Distribution and identification of molecular interactions between tomato roots and bacterial biofilms

Poster (2013, June 12)

Some non-pathogenic microorganisms evolving in the root micro-environment can trigger a positive effect on plant, increasing host defense against disease or/and directly inhibiting growth of pathogen in ... [more ▼]

Some non-pathogenic microorganisms evolving in the root micro-environment can trigger a positive effect on plant, increasing host defense against disease or/and directly inhibiting growth of pathogen in soil (1). To initiate both phenomena leading to biocontrol activity, microorganisms use plant exudates to grow on roots and to produce in-situ active compounds. In Bacilli, cyclic lipopeptides of the surfactin, iturin and fengycin families represent important antibiotics involved in biocontrol (2). Recent studies in microbiology allowed a better understanding of plant microorganism interactions but few has been done at the molecular level. In this study, MALDI MS imaging has been used to study the nature of the secreted lipopeptide molecules, their relative quantity and their distribution in the root’s environment.Disinfected tomato seeds were first germinated at 28°C in sterile conditions for germination. Seedlings were then placed in Petri dish on ITO glass slide recovered with a thin layer of plant nutritive solution containing 1,75% of agar and treated with freshly-grown cells of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens S499. Petri dishes were incubated at 28°C with a 16h photoperiod. Different growth / incubation durations were studied: 10/3; 13/7; 21/14 and 39/32. For MALDI imaging experiments, the ITO slide was removed from the agar and dried in a dessiccator under vacuum. (HCCA, 5mg/mL in ACN/0.2% TFA 70:30) was used as matrix. UltraFlex II TOF/TOF and Solarix FT-ICR mass spectrometers were used to record molecular cartographies and perform MS/MS experiments for structural analysis purposes. The average mass spectra recorded around the tomato root (2-3 mm on both sides of the root) showed that lipopeptides were major compounds detected on the agar. The relative intensity of lipopeptides families varied with respect to the age of the root/biofilm system. In the 10/3 system, 3 homologues of surfactins were essentially detected (C13, C14 and C15), with very few iturins and fengycins. Their localizations were identical, whatever the considered homologue. Then the production of iturin and fengycin families increases in older systems (13/7 and 21/14) and a novel homologue of surfactin is detected (C12). Some variations in localizations within families may be observed (around the root or at the close vicinity of it in function of the considered homologue or alkali adduct). Then for the oldest system we studied, iturins and fengycins are not detected anymore and the localization of surfactins is less precise. In the 39/32 system, we also detected unknown compounds at 986.6, 1000.6, 1014.7 and 1028.7 m/z. The mass range of these compounds allied to the mass difference between two consecutive ion peaks let us think that these unknown compounds could be a new lipopeptide family. Tandem mass spectrometry experiments, performed on the dried culture medium, allowed to partially sequence these new lipopeptides. MS/MS results allied to exact mass measurements and isotopic pattern simulation give good confidence in the chemical structure we suggest. Nevertheless, to fully identify these new variants of surfactin, micro-extractions followed by (LC)-nano-ESI-MS/MS using a LESA module are in progress. MALDI Mass Spectrometry Imaging becomes a tool to decipher inter-species molecular communication. [less ▲]

Sustainable housing in Vietnam: Climate responsive design strategies to optimize thermal comfort

Doctoral thesis (2013)

Housing issue in Vietnam is still a big concern as in 2008, 72.2% of the existing housing was semi-permanent or temporary and 89.2% of the poor did not have a permanent shelter. As a response to ... [more ▼]

Housing issue in Vietnam is still a big concern as in 2008, 72.2% of the existing housing was semi-permanent or temporary and 89.2% of the poor did not have a permanent shelter. As a response to sustainability, the global aim of this thesis is to develop design strategies toward comfortable, energy-efficient housing with acceptable building cost. Occupants’ thermal comfort is the key assessment criterion throughout the research. <br />First of all, the thesis develops a thermal comfort model for Vietnamese people living in naturally ventilated buildings through the data from field surveys around South-East Asia. This comfort model is then validated by survey data in Vietnam in 2012. <br />A new simple climate analysis tool is developed, used to analyze the climate of 3 regions in question and to draw preliminary design guidelines. A comprehensive study on climate responsive design strategies of vernacular housing in Vietnam is also carried out. The results to some extend reveal the remaining values of vernacular architecture and provide valuable lessons for modern applications. <br />Three most common housing prototypes in Vietnam are selected. Afterward a comprehensive framework is implemented to derive thermal performances of 3 typical housing types. Various techniques (in situ monitoring, building thermal simulation, CFD and airflow network model, numerical model calibration, parametric simulation method) are employed to improve the thermal performances and natural ventilation of these houses. <br />The sensitivity of building performance to the design variables is outlined by Monte Carlo-based sensitivity analysis. The thermal performances of the reference cases are optimized using the simulation-based optimization method and the most influential design variables. Optimization results show the best combinations of design strategies for each climatic region. The performances of the optimal solutions are compared with the references, providing an insight of the efficiency of this approach in building design. <br />Finally, the different objectives yielded in this thesis are summarized. The possible future extensions of this research are outlined. [less ▲]

Revue de la littérature - Dépression, activation comportementale et processus psychologiques

Poster (2013, June 11)

Depression is a syndrome from which 12% of men and 20% women suffer. Behavioral activation (AC) is a structured and brief psychotherapeutic procedure which has shown its efficacy in the treatment of ... [more ▼]

Depression is a syndrome from which 12% of men and 20% women suffer. Behavioral activation (AC) is a structured and brief psychotherapeutic procedure which has shown its efficacy in the treatment of depression. It follows two objectives: 1. increase engagement in activities associated with feelings of pleasure and/or control; 2. reduce involvement in activities maintaining negative affects or increasing their risk. This psychotherapeutic approach is composed of different tools such as psychoeducation and activities monitoring. After completing a BA program, subjects reported significantly less anxiety and depression symptoms, but studies haven't focussed on the improvement of psychological processes (PP) which are often biased in anxiety and depressive disorders (eg, avoidance and ruminations). This literature review presents PP on which BA could have an impact. [less ▲]

Effect of head-to-head addition in vinyl acetate controlled radical polymerization: why is Co(acac)2-mediated polymerization so much better?

in Macromolecules (2013), 46(11), 4303-4312

The controlled polymerization of vinyl acetate has been recently achieved by several techniques, but PVAc with targeted Mn and low dispersity up to very high monomer conversions and high degrees of ... [more ▼]

The controlled polymerization of vinyl acetate has been recently achieved by several techniques, but PVAc with targeted Mn and low dispersity up to very high monomer conversions and high degrees of polymerization was only obtained with Co(acac)2 as controlling agent in the so-called CMRP, a type of organometallic mediated radical polymerization (OMRP). Other techniques (including ATRP, ITP, TERP, and RAFT/MADIX) have shown a more or less pronounced slowdown in the polymerization kinetics, which was attributed to the higher strength of the C−X bond between the radical PVAc chain and the trapping agent (X) in the dormant species and to a consequent slower reactivation after a less frequent head-to-head monomer addition. The reason for the CMRP exception is clarified by the present contribution. First, a detailed investigation by 1H, 13C and multiplicity-edited HSQC and DEPT-135 NMR of the PVAc obtained by CMRP, in comparison with a regular polymer made by free radical polymerization under the same conditions, has revealed that Co(acac)2 does not significantly alter the fraction of head-to-head sequences in the polymer backbone and that there is no accumulation of Co(acac)2-capped chains with a head-to-head ω end. Hence, both dormant chains (following the head-to-head and the head-to-tail monomer additions) must be reactivated at similar rates. A DFT study shows that this is possible because the dormant chains are stabilized not only by the C−Co σ bond but also by formation of a chelate ring through coordination of the ω monomer carbonyl group. The head-to-head dormant chain contains an inherently stronger C−Co bond but forms a weaker 6-membered chelate ring, whereas the weaker C−Co bond in the head-to-tail dormant chain is compensated by a stronger 5-membered chelate ring. Combination of the two effects leads to similar activation enthalpies, as verified by DFT calculations using a variety of local, gradient-corrected, hybrid and “ad hoc” functionals (BPW91, B3PW91, BPW91*, M06 and M06L). While the BDE(C−X) of model H-VAc−X molecules [X = Cl, I, MeTe, EtOC(S)S and Co(acac)2] are functional dependent, the BDE difference between head-to-head and head-to-tail dormant chain models is almost functional insensitive, with values of 5−9 kcal/mol for the ATRP, ITP and TERP models, 3−6 for the RAFT/MADIX model, and around zero for CMRP. [less ▲]

Vécu des conjoints face au cancer de leur partenaire - Besoins psychosociaux et dimensions du rôle de proche aidant principal

Conference (2013, June 11)

Cancer causes cognitive, emotional and behavioral reactions in patients who are suffering from it, but what about their spouses? This study aims to describe, among spouses in good physical health ... [more ▼]

Cancer causes cognitive, emotional and behavioral reactions in patients who are suffering from it, but what about their spouses? This study aims to describe, among spouses in good physical health, different facets of their caregiver's role, their emotional distress and their psychosocial needs (PN). Participants were recruited with the prior consent of the patient. These assessments were administered: sociodemographic questionnaire, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Caregiver Reaction Assessment, Perception of Inequity, Psychosocial Needs Inventory. Thirty-seven spouses (23 men, 14 women) participated in this study. Main scores highlight a positive self-esteem as a caregiver and a high level of anxiety. PN concern especially interactions with healthcare professionals, information and support. [less ▲]

Neurobiologie de l'addiction

in Revue Médicale de Liège (2013), 68(5-6), 211-217

Melting of a confined monolayer of magnetized beads

in Physical Review. E : Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics (2013)

Study of bacterial diversity in the topsoil and below the hardpan in an agricultural soil by metagenomics following by two analysis pipelines

Poster (2013, June 10)

On earth, Bacteria are ubiquitous and even present in extreme environments (pH, temperature,…). In soils in particular, bacteria are very abundant (up to 109 cells per gram of soil) but still poorly ... [more ▼]

On earth, Bacteria are ubiquitous and even present in extreme environments (pH, temperature,…). In soils in particular, bacteria are very abundant (up to 109 cells per gram of soil) but still poorly characterized. Thus, it is of paramount importance to use relevant study and analysis procedures to ensure that the results obtained closely reflect the real-life conditions. In the present work, we analyze the bacterial diversity in the topsoil and below the hardpan in an agricultural soil using the metagenomics approach, with the Ion Torrent PGM sequencer. The soil samples was collected at three depths : 10 cm (topsoil), 25 cm (topsoil above the hardpan) and 45 cm (below the hardpan), in a tilled and a no tilled plot. The taxonomic analysis of the reads obtained are carried out according to two different procedures with the RDP classifier program and with a confidence score threshold of 0 and 0.99. The 0 threshold is used to assign a species to all reads, each read being therefore assigned to its most closest known species. The threshold of 0.99 enables us to focus on reads being assigned to a species with a high degree of confidence. In this case, each read is assigned to the most specific rank having a confidence score higher than 0.99. The bacterial diversity was then compared between the different conditions. Results obtained demonstrate that the bacterial communities were not the same in the two horizons. For example, some classes of Acidobacteria were up to 11 fold more numerous in topsoil while others was until 12 fold more represented below the hardpan. The biomass and the bacterial diversity (Shannon index) were also greatly different between the two depths. [less ▲]

A Simplified Procedure to Assess the Strength of a Ship Impacting a Lock Miter Gate

in Proceedings of the ASME 2013 32nd International Conference on Ocean, Offshore and Arctic Engineering (2013, June 09)

De la perversion au pervers ; du sexuel à l’adaptatif

Scientific conference (2013, June 08)