Paul Sabatier University

About: Paul Sabatier University is a education organization based out in Toulouse, France. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Catalysis. The organization has 15431 authors who have published 23386 publications receiving 858364 citations.

The Human Phenotype Ontology project: linking molecular biology and disease through phenotype data

Abstract: The Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO) project, available at http://www.human-phenotype-ontology.org, provides a structured, comprehensive and well-defined set of 10,088 classes (terms) describing human phenotypic abnormalities and 13,326 subclass relations between the HPO classes. In addition we have developed logical definitions for 46% of all HPO classes using terms from ontologies for anatomy, cell types, function, embryology, pathology and other domains. This allows interoperability with several resources, especially those containing phenotype information on model organisms such as mouse and zebrafish. Here we describe the updated HPO database, which provides annotations of 7,278 human hereditary syndromes listed in OMIM, Orphanet and DECIPHER to classes of the HPO. Various meta-attributes such as frequency, references and negations are associated with each annotation. Several large-scale projects worldwide utilize the HPO for describing phenotype information in their datasets. We have therefore generated equivalence mappings to other phenotype vocabularies such as LDDB, Orphanet, MedDRA, UMLS and phenoDB, allowing integration of existing datasets and interoperability with multiple biomedical resources. We have created various ways to access the HPO database content using flat files, a MySQL database, and Web-based tools. All data and documentation on the HPO project can be found online.

Apelin, a newly identified adipokine up-regulated by insulin and obesity

Abstract: The results presented herein demonstrate that apelin is expressed and secreted by both human and mouse adipocytes. Apelin mRNA levels in isolated adipocytes are close to other cell types present in white adipose tissue or other organs known to express apelin such as kidney, heart, and to a lesser extent brown adipose tissue. Apelin expression is increased during adipocyte differentiation stage. A comparison of four different models of obesity in mice showed a large increase in both apelin expression in fat cells and apelin plasma levels in all the hyperinsulinemia-associated obesities and clearly demonstrated that obesity or high-fat feeding are not the main determinants of the rise of apelin expression. The lack of insulin in streptozotocin-treated mice is associated with a decreased expression of apelin in adipocytes. Furthermore, apelin expression in fat cells is strongly inhibited by fasting and recovered after refeeding, in a similar way to insulin. A direct regulation of apelin expression by insulin is observed in both human and mouse adipocytes and clearly associated with the stimulation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, protein kinase C, and MAPK. These data provide evidence that insulin exerts a direct control on apelin gene expression in adipocytes. In obese patients, both plasma apelin and insulin levels were significantly higher, suggesting that the regulation of apelin by insulin could influence blood concentrations of apelin. The present work identifies apelin as a novel adipocyte endocrine secretion and focuses on its potential link with obesity-associated variations of insulin sensitivity status.

A three-dimensional plasma and energetic particle investigation for the wind spacecraft

Abstract: This instrument is designed to make measurements of the full three-dimensional distribution of suprathermal electrons and ions from solar wind plasma to low energy cosmic rays, with high sensitivity, wide dynamic range, good energy and angular resolution, and high time resolution. The primary scientific goals are to explore the suprathermal particle population between the solar wind and low energy cosmic rays, to study particle accleration and transport and wave-particle interactions, and to monitor particle input to and output from the Earth's magnetosphere. Three arrays, each consisting of a pair of double-ended semi-conductor telescopes each with two or three closely sandwiched passivated ion implanted silicon detectors, measure electrons and ions above ∼20 keV. One side of each telescope is covered with a thin foil which absorbs ions below 400 keV, while on the other side the incoming <400 keV electrons are swept away by a magnet so electrons and ions are cleanly separated. Higher energy electrons (up to ∼1 MeV) and ions (up to 11 MeV) are identified by the two double-ended telescopes which have a third detector. The telescopes provide energy resolution of ΔE/E≈0.3 and angular resolution of 22.5°×36°, and full 4π steradian coverage in one spin (3 s). Top-hat symmetrical spherical section electrostatic analyzers with microchannel plate detectors are used to measure ions and electrons from ∼3 eV to 30 keV. All these analyzers have either 180° or 360° fields of view in a plane, ΔE/E≈0.2, and angular resolution varying from 5.6° (near the ecliptic) to 22.5°. Full 4π steradian coverage can be obtained in one-half or one spin. A large and a small geometric factor analyzer measure ions over the wide flux range from quiet-time suprathermal levels to intense solar wind fluxes. Similarly two analyzers are used to cover the wide range of electron fluxes. Moments of the electron and ion distributions are computed on board. In addition, a Fast Particle Correlator combines electron data from the high sensitivity electron analyzer with plasma wave data from the WAVE experiment (Bougeretet al., in this volume) to study wave-particle interactions on fast time scales. The large geometric factor electron analyzer has electrostatic deflectors to steer the field of view and follow the magnetic field to enhance the correlation measurements.