pinecone/core-2020-05-10-deduplication huggingface dataset:
Conditional ablation of NKp46+ cells using a novel Ncr1greenCre mouse strain: NK cells are essential for protection against pulmonary B16 metastases

International audienceTo study gene functions specifically in NKp46+ cells we developed novel Cre mice allowing for conditional gene targeting in cells expressing Ncr1 (encoding NKp46). We generated transgenic Ncr1greenCre mice carrying an EGFPcre fusion under the control of a proximal Ncr1 promoter that faithfully directed EGFPcre expression to NKp46+ cells from lymphoid and nonlymphoid tissues. This approach allowed for direct detection of Cre-expressing NKp46+ cells via their GFP signature by flow cytometry and histology. Cre was functional as evidenced by the NKp46+ cell-specific expression of RFP in Ncr1greenCreRosa-dtRFP reporter mice. We generated Ncr1greenCreIl2rgfl/fl mice that lack NKp46+ cells in an otherwise intact hematopoietic environment. Il2rg encodes the common gamma chain (γc), which is an essential receptor subunit for cytokines (IL-2, -4, -7, -9, -15, and -21) that stimulate lymphocyte development and function. In Ncr1greenCreIl2rgfl/fl mice, NK cells are severely reduced and the few remaining NKp46+ cells escaping γc deletion failed to express GFP. Using this new NK-cell-deficient model, we demonstrate that the homeostasis of NKp46+ cells from all tissues (including the recently described intraepithelial ILC1 subset) requires Il2rg. Finally, Ncr1greenCreIl2rgfl/fl mice are unable to reject B16 lung metastases demonstrating the essential role of NKp46+ cells in antimelanoma immune responses
Asteroid target selection for the new Rosetta mission baseline: 21 Lutetia and 2867 Steins

Reproduced with permission. Copyright ESO. Article published by EDP Sciences and available at http://www.aanda.org.International audienceThe new Rosetta mission baseline to the comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko includes two asteroid fly-bys. To help in target selection we studied all the candidates of all the possible scenarios. Observations have been carried out at ESO-NTT (La Silla, Chile), TNG (Canaries), and NASA-IRTF (Hawaii) telescopes, in order to determine the taxonomy of all the candidates. The asteroid targets were chosen after the spacecraft interplanetary orbit insertion manoeuvre, when the available total amount of ΔV was known. On the basis of our analysis and the available of ΔV, we recommended to the ESA ScienceWorking Group the asteroids 21 Lutetia and 2867 Steins as targets for the Rosetta mission. The nature of Lutetia is still controversial. Lutetia's spectral properties may be consistent with a composition similar to carbonaceous chondrite meteorites. The spectral properties of Steins suggest a more extensive thermal history. Steins may have a composition similar to relatively rare enstatite chondrite/achondrite meteorites
MicroRNA profiling in hepatocellular tumors is associated with clinical features and oncogene/tumor suppressor gene mutations.
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hepatocellular tumors miRNA profiling

International audienceMolecular classifications defining new tumor subtypes have been recently refined with genetic and transcriptomic analyses of benign and malignant hepatocellular tumors. Here, we performed microRNA (miRNA) profiling in two series of fully annotated liver tumors to uncover associations between oncogene/tumor suppressor mutations and clinical and pathological features. Expression levels of 250 miRNAs in 46 benign and malignant hepatocellular tumors were compared to those of 4 normal liver samples with quantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. miRNAs associated with genetic and clinical characteristics were validated in a second series of 43 liver tumor samples and 16 nontumor samples. miRNA profiling unsupervised analysis classified samples in unique clusters characterized by histological features (tumor/nontumor, P < 0.001; benign/malignant tumors, P < 0.01; inflammatory adenoma and focal nodular hyperplasia, P < 0.01), clinical characteristics [hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, P < 0.001; alcohol consumption, P < 0.05], and oncogene/tumor suppressor gene mutations [beta-catenin, P < 0.01; hepatocyte nuclear factor 1alpha (HNF1alpha), P < 0.01]. Our study identified and validated miR-224 overexpression in all tumors and miR-200c, miR-200, miR-21, miR-224, miR-10b, and miR-222 specific deregulation in benign or malignant tumors. Moreover, miR-96 was overexpressed in HBV tumors, and miR-126* was down-regulated in alcohol-related hepatocellular carcinoma. Down-regulations of miR-107 and miR-375 were specifically associated with HNF1alpha and beta-catenin gene mutations, respectively. miR-375 expression was highly correlated to that of beta-catenin-targeted genes as miR-107 expression was correlated to that of HNF1alpha in a small interfering RNA cell line model. Thus, this strongly suggests that beta-catenin and HNF1alpha could regulate miR-375 and miR-107 expression levels, respectively. CONCLUSION: Hepatocellular tumors may have a distinct miRNA expression fingerprint according to malignancy, risk factors, and oncogene/tumor suppressor gene alterations. Dissecting these relationships provides a new hypothesis to understand the functional impact of miRNA deregulation in liver tumorigenesis and the promising use of miRNAs as diagnostic markers
Materiality, Health Informatics and the Limits of Knowledge Production

Part 4: Health Care ISInternational audienceContemporary societies increasingly rely on complex and sophisticated information systems for a wide variety of tasks and, ultimately, knowledge about the world in which we live. Those systems are central to the kinds of problems our systems and sub-systems face such as health and medical diagnosis, treatment and care. While health information systems represent a continuously expanding field of knowledge production, we suggest that they carry forward significant limitations, particularly in their claims to represent human beings as living creatures and in their capacity to critically reflect on the social, cultural and political origins of many forms of data ‘representation’. In this paper we take these ideas and explore them in relation to the way we see healthcare information systems currently functioning. We offer some examples from our own experience in healthcare settings to illustrate how unexamined ideas about individuals, groups and social categories of people continue to influence health information systems and practices as well as their resulting knowledge production. We suggest some ideas for better understanding how and why this still happens and look to a future where the reflexivity of healthcare administration, the healthcare professions and the information sciences might better engage with these issues. There is no denying the role of health informatics in contemporary healthcare systems but their capacity to represent people in those datascapes has a long way to go if the categories they use to describe and analyse human beings are to produce meaningful knowledge about the social world and not simply to replicate past ideologies of those same categories
Attitudes towards foreign products and welfare with capital mobility

We develop a model of trade with imperfect competition to study the welfare implications in developing and developed countries of the asymmetry in attitudes towards foreign products. In the developed country, consumers benefit from a better perception of foreign products while the rental rate of capital declines as long as the location of capital remains unchanged. However, when capital is mobile, the developing country hosts more and more capital at the expense of the developed country as perception of varieties produced in the developed country improves and the surplus of consumers in the developed country can decrease
Articulation and acoustics of /i/ in pre-boundary position in French

International audienceThis study presents acoustic and electro-magnetic articulometry (EMA) data forthe vowel /i/ in pre-boundary position in French. The boundaries examined are the Utterance, the Intonational phrase, the Accentual phrase, the Word and the Syllable. Our results show that although durational effects of prosodic boundary are still very strong, the effects on supralaryngeal articulation and on spectral characteristics are not as clear as those for the vowel /a/ reported in our previous work (Tabain, 2003a, 2003b). For instance, no effects are observed on the jaw or on F1 or F2. However, differing effects observed on tongue body articulation for male and female speakers together with the same effect on F3 for all speakers suggest that speakers aim for an acoustic/auditory target rather than an articulatory target when producing /i/ at stronger boundaries. These articulatory and acoustic results are argued to reflect featural enhancement of /i/ in French at stronger boundaries, since French has a particularly crowded vowel space in the high front region
Mortar physical properties evolution in extrusion flow

The original publication is available at http://www.springerlink.com/content/fp6058601061p352/International audienceExtrusion is not a common way to form firm cement-based material. Due to material frictional behaviour, drainage phenomenon appears and leads to process blockage. The properties of the extrusion multiphase flow of such specific materials have to be highlighted to understand the properties of the process flow. An extrudible mortar is formulated according to extrusion criteria provided by literature tests developed to describe the evolution of the paste undergoing extrusion. To study the relationship between flow properties, extrusion force and material consolidation, a technique based on the measurement of paste hardness in the billet zone is developed. Measurements of the local paste density and flow visualisation are also performed. Results show that in the range of used ram velocities, filtration occurs between fluid and solid phases. This creates zones of preferential flow and of non-flowing consolidated material
Symbolic execution of floating-point computations

International audienceSymbolic execution is a classical program testing technique which evaluates a selected control flow path with symbolic input data. A constraint solver can be used to enforce the satisfiability of the extracted path conditions as well as to derive test data. Whenever path conditions contain floating-point computations, a common strategy consists of using a constraint solver over the rationals or the reals. Unfortunately, even in a fully IEEE-754 compliant environment, this leads not only to approximations but also can compromise correctness: a path can be labelled as infeasible although there exists floating-point input data that satisfy it. In this paper, we address the peculiarities of the symbolic execution of program with floating-point numbers. Issues in the symbolic execution of this kind of programs are carefully examined and a constraint solver is described that supports constraints over floating-point numbers. Preliminary experimental results demonstrate the value of our approach
New insights into the chemical composition of chitinozoans

International audienceThe chemical structure of isolated chitinozoan specimens extracted from Early Silurian marine rocks has been investigated by micro-FTIR, laser micro-Raman spectroscopy and laser micropyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (LmPy- GC/MS). The samples were subjected to relatively low thermal stress as attested by several indices. LmPy-GC/MS and micro-FTIR indicate that chitinozoans consist mostly of a kerogen network dominated by aromatic groups with a low contribution of aliphatics and oxygen- or nitrogen-bearing compounds. No chitin-related product was found in the pyrolysate of the chitinozoans, confirming previous findings on the occurrence of this biopolymer in the fossil record
Understanding the emergence and deployment of “nano” S&T

http://www.nanoeconomics.eu/International audienceAs an introduction to the special issue on “emerging nanotechnologies”, this paper puts in perspective contemporary debates and challenges about nanotechnology. It presents an overview of diverse analyses and expectations about this presumably revolutionary set of technological, scientific and industrial developments. Three main lines of argument can then be delineated: first of all, the degree of cumulativeness of science and technologies and the respective roles of newcomers and incumbents in the industrial dynamics; second the knowledge dynamics in nanotechnologies, especially the linkages by science and technology and third the role of institutions (network, geographic agglomeration and job market). It finally discusses methodologies to delineate the field of nanotechnologies and to collect data. For more informations: http: //www.nanoeconomics.eu
Fast and robust segmentation of solar EUV images: algorithm and results for solar cycle 23

International audienceContext. The study of the variability of the solar corona and the monitoring of coronal holes, quiet sun and active regions are of great importance in astrophysics as well as for space weather and space climate applications. Aims. In a previous work, we presented the spatial possibilistic clustering algorithm (SPoCA). This is a multi-channel unsupervised spatially-constrained fuzzy clustering method that automatically segments solar extreme ultraviolet (EUV) images into regions of interest. The results we reported on SoHO-EIT images taken from February 1997 to May 2005 were consistent with previous knowledge in terms of both areas and intensity estimations. However, they presented some artifacts due to the method itself. Methods. Herein, we propose a new algorithm, based on SPoCA, that removes these artifacts. We focus on two points: the definition of an optimal clustering with respect to the regions of interest, and the accurate definition of the cluster edges. We moreover propose methodological extensions to this method, and we illustrate these extensions with the automatic tracking of active regions. Results. The much improved algorithm can decompose the whole set of EIT solar images over the 23rd solar cycle into regions that can clearly be identified as quiet sun, coronal hole and active region. The variations of the parameters resulting from the segmentation, i.e. the area, mean intensity, and relative contribution to the solar irradiance, are consistent with previous results and thus validate the decomposition. Furthermore, we find indications for a small variation of the mean intensity of each region in correlation with the solar cycle. Conclusions. The method is generic enough to allow the introduction of other channels or data. New applications are now expected, e.g. related to SDO-AIA data
A Tension-based Position Estimation Approach for Moored Marine Vessels

This paper presents a novel idea on a tension-based localization approach as a redundancy measure to handle the situation when the position reference (posref) signals are not available or significant GNSS drifts occur, such as sudden ionospheric disturbances, for thruster-assisted moored vessels. The only information needed is the tension measurements from tension cells. This method can improve the redundancy and safety of offshore operation, by detecting and verifying posref failure modes. It can even take over the posref function if one no longer trust the main posref measurements. Based on a residual signal, a fault detection and estimation approach is introduced and verified through simulations.© 2016. This manuscript version is made available under the CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Hydraulics and Thermodynamics of Closed Surge Tanks for Hydropower Plants

This work has studied the hydraulic and thermodynamics of closed surge tanks for hydropower plants. Surge tanks are applied in hydropower plants to control and reduce the acceleration forces of the water during change of turbine flow. Surge tanks reduce the design pressure of the tunnel and pipes that convey water from the reservoir to the turbines, and enable automatic frequency and power control in the hydropower plant. Closed surge tanks are constructed as underground caverns filled with pressurized air located close to the turbines. The work comprises four different studies. In the first study (1), the benefits and challenges of two different surge tank types, the open and the closed surge tanks, were compared. The state-of-the-art design for these two solutions were described. In the second study (2), a hydraulic scale model of an existing hydropower plant with a closed surge tank was constructed in the scale 1:65 in the Hydraulic laboratory at NTNU. A new method for scaling of the absolute pressure in the closed surge tanks was developed and tested. The results of the hydraulic scale model was compared with field measurements from the prototype, and the accuracy was quantified. In the third study (3) the thermodynamics of the air in the closed surge tank was investigated. The impact of heat transfer from the air to the surrounding media was assessed, and different theoretical models for simulation of the thermodynamics where compared with field measurements from an existing hydropower plant. A new improved theoretical model for the thermodynamics was developed and programmed and tested in the freeware hydropower simulation program LVTrans. In the fourth study (4), the effect of installing a surge tank throttle on governor stability, power control and hydraulic transients was investigated. A new method for evaluation of the throttle effect has been developed, and a quantification of the effects for an example hydropower plant with a closed surge tank was conducted
Interference mitigation in wireless mesh networks through radio co-location aware conflict graphs

Wireless Mesh Networks (WMNs) have evolved into a wireless communication technology of immense interest. But technological advancements in WMNs have inadvertently spawned a plethora of network performance bottlenecks, caused primarily by the rise in prevalent interference. Conflict Graphs are indispensable tools used to theoretically represent and estimate the interference in wireless networks. We propose a generic algorithm to generate conflict graphs which is independent of the underlying interference model. Further, we propose the notion of radio co-location interference, which is caused and experienced by spatially co-located radios in multi-radio multi-channel WMNs. We experimentally validate the concept, and propose a new all-encompassing algorithm to create a radio co-location aware conflict graph. Our novel conflict graph generation algorithm is demonstrated to be significantly superior and more efficient than the conventional approach, through theoretical interference estimates and comprehensive experiments. The results of an extensive set of ns-3 simulations run on the IEEE 802.11g platform strongly indicate that the radio co-location aware conflict graphs are a marked improvement over their conventional counterparts. We also question the use of total interference degree as a reliable metric to predict the performance of a Channel Assignment scheme in a given WMN deployment
Multi-dimensional Rankings, Program Termination, and Complexity Bounds of Flowchart Programs

International audienceProving the termination of a flowchart program can be done by exhibiting a ranking function, i.e., a function from the program states to a well-founded set, which strictly decreases at each program step. A standard method to automatically generate such a function is to compute invariants for each program point and to search for a ranking in a restricted class of functions that can be handled with linear programming techniques. Previous algorithms based on affine rankings either are applicable only to simple loops (i.e., single-node flowcharts) and rely on enumeration, or are not complete in the sense that they are not guaranteed to find a ranking in the class of functions they consider, if one exists. Our first contribution is to propose an efficient algorithm to compute ranking functions: It can handle flowcharts of arbitrary structure, the class of candidate rankings it explores is larger, and our method, although greedy, is provably complete. Our second contribution is to show how to use the ranking functions we generate to get upper bounds for the computational complexity (number of transitions) of the source program. This estimate is a polynomial, which means that we can handle programs with more than linear complexity. We applied the method on a collection of test cases from the literature. We also show the links and differences with previous techniques based on the insertion of counters
Antitumor activity of a rhenium (I)-diselenoether complex in experimental models of human breast cancer

International audienceRhenium (I)-diselenother (Re-diselenoether) is a water soluble metal-based compound, combining one atom of rhenium and two atoms of selenium. This compound has been reported to exhibit marked activities against several solid tumor cell lines. We now disclose an improved synthesis of this complex. The Re-diselenoether showed a potent inhibitory effect on MDA-MB231 cell division in vitro, which lasted when the complex was no longer present in the culture. Re-diselenoether induced a remarkable reduction of the volume of the primitive breast tumors and of the pulmonary metastases without clinical signs of toxicity, in mice-bearing a MDA-MB231 Luc+ tumor, orthotopically transplanted, after a daily oral administration at the dose of 10 mg/kg/d. Interestingly, an antagonism was observed when cisplatin was administered as a single i.p. injection one week after the end of the Re-diselenoether administration. In an effort to gain insight of the mechanisms of action of Re-diselenoether complex, interaction with 9-methylguanine as a nucleic acid base model was studied. We have shown that Re-diselenoether gave both mono-and bis-Re-guanine adducts, the species assumed to be responsible for the DNA intrastrand lesion
Metallogeny of precious and base metal mineralization in the Murchison Greenstone Belt, South Africa: indications from U-Pb and Pb-Pb geochronology

International audienceThe 3.09 to 2.97 Ga Murchison Greenstone Belt is an important metallotect in the northern Kaapvaal Craton (South Africa), hosting several precious and base metal deposits. Central to the metallotect is the Antimony Line, striking ENE for over 35 km, which hosts a series of structurally controlled Sb-Au deposits. To the north of the Antimony Line, hosted within felsic volcanic rocks, is the Copper-Zinc Line where a series of small, ca. 2.97 Ga Cu-Zn volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS)-type deposits occur. New data are provided for the Malati Pump gold mine, located at the eastern end of the Antimony Line. Crystallizations of a granodiorite in the Malati Pump Mine and of the Baderoukwe granodiorite are dated at 2,964 ± 7 and 2,970 ± 7 Ma, respectively (zircon U-Pb), while pyrite associated with gold mineralization yielded a Pb-Pb age of 2,967 ± 48 Ma. Therefore, granodiorite emplacement, sulfide mineral deposition and gold mineralization all happened at ca. 2.97 Ga. It is, thus, suggested that the major styles of orogenic Au-Sb and the Cu-Zn VMS mineralization in the Murchison Greenstone Belt are contemporaneous and that the formation of meso- to epithermal Au-Sb mineralization at fairly shallow levels was accompanied by submarine extrusion of felsic volcanic rocks to form associated Cu-Zn VMS mineralization