•Scores of structural quality are given to layers detectable in soil profiles.•The method identifies the ‘transition layer’ in the upper subsoil that is often compacted.•Limiting scores for layers ...that require loosening were identified in a range of soils.•Identifying anthropogenic degradation was helped by comparison with reference soils under long-term grassland or forest
Subsoil degradation in agriculture is an increasing problem worldwide, particularly due to compaction caused by heavy machinery. Here, we describe a numeric assessment of subsoil structural quality in relation to soil as a crop growth medium and illustrate its utility with results from compaction experiments and from fields under minimum tillage. The scoring scheme resembles the topsoil visual evaluation of soil structure (VESS) (Guimarães et al., 2011) with more emphasis on examination of the profile wall and of soil fragments. The focus is on identification and evaluation of the anthropic ‘transition layer’ immediately below the topsoil, usually >30cm depth. Layers of contrasting hardness and colour were identified and the overall subsoil quality of each layer was scored from separate, sequential assessments of soil mottling, soil strength, visible soil porosity, the pattern and depth of root penetration and aggregate size and shape using a colour diagnostic flowchart. Use of the method enabled identification of extent and severity of compact transition layers in both well-drained and imperfectly drained soils. Porosity and strength assessments were particularly relevant. Reference soils under forest or long-term grassland helped to distinguish whether subsoil structural quality resulted from the natural soil composition or from degradation by land management. The derived scores may be used to judge the requirement for amelioration by subsoil loosening by mechanical inputs (e.g. deep tillage) and/or natural processes (e.g. shrinkage crack formation). The method was also used to identify differences in subsoil structural quality within fields associated with field traffic levels (Oxisol in Brazil) and with moisture status (Luvisol in France). The focus of SubVESS on structure rather than on texture may not permit recognition of effects such as low water holding capacity that influence agronomic potential. In such cases the more comprehensive evaluation of overall agronomic potential by methods such as the ‘profil cultural’ is required.
Our consortium CESR-LAAS in Toulouse has developed generic technology for Geiger-APD and SiPM. The main feature of these devices is the high homogeneity in breakdown voltage. The work presented here ...describes the model that has been used to design these devices. This also includes the integration into micro-systems, with the ambition in the long term, to develop multiple applications in astrophysics, biology, optical sensing, and above all, imaging systems.
The paper is divided as follows:
1.
An introduction presents the main issues in the physics of silicon avalanche Geiger mode systems.
2.
A section (Geiger mode) divided into two parts. The first part is devoted to the electrical model of the basic device, which provides the response of the Geiger-APD to an incident photon: gain, current, and voltage. The second part presents the production of the model using Simplorer simulation software under VHDL-AMS (VHSIC—Very High Speed Integrated Circuit-Hardware Description Language-Analog and Mixed Signal)
1.
3.
A comparison between our model and that used by Otono et al.
5 followed by a discussion with a special emphasis on presenting the noise model based on the real component made and tested by our consortium.
4.
A conclusion.
Infiltration of the synovium by mononuclear cells, namely lymphocytes and monocytes, is one of the main features of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and is considered to be responsible for the development ...of the disease. In this study in 31 consecutive patients with RA, we investigated whether peripheral blood monocytes exhibited markers of cellular activation related to cell migration. Using flow cytometry with the respective specific antibodies, we studied the expression of integrins CD11a, CD11b, CD11c, CD49d (VLA‐4), and CD49e (VLA‐5) on monocytes from patients with RA and from normal (N) subjects. IL‐1β, IL‐6, and tumour necrosis factor‐alpha (TNF‐α) production by cultured monocytes was measured by immunoassay. Adhesiveness of monocytes was studied on various surfaces (plastic, human fibronectin, gelatin‐coated plasma, subendothelial matrix) and on cultured endothelial cells under basal conditions or after stimulation by IL‐1β. An increased number of CD14+ monocytes (Mo) from RA patients expressed the CD11b molecule (RA Mo = 90.3%, N Mo = 83.4%, P < 0.005). The expression of CD11b on CD14+ monocytes was significantly increased in RA patients (median fluorescence intensity (FI): RA Mo = 145 (range 80–466) units; normal Mo = 95 (range 24–164) units; P < 0.003). Production of extracellular IL‐1β and IL‐6 by RA monocytes was significantly enhanced compared with monocytes from normal subjects (IL‐1β : RA = 2.65 ± 0.91 ng/ml versusN = 1.35 ± 0.85 pg/ml, P < 0.05; IL‐6: RA = 4.83 ± 0.90 ng/ml versusN = 2.40 ± 0.95 ng/ml, P < 0.05). Compared with normal monocytes, RA monocytes exhibited increased adhesion to the various surfaces studied (plastic, P < 0.01; fibronectin, P < 0.01; and gelatin‐coated normal or RA plasma, P < 0.01) as well as to unstimulated (P < 0.01) and IL‐1β‐stimulated endothelial cells (IL‐1β for 4 h, P < 0.05; IL‐1β for 24 h, P < 0.05). In our study, blood monocytes from RA patients exhibited features of activation related to cell adhesion.
The autosomal recessive transmission of Glanzmann's thrombasthenia (GT) and Bernard-Soulier syndrome (BSS), together with requests of families who already had children with these diseases, prompted ...us to investigate the feasibility of their antenatal diagnosis. The preliminary step leading to the early detection of GT or BSS was to characterize, in the normal human fetus, the platelet antigens and glycoproteins (GPs) and to define their normal amounts on the membrane surface. Blood samples from 32 fetuses between 18 to 26 weeks of gestation were collected by direct puncture of the umbilical vein using an ultrasound-guided needle. Polyclonal antibodies from human origin directed against PLA1, Leka antigens, and the GPllb llla complex (IgGL), or murine monoclonal antibodies specific for GPlb (AN51, 6D1), GPllla (AP-3), or GPllb llla (AP-2) were studied using platelet suspension immunofluorescence tests. The binding of each antibody was quantified using a cytofluorograph (Ortho 50H). PLA1 and Leka antigens were expressed in normal amounts on fetal platelets as early as 16 weeks of intrauterine life. The GPllb llla complex quantified by polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies was in the same range in fetuses (lgGL = 427 ± 23 AUF, AP-2 = 459.5 ± 8.5; AP-3 = 536 ± 14) and in adults (IgGL = 420 ± 30; AP-2 = 498 ± 11; AP-3 = 515 ± 13). The platelet binding of antibodies that recognized GPlb was higher in fetuses (AN51 = 491.5 ± 14; 6D1 = 479 ± 15) than in adults (AN51 = 426.5 ± 9; 6D1 = 449 ± 8.7). These results suggest that immunological techniques can be applied as early as 18 weeks of gestation for the antenatal diagnosis of GT and BSS.
The design, manufacture and deployment of embedded systems become increasingly complex and multidisciplinary process. Before the steps of manufacturing and deployment, a simulation and validation ...phase is necessary. Given the increasing complexity of systems such as telecommunications systems, control systems and others, a specific simulation and validation process must take place. This simulation ideally made in a single development environment, should cover different areas and all components of the system. In this paper, we briefly describe the behavioral models of the elements of a large scale wireless sensors network (WSN) used to create our simulator, focusing specifically on the model of the transmission channel, and how we can retrieve results from the behavioral simulator. In side to legacy network simulator, for the testing and modeling of communication protocols, this simulator shouldn't omit WSN specific aspect, in accuracy it covers the modeling of node platforms, protocols, and real world phenomena.
Optimization of water consumption using soil moisture sensor network instrumentation is a challenge for agriculture irrigation. The IRRIS project "IRRigation Ingénierie Système" addresses this ...challenge by the development of a dedicated cylindrical sensor that can be easily buried into the ground. The achieved sensor is able to measure moisture content at different depths (10cm, 30cm, 50cm and 70cm) and thereby estimates the water absorbed by the plant. Through an ISM 869MHz radiofrequency link, data are transmitted to a concentrator in order to adapt the needs in plant irrigation associated to soil properties.
This paper presents an embedded architecture to implement in real time the Inverse Perspective Mapping (IPM) algorithm. The IPM algorithm allows a robot to detect obstacles under the hypothesis that ...the ground is flat, and the definition of an obstacle being anything that has a height above the ground. This algorithm is based on modifying the camera's angle of view to remove the perspective effect for the ground plane. The algorithm is implemented using co-design techniques and validated on a Stratix 3 FPGA. Several approaches proposed to develop an architecture devoted to this algorithm, are compared. Finally the proposed methodology can be extended to many cameras. The algorithm was fully tested for one camera and partially tested for 4 cameras.
We report the immunochemical characterization of a new platelet-specific alloantigen detected using an IgG antibody isolated from the serum of a patient with posttransfusion purpura (PTP). In ...indirect immunoprecipitation experiments, the antibody, termed anti-Lek8, predominantly precipitated glycoprotein (GP) IIb from Triton X-100 lysates of normal human platelets. In an immunoblot procedure, which involved the transfer of platelet polypeptides separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis to nitrocellulose membrane, anti-Lek8 bound exclusively to GP IIb. Under identical conditions, four anti-PIA1 antibodies each reacted with GP IIIa. No binding of anti-Leka IgG occurred to Leka (–) platelets or to their separated polypeptides although GP IIb was normally detected by Coomassie blue staining. After electrophoresis of reduced platelet proteins, the Leka determinant was localized to the IIbα chain. Thus, unlike the PIA1 antigen, the Leka determinant was not destroyed by disulfide reduction. Analysis of platelets from a patient with Glanzmann’s thrombasthenia revealed little or no binding in the GP IIb position. Anti-Leka permitted the identification of 76,000 and 60,000 dalton fragments of GP IIb retained by the platelet following chymotrypsin treatment. Our results further highlight the immunogenicity of the GP IIb-IIIa complex. They also suggest that antibodies against GP IIb can cause the thrombocytopenia observed in PTP and that anti-PIA1 antibodies do not account exclusively for the pathophysiology of this immune disorder.
We show that Id (inhibitor of DNA binding) 2 and Id3, dominant negative members of the helix-loop-helix (HLH) family, interact with the adipocyte determination and differentiation factor 1 ...(ADD1)/sterol regulatory element-binding protein (SREBP) 1c, a transcription factor of the basic HLH-leucine zipper family that controls the expression of several key genes of adipose metabolism. Gel mobility-shift assays performed with in vitro-translated ADD1, Id2 or Id3 proteins and a fatty acid synthase (FAS) promoter oligonucleotide showed evidence for a marked inhibition of the formation of DNA-ADD1 complexes by Id2 or Id3 proteins. Co-immunoprecipitation studies using in vitro-translated proteins demonstrated further the physical interaction of Id and ADD1/SREBP-1c proteins in the absence of DNA. Using the FAS gene as a model of an ADD1-regulated promoter in transiently transfected isolated rat adipocytes or mature 3T3-L1 adipocytes, a potent inhibition of the activity of the FAS-chloramphenicol acetyltransferase reporter gene was observed by overexpression of Id2 or Id3. Reciprocally, co-transfection of Id3 antisense and ADD1 expression vectors in preadipocytes potentiated the ADD1/SREBP-1c effect on the FAS promoter activity. Finally, in the non adipogenic NIH-3T3 cell line, most of the ADD1-mediated trans-activation of the FAS promoter was counteracted by co-transfection of Id2 or Id3 expression vectors. Previous studies have indicated Id gene expression to be down-regulated during adipogenesis Moldes, Lasnier, Fève, Pairault and Djian (1997) Mol. Cell. Biol. 17, 1796-1804. We here demonstrated that there was a dramatic rise of Id2 and Id3 mRNA levels when 3T3-L1 adipocytes or isolated rat fat cells were exposed to lipolytic and anti-lipogenic agents, forskolin and isoproterenol. Taken together, our data show that Id products are functionally involved in modulating ADD1/SREBP-1c transcriptional activity, and thus lipogenesis in adipocytes.
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