Showing papers by "Conservatoire national des arts et métiers published in 2000"
TL;DR: The main classes of fluorescent molecular sensors for cation recognition are presented: they differ by the nature of the cation-controlled photoinduced processes: photoinduced electron transfer, photoinduced charge transfer, excimer formation or disappearance as discussed by the authors.
2,128 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the advances and trends in the formulations and applications of the finite element modeling of adaptive structural elements are surveyed and discussed in a first attempt to survey and discuss the advances.
639 citations
TL;DR: One of the main functions of the strategic futures exercise is to eliminate two errors that are usually described as the “hammer's risk” and the � “nail's dream”.
555 citations
TL;DR: A new oligonucleotide probe designated S-G-Clept-1240-a-A-18 was designed, validated, and used with a set of five 16S rRNA-targeted oligon nucleotide probes to investigate the population structure of the predominant phylogenetic groups within the human adult fecal microbiota.
Abstract: To investigate the population structure of the predominant phylogenetic groups within the human adult fecal microbiota, a new oligonucleotide probe designated S-G-Clept-1240-a-A-18 was designed, validated, and used with a set of five 16S rRNA-targeted oligonucleotide probes. Application of the six probes to fecal samples from 27 human adults showed additivity of 70% of the total 16S rRNA detected by the bacterial domain probe. The Bacteroides group-specific probe accounted for 37% +/- 16% of the total rRNA, while the enteric group probe accounted for less than 1%. Clostridium leptum subgroup and Clostridium coccoides group-specific probes accounted for 16% +/- 7% and 14% +/- 6%, respectively, while Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus groups made up less than 2%.
540 citations
TL;DR: A moderate, but significant, increase in total homocysteine levels in doubly homozygous 80GG/677TT subjects is found and individuals who were 80AA/677CT had higher plasma folate levels than those who are 80GG or677CT.
307 citations
TL;DR: Genetically modified lactic acid bacteria may be a way to deliver vaccinal epitopes in the gastrointestinal tract through the use of “living” bacteria that are resistant to conventional antibiotics.
Abstract: Objectives:
Genetically modified lactic acid bacteria may be a way to deliver vaccinal epitopes in the gastrointestinal tract.
Aim:
Three strains of lactic acid bacteria were studied for their pharmacokinetics in the human gastrointestinal tract.
Methods:
The survival of the strains was studied up to the ileum in six subjects each, after ingestion of 150 g of fermented milk. The strains and their concentrations in the products were Lactobacillus fermentum KLD (107 cfu/g), Lactobacillus plantarum NCIMB 8826 (108 cfu/g), and Lactococcus lactis MG 1363 (108 cfu/g). Ileal fluid was aspirated by intestinal intubation and immediately cultured. L. plantarum NCIMB 8826, which was found in high concentrations in the ileum, was studied for its survival in the faeces after consumption of 150 g of fermented milk three times daily for 7 days. Faecal samples were collected for culture.
Results:
The concentration of L. plantarum NCIMB 8826 in the ileum reached 108 cfu/mL after a single dose, with a survival of 7%. L. fermentum KLD and Lc. lactis MG 1363 had lower (0.5 and 1.0%, respectively) and shorter (4 h) survival in the ileum. During the 7-day ingestion period, L. plantarum NCIMB 8826 reached high concentrations (108 cfu/g) in the faeces, with a survival of 25 ± 29%. None of the strains colonized.
Conclusions:
L. plantarum NCIMB 8826 has a promising pharmacokinetic profile as a candidate vaccine vehicle.
190 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a copolymer of epichlorohydrin and ethylene oxide was used as a solid polymer electrolyte in polymer/KOH systems, and the potential stability window (0.9 V) was determined by cyclic voltammetry.
164 citations
TL;DR: The Pro115Gln mutation is not a frequent cause of morbid obesity in Caucasians and that the Pro12Ala mutations are not associated with clinically significant changes in these populations.
Abstract: OBJECTIVE: Peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptors γ (PPAR γ), is a key regulator of adipocyte differentiation and energy balance. Two naturally occurring mutations in the PPAR γ gene, Pro115Gln and Pro12Ala, have recently been shown to impair the function of the PPARγ2 isoform of the receptor and to be associated with obesity or diabetes- related phenotypes in different populations. SUBJECTS: We studied the occurrence and possible associations of the Pro115Gln and Pro12Ala in the PPAR γ2 gene with several clinical and metabolic phenotypes in three independent large populations of non-obese non-diabetic, type 2 diabetic, and morbidly obese French Caucasians. RESULTS: The Pro115Gln mutation was not found in any of the 1069 subjects screened including 626 obese patients. The frequency of the Pro12Ala mutation was similar in all groups (0.08, 0.11,0.09) and was not associated with BMI or any of the clinical parameters tested. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the Pro115Gln mutation is not a frequent cause of morbid obesity in Caucasians and that the Pro12Ala mutation is not associated with clinically significant changes in these populations.
128 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors determined and described the extent to which European dietary data collected in disparate surveys can be meaningfully compared, and compared intra-population contrasts by gender across sites were considered valid.
Abstract: Objective: To determine and describe the extent to which European dietary data collected in disparate surveys can be meaningfully compared. Design: Seven independent population-based surveys from six European countries were initially included. Differences in study designs and methodological approaches were examined. Risk factor data for 31, 289 adults aged 40–59 y were harmonized and pooled in a common, centralized database. Results: Direct comparisons of dietary measures across studies were not deemed appropriate due to methodological heterogeneity. Nonetheless, comparisons of intra-population contrasts by gender across sites were considered valid. Women consumed fruit and vegetables more often than men. Age-standardized gender differences in the prevalence of low fruit and vegetable consumption ranged from 7 to 18% and 5 to 15%, respectively. Data on energy intake showed good agreement across study populations. The proportion of total energy from macronutrients was similar for women and men. Gender differences for relative intakes of saturated fatty acids (percentage energy) were small and only in France were they significant. Dietary fibre density was significantly higher in women than in men. Overall, the participating Southern European populations from Italy and Spain exhibited more healthful food composition patterns. Conclusions: Contrasts in dietary patterns by gender across populations may provide the basis for health promotion campaigns. The most favourable patterns observed may serve as attainable goals for other populations. An international risk factor surveillance programme based upon locally run, good quality studies has the potential to provide the needed data. Sponsorship: European Community (DG V), project 96CVVF3-446-0; Swiss Federal Office for Education and Science, OFES 96.0089. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2000) 54, 253–262
120 citations
TL;DR: To study the relative importance of determinants of thyroid volume, a large number of particles, including Na6(CO3, Na3SO4, Na2SO3, and Na2CO3 are randomly assigned to the thyroid gland.
Abstract: Summary OBJECTIVE To study the relative importance of determinants of thyroid volume. DESIGN Cross-sectional study on a sample of subjects issued from the SU.VI.MAX cohort. SUBJECTS 2987 French subjects (1713 women aged 35‐60 years and 1274 men aged 45‐60 years). None of them had previous or present thyroid disease. MEASUREMENTS Thyroid volume was determined by ultrasound. Serum TSH and free thyroxine (fT4) were measured in duplicate. Urinary iodine and urinary thiocyanate were assayed in random morning urine samples. RESULTS For both sexes, thyroid volume (ml) was positively correlated with weight, height, body mass index and body surface area (Pa 0·0001) and negatively with age for females (Pa 0·0009). When the urinary iodine concentration was adjusted for urinary thiocyanate concentration and their interaction, the thyroid volume was negatively correlated with urinary iodine (males Pa 0·02, females Pa 0·006) and positively correlated with urinary thiocyanate (males Pa 0·0001, females Pa 0·004). Mean thyroid volume was greater among active smokers than non-smokers (males P< 0·0001, females Pa 0·0004) and was greater among former smokers than among non-smokers (males Pa 0·0001, femalesa 0·004). Free T4 and thyroid volume were positively correlated for both sexes (Pa 0·0001). TSH was negatively correlated with thyroid volume for both groups (Pa 0·0001). Female users of oral contraception (aged 35‐45 years) had a smaller thyroid volume than non-users (Pa 0·0009).
118 citations
TL;DR: In this interpolation scheme, only eight border pixels are used in the computation of any missing pixel, and results show that the approach generally outperforms alternative methods at a smaller computational cost.
Abstract: An efficient method is presented to restore a block in an image, using a reduced set of border pixels. The basic assumption is that, if the set of pixels consisting of the missing block and its border pixels is transformed by the DCT, the high frequency coefficients obtained can be set to zero. A system of linear equations results, whose solution yields approximations for the values of the lost pixels. In this interpolation scheme, only eight border pixels are used in the computation of any missing pixel. Simulation results show that the approach generally outperforms alternative methods at a smaller computational cost.
TL;DR: A new method for segmenting multispectral satellite images using Agglomerative Hierarchical Clustering and Probabilistic Self-Organizing Map is presented.
TL;DR: In this paper, a solar adsorptive ice maker model is presented and experimentally validated using an experimental data base obtained from tests carried out on two solar-powered ice-makers using a methanol/carbon pair.
01 Jan 2000
TL;DR: HAL as discussed by the authors is a multi-disciplinary open access archive for the deposit and dissemination of scientific research documents, whether they are published or not, which may come from teaching and research institutions in France or abroad, or from public or private research centers.
Abstract: HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access archive for the deposit and dissemination of scientific research documents, whether they are published or not. The documents may come from teaching and research institutions in France or abroad, or from public or private research centers. L’archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est destinée au dépôt et à la diffusion de documents scientifiques de niveau recherche, publiés ou non, émanant des établissements d’enseignement et de recherche français ou étrangers, des laboratoires publics ou privés. La caja de herramientas de la prospectiva estratégica Michel Godet, Régine Monti, Francis Meunier, Fabrice Roubelat
TL;DR: Development of an international risk factor surveillance programme based on decentralised data collection is warranted and risk factor contrasts across populations can be used as a basis for targeting needed public health intervention programmes.
Abstract: STUDY OBJECTIVE—EURALIM (EURope ALIMentation), a European collaborative study, aimed to determine and describe the extent to which European data on risk factor distributions from different populations could be pooled and harmonised in a common database for international comparisons.
SETTING—Seven independent population-based surveys from six European countries (France, Italy, Northern Ireland/United Kingdom, Spain, Switzerland, the Netherlands).
METHODS—Data for 18 381 women and 12 908 men aged 40-59 were pooled in a common database. Central statistical analyses on major cardiovascular risk factors were conducted with careful consideration of methodological issues, including differences in study designs, data assessment tools, and analytic techniques used.
MAIN RESULTS—Because of the detected variability among methods used, direct comparisons of risk factor distributions and prevalences between studies were problematic. None the less, comparisons of within population contrasts by sex, age group, and other health determinants were considered to be meaningful and apt, as illustrated here for obesity. Results were targeted and disseminated to both the general public and public health professionals and framed in the context of a European information campaign.
CONCLUSIONS—International and national comparisons between existing locally run studies are feasible and useful, but harmonisation methods need improvement. Development of an international risk factor surveillance programme based on decentralised data collection is warranted. In the meantime, risk factor contrasts across populations can be used as a basis for targeting needed public health intervention programmes.
Keywords: comparative study; obesity; risk factor surveillance
TL;DR: A relatively high frequency of the 677TT genotype in the French population is confirmed, and the possible implication of a second new MTHFR polymorphism (1298A-->C) in subjects with mild hyperhomocysteinaemia is analysed, which did not have a notable effect on tHcy or on the RCF levels.
Abstract: The 677cytosine mutation identified in the 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene has been frequently associated with an elevated plasma homocysteine concentration. The aim of the present study was to determine the impact of this MTHFR common mutation on plasma and erythrocyte folate (RCF) and plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) concentrations in healthy French adults. A cohort of 291 subjects living in the Paris area and participating in the Supplementation en Vitamines et Mineraux Antioxydants (SU.VI.MAX) study were analysed to assess the impact of MTHFR polymorphism 677C-->T on folate status and plasma tHcy concentration. The frequency of the mutant homozygote for 677C-->T polymorphism (677TT genotype) in the present cohort was 16.8%. There were significant differences in plasma tHcy between 677CC, 677CT and 677TT genotype groups. The RCF concentrations were significantly different between each genotype, the lowest levels being associated with the 677TT genotype. When segregated by gender, no differences in tHcy between homozygous 677TT, heterozygous 677CT and wild-type 677CC genotype groups in women were observed. The fasting tHcy in women was unrelated to the 677C-->T mutation. However, tHcy was significantly increased in men with the homozygous 677TT genotype. We also analysed the possible implication of a second new MTHFR polymorphism (1298A-->C) in subjects with mild hyperhomocysteinaemia (4th quartile of homocysteinaemia; tHcy >11.1 micromol/l). The polymorphism 1298A-->C did not have a notable effect on tHcy or on the RCF levels. Our observations confirm a relatively high frequency of the 677TT genotype in the French population. Women with this genotype did not show the same increase in tHcy observed in men. In the present study dietary folate intake was not measured. Thus, the interaction of dietary folate with the MTHFR genotype in the French population needs further study.
11 Sep 2000
TL;DR: An overview of the method which generates B specifications from an application described using UML notations, which allows for basic update operations from class diagrams to be combined to elaborate more complex transactions described in UML by state and collaboration diagrams.
Abstract: This paper presents, through an example, an overview of our method which generates B specifications from an application described using UML notations. We are interested in data intensive applications. This allows us to automatically generate basic update operations from class diagrams. Then these operations are combined to elaborate more complex transactions described in UML by state and collaboration diagrams. The obtained B machines are directly usable in AtelierB and proofs can be performed allowing the consistency of the application to be checked. Finally the outlines of the prototype support tool are described.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors from the European Commission's Forward Studies Unit outlined five scenarios for Europe 2010, which were constructed using the so-called "shaping actors, shaping factors" method, claimed by the authors as specific to their unit.
Abstract: In a recent issue of Futuribles, authors from the European Commission’s Forward Studies Unit outlined five scenarios for Europe 2010. The scenarios were constructed using the so‐called “shaping actors, shaping factors” method, claimed by the authors as specific to their unit. In this article, Michel Godet reacts to that claim and makes two fundamental criticisms of their methodology.
TL;DR: The data suggest that lower vitamin D levels in fair-skinned individuals are due to their sun exposure behavior, and phototypes and global self-assessments of sun exposure were positively linked.
Abstract: A link between bone mineral density and skin color has been reported recently, and pigmentation has been shown to affect cutaneous vitamin D production. In the present study, we investigated the relationship between phototype, global self-assessed sun exposure, geographical location and vitamin D serum levels in 1191 French adults. When the factors were analyzed separately, individuals with lower phototypes as well as those with lower sun exposure showed significantly lower levels of vitamin D than those with darker phototypes or those with higher sun exposure. However, when factors were analyzed as a whole, the vitamin D status was no longer linked with the phototype, but with sun exposure and geographical location. Since phototypes and global self-assessments of sun exposure were positively linked, our data suggest that lower vitamin D levels in fair-skinned individuals are due to their sun exposure behavior.
TL;DR: The present data suggest that the consumption of RTE cereals contributes to a balanced diet, and the strong association between cereal consumption and vitamin and mineral intakes confirm previous studies suggesting that R TE cereals make a major contribution to micronutrient intakes.
Abstract: Aims: The nutrient impact of ready-to-eat (RTE) cereal consumption was assessed in adults (men 45–60 years; women 35–60 years old) who regularly consumed RTE cereals anytime during
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors investigated the dynamics of energy hopping among the antenna chromophores in the presence of a merocyanine dye (DCMOH) and an oxazine dye (Ox725).
Abstract: The water-soluble β-cyclodextrin, CD-St, with seven steroidic naphthalene chromophores linked to the primary rim, can form inclusion complexes with a merocyanine dye (DCMOH) and an oxazine dye (Ox725); the stoichiometry is 2:1 (CD-St:dye). This system works as an antenna since the dye is surrounded by 14 chromophores. The efficiency of transfer from the antenna chromophores to the encased dye was found to be close to 100%. The dynamics of this heterotransfer and homotransfer (i.e., energy hopping among the antenna chromophores) was investigated by time-resolved fluorescence intensity and time-resolved fluorescence anisotropy experiments, respectively. The distribution of rate constants for homotransfer was recovered thanks to a previously described Monte Carlo simulation from which an average rate constant was calculated and found to be about 4 × 1011 s-1. This value is about 10 times faster than the rate constant for heterotransfer in the case of Ox725, and about three times faster than in the case of DC...
TL;DR: ‘Flashed-minus-dark’ absorbance difference spectra recorded in situ at 77 K showed that P650–655 was the predominant form of photoactive protochlorophyllide regardless of developmental stage, and the existence of energy transfer units containing a 1:8 ratio of nonphotoactive and photoactive Pchl(ide)s during development was shown.
Abstract: The spectroscopic properties of photoactive (i.e. flash-transformable) and nonphotoactive protochlorophyll(ide)s (Pchl(ide)) were reinvestigated during the development of bean leaves in darkness. Two phases in the process of Pchl(ide) accumulation were apparent from quantitative measurements of pigment content: a lag phase (first week) during which photoactive Pchl(ide) accumulated faster than nonphotoactive Pchl(ide); and a fast phase (second week), showing parallel accumulation of both types of Pchl(ide). ‘Flashed-minus-dark’ absorbance difference spectra recorded in situ at 77 K showed that P650–655 was the predominant form of photoactive protochlorophyllide regardless of developmental stage. Quantitative analysis of energy migration processes between the Pchl(ide) forms showed the existence of energy transfer units containing a 1:8 ratio of nonphotoactive and photoactive Pchl(ide)s during development. Gaussian deconvolution of in situ 77 K fluorescence spectra indicated that the 633 nm band o...
TL;DR: In this paper, a spectral turbidimetric method was used to measure crystal size on-line during the cooling crystallization of glycine in water, which is valuable for the supervision of crystal size and crystal size distribution in batch-cooling crystallizers.
TL;DR: In this article, a local-global B-spline finite element method for the modal analysis of joined thin shells of revolution is presented and evaluated through various well known two-branch shell combinations.
TL;DR: Findings imply that the 7α‐hydroxylation of 3β‐hydroxysteroids may be a prerequisite for an exquisite regulation of the thymocyte‐positive selection driven by the glucocorticoids produced in thymic epithelial cells.
Abstract: Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) has been shown to decrease the dexamethasone (DEX)-induced apoptosis of thymocytes and to be one of the native 3-hydroxysteroids extensively 7-hydroxylated in thymus. This led us to question whether DHEA or 7-hydroxy-DHEA is responsible for the decrease in DEX-induced apoptosis of thymocytes and whether this property is shared with other native 3-hydroxysteroids and their 7-hydroxylated metabolites. Treatment of mice with DHEA or 7-hydroxy-DHEA prior to DEX led to a smaller decrease in thymus weight than with DEX alone and to a disappearance of the DEX-induced changes in thymocyte phenotypes. Thymocyte apoptosis induced by DEX treatment was significantly lowered in DHEA- and 7-hydroxy-DHEA-treated thymi, even after 18 h culture with additional 10-6 mol/L DEX. Extensive apoptosis of thymocytes cultured with 10-7 mol/L DEX was brought back to control levels when 10-5 mol/L 7-hydroxy-DHEA or 10-5 mol/L 7-hydroxy-epiandrosterone was added. After use of DHEA and epiandrosterone or pregnenolone, less significant and no significant changes were obtained, respectively. These findings imply that the 7-hydroxylation of 3-hydroxysteroids may be a prerequisite for an exquisite regulation of the thymocyte-positive selection driven by the glucocorticoids produced in thymic epithelial cells.
TL;DR: In this article, a pseudomorphic high electron-mobility field effect transistor (pHEMT) based frequency tripler for 38 GHz short-range communication systems is presented.
Abstract: Frequency translation circuits are key elements in communication systems. This paper presents a frequency tripler for 38-GHz short-range communication systems, designed using a pseudomorphic high electron-mobility field-effect transistor (pHEMT) technology. The successful first iteration monolithic microwave integrated circuit achieved a state-of-the-art output power of 3.1 dBm and a minimum conversion loss of 3.4 dB. The multiplier exhibits a conversion efficiency of 11% and average phase noise degradation at 10 and 100 kHz offset frequency from carrier of 9/spl plusmn/1 dB. Through a comprehensive study of the frequency multiplier, we demonstrate the optimum performance achieved under a class B mode of operation. To our knowledge, this is the first reported Ka-band single-stage frequency tripler based on pHEMT technology that has been fully characterized for phase noise degradation.
TL;DR: In this article, a generalized form of canonical analysis is used to reveal which parametric functions of a MANOVA model, for instance treatment contrasts or combinations of observed variables, are responsible for rejection of a general linear hypothesis on these functions.
TL;DR: In this paper, an oxidative coupling of naphthalene compounds with TiCl 4 in nitromethane under mild conditions gives symmetrical 1,1′-binaphthyls in good yields.
TL;DR: A fairly simple database-oriented solution for querying application-specific metadata which avoids a (recursive) tree traversal and is based on a linear encoding of thesaurus hierarchies.
Abstract: In this paper we present a new approach for building metadata schemas by integrating existing ontologies and structured vocabularies (thesauri). This integration is based on the specification of inclusion relationships between thesaurus terms and ontology concepts and results in application-specific metadata schemas incorporating the structural views of ontologies and the deep classification schemes provided by thesauri. We will also show how the result of this integration can be used for RDF schema creation and metadata querying. In our context, (metadata) queries exploit the inclusion semantics of term relationships, which introduces some recursion. We will present a fairly simple database-oriented solution for querying such metadata which avoids a (recursive) tree traversal and is based on a linear encoding of thesaurus hierarchies.
TL;DR: Two isoforms of catalase were purified from wheat germ after extraction, ammonium sulfate precipitations, hydrophobic chromatography, and two ionic-exchange chromatographies, and the difference in affinity for hydrogen peroxide as well as the poor stability of CAT-1 in acidic medium suggests that this isoform could be less effective during dough mixing.
Abstract: Two isoforms of catalase, CAT-1 and CAT-2, were purified from wheat germ after extraction, ammonium sulfate precipitations, hydrophobic chromatography, and two ionic-exchange chromatographies. The global yields and the purification factors were close to 3% and 50 for CAT-1 and close to 6% and 100 for CAT-2. Both isoforms exhibit an optimum activity at pH 7. When pH was decreased from 7 to 5.6, CAT-1 showed a decreasing affinity for its substrate, whereas the opposite was found for CAT-2. Both isoforms were irreversibly denaturated when exposed to acidic pH, CAT-1 being more sensitive than CAT-2. Conversely, CAT-2 appeared to be more sensitive to inhibitors. The rate as well as the extent of denaturation during incubation with 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole (AT) were higher with CAT-2 than with CAT-1. Guaiacol is a competitive inhibitor more potent with respect to CAT-2. The difference in affinity for hydrogen peroxide as well as the poor stability of CAT-1 in acidic medium suggests that this isoform could be less effective during dough mixing.