Search

The use of image analysis to estimate fruit tree yields is increasing. Tools are often based on RGB images acquired from the two opposite sides of the tree and fruit detection using machine learning algorithms. Due to fruit occlusion and detection errors, a correction model is needed to estimate the actual number of fruits from the number of detections. This study aimed to establish the best correction model for estimating mango yield in a diversity of orchards without using any other data extracted from the image than the number of detections. A set of images was acquired at the mature fruit stage on 325 'Kent' mango trees from 27 orchards representing the main cropping systems (from monoculture to diversified orchards) found in two distinct production regions in West Africa. Mangoes have been detected with a YOLOv5 neural network to obtain the detected count. The actual count of fruits was measured on all trees and used to calibrate different correction models for tree production estimation. Results showed that a linear model with region and cropping system as categorical covariates obtained the best performance (R2=0.66, normalised RMSE or NRMSE=11%) compared to a simple linear model (R2=0.34, NRMSE=20%). Square root transformations of actual and detected counts were necessary to fit the regression assumptions of residuals normality and homoscedasticity. Although the use of linear mixed-effect models with the orchard as a random effect might be interesting, their performances were comparable to linear models and they did not respect the regression assumption. This study showed that one simple linear regression might be insufficient when applying fruit yield estimation in different orchards, even for the one cultivar and the same fruit development stage. We also highlight the need to test the regression assumptions before applying the correction model.

This study is based on the observation that many digital tools and services for agriculture do not put farmers' expectations and interests first, resulting in top-down research and development. On-Farm Experimentation (OFE) contributes to overcoming these limitations because it places farmers at the center of innovation processes, while ensuring rich interactions with various value chain actors. The richness of OFE is in part explained by the diversity of stakeholders involved and the co-learning that results from their interactions. Studies in management and social sciences show that such open innovation processes can be difficult to manage. Aligning the visions and interests of the different stakeholders, fostering the sharing of resources and knowledge to produce value, and sharing the value created in an equitable manner remain a real challenge. Although these issues can refine the understanding of the mechanisms that condition the success of OFE, they have yet to be sufficiently analyzed. Recent publications underline the need to explore the organizational and managerial aspects of OFE to facilitate its implementation in various contexts. This work proposes to fill this gap by providing ten key lessons for conducting OFE with the aim of creating shared value, i.e., developing innovative technologies and practices that benefit all parties but, first and foremost, farmers. These ten key lessons stem from the reflexive monitoring of an OFE process aimed at developing the SoYield® decision support system for helping mango value chain actors to estimate fruit production in Africa. This reflexive monitoring was conducted by the main actors involved in this process, namely, farmers, a private firm and research centers. These key lessons lay the foundations for strengthening a community of practice on OFE implementation and for facilitating its development worldwide. This study also provides insights into the contributions and limitations of digital tools for conducting OFE.

The objective of this paper is to quantify the coupling effect on the power distribution of sodium-cooled fast reactors (SFRs), specifically the European SFR. Calculations are performed with several state-of-the-art reactor physics and Multiphysics codes (TRACE/PARCS, DYN3D, WIMS, COUNTHER, and GeN-Foam) to build confidence in the methodologies and validity of results. Standalone neutronic calculations were generally in excellent agreement with a reference Monte Carlo-calculated power distribution (from Serpent). Next, the impact of coolant density and fuel temperature Doppler feedback was calculated. Reactivity coefficients for perturbations in the inlet temperature, coolant heat up and core power was shown to be negative with values of around −0.5 pcm/°C, −0.3 pcm/°C, and −3.5 pcm/%, respectively. Fuel temperature and coolant density feedback was found to introduce a roughly −1%/+1% in/out power tilt across the core. Calculations were then extended to axial expansion for cases where fuel is linked and unlinked to the clad. Core calculations are in good agreement with each other. The impact of differential fuel expansion is found to be larger for fuel both linked and unlinked to the clad, with the in/out power tilt increasing to around −4%/+2%. Thus, while broadly confirming the known result that standalone physics calculations give good results, the expansion coupling effect is perhaps more than anticipated a priori. These results provide a useful benchmark for the further development of Multiphysics codes and methodologies in support of advanced reactor calculations.

Socioeconomic deprivation (SED) is a risk factor for complications during pregnancy and childbirth, the impact of which has been studied poorly in rural areas.To explore the perceptions and behaviour of women living in SED in a rural area with regard to their pregnancy follow-up.A qualitative study using semi-structured individual interviews was carried out in a rural area in central France. To participate, the women had to have an Evaluation of Deprivation and Inequalities in Health Examination Centres deprivation score ≥ 30.17, be living in a rural area and have given birth during the month before the interview. The interviews were analysed using a thematic approach inspired by grounded theory.Seventeen women were interviewed. The difficulties of life in a rural area were linked to geographical remoteness, travel costs, lack of public services, inadequacy of nearby healthcare and social isolation. In all cases, pregnancy was an additional difficulty. The adaptive capability was related to the presence of an efficient family and social network. Most of the time, any increase in the limitations exceeded the ability to adapt and affected the medical follow-up of the pregnancy, although follow-up appointments were rarely abandoned altogether. Perceptions of birth preparation and parenting sessions were often limited to advice on pain management. Due to their affiliation with their rural area or their choice of lifestyle, the women complained only minimally.Women often minimize any limitations and implement adaptive techniques that make identification by social and medical services more difficult.Eighteen women in SED were contacted by Childhood Medical Protection, midwives and general practitioners practising in rural areas. One woman declined participation and seventeen were interviewed.

The voltage of the fuel cell must be measured during the test phase to characterize and condition it. Similarly, monitoring the fuel cell during its operation in series has many advantages. The CVM is a permanent and individualized measurement system for each cell. DAM has developed a universal system that can be connected to any type of bipolar plate. In addition, its modularity allows it to adapt to the number of cells and the fuel cell voltage, while compensating deformation phenomena. Moreover, its electronic architecture also allows a great modularity while proposing additional functions of diagnosis and measurements of insulation and short-circuit. These features are essential for the mass production of the CVM and the automated assembly of the CVM on the fuel cell, ensuring a cost competitive solution. Die Spannung der Brennstoffzelle muss während der Testphase gemessen werden, um sie zu charakterisieren und zu konditionieren. Auch die Überwachung der Brennstoffzelle während ihres Serienbetriebs hat viele Vorteile. Das CVM ist ein permanentes und individuelles Messsystem für jede einzelne Zelle. DAM hat ein universelles System entwickelt, das an jede Art von Bipolarplatte angeschlossen werden kann. Außerdem kann es aufgrund seiner Modularität an die Anzahl der Zellen und die Brennstoffzellenspannung angepasst werden, wobei Verformungsphänomene kompensiert werden. Darüber hinaus ermöglicht seine elektronische Architektur eine große Modularität und bietet zusätzliche Diagnosefunktionen und Messungen für Isolation und Kurzschluss. Diese Merkmale sind für die Massenproduktion des CVM und die automatisierte Montage des CVM auf der Brennstoffzelle von wesentlicher Bedeutung und ermöglichen eine kostengünstige Lösung.

Within the European SFR – Safety Measures Assessment and Research Tools (ESFR-SMART) project, steady-state coupled simulation of the ESFR core has been performed using several core analysis packages, with the objective of quantifying the coupling effect. Focus is on the fuel Doppler effect and coolant expansion effect. Standalone neutronics calculations in TRACE/PARCS (PSI), DYN3D (HZDR) and WIMS (Jacobs) showed superb agreement with the reference Serpent power distribution (root mean square (rms) discrepancies of 1.3%, 1.5% and 0.7% respectively). Results for COUNTHER (CIEMAT) were also in reasonable agreement, but with a somewhat higher discrepancy of 3.7%. Temperature distributions from thermal-hydraulic calculations were also compared and are found to be in good agreement. The effect of Doppler and coolant density feedback on core power distribution was predicted by TRACE/PARCS, DYN3D and WIMS to be between 0.4% and 0.8% rms difference in assembly powers. Reactivity coefficients for perturbations in the inlet temperature, flow rate and core power were shown to be negative for these three codes, with values of roughly -0.5 pcm/°C, -0.3 pcm/°C and -3.5 pcm/% respectively. A preliminary investigation of differential thermal expansion effects indicates that this may have a significant effect on core power distribution of a few %, greater than anticipated a priori and may warrant inclusion in coupled core analysis to ensure the accurate calculation of power distributions.

International audience; In cereals, the root system is mainly composed of post-embryonic shoot-borne roots, named crown roots. The CROWN ROOTLESS1 (CRL1) transcription factor, belonging to the ASYMMETRIC LEAVES2-LIKE/LATERAL ORGAN BOUNDARIES DOMAIN (ASL/LBD) family, is a key regulator of crown root initiation in rice (Oryza sativa). Here, we show that CRL1 can bind, both in vitro and in vivo, not only the LBD-box, a DNA sequence recognized by several ASL/LBD transcription factors, but also another not previously identified DNA motif that was named CRL1-box. Using rice protoplast transient transactivation assays and a set of previously identified CRL1-regulated genes, we confirm that CRL1 transactivates these genes if they possess at least a CRL1-box or an LBD-box in their promoters. In planta, ChIP-qPCR experiments targeting two of these genes that include both a CRL1- and an LBD-box in their promoter show that CRL1 binds preferentially to the LBD-box in these promoter contexts. CRISPR/Cas9-targeted mutation of these two CRL1-regulated genes, which encode a plant Rho GTPase (OsROP) and a basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor (OsbHLH044), show that both promote crown root development. Finally, we show that OsbHLH044 represses a regulatory module, uncovering how CRL1 regulates specific processes during crown root formation.

Background Due to their sessile life style, plant survival is dependent on the ability to build up fast and highly adapted responses to environmental stresses by modulating defense response and organ growth. The phytohormone jasmonate plays an essential role in regulating these plant responses to stress. Results To assess variation of plant growth responses and identify genetic determinants associated to JA treatment, we conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) using an original panel of Vietnamese rice accessions. The phenotyping results showed a high natural genetic variability of the 155 tested rice accessions in response to JA for shoot and root growth. The level of growth inhibition by JA is different according to the rice varieties tested. We conducted genome-wide association study and identified 28 significant associations for root length (RTL), shoot length (SHL), root weight (RTW), shoot weight (SHW) and total weight (TTW) in response to JA treatment. Three common QTLs were found for RTL, RTW and SHL. Among a list of 560 candidate genes found to co-locate with the QTLs, a transcriptome analysis from public database for the JA response allows us to identify 232 regulated genes including several JA-responsive transcription factors known to play a role in stress response. Conclusion Our genome-wide association study shows that common and specific genetic elements are associated with inhibition of shoot and root growth under JA treatment suggesting the involvement of a complex JA-dependent genetic control of rice growth inhibition at the whole plant level. Besides, numerous candidate genes associated to stress and JA response are co-located with the association loci, providing useful information for future studies on genetics and breeding to optimize the growth-defense trade-off in rice. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12284-019-0327-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Accurate coupled neutronic-thermal-hydraulic analysis of SFRs requires an accurate calculation of the fuel-to-clad gap conductance. In this paper, the gap conductance of the ESFR-SMART MOX pins is investigated through modelling in seven independent fuel performance codes, to provide confidence in results and understand the uncertainties associated with the predictions. This paper presents a comparison of the conductance and predicted fuel temperature distribution between codes. The values produced from the codes are then combined to produce a best-estimate prediction of the gap conductance expressed as a function of nodal fuel rating and burn-up for all seven codes. A fit was applied to the data thus obtained. The spread between results is such that, to 95% confidence, conductance predictions may vary from the correlation by up to a factor of ~4. The gap conductance results show a general increase of conductance with fuel rating and burn-up, from 0.22 at 0 burn-up and 10 kW.m^(-1) to 0.45 at 0 burn-up and 50 kW.m^(-1) and to 1.00 W.?cm?^(-2).K^(-1) at 150 GWd.t^(-1) and 50 kW.m^(-1). Some spread between codes has been noted and appears to be consistent with the spread previously published. There is good agreement between codes at low burn-up for fuel temperature predictions. The spread between codes increases with burn-up due to multiple phenomena including JOG formation and clad swelling.

The ANSWERS® WIMS reactor physics code is being developed for whole core multiphysics modelling. The established neutronics capability for lattice calculations has recently been extended to be suitable for whole core modelling of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). A whole core transport, SP3 or diffusion flux solution is combined with fuel assembly resonance shielding and pin-by-pin differential depletion. An integrated thermal hydraulic solver permits differential temperature and density variations to feedback to the neutronics calculation. This paper presents new methodology developed in WIMS to couple the core neutronics to the integrated core thermal hydraulics solver. Two coupling routes are presented and compared using a challenging PWR SMR benchmark. The first route, called GEOM, dynamically calculates the resonance shielding and homogenisation with the whole core flux solution. The second coupling route, called CAMELOT, separates the resonance shielding and pincell homogenisation from the whole core solution via generating tabulated cross sections. Both routes can use the MERLIN homogenised pin-by-pin whole core flux solver and couple to the same integrated thermal hydraulic solver, called ARTHUR. Heterogeneous differences between the neutronics and thermal hydraulics are mapped via thermal identifiers for neutronics materials and thermal regions. The ability for the integrated thermal hydraulic solver to call an external code via a Fortran-C-Python (FCP) interface is also summarised. This flexible external coupling permits one way coupling to an external fuel performance code or two way coupling to an external thermal hydraulic code.

For liquid metal-cooled fast reactors (LMFRs), improved predictive modelling is desirable to facilitate reactor licensing and operation and move towards a best estimate plus uncertainty (BEPU) approach. A key source of uncertainty in fast reactor calculations arises from the underlying nuclear data. Addressing the propagation of such uncertainties through multiphysics calculations schemes is therefore of importance, and is being addressed through international projects such as the Sodium-cooled Fast Reactor Uncertainty Analysis in Modelling (SFR-UAM) benchmark. In this paper, a methodology for propagation of nuclear data uncertainties within WIMS is presented. Uncertainties on key reactor physics parameters are calculated for selected SFR-UAM benchmark exercises, with good agreement with previous results. A methodology for coupled neutronic-thermal-hydraulic calculations within WIMS is developed, where thermal feedback is introduced to the neutronic solution through coupling with the ARTHUR subchannel code within WIMS and applied to steady-state analysis of the Horizon 2020 ESFR-SMART project reference core. Finally, integration of reactor physics and fuel performance calculations is demonstrated through linking of the WIMS reactor physics code to the TRAFIC fast reactor fuel performance code, through a Fortran-C-Python (FCP) interface. Given the 3D multiphysics calculation methodology, thermal-hydraulic and fuel performance uncertainties can ultimately be sampled alongside the nuclear data uncertainties. Together, these developments are therefore an important step towards enabling propagation of uncertainties through high fidelity, multiphysics SFR calculations and hence facilitate BEPU methodologies.

International audience; Crown roots constitute the main part of the rice root system. Several key genes involved in crown root initiation and development have been identified by functional genomics approaches. Nevertheless, these approaches are impaired by functional redundancy and mutant lethality. To overcome these limitations, organ targeted transcriptome analysis can help to identify genes involved in crown root formation and early development. In this study, we generated an atlas of genes expressed in developing crown root primordia in comparison with adjacent stem cortical tissue at three different developmental stages before emergence, using laser capture microdissection. We identified 3975 genes differentially expressed in crown root primordia. About 30% of them were expressed at the three developmental stages, whereas 10.5%, 19.5% and 12.8% were specifically expressed at the early, intermediate and late stages, respectively. Sorting them by functional ontology highlighted an active transcriptional switch during the process of crown root primordia formation. Crossanalysis with other rice root development-related datasets revealed genes encoding transcription factors, chromatin remodeling factors, peptide growth factors, and cell wall remodeling enzymes that are likely to play a key role during crown root primordia formation. This atlas constitutes an open primary data resource for further studies on the regulation of crown root initiation and development.

INTRODUCTION : Families play a key part in supporting psychiatric patients, as they can ask for involuntary hospital admission of their relatives when their state is deteriorating. The aim of this study is to analyze family caregivers' experience after requesting for involuntary psychiatric hospital admission of their relatives, and to collect their expectations, fears, and motivations. METHODOLOGY : 16 interviews of family caregivers where conducted and analyzed using a qualitative method. Ethical guidelines were fulfilled. Interviewees were recruited among the relatives of patients admitted to 2 French psychiatric hospitals, and among the members of a French union of psychiatric patient relatives. Data thematic analysis was performed using the NVIVO12 software. RESULTS : The experience of the 16 interviewees was heterogeneous. Some experienced positive feelings following hospitalization of their relatives, including relief, satisfaction, trust, and hope. Others experienced negative feelings, including sadness, guilt, and fear of difficulties. The family caregivers also expressed their motivations, expectations, and fears at the time of signing the involuntary admission request. Factors affecting family caregivers' experience were variable from one subject to another, and possible improvements in support were discussed during the interviews. CONCLUSION : Family caregivers' experience is heterogeneous. A better support during hospitalization could improve their experience. Support before and after hospitalization is left to future studies.; INTRODUCTION : Les familles jouent un rôle essentiel dans l'accompagnement des patients en psychiatrie. Elles alertent et peuvent demander l'hospitalisation en tant que tiers lorsque l'état de leur proche se dégrade. L'objectif de cette étude est d'analyser le vécu des tiers lors de la signature d'une mesure de soins sans consentement de type SPDT, et de recueillir leurs attentes, leurs craintes et leurs motivations. MÉTHODE : Les investigateurs ont utilisé une méthode de recherche qualitative. Les critères éthiques ont été respectés. Le recrutement a été fait au CHUGA, au CHAI et à l’UNAFAM. Ils ont analysé et triangulé les données de façon thématique grâce au logiciel NVIVO12. RÉSULTATS : Le vécu des 16 tiers interrogés était hétérogène. Ce vécu pouvait être positif lorsque les tiers exprimaient des sentiments de soulagement, de satisfaction, de confiance et d'espoir mais aussi négatif lorsqu'il s'agissait de sentiments de tristesse, de culpabilité, de peur et d'être en difficulté. Les tiers ont aussi exprimé leurs motivations, leurs attentes et leurs craintes au moment de la signature. Les facteurs influençant le vécu des tiers étaient variables d’un sujet à l’autre, et des perspectives d'amélioration ont été évoquées dans les entretiens. CONCLUSION : L’expérience des tiers est hétérogène. Il semble qu’un meilleur accompagnement lors de la mise en place de la mesure mais également avant et après pourrait améliorer leur vécu et peut-être également la prise en charge du patient. D’autres études pourraient explorer ce dernier point.

International audience; BackgroundSafety data about rilpivirine use during pregnancy remain scarce, and rilpivirine plasma concentrations are reduced during second/third trimesters, with a potential risk of viral breakthroughs. Thus, French guidelines recommend switching to rilpivirine-free combinations (RFCs) during pregnancy.ObjectivesTo describe the characteristics of women initiating pregnancy while on rilpivirine and to compare the outcomes for virologically suppressed subjects continuing rilpivirine until delivery versus switching to an RFC.MethodsIn the ANRS-EPF French Perinatal cohort, we included women on rilpivirine at conception in 2010–18. Pregnancy outcomes were compared between patients continuing versus interrupting rilpivirine. In women with documented viral suppression (

The paper defines a parameterization for the fuel-cladding gap thermal conductance in a Sodium Cooled Fast Reactor. This collaboration took place within the EU-funded ESFR-SMART project. This requires use of predictive codes that have been validated where possible against experimental data. This study relied on 7 fuel performance codes thus providing confidence in the recommended correlation. A single pin model for both the inner and outer fuel was built. The fuel was burned for 2100 Effective Full Power Days, with the axial power distribution varying over time. This paper presents a comparison between the codes’ results and a 2-D correlation for the heat conductance with respect to fuel burn-up and fuel rating. The fuel is broken down into nodes with specific fuel rating and burn-up, leading to the gap conductance expressed as a function of nodal fuel rating and burn-up. Data was then compiled for all the nodes, for both fissile and fertile regions, for both inner and outer fuel for all 7 codes. A 2D fit was applied to the data thus obtained. The results obtained show a general increase of heat conductance with fuel rating and burn-up, from 0.22 at 0 burn-up and 10 kW/m to 0.45 W/cm2K at 0 burn-up and 50 kW/m and to 1.00 W/cm2K at 150 GWd/t and 50 kW/m. Some spread between codes has been noted and appears to be consistent with the spread published earlier by several code developers. Sensitivity to various modelling assumptions is under investigation. This is aided by the use of numerous fuel performance codes which enables a wide ranging and thorough sensitivity analysis.

Pour Zamenhof (1859-1917) la « solution de la question juive » et de l'exil passait d'abord par le recours à une langue neutre – par défaut l'espéranto, après l'idée de l'hébreu, jugé trop difficile pour devenir une langue largement parlée et maternelle (puis du yiddish) – et par un pont neutre entre les religions (voire une « religion neutre », sorte d'éthique commune laissant coexister les religions de chacun) afin de créer aussi une implantation non plus uniquement juive mais neutre et tolérante, prémices du peuple nouveau qu'allait créer la nouvelle langue. La « solution » tiendra finalement à l'amour inconditionnel, non seulement en paroles mais en actes, envers chaque homme du seul fait que celui-ci est un être humain et donc un frère, définition de son « homaranismo », ultime stade, dégagé de toute connotation juive, de son Hillélisme (du nom de Hillel l'Ancien, contemporain de Jésus) : une fois tous les gens qui nous entourent devenus pour nous sans exception nos frères et sœurs, il n'y a plus d'étrangers et encore moins d'ennemis mais une immense famille humaine ; et lorsqu'on se trouve en famille partout sur la terre, il n'y a donc plus, nulle part, d'exil. Contrairement à sa langue, sa pensée, que ses détracteurs ont appelée son « rêve mystico-social » et ont combattu comme mettant en danger la neutralité de l'espéranto, n'a pas abouti à une réalisation concrète. Zamenhof thought that the “solution of the Jewish question” and of the Exile was to be achieved first thanks to a neutral language – Esperanto by default, after having considered Hebrew, which he found too difficult to become a broadly spoken language and mother tongue (then Yiddish) – and to a neutral bridge between religions (or even a “neutral religion”, a kind of common ethics which would let everyone's religions coexist), so as to create a neutral and tolerant settlement no longer only of Jews, the root of a new people that the new language was to create. Finally the “solution” was thought to come from an unconditional love for every person, in word and deed, solely because he is a human being and therefore a brother. This was the definition of his “Homaranismo” (roughly: Humanism), the final stage, freed from any Jewish connotation, of his “Hillelism” (Hillel the Elder, was a contemporary of Jesus). As soon as all those around me without exception are viewed as brothers and sisters, there will be no more foreigners and still less enemies, but a boundless human family. And when I feel myself to be part of this worldwide family, there is no more place, anywhere, for exile. Zamenhof's language was realized, but not what detractors named his “socio-mystical dream” and fought against as endangering the neutrality of Esperanto.

Crown roots (CRs) are essential components of the rice root system. Several genes involved in CR initiation or development have been identified but our knowledge about how they organize to form a gene regulatory network (GRN) is still limited. To characterize the regulatory cascades acting during CR formation, we used a systems biology approach to infer the GRN controlling CR formation downstream of CROWN ROOTLESS 1 (CRL1), coding for an ASL (asymmetric leaves-2-like)/LBD (LOB domain) transcription factor necessary for CR initiation. A time-series transcriptomic dataset was generated after synchronized induction of CR formation by dexamethasone-mediated expression of CRL1 expression in a crl1 mutant background. This time series revealed three different genome expression phases during the early steps of CR formation and was further exploited to infer a GRN using a dedicated algorithm. The predicted GRN was confronted with experimental data and 72% of the inferred links were validated. Interestingly, this network revealed a regulatory cascade linking CRL1 to other genes involved in CR initiation, root meristem specification and maintenance, such as QUIESCENT-CENTER-SPECIFIC HOMEOBOX, and in auxin signalling. This predicted regulatory cascade was validated in vivo using transient activation assays. Thus, the CRL1-dependant GRN reflects major gene regulation events at play during CR formation and constitutes a valuable source of discovery to better understand this developmental process.

The Fukushima-Daiichi Accident demonstrated the need of assessing and strengthening institutions involved in nuclear safety, including the accountability of regulators. There are a few problems hindering the path towards a greater understanding of accountability systems, the ensemble of mechanisms holding to account the nuclear regulator on behalf of the public. There is no consensus on what it should deliver and no systematic assessment method exists.This article proposes a method of assessing institutions based on defence in depth concepts and inspired from risk-assessment techniques used for nuclear safety. As a first step in testing the proposal, it presents a simple Monte-Carlo simulation, illustrating some of the workings of the method of assessment and demonstrating the kind of results it will be able to supply. This on-going work will assist policy-makers take better informed decisions about the size, structure and organisation of a nuclear regulator and the cost-effective funding of its accountability system. It will assist in striking a balance between efficiency and resilience of regulatory decision-making processes. It will also promote the involvement of stakeholders and allow them to have a more meaningful impact on regulatory decisions, thereby enhancing the robustness of the regulatory system and potentially trust and confidence.

Figures S1, S2, S3 and Table S1. Growth inhibition of 10 representative accessions in response to JA. Figure S1. for histogram of distribution of each trait. Figure S2. presents the variation of 5 traits between 10 representative’s accessions in non-treated and 5 μM JA treated condition. Figure S3. illustrated the percentage reduction of each trait after JA treatment compare to the non-treatment. Table S1. expressed the heritability coefficient of each traits. (DOCX 969 kb)

Figures S4, S5 and S6. GWAS for the effects of exogenous JA on RTL, SHW and TTW. Manhattan plot (A) and Quantile-quantile plot (B) for RTL (Figure S4), SHW (Figure S5) and TTW (Figure S6) in a whole (S.x.1) panel or Indica (S.x.2) or Japonica (S.x.3) subpanel. The blue line indicates the suggestive significance threshold, p = 3.0E-04. Black rectangle represent common significant SNPs within panels. (DOCX 1060 kb)

Table S2. List of 155 Vietnamese rice accessions used in this study with information on their gene bank number, their sub-populations groups as well as their ecosystems. (DOCX 52 kb)

Background Due to their sessile life style, plant survival is dependent on the ability to build up fast and highly adapted responses to environmental stresses by modulating defense response and organ growth. The phytohormone jasmonate plays an essential role in regulating these plant responses to stress. Results To assess variation of plant growth responses and identify genetic determinants associated to JA treatment, we conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) using an original panel of Vietnamese rice accessions. The phenotyping results showed a high natural genetic variability of the 155 tested rice accessions in response to JA for shoot and root growth. The level of growth inhibition by JA is different according to the rice varieties tested. We conducted genome-wide association study and identified 28 significant associations for root length (RTL), shoot length (SHL), root weight (RTW), shoot weight (SHW) and total weight (TTW) in response to JA treatment. Three common QTLs were found for RTL, RTW and SHL. Among a list of 560 candidate genes found to co-locate with the QTLs, a transcriptome analysis from public database for the JA response allows us to identify 232 regulated genes including several JA-responsive transcription factors known to play a role in stress response. Conclusion Our genome-wide association study shows that common and specific genetic elements are associated with inhibition of shoot and root growth under JA treatment suggesting the involvement of a complex JA-dependent genetic control of rice growth inhibition at the whole plant level. Besides, numerous candidate genes associated to stress and JA response are co-located with the association loci, providing useful information for future studies on genetics and breeding to optimize the growth-defense trade-off in rice.

Figure S7. Haplotype analysis for qTTW5. (A) Linkage Disequilibrium heatmap in the peak region of association analysis GWAS for qRTW3. Significant SNP indicated as blue star in the photo and the pattern pairwise r2 of the associated SNPs in the QTL indicated with color code. Red color means SNPs are strongly associated to each other and yellow color means no association. The Linkage Disequilibrium heat map was created using the “LDheatmap” package in R (B) Population architecture of accessions based on the allelic combination significant SNPs in each QTL. Population architechture image is created by PopArt1.7 software . (C) Effect of allelic combination of 2 main haplotypes of each QTL on the value of interested traits. Number of accessions for each haplotype is indicated as (n). Welch Two Sample t-test was used to assess the differences between two haplotypes.*, **, *** indicated significant difference at p value

Crown roots (CRs) are essential components of the rice root system. Several genes involved in CR initiation or development have been identified but our knowledge about how they organize to form a gene regulatory network (GRN) is still limited. To characterize the regulatory cascades acting during CR formation, we used a systems biology approach to infer the GRN controlling CR formation downstream of CROWN ROOTLESS 1 (CRL1), coding for an ASL (asymmetric leaves-2-like)/LBD (LOB domain) transcription factor necessary for CR initiation. A time-series transcriptomic dataset was generated after synchronized induction of CR formation by dexamethasone-mediated expression of CRL1 expression in a crl1 mutant background. This time series revealed three different genome expression phases during the early steps of CR formation and was further exploited to infer a GRN using a dedicated algorithm. The predicted GRN was confronted with experimental data and 72% of the inferred links were validated. Interestingly, this network revealed a regulatory cascade linking CRL1 to other genes involved in CR initiation, root meristem specification and maintenance, such as QUIESCENT-CENTER-SPECIFIC HOMEOBOX, and in auxin signalling. This predicted regulatory cascade was validated in vivo using transient activation assays. Thus, the CRL1-dependant GRN reflects major gene regulation events at play during CR formation and constitutes a valuable source of discovery to better understand this developmental process.

This thesis participates to the effort launched after the Fukushima-Daiichi disaster to improve the robustness of national institutions involved in nuclear safety because of the role that the failing nuclear regulator had in the accident. The driving idea is to investigate how engineering techniques used in high-risk industries can be applied to institutions involved in nuclear safety to improve their robustness. The thesis focuses specifically on the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR), the British nuclear regulator, and its process for structured inspections. The first part of the thesis demonstrates that the hazard and operability (HAZOP) technique, used in the nuclear industry to identify hazards associated with an activity, can be adapted to qualitatively assess the robustness of organisational processes. The HAZOP method was applied to the ONR inspection process and led to the identification of five significant failures or errors. These are: failure to focus on an area/topic deserving regulatory attention; failure to evaluate an area/topic of interest; failure to identify a non-compliance; failure to identify the underlying issue, its full extent and/or safety significance and failure to adequately share inspection findings. In addition, the study identified the main causal chains leading to each failure. The safeguards of the process, i.e. the mechanisms in place to prevent, detect, resolve and mitigate possible failures, were then analysed to assess the robustness of the inspection process. The principal safeguard found is the superintending inspector who performs reviews of inspection reports and debriefs inspectors after inspections. It was concluded that the inspection process is robust provided recruitment and training excellence. However, given the predominant role of the superintending inspector, the robustness of the process could be improved by increasing the diversity of safeguards. Finally, suggestions for improvement were made such as establishing a formal handover procedure between former and new site inspectors, formalising and generalising the shadowing scheme between inspectors and setting minimum standards for inspection debriefs. These results were shared with ONR, which had reached the same conclusions independently, thus validating the new application for the HAZOP method. The second part of the thesis demonstrates that computational modelling techniques can be used to build digital twins of institutions involved in safety which can then be used to assess their effectiveness. The knowledge learned thanks to the HAZOP study was used in association with computational modelling techniques to build a digital twin of the ONR and its structural inspection process along with a simple model of a nuclear plant. The model was validated using the face-validity and predictive validation processes. They respectively involved an experienced ONR inspector checking the validity of the model’s procedures and decision-making processes and comparing the model’s output for oversight work done to data provided by the ONR. The effectiveness of the ONR was then evaluated using a scenario where a hypothetical, newly discovered phenomenon threatens the integrity of the plant, with ONR inspectors gradually learning and sharing new information about it. Monte-Carlo simulation was used to estimate the cost of regulatory oversight and the probability that the ONR model detects and resolves the issue introduced before it causes an accident. Different arrangements were tested and in particular with a superintending inspector reviewing inspection reports and a formal information sharing process. For this scenario, these two improvements were found to have a similar impact on the success probability. However, the former achieves it for only half the cost., Engineering, Physical Science Research Council

International audience; Genetics and molecular biology have contributed to the development of rationalized plant breeding programs. Recent developments in both high-throughput experimental analyses of biological systems and in silico data processing offer the possibility to address the whole gene regulatory network (GRN) controlling a given trait. GRN models can be applied to identify topological features helping to shortlist potential candidate genes for breeding purposes. Time-series data sets can be used to support dynamic modelling of the network. This will enable a deeper comprehension of network behaviour and the identification of the few elements to be genetically rewired to push the system towards a modified phenotype of interest. This paves the way to design more efficient, systems biology-based breeding strategies.

Background Despite recent sequencing efforts, local genetic resources remain underexploited, even though they carry alleles that can bring agronomic benefits. Taking advantage of the recent genotyping with 22,000 single-nucleotide polymorphism markers of a core collection of 180 Vietnamese rice varieties originating from provinces from North to South Vietnam and from different agrosystems characterized by contrasted water regimes, we have performed a genome-wide association study for different root parameters. Roots contribute to water stress avoidance and are a still underexploited target for breeding purpose due to the difficulty to observe them. Results The panel of 180 rice varieties was phenotyped under greenhouse conditions for several root traits in an experimental design with 3 replicates. The phenotyping system consisted of long plastic bags that were filled with sand and supplemented with fertilizer. Root length, root mass in different layers, root thickness, and the number of crown roots, as well as several derived root parameters and shoot traits, were recorded. The results were submitted to association mapping using a mixed model involving structure and kinship to enable the identification of significant associations. The analyses were conducted successively on the whole panel and on its indica (115 accessions) and japonica (64 accessions) subcomponents. The two associations with the highest significance were for root thickness on chromosome 2 and for crown root number on chromosome 11. No common associations were detected between the indica and japonica subpanels, probably because of the polymorphism repartition between the subspecies. Based on orthology with Arabidopsis, the possible candidate genes underlying the quantitative trait loci are reviewed. Conclusions Some of the major quantitative trait loci we detected through this genome-wide association study contain promising candidate genes encoding regulatory elements of known key regulators of root formation and development. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12870-016-0747-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

L’accident nucleaire survenu le 11 mars 2011 a la centrale nucleaire de Fukushima Daiichi au Japon, a la suite d’un violent seisme suivi d’un tsunami, confirme que, malgre les precautions prises, un accident ne peut jamais etre exclu et pose des questions fondamentales qui vont bien au-dela des caracteristiques particulieres des reacteurs de Fukushima. L’Autorite de surete nucleaire (ASN) considere que la prise en compte de tous les enseignements de cette catastrophe, qui pourrait prendre jusqu’a 10 ans, est necessaire a l’amelioration de la surete nucleaire partout dans le monde. Elle s’appuiera dans un premier temps sur les conclusions issues des evaluations complementaires de surete menees tant au niveau national, qu’europeen.

Mindfulness meditation has been shown to promote emotional stability. Moreover, during the processing of aversive and self-referential stimuli, mindful awareness is associated with reduced medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC) activity, a central default mode network (DMN) component. However, it remains unclear whether mindfulness practice influences functional connectivity between DMN regions and, if so, whether such impact persists beyond a state of meditation. Consequently, this study examined the effect of extensive mindfulness training on functional connectivity within the DMN during a restful state. Resting-state data were collected from 13 experienced meditators (with over 1000 h of training) and 11 beginner meditators (with no prior experience, trained for 1 week before the study) using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Pairwise correlations and partial correlations were computed between DMN seed regions’ time courses and were compared between groups utilizing a Bayesian sampling scheme. Relative to beginners, experienced meditators had weaker functional connectivity between DMN regions involved in self-referential processing and emotional appraisal. In addition, experienced meditators had increased connectivity between certain DMN regions (e.g. dorso-medial PFC and right inferior parietal lobule), compared to beginner meditators. These findings suggest that meditation training leads to functional connectivity changes between core DMN regions possibly reflecting strengthened present-moment awareness.

En mars 2011, suite a l’accident survenu a Fukushima, il a ete demande aux exploitants nucleaires francais d’evaluer le comportement de leurs installations en cas de survenue de situations extremes. Le 15 septembre 2011, les exploitants ont rendu leurs conclusions a l’Autorite de surete nucleaire. Cet article presente la demarche mise en oeuvre par l’IRSN pour evaluer les dossiers des exploitants et les conclusions qu’il en a tire.

There is mounting evidence that mindfulness meditation is beneficial for the treatment of mood and anxiety disorders, yet little is known regarding the neural mechanisms through which mindfulness modulates emotional responses. Thus, a central objective of this functional magnetic resonance imaging study was to investigate the effects of mindfulness on the neural responses to emotionally laden stimuli. Another major goal of this study was to examine the impact of the extent of mindfulness training on the brain mechanisms supporting the processing of emotional stimuli. Twelve experienced (with over 1000 h of practice) and 10 beginner meditators were scanned as they viewed negative, positive, and neutral pictures in a mindful state and a non-mindful state of awareness. Results indicated that the Mindful condition attenuated emotional intensity perceived from pictures, while brain imaging data suggested that this effect was achieved through distinct neural mechanisms for each group of participants. For experienced meditators compared with beginners, mindfulness induced a deactivation of default mode network areas (medial prefrontal and posterior cingulate cortices) across all valence categories and did not influence responses in brain regions involved in emotional reactivity during emotional processing. On the other hand, for beginners relative to experienced meditators, mindfulness induced a down-regulation of the left amygdala during emotional processing. These findings suggest that the long-term practice of mindfulness leads to emotional stability by promoting acceptance of emotional states and enhanced present-moment awareness, rather than by eliciting control over low-level affective cerebral systems from higher-order cortical brain regions. These results have implications for affect-related psychological disorders.

Mean comparisons between groups in the whole panel and subpopulations in each subpanel and percentage of variance explained by the structure (% var). (DOCX 48Â kb)

List of the 200 accessions used in the phenotyping experiments. (DOCX 56Â kb)

Pearson correlation coefficients between traits in the whole panel (below the diagonal). Probabilities above the diagonal (in bold, significant at P

Graphical representation of the panel. (PPTX 418Â kb)

Graphical representation of the panel. (PPTX 418Â kb)

Mean, standard deviation, range, and CV of the whole panel for all traits measured. (DOCX 31Â kb)

Mean comparisons between groups in the whole panel and subpopulations in each subpanel and percentage of variance explained by the structure (% var). (DOCX 48Â kb)

List of genes with function located nearby the QTLs. (PDF 146Â kb)

Mean, standard deviation, range, and CV of the whole panel for all traits measured. (DOCX 31Â kb)

List of genes with function located nearby the QTLs. (PDF 146Â kb)

Background: Despite recent sequencing efforts, local genetic resources remain underexploited, even though they carry alleles that can bring agronomic benefits. Taking advantage of the recent genotyping with 22,000 single-nucleotide polymorphism markers of a core collection of 180 Vietnamese rice varieties originating from provinces from North to South Vietnam and from different agrosystems characterized by contrasted water regimes, we have performed a genome-wide association study for different root parameters. Roots contribute to water stress avoidance and are a still underexploited target for breeding purpose due to the difficulty to observe them. Results: The panel of 180 rice varieties was phenotyped under greenhouse conditions for several root traits in an experimental design with 3 replicates. The phenotyping system consisted of long plastic bags that were filled with sand and supplemented with fertilizer. Root length, root mass in different layers, root thickness, and the number of crown roots, as well as several derived root parameters and shoot traits, were recorded. The results were submitted to association mapping using a mixed model involving structure and kinship to enable the identification of significant associations. The analyses were conducted successively on the whole panel and on its indica (115 accessions) and japonica (64 accessions) subcomponents. The two associations with the highest significance were for root thickness on chromosome 2 and for crown root number on chromosome 11. No common associations were detected between the indica and japonica subpanels, probably because of the polymorphism repartition between the subspecies. Based on orthology with Arabidopsis, the possible candidate genes underlying the quantitative trait loci are reviewed. Conclusions: Some of the major quantitative trait loci we detected through this genome-wide association study contain promising candidate genes encoding regulatory elements of known key regulators of root formation and development.

International audience; In the present study, we have successfully developed a transformation protocol for a rice variety Taichung 65 mediated by Agrobacterium tumefacienswith high efficiency, easy manipulation and reductionin labourwork. In the protocol, we have optimized all steps of transformation, standardized components of culture media and presented several manipulation experiments. Experimental results have shown that using petri dishes with high edge (15mm) and exposing explants not only increased the rate of callus formation, but also enhanced the size and quality of calluses. Using bacterial suspension at density OD600nm= 0.1 was optimal with high GUS expression in callus (81.25%) and low contamination. During the selection phase, transformed callusesgrew better in petri dishes with high edge (15 mm) and exposing explants. Checking for the presence of R4 promoter at the molecular level showed high frequency of regenerated plantlets carrying thetransgenes (up to 90.24%). GUS expression in different tissues of transgenic plants indicated the high activity of promoter R4, leading to initiate transcription and synthesis ofGUS enzyme. Analysis of T1 plants confirmed the stable inheritance of transgene to the next generation.; Trong nghiên cứu này, chúng tôi đã cải tiến thành công quy trình chuyển gen vào giống lúa Taichung 65 thông qua vi khuẩn Agrobacterium tumefaciensvới hiệu suất chuyển gen cao, thao tác đơn giản, giảm thiểu khối lượng công việc phải làm. Trong quy trình đưa ra, chúng tôi đã tối ưu hóa các bước tiến hành, chuẩn hóa thành phần môi trường nuôi cấy và đưa ra một sốnhân tốquan trọng trong thao tác. Kết quảthí nghiệm cho thấy sửdụng đĩa petri có gờcao 15mm và phơi mẫu không chỉlàm tăng tỷlệtạo mô sẹo từphôi mà còn tăng kích thước và chất lượng mô sẹo dùng cho quátrình chuyển gen. Dịch khuẩn với mật độOD600nm= 0,1 là tối ưu với tần sốbiểu hiện gen GUS ởmô sẹo cao (81,25%) và tỷlệmẫu nhiễm thấp. Ởgiai đoạn chọn lọc sau lây nhiễm,mô sẹo phát triển tốt hơn khi tiến hành phơi mẫu và sửdụng đĩa petri có gờcao15mm. Phân tíchsựcó mặt của promoter R4 cho thấy tỷlệcây tái sinh mang cấu trúc gen biến nạp cao (90,24%). Đánh giá sựbiểu hiện của gen GUS ởcây lúa chuyển gen đã chứng tỏsựhoạt động mạnh của promoter R4, điều khiển quá trình phiên mã, dẫn tới tổng hợp enzym GUS. Kết quảphân tích cây chuyển gen ởthếhệT1 đã chứng minh sựdi truyền ổn định của gen biến nạp sang thếhệsau.

In order to avoid criticality risks, a large number of companies using spent fuels have designed their facilities considering the fuel as fresh. This choice has obviously led to considerable safety margins. In the early 1980s, a method was accepted by the French Safety Authorities allowing operators to consider the changes in the fuel composition during depletion with some very pessimistic hypotheses: only actinides were considered and the amount of burnup used in the studies was equal to the mean burnup in the 50 least-irradiated centimetres. This method was used for reprocessing, storage and transport. However, as many firms still want to optimise their processes (e.g. transport, storage, fuel reprocessing), the main companies involved in the French nuclear industry and IPSN set up a Working Group in order to define the way burnup could be taken into account in the criticality calculations, considering some fission products plus a more realistic axial profile of burnup. The first part of this ar...

As enrichment of the fuel has become higher than the limits used at the designing stages, it seemed necessary to consider fuel depletion during irradiation to guarantee the criticality safety for relatively high enriched fuels transportation, storage or reprocessing. This burnup credit will make it possible to use the devices for spent fuels which are initially relatively high enriched. For that purpose, a method was developed considering: (i) partial Uranium-and-Plutonium burnup credit in the criticality studies, and (ii) a conservative assumption concerning the axial profile; this actinides-only method was supported by an experimental program called HTC. The method was accepted by the French Safety Authority. Moreover, in order to reduce again the calculated values of the reactivity for irradiated fuels, a French working group was set up in 1997 to define a conservative method which enables industrial companies to take burnup credit into account with some of the fission products and using a more precise profile. The work of this group has been divided into four tasks related to: the determination of (i) the composition of the fuel, (ii) a conservative profile, (iii) a conservative irradiation history, and (iv) the calculation scheme. This work is also supported by experimental programs related to the validation of the fission products effects, in terms of reactivity.

Summary— Numerous neurotransmitters are involved in nociceptive transmission or regulation. Several reports have shown the analgesic effects of somatostatin and its analogues. Somatostatin, when given intrathecally, markedly reduced pain in cancer patients. Somatostatin analogues that possess a longer half-life time are more convenient for therapeutic use. Vapreotide, a somatostatin analogue, was shown to induce a long-lasting antinociceptive effect in rats. We studied the site and the mechanism of action of vapreotide in rats using the paw pressure test. Intrathecal administration of vapreotide induced no antinociception. Systemically administered vapreotide-induced antinociception was inhibited by several intrathecal (it) administered antagonists (yohimbine, naloxone and to a lesser degree tropisetron). These results show a lack of spinal effect and suggest a supraspinal site of action with an involvement of noradrenergic and to a lesser degree serotonergic bulbospinal pathways. In addition, spinal opioid receptors also seem to be involved.

Introduction: The present study examined how both clinicians and service users experience existing treatments for Dual Disorders (DDs), namely the co-occurrence of a Severe Mental Illness (SMI) and a Substance Use Disorder (SUD). The literature indicates that many individuals with DDs present with an even more complex clinical portrait, which often includes additional pathologies or stressors, such as cluster B personality disorders, Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or trauma history, and depression. Treatment for these individuals is complicated by these mitigating factors and it is not clear whether extant treatments for DDs are successful with this population, and how they could be improved. Objective: This study aimed to explore the specific issues, successes and difficulties regarding the treatment of complex DDs, according to both clinicians’ and service users’ perspectives. Methods: A qualitative design was used in this exploratory study in order to best grasp the complexity of this clinical issue. Thirty clinicians and program directors specialized in the treatment of DDs, and 31 individuals diagnosed with complex DDs participated respectively in three and four focus groups conducted in various settings. Collected data were coded using a mixed open and closed coding procedure. Results: All participants expressed both positive and negative views on existing treatments. Clinicians and clinical directors expressed various issues, principally: powerlessness, dealing with personality disorders in people with DDs, seeking a common treatment vision, and services issues (notably housing). The main themes emerging in the service users’ interviews pertained to exclusion from services, personalised treatment plans, medication, and therapy. Conclusion: Although creative, personalised treatments were noted, it is clear to all clinicians, clinical directors and service users that existent services are not efficiently equipped for dealing with complex DDs. More integrated treatments, more comprehensive trainings and better access to adapted services would improve treatment outcomes for individuals diagnosed with complex DDs.

We tested the antinociceptive effect of intrathecal (i.t.) administration of 5-HT3 and the 5-HT3 receptor agonist, 1-(m-chlorophenyl)-biguanide (mCPBG), in rats submitted to a mechanical noxious stimulus and the influence of the 5-HT3 receptor selective antagonists, tropisetron and granisetron. Both 5-HT and mCPBG (0.01, 0.1, 1, 10, 20 micrograms/rat) produced a significant dose-dependent antinociception. The lowest active doses were 0.1 and 1 microgram for 5-HT and mCPBG, respectively. The effect, observed with 20 micrograms, was significantly lower with mCPBG (+33 +/- 6%) than with 5-HT (+63 +/- 7%). For 5-HT-induced antinociception, the minimal inhibitory doses were 0.001 micrograms/rat for tropisetron and 10 micrograms/rat for granisetron. In contrast, the same doses of the two antagonists (from 0.1 microgram/rat) similarly inhibited the effect of mCPBG. This study provides evidence that contrary to tropisetron, doses of granisetron able to inhibit the effect of a 5-HT3 receptor agonist failed to reduce that of 5-HT. This demonstrates a heterogeneity between 5-HT3 receptor antagonists and questions the true involvement of these receptors in spinal 5-HT-induced antinociception.