bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sediment eDNA Metabarcoding for monitoring impacts from offshore oil extraction
Authors: Lanzén Anders , Thomassen Hestetun Jon , Bagi Andrea , Dahlgren Thomas
Published: March 2021

Routine biological monitoring of the areas affected by offshore oil drilling and extraction is critical for ensuring proper environmental management. In addition to sufficient knowledge of the ecosystem affected, formalised e.g. as biotic indices of indicator species, adequate temporal and spatial resolution is also required, to provide accurate information. As already demonstrated in several types of environments, environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding offers an attractive alternative to current morphology-based assessments, including for impacts of oil extraction or spills.

We have recently studied the influence of different experimental strategies on the accuracy of marine sediment metabarcoding, suggesting minimum criteria for technical and spatial replication (Hestetun et al. 2020). Here, we aim to evaluate the predictive power of this strategy, through agreement with assessments based on physicochemical measurements and current bioindicators. To this end, we targeted the metazoan, and total eukaryotic benthic communities, using COI and 18S V1-V2 markers, respectively. Sampled sites ranged from high to low impacts. The studied areas were located near active production installations and reference sites on the Norwegian continental shelf, in the North Sea and Barents Sea.

As a proxy for accumulated impact, we developed a simple physicochemical pressure index (PI) based on total hydrocarbons, PAH16, barium and copper, all of which agreed well with impact reported from recent routine monitoring. Alpha diversity of both molecular datasets, as well as of morphology data, correlated strongly with this PI. However, the correlation was stronger yet with the macroinvertebrate-based Norwegian Sensitivity Index (NSI) derived from COI metabarcoding data, which also agreed well with NSI values derived from morphology-based monitoring. We also identified a set of bioindicator taxa from each of the two metabarcoding datasets, used to develop two novel metabarcoding-based biotic indeces. Using cross-validation, we demonstrated that predictions based on these indeces agreed well with PI. Predictive performance was better, and similar to NSI, for the COI-based index, but also high for the 18S-based version.

In conclusion, this study demonstrates how de novo biotic indices can be developed, that perform comparably to existing biotic indices. We are confident that, using a larger set of samples, performance can be improved beyond that of current monitoring practices. Thanks to the reduced costs of eDNA analysis in comparison to morphological identifiation, this would also pave the way for improved spatial and temporal resolution employed in routine environmental monitoring. In doing so, it can also provide valuable raw data for improving our understanding of benthic ecology, biodiversity and its sensitivity to anthropogenic pressures.
LifeDNAquatic: A priori settings and refined pipelines of eDNA metabarcoding to generate "big data" for solid fish, mussel and amphibian SDMs
Authors: Hellstrom Micaela , Bruce Kat , Brys Rein , Hänfling Bernd , Halfmaerten David , Tang Cuong , Sjöstedt Jessica , Andersson Martin , Öhman Marcus , Spens Johan
Published: March 2021

Sound environmental management decisions - in accordance with the EU WFD for aquatic ecosystems – mainly depend on reliable species presence- and distribution- data. Here we present a workflow from sampling strategies to results and decision making using eDNA metabarcoding analyses for fish, amphibians, and mussels from habitat to landscape scales with focus on sampling strategies for "big data" in marine and freshwater ecosystems in Sweden. The project LifeDNAquatic highlights a solid eDNA pipeline and comparison of methods, which cover field planning and the entire pipeline generating data for Species Distribution Models (SDMs). Intense sampling over a large river catchment highlights previoulsy unanswered questionsand and provides insights to a priori settings for sampling strategies to retrieve "big data". The results provide novel insights to DNA distribution in the environment, seasonal and spatial changes in eDNA composition, and validation of data.
Establishing the first DNA barcode reference library for freshwater decapod species (Crustacea: Decapoda) in Republic of North Macedonia
Authors: Slavevska Stamenkovic Valentina , Hinic Jelena , Grabowski Michal , Mamos Tomasz , Lovrenčić Leona , Jelić Mišel , Klobučar Goran , Maguire Ivana
Published: March 2021

The freshwater ecosystems in the Republic of North Macedonia are considered as biodiversity hotspot on the European level since they provide diverse habitats that correspond with the complex of ecological preferences that many species require. This specially applies to the freshwater crustaceans that, unfortunately, have never been in the focus of a continuous research. In R. North Macedonia, freshwater crustaceans usually inhabit ecosystems exposed to negative anthropogenic impact. Thus, some species may become extinct presenting an irreversible loss for the Macedonian natural heritage. Although DNA barcoding, as a highly effective tool for fast species detection, is already a routine protocol in many taxonomical studies all over the world, there is still no official national DNA barcoding initiative in Republic of North Macedonia. This study employs DNA barcoding based on the ca. 650-bp long standard fragment of the mt COI gene of Astacus astacus, Austropotamobius torrentium, Potamon fluviatile and Potamon ibericum previously identified based on morphological characters, collected from different parts in R. North Macedonia. The ability of the DNA barcoding to rapidly identify all species has been proven. Our research presents the first comprehensive study that employs DNA barcoding as a molecular tool in decapod taxonomy in Republic of North Macedonia, giving the first attempt to establish DNA barcode reference library for freshwater decapod species in the country. We hope that further application of this approach will lead to the construction of DNA barcode reference library for different aquatic biota in the country. Such a library will find purpose in effective and modern bioassessment protocols as well as in phylogenetic research detecting interpopulation genetic variability.
Autonomous in situ sampling and analysis of eDNA using an Environmental Sample Processor (ESP)
Authors: Jacobsen Magnus
Published: March 2021

Monitoring of marine offshore biodiversity is expensive and has traditionally relied on invasive techniques like net fishing or direct observations that can only be conducted in calm seas by experts. Analysis of environmental DNA (eDNA) is a non-invasive method and can easily be collected from sea water by water filtration followed by DNA extraction. Due to the fast degradation time in sea water it is considered a good proxy for present living biodiversity. It allows direct identification of species based on their unique DNA sequence and is cheaper compared to traditional methods, which often are carried out from dedicated fishing or research vessels. However, while eDNA collection may reduce operational cost of offshore sampling, it still relies on boat time. Thus, traditional eDNA sampling still presents substantial costs for offshore biodiversity monitoring. This may reduce the number of samples that can be collected and analysed, limiting the sampling to single ‘time shots’, which may not give an adequate picture of the present biodiversity.

The 2nd generation Environmental Sample Processor (2G-ESP) is an autonomous sampler/analyser of eDNA. It can collect, extract and analyse eDNA samples in situ using quantitative PCR (qPCR) or store filters for subsequent laboratory analysis after deployment. The instrument can be deployed directly on the seabed or in pelagic configuration where it can operate for several months depending on power supply and power consumption, while it is controlled by, and sends back results to scientists on land. These unique features make the 2G-ESP an interesting candidate for offshore monitoring of marine biodiversity, as well as a potential early warning/detection system e.g. for invasive species. Moreover, the possibility to preserve filters aboard makes it possible to investigate temporal changes of full biological communities by applying metabarcoding techniques on the collected samples.

Here we present the major results of three years of work testing the potential use of a second generation Environmental Sample Processor (2G-ESP) for marine monitoring. These include both practical and analytical issues that we have encountered along the way, as well as results on target species detection and temporal analysis using qPCR and metabarcoding methods.
DNA-based biomonitoring in the tropics: Detection and control of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in Ecuadorian ecosystem
Authors: Riascos-Flores Lenin , Carrera Andrea , Naranjo Leopoldo , Yanez Jomira , Goethals Peter , Bonilla Julio , Celi Jorge , Van der heyden Christine , Ortega Mauricio
Published: March 2021

Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) is a fungus that parasites vertebrates, and is associated with population declines worldwide in endemic amphibian species. As such, it is one of several invasive species which pose a serious threat to a variety of vertebrate hosts, in casu: amphibians. Detection of such invasive species is generally based on DNA-based methods where, for instance, swabs or tissue samples of candidate hosts are analysed for their presence. Any management strategy of these invasive species would greatly benefit from sensitive and rapid detection methods which can be applied at a large scale. The analysis of eDNA from the habitat of candidate host organisms may hold significant potential for this purpose. In this study, we compare the ability of eDNA from habitat samples with that of swab and/or tissue samples of candidate hosts to detect the presence of Bd in Ecuador.

We collected individuals from the amphibians: Pristimantis (Anura: Craugastoridae), Rhinella (Anura: Bufonidae), Gastroteca (Anura: Hemiphractidae), from the endangered toad species of the genus Atelopus (Anura: Bufonidae) as well as water samples from different water bodies in Andean and coastal Ecuadorian areas. Samples were processed using a portable field molecular laboratory. Commercial primers for the internal transcribed spacer (ITS), in combination with a new set of primers designed from Bd sequences from tropical countries, were used. Positive PCR results from both types of samples were obtained within eight hours after sampling.

Prevalence of BD was detected in eDNA, swab and tissue samples in four of the six ecosystems monitored -14 out of 26 water samples and 27 out of 43 amphibian of in total 12 species- including three endangered toad species (Atelopus balios, A. nanay, and the rediscovered A. bomolochos). Our results highlight the potential of eDNA-based monitoring to assess the presence and prevalence of Bd in Ecuadorian aquatic ecosystems, in accordance with the National Action Plan for the Conservation of Ecuadorian Amphibians. Furthermore, our field lab approach leads to reliable and fast results for the monitoring of invasive species in a tropical context of a pandemic.
Mapping biodiversity hotspots of fish communities in subtropical streams through environmental DNA
Authors: Blackman Rosetta , Osathanunkula Maslin , Brantschen Jeanine , Di Muri Cristina , Harper Lynsey , Mächler Elvira , Hänfling Bernd , Altermatt Florian
Published: March 2021

Tropical and subtropical freshwater habitats are among the most biodiverse ecosystems worldwide, containing a characteristic fauna and high numbers of endemic species. However, exploitation of organisms, global climate change, pollution and the introduction of invasive species are severely threatening this diversity. Implementation of appropriate conservation and protection measures in tropical freshwater systems depends on comprehensive knowledge of state and change in biodiversity, which however, has been barely feasible due to logistic, technical and taxonomic challenges abound in tropical and subtropical ecosystems. Here we use a single environmental DNA (eDNA) multi-site sampling campaign distributed evenly through the 200,000 km2 Chao Phraya river basin, Thailand, to provide key information on freshwater fish diversity. We found a total of 108 fish taxa and identified key biodiversity patterns within the river network with respect to alpha- and beta-diversity patterns. By using a hierarchical clustering, we grouped the fish communities of all sites across the catchment into distinct clusters. Mapping these clusters over the catchment not only accurately matched the topology of the river network, but also revealed distinct groups of sites which should each be considered of high conservation value. Our study demonstrates a key application of large-scale monitoring (via eDNA) to identify distinct areas within a catchment for conservation and habitat protection.
Replicate DNA metabarcoding can discriminate seasonal and spatial abundance shifts in river macroinvertebrate assemblages
Authors: Bush Alex , Compson Zacchaeus , Kattilakoski Matilda , Rideout Natalie , Levenstein Brianna , Hajibabaei Mehrdad , Monk Wendy , Baird Donald
Published: March 2021

Metabarcoding is capable of delivering consistent and accurate fine-resolution biodiversity data, and offers great promise for improving aspects of environmental assessment and research. Even so, many ecologists are keen to make further inferences about species’ abundances and the number of sequence reads has proven to be a poor proxy for abundance. The conservative interpretation has been to treat metabarcoding data as presence/absence, and although such data are less rich, occurrence and abundance are only different expressions of the same phenomenon. Interestingly if we assume the probability of detecting individuals is constant, it should be possible to use changes in the frequency of detection to infer changes in the underlying abundance. We tested the possibility that changes in the abundance structure of benthic macroinvertebrate communities could be recovered using replicated metabarcoding.

We conducted 5 monthly surveys from Jun-Nov 2019 at the Catamaran Brook, a small tributary of the Little Southwest Miramichi River in New Brunswick, Canada. Each survey collected 30 benthic samples divided between control and treatment cages that excluded predatory fish. A further 6 samples were taken for traditional microscopic identification and counting.

Analysis of the metabarcoding data demonstrated that we could recover plausible changes in abundance from occurrence data, including significant responses to both seasonal dynamics and the experimental exclusion of predators. The microscopy samples merely confirmed that count data are highly stochastic, and therefore while specific estimates of expected abundance from our model are highly uncertain, they capture those differences we could validate. In summary, while we confirmed that occurrence data are more robust for routine bioassessment, it is possible to recover fine-resolution changes in abundance that can inform ecological studies using metabarcoding.
Improving the detection of rare native fish species in environmental DNA metabarcoding surveys
Authors: Rojahn Jack , Gleeson Dianne , Furlan Elise , Haeusler Tim , Bylemans Jonas
Published: March 2021

The presence of threatened or endangered species often strongly influences management and conservation decisions. Within the Murray–Darling Basin (MDB), Australia, the presence of threatened native fish affects the management and allocation of water resources. These decisions are currently based on traditional fisheries data and a predictive MaxEnt model. However, it is important to verify the model's predictive power given the implication it may have, but this requires methods with a high detection sensitivity for rare species. Although the use of environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding achieves a higher detection sensitivity compared with traditional methods, earlier surveys in the MDB have shown that the highly abundant and invasive common carp (Cyprinus carpio) can reduce detection probabilities for rare species. Consequently, a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) blocking primer designed to block the amplification of carp eDNA could increase the detection probabilities for rare native species while simultaneously reducing the required sampling effort and survey costs. Although PCR blocking primers are often used in ancient DNA and dietary studies, no aquatic eDNA metabarcoding study to date has evaluated the potential benefits of using PCR blocking primers. A laboratory and field‐based pilot study was used to address this knowledge gap and assess the impact of a blocking primer on the detection probabilities of native species and the minimum sampling effort required. Results showed that the inclusion of the blocking primer increased the detection probabilities for native species by 10–20% and reduced the minimum required sampling effort by 25–50%. These findings provide important insights into possible methods for optimizing eDNA metabarcoding surveys for the detection of rare aquatic species.
Developing DNA Based Methods for Environmental Regulation and Management- UK Insights
Authors: Duncan Willie
Published: March 2021

DNA assessments are revolutionising biomonitoring opportunities across the globe, including the monitoring of rare and invasive species, creating biodiversity inventories, and developing pollution diagnostic and ecosystem resilience assessment methods. To date pollution and ecosystem resilience assessments have been based on assessing the diversity of familiar taxonomic groups but the introduction of DNA based methods will significantly increase the opportunities to exploit groups not previously used for this work.

Environmental regulators and managers can derive many benefits from the adoption of these methods, such as improved understanding of environmental conditions, cost effective sample processing, overcoming taxonomic bottlenecks, either through shortages in trained taxonomists or utilising biota with challenging taxonomies. In addition to creating diversity based metrics DNA monitoring also allows for the assessment of functional attributes such as those that support important ecosystem services.

The UK has been an early adopter of this technology and this paper will explore how the alignment of scientific advances have coincided with operational needs to create a fertile arena for the development of DNA based assessment methods that will be used in environmental regulation and management. Development projects advanced in the UK will be examined to identify the common and specific issues associated with them that have led to early engagement and adoption.
Environmental genomics for benthic monitoring of North Sea oil and gas offshore platforms
Authors: Pawlowski Jan , Mauffrey Florian , Cordier Tristan , Apothéloz-Perret-Gentil Laure , Cermakova Kristina , Merzi Thomas , Delefosse Mathieu , Blanc Philippe
Published: March 2021

During the last decade, considerable efforts have been undertaken to achieve a “good ecological status” of European coastal waters and ensuring the development of methodological standards for the evaluation of this status. However, the current routine biomonitoring implicates time-consuming and costly manual sorting and morphological identification of benthic macrofauna. In our study, we tested the performance of environmental DNA metabarcoding targeting microbial communities and meiofauna as an alternative to traditional macrofauna-based monitoring. We focused on environmental impact assessment of offshore oil and gas industry. We used three genetic markers (18S V1V2, 18S V9 and COI) to assess the environmental pressures induced by the platforms. All markers showed patterns of alpha and beta diversity consistent with morphology-based macrofauna analyses, significantly changing along distance gradients from the platforms. The impact of the operational discharges was also detected by the variation of biotic indices values, AMBI index showing the best correlation between morphological and eDNA datasets. Finally, the sediment physicochemical parameters were used to build a local de novo pressure index that served as benchmark to test the potential of a taxonomy-free approach. Our study demonstrates that metabarcoding approach outperforms morphology-based approach and can be used as a cost and time-saving alternative solution to the traditional morphology-based monitoring in order to monitor more efficiently the impact of industrial activities on marine biodiversity.
The challenges and opportunities for implementation of eDNA biomonitoring in riverine systems
Authors: Altermatt Florian
Published: March 2021

Current local to global threats to biodiversity and anthropogenic changes of the environment call for rapid and effective conservation and management of ecosystems and the services they provide. In this context, the use of environmental DNA to assess biodiversity and conduct biomonitoring has been established as a novel, potentially revolutionizing approach over the last decade, especially in aquatic ecosystems. Rapid initial success, broad applicability and advances in sequencing technologies have raised high expectations about its potential. However, as with any revolution, true success requires formal implementation and establishing and integration of routines. In this talk, I will exemplify challenges and opportunities for implementation of eDNA biomonitoring in riverine systems, addressing both scientists and stakeholders. I will discuss potential pitfalls and misunderstandings caused by different targets, inference, and possible conclusions when comparing traditional sampling approaches with eDNA. I postulate that the focus should be on the strengths of new approaches, and not their matching to existing techniques. Finally, I will exemplify a strategy and the necessary steps of how a new order in biomonitoring can be established.
Transitions vers l'agriculture biologique
Authors: Sautereau Natacha
Published: March 2021

Initier et soutenir de nouvelles pratiques mobilise des dispositifs multiples, tant les attentes et les trajectoires des agriculteurs sont diverses. Ce chapitre présente les politiques publiques et les formes d’accompagnement des agriculteurs visant à favoriser les conversions à l’AB. Outre les soutiens financiers, les principaux moyens en sont la sensibilisation et le conseil, l’organisation et la circulation des connaissances (constitution de références et de réseaux), ainsi qu’une animation à différents niveaux (individuel, collectif, et institutionnel).
Transitions vers l'agriculture biologique
Authors: Garraud Delphine , Morin Jean-Marie
Published: March 2021

Ce chapitre, construit à partir de l’expérience d’enseignement des auteurs, traite des parcours d’installation en AB de candidats sans formation capacitaire agricole et souvent non originaires du milieu agricole. Il aborde les dispositifs de formation et d’accompagnement de leurs projets, qui concernent souvent, dans le cas présenté ici d’un CFPPA situé en Provence, du maraîchage diversifié en vente directe. En formation initiale, les projets d’installation sont souvent plus lointains dans le temps, même pour des formations à orientation agriculture biologique telles que certains bacs professionnels et brevets de technicien supérieur.
Évaluons, évoluons
Authors: Delaye Pierre , Savy Hervé
Published: March 2021

Expérimentés à partir des années 1980, les dispositifs en unités capitalisables (UC) se sont développés progressivement et occupent aujourd’ hui une place centrale dans les formations diplômantes du ministère de l’Agriculture destinées aux apprentis et aux stagiaires de la formation professionnelle continue. La démarche d’ élaboration des référentiels, fondée sur une analyse des métiers ainsi que les espaces d’ autonomie confiés aux centres en matière de formation et d’ évaluation permettent une liaison précise avec les emplois visés sur le territoire. L’ organisation en unités indépendantes et l’ évaluation par objectifs facilitent la construction de plans de formation et d’ évaluation, adaptés aux besoins diversifiés des apprenants. Un rôle important est confié aux jurys en charge du suivi des centres de formation et aux directions régionales de l’ alimentation, de l’ agriculture et de la forêt, chargées d’ encadrer, d’ organiser et d’ animer l’ ensemble du dispositif régional. Sur le terrain, des organisations diverses ont été déployées en fonction du contexte. Au travers des dernières rénovations de diplômes, le ministère a réaffirmé la place donnée aux dispositifs par UC, adaptés aux enjeux actuels. Cette orientation constitue une opportunité pour relancer une dynamique autour de ce dispositif : ajustement et clarification des règles de mise en œuvre, animation en région et formation des acteurs, réflexion plus fondamentale sur les évolutions futures à envisager.
Variations autour des PME et entreprises de taille intermédiaire
Authors: Bardinet-Evraert Frédérique
Published: March 2021

Ce chapitre montre le rôle joué par la gouvernance dans l’évaluation et la mesure du capital intellectuel et de ses composantes par les analystes d’un fonds d’investissement spécialisé dans l’investissement socialement responsable ainsi que l’influence du milieu socio-économique et institutionnel dans lequel les entreprises s’insèrent. Les données examinées concernent les années 2010 à 2012 pour un échantillon de 289 sociétés cotées européennes pour la plupart de capitalisation moyenne extrait d’une population mère de plus de mille entreprises suivie par ce fonds privé.
Les grandes décisions de l’histoire de France
Authors: Le Naour Jean-Yves
Published: March 2021

En décrétant la mobilisation générale le 1er août 1914, le gouvernement français prend la lourde responsabilité de faire entrer le pays dans la guerre contre les empires centraux. On imagine que cette grave décision, si difficile à prendre, si lourde de conséquences, a été mûrement réfléchie et longuement débattue… mais il n’en est rien. En réalité, la France, ballottée par les événements, a décidé de ne pas choisir et a choisi de ne pas décider. Spectatrice largement impuissante de la crise diplomatique de juillet 1914, elle se tient en retrait, silencieuse, avec au fond plus de calculs que d’indécision, à la différence du précédent de 1870 où la montée aux extrêmes avait été portée par un parti de la guerre qui avait eu raison des réticences de Napoléon III 1 . Liée par son alliance avec la Russie, elle n’avait aucun moyen de la renier, sauf à perdre toute crédibilité et à se trouver isolée sur l’échiquier international lors de la prochaine crise. Voici le récit d’une dizaine de jours édifiants qui ont défait « le monde d’hier » cher à Stefan Zweig .
La première année de la vie
Authors: Gillot-de-Vries Francine , Wellemans-Camus Maggy , Candeur-Meyrant Simone
Published: March 2021

Le présent travail vise à comparer les comportements et interactions mère-bébé observés le 4 e ou 5 e jour après la naissance, lors de la situation d’allaitement au sein, dans trois maternités différentes. L’une d’elles utilise des méthodes entourant la naissance dites traditionnelles (accouchement où l aspect médical domine, allaitement à « heure fixe », prise en charge préférentielle du bébé par le personnel soignant). Les deux autres maternités pratiquent des conditions susceptibles d’améliorer le climat des périodes pré-, néo – et post-natales (préparation prénatale tant physique que psychologique, bébé déposé sur le ventre de la maman dès après l’accouchement, mise au sein précoce, allaitement à la demande, place privilégiée de la mère et du père dans les soins au bébé). Les résultats obtenus montrent qu à la maternité traditionnelle, les mères plus centrées sur l’aspect technique de l’alimentation et les bébés « plus endormis » n ont que peu d’échanges interactionnels. Dans les deux autres maternités, en revanche, il existe une communication plus riche et variée entre les deux partenaires qui se module selon leurs caractéristiques personnelles et les critères institutionnels propres à chaque maternité.
La logique du désordre
Authors: Thiriot Céline
Published: March 2021

Résumé Sociologie des crises politiques propose des outils intéressants pour l’analyse des transitions. Des chercheurs l’ont mobilisé pour étudier les transitions démocratiques africaines des années 1990 et y ont trouvé des pistes de compréhension permettant de dépasser les limites de la « transitologie ». Ces transitions africaines ont été analysées à travers le prisme des mobilisations multisectorielles et des conjonctures critiques, dans une perspective nouvelle replacée dans l’historicité du social et du politique. Cependant, la transposition de Sociologie des crises politiques aux terrains africains reste sélective et pose des questions de compatibilité et d’adaptabilité. Le concept de sectorisation, notamment, ajusté aux sociétés complexes occidentales, l’est de manière plus relative ailleurs.
Controverses climatiques, sciences et politique
Authors: McCright Aaron M. , Dunlap Riley E. , Lacroix Valérie
Published: March 2021

Résumé Les auteurs présentent d’abord dans ce chapitre une description schématique de la « machine du déni » en place aux États-Unis depuis déjà quelques décennies. Ce dispositif fait intervenir une série de fondations, organisations et campagnes, relativement spécifiques à ce pays. Les liens avec des milieux voulant freiner les régulations de l’industrie et des affaires y sont bien documentés. Le chapitre examine également, par des analyses de sondages d’opinion échelonnés dans le temps, les effets de ce type de campagnes et y décèlent une polarisation politique croissante autour du « climato-scepticisme ».
Gouverner (par) les finances publiques
Authors: Barrier Julien
Published: March 2021

Résumé Quelle a été l’évolution des politiques de la recherche en France et quel rôle ont joué les programmes de financement sur projets dans la structuration des relations entre entreprises et laboratoires académiques ? À partir d’une enquête sur le secteur de l’électronique et des micro- et nanotechnologies, ce chapitre montre comment, entre le début des années 1980 et la fin des années 1990, ces politiques sont passées d’une logique de soutien à la production de stocks de connaissances académiques potentiellement mobilisables par l’industrie à une logique d’organisation des flux de connaissances entre laboratoires publics et entreprises. En mettant en évidence la combinaison de mécanismes de contrôle externe, d’autocontrôle et d’interdépendances croisées au sein de réseaux hybrides, il souligne que ces évolutions inscrivent beaucoup plus étroitement le travail des chercheurs dans des problématiques industrielles, redéfinissant ainsi les contours de leur autonomie professionnelle.
Mediterra 2016 : Zéro gaspillage en Méditerranée
Authors: Kalaïtzis Panagiotis , Bita Elena Craita , Hilmi Martin
Published: March 2021

Résumé Selon de récentes estimations, les pertes et le gaspillage alimentaires représentent en Méditerranée un coût de plus de 50 milliards de dollars par an pour les producteurs. Ces pertes étant le plus souvent attribuées au manque d’infrastructures adaptées, il apparaît nécessaire de mettre rapidement en place des chaînes de valeur alimentaires « vertes » centrées sur les produits, les processus et les systèmes afin de répondre aux objectifs spécifiques de prévention, de réduction et de récupération. Dans ce contexte, les problématiques centrales de la gestion post-récolte doivent être traitées par la mise en œuvre de nouvelles technologies, telles que les emballages actifs et intelligents, les nanotechnologies, l’utilisation de capteurs, d’indicateurs et de solutions innovantes pour supprimer l’éthylène. Des investissements dans la R&D sont également indispensables pour initier l’écologisation des chaînes de valeur alimentaires, le défi principal étant de stimuler le développement d’infrastructures écologiques innovantes afin d’augmenter les exportations tout en assurant la sécurité alimentaire. Parce que ces questions participent de la sécurité alimentaire (et sanitaire), de l’atténuation du changement climatique, de la création d’emploi et de la lutte pour l’égalité des sexes, il devient urgent que les décideurs politiques et industriels s’en saisissent.
Le règne des entourages
Authors: Peters B. Guy
Published: March 2021

Résumé Parmi les équipes qui entourent les principaux dirigeants du régime fédéral américain, la plus volumineuse, la mieux structurée, la plus spécialisée est celle du président. Sans cesse plus étoffé, l’entourage de la Maison-Blanche permet au chef de l’exécutif d’être le président de plus en plus puissant qu’il est devenu depuis la seconde guerre mondiale. Toutefois, celui-ci ne choisit pas toujours ses conseillers comme bon lui semble, car il peut être obligé d’obtenir l’approbation d’un Sénat qui ne lui est pas toujours favorable. En revanche, les membres du Congrès sont libres de recruter leurs propres collaborateurs à leur guise et sont entourés d’équipes imposantes en comparaison des parlementaires de la vieille Europe. Considérés le plus souvent comme la preuve de la résilience d’un système des dépouilles typiquement étatsunien, les vastes entourages politisés de Washington n’en sont pas moins un foyer de professionnels de l’expertise et du conseil au Prince, dont les compétences de fond sont, tout autant que leur loyauté politique, mises à profit par leurs patrons.
Les Cemal et les Enver
Authors: Bouquet Olivier
Published: March 2021

Lors des commémorations du centenaire du génocide arménien en 2015, des descendants de victimes ont témoigné du souvenir de leurs grands-parents massacrés ou rescapés. Face à eux, des petits-enfants d’hommes d’État responsables de l’extermination des Arméniens se sont exprimés dans les médias et ont publié des témoignages. À partir du cas des familles Cemal et Enver, cet article aborde les enjeux mémoriels autour du génocide arménien sous l’angle de l’articulation entre patrimonialisation familiale et histoire républicaine, dans un contexte d’effacement de la césure entre les dernières années de l’Empire et le récit officiel de la fondation républicaine.
HYBRID WCA–SCA AND MODIFIED FRFCM TECHNIQUE FOR ENHANCEMENT AND SEGMENTATION OF BRAIN TUMOR FROM MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGES
Authors: Mishra Satyasis , Gelmecha Demissie J. , Singh Ram S. , Rathee Davinder Singh , Gopikrishna T.
Published: March 2021

Enhancement of image plays an important and vital role in preprocessing the magnetic resonance images (MRI). At the same time, image segmentation techniques are also essential to detect and remove the noise to enhance the quality of MRI to detect the infected regions of the brain tumor. This paper presents a novel image enhancement technique for preprocessing of brain tumor MRI by hybridizing the Water Cycle Algorithm (WCA) and Sine Cosine Algorithm (SCA). The WCA is based on the process of water cycle in rivers and streams flow in the ocean whereas the SCA follows the cyclic form of sine and cosine trigonometric functions, which permits a search agent to be transposed around the desired solution. In fact, the Fuzzy [Formula: see text] means-based segmentation algorithms have proved their ability in automatic detection of the tumor and help doctors and radiologist to diagnose the type of tumor from the MRI, but, some of the FCM-based algorithms fail to remove the required amount of noise from the MRI which restrict doctors to have better segmentation accuracy. A modified fast and robust FCM (MFRFCM) segmentation technique has been proposed to sharpen and remove noise from MRI to detect the brain tumor to have improved accuracy. In this research work, Dataset-255 is considered from the Harvard medical school. The results from the proposed hybrid WCA-SCA technique are compared with WCA, SCA and comparison results are presented. The hybrid WCA+SCA image enhancement technique attains an accuracy of 99.25% for benign tumor and 98.52% for malignant tumor. Further, the results of modified Fast and Robust FCM (MFRFCM) segmentation results are compared with the conventional FCM-based segmentation algorithms. It is observed that the proposed hybrid WCA-SCA image enhancement technique and modified FRFCM Segmentation outperform in terms of computational time and performance accuracy in contrast to the other algorithms.
Influence of Nickel Powder Particle Size on the Microstructure and Densification of Spark Plasma Sintered Nickel-Based Superalloy
Authors: Ogunbiyi Olugbenga , Jamiru Tamba , Sadiku Rotimi , Adesina Oluwagbenga , Adesina Olanrewaju Seun , Olorundaisi Emmanuel
Published: March 2021

This study aims to investigate the effects of powder particle size on the densification and microhardness properties of spark plasma sintered superalloy. Three particles size ranges of nickel were used in this study, namely, (3-44, 45-106 and 106-150 μm), and this is the matrix in the IN738LC superalloy composition (powder), used in the study. The effects of the particle size were examined at a specific applied temperature and pressure. The transitioning stages during the sintering process of the green powders to the formation of the sintered alloy were analyzed and given as the particle rearrangement stage, the localized deformation stage and the neck formation/grain growth stage. There was the formation of γ, γ' and a solid solution within the microstructure of the sintered alloys. The effect of particle size was more pronounced on the grain sizes obtained, while the phases formed is the same for the three alloys. The results indicate that the nickel particle size (>60% of the total composition) has a significant influence on the densification, porosity, grain size and hardness properties of the IN738LC sintered alloy. Finer nickel particle size resulted in a sintered product with smaller grain size (9 µm), reduced percentage porosity (3.9%), increased relative density (96.1%) and increased hardness properties (371 Hv).
Effects of Waste Soda-Lime Glass Sand and Glass Fiber on Physical and Mechanical Properties of None-Autoclaved Aerated Concrete
Authors: Mukangali Inzhu , Shon Chang Seon , Kryzhanovskiy Kirill , Zhang Di Chuan , Kim Jong Ryeol
Published: March 2021

This paper investigates the combined effect of waste soda-lime glass sand and glass fiber on the physical and mechanical properties of none-autoclaved aerated concrete (NAAC). The use of both soda-lime glass sand and glass fiber can provide silica-rich materials in the aerated concrete and can enable the elimination of an autoclaved curing by enhancing the physical and mechanical properties in aerated concrete. In this study, a total of six mixture proportions were designed to evaluate these properties in NAAC. The mixture parameters included the partial substitutions of normal sand with soda-lime glass sand (0%, 15%, and 30%) and glass fiber (1%, 2%, and 3%). A series of tests were conducted to determine density, absorption, porosity, and both compressive and flexural strengths of the NAAC. Test results present that the increase of glass sand content leads to the increasing of both compressive and flexural strengths. Moreover, the combination of the use of glass sand with glass fiber also increases the strength up to 2 times (the mixture of 30% glass sand and 3% glass fiber). Furthermore, test results indicate the relatively good relationship between the density, porosity, and of NAAC with good accuracy.
Influence of Substrate Rotational Speed on the Structural and Optical Properties of Sputtered Gd-Doped ZnO Thin Films
Authors: Raship Nur Amaliyana , Tawil Siti Nooraya Mohd , Nayan Nafarizal , Ismail Khadijah , Bakri Anis Suhaili , Azman Zulkifli
Published: March 2021

Rare-earth element of gadolinium (Gd) were successfully doped into zinc oxide (ZnO) using dual sputter source of DC and RF sputtering. The substrate rotation speed was controlled from 1 rpm to 9 rpm to investigate their effects on the properties of the films in order to achieve a great feature of thin film. XRD profiles confirmed the c-axis orientation with structure of ZnO hexagonal wurtzite. No peaks related to secondary phases were observed. The intensity of dominant peak showed increment upon improvement of substrate rotation speed. The incorporation of Gd into ZnO structure was further confirmed by composition element form EDX with average atomic percentage of 3 at. % for all the films. Surface topology from AFM images showed the grain size has increased with the higher speed of substrate rotation. Gd-doped ZnO thin films indicated good transparency with an average transmittance above 90 % regardless of substrate rotation speed. The bandgap has a slight decrease from 3.06 eV to 3.03 eV with an increment speed of rotational substrate. These findings further imply that the substrate rotation speed has a significant influence on the structural and optical properties of the sputtered thin films.
ARCHITETTURA MOLECOLARE DI FATTORI DI TRASCRIZIONE DEL DNA
Authors: Nardini Marco
Published: March 2021

Transcription factors are proteins involved in one of the most important molecular processes in living cells: the expression of genes through a mechanism called “transcription”. Transcription factors, their structure, and function are the topic of the seminar which also includes an overview of the current level of knowledge, the potentialities and problems in this research field, and the possible applications.
Incremental Utility of Tc-99m Glucohepatonate Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography over 18F-Flourodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography in Diagnosis of Brain Tumor Recurrence – Old is Gold
Authors: Peer Sameer , Mangalore Sandhya , Saini Jitendra , Nagaraj Chandana
Published: March 2021

Detection of recurrence of a brain tumor after treatment is one of the most important and challenging diagnostic problems in neuro-oncological practice. In spite of technical advances in imaging modalities, sometimes, certain clinical presentations and manifestations can lead to a diagnostic dilemma even with the best of the technical know-how. We present a case of recurrence of anaplastic oligoastrocytoma (World Health Organization Grade III), where the patient's initial clinical presentation and the F-18 flourodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (PET) magnetic resonance imaging findings were suggestive of stroke-like migraine attacks after radiation therapy syndrome. Due to a seizure episode before PET image acquisition, intense gyral uptake was noted in the left parietal lobe which made it difficult to ascertain the presence of a tumor recurrence. However, Tc-99m glucohepatonate single-photon emission computed tomography done after 1 week revealed radiotracer uptake within the site corresponding to the primary tumor, and a diagnosis of recurrence was made.
Optimal Standardized Uptake Value Threshold for Auto contouring of Gross Tumor Volume using Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography in Patients with Operable Nonsmall-Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Tibdewal Anil , Patil Mangesh , Misra Shagun , Purandare Nilendu , Rangarajan Venkatesh , Mummudi Naveen , Karimundackal George , Jiwnani Sabita , Agarwal Jaiprakash
Published: March 2021

Purpose:

Incorporating 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography (18F-FDG-PET/CT) for gross tumor volume (GTV) delineation is challenging due to varying tumor edge based on the set threshold of the standardized uptake value (SUV). This study aims to determine an optimal SUV threshold that correlates best with the pathological tumor size.

Materials and Methods:

From January 2013 to July 2014, 25 consecutive patients of operable nonsmall-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who underwent staging18F-FDG-PET/CT before surgical resection were included in the test cohort and 12 patients in the validation cohort. GTVs were delineated on the staging PET/CT by automatic delineation using various percentage threshold of maximum SUV (SUVmax) and absolute SUV. The maximum pathological tumor diameter was then matched with the maximum auto-delineated tumor diameter with varying SUV thresholds. First-order linear regression and Bland–Altman plots were used to obtain an optimal SUV threshold for each patient. Three radiation oncologists with varying degrees of experiences also delineated GTVs with the visual aid of PET/CT to assess interobserver variation in delineation.

Results:

In the test set, the mean optimal percentage threshold for GTV was SUVmax of 35.6%±18.6% and absolute SUV of 4.35 ± 1.7. In the validation set, the mean optimal percentage threshold SUV and absolute SUV were 36.9 ± 16.9 and 4.1 ± 1.6, respectively. After a combined analysis of all 37 patients, the mean optimal threshold was 36% ± 17.9% and 4.27 ± 1.7, respectively. Using Bland–Altman plots, auto-contouring with 40% SUVmax and SUV 4 was in greater agreement with the pathological tumor diameter.

Conclusion:

Automatic GTV delineation on PETCT in NSCLC with percentage threshold SUV of 40% and absolute SUV of 4 correlated best with pathological tumor size. Auto-contouring using these thresholds will increase the precision of radiotherapy contouring of GTV and will save time.
Early Quantification of Salivary Gland Function after Radioiodine Therapy
Authors: Tanwar Karan Singh , Rana Nivedita , Mittal Bhagwant Rai , Bhattacharya Anish
Published: March 2021

Purpose of the Study:

Radioiodine (I-131) is used as an effective noninvasive treatment for thyroid malignancies. Salivary gland is one of the most affected nontarget organs. The present study aims to perform early quantification of salivary gland function after I-131 therapy (RIT) for thyroid cancer considering I-131 down-scatter in the Tc-99m window.

Materials and Methods:

A total of 20 patients (6 males and 14 females) with differentiated thyroid carcinoma were enrolled in the study. Baseline dynamic salivary scintigraphy was performed in all patients using 185–370 MBq (5–10 mCi) Tc-99m pertechnetate. Posttherapy, salivary scintigraphy was performed 10–25 days after RIT in the range of 1.85–7.4 GBq (50–200 mCi). Time–activity curves obtained from the pre- and posttherapy dynamic salivary scintigraphy were used for semi-quantitative analysis. Uptake ratio (UR), ejection fraction (EF%), and maximum accumulation (MA%) were calculated by drawing regions of interest of individual parotid and submandibular glands over a composite image, after correcting for down-scatter from I-131 in the Tc-99m window. A paired t-test was used for comparison of the parameters obtained.

Results:

Significant changes were observed in UR and EF% of both parotid and submandibular glands (P < 0.05). No significant changes were found in the value of MA% of left parotid gland and both submandibular glands in the posttherapy scans in comparison to pretherapy scans (P > 0.05). However, significant difference was observed in the MA% of the right parotid gland (P = 0.025).

Conclusion:

Salivary gland function was found to deteriorate after RIT, with the parotid glands affected more than the submandibular glands.
Metabolically Active Subacute Infarct Masquerading as Metastasis
Authors: Sundaraiya Sumati , Rajendran Adhithyan , Sulaiman Abubacker , Pradeep Sivakumar , Vidhyadharan Sivakumar , Hedne Naveen
Published: March 2021

A 50-year-old man with carcinoma of the right buccal mucosa underwent staging whole-body 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography–computed tomography, which revealed a hypermetabolic heterogeneously enhancing lobulated primary lesion in the right buccal region and an incidental finding of subacute stroke. The case highlights the importance of discriminating brain neoplasms mimicking stroke from true ischemic stroke, which is crucial for appropriate management of patients in an oncology setting.