Mettre en place une expérimentation en forêt ne s'improvise pas. Les embûches sont multiples et les échecs sur le long terme fréquents. Le défi du changement climatique et les nombreuses questions ...qu'il pose au forestier relance l'intérêt pour l'expérimentation. Les conditions économiques, toujours plus tendues, impliquent cependant d'éviter tout gaspillage de temps, d'énergie et de moyens. Ce guide arrive donc à point pour aider l'expérimentateur à faire face au mieux à ce nouveau contexte qui impose un gain d'efficacité et une harmonisation des méthodes entre organismes. Il satisfera aussi les enseignants, étudiants, gestionnaires et tous ceux qui s'interrogent sur la façon d'analyser le fonctionnement d'un peuplement forestier. Exemples et modèles pratiques, conseils concrets, détails des calculs, bases statistiques... Tout ce qui touche à l'expérimentation forestière est méticuleusement passé en revue dans cet ouvrage à la fois synthétique et complet. Les auteurs se sont par ailleurs entourés des meilleurs spécialistes qui ont apporté leurs compétences, chacun dans leur domaine.
Ce travail décrit les expérimentations de neutralisation de ruisseaux acides par chaulage de bassin versantréalisées au cours de deux expériences dans les Vosges. Ces travaux sont mis en relief avec ...les connaissancesprésentes dans la littérature à l’échelle nationale et internationale. L’effet du chaulage d’un bassinversant sur la composition chimique du ruisseau qui le draine dépend de la solubilité du produit et desquantités utilisées, de l’acidité initiale des sols et de l’épaisseur du substrat drainé par les eaux de pluieavant d’atteindre le ruisseau. Pour des quantités de l’ordre de deux tonnes de calcaire magnésien ou dedolomie à l’hectare, les effets sont rapides si les sols sont peu épais et très lents s’ils sont épais. Les effetssont d’autant plus marqués que les zones humides ont été chaulées, à l’exception des tourbières vraies, dontle chaulage n’a d’autre effet que leur destruction. Cependant, même lorsque l’acidité des ruisseaux estmodérée, la diversité biologique est très lente à se reconstituer. Ces connaissances ont été confirmées dansles Vosges lors de l’apport d’un mélange de deux tonnes de calcaire dolomitique, gypse et KCl à deuxbassins versants. Cet amendement a provoqué une augmentation faible et durable des teneurs en Ca et Mgdes eaux drainant un bassin versant sur granite, dans lequel prédomine un drainage latéral superficiel,provoqué par la présence d’horizons indurés peu perméables à faible profondeur. Sur grès, le Ca et le Mgsolubilisés ont pénétré profondément dans les sols sableux perméables, sans atteindre le ruisseau, en raisonde l’épaisseur et de la porosité de l’arène.
This article describes 2 experiments in the Vosges to neutralize acidic streams by liming the catchment area.These experiments are viewed in the light of current knowledge as reported in the national and internationalliterature. The effect of liming a catchment area on the chemical composition of a stream draining from itdepends on the solubility and quantity of the product used, initial soil acidity and the thickness of thesubstrate drained by rainwater before it reaches the stream. For quantities in the region of two tons of dolomiticlimestone or dolomite per hectare, effects are rapid on shallow soils and very slow on deep ones.Effects are particularly strong when wetlands are limed with the exception of true peat bogs, which are quitesimply destroyed by liming. However, even when streams are moderately acidic, it takes a long time torestore biodiversity. These findings were confirmed in the Vosges when a mixture of two tons of dolomiticlimestone, gypsum and KCl per hectare was applied to two catchment areas. This amendment brought abouta slight but sustained increase in the Ca and Mg of the water draining into the catchment on granite wheredrainage is predominantly lateral and superficial (due to the presence of shallow hardpan horizons thatprevent water from filtering in). On sandstone, soluble Ca and Mg penetrate deeply into the permeable sandysoils but do not reach the stream due to the thickness and porosity of the arenite.
Plastic pollution is a pressing global issue, necessitating a focus on consumer behavior to curb this problem at its source. To effectively promote sustainable practices, communication strategies ...that employ future visions have gained attention. This study examines the effects of a narrative video intervention depicting an optimistic future vision concerning single-use plastic bag consumption in South Africa, compared to a representation of the prevailing
status quo
. Using a preregistered within-subject design, we assess the psychological and emotional responses to two scenarios of which one is illustrating adaptive behaviors toward reduced plastic bag usage, and the other showcasing current consumption patterns. Parametric analyses revealed a shift in emotional states, characterized by a greater experience of positive emotions and a reduced experience of negative emotions following the exposure to the optimistic future scenario video, as compared to the
status quo
video. Moreover, engagement with the optimistic future scenario was associated with higher levels of perceived behavioral control and behavioral intentions. No significant changes were found regarding sense of responsibility. These findings point to the potential of optimistic future visions to influence individuals at psychological and emotional levels. This renders optimistic future vision communication as an effective tool for sustainable behavior change, particularly in relation to the sustainable use of plastic shopping bags.
Single-use plastic bags contribute significantly to the plastic pollution in South Africa posing a serious environmental challenge. Hence, there is a need for comprehensive strategies to reduce ...plastic bag consumption. We report the results of an online workshop aimed to create a positive, shared future vision. The workshop was attended by 12 invited participants from diverse backgrounds and disciplines and utilized a collaborative approach to propose a framework for reducing plastic bag usage during grocery shopping in South Africa. The findings suggest that a combination of economic, structural and behavioral interventions is necessary to promote lasting behavior change, including financial incentives, a broad introduction of more environmentally friendly alternatives, and promoting bag reuse. Additionally, the vision underscored the importance of using social channels such as education and social norms. The invited stakeholders did not endorse conventional approaches such as increasing an already existing levy or implementing a complete ban on plastic bags. They also questioned the introduction of fully recycled plastic bags. Instead, the proposed vision encourages an integrated approach to reducing plastic bag usage involving individual behavior change and community engagement. The development of a creative product such as a video to showcase a future vision offers a powerful tool for communication with further stakeholders and political authorities, to engage with the community and broader population and for inspiring collective action. Overall, the findings have implications for policymakers, business leaders, environmental educators, and individuals committed to reducing plastic pollution and promoting sustainable practices in South Africa.
Context:
Acrodysostosis is a rare skeletal dysplasia that is associated with multiple resistance to G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling hormones in a subset of patients. Acrodysostosis is ...genetically heterogeneous because it results from heterozygous mutations in PRKAR1A or PDE4D, two key actors in the GPCR-cAMP-protein kinase A pathway.
Objective:
Our objective was to identify the phenotypic features that distinguish the two genotypes causing acrodysostosis.
Patients and Methods:
Sixteen unrelated patients with acrodysostosis underwent a candidate-gene approach and were investigated for phenotypic features.
Results:
All patients had heterozygous de novo mutations. Fourteen patients carried a PRKAR1A mutation (PRKAR1A patients), five each a novel PRKAR1A mutation (p.Q285R, p.G289E, p.A328V, p.R335L, or p.Q372X), nine the reported PRKAR1A p.R368X mutation; two patients harbored a mutation in PDE4D (PDE4D patients) (one novel mutation, p.A227S; one reported, p.E590A). All PRKAR1A, but none of the PDE4D mutated patients were resistant to PTH and TSH. Two PRKAR1A patients each with a novel mutation presented a specific pattern of brachydactyly. One PDE4D patient presented with acroskyphodysplasia. Additional phenotypic differences included mental retardation in PDE4D patients. In addition, we report the presence of pigmented skin lesions in PRKAR1A and PDE4D patients, a feature not yet described in the acrodysostosis entity.
Conclusions:
All PRKAR1A and PDE4D patients present similar bone dysplasia characterizing acrodysostosis. Phenotypic differences, including the presence of resistance to GPCR-cAMP signaling hormones in PRKAR1A but not PDE4D patients, indicate phenotype-genotype correlations and highlight the specific contributions of PRKAR1A and PDE4D in cAMP signaling in different tissues.
IgG4-related kidney disease is a major manifestation of IgG4-related disease, a systemic fibroinflammatory disorder. However, the clinical and prognostic kidney-related factors in patients with ...IgG4-related kidney disease are insufficiently defined.
We conducted an observational cohort study using data from 35 sites in two European countries. Clinical, biologic, imaging, and histopathologic data; treatment modalities; and outcomes were collected from medical records. Logistic regression was performed to identify the possible factors related to an eGFR ≤30 ml/min per 1.73 m 2 at the last follow-up. Cox proportional hazards model was performed to assess the factors associated with the risk of relapse.
We studied 101 adult patients with IgG4-related disease with a median follow-up of 24 (11-58) months. Of these, 87 (86%) patients were male, and the median age was 68 (57-76) years. Eighty-three (82%) patients had IgG4-related kidney disease confirmed by kidney biopsy, with all biopsies showing tubulointerstitial involvement and 16 showing glomerular lesions. Ninety (89%) patients were treated with corticosteroids, and 18 (18%) patients received rituximab as first-line therapy. At the last follow-up, the eGFR was below 30 ml/min per 1.73 m 2 in 32% of patients; 34 (34%) patients experienced a relapse, while 12 (13%) patients had died. By Cox survival analysis, the number of organs involved (hazard ratio HR, 1.26; 95% confidence interval CI, 1.01 to 1.55) and low C3 and C4 concentrations (HR, 2.31; 95% CI, 1.10 to 4.85) were independently associated with a higher risk of relapse, whereas first-line therapy with rituximab was protective (HR, 0.22; 95% CI, 0.06 to 0.78). At their last follow-up, 19 (19%) patients had an eGFR ≤30 ml/min per 1.73 m 2 . Age (odd ratio OR, 1.11; 95% CI, 1.03 to 1.20), peak serum creatinine (OR, 2.74; 95% CI, 1.71 to 5.47), and serum IgG4 level ≥5 g/L (OR, 4.46; 95% CI, 1.23 to 19.40) were independently predictive for severe CKD.
IgG4-related kidney disease predominantly affected middle-aged men and manifested as tubulointerstitial nephritis with potential glomerular involvement. Complement consumption and the number of organs involved were associated with a higher relapse rate, whereas first-line therapy with rituximab was associated with lower relapse rate. Patients with high serum IgG4 concentrations (≥5 g/L) had more severe kidney disease.
The VpreB3 gene product was first characterized as an immunoglobulin (Ig) μ heavy chain-binding protein in mouse precursor B (pre-B) cells. Although its function is unknown, it has been proposed to ...participate in the assembly and transport of the pre-B cell receptor. We have identified a VpreB3 orthologous gene in chicken that is located close to the immunoglobulin light chain (LC) gene cluster and specifically expressed in the bursa of Fabricius. By overexpressing VpreB3 in the DT40 IgM+ immature chicken B cell line, we have characterized VpreB3 as an endoplasmic reticulum-resident glycoprotein that binds preferentially to free IgLC. However, binding to IgHC is observed in IgLC-deficient DT40 cells. Interaction of VpreB3 with free IgLC is partly covalent and induces retention of free IgLC in the endoplasmic reticulum, preventing their secretion without affecting IgM surface expression. Our results demonstrate that this evolutionarily conserved molecule may play a role in the regulation of the maturation and secretion of free IgLC in B cells. We discuss possible implications in the regulation of the immune response.
A consecutive series of 107 women with early breast cancer were investigated for coping strategies and disease outcome 5 to 6 years after primary surgical treatment (mastectomy or lumpectomy). Coping ...was assessed several times during a 3-year investigation period by the Zurich and Freiburg Questionnaires of Coping with Illness (ZQCI, FQCI). Data analysis revealed no significant correlations between coping strategies and the target variable “death from breast cancer”. However, significant relations were found between postsurgical tumour size (
p ⩽ 0.01), positive histological node status (
p ⩽ 0.01) and death from breast cancer. The results of a discriminant analysis also indicated that somatic parameters are more important for the course of breast cancer disease than psychological aspects of coping. The role of psychosocial variables for the outcome of cancer disease remains unclear and further studies in this field are necessary.
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