Auctioning airport slots (?)

The current allocation of slots on congested European airports constitutes an obstacle to the effective liberalisation of air transportation undertaken in Europe. With a view to favouring efficient slot utilisation and competition, as is the goal of the European commission, we propose to use a market mechanism, based on temporary utilisation licences. In order to allocate those licences, we propose and describe an iterated combinatorial auction mechanism where a percentage of licences would be reallocated each season. A secondary market would also be set up in order to reallocate slots during a season. Since a combinatorial auction involve a complex optimisation procedure, we describe how it can be made to work in the case of auctions.slots; airports; licence; auction; combinatorial

Transmission des savoirs de l'expérience par le compagnonnage dans l'enseignement supérieur : entre coopération et formation

International audienceLe présent article revient sur trois années d’un dispositif d’accompagnement des enseignants et enseignants-chercheurs nouvellement recrutés à l’Université d’Angers, en référence au modèle compagnonnique. Adossée à diverses formalisations de l’expertise enseignante, dont le SoTL, l’expérimentation engagée à l’UA a pour objectifs d’encourager le développement professionnel par la verbalisation entre pairs de l’expérience professionnelle et la transformation des pratiques pédagogiques, dans le cadre d’un engagement politique de l’établissement. Pensé initialement à l’attention des nouveaux EEC, ce dispositif s’avère profitable aux deux membres du binôme, au terme d’une co-construction et d’un cocheminement dans la réflexivité sur les pratiques professionnelles d’enseignement

Evaluation of local tolerance of a plant extract by the slug mucosal irritation (SMI) assay

This article describes the performance of a laboratory exercise, the Slug Mucosal Irritation (SMI) assay, carried out by third year undergraduate students, to investigate the local tolerance of an ethanolic plant extract. The plant extract, Spilanthes acmella, contains various bio-active compounds, such as the N-alkylamide spilanthol. After administration of the plant extract to the slugs, they were observed for possible discomfort and tissue damage. When slugs are exposed to a substance with irritant properties, the mucus production of the slugs will increase. Furthermore, slugs will release proteins, including enzymes, when tissue damage occurs. This laboratory experiment is a practically feasible in vivo test using slugs which are invertebrates that are not protected by the legislation on animal testing. Students were supervised by lab instructors who encouraged students to actively contribute in their groups, to think about the experimental design of the laboratory test, and to facilitate scientific discussions, but the majority of the ideas had to come from the students themselves. Hence, this biomedical in vivo experiment offered a great opportunity for students to learn to work in group, to critically interpret and report their results, to gain knowledge about the subject, and to communicate and discuss with other students as well as with the lab instructors. Furthermore, this experiment teaches students current toxicological methodologies encompassing principles and their application of biochemistry, analytical chemistry, toxicology, animal experimentation and data handling. This way of interdisciplinary teaching is especially important for last year undergraduate students, as this is a good preparation for the Masters dissertation. At the end of the laboratory exercise, students received a questionnaire and most of the students indicated that they gained valuable knowledge and skills. This laboratory exercise can be incorporated into chemical, biological, pharmaceutical, toxicological and medical disciplines

Evaluation of local tolerance of a plant extract by the slug mucosal irritation (SMI) assay

This article describes the performance of a laboratory exercise, the Slug Mucosal Irritation (SMI) assay, carried out by third year undergraduate students, to investigate the local tolerance of an ethanolic plant extract. The plant extract, Spilanthes acmella, contains various bio-active compounds, such as the N-alkylamide spilanthol. After administration of the plant extract to the slugs, they were observed for possible discomfort and tissue damage. When slugs are exposed to a substance with irritant properties, the mucus production of the slugs will increase. Furthermore, slugs will release proteins, including enzymes, when tissue damage occurs. This laboratory experiment is a practically feasible in vivo test using slugs which are invertebrates that are not protected by the legislation on animal testing. Students were supervised by lab instructors who encouraged students to actively contribute in their groups, to think about the experimental design of the laboratory test, and to facilitate scientific discussions, but the majority of the ideas had to come from the students themselves. Hence, this biomedical in vivo experiment offered a great opportunity for students to learn to work in group, to critically interpret and report their results, to gain knowledge about the subject, and to communicate and discuss with other students as well as with the lab instructors. Furthermore, this experiment teaches students current toxicological methodologies encompassing principles and their application of biochemistry, analytical chemistry, toxicology, animal experimentation and data handling. This way of interdisciplinary teaching is especially important for last year undergraduate students, as this is a good preparation for the Masters dissertation. At the end of the laboratory exercise, students received a questionnaire and most of the students indicated that they gained valuable knowledge and skills. This laboratory exercise can be incorporated into chemical, biological, pharmaceutical, toxicological and medical disciplines

Does motor cortex engagement during movement preparation differentially inhibit nociceptive processing in patients with chronic whiplash associated disorders, chronic fatigue syndrome and healthy controls? An experimental study

Background: Patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and chronic whiplash associated disorders (cWAD) present a reduced ability to activate central descending nociceptive inhibition after exercise, compared to measurements before exercise. It was hypothesised that a dysfunctional motor-induced inhibition of nociception partly explains this dysfunctional exercise-induced hypoalgesia. This study investigates if engagement of the motor system during movement preparation inhibits nociception-evoked brain responses in these patients as compared to healthy controls (HC). Methods: The experiment used laser-evoked potentials (LEPs) during three conditions (no task, mental task, movement preparation) while recording brain activity with a 32-channel electroencephalogram in 21 patients with cWAD, 20 patients with CFS and 18 HC. Two-factor mixed design Analysis of variance were used to evaluate differences in LEP amplitudes and latencies. Results: No differences in N1, N2, N2P2, and P2 LEP amplitudes were found between the HC, CFS, and cWAD groups. After nociceptive stimulation, N1, N2 (only at hand location), N2P2, and P2 LEP amplitudes significantly decreased during movement preparation compared to no task (within group differences). Conclusion: Movement preparation induces a similar attenuation of LEPs in patients with CFS, patients with cWAD and HC. These findings do not support reduced motor-induced nociceptive inhibition in these patients

Kouass (Asilah, Maroc)

Dans le cadre du deuxième programme quadriennal « Recherches archéologiques franco-marocaines à Kouass », deux missions ont été effectuées en 2014 dans les locaux de l’INSAP à Rabat (9 juin/27 juin et 19 septembre/4 octobre 2014). Elles ont eu pour objectif la poursuite de l’analyse de la documentation scientifique issue des fouilles réalisées depuis 2009 sur ce site de la façade nord-atlantique du Maroc. Rappelons que ces fouilles ont porté sur l’agglomération maurétanienne, datée de la fin ..

Microclimate, an important part of ecology and biogeography

AbstractBrief introduction: What are microclimates and why are they important?Microclimate science has developed into a global discipline. Microclimate science is increasingly used to understand and mitigate climate and biodiversity shifts. Here, we provide an overview of the current status of microclimate ecology and biogeography in terres-trial ecosystems, and where this field is heading next.Microclimate investigations in ecology and biogeography: We highlight the latest research on interactions between microclimates and organisms, including how micro-climates influence individuals, and through them populations, communities and entire ecosystems and their processes. We also briefly discuss recent research on how or-ganisms shape microclimates from the tropics to the poles.Microclimate applications in ecosystem management: Microclimates are also impor-tant in ecosystem management under climate change. We showcase new research in microclimate management with examples from biodiversity conservation, forestry and urban ecology. We discuss the importance of microrefugia in conservation and how to promote microclimate heterogeneity.Methods for microclimate science: We showcase the recent advances in data acqui-sition, such as novel field sensors and remote sensing methods. We discuss micro-climate modelling, mapping and data processing, including accessibility of modelling tools, advantages of mechanistic and statistical modelling and solutions for computa-tional challenges that have pushed the state-of-the-art of the field.What's next?We identify major knowledge gaps that need to be filled for further ad-vancing microclimate investigations, applications and methods. These gaps include spatiotemporal scaling of microclimate data, mismatches between macroclimate and microclimate in predicting responses of organisms to climate change, and the need for more evidence on the outcomes of microclimate management

Lymphotoxin beta-activated LTBR/NIK/RELB axis drives proliferation in cholangiocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is an aggressive malignancy arising from the intrahepatic (iCCA) or extrahepatic (eCCA) bile ducts with poor prognosis and limited treatment options. Prior evidence highlighted a significant contribution of the non-canonical NF-κB signalling pathway in initiation and aggressiveness of different tumour types. Lymphotoxin-β (LTβ) stimulates the NF-κB-inducing kinase (NIK), resulting in the activation of the transcription factor RelB. However, the functional contribution of the non-canonical NF-κB signalling pathway via the LTβ/NIK/RelB axis in CCA carcinogenesis and progression has not been established. METHODS Human CCA-derived cell lines and organoids were examined to determine the expression of NF-κB pathway components upon activation or inhibition. Proliferation and cell death were analysed using real-time impedance measurement and flow cytometry. Immunoblot, qRT-PCR, RNA sequencing and in situ hybridization were employed to analyse gene and protein expression. Four in vivo models of iCCA were used to probe the activation and regulation of the non-canonical NF-κB pathway. RESULTS Exposure to LTα1/β2 activates the LTβ/NIK/RelB axis and promotes proliferation in CCA. Inhibition of NIK with the small molecule inhibitor B022 efficiently suppresses RelB expression in patient-derived CCA organoids and nuclear co-translocation of RelB and p52 stimulated by LTα1/β2 in CCA cell lines. In murine CCA, RelB expression is significantly increased and LTβ is the predominant ligand of the non-canonical NF-κB signalling pathway. CONCLUSIONS Our study confirms that the non-canonical NF-κB axis LTβ/NIK/RelB drives cholangiocarcinogenesis and represents a candidate therapeutic target

High locomotor reactivity to novelty is associated with an increased propensity to choose saccharin over cocaine: new insights into the vulnerability to addiction.

Drug addiction is associated with a relative devaluation of natural or socially-valued reinforcers that are unable to divert addicts from seeking and consuming the drug. Before protracted drug exposure, most rats prefer natural rewards, such as saccharin, over cocaine. However, a subpopulation of animals prefer cocaine over natural rewards and are thought to be vulnerable to addiction. Specific behavioral traits have been associated with different dimensions of drug addiction. For example, anxiety predicts loss of control over drug intake whereas sensation seeking and sign-tracking are markers of a greater sensitivity to the rewarding properties of the drug. However, how these behavioral traits predict the disinterest for natural reinforcers remains unknown. In a population of rats, we identified sensation seekers (HR) on the basis of elevated novelty-induced locomotor reactivity, high anxious rats (HA) based on the propensity to avoid open arms in an elevated-plus maze and sign-trackers (ST) that are prone to approach, and interaction with, reward-associated stimuli. Rats were then tested on their preference for saccharin over cocaine in a discrete-trial choice procedure. We show that HR rats display a greater preference for saccharin over cocaine compared with ST and HA whereas the motivation for the drug was comparable between the three groups. The present data suggest that high locomotor reactivity to novelty, or sensation seeking, by predisposing to an increased choice toward non-drug rewards at early stages of drug use history, may prevent the establishment of chronic cocaine use.This work was funded by an INSERM AVENIR and Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR) ANR12 SAMA00201 grant to DB, the région Poitou-Charentes, an AXA research fund fellowship to ABR, and a Ministère de la Recherche et de la Technologie grant to NV. AM was supported by the Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute of Cambridge.This is the accepted manuscript of a paper published in Neuropsychopharmacology (2015) 40, 577–589; doi:10.1038/npp.2014.204; published online 17 September 2014

Cocaine Is Low on the Value Ladder of Rats: Possible Evidence for Resilience to Addiction

International audienceBACKGROUND:Assessing the relative value of cocaine and how it changes with chronic drug use represents a long-standing goal in addiction research. Surprisingly, recent experiments in rats--by far the most frequently used animal model in this field--suggest that the value of cocaine is lower than previously thought.METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS:Here we report a series of choice experiments that better define the relative position of cocaine on the value ladder of rats (i.e., preference rank-ordering of different rewards). Rats were allowed to choose either taking cocaine or drinking water sweetened with saccharin--a nondrug alternative that is not biologically essential. By systematically varying the cost and concentration of sweet water, we found that cocaine is low on the value ladder of the large majority of rats, near the lowest concentrations of sweet water. In addition, a retrospective analysis of all experiments over the past 5 years revealed that no matter how heavy was past cocaine use most rats readily give up cocaine use in favor of the nondrug alternative. Only a minority, fewer than 15% at the heaviest level of past cocaine use, continued to take cocaine, even when hungry and offered a natural sugar that could relieve their need of calories.CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE:This pattern of results (cocaine abstinence in most rats; cocaine preference in few rats) maps well onto the epidemiology of human cocaine addiction and suggests that only a minority of rats would be vulnerable to cocaine addiction while the large majority would be resilient despite extensive drug use. Resilience to drug addiction has long been suspected in humans but could not be firmly established, mostly because it is difficult to control retrospectively for differences in drug self-exposure and/or availability in human drug users. This conclusion has important implications for preclinical research on the neurobiology of cocaine addiction and for future medication development