Showing papers by "University of Montpellier published in 2007"
TL;DR: The Fortran code SuSpect version 2.1, which calculates the Supersymmetric and Higgs particle spectrum in the Minimal Supers asymmetric Standard Model (MSSM), is presented, which is rather fast and flexible, thus allowing scans of the parameter space with several possible options and choices for model assumptions and approximations.
937 citations
Bradley University1, University of Tartu2, National Institutes of Health3, University of California4, Pontifical Catholic University of Chile5, University of Louisville6, University of Latvia7, Pennsylvania State University8, Slovak Academy of Sciences9, University of San Carlos10, University of Malta11, Ghent University12, Clemson University13, Laval University14, University of Buenos Aires15, Osaka University16, Illinois State University17, National Autonomous University of Mexico18, University of Brasília19, University of Western Australia20, University of Lima21, Boğaziçi University22, University of Kassel23, York University24, University of Queensland25, Åbo Akademi University26, Al Akhawayn University27, University of Hawaii at Manoa28, University of Catania29, University of Otago30, University of Dhaka31, Chemnitz University of Technology32, Knox College33, Comenius University in Bratislava34, University of Rijeka35, University of Malaya36, Vilnius University37, American University of Beirut38, Kwangju Health College39, University of Salzburg40, Utrecht University41, National Computerization Agency42, City University of Hong Kong43, University of Idaho44, University of Zimbabwe45, University of Lisbon46, University of Central Lancashire47, Loyola Marymount University48, University of KwaZulu-Natal49, University of Granada50, University of Botswana51, Babeș-Bolyai University52, University of Cyprus53, University of Belgrade54, KPMG55, University of Montpellier56, University of Zurich57, University of Alabama58, Baylor University59, Queen's University Belfast60, University of Ljubljana61, University of Haifa62, University of La Serena63, Florida Atlantic University64, University of California, Davis65, University of Dar es Salaam66, Ramapo College67, Cyprus College68, Middle East Technical University69, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń70, University of the South Pacific71, Vrije Universiteit Brussel72, University at Albany, SUNY73, University of the Aegean74, University of Lethbridge75, University of Vienna76, University of Hong Kong77, Yuan Ze University78, Charles University in Prague79, Chonnam National University80, Indian Institutes of Technology81
TL;DR: The Big Five Inventory (BFI) is a self-report measure designed to assess the high-order personality traits of Extraversion, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, Neuroticism, and Openness as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: The Big Five Inventory (BFI) is a self-report measure designed to assess the high-order personality traits of Extraversion, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, Neuroticism, and Openness. As part of the International Sexuality Description Project, the BFI was translated from English into 28 languages and administered to 17,837 individuals from 56 nations. The resulting cross-cultural data set was used to address three main questions: Does the factor structure of the English BFI fully replicate across cultures? How valid are the BFI trait profiles of individual nations? And how are personality traits distributed throughout the world? The five-dimensional structure was robust across major regions of the world. Trait levels were related in predictable ways to self-esteem, sociosexuality, and national personality profiles. People from the geographic regions of South America and East Asia were significantly different in openness from those inhabiting other world regions. The discussion focuses on limitations of t...
876 citations
TL;DR: This paper is a summarized update of current knowledge on plant architecture and morphology; its implication and possible role in various aspects of modern plant biology is also discussed.
830 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors derived the conditions under which dark energy models whose Lagrangian densities are written in terms of the Ricci scalar $R$ are cosmologically viable.
Abstract: We derive the conditions under which dark energy models whose Lagrangian densities $f$ are written in terms of the Ricci scalar $R$ are cosmologically viable. We show that the cosmological behavior of $f(R)$ models can be understood by a geometrical approach consisting of studying the $m(r)$ curve on the $(r,m)$ plane, where $m\ensuremath{\equiv}R{f}_{,RR}/{f}_{,R}$ and $r\ensuremath{\equiv}\ensuremath{-}R{f}_{,R}/f$ with ${f}_{,R}\ensuremath{\equiv}\mathrm{d}f/\mathrm{d}R$. This allows us to classify the $f(R)$ models into four general classes, depending on the existence of a standard matter epoch and on the final accelerated stage. The existence of a viable matter-dominated epoch prior to a late-time acceleration requires that the variable $m$ satisfies the conditions $m(r)\ensuremath{\approx}+0$ and $\mathrm{d}m/\mathrm{d}rg\ensuremath{-}1$ at $r\ensuremath{\approx}\ensuremath{-}1$. For the existence of a viable late-time acceleration we require instead either (i) $m=\ensuremath{-}r\ensuremath{-}1$, $(\sqrt{3}\ensuremath{-}1)/2lm\ensuremath{\le}1$ and $\mathrm{d}m/\mathrm{d}rl\ensuremath{-}1$ or (ii) $0lm\ensuremath{\le}1$ at $r=\ensuremath{-}2$. These conditions identify two regions in the $(r,m)$ space, one for the matter era and the other for the acceleration. Only models with an $m(r)$ curve that connects these regions and satisfies the requirements above lead to an acceptable cosmology. The models of type $f(R)=\ensuremath{\alpha}{R}^{\ensuremath{-}n}$ and $f=R+\ensuremath{\alpha}{R}^{\ensuremath{-}n}$ do not satisfy these conditions for any $ng0$ and $nl\ensuremath{-}1$ and are thus cosmologically unacceptable. Similar conclusions can be reached for many other examples discussed in the text. In most cases the standard matter era is replaced by a cosmic expansion with scale factor $a\ensuremath{\propto}{t}^{1/2}$. We also find that $f(R)$ models can have a strongly phantom attractor but in this case there is no acceptable matter era.
754 citations
TL;DR: This review brings you up-to-date with the hepatocyte research on in vitro–in vivo correlations of metabolism and clearance, the function and regulation of hepatic transporters and models used to elucidate their role in drug clearance, mechanisms and examples of idiosyncratic and intrinsic hepatotoxicity.
Abstract: This review brings you up-to-date with the hepatocyte research on: 1) in vitro-in vivo correlations of metabolism and clearance; 2) CYP enzyme induction, regulation, and cross-talk using human hepatocytes and hepatocyte-like cell lines; 3) the function and regulation of hepatic transporters and models used to elucidate their role in drug clearance; 4) mechanisms and examples of idiosyncratic and intrinsic hepatotoxicity; and 5) alternative cell systems to primary human hepatocytes. We also report pharmaceutical perspectives of these topics and compare methods and interpretations for the drug development process.
706 citations
TL;DR: A review of recent advances in the use of Sn or Si-based electrodes together with the remaining challenges to be addressed and issues to be solved prior to such electrodes being commercially implemented in Li-ion cells is presented in this paper.
Abstract: In the race for better Li-ion batteries, research on anode materials is very intensive as there is a strong desire to find alternatives to carbonaceous negative electrodes. A large part of these studies is devoted to alloying reactions, which have been known for more than thirty years but that have regained great interest by downsizing particle sizes, moving to nano-textured/nanostructured composites, or designing new electrode concepts. It is not the scope of this review to retrace twenty-five years of research, but rather to highlight recent advances that have been made in the use of Sn or Si-based electrodes together with the remaining challenges to be addressed and issues to be solved prior to such electrodes being commercially implemented in Li-ion cells.
689 citations
TL;DR: The data suggest that IL‐6 is involved in the immunoregulatory mechanism mediated by MSC through a partial inhibition of DC differentiation but is probably not the main mechanism.
Abstract: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) are of particular interest for their potential clinical use in tissue engineering as well as for their capacity to reduce the incidence and severity of graft-versus-host disease in allogeneic transplantation. We have previously shown that MSC-mediated immune suppression acts via the secretion of soluble factor(s) induced upon stimulation. The aim of this study was to identify the molecule(s) involved and the underlying mechanism(s). We show that murine MSC secrete high levels of interleukin (IL)-6 and vascular endothelial growth factor, which are directly correlated to the inhibition of T-cell proliferation. The T-cell activation is partially restored upon addition of a neutralizing anti-IL-6 antibody or the prostaglandin E2 inhibitor indomethacin. Interestingly, no indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase activity was detected in our conditions. Instead, we show that MSC reduce the expression of major histocompatibility complex class II, CD40, and CD86 costimulatory molecules on mature dendritic cells (DC), which was responsible for a decrease in T-cell proliferation. Moreover, we show that the differentiation of bone marrow progenitors into DC cultured with conditioned supernatants from MSC was partly inhibited through the secretion of IL-6. Altogether, these data suggest that IL-6 is involved in the immunoregulatory mechanism mediated by MSC through a partial inhibition of DC differentiation but is probably not the main mechanism. Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest is found at the end of this article.
598 citations
TL;DR: The CAT model appears to be more robust than WAG against LBA artefacts, essentially because it correctly anticipates the high probability of convergences and reversions implied by the small effective size of the amino-acid alphabet at each site of the alignment.
Abstract: Thanks to the large amount of signal contained in genome-wide sequence alignments, phylogenomic analyses are converging towards highly supported trees. However, high statistical support does not imply that the tree is accurate. Systematic errors, such as the Long Branch Attraction (LBA) artefact, can be misleading, in particular when the taxon sampling is poor, or the outgroup is distant. In an otherwise consistent probabilistic framework, systematic errors in genome-wide analyses can be traced back to model mis-specification problems, which suggests that better models of sequence evolution should be devised, that would be more robust to tree reconstruction artefacts, even under the most challenging conditions. We focus on a well characterized LBA artefact analyzed in a previous phylogenomic study of the metazoan tree, in which two fast-evolving animal phyla, nematodes and platyhelminths, emerge either at the base of all other Bilateria, or within protostomes, depending on the outgroup. We use this artefactual result as a case study for comparing the robustness of two alternative models: a standard, site-homogeneous model, based on an empirical matrix of amino-acid replacement (WAG), and a site-heterogeneous mixture model (CAT). In parallel, we propose a posterior predictive test, allowing one to measure how well a model acknowledges sequence saturation. Adopting a Bayesian framework, we show that the LBA artefact observed under WAG disappears when the site-heterogeneous model CAT is used. Using cross-validation, we further demonstrate that CAT has a better statistical fit than WAG on this data set. Finally, using our statistical goodness-of-fit test, we show that CAT, but not WAG, correctly accounts for the overall level of saturation, and that this is due to a better estimation of site-specific amino-acid preferences. The CAT model appears to be more robust than WAG against LBA artefacts, essentially because it correctly anticipates the high probability of convergences and reversions implied by the small effective size of the amino-acid alphabet at each site of the alignment. More generally, our results provide strong evidence that site-specificities in the substitution process need be accounted for in order to obtain more reliable phylogenetic trees.
591 citations
TL;DR: This study focuses particularly on model lipids, but also on dietary and biological lipids isolated from their natural environment, including lipoproteins and phospholipidic membranes, and the advantages and drawbacks of existing methods and new approaches are compared according to the context.
581 citations
559 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a combinaison de proteines de gluten de ble avec un ester diacetyl tatarique de monoglycerides, reduit la permeabilite a la vapeur d'eau, augmente la force et maintient la transparence.
Abstract: Des films composes comestibles, comprenant d'une part une structure matricielle a base de gluten de ble et d'autre part differents lipides comme barriere a l'humidite, ont ete teste pour leurs permeabilites a la vapeur d'eau, leurs dispersions dans l'eau, leurs proprietes mecaniques et leurs opacites. Les effets des lipides sur les proprietes fonctionnelles de ces films, dependent des caracteristiques des lipides utilises et des interactions lipide-structure matricielle proteique. La cire d'abeille, lipide solide et hydrophobique, est le lipide le plus efficace pour ameliorer les proprietes barrieres de ces films. Mais ces films sont opaques, fragiles et facilement degradables dans l'eau. La combinaison de proteines de gluten de ble avec un ester diacetyl tatarique de monoglycerides, reduit la permeabilite a la vapeur d'eau, augmente la force et maintient la transparence
TL;DR: It is found that, in all f(R) modified gravity theories where a power of R is dominant at large or small R, the scale factor during the matter phase grows as t(1/2) instead of the standard law t(2/3).
Abstract: All f(R) modified gravity theories are conformally identical to models of quintessence in which matter is coupled to dark energy with a strong coupling. This coupling induces a cosmological evolution radically different from standard cosmology. We find that, in all f(R) theories where a power of R is dominant at large or small R (which include most of those proposed so far in the literature), the scale factor during the matter phase grows as t(1/2) instead of the standard law t(2/3). This behavior is grossly inconsistent with cosmological observations (e.g., Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe), thereby ruling out these models even if they pass the supernovae test and can escape the local gravity constraints.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors investigated the correlation between the fibrillin-1 (FBN1) genotype and the nature and severity of the clinical phenotype, including skeletal, cardiovascular, ophthalmologic, skin, pulmonary, and dural.
Abstract: Mutations in the fibrillin-1 (FBN1) gene cause Marfan syndrome (MFS) and have been associated with a wide range of overlapping phenotypes. Clinical care is complicated by variable age at onset and the wide range of severity of aortic features. The factors that modulate phenotypical severity, both among and within families, remain to be determined. The availability of international FBN1 mutation Universal Mutation Database (UMD-FBN1) has allowed us to perform the largest collaborative study ever reported, to investigate the correlation between the FBN1 genotype and the nature and severity of the clinical phenotype. A range of qualitative and quantitative clinical parameters (skeletal, cardiovascular, ophthalmologic, skin, pulmonary, and dural) was compared for different classes of mutation (types and locations) in 1,013 probands with a pathogenic FBN1 mutation. A higher probability of ectopia lentis was found for patients with a missense mutation substituting or producing a cysteine, when compared with other missense mutations. Patients with an FBN1 premature termination codon had a more severe skeletal and skin phenotype than did patients with an inframe mutation. Mutations in exons 24-32 were associated with a more severe and complete phenotype, including younger age at diagnosis of type I fibrillinopathy and higher probability of developing ectopia lentis, ascending aortic dilatation, aortic surgery, mitral valve abnormalities, scoliosis, and shorter survival; the majority of these results were replicated even when cases of neonatal MFS were excluded. These correlations, found between different mutation types and clinical manifestations, might be explained by different underlying genetic mechanisms (dominant negative versus haploinsufficiency) and by consideration of the two main physiological functions of fibrillin-1 (structural versus mediator of TGF beta signalling). Exon 24-32 mutations define a high-risk group for cardiac manifestations associated with severe prognosis at all ages.
TL;DR: In this article, the very large breathing effect of a metal-organic framework during CO 2 adsorption is discussed, and an experiment was conducted for the case of CO 2 adaption at room temperature for porous chromium (III) terephthalate MIL-53.
Abstract: The very large breathing effect of a metal-organic framework during CO 2 adsorption is discussed. An experiment was conducted for the case of CO2 adsorption at room temperature for porous chromium (III) terephthalate MIL-53. The structural topology of MIL-53 consists of a 4 4 net with tilted chains of CrIIIO4(OH) 2 octahedra sharing trans hydroxyl groups solid. These chains are linked through the carboxylate groups of the terephthalate ions forming a 3D framework. An in situ solid-state NMR study of the hydration of MIL-53HT showed that the shrinkage that occurred upon insertion of water molecules resulted from the onset of two types of strong hydrogen bonds. The first type involves the hydrogen atoms of water molecules and the oxygen atoms of the bridging carboxylate groups. The second type, which seems to be more energetically favorable, links OH groups to inserted water molecules.
TL;DR: In this paper, an activated carbon-MnO2 hybrid electrochemical supercapacitor was constructed and characterized in K2SO4 aqueous media, and a laboratory cell achieved 195,000 cycles with stable performance.
TL;DR: This work reimplemented most of the already existing models, including the popular lognormal model, as well as various prior choices for divergence times (birth-death, Dirichlet, uniform), in a common Bayesian statistical framework, and proposes a new autocorrelated model, called the "CIR" process, with well-defined stationary properties.
Abstract: Several models have been proposed to relax the molecular clock in order to estimate divergence times. However, it is unclear which model has the best fit to real data and should therefore be used to perform molecular dating. In particular, we do not know whether rate autocorrelation should be considered or which prior on divergence times should be used. In this work, we propose a general bench mark of alternative relaxed clock models. We have reimplemented most of the already existing models, including the popular lognormal model, as well as various prior choices for divergence times (birth-death, Dirichlet, uniform), in a common Bayesian statistical framework. We also propose a new autocorrelated model, called the "CIR" process, with well-defined stationary properties. We assess the relative fitness of these models and priors, when applied to 3 different protein data sets from eukaryotes, vertebrates, and mammals, by computing Bayes factors using a numerical method called thermodynamic integration. We find that the 2 autocorrelated models, CIR and lognormal, have a similar fit and clearly outperform uncorrelated models on all 3 data sets. In contrast, the optimal choice for the divergence time prior is more dependent on the data investigated. Altogether, our results provide useful guidelines for model choice in the field of molecular dating while opening the way to more extensive model comparisons.
TL;DR: The amnestic syndrome of the medial temporal type, defined by the Free and Cued Selective Recall Reminding Test, is able to distinguish patients at an early stage of Alzheimer disease from mild cognitive impairment non-converters.
Abstract: Objective: To compare the power of tests assessing different cognitive domains for the identification of prodromal Alzheimer disease (AD) among patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Background: Given the early involvement of the medial temporal lobe, a precocious and specific pattern of memory disorders might be expected for the identification of prodromal AD. Methods: A total of 251 patients with MCI were tested at baseline by a standardized neuropsychological battery, which included the Free and Cued Selective Recall Reminding Test (FCSRT) for verbal episodic memory; the Benton Visual Retention Test for visual memory; the Deno 100 and verbal fluency for language; a serial digit learning test and the double task of Baddeley for working memory; Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) similarities for conceptual elaboration; and the Stroop test, the Trail Making test, and the WAIS digit symbol test for executive functions. The patients were followed at 6-month intervals for up to 3 years in order to identify those who converted to AD vs those who remained stable over time. Statistical analyses were based on receiver operating characteristic curve and Cox proportional hazards models. Results: A total of 59 subjects converted to AD dementia. The most sensitive and specific test for diagnosis of prodromal AD was the FCSRT. Significant cutoff for the diagnosis was 17/48 for free recall, 40/48 for total recall, and below 71% for index of sensitivity of cueing (% of efficacy of semantic cues for retrieval). Conclusions: The amnestic syndrome of the medial temporal type, defined by the Free and Cued Selective Recall Reminding Test, is able to distinguish patients at an early stage of Alzheimer disease from mild cognitive impairment non-converters. Neurology ® 2007;69:1859–1867
TL;DR: It is shown that the dynamics of kinetically constrained models of glass formers takes place at a first-order coexistence line between active and inactive dynamical phases, by computing the large-deviation functions of suitable space-time observables, such as the number of configuration changes in a trajectory.
Abstract: We show that the dynamics of kinetically constrained models of glass formers takes place at a first-order coexistence line between active and inactive dynamical phases. We prove this by computing the large-deviation functions of suitable space-time observables, such as the number of configuration changes in a trajectory. We present analytic results for dynamic facilitated models in a mean-field approximation, and numerical results for the Fredrickson-Andersen model, the East model, and constrained lattice gases, in various dimensions. This dynamical first-order transition is generic in kinetically constrained models, and we expect it to be present in systems with fully jammed states.
TL;DR: It is predicted that interactions become less beneficial with increasing environmental quality and that the association of productivity with symbiont specificity depends on the relative strengths of tradeoffs between host range and other life-history parameters.
Abstract: Recent advances in our knowledge of parasitic and mutualistic associations have confirmed the central role of coevolutionary interactions in population and community ecology. Here, we discuss the potential coevolutionary interdependence of the strength and specificity of symbiotic interactions with the complexity and productivity of their environment. We predict that interactions become less beneficial with increasing environmental quality and that the association of productivity with symbiont specificity depends on the relative strengths of tradeoffs between host range and other life-history parameters. However, as biotic complexity increases, pathogen specificity is predicted to decline, whereas mutualist specificity will increase. Testing these predictions on a geographical scale would contribute significantly to the predictive science of coevolution, and to our ability to manage biological interactions embedded in increasingly fragmented landscapes.
TL;DR: A dynamical model that describes quantitatively numerical and experimental data in supercooled liquids, colloidal hard spheres, and granular materials is introduced and the tails of the distributions directly explain the decoupling between translational diffusion and structural relaxation observed in glassy materials.
Abstract: We examine the structure of the distribution of single particle displacements (van Hove function) in a broad class of materials close to glass and jamming transitions. In a wide time window comprising structural relaxation, van Hove functions reflect the coexistence of slow and fast particles (dynamic heterogeneity). The tails of the distributions exhibit exponential, rather than Gaussian, decay. We argue that this behavior is universal in glassy materials and should be considered the analog, in space, of the stretched exponential decay of time correlation functions. We introduce a dynamical model that describes quantitatively numerical and experimental data in supercooled liquids, colloidal hard spheres, and granular materials. The tails of the distributions directly explain the decoupling between translational diffusion and structural relaxation observed in glassy materials.
TL;DR: It is shown that CD24 and SEMA6A, two cell surface protein‐coding genes from the top of the consensus hESC gene list, display a strong and specific membrane protein expression on hESCs, which permits the purification by flow cytometry of h ESCs cocultured on human fibroblasts.
Abstract: Microarray technology provides a unique opportunity to examine gene expression patterns in human embryonic stem cells (hESCs). We performed a meta-analysis of 38 original studies reporting on the transcriptome of hESCs. We determined that 1076 genes were found overexpressed in hESCs by at least 3 studies when compared to differentiated cell types, thus composing a “consensus hESC gene list”. Only one gene was reported by all studies: the homeodomain transcription factor POU5F1/OCT3/4. The list comprised other genes critical for pluripotency such as the transcription factors NANOG and SOX2, and the growth factors TDGF1/CRIPTO and Galanin. We show that CD24 and SEMA6A, two cell surface protein-coding genes from the top of the consensus hESC gene list, display a strong and specific membrane protein expression on hESCs. Moreover, CD24 labeling permits to purify by flow cytometry hESCs co-cultured on human fibroblasts. The “consensus hESC gene list” also included the FZD7 WNT receptor, the G protein-coupled receptor GPR19, and the HELLS helicase which could play an important role in hESCs biology. Conversely, we identified 783 genes downregulated in hESCs and reported in at least three studies. This “consensus differentiation gene list” included the IL6ST/GP130 LIF receptor. We created an online hESC expression atlas, (http://amazonia.montp.inserm.fr), to provide an easy access to this public transcriptome dataset. Expression histograms comparing hESC to a broad collection of fetal and adult tissues can be retrieved with this web tool for more than 15 000 genes.
TL;DR: Cayrel et al. as discussed by the authors measured accurate, homogeneous neutron-capture element abundances for the sample of 32 EMP giant stars studied earlier in this series, including 22 stars with [Fe/H]< -3.5.
Abstract: Context: Extremely metal-poor (EMP) stars in the halo of the Galaxy are sensitive probes of the production of the first heavy elements and the efficiency of mixing in the early interstellar medium. The heaviest measurable elements in such stars are our main guides to understanding the nature and astrophysical site(s) of early neutron-capture nucleosynthesis. Aims: Our aim is to measure accurate, homogeneous neutron-capture element abundances for the sample of 32 EMP giant stars studied earlier in this series, including 22 stars with [Fe/H]< -3.0. Methods: Based on high-resolution, high S/N spectra from the ESO VLT/UVES, 1D, LTE model atmospheres, and synthetic spectrum fits, we determine abundances or upper limits for the 16 elements Sr, Y, Zr, Ba, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, and Yb in all stars. Results: As found earlier, [Sr/Fe], [Y/Fe], [Zr/Fe] and [Ba/Fe] are below Solar in the EMP stars, with very large scatter. However, we find a tight anti-correlation of [Sr/Ba], [Y/Ba], and [Zr/Ba] with [Ba/H] for -4.5 <[Ba/H] < -2.5, also when subtracting the contribution of the main r-process as measured by [Ba/H]. Spectra of even higher S/N ratio are needed to confirm and extend these results below [Fe/H] ? -3.5. The huge, well-characterised scatter of the [n-capture/Fe] ratios in our EMP stars is in stark contrast to the negligible dispersion in the [ ?/Fe] and [Fe-peak/Fe] ratios for the same stars found in Paper V. Conclusions: These results demonstrate that a second (?weak? or LEPP) r-process dominates the production of the lighter neutron-capture elements for [Ba/H] < -2.5. The combination of very consistent [ ?/Fe] and erratic [n-capture/Fe] ratios indicates that inhomogeneous models for the early evolution of the halo are needed. Our accurate data provide strong constraints on future models of the production and mixing of the heavy elements in the early Galaxy. Based on observations made with the ESO Very Large Telescope at Paranal Observatory, Chile (program ID 165.N-0276(A); P.I: R. Cayrel).
TL;DR: In this article, structural and geochemical data from the Lherz massif, the type-locality of lherzolite, were used to show that most of these massifs were formed through a refertilization process involving interaction of refractory, lithospheric mantle with upwelling asthenospheric partial melts.
TL;DR: The main wheat dry fractionation processes, including pretreatments, degerming, debranning, and bran fractionation, are reviewed in this article, with emphasis on nutritionally interesting compounds.
TL;DR: It is found that multiple cytokines were overexpressed in oestrogen receptor negative breast carcinoma, and that the three major cytokines – MCP-1, MIP-1β and IL-8 – were correlated with inflammatory cell component, which could account for the aggressiveness of these tumours.
Abstract: Introduction
An emerging hypothesis suggests that cytokines could play an important role in cancer as potential modulators of angiogenesis and leucocyte infiltration.
TL;DR: The results reported in this study indicate that IL‐22 is a cytokine produced by skin‐infiltrating lymphocytes that is potentially involved in initiation and/or maintenance of the pathogenesis of psoriasis.
Abstract: Interleukin (IL)-22 is a T cell-derived cytokine that has been reported recently to induce cutaneous inflammation in an experimental murine model of psoriasis, and to induce in vitro an inflammatory-like phenotype. In the present study, we assessed the presence of IL-22 and the IL-22 receptor 1 (IL-22R1) in skin lesions, skin-derived T cells, as well as IL-22 levels in sera from patients with psoriasis. IL-22R1 and IL-10R2 transcripts are expressed at a similar level in psoriatic and healthy skin. In contrast, IL-22 mRNA expression was up-regulated in psoriatic skin lesions compared to normal skin, whereas IL-22 mRNA levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from psoriatic patients and normal subjects were similar. Circulating IL-22 levels were significantly higher in psoriatic patients than in normal subjects. T cells isolated from psoriatic skin produced higher levels of IL-22 in comparison to peripheral T cells isolated from the same patients. IL-10 was expressed at similar levels in skin biopsies and peripheral blood mononuclear cells of psoriatic patients and normal subjects. Finally, we show here that supernatants of lesional psoriatic skin-infiltrating T cells induce an inflammatory response by normal human epidermal keratinocytes, resembling that observed in psoriatic lesions. Taken together, the results reported in this study indicate that IL-22 is a cytokine produced by skin-infiltrating lymphocytes that is potentially involved in initiation and/or maintenance of the pathogenesis of psoriasis.
TL;DR: It is proposed that DUX4-mediated cell death contributes to the pathogenic pathway in FSHD and is endogenously expressed in nuclei of adult and fetal human rhabdomyosarcoma cell lines.
TL;DR: Low-density lipoprotein receptor is involved at an early stage in infection of normal human hepatocytes by serum-derived HCV virions, irrespective of genotype, viral load or liver donor.
TL;DR: The impact of systematic errors on the resolution of the eukaryotic phylogeny is explored using a data set of 143 nuclear-encoded proteins from 37 species, and removing fast-evolving positions, recoding amino acids into functional categories, and using a site-heterogeneous mixture model (CAT) are three effective means of increasing the ratio of phylogenetic to nonphylogenetic signal.
Abstract: Genome-scale data sets result in an enhanced resolution of the phylogenetic inference by reducing stochastic errors. However, there is also an increase of systematic errors due to model violations, which can lead to erroneous phylo- genies. Here, we explore the impact of systematic errors on the resolution of the eukaryotic phylogeny using a data set of 143 nuclear-encoded proteins from 37 species. The initial observation was that, despite the impressive amount of data, some branches had no significant statistical support. To demonstrate that this lack of resolution is due to a mutual annihilation of phylogenetic and nonphylogenetic signals, we created a series of data sets with slightly different taxon sampling. As expected, these data sets yielded strongly supported but mutually exclusive trees, thus confirming the presence of con- flicting phylogenetic and nonphylogenetic signals in the original data set. To decide on the correct tree, we applied several methods expected to reduce the impact of some kinds of systematic error. Briefly, we show that (i) removing fast-evolving positions, (ii) recoding amino acids into functional categories, and (iii) using a site-heterogeneous mixture model (CAT) are three effective means of increasing the ratio of phylogenetic to nonphylogenetic signal. Finally, our results allow us to formulate guidelines for detecting and overcoming phylogenetic artefacts in genome-scale phylogenetic analyses. (Compo- sitional heterogeneity; data removal; eukaryotic phylogeny; inconsistency; long-branch attraction; nonphylogenetic signal; phylogenomics; systematic error.)
TL;DR: It is proposed that directionality is imposed on the primordium as soon as it comes in contact with the stripe of SDF1, and is maintained throughout migration by a negative interaction between the two receptors.
Abstract: The formation of the posterior lateral line of teleosts depends on the migration of a primordium that originates near the otic vesicle and moves to the tip of the tail. Groups of cells at the trailing edge of the primordium slow down at regular intervals and eventually settle to differentiate as sense organs. The migration of the primordium is driven by the chemokine SDF1 and by its receptor CXCR4, encoded respectively by the genes sdf1a and cxcr4b. cxcr4b is expressed in the migrating cells and is down-regulated in the trailing cells of the primordium. sdf1a is expressed along the path of migration. There is no evidence for a gradient of sdf1a expression, however, and the origin of the directionality of migration is not known. Here we document the expression of a second chemokine receptor gene, cxcr7, in the migrating primordium. We show that cxcr7 is highly expressed in the trailing cells of the primordium but not at all in the leading cells, a pattern that is complementary to that of cxcr4b. Even though cxcr7 is not expressed in the cells that lead primordium migration, its inactivation results in impaired migration. The phenotypes of cxcr4b, cxcr7 double morphant embryos suggest, however, that CXCR7 does not contribute to the migratory capabilities of primordium cells. We also show that, in the absence of cxcr4b, expression of cxcr7 becomes ubiquitous in the stalled primordium. Our observations suggest that CXCR7 is required to provide directionality to the migration. We propose that directionality is imposed on the primordium as soon as it comes in contact with the stripe of SDF1, and is maintained throughout migration by a negative interaction between the two receptors.