University of Avignon

About: University of Avignon is a education organization based out in Avignon, Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur, France. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Speaker recognition. The organization has 1526 authors who have published 3766 publications receiving 88928 citations.

Relative characterization of rosemary samples according to their geographical origins using microwave-accelerated distillation, solid-phase microextraction and Kohonen self-organizing maps.

Abstract: For centuries, rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) has been used to prepare essential oils which, even now, are highly valued due to their various biological activities. Nevertheless, it has been noted that these activities often depend on the origin of the rosemary plant and the method of extraction. Since both of these quality parameters can greatly influence the chemical composition of rosemary oil, an original analytical method was developed where “dry distillation” was coupled to headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) and then a data mining technique using the Kohonen self-organizing map algorithm was applied to the data obtained. This original approach uses the newly described microwave-accelerated distillation technique (MAD) and HS-SPME; neither of these techniques require external solvent and so this approach provides a novel “green” chemistry sampling method in the field of biological matrix analysis. The large data set obtained was then treated with a rarely used chemometric technique based on nonclassical statistics. Applied to 32 rosemary samples collected at the same time from 12 different sites in the north of Algeria, this method highlighted a strong correlation between the volatile chemical compositions of the samples and their origins, and it therefore allowed the samples to be grouped according to geographical distribution. Moreover, the method allowed us to identify the constituents that exerted the most influence during classification.

Benchmarking electrical methods for rapid estimation of root biomass

Abstract: To face climate change and subsequent rainfall instabilities, crop breeding strategies now include root traits phenotyping. Rapid estimation of root traits in controlled conditions can be achieved by using parallel electrical capacitance and its linear correlation with root dry mass. The aim of the present study was to improve robustness and efficiency of methods based on capacitance and other electrical variables, such as serial/parallel resistance, conductance, impedance or reactance. Using different electrode configurations and stem contact electrodes, we have measured the electrical impedance spectra of wheat plants grown in pots filled with three types of soil. For each configuration, parallel capacitance and other linearly independent electrical variables were computed and their quality as root dry mass estimator was evaluated by a ‘sensitivity score’ that we derived from Pearson’s correlation coefficient r and linear regression parameters. The highest sensitivity score was obtained by parallel capacitance at an alternating current frequency of 116 Hz in three-terminal configuration. Using a clamp, instead of a needle, as a stem electrode did not significantly affect the capacitance measurements. Finally, in handheld LCR meter equivalent conditions, capacitance had the highest sensitivity score and determination coefficient (r 2 = 0.52) at 10 kHz frequency. Our benchmarking of linear correlations between different electrical variables and root dry mass enables to determine more coherent practices for ensuring a sensitive and robust root dry mass estimation, including in handheld LCR meter conditions. This would enhance the value of electrical capacitance as a tool for screening crops in relation with root systems in breeding programs.

Impact of a lifestyle program on vascular insulin resistance in metabolic syndrome subjects: the RESOLVE study.

Abstract: Context and Objective: Impaired insulin-dependent vasodilation might contribute to microvascular dysfunction of metabolic syndrome (MetS). The aims of this study were to assess the insulin vasoreactivity in MetS, and to evaluate the effects of a lifestyle program. Design, Setting, Participants, and Outcome Measures: Laser Doppler measurements were used to assess cutaneous blood flux (CBF) and flowmotion in response to iontophoresis of insulin and acetylcholine (ACh) in 38 MetS and 18 controls. Anthropometric, plasma insulin, glycemia, and inflammatory markers were measured. MetS subjects (n = 24) underwent a 6-month lifestyle intervention (M6) with a 3-week residential program (D21). Results: The absolute and relative peak insulin and ACh CBF were significantly higher in controls than in MetS subjects. Significant inverse correlations were found between peak insulin CBF and glycemia, insulin and glycated hemoglobin, active plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), C-reactive protein (CRP), and IL-6. With...