaic. Windows formed by aggregating the most suitable adjacent cells are not exclusively composed of cells preferred by owls. These secondary landscape types provide a habitat scale of analysis explaining species distribution and ranging from 56 to 156 hectares depending on the study regions

Do magnetospheric shear Alfvén waves generate sufficient electron energy flux to power the aurora?

Using a self-consistent drift-kinetic simulation code, we investigate whether electron acceleration owing to shear Alfvén waves in the plasma sheet boundary layer is sufficient to cause auroral brightening in the ionosphere. The free parameters used in the simulation code are guided by in situ observations of wave and plasma parameters in the magnetosphere at distances >4 RE from the Earth. For the perpendicular wavelength used in the study, which maps to ∼4 km at 110 km altitude, there is a clear amplitude threshold which determines whether magnetospheric shear Alfvén waves above the classical auroral acceleration region can excite sufficient electrons to create the aurora. Previous studies reported wave amplitudes that easily exceed this threshold; hence, the results reported in this paper demonstrate that auroral acceleration owing to shear Alfvén waves can occur in the magnetosphere at distances >4 RE from the Earth

Ras Inhibition Induces Insulin Sensitivity and Glucose Uptake

BACKGROUND: Reduced glucose uptake due to insulin resistance is a pivotal mechanism in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes. It is also associated with increased inflammation. Ras inhibition downregulates inflammation in various experimental models. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of Ras inhibition on insulin sensitivity and glucose uptake, as well as its influence on type 2 diabetes development. METHODS AND FINDINGS: The effect of Ras inhibition on glucose uptake was examined both in vitro and in vivo. Ras was inhibited in cells transfected with a dominant-negative form of Ras or by 5-fluoro-farnesylthiosalicylic acid (F-FTS), a small-molecule Ras inhibitor. The involvement of IκB and NF-κB in Ras-inhibited glucose uptake was investigated by immunoblotting. High fat (HF)-induced diabetic mice were treated with F-FTS to test the effect of Ras inhibition on induction of hyperglycemia. Each of the Ras-inhibitory modes resulted in increased glucose uptake, whether in insulin-resistant C2C12 myotubes in vitro or in HF-induced diabetic mice in vivo. Ras inhibition also caused increased IκB expression accompanied by decreased expression of NF-κB . In fat-induced diabetic mice treated daily with F-FTS, both the incidence of hyperglycemia and the levels of serum insulin were significantly decreased. CONCLUSIONS: Inhibition of Ras apparently induces a state of heightened insulin sensitization both in vitro and in vivo. Ras inhibition should therefore be considered as an approach worth testing for the treatment of type 2 diabetes

First Solar Orbiter observation of the Alfvénic slow wind and identification of its solar source

Context: Turbulence dominated by large amplitude nonlinear Alfvén-like fluctuations mainly propagating away from the Sun is ubiquitous in high speed solar wind streams. Recent studies have shown that also slow wind streams may show strong Alfvénic signatures, especially in the inner heliosphere. Aims: The present study focuses on the characterisation of an Alfvénic slow solar wind interval observed by Solar Orbiter on July 14-18, 2020 at a heliocentric distance of 0.64 AU. Methods: Our analysis is based on plasma moments and magnetic field measurements from the Solar Wind Analyser (SWA) and Magnetometer (MAG) instruments, respectively. We compare the behaviour of different parameters to characterise the stream in terms of the Alfvénic content and magnetic properties. We perform also a spectral analysis to highlight spectral features and waves signature using power spectral density and magnetic helicity spectrograms, respectively. Moreover, we reconstruct the Solar Orbiter magnetic connectivity to the solar sources via both a ballistic and a Potential Field Source Surface (PFSS) model. Results: The Alfvénic slow wind stream described in this paper resembles in many respects a fast wind stream. Indeed, at large scales, the time series of the speed profile shows a compression region, a main portion of the stream and a rarefaction region, characterised by different features. Moreover, before the rarefaction region, we pinpoint several structures at different scales recalling the spaghetti-like flux-tube texture of the interplanetary magnetic field. Finally, we identify the connections between Solar Orbiter in situ measurements, tracing them down to coronal streamer and pseudostreamer configurations. Conclusions. The characterisation of the Alfvénic slow wind stream observed by Solar Orbiter and the identification of its solar source are extremely important aspects to understand possible future observations of the same solar wind regime, especially as solar activity is increasing toward a maximum, where a higher incidence of this solar wind regime is expected

Vortex nozzle interaction in solid rocket motors: A scaling law for upstream acoustic response

In solid rocket motors, vortex nozzle interactions can be a source of large-amplitude pressure pulsations. Using a two-dimensional frictionless flow model, a scaling law is deduced, which describes the magnitude of a pressure pulsation as being proportional to the product of the dynamic pressure of the upstream main flow and of vortex circu- lation. The scaling law was found to be valid for both an integrated noz- zle with surrounding cavity and a nozzle geometry without surrounding cavity that forms a right angle with the combustion chamber side wall. Deviations from the scaling law only occur when unrealistically strong circulations are considered

BepiColombo’s Cruise Phase: Unique Opportunity for Synergistic Observations

The investigation of multi-spacecraft coordinated observations during the cruise phase of BepiColombo (ESA/JAXA) are reported, with a particular emphasis on the recently launched missions, Solar Orbiter (ESA/NASA) and Parker Solar Probe (NASA). Despite some payload constraints, many instruments onboard BepiColombo are operating during its cruise phase simultaneously covering a wide range of heliocentric distances (0.28 AU–0.5 AU). Hence, the various spacecraft configurations and the combined in-situ and remote sensing measurements from the different spacecraft, offer unique opportunities for BepiColombo to be part of these unprecedented multipoint synergistic observations and for potential scientific studies in the inner heliosphere, even before its orbit insertion around Mercury in December 2025. The main goal of this report is to present the coordinated observation opportunities during the cruise phase of BepiColombo (excluding the planetary flybys). We summarize the identified science topics, the operational instruments, the method we have used to identify the windows of opportunity and discuss the planning of joint observations in the future