Search

International audience; This paper presents a new Remote Hyperspectral Imaging System (RHIS) embedded on an Unmanned Aquatic Drone (UAD) for plastic detection and identification in coastal and freshwater environments. This original system, namely the Remotely Operated Vehicle of the University of Littoral Côte d’Opale (ROV-ULCO), works in a near-field of view, where the distance between the hyperspectral camera and the water surface is about 45 cm. In this paper, the new ROV-ULCO system with all its components is firstly presented. Then, a hyperspectral image database of plastic litter acquired with this system is described. This database contains hyperspectral data cubes of different plastic types and polymers corresponding to the most-common plastic litter items found in aquatic environments. An in situ spectral analysis was conducted from this benchmark database to characterize the hyperspectral reflectance of these items in order to identify the absorption feature wavelengths for each type of plastic. Finally, the ability of our original system RHIS to automatically recognize different types of plastic litter was assessed by applying different supervised machine learning methods on a set of representative image patches of marine litter. The obtained results highlighted the plastic litter classification capability with an overall accuracy close to 90%. This paper showed that the newly presented RHIS coupled with the UAD is a promising approach to identify plastic waste in aquatic environments.

International audience; To study the feasibility of the Test Blanket Modules (TBM) replacement operations in ITER Port Cells, CEA develops a mixed (digital & physical) validation by simulations approach with immersive technology to verify hands-on operations. Main validation criteria concern operator accessibility, posture, detailed procedure sequence and time spent at workstations. Such complex replacement operations will assume series of hands on tasks for both normal and abnormal situations, sometimes with protection such as Air-Fed Suit (AFS). After initial validation of key operation feasibility on digital mock-up, the goal is to optimize the process with minimization of occupational radiation exposure under the As Low As Reasonably Achievable (ALARA) requirement.Virtual reality tools provide relevant means to develop a credible replacement scenario in a context of complex configurations. The process includes features such as ergonomics assessment tool coupled to multi operators’ collaboration, tangible tools and integration of advanced real time physics engine. Lessons learnt from the field of existing CEA facilities enable identifying key parameters related to workstation Humans factors. This first set of observations would help to define methodology and criteria for qualification of operation in AFS.The Digital simulation validation is deployed with a nuclear operator avatar in AFS to demonstrate Nuclear Maintenance Operation feasibility considering study of arduousness, accessibility and visibility thanks to real time motion capture. The recording of the whole simulation allows tracing and replaying for post-analysis data including body angulations, clash detection and operator field of view.The integration of this approach at an early phase of the design process enables validating technical options for replacement scenario. This leads to promising and beneficial results concerning design and integration of complex components in constraint working environments.This paper presents a review of the CEA studies regarding the extended virtual reality capabilities and results to support design TBM integration and replacement scenario within a nuclear environment framework.

The ability to extrude mucilage upon seed imbibition (myxospermy) occurs in several Angiosperm taxonomic groups, but its ancestral nature or evolutionary convergence origin remains misunderstood. We investigated seed mucilage evolution in the Brassicaceae family with comparison to the knowledge accumulated in Arabidopsis thaliana. The myxospermy occurrence was evaluated in 27 Brassicaceae species. Phenotyping included mucilage secretory cell morphology and topochemistry to highlight subtle myxospermy traits. In parallel, computational biology was driven on the one hundred genes constituting the so-called A. thaliana mucilage secretory cell toolbox to confront their sequence conservation to the observed phenotypes. Mucilage secretory cells show high morphology diversity, the three studied Arabidopsis species had a specific extrusion modality compared to the other studied Brassicaceae species. Orthologous genes from the A. thaliana mucilage secretory cell toolbox were mostly found in all studied species without correlation with the occurrence of myxospermy or even more sub-cellular traits. Seed mucilage may be an ancestral feature of the Brassicaceae family. It consists of highly diverse subtle traits, probably underlined by several genes not yet characterized in A. thaliana or by species-specific genes. Therefore, A. thaliana is probably not a sufficient reference for future myxospermy evo–devo studies.

International audience; The objective of this study is to determine the lighting conditions for an optimal production of Arthrospira (Spirulina) platensis quantitatively and qualitatively for the process most commonly used by producers. A design of experiments made it possible to obtain surface modelling of responses which were validated under pilot conditions. Spirulina growth, protein and pigment content were modelled as a function of light intensity and duration of illumination. For each of them, the optima have been determined: 14 h (hours light exposure)/10 Klux (light intensity) for the growth rate; 11.8 h/7.2 Klux for phycocyanin rate; 6.2Klux/12.6 h for chlorophyll rate; 6.6Klux/12.6 h for carotene rate. The protein rate is the lowest when lighting conditions are of 10.6 Klux and 14.4 h. It is then possible for the producer to partially obscure the ponds and/or increase the light intensity using additional lighting.

International audience; As augmented and virtual reality technology is revolutionising the way products are designed and tested, many companies are expanding the range of use cases across their organisations. After 10 years using Virtual Reality (VR) & Augmented Reality (AR) technology during the life cycle of fusion components, the CEA IRFM has improved its skills developing immersive visualisation scenes for the WEST tokamak [6][5] project and several ITER Site Support Agreement such as Magnet Infrastructure Facilities for ITER (MIFI) [7] and Test Blanket Module System (TBM) [8]. Data preparation process has been optimized, reducing time cost to convert CAD data to an interactive and immersive model. For the WEST Project, VR engineers developed immersive scenes to simulate assembly sequences, to check component introduction using physics and to show 2D temperature data from diagnostics in a 3D environment. For the TBM case, health and safety oriented model environment is developed. Features for team simulated human access and hands on operations for As Low As Reasonably Achievable (ALARA) optimisation process with motion-tracking system and virtual avatars with ventilated protective pressurised suit simulating worker protection in nuclear environment. For MIFI application, a specific assembly tool has been developed for TF coils interface located on the top and at the bottom junction. During a first phase, the development was driven by iterative design loop (CAD modelling analysis and cinematic by using VR simulations). By means of interactive simulations and immersive conditions, the interface connection task was validated against feasibility including accessibility. AR has also been introduced in the process since a physical mock-up has been augmented to consider the constraint environment of TF Coils. For TBM application, on site AR simulation of the port Cell equipment will provide enhanced environment description. Collaborative immersive context, digital twins and combination between AR/VR & physical mock-ups for validation of maintenance since component design phase will constitute challenge for the near future.

The myxospermy and myxocarpy (grouped under the term myxodiaspory) designates the ability of a seed or a fruit to extrude mucilage upon imbibition, respectively. Myxodiasporous species are widely spread among flowering plants but are often closely related to non-myxodiasporous species. This repartition makes mysterious the evolutionary scenario of myxosdiaspory: Is it an ancestral trait which was lost several times in non-myxodiasporous species? Or is it a feature that appeared several times independently in myxodiasporous species? Additionally, the ecological roles of myxodiaspory are very diverse and seem to be species-dependent. Also, the genetics controlling this feature is still inequally known except for the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. Indeed, this myxospermous Brassicaceae species has been well characterized for the morphology, development, composition, and genetics of its seed mucilage and mucilage secretory cells (MSCs). This thesis sheds light on the evolution, genetics, and ecology of myxospermy in the Brassicaceae family at both the inter- and intra- species level. At the inter-species level, the seeds and their epidermal cells from about thirty Brassicaceae species were compared to those of A. thaliana to investigate the myxospermy evolution in this family. Every Brassicaceae species was thoroughly phenotyped at the macroscopic (whole seed) and microscopic (MSCs) scale before and after imbibition. Additionally, ortholog from every A. thaliana gene known to be implicated in myxospermy was tracked in the available genomes of the studied species. The availability of transcriptomic data for few species allowed further investigation of these orthologous genes. Among the Brassicaceae family, a wide diversity of mucilage structures was observed at the macro- and microscopic level. Based on morphological data, the origin of myxospermy in Brassicaceae appears ancestral, but the trait is very different from that of A. thaliana. Despite the observed contrasted morphologies, the putative genetic actors were not correlated with the phenotype. A large majority of orthologous genes to those related to myxospermy in A. thaliana were present and partially expressed even in non-myxospermous species. At the intra-species level, 166 natural populations of A. thaliana were analysed for their adherent and non-adherent mucilage size. These populations come from a South France region and have available associated genetic (single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) frequencies) and environmental data. The association of their mucilage phenotype with the SNPs frequencies highlights promising new candidate genes putatively implicated in both mucilage layers of A. thaliana. In addition, interesting correlations with environmental data point to new putative ecological roles to be discovered for the mucilage of A. thaliana., La myxospermie et la myxocarpie (regroupées sous le terme myxodiasporie) désignent respectivement la capacité d'une graine ou d'un fruit à extruder du mucilage polysaccharidique lors de l'imbibition. Les espèces myxodiasporiques sont largement répandues parmi les plantes à fleurs, mais sont souvent étroitement apparentées aux espèces non myxodiasporiques. Cette répartition rend mystérieuse l'histoire évolutive de la myxodiasporie : Est-ce un trait ancestral qui s'est perdu plusieurs fois chez les espèces non myxodiasporiques? Ou est-ce une fonctionnalité qui est apparue plusieurs fois indépendamment chez les espèces myxodiasporiques? De plus, les rôles écologiques de la myxodiasporie sont très divers et semblent dépendre de l'espèce. La génétique contrôlant cette caractéristique est encore inégalement connue, en dehors de l'espèce modèle Arabidopsis thaliana. En effet, cette plante modèle est une Brassicaceae myxospermique qui a été bien caractérisée pour la morphologie, le développement, la composition et la génétique de son mucilage de graine et de ses cellules sécrétrices de mucilage (CSM). Cette thèse met en lumière l'évolution, la génétique et l'écologie de la myxospermie dans la famille des Brassicaceae au niveau inter- et intra-espèce. Au niveau inter-espèces, les graines et leurs cellules épidermiques d'une trentaine d'espèces de Brassicaceae ont été comparées à celles d'A. thaliana pour étudier l'évolution de la myxospermie dans cette famille. Chaque espèce de Brassicaceae a été soigneusement phénotypée à l'échelle macroscopique (graine entière) et microscopique (CSM) avant et après imbibition. De plus, les orthologues de chaque gène d'A. thaliana connus pour être impliqués dans la myxospermie ont été recherchés dans les génomes disponibles des espèces étudiées. La disponibilité de données transcriptomiques pour quelques espèces ont permis d'approfondir l'étude de ces gènes orthologues. Dans la famille des Brassicaceae, une grande diversité de structures de mucilages a été observée à des niveaux macro et même microscopiques. D'après les données morphologiques, il semble y avoir une origine ancestrale du mucilage chez les Brassicaceae, mais elle est très différente de celle d'A. thaliana. Malgré les morphologies contrastées observées, les acteurs génétiques candidats n'étaient pas corrélés avec le phénotype. Une grande majorité des gènes orthologues de ceux impliqués dans la myxospermie d'A. thaliana étaient présents et partiellement exprimés même pour les espèces non myxospermiques. Au niveau intra-espèce, 166 populations naturelles d'A. thaliana ont été analysées pour leur taille de mucilage adhérent et non adhérent. Ces populations sont originaires d'une région du sud de la France et possèdent des données génétiques (fréquences des polymorphismes mono-nucléotidiques (SNP)) et environnementales associées. L'association de leur phénotype de mucilage aux fréquences des SNP a permis de mettre en évidence de nouveaux gènes candidats prometteurs impliqués dans les deux couches du mucilage d'A. thaliana. De plus, des corrélations intéressantes avec les données environnementales orientent vers de nouveaux rôles écologiques putatifs à découvrir pour le mucilage d'A. thaliana.

International audience

International audience; Durum wheat requires high nitrogen inputs to obtain the high protein concentration necessary to satisfy pasta and semolina quality criteria. Optimizing plant nitrogen use efficiency is therefore of major importance for wheat grain quality. Here, we studied the impact on grain yield, protein concentration, and for the first time on protein composition of a marine (DPI4913) and a fungal (AF086) biostimulants applied to plant leaves. A large-scale quantitative proteomics analysis of wheat flour samples led to a dataset of 1471 identified proteins. Quantitative analysis of 1391 proteins revealed 26 and 38 proteins with a significantly varying abundance after DPI4913 and AF086 treatment, respectively, with 14 proteins in common. Major effects affected proteins involved in grain technological properties like grain hardness, in storage functions with the gluten protein gamma-gliadin, in regulation processes with transcription regulator proteins, and in stress responses with biotic and abiotic stress defense proteins. The involvement of biostimulants in the abiotic stress response was further suggested by an increase in water-use efficiency for both DPI4913 (15.4%) and AF086 (9.9%) treatments. Overall, our work performed in controlled conditions showed that DPI4913 and AF086 treatments promoted grain yield while maintaining protein concentration, and positively affected protein composition for grain quality. Data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD012469. Significance We performed a large-scale quantitative proteomics study of the total protein extracts from flour samples to determine the effect of biostimulant treatment on the protein composition of durum wheat grain. To our knowledge, only a few studies in the literature have applied proteomic approaches to study durum wheat grains and even less to the effect of biostimulants on the protein composition of durum wheat grain. Moreover, most approaches used fractional extraction of proteins to target reserve proteins followed by two-dimensional elec-trophoresis (2-DE) or two-dimensional differential gel electrophoresis (2D-DIGE) that suffers from a low identification rate of proteins. We identified and quantified a large protein dataset of about 1400 proteins and determined molecular functions of proteins affected by biostimu-lants treatments.

International audience; Introduction: Particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and ozone are recognized as the three pollutants that most significantly affect human health. Asthma is a multifactorial disease. However, the place of residence has rarely been investigated. We compared the impact of air pollution, measured near patients' homes, on emergency department (ED) visits for asthma or trauma (controls) within the Provence-Alpes Cote-d'Azur region. Methods: Variables were selected using classification and regression trees on asthmatic and control population, 3-99 years, visiting ED from January 1 to December 31, 2013. Then in a nested case control study, randomization was based on the day of ED visit and on defined age groups. Pollution, meteorological, pollens and viral data measured that day were linked to the patient's ZIP code. Results: A total of 794,884 visits were reported including 6250 for asthma and 278,192 for trauma. Factors associated with an excess risk of emergency visit for asthma included short-term exposure to NO2, female gender, high viral load and a combination of low temperature and high humidity. Conclusion: Short-term exposures to high NO2 concentrations, as assessed close to the homes of the patients, were significantly associated with asthma-related ED visits in children and adults. (c) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Artificial insemination of ewes grouped by a ram effect is feasible with the use of automated oestrus detector. 18. International Congress on Animal Reproduction (ICAR)

Influence of stress and sexual experience in the response to the ram effect. 18. International Congress on Animal Reproduction (ICAR)

National audience; En race ovine, l’Insémination Artificielle (IA) est généralement réalisée après traitement hormonal d’induction et de synchronisation des ovulations, et les brebis sont inséminées 55 h ± 1 h après le retrait de l’éponge vaginale (contenant un progestagène) en semence fraiche (Fatet et al., 2008). Une baisse de fertilité à l’IA a été observée en race Rouge de l’Ouest, ce qui a conduit les éleveurs et l’Organisme de Sélection GEODE à chercher des pistes d’amélioration. Or certains centres d’IA se sont interrogés sur l’effet du moment d’IA après retrait de l’éponge sur la fertilité : par exemple en races Lacaune viande et Blanche du Massif Central (Fréret et al., 2009) ou en race Corse (Aragni et al., 2014). Dans une étude préliminaire menée en race Rouge de l’Ouest, notre objectif a été de tester l’effet d’un allongement de 4 ou 8 h du délai d’IA moyen (par rapport au délai préconisé) sur le taux de réussite à l’IA.

National audience; Despite the strong constraints which apply to extensive livestock farming systems (large herds, large surface areas, pasture-based feeding and eventually low animal productivity), original solutions of precision farming can be developed. Precision farming can especially rely on the individual electronic identification systems (RFID) to recognize or locate the animals. Depending on the utilization of RFID-readers (either stationary or portable devices, held by an operator or carried by a male), it is possible to produce inventories, sorting operations or estrus detection. Animal behavior is most difficult to control at pasture, since the strategic placement of attraction points (water sources, salt blocks, and supplements) can prove insufficient to control the spatial distribution of the grazing pressure in a context of strong pastoral and environmental objectives. In situations where either traditional fences or shepherding cannot be implemented, virtual fences, which are based on a specific behavioral education of the animals, could contribute to a sustainable utilization of rangeland areas. In extensive livestock systems, precision farming does not apply at the individual scale, but implies adjusting management practices to virtual groups of animals sharing the same characteristics, such groups being made and unmade by efficient sorting devices. The utilization of automated herd-monitoring systems based on individual information produces a great amount of data. Whatever the type of sensor used, the data collected must be stored in an information system, then analyzed with appropriate methods (algorithms, statistics...) in order to be translated into decision-support indicators or into actions implemented by machines (sorting gate, weighing, feed distribution). As an alternative to individual monitoring, a parsimonious utilization of sensors can suffice to give alerts (intrusion, predator attack, exit from a given geographical area); the amount of data produced is thus minimized. Further research is needed to propose appropriate methods for data analysis and decision rules, based upon animal behavior modeling. In extensive farming systems, the farmer plays an essential role; when large herds and surface areas are involved, electronic devices and decision-support systems are to be considered as specific aids to be integrated in a larger management strategy. Especially, the farmer has to decide which animals to monitor, where to locate the sensors/readers or virtual fences, and when to implement precision farming, i.e. which are the critical periods. At the moment, commercial solutions for devices and software lack the versatility needed to apply to extensive systems.; Les fortes contraintes d’élevage dans les systèmes peu intensifiés (grands troupeaux, larges surfaces, alimentation au pâturage, voire faible productivité par animal) laissent tout de même entrevoir des formes originales d’élevage de précision. Cet élevage de précision peut notamment s’appuyer sur l’identification électronique des animaux qui permet de les reconnaitre et de les localiser. Selon que les lecteurs d’identifiants sont utilisés manuellement, à poste fixe, ou portés par un mâle, il est possible de réaliser, respectivement, des inventaires, des opérations automatisées de tri ou la détection des femelles en chaleurs. C’est au pâturage que la maîtrise du comportement des animaux est la plus délicate car un positionnement judicieux de points d’attraction des animaux (abreuvement, pierres à sel, complémentation) ne suffit pas toujours à maîtriser la répartition de la pression de pâturage pour répondre aux objectifs pastoraux et environnementaux. Dans les situations où la pose de clôtures fixes n’est pas possible ou pas souhaitable et que le gardiennage n’est pas envisageable, les clôtures virtuelles, basées sur un apprentissage comportemental spécifique des animaux, pourraient constituer une aide précieuse à l’utilisation durable des parcours. Dans ces systèmes d’élevage, la précision visée ne se situe pas à l’échelle des individus mais plutôt sur des conduites ajustées à des lots virtuels d’animaux homogènes, qui sont séparés et regroupés grâce à des dispositifs de tri efficaces. L’utilisation de systèmes automatisés de suivi du troupeau où chaque animal est identifié génère une grande quantité de données. Quels que soient les capteurs utilisés, les données recueillies doivent être stockées dans un système d’information et traitées avec des méthodes d’analyse adaptées (algorithmes, statistiques…) pour être ensuite transformées en indicateurs d’aide à la décision ou en action exécutée par des automates (porte de tri, pesées, distributions d’aliments). En alternative à des suivis individuels, une utilisation parcimonieuse des capteurs peut être envisagée pour délivrer des alertes (intrusion, attaque de prédateur, sortie d’une zone géographique définie) ; la quantité de données produites est alors minimisée. Un travail de recherche important reste à mener pour proposer des méthodes d’analyse des données et des règles de décisions pertinentes, basées sur une modélisation du comportement animal. Dans les systèmes d’élevage peu intensifiés, la place de l’éleveur est essentielle car au sein d’un grand troupeau et face à de larges surfaces de parcours les dispositifs électroniques sont à envisager comme des aides spécifiques, à intégrer dans une stratégie de conduite plus large. Notamment, il s’agit pour l’éleveur de choisir quels animaux équiper et où positionner des capteurs, relais ou clôtures virtuelles, et à choisir de le faire aux périodes critiques. Actuellement l’offre matérielle et logicielle est freinée par le manque de souplesse des solutions proposées.

We realized, with an automatic estrus detector (Alpha-D®), artificial inseminations (AI) without hormones after aninduction and synchronization of the oestrus of the ewes by a ram effect (D0). The experiments were conducted on2 consecutive years. In 2013, 73 ewes, out of 399, were inseminated (cervical IA at 2 pm with fresh semen taken inthe morning) during the 1st peak of estrus after male effect (D19, D20 and D21). While in 2014, 51 ewes, out of343, were inseminated during the 2nd peak of estrus (D24, D25 and D26). The success rates of AI averaged 37%(from 17 to 58% per day for 3 days) in 2013 and 64.7% (from 40 to 80% per day for 3 days) in 2014. Ewesinseminated between 10 and 30h after the beginning of estrus had higher fertility rates (58 and 73% respectivelyfor 2013 and 2014) than those inseminated 30h after the beginning of detected estrus (p, Nous avons réalisé, grâce à un détecteur électronique de chevauchements (Alpha-D®), des inséminationsanimales (IA) sans hormone après induction et synchronisation de l’oestrus des brebis par un effet bélier.L’expérience a porté sur 2 années consécutives. En 2013, 73 brebis sur 399 ont été inséminées (IA cervicale à 14hen semence fraiche prélevée le matin même) lors du 1er pic d’apparition des chaleurs après l’introduction desbéliers (J0) soit à J19, J20 et J21. Alors qu’en 2014, 51 brebis sur 343 ont été inséminées lors du 2ème picd’apparition des chaleurs soit à J24, J25 et J26. Les taux de réussite à l’IA ont été respectivement de 37 % enmoyenne sur les 3 jours (de 17 à 58 % / j) en 2013 et de 64,7 % (de 40 à 80 % / j) en 2014. Les brebis inséminéesentre 10 et 30 h après le début des chaleurs ont eu une meilleure réussite à l’IA (58 et 73 % respectivement pour2013 et 2014) que celles inséminées 30 h après le début des chaleurs (p

En élevage ovin, l’IA a été rendue possible par la synchronisation de la survenue des chaleurs. Cependant, tout en conférant une bonne réussite moyenne à l’IA, l’utilisation successive de traitements et une insémination unique à heure fixe ont fait apparaitre des problèmes de subfertilité. L’opportunité de détecter en temps réel les brebis en chaleur offre de nouvelles perspectives : pour identifier les causes de sub-fertilité sur IA et, en BIO, pour réaliser des IA sur des brebis naturellement synchronisées par un effet mâle. Un détecteur électronique de chevauchement (ALPHA, Wallace), basé sur un lecteur RFID autonome porté par un bélier, identifie chaque brebis chevauchée par lecture de son identifiant (Bocquier et al., 2006 ; Maton et al., 2010). L’objectif de l’étude est d’évaluer l’ALPHA sur des effectifs importants de brebis synchronisées tels que ceux rencontrés sur le Rayon de Roquefort et de l’utiliser sur des cycles successifs afin de détecter les brebis non gestantes.

Epidemiological studies in humans, as well as animal models, have shown that maternal environment at critical periods of fetal development can condition offspring adult health. Previous studies have shown effects of maternal undernutrition during early to mid gestation on Sertoli cell proliferation and seminiferous tubule diameter in male lambs of 10 months of age. Delayed follicular maturation and meiosis in female fetuses have been reported after maternal undernutrition from mating. The aim of this project was to evaluate the long-term effects of maternal periconceptional undernutrition on offspring physiology and reproductive function. Postnatal development of male offspring is presented here. Fifty-two control females of Merinos d'Arles breed (R100) were fed a normal diet adapted to their needs, and 64 restricted females (R50) received 50% of their dietary needs from 15 days before until 30 days after synchronized breeding. Thereafter, both groups were fed to meet their nutritional requirements. Males were weighed at birth and every week. Blood samples were collected monthly to monitor plasma leptin and cortisol concentrations. Organ weights were recorded at commercial slaughter (35 kg) and histological analysis was performed on testicles and adrenals. Data were analysed by ANOVA or Student's test. Twenty-two live R100 and 34 live R50 male lambs were obtained. Gestation was significantly longer in the restricted group (P < 0.01). Growth rate, live weight, and age at slaughter were not significantly different between groups. Plasma leptin concentrations were significantly lower at birth (P < 0.001) and tended to be higher at 4 months of age (P = 0.09) in R50. There was a significant interaction between group, age, and litter size for basal cortisol concentrations: in singletons (n = 15 R50 and n = 8 R100), cortisol was significantly lower in R50 at 3 months of age (P < 0.05) and tended to be higher at 4 months whereas in twins (n = 17 R50 and n = 10 R100), cortisol was significantly lower at birth (P < 0.05) but not thereafter (triplets were not considered here because of low numbers). There was no statistical difference for carcass, testicle, or kidney weight. In contrast, carcass to live weight ratio and perirenal fat to live weight ratio were increased in all R50 (P < 0.05). Adrenal to live weight ratio tended to be increased in R50 lambs (P = 0.06). Histological examination revealed no statistical difference between groups for adrenal corticomedullary ratio, zona glomerulosa to medulla ratio, and zona fasciculata to medulla ratio. There was no significant difference for the analysis of testicular tissue (diameter and surface of seminiferous tubules). The expression of genes involved in testicular differentiation (SRY, 3β-HSD, OCT3/4, VASA, stra8, SOX9) is currently being studied by quantitative PCR and will be presented. These results confirm the effects of periconceptional undernutrition on metabolic function but so far, no effect has been demonstrated on testicular histology. Litter size seems to play an important role, because effects were different between singletons and twins.

National audience; Une sous-nutrition maternelle dans la période péri-conceptionnelle peut avoir des répercussions sur le développement des gonades foetales, le métabolisme et la maturation de l'axe hypothalamo-hypophyso-surrénalien chez la brebis (1-3). Ce projet a pour but d’évaluer l’effet d’une sous-alimentation péri-conceptionnelle sévère (50% des besoins entre –15 et +30 jours post-conception) sur la croissance, la fonction corticosurrénalienne et la reproduction chez la descendance.

National audience

National audience; Le concept d’élevage de précision recouvre généralement la mise en oeuvre d’équipements et de moyens sophistiqués destinés à piloter des animaux très productifs dans un environnement artificialisé. Dans ce but, des capteurs multiples fournissent des signaux analysés et interprétés par des algorithmes complexes. Ils visent à détecter des anomalies métaboliques ou des changements physiologiques en vue d’intervenir rapidement sur des animaux à haute valeur économique. La situation des élevages extensifs ou moins intensifiés est très différente car le milieu est peu artificialisé. Les effectifs d’animaux sont élevés et les capacités d’investissement sont souvent limitées. Pour autant, l’identification électronique des animaux, qui sera généralisée pour les ovins et les caprins en France en 2011, offre des opportunités d’un autre type d’élevage de précision.

absent

International audience; Electronic identification (e-ID) of livestock allowed the development of new equipments able to assist producers in farm management practices. Oestrus detection is a key for many breeding practices (e.g. artificial insemination) and strongly determines fertility results. With this aim, an autonomous radio frequency reading and recording equipment, automatically triggered by the male mounting activity, was developed (Pat. WO/2005/065574). The reader captures the e-ID codes of mated females which are stored jointly with the reading time. Captured data is further sent wireless to a remote computer and allows defining the oestrus characteristics of each female. In a first experiment, a group of 30 ewes were identified with 15 mm glass transponders fixed on the tail base and mated with 1 equipped ram. Few hours after ram introduction isolated readings indicated that the ram made mating attempts on non-receptive ewes (false positive). Thus, only ewes that had repeated readings were considered to be in oestrus (true positive). The number of readings per ewe were largely variable (3 to 205) as well as mean oestrus duration (mean = 20.4 h; SD=13.0 h). All detected ewes lambed. In a second experiment, 9 series of 4 ewes were oestrus synchronised (FGA sponges and eGH injection) from late summer to autumn. Sexual behaviour was more intense with the advancement of the reproductive season (i.e. the mean number of readings per ewe increased from 19.5 to 68.0). Oestrus activity started on average 18.5 h after sponge removal, duration evolved from 9.3±5.2 h in early September, to 31.6±23.3 h in mid-October. New equipment is under development for reading ewes identified with rumen boluses (grant INRA-DGER) and research is conduced to assess the best conditions for hormone-free insemination after oestrus detection. Similar devices for cows and goats are under development. The equipment may also be used for sorting pregnant and open females and parturition dates planning.

International audience; Rolland PH, de Lagausie P, Stathopoulos E, Lepretre O, Viudes G, Gorincour G, Hery G, de Magnee C, Paut O, Guys JM. Phasic hemodynamics and reverse blood flows in the aortic isthmus and pulmonary arteries of preterm lambs with pulmonary vascular dysfunction. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 295: H2231-H2241, 2008. First published September 26, 2008; doi: 10.1152/ajpheart.00410.2008. Time-domain representations of the fetal aortopulmonary circulation were carried out in lamb fetuses to study hemodynamic consequences of congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) and the effects of endothelin-receptor antagonist tezosentan (3 mg/45 min). From the isthmic aortic and left pulmonary artery (PA) flows (Q) and isthmic aortic, PA, and left auricle pressures (P) on day 135 in 10 controls and 7 CDH fetuses (28 ewes), discrete-triggered P and Q waveforms were modelized as P(t) and Q(t) functions to obtain basic hemodynamic profiles, pulsatile waves [P, Q, and entry impedance (Z(e))], and P and Q hysteresis loops. In the controls, blood propelling energy was accounted for by biventricular ejection flow waves (kinetic energy) with low Z(e) and by flow-driven pressure waves (potential energy) with low Z(e). Weak fetal pulmonary perfusion was ensured by reflux (reverse flows) from PA branches to the ductus anteriosus and aortic isthmus as reverse flows. Endothelin-receptor antagonist blockade using tezosentan slightly increased the forward flow but largely increased diastolic backward flow with a diminished left auricle pre-and postloading. In CHD fetuses, the static component overrode phasic flows that were detrimental to reverse flows and the direction of the diastolic isthmic flow changed to forward during the diastole period. Decreased cardiac output, flattened pressure waves, and increased forward Z(e) promoted backward flow to the detriment of forward flow (especially during diastole). Additionally, the intrapulmonary arteriovenous shunting was ineffective. The slowing of cardiac output, the dampening of energetic pressure waves and pulsatility, and the heightening of phasic impedances contributed to the lowering of aortopulmonary blood flows. We speculate that reverse pulmonary flow is a physiological requirement to protect the fetal pulmonary circulation from the prominent right ventricular stream and to enhance blood flow to the fetal heart and brain.

National audience; La fièvre catarrhale ovine est une maladie virale des ruminants, transmise par des moucherons du genre Culicoides (Diptera : Ceratopogonidae). Elle touche l’ensemble de l’Europe, avec plus de 21000 foyers déclarés en France en 2007, entraînant de lourdes conséquences économiques. En l’absence de vaccin, l’application topique de pyréthrinoïdes reste le seul moyen de protection envisageable. Notre objectif est de tester l’effet sur C. nubeculosus d’une formulation à base de deltaméthrine (Butox® 7,5 pour-on) sur modèle ovin

National audience

Electronic identification of livestock allows proposing devices that will for sure help breeders in animal sorting and heat detection. The male is equipped with a RFID reader which is triggered by mounting behavior. The ID number of the female that accepts mountings is stored in a memory together with reading time. Analyses of mounting patterns allow defining the oestrus characteristics of each ewe. A group of 30 mature ewes were naturally mated with an equipped ram. The number of mounts per ewe was very variable (i.e. from 3 to 205): oestrus occurred randomly, and the mean duration was of 20.4 ± 13.0h i.e. quite variable. Whatever the number of mounts, all ewes were pregnant, thus illustrating that the mating could occur even in ewes that were rarely mounted. Nine series of 4 ewes were hormonally treated (FGA sponge and eGH) from late summer to the autumn. We observed that oestrous behaviour gets more intense with the advancement of the sexual season, i.e. the mean number of readings evolved from 19.5 to 68.0. Oestrus started generally around 18.5 h with a mean duration that increased from 9.3 ± 5.2 in early Septembre to 31.6 ± 23.3 h in mid-October. Several steps are still necessary to fully validate this device for oestrus detection. We plan to automatically analyse the mounting patterns to define reliable starts of oestrus in order to define optimal timing for artificial insemination, L’identification électronique miniaturisée des animaux a permis de mettre au point un détecteur de chevauchements.Ce détecteur, qui est placé sur le mâle, déclenche, au moment du saut, la lecture du transpondeur porté par la femelle. L’identifiant de la femelle qui a accepté le chevauchement est stocké en mémoire, ainsi que la date et l’heure du saut. L’analyse des séquences de chevauchements permet d’évaluer la durée des chaleurs de chaque femelle. Les enregistrements obtenus en monte naturelle révèlent un nombre de lectures par brebis très variable, compris entre 3 et 205 et une durée moyenne des chaleurs de 20,4 ± 13,0 h. Lorsque les chaleurs sont induites par des traitements hormonaux, elles débutent environ 18,5 h après le retrait des éponges vaginales. La durée moyenne des chaleurs augmente au cours de la saison sexuelle passant de 9,3 ± 5,2 h début septembre à 31,6 ± 23,3 h. à la mi-octobre. Pendant cette période, l’intensité d’acceptation du chevauchement par les brebis exprimées en nombre moyen de lectures collectées par brebis augmente également passant de 19,5 à 68,0. Plusieurs étapes restent à réaliser pour évaluer l’efficacité de ce détecteur en terme de détection des chaleurs, notamment le traitement automatisé des séquences de données afin de mieux définir le début des chaleurs dans une perspective d’utilisation pour l’insémination artificielle

Performances a la naissance de 3 souches de lapin (taille de la portee, poids de la portee et poids individuel). L'etude de la relation entre la taille de la portee a la naissance et le nombre de lapereaux vivants, le poids de la portee et le poids individuel des lapereaux a ete effectuee. Les donnees de 260 mise bas de 3 souches selectionnees ont ete analysees. On peut noter une relation uniquement lineaire entre le nombre total de lapereaux nes et le nombre de lapereaux nes vivants dans les 3 souches (coefficient lineaire: 0,94 ± 0.03). Cependant, des differences significatives entre souches ont ete trouvees (P < 0.001). Les coefficients de regression pour la souche A etaient 0,86 ± 0.02 et -0.04 ± 0.01 (P < 0.01), tandis que les souches V et R montraient une evolution lineaire similaire (coefficients de regression lineaire: 0,96± 0.05 et 0,97± 0.06). Pourle caractere poids de la portee, la relation a ete non-lineaire (lineaire: 37,7± 2,4, non-lineaire: -1,23± 0,54). Nous navonspas trouve de differences entre souches pour le poids de la portee. Les relations entre le poids individuel de lapereaux et le nombre de lapereaux nes etaient non lineaires (lineaire: -2, 18± 0.01, non lineaire: 0, 11 ± 0.01). Il semble que les souches A et V montrent un comportement plus nettement non-lineaire que la souche R

National audience