Upper limits for undetected trace species in the stratosphere of Titan

In this paper we describe a first quantitative search for several molecules in Titan's stratosphere in Cassini CIRS infrared spectra. These are: ammonia (NH3), methanol (CH3OH), formaldehyde (H2CO), and acetonitrile (CH3CN), all of which are predicted by photochemical models but only the last of which observed, and not in the infrared. We find non-detections in all cases, but derive upper limits on the abundances from low-noise observations at 25{\deg}S and 75{\deg}N. Comparing these constraints to model predictions, we conclude that CIRS is highly unlikely to see NH3 or CH3OH emissions. However, CH3CN and H2CO are closer to CIRS detectability, and we suggest ways in which the sensitivity threshold may be lowered towards this goal.Comment: 11 pages plus 6 figure file

Source of Hyalesthes obsoletus Signoret planthopper (Hemiptera: Cixiidae) in southern France and potential effects of landscape

Cixiid planthoppers are considered of major economic importance, as they can transmit phytoplasmas responsible for many plant diseases. While thorougly studied in vineyards, the epidemiology of stolbur phytoplasma, transmitted by Hyalesthes obsoletus Signoret, was rarely investigated on minor crops as lavender, where it leads to ‘yellow decline’ disease and large economic losses. The objective of this paper is to understand the effect of the local landscape characteristics on the presence and density of H. obsoletus in the ‘Plateau de Valensole’, southern France. Potential host plants of H. obsoletus were surveyed in three contrasted zones (in terms of crops and disease intensity), by uprooting plants and capturing adults in emergence traps. The localization and potential movements of H. obsoletus from the host plants towards lavandin (infertile hybrid of lavender) were determined using yellow sticky traps. Clary sage plants were found as major hosts of H. obsoletus. Flying insects were also caught in fields of lavandin, although emergence traps and plant uprooting did not confirm this crop as a winter host, i.e., as a reservoir for the insect. Based on one zone, we showed that attractiveness may depend on crop (clary sage or lavandin) and on its age, as well as on the distance to the supposed source field. These results suggest that clary sage could be an important host of H. obsoletus, whose density largely varies between zones. Genetic studies would be required to confirm the role of clary sage in the dissemination of yellow decline of lavandin

Websol : une plateforme Internet de diffusion des données pédologiques

sur les sols (RRP1 notamment) auprès des nombreux utilisateurs potentiels régionaux (techniciens, conseillers, administrations, etc.) et territoriaux (collectivités, contrats de rivières, etc.), ainsi que, pour partie de ces données, auprès du grand public. Cette interface est maintenant finalisée dans sa première version2 dans le cadre du projet CASDAR3 2007-2010. La plateforme a pour vocation la valorisation aussi bien des données pédologiques que des applications réalisées à partir de ces données. Le développement de nouveaux modules élargira encore le champ des valorisations. Pour aider à son implantation chez les partenaires impliqués dans le programme IGCS4, et veiller à son évolution en la dotant de nouvelles fonctionnalités, la plateforme Websol est mise à disposition (droits de propriété et codes sources) du RMT « Sols et Territoires » 5. L’axe 5 de ce RMT se fixe pour objectifs d’appuyer les déploiements de la plateforme dans les régions candidates, de réaliser des supports et des manuels relatifs à l’application, de proposer des évolutions possibles de la plateforme et enfin de clarifier son positionnement juridique par rapport à la Directive INSPIRE

Amorphous Tm3+ doped sulfide thin films fabricated by sputtering

Amorphous chalcogenide films play a motivating role in the development of integrated planar optical circuits and their components. The aim of the present investigation was to optimize deposition conditions for preparation of pure and Tm3+ doped sulfide films by radio-frequency magnetron sputtering. The study of their composition, morphological characteristics and thermal properties was realized by scanning electronic microscope attached with energy dispersive spectroscopy, Rutherford backscattering, X-ray diffraction, and micro-thermal probe. Some optical properties, like transmission, index of refraction, optical band-gap, propagation modes from 633 to 1540 nm, were investigated on thin films. The whole results point out hopeful perspectives strengthened by the clear observation of the near-infrared photo-luminescence of Tm3+ doped sulfide films

Transformation de l’agriculture et des métiers des agriculteurs : quelles conséquences pour les organismes de Développement ?

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Osteoarthritic chondrocytes undergo a glycolysis-related metabolic switch upon exposure to IL-1b or TNF

International audienceBackground Osteoarthritis is an age-related disease that currently faces a lack of symptomatic treatment. Inflammation, which is mainly sustained by pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1b, TNF, and IL-6, plays an important role in osteoarthritis progression. In this context, pro-inflammatory cytokines are widely used to mimic the inflammatory component of osteoarthritis in vitro. However, the therapeutic failures of clinical trials evaluating anti-cytokines drugs highlight the lack of overall understanding of the effects of these cytokines on chondrocytes.Methods Here, we generated a comprehensive transcriptomic and proteomic dataset of osteoarthritic chondrocytes treated with these cytokines to describe their pro-inflammatory signature and compare it to the transcriptome of non-osteoarthritic chondrocytes. Then, the dysregulations highlighted at the molecular level were functionally confirmed by real-time cellular metabolic assays.Results We identified dysregulation of metabolic-related genes in osteoarthritic chondrocytes but not in non-osteoarthritic chondrocytes. A metabolic shift, toward increased glycolysis at the expense of mitochondrial respiration, was specifically confirmed in osteoarthritic chondrocytes treated with IL-1b or TNF.Conclusion These data show a strong and specific association between inflammation and metabolism in osteoarthritic chondrocytes, which was not found in non-osteoarthritic chondrocytes. This indicates that the link between inflammation and metabolic dysregulation may be exacerbated during chondrocyte damage in osteoarthritis

Identification of TGFβ signatures in six murine models mimicking different osteoarthritis clinical phenotypes

International audienceObjective: TGFβ is a key player in cartilage homeostasis and OA pathology. However, few data are available on the role of TGFβ signalling in the different OA phenotypes. Here, we analysed the TGFβ pathway by transcriptomic analysis in six mouse models of OA.Method: We have brought together seven expert laboratories in OA pathophysiology and, used inter-laboratories standard operating procedures and quality controls to increase experimental reproducibility and decrease bias. As none of the available OA models covers the complexity and heterogeneity of the human disease, we used six different murine models of knee OA: from post-traumatic/mechanical models (meniscectomy (MNX), MNX and hypergravity (HG-MNX), MNX and high fat diet (HF-MNX), MNX and seipin knock-out (SP-MNX)) to aging-related OA and inflammatory OA (collagenase-induced OA (CIOA)). Four controls (MNX-sham, young, SP-sham, CIOA-sham) were added. OsteoArthritis Research Society International (OARSI)-based scoring of femoral condyles and ribonucleic acid (RNA) extraction from tibial plateau samples were done by single operators as well as the transcriptomic analysis of the TGFβ family pathway by Custom TaqMan® Array Microfluidic Cards.Results: The transcriptomic analysis revealed specific gene signatures in each of the six models; however, no gene was deregulated in all six OA models. Of interest, we found that the combinatorial Gdf5-Cd36-Ltbp4 signature might discriminate distinct subgroups of OA: Cd36 upregulation is a hallmark of MNX-related OA while Gdf5 and Ltbp4 upregulation is related to MNX-induced OA and CIOA.Conclusion: These findings stress the OA animal model heterogeneity and the need of caution when extrapolating results from one model to another