35 research outputs found
Invasiones biologicas en Francia: Alarmantes costos y lagunas de conocimiento aun mas alarmantes.
International audienceThe ever-increasing number of introduced species profoundly threatens global biodiversity. While the ecological and evolutionary consequences of invasive alien species are receiving increasing attention, their economic impacts have largely remained understudied, especially in France. Here, we aimed at providing a general overview of the monetary losses (damages caused by) and expenditures (management of) associated with invasive alien species in France. This country has a long history of alien species presence, partly due to its long-standing global trade activities, highly developed tourism, and presence of overseas territories in different regions of the globe, resulting in a conservative minimum of 2,750 introduced and invasive alien species. By synthesizing for the first time the monetary losses and expenditures incurred by invasive alien species in Metropolitan France and French overseas territories, we obtained 1,583 cost records for 98 invasive alien species. We found that they caused a conservative total amount ranging between US$ 1,280 million and 11,535 million in costs over the period 1993â2018. We extrapolated costs for species invading France, for which costs were reported in other countries but not in France, which yielded an additional cost ranging from USD 151 to 3,030 millions. Damage costs were nearly eight times higher than management expenditure. Insects, and in particular the Asian tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus and the yellow fever mosquito Ae. aegypti, totalled very high economic costs, followed by non-graminoid terrestrial flowering and aquatic plants (Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Ludwigia sp. and Lagarosiphon major). Over 90% of alien species currently recorded in France had no costs reported in the literature, resulting in high biases in taxonomic, regional and activity sector coverages. To conclude, we report alarming costs and even more alarming knowledge gaps. Our results should raise awareness of the importance of biosecurity and biosurveillance in France, and beyond, as well as the crucial need for better reporting and documentation of cost data
Contribution of Geosciences to Cultural Heritage Conservation Assessment: The Case Study of the Loggiato dei Cappuccini in Comacchio (Italy)
Geoscience disciplines play a pivotal role in the assessment of the conservation state of Cultural Heritage to orient the subsequent restoration interventions. In this report, we exemplify the potential of petrographic and thermographic analyses for the evaluation of the conservation state of a unique symbol of the architectural heritage in the challenging lagoon environment of Comacchio city (Ferrara Province, northeastern Italy). This study focuses on the Loggiato dei Cappuccini, starting from the historical analysis of the maintenance and restorations that this simple and pleasant monument has undergone over time. The degradation morphologies and the related triggering causes, characterized by macroscopic observations, were contextualized based on the recent restoration interventions. The current state of conservation has been evaluated quali-quantitatively, combining optical petrographic analyses of the main construction materials with thermographic analyses of the structures. The results of this study highlight the detrimental effects of previous restoration interventions on the long-term conservation state of the monument, emphasizing the need for a general environmental evaluation preliminarily to any conservative action. In particular, geoscience can contribute to a knowledge-based choice of materials that minimize the risk for alveolization and detachments
Les coĂ»ts Ă©conomiques des invasions biologiques en France. SynthĂšse Ă lâintention des dĂ©cideurs
De 1,1 Ă 10,2 milliards dâeuros en 25 ans ! VoilĂ lâestimation des coĂ»ts Ă©conomiques des invasions biologiques en France. En sâappuyant sur les rĂ©sultats du programme de recherche InvaCost, ce rapport prĂ©sente une nouvelle Ă©valuation des coĂ»ts Ă©conomiques des espĂšces exotiques envahissantes (EEE) en France. Il propose une analyse spĂ©cifique de ces coĂ»ts selon i) les diffĂ©rentes voies dâintroductions des EEE, ii) les diffĂ©rentes rĂ©gions françaises concernĂ©es, iii) les secteurs dâactivitĂ©s impactĂ©s et les types de coĂ»ts et iv) les diffĂ©rentes espĂšces impliquĂ©es. Les coĂ»ts en France sont Ă©galement comparĂ©s avec ceux dâautres pays. Enfin, des recommandations sont prĂ©sentĂ©es pour renforcer la prĂ©vention et lâanticipation des invasions biologiques
Les coĂ»ts Ă©conomiques des invasions biologiques en France. SynthĂšse Ă lâintention des dĂ©cideurs
De 1,1 Ă 10,2 milliards dâeuros en 25 ans ! VoilĂ lâestimation des coĂ»ts Ă©conomiques des invasions biologiques en France. En sâappuyant sur les rĂ©sultats du programme de recherche InvaCost, ce rapport prĂ©sente une nouvelle Ă©valuation des coĂ»ts Ă©conomiques des espĂšces exotiques envahissantes (EEE) en France. Il propose une analyse spĂ©cifique de ces coĂ»ts selon i) les diffĂ©rentes voies dâintroductions des EEE, ii) les diffĂ©rentes rĂ©gions françaises concernĂ©es, iii) les secteurs dâactivitĂ©s impactĂ©s et les types de coĂ»ts et iv) les diffĂ©rentes espĂšces impliquĂ©es. Les coĂ»ts en France sont Ă©galement comparĂ©s avec ceux dâautres pays. Enfin, des recommandations sont prĂ©sentĂ©es pour renforcer la prĂ©vention et lâanticipation des invasions biologiques
Erratum to: How Much Clinical and Functional Impairment do Children Treated With Knee Rotationplasty Experience in Adulthood?
Mother-to-child transmission of oncogenic polyomaviruses BKPyV, JCPyV and SV40
Objectives: Polyomavirus (PyV) infections have been associated with different diseases. BK
(BKPyV), JC (JCPyV) and simian virus 40 (SV40) are the three main PyVs whose primary
infection occurs early in life. Their vertical transmission was investigated in this study.
Methods: PyV sequences were analyzed by the digital droplet PCR in blood, serum, placenta,
amniotic fluid, vaginal smear from two independent cohorts of pregnant females and umbilical
cord blood (UCB) samples. IgG antibodies against the three PyVs were investigated by indirect
E.L.I.S.As with viral mimotopes.
Results: DNAs from blood, vaginal smear and placenta tested BKPyV-, JCPyV- and SV40-
positive with a distinct prevalence, while amniotic fluids were all PyVs-negative. A prevalence of
3%, 7%, and 3% for BKPyV, JCPyV and SV40 DNA sequences, respectively, was obtained in
UCBs. Serum IgG antibodies from pregnant females reached an overall prevalence of 62%, 42%
and 17% for BKPyV, JCPyV and SV40, respectively. Sera from newborns (UCB) tested IgGpositive
with a prevalence of 10% for BKPyV/JCPyV and 3 % for SV40.
Conclusions: In this investigation, PyV vertical transmission was revealed by detecting PyV DNA
sequences and IgG antibodies in samples from females and their offspring suggesting a potential
risk of diseases in newborns
Detection of Insulitis By Pancreatic Scintigraphy With99mTc-Labelled-IL2 and MRI in Patients With LADA (Action LADA 10)
Pancreatic scintigraphy with interleukin-2 radiolabeled with (99m)Tc ((99m)Tc-IL-2) is a technique used to image chronic inflammatory-mediated disorders. We used this method to detect a signal consistent with the presence of insulitis in patients with autoimmune diabetes. Positive and negative controls (patients with pancreatic carcinoma and type 2 diabetes, respectively) also were studied
Highlighting the positive aspects of being a PhD student
International audienceArticles about doing a PhD tend to focus on the difficulties faced by research students. Here we argue that the scientific community should also highlight the positive elements of the PhD experience
Central obesity, smoking habit, and hypertension are associated with lower antibody titres in response to COVIDâ19 mRNA vaccine
AIMS: To explore variables associated with the serological response following COVIDâ19 mRNA vaccine. METHODS: Eightyâsix healthcare workers adhering to the vaccination campaign against COVIDâ19 were enrolled in JanuaryâFebruary 2021. All subjects underwent two COVIDâ19 mRNA vaccine inoculations (Pfizer/BioNTech) separated by 3 weeks. Blood samples were collected before the 1st and 1â4 weeks after the second inoculation. Clinical history, demographics, and vaccine side effects were recorded. Baseline anthropometric parameters were measured, and body composition was performed through dualâenergyâXâray absorptiometry. RESULTS: Higher waist circumference was associated with lower antibody (Ab) titres (R = â0.324, p = 0.004); smokers had lower levels compared to nonâsmokers [1099 (1350) vs. 1921 (1375), p = 0.007], as well as hypertensive versus normotensive [650 ± 1192 vs. 1911 (1364), p = 0.001] and dyslipideamic compared to those with normal serum lipids [534 (972) vs 1872 (1406), p = 0.005]. Multivariate analysis showed that higher waist circumference, smoking, hypertension, and longer time elapsed since second vaccine inoculation were associated with lower Ab titres, independent of BMI, age. and gender. CONCLUSIONS: Central obesity, hypertension, and smoking are associated with lower Ab titres following COVIDâ19 vaccination. Although it is currently impossible to determine whether lower SARSâCoVâ2 Abs lead to higher likelihood of developing COVIDâ19, it is wellâestablished that neutralizing antibodies correlate with protection against several viruses including SARSâCoVâ2. Our findings, therefore, call for a vigilant approach, as subjects with central obesity, hypertension, and smoking could benefit from earlier vaccine boosters or different vaccine schedules