Impact of Gut Microbiota on Host Glycemic Control

Given that obesity and associated disorder type II diabetes mellitus have reached epidemic proportions worldwide, the development of efficient prevention and therapeutic interventions is a global public health interest. There is now a large body of evidence suggesting that the micro-organisms colonizing the human gut, known as gut microbiota, play a central role in human physiology and metabolism. Understanding how gut microbiota affects and regulates key metabolic functions such as glucose regulation and insulin resistance is an important health issue. The present review summarizes recent advances in our understanding of how gut bacterial species interfere with host metabolic phenotype. We will examine key biological molecular mechanisms underlying the impact of gut microbiota on host glycemic control including: incretin secretion, short-chain fatty acid production, bile acid metabolism, and adipose tissue regulation. We will highlight how prebiotic/probiotic interventions affect these bacterial processes and are now considered as promising approaches to treat obese and diabetic patients

Two approaches for testing identifiability and corresponding algorithms

This paper considers two different methods in the analysis of nonlinear controlled dynamical system identifiability. The corresponding identifiability definitions are not equivalent. Moreover one is based on the construction of an input-output ideal and the other on the similarity transformation theorem. Our aim is to develop algorithms which give identifiability results from both approaches. Differential algebra theory allows realization of such a project. In order to state these algorithms, new results of differential algebra must be proved. Then the implementation of these algorithms is done in a symbolic computation language

Competências coletivas e formação em condução de veículos de socorro num contexto de especialização de bombeiros sapadores em França

O presente estudo foi realizado a pedido de uma escola departamental de combate ao incêndio e socorro de bombeiros sapadores em França. Desenvolvido com base nas abordagens da ergonomia e da didática profissional, trata-se aqui de realizar uma análise da atividade de condução de dois veículos em situações de emergência, no sentido de melhorar a formação em condução num contexto de especialização de motoristas. A partir de entrevistas, de filmagens de saídas do piquete e de autoconfrontações, mostramos que se trata de uma atividade coletiva multidimensional e identificamos diferentes estratégias de condução, que são organizadas pelo conceito pragmático de fluidez de condução. Estas estratégias podem então ser utilizadas para servir o duplo objetivo de uma saída de piquete em situação de emergência: chegar o mais rápido possível ao local da ocorrência evitando incidentes no caminho. Os resultados destacam as limitações da formação atual e as armadilhas que surgem na especialização dos motoristas.El presente estudio se realizó a petición de una escuela departamental de lucha contra incendios y socorro de bomberos en Francia. Desarrollado sobre la base de los enfoques de la ergonomía y de la didáctica profesional, se llevó a cabo un análisis de la actividad de conducción de dos vehículos, en situaciones de emergencia, para mejorar la formación en conducción en un contexto de especialización de conductores. A través de entrevistas, grabaciones vídeo de salidas de equipos de primera intervención y de auto-confrontaciones, mostramos que se trata de una actividad colectiva multidimensional e identificamos diferentes estrategias de conducción, que están organizadas por el concepto pragmático de fluidez de conducción. Estas estrategias se pueden utilizar para responder al doble propósito de una salida de equipos de primera intervención en situaciones de emergencia: llegar lo más pronto posible al lugar del siniestro, evitando incidentes en la ruta. Los resultados destacan las limitaciones de la formación actual y las trampas que surgen en la especialización de los conductores.L’étude présentée a été réalisée à la demande d’une école départementale d’incendie et de secours des sapeurs-pompiers en France. Sur la base d’approches développées en ergonomie et didactique professionnelle, il s’agit de mener une analyse de l’activité de conduite de deux engins en situation d’urgence, en vue d’améliorer la formation à la conduite dispensée dans un contexte de spécialisation des conducteurs. A partir d’entretiens, de films de départs en intervention et d’autoconfrontations, nous montrons qu’il s’agit d’une activité collective multidimensionnelle et nous identifions différentes stratégies de conduite, qui sont organisées par le concept pragmatique de fluidité de la conduite. Ces stratégies permettent alors de répondre au double objectif d’un départ en intervention : arriver le plus vite possible sur le lieu du sinistre tout en évitant tout incident routier. L’ensemble de ces résultats souligne les limites de la formation actuelle ainsi que les écueils de la spécialisation des conducteurs.This study was requested by a departmental firefighting and rescue school for firefighters in France. Based on ergonomics and professional didactics approaches, the aim is to analyze the activity of driving two emergency vehicles so to improve the training in the drivers’ specialization context. Based on interviews, observation recordings of emergency departures and self-confrontations, we showed that it is a collective, multidimensional activity and we identified different driving strategies, organized according to the pragmatic concept of “fluidity of traffic”. These strategies may then be used to serve the dual-purpose of a standby patrol service when called for an emergency: to arrive on site as fast as possible and to avoid every road incident. The findings highlight the limits of the current training program and the traps that come along the drivers’ specialization

Influence de l'accessibilité des ressources anthropiques sur les paramètres reproducteurs de deux colonies de Goélands leucophées Larus michahellis

Cette étude a consisté à suivre la chronologie de reproduction et les paramètres reproducteurs (taille des pontes, volume des oeufs, taux d'éclosion et taux de survie des poussins) de deux colonies de Goélands leucophées Larus michahellis présentant dans leur environnement proche une accessibilité aux ressources anthropiques nettement différente. Ainsi, l'une des colonies sélectionnées, établie sur l'île de Ratonneau, est située à proximité immédiate du continent et des importantes décharges péri-marseillaises, tandis que la seconde colonie, implantée sur l'île de Bagaud, est éloignée de près de 30 km de la décharge la plus proche. La chronologie de ponte du premier oeuf montre l'existence d'un décalage phénologique significatif entre les deux colonies. Bien que les tailles moyennes de pontes (nombre moyen d'oeufs par nid) ne soient pas significativement différentes, la fréquence des pontes complètes (de 3 oeufs) est plus élevée lorsque l'accessibilité aux ressources est supérieure. Le volume moyen des oeufs est significativement différent entre les deux colonies, particulièrement en ce qui concerne le troisième oeuf, qui s'avère nettement plus petit pour la colonie ayant le moins accès aux ressources alimentaires anthropiques. De même, les taux d'éclosion et les taux de survie des poussins sont significativement inférieurs pour la colonie de Bagaud. Ainsi, ces disparités dans les paramètres reproducteurs semblent pouvoir être reliées à des différences notables d'accessibilité aux ressources alimentaires, expliquant en partie la nette différence de dynamique démographique des deux colonies observée sur les vingt dernières années. Enfin, ces résultats devraient permettre de calibrer plus justement les modèles démographiques destinés à orienter les opérations de gestion des populations de cette espèce parfois surabondante.This study aims at determining breeding chronology and reproductive parameters (clutch-size, egg volume, hatching success and chick survival rates) in two Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis colonies showing a marked difference in anthropogenic food resources accessibility. For instance, one of the colonies studied, established on Ratonneau island, is very close to the large refuse dumps of Marseille city white the other, established on Bagaud island, is 30 km distant from the nearest refuse dump. The mean laying date of the first egg showed a significant difference between the two colonies. Although mean clutch-size does not significantly differ between the two colonies, complete 3-egg clutches were more frequent at Ratonneau. Mean egg volume was significantly different between the two colonies with a markedly smaller volume for the C-egg in the colony that was farther from human food sources. Moreover, hatching success and chick survival rates were significantly lower on Bagaud than on Ratonneau. All these differences may be linked to marked differences in resource accessibility, and in this way, anthropogenic food resources accessibility may be partly responsible for the clear difference in the demographic patterns of the two colonies for the last twenty years. These results could be used to calibrate more accurately certain demographic modelling in order to improve the population management of this superabundant bird species

Retrospective evaluation of the agreement between thoracic point-of-care ultrasound and thoracic radiographs in cats with recent trauma: 111 cats

IntroductionMotor vehicular trauma, bite wounds, high-rise syndrome, and trauma of unknown origin are common reasons cats present to the emergency service. In small animals, thoracic injuries are often associated with trauma. The objective of this retrospective study was to evaluate limits of agreement (LOA) between thoracic point-of-care ultrasound (thoracic POCUS) and thoracic radiography (TXR), and to correlate thoracic POCUS findings to animal trauma triage (ATT) scores and subscores in a population of cats suffering from recent trauma.MethodsCats that had thoracic POCUS and TXR performed within 24 h of admission for suspected/witnessed trauma were retrospectively included. Thoracic POCUS and TXR findings were assessed as “positive” or “negative” based on the presence or absence of injuries. Cats positive on thoracic POCUS and TXR were assigned 1 to 5 tentative diagnoses: pulmonary contusions/hemorrhage, pneumothorax, pleural effusion, pericardial effusion, and diaphragmatic hernia. When available ATT scores were calculated. To express LOA between the two imaging modalities a kappa coefficient and 95% CI were calculated. Interpretation of kappa was based on Cohen values.ResultsOne hundred and eleven cats were included. 83/111 (74.4%) cats were assessed as positive based on thoracic POCUS and/or TXR. Pulmonary contusion was the most frequent diagnosis. The LOA between thoracic POCUS and TXR were moderate for all combined injuries, moderate for pulmonary contusions/hemorrhage, pneumothorax, diaphragmatic hernia, and fair for pleural effusion. Cats with positive thoracic POCUS had significantly higher median ATT scores and respiratory subscores compared to negative thoracic POCUS cats.DiscussionThe frequency of detecting intrathoracic lesions in cats was similar between thoracic POCUS and TXR with fair to moderate LOA, suggesting thoracic POCUS is useful in cats suffering from trauma. Thoracic POCUS may be more beneficial in cats with higher ATT scores, particularly the respiratory score

Reconciling the climate and ozone response to the 1257 CE Mount Samalas eruption.

The 1257 CE eruption of Mount Samalas (Indonesia) is the source of the largest stratospheric injection of volcanic gases in the Common Era. Sulfur dioxide emissions produced sulfate aerosols that cooled Earth's climate with a range of impacts on society. The coemission of halogenated species has also been speculated to have led to wide-scale ozone depletion. Here we present simulations from HadGEM3-ES, a fully coupled Earth system model, with interactive atmospheric chemistry and a microphysical treatment of sulfate aerosol, used to assess the chemical and climate impacts from the injection of sulfur and halogen species into the stratosphere as a result of the Mt. Samalas eruption. While our model simulations support a surface air temperature response to the eruption of the order of -1°C, performing well against multiple reconstructions of surface temperature from tree-ring records, we find little evidence to support significant injections of halogens into the stratosphere. Including modest fractions of the halogen emissions reported from Mt. Samalas leads to significant impacts on the composition of the atmosphere and on surface temperature. As little as 20% of the halogen inventory from Mt. Samalas reaching the stratosphere would result in catastrophic ozone depletion, extending the surface cooling caused by the eruption. However, based on available proxy records of surface temperature changes, our model results support only very minor fractions (1%) of the halogen inventory reaching the stratosphere and suggest that further constraints are needed to fully resolve the issue.DTP-1502139 NE/S000887/1 NE/N006038/1 ACSIS UKC

Gemini multi-conjugate adaptive optics system review II: Commissioning, operation and overall performance

The Gemini Multi-conjugate Adaptive Optics System - GeMS, a facility instrument mounted on the Gemini South telescope, delivers a uniform, near diffraction limited images at near infrared wavelengths (0.95 microns- 2.5 microns) over a field of view of 120 arc seconds. GeMS is the first sodium layer based multi laser guide star adaptive optics system used in astronomy. It uses five laser guide stars distributed on a 60 arc seconds square constellation to measure for atmospheric distortions and two deformable mirrors to compensate for it. In this paper, the second devoted to describe the GeMS project, we present the commissioning, overall performance and operational scheme of GeMS. Performance of each sub-system is derived from the commissioning results. The typical image quality, expressed in full with half maximum, Strehl ratios and variations over the field delivered by the system are then described. A discussion of the main contributor to performance limitation is carried-out. Finally, overheads and future system upgrades are described.Comment: 20 pages, 11 figures, accepted for publication in MNRA