Coastal zones, with their significant geodiversity, are vital areas for geotourism. Effective management is crucial to harness the geological interest of these sites as geotourism resources while ensuring their conser...Coastal zones, with their significant geodiversity, are vital areas for geotourism. Effective management is crucial to harness the geological interest of these sites as geotourism resources while ensuring their conservation. ManabíProvince is one of the most representative regions along the Ecuadorian coast due to its beaches and coastal cliffs, offering a wealth of tourist attractions and cultural elements. This study aims to evaluate the geosite potential of six cliffs in ManabíProvince through quantitative and qualitative analyses to propose geotourism promotion strategies. The methodology involves (i) inventory and characterisation of the cliffs, (ii) assessment of the sites by the Spanish Inventory of Places of Geological Interest method (IELIG), and (iii) qualitative evaluation through focus group discussions and Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) analysis. The results reveal that all six sites boast diverse geological assets, including geomorphological, stratigraphic, sedimentological, and tectonic elements. They are characterised by “high ”scientific, didactic, and tourist interest, while also being sus- ceptible to degradation due to natural and anthropic threats. The SWOT analysis demonstrates that the valuable geological and geomorphological heritage of potential geosites provides an opportunity to foster geotourism and boost the province’s economy, incorporating geoconservation and geoeducation strategies. This study proposes a georoute called “Ruta Acantilados del Sol ”, a 245 km journey encompassing all six sites, incorporating diverse tourist and cultural activities. Our research lays the foundation for fostering geotourism along the Manabícoast and strengthening the connection between nature, heritage, and the welfare of residents within a global resilience plan.展开更多
Abnormal subchondral bone remodeling leading to sclerosis is a main feature of osteoarthritis(OA), and osteomodulin(OMD), a proteoglycan involved in extracellular matrix mineralization, is associated with the scleroti...Abnormal subchondral bone remodeling leading to sclerosis is a main feature of osteoarthritis(OA), and osteomodulin(OMD), a proteoglycan involved in extracellular matrix mineralization, is associated with the sclerotic phenotype. However, the functions of OMD remain poorly understood, specifically in vivo. We used Omd knockout and overexpressing male mice and mutant zebrafish to study its roles in bone and cartilage metabolism and in the development of OA. The expression of Omd is deeply correlated with bone and cartilage microarchitectures affecting the bone volume and the onset of subchondral bone sclerosis and spontaneous cartilage lesions. Mechanistically, OMD binds to RANKL and inhibits osteoclastogenesis, thus controlling the balance of bone remodeling. In conclusion, OMD is a key factor in subchondral bone sclerosis associated with OA. It participates in bone and cartilage homeostasis by acting on the regulation of osteoclastogenesis. Targeting OMD may be a promising new and personalized approach for OA.展开更多
In cell therapy protocols, many tissues were proposed as a source of mesenchymal stem cells(MSC) isolation. So far, bone marrow(BM) has been presented as the main source of MSC despite the invasive isolation pro-cedur...In cell therapy protocols, many tissues were proposed as a source of mesenchymal stem cells(MSC) isolation. So far, bone marrow(BM) has been presented as the main source of MSC despite the invasive isolation pro-cedure related to this source. During the last years, the umbilical cord(UC) matrix was cited in different studies as a reliable source from which long term ex vivo prolif-erating fibroblasts were isolated but with contradictory data about their immunophenotype, gene expression profile, and differentiation potential. Hence, an inter-esting question emerged: Are cells isolated from cord matrix(UC-MSC) different from other MSCs? In this re-view, we will summarize different studies that isolated and characterized UC-MSC. Considering BM-MSC as gold standard, we will discuss if UC-MSC fulfill different criteria that define MSC, and what remain to be done in this issue.展开更多
近年来,严重脑损伤的死亡率随着急救技术的不断发展显著下降,而继发意识障碍(disorders of consciousness,DOC)患者数量却急剧增加。文章介绍了杭州师范大学国际植物状态和意识科学研究所主办的意识障碍精准评估及临床应用论坛关于意识...近年来,严重脑损伤的死亡率随着急救技术的不断发展显著下降,而继发意识障碍(disorders of consciousness,DOC)患者数量却急剧增加。文章介绍了杭州师范大学国际植物状态和意识科学研究所主办的意识障碍精准评估及临床应用论坛关于意识障碍的分类诊断、治疗干预、新技术手段与未来挑战等报告内容,探讨了国际化视角下多中心、跨学科模式为我国意识障碍领域的科学研究及临床应用带来的启示。展开更多
The optimal duration of biological treatment, particu- larly anti-TNF, in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a very important question both for patients and physicians. There is no published evidence to clearly and d...The optimal duration of biological treatment, particu- larly anti-TNF, in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a very important question both for patients and physicians. There is no published evidence to clearly and definitely answer this question. However data on natural history of IBD, long term safety of biologics, immunosuppressors (IS) cessation and some preliminary studies on biologics cessation may help us to discuss this topic. The decision to stop a biological treatment is currently based on a compromise between the benefits and risks associated with the prolongation of this treat- ment. IBD, more particularly CD, are characterized by the development of complications and the need for recurrent hospitalizations and surgeries in approximately 2/3 of cases. In these patients potentially in need of biological treatments, it is probable that, as it has been demonstrated for IS, the longer a stable remission has be achieved under treatment, the lower the risk of relapse is after treatment cessation. Further prospective studies should now aim at disclosing patient characteristics associated with a low risk of relapse to implement this strategy.展开更多
While therapeutic strategies able to change the natural history of the disease are developing,it is of major importance to have available predictive factors for aggressive disease to try and target these therapeutic s...While therapeutic strategies able to change the natural history of the disease are developing,it is of major importance to have available predictive factors for aggressive disease to try and target these therapeutic strategies.Clinical predictors have probably been the most broadly studied.In both Crohn's disease(CD) and ulcerative colitis(UC),age at diagnosis,disease location and smoking habit are currently the strongest predictors of disease course.A younger age at onset is associated with more aggressive disease both in CD and UC.Disease location in CD is associated with different types of complications:surgery and recurrence in upper gastrointestinal and proximal small bowel disease;and surgery in distal small bowel disease and peri-anal lesions in rectal disease.In UC,extensive colitis is clearly been associated with more severe disease.Finally,active smoking globally increases disease severity in CD but decreases it in UC.Besides these important factors,others may predispose to some specific disease evolution and complications,and are also reviewed in the present paper.展开更多
In this paper, we propose a new spatial-multiplexing(SM) scheme employing an orthogonal precoder over Rayleigh-fading channels for an erasure event in single frequency networks(SFN). To optimize the precoder, the aver...In this paper, we propose a new spatial-multiplexing(SM) scheme employing an orthogonal precoder over Rayleigh-fading channels for an erasure event in single frequency networks(SFN). To optimize the precoder, the average bit error rate(BER) is evaluated and minimized through a mathematical analysis. Compared to an ordinary SM, the proposed scheme guarantees identical BER performance under non-erasure fading channels and achieves a greatly improved performance under erasure fading channels, especially for a higher erasure-ratio and SNR values. This improvement is mainly due to the increase in the diversity gain incurred by the optimized precoder over the erasure event. We also compare the performance of the proposed SM to that of the conventional constellation-rotation(CR) scheme applied to the single antenna SFN systems. The results of a computer simulation show that the performance of the new scheme is more effective than that of a conventional CR across all simulation cases.展开更多
The exploitation of industrial strains of chickens in the Sahelian climate of Niger is characterized by a decline in performance and significant costs associated with their maintenance. In contrast, local chickens are...The exploitation of industrial strains of chickens in the Sahelian climate of Niger is characterized by a decline in performance and significant costs associated with their maintenance. In contrast, local chickens are well adapted to these environmental conditions but with poor production performance. Genetic selection of these local chickens could improve their productivity. The first step is to determine if the genetic parameters of their growth are high enough to ensure a successful selection strategy. To do so, weekly weights of 69 parents and 119 offspring were followed for 20 weeks. The heritability and genetic correlations of these weights were estimated through the Bayesian approach using the MCMCglmm package on R software. At hatching, weights ranged from 23 to 25 g. At 20 weeks, these weights ranged from 1031 to 1052 g for females and 1308 to 1445 g for males. Heritabilities for hatch weights at 4, 8, 12, 16, and 20 weeks of age were estimated to be 0.56, 0.31, 0.52, 0.53, 0.52 and 0.48 respectively and all genetic correlations were positive. In particular, weight at 8 weeks of age showed both good heritability (h<sup>2</sup> = 0.52) and strong, positive genetic correlations with weights at older ages. These results indicate that genetic selection to improve weight at 8 weeks of age would be a good strategy to improve the overall growth performance of these chickens.展开更多
The uniparental inheritance and conserved structure of the chloroplast genome among many angiosperms makes it suitable for constructing gene lineages and inferring population histories based on these relationships. Ho...The uniparental inheritance and conserved structure of the chloroplast genome among many angiosperms makes it suitable for constructing gene lineages and inferring population histories based on these relationships. However, the analysis of a single chloroplast region to solve population issues has not yielded the desired amount of variability due to the low mutation rate. Therefore, it is necessary to screen and carefully analyze chloroplast intergenic or intronic regions to select the most appropriate for studying the genetic variability in the chloroplast genome of a particular taxon. In this context, the aim of this work was to characterize 8 regions in Calophyllum brasiliense using 11 selected primer pairs and to evaluate their usefulness for phylogeographic analysis. Intergenic spacers petA-psbJ, petG-trnP and rp132-trnL and the trnL intron demonstrated potentially informative sites. The combination of these 4 regions will allow the analysis of genetic population structure and the integration of historical aspects to inform strategies for conserving C. brasiliense, especially for highly impacted populations and those at risk of local extinction.展开更多
基金ESPOL Polytechnic University research project:“Register of geological and mining heritage and its incidence in the defence and preservation of geodiversity in Ecuador”with institu-tional code CIPAT-01-2018.
文摘Coastal zones, with their significant geodiversity, are vital areas for geotourism. Effective management is crucial to harness the geological interest of these sites as geotourism resources while ensuring their conservation. ManabíProvince is one of the most representative regions along the Ecuadorian coast due to its beaches and coastal cliffs, offering a wealth of tourist attractions and cultural elements. This study aims to evaluate the geosite potential of six cliffs in ManabíProvince through quantitative and qualitative analyses to propose geotourism promotion strategies. The methodology involves (i) inventory and characterisation of the cliffs, (ii) assessment of the sites by the Spanish Inventory of Places of Geological Interest method (IELIG), and (iii) qualitative evaluation through focus group discussions and Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) analysis. The results reveal that all six sites boast diverse geological assets, including geomorphological, stratigraphic, sedimentological, and tectonic elements. They are characterised by “high ”scientific, didactic, and tourist interest, while also being sus- ceptible to degradation due to natural and anthropic threats. The SWOT analysis demonstrates that the valuable geological and geomorphological heritage of potential geosites provides an opportunity to foster geotourism and boost the province’s economy, incorporating geoconservation and geoeducation strategies. This study proposes a georoute called “Ruta Acantilados del Sol ”, a 245 km journey encompassing all six sites, incorporating diverse tourist and cultural activities. Our research lays the foundation for fostering geotourism along the Manabícoast and strengthening the connection between nature, heritage, and the welfare of residents within a global resilience plan.
基金funded by the F.R.S.-FNRS for the “EOS: The Excellence of Science-Join-t-against-Osteoarthritis”, grant number 30480119by a research grant from the Osteoarthritis Foundation and by the University of Liege (Fonds Léon Fredericq and Fonds Speciaux à la Recherche)funded by Versus Arthritis senior fellowship 21937。
文摘Abnormal subchondral bone remodeling leading to sclerosis is a main feature of osteoarthritis(OA), and osteomodulin(OMD), a proteoglycan involved in extracellular matrix mineralization, is associated with the sclerotic phenotype. However, the functions of OMD remain poorly understood, specifically in vivo. We used Omd knockout and overexpressing male mice and mutant zebrafish to study its roles in bone and cartilage metabolism and in the development of OA. The expression of Omd is deeply correlated with bone and cartilage microarchitectures affecting the bone volume and the onset of subchondral bone sclerosis and spontaneous cartilage lesions. Mechanistically, OMD binds to RANKL and inhibits osteoclastogenesis, thus controlling the balance of bone remodeling. In conclusion, OMD is a key factor in subchondral bone sclerosis associated with OA. It participates in bone and cartilage homeostasis by acting on the regulation of osteoclastogenesis. Targeting OMD may be a promising new and personalized approach for OA.
文摘In cell therapy protocols, many tissues were proposed as a source of mesenchymal stem cells(MSC) isolation. So far, bone marrow(BM) has been presented as the main source of MSC despite the invasive isolation pro-cedure related to this source. During the last years, the umbilical cord(UC) matrix was cited in different studies as a reliable source from which long term ex vivo prolif-erating fibroblasts were isolated but with contradictory data about their immunophenotype, gene expression profile, and differentiation potential. Hence, an inter-esting question emerged: Are cells isolated from cord matrix(UC-MSC) different from other MSCs? In this re-view, we will summarize different studies that isolated and characterized UC-MSC. Considering BM-MSC as gold standard, we will discuss if UC-MSC fulfill different criteria that define MSC, and what remain to be done in this issue.
文摘近年来,严重脑损伤的死亡率随着急救技术的不断发展显著下降,而继发意识障碍(disorders of consciousness,DOC)患者数量却急剧增加。文章介绍了杭州师范大学国际植物状态和意识科学研究所主办的意识障碍精准评估及临床应用论坛关于意识障碍的分类诊断、治疗干预、新技术手段与未来挑战等报告内容,探讨了国际化视角下多中心、跨学科模式为我国意识障碍领域的科学研究及临床应用带来的启示。
文摘The optimal duration of biological treatment, particu- larly anti-TNF, in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a very important question both for patients and physicians. There is no published evidence to clearly and definitely answer this question. However data on natural history of IBD, long term safety of biologics, immunosuppressors (IS) cessation and some preliminary studies on biologics cessation may help us to discuss this topic. The decision to stop a biological treatment is currently based on a compromise between the benefits and risks associated with the prolongation of this treat- ment. IBD, more particularly CD, are characterized by the development of complications and the need for recurrent hospitalizations and surgeries in approximately 2/3 of cases. In these patients potentially in need of biological treatments, it is probable that, as it has been demonstrated for IS, the longer a stable remission has be achieved under treatment, the lower the risk of relapse is after treatment cessation. Further prospective studies should now aim at disclosing patient characteristics associated with a low risk of relapse to implement this strategy.
文摘While therapeutic strategies able to change the natural history of the disease are developing,it is of major importance to have available predictive factors for aggressive disease to try and target these therapeutic strategies.Clinical predictors have probably been the most broadly studied.In both Crohn's disease(CD) and ulcerative colitis(UC),age at diagnosis,disease location and smoking habit are currently the strongest predictors of disease course.A younger age at onset is associated with more aggressive disease both in CD and UC.Disease location in CD is associated with different types of complications:surgery and recurrence in upper gastrointestinal and proximal small bowel disease;and surgery in distal small bowel disease and peri-anal lesions in rectal disease.In UC,extensive colitis is clearly been associated with more severe disease.Finally,active smoking globally increases disease severity in CD but decreases it in UC.Besides these important factors,others may predispose to some specific disease evolution and complications,and are also reviewed in the present paper.
文摘In this paper, we propose a new spatial-multiplexing(SM) scheme employing an orthogonal precoder over Rayleigh-fading channels for an erasure event in single frequency networks(SFN). To optimize the precoder, the average bit error rate(BER) is evaluated and minimized through a mathematical analysis. Compared to an ordinary SM, the proposed scheme guarantees identical BER performance under non-erasure fading channels and achieves a greatly improved performance under erasure fading channels, especially for a higher erasure-ratio and SNR values. This improvement is mainly due to the increase in the diversity gain incurred by the optimized precoder over the erasure event. We also compare the performance of the proposed SM to that of the conventional constellation-rotation(CR) scheme applied to the single antenna SFN systems. The results of a computer simulation show that the performance of the new scheme is more effective than that of a conventional CR across all simulation cases.
文摘The exploitation of industrial strains of chickens in the Sahelian climate of Niger is characterized by a decline in performance and significant costs associated with their maintenance. In contrast, local chickens are well adapted to these environmental conditions but with poor production performance. Genetic selection of these local chickens could improve their productivity. The first step is to determine if the genetic parameters of their growth are high enough to ensure a successful selection strategy. To do so, weekly weights of 69 parents and 119 offspring were followed for 20 weeks. The heritability and genetic correlations of these weights were estimated through the Bayesian approach using the MCMCglmm package on R software. At hatching, weights ranged from 23 to 25 g. At 20 weeks, these weights ranged from 1031 to 1052 g for females and 1308 to 1445 g for males. Heritabilities for hatch weights at 4, 8, 12, 16, and 20 weeks of age were estimated to be 0.56, 0.31, 0.52, 0.53, 0.52 and 0.48 respectively and all genetic correlations were positive. In particular, weight at 8 weeks of age showed both good heritability (h<sup>2</sup> = 0.52) and strong, positive genetic correlations with weights at older ages. These results indicate that genetic selection to improve weight at 8 weeks of age would be a good strategy to improve the overall growth performance of these chickens.
基金partially supported by Consejo de Investigación y Desarrollo Tecnológico(CIDET Project 16Q409 to C.F.A.)Fondo para la Investigación Científica y Tecnológica Project(PICTO UNaM 2011 No.122 to C.F.A)
文摘The uniparental inheritance and conserved structure of the chloroplast genome among many angiosperms makes it suitable for constructing gene lineages and inferring population histories based on these relationships. However, the analysis of a single chloroplast region to solve population issues has not yielded the desired amount of variability due to the low mutation rate. Therefore, it is necessary to screen and carefully analyze chloroplast intergenic or intronic regions to select the most appropriate for studying the genetic variability in the chloroplast genome of a particular taxon. In this context, the aim of this work was to characterize 8 regions in Calophyllum brasiliense using 11 selected primer pairs and to evaluate their usefulness for phylogeographic analysis. Intergenic spacers petA-psbJ, petG-trnP and rp132-trnL and the trnL intron demonstrated potentially informative sites. The combination of these 4 regions will allow the analysis of genetic population structure and the integration of historical aspects to inform strategies for conserving C. brasiliense, especially for highly impacted populations and those at risk of local extinction.
