Showing papers by "University of Paris published in 1997"

The complete genome sequence of the Gram-positive bacterium Bacillus subtilis

Abstract: Bacillus subtilis is the best-characterized member of the Gram-positive bacteria. Its genome of 4,214,810 base pairs comprises 4,100 protein-coding genes. Of these protein-coding genes, 53% are represented once, while a quarter of the genome corresponds to several gene families that have been greatly expanded by gene duplication, the largest family containing 77 putative ATP-binding transport proteins. In addition, a large proportion of the genetic capacity is devoted to the utilization of a variety of carbon sources, including many plant-derived molecules. The identification of five signal peptidase genes, as well as several genes for components of the secretion apparatus, is important given the capacity of Bacillus strains to secrete large amounts of industrially important enzymes. Many of the genes are involved in the synthesis of secondary metabolites, including antibiotics, that are more typically associated with Streptomyces species. The genome contains at least ten prophages or remnants of prophages, indicating that bacteriophage infection has played an important evolutionary role in horizontal gene transfer, in particular in the propagation of bacterial pathogenesis.

Backward Stochastic Differential Equations in Finance

Abstract: We are concerned with different properties of backward stochastic differential equations and their applications to finance. These equations, first introduced by Pardoux and Peng (1990), are useful for the theory of contingent claim valuation, especially cases with constraints and for the theory of recursive utilities, introduced by Duffie and Epstein (1992a, 1992b).

Image recovery via total variation minimization and related problems

Abstract: We study here a classical image denoising technique introduced by L. Rudin and S. Osher a few years ago, namely the constrained minimization of the total variation (TV) of the image. First, we give results of existence and uniqueness and prove the link between the constrained minimization problem and the minimization of an associated Lagrangian functional. Then we describe a relaxation method for computing the solution, and give a proof of convergence. After this, we explain why the TV-based model is well suited to the recovery of some images and not of others. We eventually propose an alternative approach whose purpose is to handle the minimization of the minimum of several convex functionals. We propose for instance a variant of the original TV minimization problem that handles correctly some situations where TV fails.

A candidate gene for familial Mediterranean fever

Abstract: Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by attacks of fever and serositis. In this paper, we define a minimal co-segregating region of 60 kb containing the FMF gene (MEFV) and identify four different transcript units within this region. One of these transcripts encodes a new protein (marenostrin) related to the ret-finger protein and to butyrophilin. Four conservative missense variations co-segregating with FMF have been found within the MEFV candidate gene in 85% of the carrier chromosomes. These variations, which cluster at the carboxy terminal domain of the protein, were not present in 308 control chromosomes, including 162 validated non-carriers. We therefore propose that the sequence alterations in the marenostrin protein are responsible for the FMF disease.

Antiretroviral Therapy for HIV Infection in 1997: Updated Recommendations of the International AIDS Society—USA Panel

Abstract: Objective. —To provide current recommendations for antiretroviral therapy for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease. Participants. —The original International AIDS Society—USA 13-member panel representing international expertise in antiretroviral research and care of patients with HIV infection. Evidence. —The following were considered: Newly available clinical and basic science study results, including phase 3 controlled trials; clinical, virological, and immunologic end-point data; interim analyses of studies presented at national and international research conferences; studies of HIV pathophysiology; and expert opinions of panel members. Recommendations were limited to the drugs available in mid 1997. Process. —The full panel met on a regular basis (July 1996, September 1996, November 1996, January 1997, and April 1997) since the publication of its initial recommendations in mid 1996 to review new research reports and interim results. The panel discussed whether and how new information changed its initial recommendations. The recommendations contained herein were determined by group consensus. Conclusions. —New data have provided a stronger rationale for earlier initiation of more aggressive therapy than previously recommended and reinforce the importance of careful selection of initial drug regimen for each patient for optimal long-term clinical benefit and adherence. The plasma viral load is a crucial element of clinical management for assessing prognosis and the effectiveness of therapy, and such testing must be done properly. Treatment failure is most readily indicated by a rising plasma HIV RNA level and should be confirmed prior to a change of treatment. Therapeutic approaches must be updated as new data, particularly on the long-term clinical effect of aggressive antiretroviral treatment, continue to emerge.

Outcome of cord-blood transplantation from related and unrelated donors

Abstract: Background Cord-blood banks have increased the use of cord-blood transplantation in patients with hematologic disorders. We have established a registry containing information on the outcome of cord-blood transplantation. Methods We sent questionnaires to 45 transplantation centers for information on patients receiving cord-blood transplants from 1988 to 1996. Reports on 143 transplantations, performed at 45 centers, were studied, and the responses were analyzed separately according to whether the donor was related or unrelated to the recipient. Results Among 78 recipients of cord blood from related donors, the Kaplan–Meier estimate of survival at one year was 63 percent. Younger age, lower weight, transplants from HLA-identical donors, and cytomegalovirus-negative serologic results in the recipient were favorable prognostic factors. Graft-versus-host disease of at least grade II occurred at estimated rates of 9 percent in 60 recipients of HLA-matched cord blood and 50 percent in 18 recipients of HLA-misma...

Spectrum of clinical features associated with interstitial chromosome 22q11 deletions: a European collaborative study.

Abstract: We present clinical data on 558 patients with deletions within the DiGeorge syndrome critical region of chromosome 22q11. Twenty-eight percent of the cases where parents had been tested had inherited deletions, with a marked excess of maternally inherited deletions (maternal 61, paternal 18). Eight percent of the patients had died, over half of these within a month of birth and the majority within 6 months. All but one of the deaths were the result of congenital heart disease. Clinically significant immunological problems were very uncommon. Nine percent of patients had cleft palate and 32% had velopharyngeal insufficiency, 60% of patients were hypocalcaemic, 75% of patients had cardiac problems, and 36% of patients who had abdominal ultrasound had a renal abnormality. Sixty-two percent of surviving patients were developmentally normal or had only mild learning problems. The majority of patients were constitutionally small, with 36% of patients below the 3rd centile for either height or weight parameters.

Solid Cancers after Bone Marrow Transplantation

Abstract: Background The late effects of bone marrow transplantation, including cancer, need to be determined in a large population at risk. Methods We studied 19,229 patients who received allogeneic transplants (97.2 percent) or syngeneic transplants (2.8 percent) between 1964 and 1992 at 235 centers to evaluate the risk of the development of a new solid cancer. Risk factors relating to the patient, the transplant, and the course after transplantation were evaluated. Results The transplant recipients were at significantly higher risk of new solid cancers than the general population (observed cases, 80; ratio of observed to expected cases, 2.7; P<0.001). The risk was 8.3 times as high as expected among those who survived 10 or more years after transplantation. The cumulative incidence rate was 2.2 percent (95 percent confidence interval, 1.5 to 3.0 percent) at 10 years and 6.7 percent (95 percent confidence interval, 3.7 to 9.6 percent) at 15 years. The risk was significantly elevated (P<0.05) for malignant melanom...

Prevalence of parkinsonism and Parkinson's disease in Europe: the EUROPARKINSON Collaborative Study. European Community Concerted Action on the Epidemiology of Parkinson's disease.

Abstract: OBJECTIVES: To assess and compare the prevalence of parkinsonism and Parkinson's disease in five European populations that were surveyed with similar methodology and diagnostic criteria. METHODS: Joint analysis of five community surveys--Gironde (France), eight centres in Italy, Rotterdam (The Netherlands), Girona (Spain), and Pamplona (Spain)--in which subjects were screened in person for parkinsonism. Overall, these surveys comprised 14,636 participants aged 65 years or older. RESULTS: The overall prevalence (per 100 population), age adjusted to the 1991 European standard population, was 2.3 for parkinsonism and 1.6 for Parkinson's disease. The overall prevalence of parkinsonism for the age groups 65 to 69, 70 to 74, 75 to 79, 80 to 84, and 85 to 89 years was respectively, 0.9, 1.5, 3.7, 5.0, and 5.1. The corresponding age specific figures for Parkinson's disease were 0.6, 1.0, 2.7, 3.6, and 3.5. After adjusting for age and sex, the prevalence figures did not differ significantly across studies, except for the French study in which prevalence was lower. Prevalence was similar in men and women. Overall, 24% of the subjects with Parkinson's disease were newly detected through the surveys. CONCLUSIONS: Prevalence of both parkinsonism and Parkinson's disease increased with age, without significant differences between men and women. There was no convincing evidence for differences in prevalence across European countries. A substantial proportion of patients with Parkinson's disease went undetected in the general population.

Global Minimum for Active Contour Models: A Minimal Path Approach

Abstract: A new boundary detection approach for shape modeling is presented. It detects the global minimum of an active contour model‘s energy between two end points. Initialization is made easier and the curve is not trapped at a local minimum by spurious edges. We modify the “snake” energy by including the internal regularization term in the external potential term. Our method is based on finding a path of minimal length in a Riemannian metric. We then make use of a new efficient numerical method to find this shortest path. It is shown that the proposed energy, though based only on a potential integrated along the curve, imposes a regularization effect like snakes. We explore the relation between the maximum curvature along the resulting contour and the potential generated from the image. The method is capable to close contours, given only one point on the objects‘ boundary by using a topology-based saddle search routine. We show examples of our method applied to real aerial and medical images.

Recommendations for a core set of outcome measures for future Phase III clinical trials in knee, hip, and hand osteoarthritis. Consensus development at OMERACT III

Abstract: Significant progress has been made in outcome measurement procedures for osteoarthritis (OA) clinical trials, and guidelines have been established by the US Food and Drug Administration, European League Against Rheumatism, the World Health Organization/International League of Associations for Rheumatology, and the Group for the Respect of Ethics and Excellence in Science. However, there remains a need for further international harmonization of measurement procedures used to establish beneficial effects in Phase III clinical trials. A key objective of the OMERACT III conference was to establish a core set of outcome measures for future phase III clinical trials. During the conference, using a combination of discussion and polling procedures, a consensus was reached by at least 90% of participants that the following 4 domains should be evaluated in future phase III trials of knee, hip, and hand OA: pain, physical function, patient global assessment, and, for studies of one year or longer, joint imaging (using standardized methods for taking and rating radiographs, or any demonstrably superior imaging technique). These evidence based preferences, achieved with a high degree of consensus, establish an international standard for future phase III trials and will also facilitate metaanalysis and Cochrane Collaborative Project goals.

Role of mutator alleles in adaptive evolution

Abstract: that the mutation rate has evolved to be as low as possible, limited only by the cost of error-avoidance and error-correction mechanisms. But up to one per cent of natural bacterial isolates are 'mutator' clones that have high mutation rates 4-6 . We consider here whether high mutation rates might play an important role in adaptive evolution. Models of large, asexual, clonal populations adapting to a new environment show that strong mutator genes (such as those that increase mutation rates by 1,000-fold) can accelerate adaptation, even if the mutator gene remains at a very low frequency (for example, 10 2 5 ). Less potent mutators (10 to 100-fold increase) can become fixed in a fraction of finite populations. The parameters of the model have been set to values typical for Escherichia coli cultures, which behave in a manner similar to the model in long-term adaptation experiments 7 . Early models of the evolution of the mutation rate were based on group selection for an optimal compromise between adaptability and adaptedness 2,3 . However, later models, incorporating mutators and antimutators (modifiers of the mutation rate) showed that a mutator can reduce individual fitness while increasing the prob- ability for an adaptive mutation to appear in the population. The prediction of these models was that a minimal mutation rate would be selected in a stable environment (reduction principle 8 ), whereas in an oscillating environment, infinite populations at equilibrium

Homogenization limits and Wigner transforms

Abstract: We present a theory for carrying out homogenization limits for quadratic functions (called “energy densities”) of solutions of initial value problems (IVPs) with anti-self-adjoint (spatial) pseudo-differential operators (PDOs). The approach is based on the introduction of phase space Wigner (matrix) measures that are calculated by solving kinetic equations involving the spectral properties of the PDO. The weak limits of the energy densities are then obtained by taking moments of the Wigner measure. The very general theory is illustrated by typical examples like (semi)classical limits of Schrodinger equations (with or without a periodic potential), the homogenization limit of the acoustic equation in a periodic medium, and the classical limit of the Dirac equation. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Radiative energy loss of high-energy quarks in finite-size nuclear matter and quark-gluon plasma

Abstract: The induced gluon radiation of a high-energy quark in a finite-size QCD medium is studied. For a sufficiently energetic quark produced inside a medium we find the radiative energy loss ΔE q∝L 2, where L is the distance traveled by quark in the medium. It has a weak dependence on the initial quark energy E q. The L 2 dependence turns to L 1 as the quark energy decreases. Numerical calculations are performed for a cold nuclear matter and a hot quark-gluon plasma. For a quark incident on a nucleus we predict ΔE q ≈0.1E q (L/10fm) β , with β close to unity.

The Economics of Codification and the Diffusion of Knowledge

Abstract: The process by which knowledge or information evolves and spreads through the economy evolves changing its nature between tacit and codified forms The process of codification includes three aspects: model building, language creation and the writing of messages Recent technical changes in several technologies have impinged on these three activities and changed the costs and benefits from each of them, generally lowering the costs of codification Technical changes have also facilitated the diffusion of codified knowledge, which has increased its value Due to the temporal relations among the three aspects of codification, the ongoing process in which codification takes place may be path-dependent Copyright 1997 by Oxford University Press

The Basic Variety (or: Couldn't natural languages be much simpler?)

Abstract: In this article, we discuss the implications of the fact that adult second language learners (outside the classroom) universally develop a wellstructured, efficient and simple form of language - the Basic Variety (BV). Three questions are asked as to (1) the structural properties of the BV, (2) the status of these properties and (3) why some structural properties of 'fully fledged' languages are more complex. First, we characterize the BV in four respects: its lexical repertoire, the principles according to which utterances are structured, and temporality and spatiality expressed. The organizational principles proposed are small in number, and interact. We analyse this interaction, describing how the BV is put to use in various complex verbal tasks, in order to establish both what its communicative potentialities are, and also those discourse contexts where the constraints come into conflict and where the variety breaks down. This latter phenomenon provides a partial answer to the third question, concerning the relative complexity of 'fully fledged' languages - they have devices to deal with such cases. As for the second question, it is argued firstly that the empirically established continuity of the adult acquisition process precludes any assignment of the BV to a mode of linguistic expression (e.g.. 'protolanguage') distinct from that of 'fully fledged' languages and. moreover, that the organizational constraints of the BV belong to the core attributes of the human language capacity, whereas a number of complexifications not attested in the BV are less central properties of this capacity. Finally, it is shown that the notion of feature strength, as used in recent versions of Generative Grammar, allows a straight­ forward characterization of the BV as a special case of an I-language. in the sense of this theory. Under this perspective, the acquisition of an 1language beyond the BV can essentially be described as a change in feature strength.

Anatomical variability in the cortical representation of first and second language

Abstract: Functional magnetic resonance imaging was used to assess inter-subject variability in the cortical representation of language comprehension processes. Moderately fluent French-English bilinguals were scanned while they listened to stories in their first language (L1 = French) or in a second language (L2 = English) acquired at school after the age of seven. In all subjects, listening to L1 always activated a similar set of areas in the left temporal lobe, clustered along the left superior temporal sulcus. Listening to L2, however, activated a highly variable network of left and right temporal and frontal areas, sometimes restricted only to right-hemispheric regions. These results support the hypothesis that first language acquisition relies on a dedicated left-hemispheric cerebral network, while late second language acquisition is not necessarily associated with a reproducible biological substrate. The postulated contribution of the right hemisphere to L2 comprehension is found to hold only on average, individual subjects varying from complete right lateralization to standard left lateralization for L2.

Estimation of a Hedonic Price Equation for Bordeaux Wine: Does Quality Matter?

Abstract: In this paper the hedonic price technique is applied to Bordeaux wine. In the hedonic price function we include not only the ‘objective’ characteristics appearing on the label of the bottle, but also the sensory characteristics of the wine. Our data come from an experimental study in which juries have evaluated and graded a sample of Bordeaux wines. The estimation of the hedonic price equation shows that the market price is essentially determined by the objective characteristics. The estimation of a jury grade equation shows that quality, unlike the market price, is essentially determined by the sensory characteristics.

Synthesis of Nanoparticles and Nanotubes with Well-Separated Layers of Boron Nitride and Carbon

Abstract: Polyhedral and tubular graphitic nanoparticles made of carbon layers and boron nitride (BN) layers have been synthesized. These particles were observed in the soot collected on the anode deposit formed by arcing a hafnium diboride rod with graphite in a nitrogen atmosphere. Elemental profiles with subnanometer-scale resolution revealed a strong phase separation between BN layers and carbon layers along the radial direction. Most of these tubes have a sandwich structure with carbon layers both in the center and at the periphery, separated by a few BN layers. This structure provides insight into the atomistic mechanism of nanotube growth in the boron-carbon-nitrogen ternary system and may lead to the creation of nanostructured electronic devices relying on the controlled production of heteroatomic nanotubes.

From Model Selection to Adaptive Estimation

Abstract: Many different model selection information criteria can be found in the literature in various contexts including regression and density estimation. There is a huge amount of literature concerning this subject and we shall, in this paper, content ourselves to cite only a few typical references in order to illustrate our presentation. Let us just mention AIC, C p , or C L , BIC and MDL criteria proposed by Akaike (1973), Mallows (1973), Schwarz (1978), and Rissanen (1978) respectively. These methods propose to select among a given collection of parametric models that model which minimizes an empirical loss (typically squared error or minus log-likelihood) plus some penalty term which is proportional to the dimension of the model. From one criterion to another the penalty functions differ by factors of log n, where n represents the number of observations.

Ubiquitin lys63 is involved in ubiquitination of a yeast plasma membrane protein

Abstract: We have recently reported that the yeast plasma membrane uracil permease undergoes cell-surface ubiquitination, which is dependent on the Npi1/Rsp5 ubiquitin-protein ligase. Ubiquitination of this permease, like that of some other transporters and receptors, signals endocytosis of the protein, leading to its subsequent vacuolar degradation. This process does not involve the proteasome, which binds and degrades ubiquitin-protein conjugates carrying Lys48-linked ubiquitin chains. The data presented here show that ubiquitination and endocytosis of uracil permease are impaired in yeast cells lacking the Doa4p ubiquitin-isopeptidase. Both processes were rescued by overexpression of wild-type ubiquitin. Mutant ubiquitins carrying Lys-->Arg mutations at Lys29 and Lys48 restored normal permease ubiquitination. In contrast, a ubiquitin mutated at Lys63 did not restore permease polyubiquitination. Ubiquitin-permease conjugates are therefore extended through the Lys63 of ubiquitin. When polyubiquitination through Lys63 is blocked, the permease still undergoes endocytosis, but at a reduced rate. We have thus identified a natural target of Lys63-linked ubiquitin chains. We have also shown that monoubiquitination is sufficient to induce permease endocytosis, but that Lys63-linked ubiquitin chains appear to stimulate this process.

Eit observations of the extreme ultraviolet sun

Abstract: The Extreme Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (EIT) on board the SOHO spacecraft has been operational since 2 January 1996. EIT observes the Sun over a 45 × 45 arc min field of view in four emission line groups: Fe IX, X, Fe XIIi, Fe xv, and He II. A post-launch determination of the instrument flatfield, the instrument scattering function, and the instrument aging were necessary for the reduction and analysis of the data. The observed structures and their evolution in each of the four EUV bandpasses are characteristic of the peak emission temperature of the line(s) chosen for that bandpass. Reports on the initial results of a variety of analysis projects demonstrate the range of investigations now underway: EIT provides new observations of the corona in the temperature range of 1 to 2 MK. Temperature studies of the large-scale coronal features extend previous coronagraph work with low-noise temperature maps. Temperatures of radial, extended, plume-like structures in both the polar coronal hole and in a low latitude decaying active region were found to be cooler than the surrounding material. Active region loops were investigated in detail and found to be isothermal for the low loops but hottest at the loop tops for the large loops.

Large deviations for Wigner's law and Voiculescu's non-commutative entropy

Abstract: We study the spectral measure of Gaussian Wigner's matrices and prove that it satisfies a large deviation principle. We show that the good rate function which governs this principle achieves its minimum value at Wigner's semicircular law, which entails the convergence of the spectral measure to the semicircular law. As a conclusion, we give some further examples of random matrices with spectral measure satisfying a large deviation principle and argue about Voiculescu's non commutative entropy.

Principle of weakly contractive maps in Hilbert spaces

Abstract: We introduce a class of contractive maps on closed convex sets of Hilbert spaces, called weakly contractive maps, which contains the class of strongly contractive maps and which is contained in the class of nonexpansive maps. We prove the existence of fixed points for the weakly contractive maps which are a priori degenerate in general case. We establish then the convergence in norm of classical iterative sequences to fixed points of these maps, give estimates of the convergence rate and prove the stability of the convergence with respect to some perturbations of these maps. Our results extend Banach principle previously known for strongly contractive map only.

Lattice-Gas Cellular Automata: Simple Models of Complex Hydrodynamics

Abstract: Preface Acknowledgements 1. A simple model of fluid mechanics 2. Two routes to hydrodynamics 3. Inviscid two-dimensional lattice-gas hydrodynamics 4. Viscous two-dimensional hydrodynamics 5. Some simple 3D models 6. The lattice-Boltzmann method 7. Using the Boltzmann method 8. Miscible fluids 9. Immiscible lattice gases 10. Lattice-Boltzmann method for immiscible fluids 11. Immiscible lattice gases in three dimensions 12. Liquid-gas models 13. Flow through porous media 14. Equilibrium statistical mechanics 15. Hydrodynamics in the Boltzmann approximation 16. Phase separation 17. Interfaces 18. Complex fluids and patterns Appendices Author Index Subject Index.