Cachexia is a highly complex syndrome identified by metabolic, hormonal and cytokine-related abnormalities, but can be shortly characterized as accelerated skeletal muscle and adipose tissue loss in the context of a chronic inflammatory response. Cachexia is a debilitating complication of several diseases such as AIDS, sepsis, diabetes, renal failure, burn injury and cancer. Cachexia is responsible for 25-30% of cancer patient deaths. One of the most obvious outcomes of cancer cachexia is the redistribution of the total protein content, namely the depletion of skeletal muscle protein levels and increase in the acute phase response protein levels as a response to tissue injury. Although the plasticity of muscle mass and utility of skeletal muscle as a protein source are known facts, there have not been many studies concerning the mechanism of conversion of skeletal muscle proteins to other protein forms, for which the organism has greater need. IL-6 and activation of the acute phase response have been linked to cancer cachexia. However, IL-6 is generally not thought to signal directly on skeletal muscle and to date no studies have manipulated the STAT3 pathway for regulating skeletal muscle mass. Our data demonstrate direct action of IL-6 on activation of the STAT3 and acute phase response pathway at the skeletal muscle. In addition, our observations that STAT3 is broadly activated in cachexia and that STAT3 activation is sufficient and necesssary to induce muscle wasting are also novel. Thus, these studies define a new pathway leading to muscle wasting, which can be a potential target for reversing muscle wasting in cancer cachexia. Successful inhibition of skeletal muscle wasting and other metabolic derangements of cachexia will increase quality of life and survival of a significant fraction of cancer patients.

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the most important food crops, comprising the largest source of daily calorie and protein intake of human beings worldwide. Among the several diseases of wheat, Yellow Rust (YR; caused by Puccinia striiformis Westend. f. sp. tritici) and Leaf Rust (LR; caused by Puccinia triticina Erikss. & Henn.) have always been major production constraints since the domestication of wheat. For the last few decades, scientists have invested large efforts to identify, characterize and utilize Adult Plant Resistance (APR), a.k.a. slow rusting resistance, in wheat germplasm to promote durability of resistance against rust. The objectives of this study were to 1) understand the genetics of APR to YR and/or LR present in two potential wheat lines 'Quaiu 3' and 'TAM 111', and 2) map the putative Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) associated with YR and LR resistance using DNA-based molecular markers. Two Recombinant Inbred Line (RIL) populations were subjected to YR and LR disease evaluation experiments in multiple years and locations. Visual evaluation of Disease severity (DS) and Infection Type (IT) score in both RIL populations showed that APR to YR and LR were highly heritable quantitative traits with significant correlation among experiments. In spring wheat population, composite interval mapping consistently detected four and three large effect QTL for YR and LR resistance, respectively. Among those QTLs, 1B, 3B and 1D QTL were found to be associated with previously characterized genes Lr46/Yr29, Sr2/Yr30 and Lr42, respectively. However, QTLs QYr.tam-3D and QYr.tam-2D were potentially novel. The largest YR QTL QYr.tam-2D was located on long arm of chromosome 2D explaining about 48 to 61% of the total phenotypic variation. Similarly, in winter wheat population, apart from three environment-specific QTL on chromosomes 1A, 2A and 7D, the QTL on chromosome 2B (QYr.tam-2B) was found to express consistently in multiple environments explaining about 23 to 63% of total phenotypic variation. This study has further elucidated the inheritance mechanism of APR to YR and LR present in two different wheat lines, Quaiu 3 and TAM 111, and resulted in the successful mapping and characterization of the genetic loci associated with corresponding disease resistance traits. These findings should be very useful to isolate the novel APR genes and/or directly use in wheat breeding programs to enhance durable rust resistance in diverse wheat germplasm and cultivars in the future.

No description available.

No description available.

Afin de tenir compte de l'amorçage et de la propagation des fissures en fatigue, il est nécessaire de connaître l'historique des différentes quantités mécaniques dans la zone d'amorçage. Cela nécessite une connaissance des états mécaniques cycliques stabilisés. D'un point de vue numérique, les simulations numériques d'agrégats polycristallin avec les méthodes de résolution classiques ne sont réalisées que pour quelques cycles. Ce travail présente le développement des méthodes accélérées de calcul pour réduire le temps de calcul de la méthode des Éléments Finis dans le cas des simulations d'agrégats polycristallins soumis à un chargement cyclique. La première idée est de maintenir la matrice de rigidité constante afin d'effectuer une seule factorisation. Un premier algorithme a été écrit dans ce sens avec une résolution incrémentale et non incrémentale. La deuxième proposition est d'utiliser une méthode de réduction dimensionnelle en espace/temps couplé à la méthode des éléments finis. La PGD a été choisie. Cette méthode permet de découpler les variables spatiales et temporelles et les champs de déplacement ne sont calculés que pour un certain nombre de modes. Deux possibilités d'utilisation de la méthode PGD dans le cadre de la plasticité ont été proposées. La troisième proposition consiste à utiliser la stratégie de réduction adaptative APR comme solveur afin de résoudre un modèle d'ordre réduit en termes de nombre de ddl. Une stratégie incrémentale d'amélioration de la qualité de la base pour un certain intervalle de temps choisi a été mis en place dans ce cadre. Quatre possibilités d'utilisation de la méthode APR ont été proposées. L'analyse des performances des différentes méthodes est effectuée tout d'abord sur un problème élasto-plastique classique tridimensionnel présentant un défaut sphérique, ensuite à l'échelle de la microstructure avec un calcul visco-élasto-plastique d'agrégats polycristallins tridimensionnels. Les analyses ont montré que les réponses mécaniques macroscopique et mésoscopique des méthodes de réduction de modèle sont très proches de la méthode incrémentale. Le temps des simulations a été réduit par les différentes méthodes. Les gains sont plus importants quand on augmente la taille des maillages et la non linéarité du problème. Toutefois, l'idée de garder la matrice de rigidité constante avec une résolution incrémentale a permis un gain de temps encore plus conséquent à l'échelle de la microstructure. / In order to take account of fatigue cracks initiation and growth, it is necessary to know the history of the various mechanical quantities in fatigue initiation site. This requires knowledge of the stabilized cyclic mechanical states. From a numerical approach, numerical simulation of polycrystalline aggregates with conventional resolution methods are only carried out for a few cycles. This work presents the development of accelerated numerical methods to reduce the computation time of the Finite Element method in the case of numerical simulation of polycrystalline aggregates under cyclic loading. The first idea is to keep a constant stiffness matrix during overall simulation in order to get just one single factorization to carry out. An algorithm has been proposed in this sense with an incremental and non incremental resolution. The second proposal is based on the use of a model reduction method coupled with the finite element method to solve space/time problem. The PGD has been selected. This method allows to decouple spatial and time coordinates and the displacement fields are computed for a certain number of modes. Two possibilities have been proposed to implement the PGD method in the context of plasticity. The third proposal is to use an a priori adaptative approach based on the use of APR strategy to solve a reduced order model in terms of number of degrees of freedom. An incremental adaptive strategie has been proposed in order to master the quality of the reduced-basis for a certain time steps. Four possibilities of using the APR method have been proposed. The applicability and the performance of the different methods have been first analyzed on a conventional three-dimensional elastoplastic problem with a spherical defect, then on the scale of the microstructure with numerical simulation of polycrystalline aggregates under cyclic elasto-visco-plastic loading. The analyzes have shown that the macroscopic and mesoscopic mechanical responses of the model reduction methods are very close to the incremental method. The simulation time has been reduced by the different methods. The time gains are more significant by increasing the size of the meshes and the non-linearity of the problem. Nevertheless, the idea of keeping a constant stiffness matrix with the incremental method has enabled more CPU time saving at the microstructural scale.

Depuis 1991, et l’apparition de matériels d’embolisation à détachement contrôlé, le traitement endovasculaire a remplacé progressivement la prise en charge chirurgicale des anévrismes intra cérébraux. Ce traitement endovasculaire des anévrismes est associé à un faible taux de morbidité et de mortalité. Différentes études ont montré sa fiabilité mais pour l instant toujours à court ou moyen terme. Il est par contre impératif de suivre les patients ayant été embolisés. L’artériographie cérébrale reste l’examen de référence même si l’IRM avec l’apparition de nouvelles séquences commence à être validée pour suivre ces patients. En 1998, nous avons rédigé un protocole de surveillance, des patients traités par voie endovasculaire en y incluant l’IRM. Depuis nous avons progressé sur la détection des reliquats et des patients à risque de nouveau saignement, en validant les premières séquences d’angioMR, puis en incluant des séquences de diffusion, des séquences avec injection de contraste à la recherche d’un rehaussement intra anévrismal, et maintenant des séquences de flux intra anévrismal. Toutes ces informations ont été comparées à l’examen de référence, l’artériographie cérébrale. Les contrôles IRM ont été réalisés sur des imageurs 1.5 Tesla et aussi sur l’imageur 3 Tesla pendant la période de mobilité au CHU de Reims. [...] / Since 1991 and the introduction of detachable intracranial coils, the endovasculary treatment of cerebral aneurysms has become an established treatment technique and has supplied surgical approach of these aneurysms. The rate of morbidity and mortality of this new technique is now well known and law. Initial Angiographic and clinical results were yet published with good outcome. Concern exists about long term reopening and the inherent risk of recurrent hemorrhage and long-term imaging follow-up is advocated. Digital Substract Hemorrhage was the gold standard for detection and follow-up of patients, but this diagnostic procedure is invasive and exposes the patient to a small risk of serious complication. MR angiography has been used as an alternative noninvasive imaging technique to assess the occlusion of coiled intracranial aneurysms with promising results. Since 1998, we have collected all patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage, and patients with cerebral aneurysms treated by endovascular approach. We have proposed different MRI sequences to valid this technique and improve this techniqueWe have compared 3D TOF to digital angiography, with sequences with injection of gadolinium. [...]

Submitted by Nathália Faria da Silva (nathaliafsilva.ufv@gmail.com) on 2017-06-13T14:45:37Z No. of bitstreams: 1 texto completo.pdf: 282625 bytes, checksum: 1e1c48c9480ac4efd3e2ae6aca4983db (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-06-13T14:45:37Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 texto completo.pdf: 282625 bytes, checksum: 1e1c48c9480ac4efd3e2ae6aca4983db (MD5) Previous issue date: 2003-02-26 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / A diversidade genética entre 113 culturas de bactérias psicrotróficas proteolíticas isoladas de amostras de leite cru granelizado foi avaliada utilizando- se a técnica de RAPD. Foi constatada uma grande diversidade genética entre os isolados, indicando fontes de contaminação diversas. A presença do gene apr, que codifica metaloproteases termorresistentes, foi avaliada por PCR em 26 culturas controle e em 133 isolados psicrotróficos proteolíticos de leite cru resfriado e granelizado. Detectou-se a presença do amplificado do gene apr apenas nas culturas de referência Serratia marcescens ATCC 8100, Pseudomonas fluorescens ATCC 13525 e estirpes de P. aeruginosa ATCC 15442 e ATCC 27853. A presença do gene apr foi detectada na mistura de DNA dos isolados psicrotróficos proteolíticos que apresentaram características fenotípicas de espécies do gênero Pseudomonas, quais sejam, Gram-negativas, não fermentadoras, catalase e oxidase positivas. Os demais isolados Gram-negativos e os Gram-positivos, embora tenham apresentado atividade proteolítica, não apresentaram o amplificado do gene apr. A técnica de PCR permitiu identificar a presença de população acima de 10 5 UFC/mL de P. fluorescens inoculada em leite desnatado reconstituído após a extração do DNA total das bactérias. Entretanto, quando amostras de leite pasteurizado inoculado com populações variando de 10 5 a 10 8 UFC/mL foram analisadas por PCR, sem a etapa de extração do DNA total, o limite de detecção foi de 10 8 UFC/mL. / The genetic diversity of 113 cultures of proteolytic psychrotrophic bacteria isolated from raw milk collected from cooling tanks was analyzed by RAPD. A great genetic diversity was detected among these isolates indicating different sources of contamination. The presence of the apr gene, which codes a heat- resistant metalloprotease, was assessed by PCR in 26 type strains and in 136 proteolytic psychrotrophic bacteria isolated from raw milk. The presence of the apr gene was only detected in Serratia marcescens ATCC 8100, Pseudomonas fluorescens ATCC 13525 and, strains of P. aeruginosa ATCC 15442 and ATCC 27853. The apr gene was detected in total DNA extracted from proteolytic psychrotrophics that showed phenotypic characteristics belonging to Pseudomonads such as Gram-negative, non-fermentative, positive-catalase and positive-oxidase. The apr gene was not detected in the other Gram-negative and Gram-positive isolates studied although they have displayed proteolysis. The PCR technique identified the presence of Pseudomonas fluorescens when total DNA was extracted from skim milk previously inoculated with a bacterial population containing 10 5 CFU/mL. However, the detection limit of apr gene without the DNA extraction step was 10 8 CFU/mL in pasteurized milk.

On développe une méthode de résolution du transfert radiatif au sein d'un milieu vapeur-gouttelettes entouré de parois chaudes, en vue d'un couplage avec une résolution de l'écoulement à l'échelle de la CFD. Le domaine d'application considéré est l'étude du refroidissement du coeur d'une centrale nucléaire suite à un Accident de Perte de Réfrigérant Primaire (APRP). Le problème du transfert radiatif se découpe en deux sous-problèmes, l'un concernant l'évaluation des propriétés radiatives du milieu et le second la résolution du transfert radiatif. Les propriétés radiatives ont été calculées avec la théorie de Mie pour les gouttelettes et le modèle C-k pour la vapeur d'eau. On obtient un milieu absorbant, diffusant anisotrope, émissif, non gris et non homogène. De plus, compte tenu de la grande gamme possible des propriétés de l'écoulement (diamètre et concentration des gouttelettes, température et pression de la vapeur), le milieu peut être optiquement fin ou optiquement épais. Il faut donc une méthode de résolution du transfert radiatif efficace pour toutes les conditions observées dans un APRP et ayant un temps de calcul raisonnable en vue du couplage avec les autres modes de transferts. La méthode IDA, dérivée de l'approximation P1, a été choisie. Son niveau de précision a été validé sur des cas tests académiques et une expérimentation. Des simulations en condition APRP ont ensuite été effectuées, permettant d'évaluer les flux rayonnés et confirmant que le transfert radiatif n'est pas négligeable dans cet accident / We developped a method of resolution of radiative transfer inside a medium of vapor-droplets surrounded by hot walls, in order to couple it with a simulation of the flow at the CFD scale. The scope is the study of the cooling of the core of nuclear reactor following a Loss Of Coolant Accident (LOCA). The problem of radiative transfer can be cut into two sub problems, one concerning the evaluation of the radiative properties of the medium and a second concerning the solution of the radiative transfer equation. The radiative properties of the droplets have been computed with the use of the Mie Theory and those of the vapor have been computed with a Ck model. The medium made of vapor and droplets is an absorbing, anisotropically scattering, emissive, non grey, non homogeneous medium. Hence, owing to the possible variations of the flow properties (diameter and volumetric fraction of the droplets, temperature and pressure of the vapor), the medium can be optically thin or thick. Consequently, a method is required which solves the radiative transfer accurately, with a moderate calculation time for all of these prerequisites. The IDA has been chosen, derived from the well-known P1-approximation. Its accuracy has been checked on academical cases found in the literature and by comparison with experimental data. Simulations of LOCA flows have been conducted taking account of the radiative transfer, evaluating the radiative fluxes and showing that radiative transfer influence cannot be neglected

No description available.

The analysis of acute phase protein serum amyloid A (SAA) has recently been brought into clinical use in veterinary medicine. Some of the difficulties with incorporating the SAA method in clinical practice have been the expensive and rather large equipment required for the method. Due to these difficulties only larger clinics can afford to use the SAA analysis. The company Equinostic has recently developed a smaller instrument that costs one-tenth of a larger instrument. The instrument is named EVA1 and has so far only been used to analyze SAA in horses. The aim of this study was to investigate if the EVA1 instrument could be used to analyze SAA in cats. This study included 24 serum samples from cat, which were first analyzed twice on the EVA1 instrument and then sent to the Strömsholm Referral Animal Hospital in Sweden where they reanalyzed the samples using a validated reference method. Both instruments are based on an immunoturbidimetric assay. The correlation between the two instruments was good (r=0.97) but the EVA1 instrument showed constantly lower results than the reference method. The difference between the duplicates when analyzed on the EVA1 instrument was larger than expected. The conclusion is that EVA1 could be used to analyze SAA in cats. However, before it could be used clinically in veterinary practice an extended study is recommended.