Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Résumé : International audience
An effective solution for increasing the exposure uniformity and efficiency of biological samples in in vitro bioelectromagnetic experiments at 60 GHz is proposed by introducing a novel choke ring antenna (CRA). The CRA is optimized to provide a uniform exposure of samples, whose dimensions are equivalent to those of a standard 35-mm Petri dish, positioned close to the antenna aperture, i.e., 10-20 wavelengths. The antenna prototype is fabricated in metallized foam. The realized exposure efficiency of the sample exceeds 55% (if estimated for an exposure uniformity better than - 0.5 dB). To validate the numerical results, the field intensity profiles on the surface of a high-water-content phantom have been experimentally obtained using a high-resolution infrared camera. Compared to the standard open-ended waveguide and horn antennas, typically used for millimeter-wave dosimetry, a twofold advantage of the proposed CRA is demonstrated, namely, the improvement of the exposure efficiency by a factor of 1.5 to 2 with a simultaneous reduction of the exposure distance by a factor of 8-2, respectively, depending on the type of the reference antenna. These advantages make the proposed CRA an excellent candidate for 60-GHz short-range exposure systems for in vitro bioelectromagnetic studies.
ISSN: 0018-9480

hal-00874349
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00874349
DOI : 10.1109/TMTT.2013.2255619

Éditeur(s) : Elsevier
Résumé : The uptake and loss kinetics of Cd were determined in two species of scallops from the European coasts, the variegated scallop Chlamys varia and the king scallop Pecten maximus, following exposures via seawater, phytoplankton and sediment using highly sensitive radiotracer techniques (Cd-109). Results indicate that, for seawater and dietary pathways, C. varia displays higher bioaccumulation capacities in terms of uptake rate from water and fraction absorbed from ingested food (assimilation efficiency) than Pecten maximus. Regarding sediment exposure, P. maximus displayed low steady-state Cd transfer factor (TFSS < 1); however, once incorporated, a very large part of Cd transferred from sediment (92%) was strongly retained within R maximus tissues. Both species showed a high retention capacity for Cd (biological half-life, T-b1/2 > 4 months), suggesting efficient mechanisms of detoxification and storage in both species. The digestive gland was found to be the main storage organ of Cd in the two scallops regardless of the exposure pathway. However, Cd was stored differently within this organ according to the species considered: 40% of the total Cd was found in the soluble cellular fraction in C. varia whereas this soluble fraction reached 80% for P. maximus. This suggests that the two species displayed different Cd detoxification/storage mechanisms. Finally, the present study has determined the relative contribution of the different exposure pathways to global Cd bioaccumulation for the two scallop species. Results clearly show that for both species, food constitutes the major accumulation pathway, contributing for >99% and 84% of the global Cd bioaccumulation in C. varia and R maximus, respectively. This work confirms the previous assumption, derived from a bibliographic overview, that dietary pathway plays a prevalent role in metal bioaccumulation in Pectinidae. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology (0022-0981) (Elsevier), 2007-12 , Vol. 353 , N. 1 , P. 58-67

Droits : 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/2007/publication-3581.pdf
DOI:10.1016/j.jembe.2007.09.001
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00000/3581/

Éditeur(s) : Actes de Colloque: Avancées et nouvellles technologies en toxinologie, éditeurs: Julien BARBIER, Evelyne BENOIT, Pascale MARCHOT, César MATTEI, Denis SERVENT
Résumé : Over the past seven years, methods available for the detection of phycotoxins have been extensively reviewed in a number of international expert committees, such as the consultations organised by FAO/IOC/WHO and EFSA, as well as by individual scientists. These reviews have shown that the methods available have severe limitations for the use in official control, either due to their limited scope and detection capability or due to a lack of calibration standards, reference materials and validation efforts. The present review focuses on recent developments in the detection of phycotoxins in several areas of applied research. Not being able to exhaustively describe all recent developments, the review focussed on three areas of interest to the authors: (i) detection of ultra-trace amounts of toxins, (ii) metabolism of toxins and their localisation in biological tissues, and (iii) approaches to detect unknown toxins or analogues of known toxins. Miniaturisation in combination with physico-chemical techniques appears to be a very efficient approach to detect low trace amounts of individual toxin analogues. In particular, the detection of azaspiracids and okadaic acid and analogues, using micro-filtration and on-line pre-concentration techniques, has shown to be useful for the characterisation of various algal and shellfish species. In the area of interactions of toxins with shellfish and mammalian systems, it is noted that several studies on biomarkers reveal either protein biomarkers of exposure to toxins or potential pathways of metabolism of the toxins themselves. A particular focus is given to recent findings in the areas of brevetoxin metabolism and biomarkers as well as azaspiracid localisation and metabolism. Finally, the detection of novel compounds is a particularly challenging area. The interest in this area has risen over the past years following cases of unexplained mouse toxicity such as the UK cockle toxicity and the French atypical toxicity in mussels and oysters from the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts. Some attention is given to immuno-, functional and cellular bio-assays for the identification of bioactive agents in shellfish.
Durant les sept dernières années, les méthodes disponibles pour la détection des phycotoxines ont été abondamment revues dans de nombreux groupes internationaux d’expertises, tels que les consultations organisées par FAO/IOC/WHO et EFSA ainsi que dans de nombreux articles scientifiques de synthèse. Ces revues ont démontré que, vis-à-vis des systèmes de régulations officiels, les méthodes disponibles présentent des limites d’utilisation importantes. Soit elles ont un périmètre réduit et des limites de détection trop élevées, soit il y a un manque d’étalons, de matériaux de référence ou d’efforts de validation. La présente revue focalise sur les développements récents dans la détection de phycotoxines en recherche appliquée. Sans vouloir décrire de manière exhaustive tous les développements récents, la revue examine trois domaines d’intérêt pour les auteurs : (i) la détection de quantités ultra-traces de toxines, (ii) la métabolisation et la localisation des toxines dans des tissus biologiques, et (iii) les approches pour la détection de toxines non-répertoriées ou des analogues de toxines connues. La miniaturisation en combinaison avec les techniques physico-chimiques constitue apparemment une approche efficace pour la détection de faibles traces d’analogues individuels des toxines. En particulier, la micro-filtration et des techniques de pré-concentration en ligne se sont montrées utiles pour la détection des azaspiracides et des toxines du groupe de l’acide okadaïque dans la caractérisation de diverses espèces d’algues et de coquillages. Dans le domaine des interactions des toxines avec les coquillages et des systèmes vivants de mammifères, nous avons noté que plusieurs études sur les bio-marqueurs révèlent soit des marqueurs protéiniques d’exposition aux toxines, soit des marqueurs du métabolisme des toxines elles-mêmes. Un intérêt spécifique a été trouvé dans les résultats d’étude sur le métabolisme des brévétoxines et des azaspiracides. La détection des composés bioactifs non-répertoriés constitue un défi particulièrement difficile. Ce domaine a trouvé plus d’intérêt dû à plusieurs cas de toxicités inexpliquées dans le test souris telles que les toxicités observées dans les coques en provenance de Grande-Bretagne ou encore dans les moules et huîtres des côtes méditerranéennes et atlantiques françaises. Une attention particulière a été consacrée à l’identification d’agents bioactifs par les essais cellulaires ou fonctionnels ou basés sur la détection immuno-chimique.

Droits : 2010 SFET
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00019/12975/9949.pdf
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00019/12975/

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD BioMed Central
Résumé : International audience
ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Climate change poses unprecedented challenges, ranging from global and local policy challenges to personal and social action. Heat-related deaths are largely preventable, but interventions for the most vulnerable populations need improvement. Therefore, the prior identification of high risk areas at the community level is required to better inform planning and prevention. We aimed to demonstrate a simple and flexible conceptual framework relying upon satellite thermal data and other digital data with the goal of easily reproducing this framework in a variety of urban configurations. RESULTS: The study area encompasses Rennes, a medium-sized French city. A Landsat ETM + image (60 m resolution) acquired during a localized heatwave (June 2001) was used to estimate land surface temperature (LST) and derive a hazard index. A land-use regression model was performed to predict the LST. Vulnerability was assessed through census data describing four dimensions (socio-economic status, extreme age, population density and building obsolescence). Then, hazard and vulnerability indices were combined to deliver a heatwave health risk index. The LST patterns were quite heterogeneous, reflecting the land cover mosaic inside the city boundary, with hotspots of elevated temperature mainly observed in the city center. A spatial error regression model was highly predictive of the spatial variation in the LST (R2 = 0.87) and was parsimonious. Three land cover descriptors (NDVI, vegetation and water fractions) were negatively linked with the LST. A sensitivity analysis (based on an image acquired on July 2000) yielded similar results. Southern areas exhibited the most vulnerability, although some pockets of higher vulnerability were observed northeast and west of the city. The heatwave health risk map showed evidence of infra-city spatial clustering, with the highest risks observed in a north--south central band. Another sensitivity analysis gave a very high correlation between 2000 and 2001 risk indices (r = 0.98, p < 10-12). CONCLUSIONS: Building on previous work, we developed a reproducible method that can provide guidance for local planners in developing more efficient climate impact adaptations. We recommend, however, using the health risk index together with hazard and vulnerability indices to implement tailored programs because exposure to heat and vulnerability do not require the same prevention strategies.
ISSN: 1476-072X

inserm-00762303
http://www.hal.inserm.fr/inserm-00762303
http://www.hal.inserm.fr/inserm-00762303/document
http://www.hal.inserm.fr/inserm-00762303/file/1476-072X-11-38.pdf
DOI : 10.1186/1476-072X-11-38

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : International audience
Predictive toxicology aims at developing methodologies to relate the results obtained from in vitro experiments to in vivo exposure. In the case of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), a substantial amount of knowledge on effects and modes of action has been recently obtained from in vitro studies of gene expression. In the current study, we built a physiologically based toxicokinetic (PBTK) model to relate in vivo and in vitro gene expression in case of exposure to benzo(a)pyrene (BaP), a referent PAH. This model was calibrated with two toxicokinetic datasets obtained on rats exposed either through intratracheal instillation or through intravenous administration and on an in vitro degradation study. A good agreement was obtained between the model's predictions and the concentrations measured in target organs, such as liver and lungs. Our model was able to relate correctly the gene expression for two genes targeted by PAHs, measured in vitro on primary human macrophages and in vivo in rat macrophages after exposure to BaP. Combining in vitro studies and PBTK modeling is promising for PAH risk assessment, especially for mixtures which are more efficiently studied in vitro than in vivo.
Toxicology Letters

hal-00873317
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00873317
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00873317/document
DOI : 10.1016/j.toxlet.2010.11.017
PUBMED : 21134426

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD
Résumé : Publié en septembre 2013 dans le "Journal de Gynécologie Obstétrique et Biologie de la Reproduction" vol.42 n°5 p.413-444
We review the epidemiological literature on the possible impact of chemical and physical factors on pregnancy outcome. Effects of in-utero exposures on child health are not considered here. The highest levels of evidence concern the effects of passive smoking (on fetal growth), of lead (pregnancy-induced hypertension, fetal growth), of some Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB; on fetal growth) and, to a lesser extent, of atmospheric pollutants (on fetal growth and preterm delivery). For the other compounds, in particular non-persistent chemicals, the literature, which is generally based on poor exposure assessment, is less informative. In conclusion, the last decades have witnessed the development of mother-child cohorts in which exposure biomarkers have been assayed, allowing a large number of publications. For some persistent compounds, for which efficient exposure assessment approaches have been used, the literature indicates a likely impact on pregnancy outcomes. With the exception of air pollutants, the literature on non-persistent compounds is little conclusive; the assay of exposure biomarkers in repeated biological samples collected at relevant time points could help further increase knowledge regarding any health impact.
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00916684

hal-00916684
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00916684
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00916684/document
DOI : 10.1016/j.jgyn.2013.02.012

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : International audience
Cyanobacteria and their toxins are known as a health hazard in recreative and distributed waters. Monitoring data from 2004 to 2011 were collected at regional scale to characterize exposition parameters to microcystins in Brittany (Western France). The data show that cyanobacteria populations are experiencing a composition shift leading to a longer duration of cell densities higher than WHO alert levels 2 and 3. Microcystins however appear to be more frequently detected with subacute concentrations in low cell density samples than in high cell density samples or during bloom episodes. Positive relations are described between microcystin concentrations, detection frequencies and cyanobacteria biovolumes, allowing for a novel definition of alert levels and decision framework following WHO recommendations
ISSN: 1438-4639

hal-01255825
https://hal-univ-rennes1.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01255825
https://hal-univ-rennes1.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01255825/document
https://hal-univ-rennes1.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01255825/file/Improving%20microcystin%20monitoring%20relevance%20in%20recreative%20waters%20A%20regional%20case-study%20%28Brittany%2C%20Western%20France%2C%20Europe%29.pdf
DOI : 10.1016/j.ijheh.2015.12.004

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD
Résumé : International audience
OBJECTIVES: Semen composition is influenced by HIV-1 infection, yet the impact of semen components on HIV infection of primary target cells has only been studied in samples from HIV-uninfected donors. DESIGN: We compared the effect of seminal plasma from chronically HIV-infected (SP+) versus uninfected donors (SP-) on HIV-1 infection of PBMCs and CD4+T cells. METHODS: Primary cells were infected with HIV-1 in the presence of SP+ or SP- and analyzed for infection level, metabolic activity, HIV receptor expression, proliferation and activation. SP+ and SP- were compared for infection-enhancing peptides, cytokines and prostaglandin E2 levels. RESULTS: SP- efficiently enhanced HIV-1 R5 infection of CD4+ T cells, whereas SP+ enhancing activity was significantly reduced. RANTES concentrations were elevated in SP+ relative to SP-, while the concentrations of infectivity-enhancing peptides (SEVI, SEM1, SEM2) were similar. CCR5 membrane expression levels were reduced on CD4+T cells shortly post-exposure to SP+ compared with SP- and correlated to R5-tropic HIV-1 infection levels, and CCR5 ligands' concentrations in semen. SP+ and SP- displayed similar enhancing activity on PBMC infection by X4-tropic HIV-1. Addition/depletion of RANTES from seminal plasmas modulated their effect on PBMC infection by R5-tropic HIV-1. CONCLUSIONS: Semen from HIV-infected donors exhibit a significantly reduced enhancing potential on CD4+ T cell infection by R5-tropic HIV-1 when compared with semen from uninfected donors. Our data indicate that elevated seminal concentrations of RANTES in HIV+ men can influence the ability of semen to enhance infection.This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives 4.0 License, where it is permissible to download and share the work provided it is properly cited. The work cannot be changed in any way or used commercially. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
AIDS

hal-01274885
https://hal-univ-rennes1.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01274885
DOI : 10.1097/QAD.0000000000001048
PUBMED : 26854806

Éditeur(s) : Université des Antilles Études caribéennes
Résumé : Acknowledging the high exposure of the region to natural and man-made disasters, this article emphasizes the need for the Institutions of Higher Education operating in the Caribbean to improve their level of preparedness and develop efficient mitigation plans. Based on their experience of the Disaster Resistant Universities initiative, the authors suggest a methodology to develop such plans adapted to the Caribbean context. A four-step risk assessment allows the definition and implementation of a hazard mitigation plan for the universities, along with table-top exercises critical for capacity building within the institution.
Reconnaissant le niveau d’exposition élevé de la zone Caraïbe aux catastrophes d’origines naturelle et anthropique, l’article souligne la nécessité pour les établissements d’enseignement supérieur implantés dans la région à la fois d’optimiser leur niveau de préparation face aux catastrophes, et de définir des plans opérationnels de réduction des risques. Sur la base de leur expérience de l’initiative « Universités Résistantes aux Catastrophes », les auteurs suggèrent une méthodologie de planification préventive adaptée au contexte caraïbe. Une évaluation des risques en 4 étapes autorise la mise en place d’un plan de réduction des risques ; le plan ainsi adopté par les universités devra être associé à la mise en œuvre de simulations essentielles au développement des savoir-faire au sein même de l’établissement
Reconociendo la alta exposición de la región a los desastres naturales y artificiales, este artículo da énfasis a la necesidad para las instituciones de educación superior que funcionan en la zona Caribe de mejorar su nivel del estado de preparación, y desarrollar planes eficientes de mitigación. De acuerdo con su experiencia de la iniciativa « Universidades Resistentes a los Desastres », los autores sugieren una metodología para desarrollar tales planes adaptados al contexto Caribeño. Una evaluación de los riesgos en cuatro etapas autoriza la implementación de un plan de reducción de los riesgos para las universidades, junto con las simulaciones esenciales al desarrollo de los conocimientos técnicos dentro del establecimiento.
Caraïbes

Droits : info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
urn:doi:10.4000/etudescaribeennes.294
http://journals.openedition.org/etudescaribeennes/294

Éditeur(s) : Elsevier Science Bv
Résumé : We developed a growth model for Crassostrea gigas oyster shells based on the use of in situ temporal manganese markings to calibrate natural cathodoluminescence (CL) changes in the shell hinge sections. A 30 min to 4-h exposure period with Mn2+ (90-120 mg l(-1)) was sufficient to create a detectable mark in the shells. This makes the Mn2+ markings the fastest mollusc shells marking technique to date. The natural CL from juvenile and adult shells cultured in four standard shellfish-farming locations along the English Channel and French Atlantic coasts, exhibited a seasonal pattern (maximum CL intensity occurring during summer periods, minimum CL intensity occurring during winter). Hydrobiological data recorded at Baie des Veys site allows us to attribute the seawater temperature as the main parameter controlling CL of shells. Chlorophyll a and seawater manganese concentration were not decisive in the luminescence intensity of the shells. A relationship between oyster hinge growth and the length of shells makes the umbo investigations a promising tool for oyster-farming and/or wild stock assessments. Shell growth varied at spatial and temporal scales (higher growth rates were observed during summer-autumn and lower during the winter period), depending on seawater temperature changes. Sub-monthly Mn2+ markings support the fact that shell deposition can occur under temperatures below 6 degrees C, which has to be taken into account for both shellfish production and environmental monitoring derived from chemical compositions of the shells. Finally, our results point out the efficiency of age and shell growth rate determination by CL analysis in further shellfish ecosystem researches.
Aquaculture (0044-8486) (Elsevier Science Bv), 2010-02 , Vol. 300 , N. 1-4 , P. 206-217

Droits : 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00002/11300/7912.pdf
DOI:10.1016/j.aquaculture.2009.12.018
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00002/11300/

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : International audience
Numerous field studies highlighted the capacities of marine sponges to bioaccumulate trace elements and assessed their potential as biomonitors of the marine environment. Experimental works demonstrated that dissolved metals and radionuclides can be taken up directly by sponge tissues but, to the best of our knowledge, little is known on the contribution of the dietary pathway through the consumption of contaminated bacteria considered as one of the trophic source in sponge diet. Objectives of this work are to study trophic transfer of radiotracers 110mAg, 241Am, 109Cd, 57Co, 134Cs, 54Mn and 65Zn from the marine bacteria Pseudomonas stutzeri to the Mediterranean sponges Aplysina cavernicola and Ircinia oros. P. stutzeri efficiently bioaccumulated trace elements in our culture experimental conditions with CF comprised between 105 and 107 after 48 hours of growth in radiolabeled medium. When fed with these radiolabelled bacteria, A. cavernicola took up around 60% of radiotracers accumulated in trophic source except 134Cs for which only 8% has been transferred from bacteria to sponge. Contrasting to this, I. oros retained only 7% of 110mAg, 109Cd and 65Zn counted in bacteria, but retained 2-fold longer accumulated metals in its tissues. The sponge inter-specific differences of accumulation and depuration following a trophic exposure are discussed with respect to the structure and the clearance capacities of each species.
ISSN: 0045-6535

hal-01217273
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01217273
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01217273/document
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01217273/file/Pub%20Bacteria%20CHEM_HAL.pdf
DOI : 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2015.10.046

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Public Library of Science
Résumé : International audience
BACKGROUND: The male genital tract is suspected to constitute a viral sanctuary as persistent HIV shedding is found in the semen of a subset of HIV-infected men receiving effective antiretroviral therapy (HAART). The origin of this persistent shedding is currently unknown. Phylogenetic studies indicated that HIV in semen from untreated men arises from local sources and/or passive diffusion from the blood. We previously demonstrated in human and macaque low levels and localized infection of several semen-producing organs by HIV/SIV. Using a macaque model, this study investigates the impact of short term HAART (2-4 weeks) initiated either during the asymptomatic chronic stage or 4 h post-intravenous inoculation of SIVmac251 on the infection of male genital organs. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Short term HAART during the chronic stage decreased blood viral load. No major impact of HAART was observed on SIV DNA levels in male genital organs using a sensitive nested PCR assay. Using in situ hybridization, SIV RNA+ cells were detected in all male genital tract organs from untreated and treated animals with undetectable blood viral load following HAART. Infected CD68+ myeloid cells and CD3+ T lymphocytes were detected pre- and post-HAART. In contrast, short term HAART initiated 4 h post-SIV exposure led to a drastic decrease of the male genital tissues infection, although it failed to prevent systemic infection. In both cases, HAART tended to decrease the number of CD3+ T cells in the male organs. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that the established infection of male genital organs is not greatly impacted by short term HAART, whereas the same treatment during pre-acute phase of the infection efficiently impairs viral dissemination to the male genital tract. Further investigations are now needed to determine whether infection of male genital organs is responsible for long term persistent HIV shedding in semen despite HAART.
ISSN: 1932-6203

hal-00876945
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00876945
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00876945/document
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00876945/file/Impactsur Short-Term-accepted.pdf
DOI : 10.1371/journal.pone.0037348

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Public Library of Science
Résumé : International audience
The results from recent studies show that some benzophenones (BPs) and their hydroxylated metabolites can function as weak estrogens (E2) in the environment. However, little is known about the structure-activity relationship of these molecules. We have examined the effects of exposure to ten different BPs on the proliferation of estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer cells and on the transcriptional activity of E2-target genes. We analyzed two genes that are tightly linked with estrogen-mediated proliferation, the CXCL12 and amphiregulin genes and two classical estrogen-responsive genes, the pS2 and progesterone receptor. Significant differences in the BPs efficiency to induce cell proliferation and endogenous E2-target gene expressions were observed. Using ERE-, Sp1-, AP1- and C3-reporter genes that contain different ER-binding sites in their promoter, we also showed significant differences in the BPs efficiency in activation of the ER transactivation. Together, our analyzes showed that the most active molecule is 4-hydroxy-BP. Docking analysis of the interaction of BPs in the ligand-binding pocket of ERα suggests that the minimum structural requirement for the estrogenic activity of BPs is a hydroxyl (OH) group in the phenyl A-ring that allows interaction with Glu-353, Arg-394 or Phe-404, which enhances the stability between BPs and ERα. Our modeling also indicates a loss of interaction between the OH groups of the phenyl B-ring and His-524. In addition, the presence of some OH groups in the phenyl B-ring can create repulsion forces, which may constrain helix 12 in an unfavorable position, explaining the differential estrogenic effects of BPs. These results, together with our analysis of BPs for their potency in activation of cell proliferation and ER-mediated transcription, report an improved understanding of the mechanism and structure-activity relationship of BPs.
ISSN: 1932-6203

inserm-00838323
http://www.hal.inserm.fr/inserm-00838323
http://www.hal.inserm.fr/inserm-00838323/document
http://www.hal.inserm.fr/inserm-00838323/file/journal.pone.0060567.pdf
DOI : 10.1371/journal.pone.0060567

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD
Résumé : For their survival, plants need to grow in height to access light resource while ensuring their mechanical stability. Growth in height amplifies the mechanical constraints due to wind and gravity. Nevertheless these constraints represent morphogenetic signals that plants respond to by modifying their growth. There are two regulatory processes of growth by mechanical signals: thigmomorphogenesis and gravitropism. Thigmomorphogenesis expresses by a reduction of growth in height and an increase of growth in girth under the effect of mechanical signals. This is a way for plants to grow with controlling slenderness of their axes to avoid buckling (beating down). In some cases (storm, sudden exposure to a new mechanical environment) this process is not sufficient to prevent buckling, gravitropism then acts to restore axes orientation in case of no lethal buckling. With measuring several traits, we have demonstrated that these processes have a fundamental ecological role in the control of tree habit and the vertical structuration of ecosystems. As studies of climate changes seem to predict a higher frequency of storms it is important to study the diversity of their efficiency.
Colloque Adaptation au Changement Climatique de l'Agriculture et des Ecosystèmes

hal-00797377
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00797377

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Oxford University Press (OUP)
Résumé : International audience
Adverse pregnancy outcomes entail a large health burden for the mother and offspring; a part of it might be avoided by better understanding the role of environmental factors in their etiology. Our aims were to review the assessment tools to characterize fecundity troubles and pregnancy-related outcomes in human populations and their sensitivity to environmental factors. For each outcome, we reviewed the possible study designs, main sources of bias, and their suggested cures. In terms of study design, for most pregnancy outcomes, cohorts with recruitment early during or even before pregnancy allow efficient characterization of pregnancy-related events, time-varying confounders, and in utero exposures that may impact birth outcomes and child health. Studies on congenital anomalies require specific designs, assessment of anomalies in medical pregnancy terminations, and, for congenital anomalies diagnosed postnatally, follow-up during several months after birth. Statistical analyses should take into account environmental exposures during the relevant time windows; survival models are an appropriate approach for fecundity, fetal loss, and gestational duration/preterm delivery. Analysis of gestational duration could distinguish pregnancies according to delivery induction (and possibly pregnancy-related conditions). In conclusion, careful design and analysis are required to better characterize environmental effects on human reproduction.
ISSN: 0193-936X

hal-01002724
https://hal-univ-rennes1.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01002724
DOI : 10.1093/epirev/mxt011
PUBMED : 24363355

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Public Library of Science
Résumé : Heat stress is one of the major limiting factors of production efficiency in the swine industry. The aims of the present study were 1) to observe if hemorheological and hematological parameters could be associated to physiological acclimation during the first days of heat stress exposure and 2) to determine if water restriction could modulate the effect of thermal heat stress on physiological, hematological and hemorheological parameters. Twelve Large White male pigs were divided into an ad libitum and a water restricted group. All pigs were submitted to one week at 24 °C (D-7 to D-1). Then, at D0, temperature was progressively increased until 32 °C and maintained during one week (D1 to D7). We performed daily measurements of water and feed intake. Physiological (i.e., skin temperature, rectal temperature, respiratory rate), hematological and hemorheological parameters were measured on D-6, D-5, D0, D1, D2 and D7. Water restriction had no effect on physiological, hematological and hemorheological parameters. The first days of heat stress caused an increase in the three physiological parameters followed by a reduction of these parameters suggesting a successful acclimation of pigs to heat stress. We showed an increase in hematocrit, red blood cell aggregation and red blood cell aggregation strength during heat stress. Further, we observed an important release of reticulocytes, an increase of red blood cell deformability and a reduction of feed intake and blood viscosity under heat stress. This study suggests that physiological acute adaptation to heat stress is accompanied by large hematological and hemorheological changes.
ISSN: 1932-6203

hal-01210648
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01210648
DOI : 10.1371/journal.pone.0102537
PRODINRA : 269557
PUBMED : 25013960