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The current strategy for biodiversity conservation is doomed. Based on a study of evidence-based summaries known as environmental impact assessment reports produced over the past 44 years, we suggest that biodiversity loss has not been halted because of a failure to accurately identify and assess the ecological effects of the drivers of change linked to land use planning. This failure is due to the poor representativeness of biological diversity in the practices of planners and the inadequate involvement of the ecologist community. Researchers in ecology could play a key role in improving the environmental considerations in project designs by focusing on preventive assessments instead of curative solutions.

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Les recherches en éducation s’enracinent profondément dans la réalité complexe des phénomènes d’enseignement et d’apprentissage, convoquant les acteurs de la recherche et de l’éducation à appréhender cette complexité dans un travail commun. L’inscription de ce travail dans une perspective participative ou collaborative nécessite une intelligibilité accrue des processus collaboratifs à l’oeuvre et des défis qu’ils posent aux différents acteurs. Nous proposons dans cet article un modèle théorique des processus de collaboration fondé sur une construction épistémologique et méthodologique croisant des cadres théoriques issus de l’anthropologie, de la psychologie, de la philosophie, de la didactique et des sciences du langage, avec pour ambition de créer une meilleure intelligibilité des processus à l’oeuvre dans les recherches participatives en éducation., Education research is deeply rooted in the complex reality of teaching and learning phenomena, calling for research and educational actors to grasp this complexity in the context of a common effort. Making this effort participatory or collaborative requires a greater understanding of the collaborative processes involved and the challenges they pose to the different actors in play. This article proposes a theoretical model of collaborative processes based on an epistemological and methodological construction located at the intersection of theoretical frameworks from anthropology, psychology, philosophy, didactics and language sciences, with the ambition of shedding light on the processes involved in participatory research in the field of education., Las investigaciones en educación están profundamente arraigadas en la compleja realidad de los fenómenos de enseñanza y aprendizaje, convocando a los actores de la investigación y de la educación a comprender esta complejidad en un trabajo común. La inscripción de este trabajo en una perspectiva participativa o colaborativa requiere una mayor inteligibilidad de los procesos colaborativos y de los desafíos que estos plantean a los diversos actores. En este artículo proponemos un modelo teórico de procesos colaborativos basado en una construcción epistemológica y metodológica que cruzan los marcos teóricos de la antropología, la psicología, la filosofía, la didáctica y las ciencias del lenguaje, con la ambición de crear una mejor inteligibilidad de los procesos en funcionamiento en las investigaciones participativas en educación.

BACKGROUND: Immune dysfunction has been implicated in negative symptoms of schizophrenia and also in depression. These disorders are frequently co-morbid, with some symptoms such as anhedonia and apathy common to both. The anti-inflammatory agent minocycline may be ineffective in schizophrenia, but more positive effects have been seen in depression. Our aim was to investigate the role of immune dysfunction in depression and sub-domains of negative symptoms in schizophrenia by investigating their intercorrelation and the influence of treatment with minocycline. METHODS: We analysed longitudinal data from 207 patients within 5 years of onset of schizophrenia, from the randomised double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of minocycline (BeneMin). Symptom ratings and circulating IL-6, C-reactive protein (CRP) and TNF-α concentrations were collected at baseline and repeated over twelve months. The sample was not stratified by CRP prior to randomisation. Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale composite ratings of avolition-apathy and diminished expression, Calgary Depression Scale total scores, and immune markers were examined cross-sectionally using Spearman's rank, and longitudinally by linear mixed effect models that included body mass index and minocycline. Additionally, post hoc analysis of the sample stratified by elevated CRP (>1 mg/l and

BackgroundThe clinical significance of 16p13.11 duplications remains controversial while frequently detected in patients with developmental delay (DD), intellectual deficiency (ID) or autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Previously reported patients were not or poorly characterised. The absence of consensual recommendations leads to interpretation discrepancy and makes genetic counselling challenging. This study aims to decipher the genotype–phenotype correlations to improve genetic counselling and patients’ medical care.MethodsWe retrospectively analysed data from 16 013 patients referred to 12 genetic centers for DD, ID or ASD, and who had a chromosomal microarray analysis. The referring geneticists of patients for whom a 16p13.11 duplication was detected were asked to complete a questionnaire for detailed clinical and genetic data for the patients and their parents.ResultsClinical features are mainly speech delay and learning disabilities followed by ASD. A significant risk of cardiovascular disease was noted. About 90% of the patients inherited the duplication from a parent. At least one out of four parents carrying the duplication displayed a similar phenotype to the propositus. Genotype–phenotype correlations show no impact of the size of the duplicated segment on the severity of the phenotype. However, NDE1 and miR-484 seem to have an essential role in the neurocognitive phenotype.ConclusionOur study shows that 16p13.11 microduplications are likely pathogenic when detected in the context of DD/ID/ASD and supports an essential role of NDE1 and miR-484 in the neurocognitive phenotype. Moreover, it suggests the need for cardiac evaluation and follow-up and a large study to evaluate the aortic disease risk.

Cette section vise le partage d’expériences de traduction et d’analyse auxquelles des équipes de recherche font face. À notre connaissance, peu de ressources sont publiées pour venir en aide et guider les chercheurs et leurs étudiants gradués francophones quand ils plongent dans l’analyse qualitative en théorie de l’activité ou dans d’autres approches historico-socioculturelles. Nous proposons ici des outils méthodologiques pour les aider. Cette section présente des traductions libres d’articles déjà publiés et révisés par les pairs.

This formative intervention documents the emergence of a hybrid activity aiming at student engagement and academic achievement. In this context-bound study, early stages of this activity consisted in establishing PenArt meant to enable high school students with difficulties to start up their own business at school. It involved reaching agreements between a high school and a youth centre so that high school students engage in the production and selling of their branded t-shirt. At the frontiers of their respective activity system, students, youth workers, special education teachers and members of the school board took actions to cross boundaries and redefine their interrelations. Cultural historical activity theory was fruitful to document the development of a new object-oriented activity. Tensions and contradictions revelaled to be the key moments in the emergence of the hybrid activity. Expansive learning led us to understand that, in a conflicting situation, a collective’s agentive actions creat...

Cette étude s’intéresse au processus de négociation conversationnelle entre des enseignants et des chercheurs lors de réunions de conception collaborative de ressources pédagogiques numériques. À travers deux corpus d’interactions verbales donnant lieu à des négociations, nous observons de quelles façons des objets frontières sont définis et co-construits par les participants, comment se développent les épisodes de brokering et explorons les conséquences de ces négociations pour les recherches, les acteurs et la production de savoirs. This study investigates the process of conversational negotiation between teachers and researchers in collaborative design meetings of digital learning resources. Through two corpus presenting verbal interactions giving rise to negotiations, we observe how boundary objects are defined and co-constructed by the participants and how do brokering episodes evolve in the dialogues. We describe the consequences of these negotiations for research, for the actors and for the production of knowledge.

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Dans cet article, nous revenons sur ce qui constitue le cœur de l’ecologie scientifique, et montrons comment cette discipline peut enrichir les formations interdisciplinaires a plusieurs egards. L’ecologie a longtemps eu tendance a laisser l’etre humain en dehors de son champ d’etude. Or, au regard des crises que nous vivons actuellement, la perspective ecologique a pris un tournant pour s’orienter vers des approches plus transversales. Nous verrons comment cette science de la rencontre (rencontre des disciplines, des courants de pensee, des valeurs, des rationalites…) et de la connaissance du sensible permet un changement de paradigme au travers de concepts cles, tels que les (socio-ecosystemes, la complexite, la dynamique, les interrelations ou encore les incertitudes. Les questionnements et savoirs issus de l’ecologie scientifique ont donc vocation a favoriser une meilleure comprehension generale des fonctionnements des societes humaines imbriquees au sein des systemes vivants.

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The development of tissue-engineered substitutes of substantial volume is closely associated with the need to ensure rapid vascularization upon grafting. Strategies promoting angiogenesis include the in vitro formation of capillary-like networks within engineered substitutes. We generated both connective and adipose tissues based on a cell sheet technology using human adipose-derived stromal cells. This study evaluates the morphology and extent of the capillary networks that developed upon seeding of human microvascular endothelial cells during tissue production. We posited that adipocyte presence/secretory products could modulate the resulting capillary network when compared to connective substitutes. Analyses including confocal imaging of CD31-labeled capillary-like networks indicated slight differences in their morphological appearance. However, the total volume occupied by the networks as well as the frequency distribution of the structure’s volumes were similar between connective and adipose tissues. The average diameter of the capillary structures tended to be 20% higher in reconstructed adipose tissues. Quantification of pro-angiogenic molecules in conditioned media showed greater amounts of leptin (15×), angiopoietin-1 (3.4×) and HGF (1.7×) secreted from adipose than connective tissues at the time of endothelial cell seeding. However, this difference was attenuated during the following coculture period in endothelial cell-containing media, correlating with the minor differences noted between the networks. Taken together, we developed a protocol allowing reconstruction of both connective and adipose tissues featuring well-developed capillary networks in vitro. We performed a detailed characterization of the network architecture within engineered tissues that is relevant for graft assessment before implantation as well as for in vitro screening of angiogenic modulators using three-dimensional models.

Salmonella enterica serovar Heidelberg (S. Heidelberg) is one of the top serovars causing human salmonellosis. This serovar ranks second and third among serovars that cause human infections in Quebec and Canada, respectively, and has been associated with severe infections. Traditional typing methods such as PFGE do not display adequate discrimination required to resolve outbreak investigations due to the low level of genetic diversity of isolates belonging to this serovar. This study evaluates the ability of four whole genome sequence (WGS)-based typing methods to differentiate among 145 S. Heidelberg strains involved in four distinct outbreak events and sporadic cases of salmonellosis that occurred in Quebec between 2007 and 2016. Isolates from all outbreaks were indistinguishable by PFGE. The core genome single nucleotide variant (SNV), core genome multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and whole genome MLST approaches were highly discriminatory and separated outbreak strains into four distinct phylogenetic clusters that were concordant with the epidemiological data. The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) typing method was less discriminatory. However, CRISPR typing may be used as a secondary method to differentiate isolates of S. Heidelberg that are genetically similar but epidemiologically unrelated to outbreak events. WGS-based typing methods provide a highly discriminatory alternative to PFGE for the laboratory investigation of foodborne outbreaks.

Beyond public health and economic costs, the COVID-19 pandemic adds strain, disrupts daily routines, and com-plicates mental health and medical service delivery for those with mental health and medical conditions Bipolar disorder can increase vulnerability to infection;it can also enhance stress, complicate treatment, and heighten interpersonal stigma Yet there are successes when people proactively improve social connections, prioritize self-care, and learn to use mobile and telehealth effectively © 2020, WikiJournal User Group All rights reserved

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Background Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is the leading infectious cause of nosocomial diarrhea. Hospitalized patients are at increased risk of developing CDI because they are exposed to C. difficile spores through contact with the hospital environment and often receive antibiotics and other medications that can disrupt the integrity of the indigenous intestinal microbiota and impair colonization resistance. Using whole metagenome shotgun sequencing, we examined the diversity and composition of the fecal microbiota in a prospective cohort study of 98 hospitalized patients. Results Four patients had asymptomatic C. difficile colonization, and four patients developed CDI. We observed dramatic shifts in the structure of the gut microbiota during hospitalization. In contrast to CDI cases, asymptomatic patients exhibited elevated relative abundance of potentially protective bacterial taxa in their gut at the onset of C. difficile colonization. Use of laxatives was associated with significant reductions in the relative abundance of Clostridium and Eubacterium; species within these genera have previously been shown to enhance resistance to CDI via the production of secondary bile acids. Cephalosporin and fluoroquinolone exposure decreased the frequency of Clostridiales Family XI Incertae Sedis, a bacterial family that has been previously associated with decreased CDI risk. Conclusions This study underscores the detrimental impact of antibiotics as well as other medications, particularly laxatives, on the intestinal microbiota and suggests that co-colonization with key bacterial taxa may prevent C. difficile overgrowth or the transition from asymptomatic C. difficile colonization to CDI. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s40168-016-0156-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) may be a novel approach to eliminate multidrug-resistant bacteria from the gut and to prevent future infections. Using whole metagenome sequencing data from 8 FMT donor–recipient pairs, we identified 37 and 95 antimicrobial resistance genes that were acquired by or removed from FMT recipients, respectively.

Engineered adipose tissues are developed for their use as substitutes for tissue replacement in reconstructive surgery. To ensure a timely perfusion of the grafted substitutes, different strategies can be used such as the incorporation of an endothelial component. In this study, we engineered human adipose tissue substitutes comprising of functional adipocytes as well as a natural extracellular matrix using the self-assembly approach, without the use of exogenous scaffolding elements. Human microvascular endothelial cells (hMVECs) were incorporated during tissue production in vitro and we hypothesized that their presence would favor the early connection with the host vascular network translating into functional enhancement after implantation into nude mice in comparison to the substitutes that were not enriched in hMVECs. In vitro, no significant differences were observed between the substitutes in terms of histological aspects. After implantation, both groups presented numerous adipocytes and an abundant matrix in addition to the presence of host capillaries within the grafts. The substitutes thickness and volume were not significantly different between groups over the short-term time course of 14 days (d). For the microvascularized adipose tissues, human CD31 staining revealed a human capillary network connecting with the host microvasculature as early as 3 d after grafting. The detection of murine red blood cells within human CD31+ structures confirmed the functionality of the human capillary network. By analyzing the extent of the global vascularization achieved, a tendency towards increased total capillary network surface and volume was revealed for prevascularized tissues over 14 d. Therefore, applying this strategy on thicker reconstructed adipose tissues with rate-limiting oxygen diffusion might procure added benefits and prove useful to provide voluminous substitutes for patients suffering from adipose tissue loss or defects.

Differences and similarities between Escherichia coli O157:H7 isolates from beef cattle and those from sporadic human outbreaks are not fully elucidated. Here, we compared 44 O157:H7 isolates of bovine and human origins (22 isolates of each) to better understand their cytotoxic potential. The Shiga toxin genes stx1, stx2, or both were detected in the 44 isolates, and all elicited Vero cell cytotoxicity. The greatest cytotoxicity was caused by bovine isolates having only stx2 and which represented the majority of such isolates (81.8%). However, no correlation was found between the level of stx gene transcription and cytotoxicity. All human and bovine isolates possessed variant type stx2 and stx2c, respectively, as determined by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism. Isolates harboring both stx1 and stx2 genes were much more frequent in human isolates (86.4%). The combination stx1-stx2c found in only four bovine isolates was less cytotoxic. It is clear that cytotoxicity alone cannot account for the apparent inability of O157:H7 bovine isolates to cause diseases in humans. We have found that stx1-stx2-containing or stx1-stx2c-containing isolates were less cytotoxic than several bovine isolates having only stx2c, suggesting that the stx gene combination or other virulence genes in specific genetic lineages may affect the disease outcome.

Cette etude s’interesse aux debuts des mooc et en particulier a une formation a distance proposee sur facebook. Quelle est la potentialite d’apprentissage reel de ce type de formation collective sur un reseau social ? Les conditions pour apprendre sont-elles reunies ? Est-il possible de creer une communaute d’apprentissage dans un tel contexte ? Nous cherchons a repondre a ces questions a partir de l’etude des aspects qui sont convoques dans les travaux a la croisee des sciences du langage et de la didactique. Nous discutons egalement des ajustements qui ont ete realises depuis pour permettre des echanges qui separent clairement les usages prives des usages educatifs ad hoc.

Ultrasound (US) guided needle positioning is safer than anatomical landmark techniques for central venous access. Hand-eye coordination and execution time depend on the professional's ability, previous training and personal skills. Needle guidance positioning systems (GPS) may theoretically reduce execution time and facilitate needle positioning in specific targets, thus improving patient comfort and safety. Three groups of healthcare professionals (41 anaesthesiologists and intensivists, 41 residents in anaesthesiology and intensive care, 39 nurse anaesthetists) were included and required to perform 3 tasks (positioning the tip of a needle in three different targets in a silicon phantom) by using successively a conventional US-guided needle positioning and a needle GPS. We measured execution times to perform the tasks, hand-eye coordination and the number of repositioning occurrences or errors in handling the needle or the probe. Without the GPS system, we observed a significant inter-individual difference for execution time (P

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We studied 11 new kindreds with primary pigmented nodular adrenocortical disease (PPNAD) or Carney complex (CNC) and found that 82% of the kindreds had PRKAR1A gene defects (including seven novel inactivating mutations), most of which led to nonsense mRNA and, thus, were not expressed in patients' cells. However, a previously undescribed base substitution in intron 6 (exon 6 IVS +1G--T) led to exon 6 skipping and an expressed shorter PRKAR1A protein. The mutant protein was present in patients' leukocytes and tumors, and in vitro studies indicated that the mutant PRKAR1A activated cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA) signaling at the nuclear level. This is the first demonstration of an inactivating PRKAR1A mutation being expressed at the protein level and leading to stimulation of the PKA pathway in CNC patients. Along with the lack of allelic loss at the PRKAR1A locus in most of the tumors from this kindred, these data suggest that alteration of PRKAR1A function (not only its complete loss) is sufficient for augmenting PKA activity leading to tumorigenesis in tissues affected by CNC.

Clostridium difficileinfection (CDI) is intricately linked to the health of the gastrointestinal tract and its indigenous microbiota. In this study, we assessed whether fecal excretion of host DNA is associated with CDI development. Assuming that shedding of epithelial cell increases in the inflamed intestine, we used human DNA excretion as a marker of intestinal insult. Whole-genome shotgun sequencing was employed to quantify host DNA excretion and evaluate bacterial content in fecal samples collected from patients with incipient CDI, hospitalized controls, and healthy subjects. Human DNA excretion was significantly increased in patients admitted to the hospital for a gastrointestinal ailment, as well as prior to an episode of CDI. In multivariable analyses, human read abundance was independently associated with CDI development. Host DNA proportions were negatively correlated with intestinal microbiota diversity.EnterococcusandEscherichiawere enriched in patients excreting high quantities of human DNA, whileRuminococcusandOdoribacterwere depleted. These findings suggest that intestinal inflammation can occur prior to CDI development and may influence patient susceptibility to CDI. The quantification of human DNA in feces could serve as a simple and noninvasive approach to assess bowel inflammation and identify patients at risk of CDI.

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Discriminatory genotyping methods for the analysis of Escherichia coli other than O157:H7 are necessary for public health-related activities. A new multi-locus variable number tandem repeat analysis protocol is presented; this method achieves an index of discrimination of 99.5% and is reproducible and valid when tested on a collection of 836 diverse E. coli.

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