Comparison of two Phaeodactylum tricornutum ecotypes under nitrogen starvation and resupply reveals distinct lipid accumulation strategies but a common degradation process

IntroductionPhaeodactylum tricornutum is a model species frequently used to study lipid metabolism in diatoms. When exposed to a nutrient limitation or starvation, diatoms are known to accumulate neutral lipids in cytoplasmic lipid droplets (LDs). Those lipids are produced partly de novo and partly from the recycle of plastid membrane lipids. Under a nitrogen resupply, the accumulated lipids are catabolized, a phenomenon about which only a few data are available. Various strains of P. tricornutum have been isolated around the world that may differ in lipid accumulation patterns.MethodsTo get further information on this topic, two genetically distant ecotypes of P. tricornutum (Pt1 and Pt4) have been cultivated under nitrogen deprivation during 11 days followed by a resupply period of 3 days. The importance of cytoplasmic LDs relative to the plastid was assessed by a combination of confocal laser scanning microscopy and cell volume estimation using bright field microscopy pictures.Results and discussionWe observed that in addition to a basal population of small LDs (0.005 μm3 to 0.7 μm3) present in both strains all along the experiment, Pt4 cells immediately produced two large LDs (up to 12 μm3 after 11 days) while Pt1 cells progressively produced a higher number of smaller LDs (up to 7 μm3 after 11 days). In this work we showed that, in addition to intracellular available space, lipid accumulation may be limited by the pre-starvation size of the plastid as a source of membrane lipids to be recycled. After resupplying nitrogen and for both ecotypes, a fragmentation of the largest LDs was observed as well as a possible migration of LDs to the vacuoles that would suggest an autophagic degradation. Altogether, our results deepen the understanding of LDs dynamics and open research avenues for a better knowledge of lipid degradation in diatoms

Effects of eight neuropsychiatric copy number variants on human brain structure

Many copy number variants (CNVs) confer risk for the same range of neurodevelopmental symptoms and psychiatric conditions including autism and schizophrenia. Yet, to date neuroimaging studies have typically been carried out one mutation at a time, showing that CNVs have large effects on brain anatomy. Here, we aimed to characterize and quantify the distinct brain morphometry effects and latent dimensions across 8 neuropsychiatric CNVs. We analyzed T1-weighted MRI data from clinically and non-clinically ascertained CNV carriers (deletion/duplication) at the 1q21.1 (n = 39/28), 16p11.2 (n = 87/78), 22q11.2 (n = 75/30), and 15q11.2 (n = 72/76) loci as well as 1296 non-carriers (controls). Case-control contrasts of all examined genomic loci demonstrated effects on brain anatomy, with deletions and duplications showing mirror effects at the global and regional levels. Although CNVs mainly showed distinct brain patterns, principal component analysis (PCA) loaded subsets of CNVs on two latent brain dimensions, which explained 32 and 29% of the variance of the 8 Cohen’s d maps. The cingulate gyrus, insula, supplementary motor cortex, and cerebellum were identified by PCA and multi-view pattern learning as top regions contributing to latent dimension shared across subsets of CNVs. The large proportion of distinct CNV effects on brain morphology may explain the small neuroimaging effect sizes reported in polygenic psychiatric conditions. Nevertheless, latent gene brain morphology dimensions will help subgroup the rapidly expanding landscape of neuropsychiatric variants and dissect the heterogeneity of idiopathic conditions

Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

Funder: European Society of Intensive Care Medicine; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100013347Funder: Flemish Society for Critical Care NursesAbstract: Purpose: Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are particularly susceptible to developing pressure injuries. Epidemiologic data is however unavailable. We aimed to provide an international picture of the extent of pressure injuries and factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries in adult ICU patients. Methods: International 1-day point-prevalence study; follow-up for outcome assessment until hospital discharge (maximum 12 weeks). Factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injury and hospital mortality were assessed by generalised linear mixed-effects regression analysis. Results: Data from 13,254 patients in 1117 ICUs (90 countries) revealed 6747 pressure injuries; 3997 (59.2%) were ICU-acquired. Overall prevalence was 26.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 25.9–27.3). ICU-acquired prevalence was 16.2% (95% CI 15.6–16.8). Sacrum (37%) and heels (19.5%) were most affected. Factors independently associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries were older age, male sex, being underweight, emergency surgery, higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, Braden score 3 days, comorbidities (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immunodeficiency), organ support (renal replacement, mechanical ventilation on ICU admission), and being in a low or lower-middle income-economy. Gradually increasing associations with mortality were identified for increasing severity of pressure injury: stage I (odds ratio [OR] 1.5; 95% CI 1.2–1.8), stage II (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.4–1.9), and stage III or worse (OR 2.8; 95% CI 2.3–3.3). Conclusion: Pressure injuries are common in adult ICU patients. ICU-acquired pressure injuries are associated with mainly intrinsic factors and mortality. Optimal care standards, increased awareness, appropriate resource allocation, and further research into optimal prevention are pivotal to tackle this important patient safety threat

Correction to: Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

The original version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake

Etude 3D d’un tourbillon dans un champ de houle par holographie numérique

This thesis deals with the use of digital in-line holography to the study of a vortex dynamics under water waves. As waves propagate above an immersed structure, vortices are formed at its edges. Those vortices have a strong impact on the flow dynamics in the vicinity of structures and can cause scouring or damages. Thus we are interested in the three-dimensional dynamics of those vortices which are quickly distorted, leading to their breakup. To study this dynamics, the physical problem is modelled by a basic geometry, a thin plate is set under monochromatic waves. Experiments are conduct within a wave flume of dimensions 10 m long and 30 cm width. To measure the 3D flow the use of an innovative technique, the digital holography which allow a 3D3C measure with only one camera and a laser diode. Its main limitations are the size of the cross-section of the sample volume and the number of particles allowed in it. However, digital holography can localize particles with a pixel sized resolution within the plans parallel to the CCD sensor and a depth resolution in the order of 3 to 5 times the particles diameter. Those measurements enable to follow the path of each particle inside the sample volume. Finally, acquisition by stereo particle image velocimetry confirms the velocities measured by holography and are used to study the interaction between the vortex and the combined action of free surface and the plate.Cette thèse traite de l'application de l'holographie numérique dans l'axe à l'étude d'une dynamique tourbillonnaire dans un champ de houle. Lors du passage de la houle au dessus d'une structure immergée, des tourbillons se forment à ses extrémités. Ces tourbillons ont un impact fort sur la dynamique proche des structures et peuvent engendrer des problèmes d'affouillement ou de vieillissement prématuré. On s'intéresse donc à la dynamique tridimensionnelle de ces tourbillons qui sont rapidement l'objet de déformations menant à leur éclatement. Pour étudier ce mécanisme, le problème est modélisé par une géométrie simple, une plaque soumise à une houle monochromatique. Les expériences sont menées dans un canal à houle de 10 m de long et 30 cm de large. Pour mesurer la dynamique 3D on utilise une technique innovante, l'holographie numérique qui permet une mesure 3D3C au moyen d'une diode laser et d'une seule caméra. Ses principales limitations résident dans la dimension de la section du volume de mesure, qui est de l'ordre de la surface du capteur CCD, ainsi que du nombre de particules présentes dans le champ. Toutefois, l'holographie permet une résolution de l'ordre de la taille d'un pixel dans le plan du capteur CCD et de 3 à 5 fois le diamètre de la particule suivie dans la direction orthogonale au capteur. Ces mesures permettent de suivre individuellement plusieurs centaines de particules dans le champ et d'en mesurer les vitesses. Enfin des mesures complémentaires en stéréo-piv confirment les résultats obtenues par holographie et permettent l'étude du confinement du tourbillon sous l'action combinée de la surface libre et de la plaque

3D study of a vortex dynamics under water waves by digital in-line holography

Cette thèse traite de l'application de l'holographie numérique dans l'axe à l'étude d'une dynamique tourbillonnaire dans un champ de houle. Lors du passage de la houle au dessus d'une structure immergée, des tourbillons se forment à ses extrémités. Ces tourbillons ont un impact fort sur la dynamique proche des structures et peuvent engendrer des problèmes d'affouillement ou de vieillissement prématuré. On s'intéresse donc à la dynamique tridimensionnelle de ces tourbillons qui sont rapidement l'objet de déformations menant à leur éclatement. Pour étudier ce mécanisme, le problème est modélisé par une géométrie simple, une plaque soumise à une houle monochromatique. Les expériences sont menées dans un canal à houle de 10 m de long et 30 cm de large. Pour mesurer la dynamique 3D on utilise une technique innovante, l'holographie numérique qui permet une mesure 3D3C au moyen d'une diode laser et d'une seule caméra. Ses principales limitations résident dans la dimension de la section du volume de mesure, qui est de l'ordre de la surface du capteur CCD, ainsi que du nombre de particules présentes dans le champ. Toutefois, l'holographie permet une résolution de l'ordre de la taille d'un pixel dans le plan du capteur CCD et de 3 à 5 fois le diamètre de la particule suivie dans la direction orthogonale au capteur. Ces mesures permettent de suivre individuellement plusieurs centaines de particules dans le champ et d'en mesurer les vitesses. Enfin des mesures complémentaires en stéréo-piv confirment les résultats obtenues par holographie et permettent l'étude du confinement du tourbillon sous l'action combinée de la surface libre et de la plaque.This thesis deals with the use of digital in-line holography to the study of a vortex dynamics under water waves. As waves propagate above an immersed structure, vortices are formed at its edges. Those vortices have a strong impact on the flow dynamics in the vicinity of structures and can cause scouring or damages. Thus we are interested in the three-dimensional dynamics of those vortices which are quickly distorted, leading to their breakup. To study this dynamics, the physical problem is modelled by a basic geometry, a thin plate is set under monochromatic waves. Experiments are conduct within a wave flume of dimensions 10 m long and 30 cm width. To measure the 3D flow the use of an innovative technique, the digital holography which allow a 3D3C measure with only one camera and a laser diode. Its main limitations are the size of the cross-section of the sample volume and the number of particles allowed in it. However, digital holography can localize particles with a pixel sized resolution within the plans parallel to the CCD sensor and a depth resolution in the order of 3 to 5 times the particles diameter. Those measurements enable to follow the path of each particle inside the sample volume. Finally, acquisition by stereo particle image velocimetry confirms the velocities measured by holography and are used to study the interaction between the vortex and the combined action of free surface and the plate

Subcritical transition to turbulence in a sudden circular pipe expansion

International audienceThe results of experiments on the flow through a circular sudden expansion pipe at moderate Reynolds numbers are presented. At five diameters upstream of the expansion, laminar flow was disturbed by a (constant) crossflow jet, a suction or a (periodic in-out) synthetic jet from a hole on the wall. When the disturbance exceeded a critical value of the control parameter depending on the Reynolds numbers, localised turbulent patches formed downstream the expansion at fixed axial positions. For the crossflow jet, the onset of turbulent patches is related to the velocity ratio of the mean jet velocity to the mean pipe velocity. At low velocity ratio, turbulent patches formed intermittently. For the suction disturbance, the flow experienced a strong asymmetry of the recirculation region and required a larger velocity ratio before the turbulent patch formed. For the synthetic jet, the amplification of wavy disturbances into turbulent patches and their axial positions are controlled by the driving frequency. Overall, these results suggest the existence of different mechanisms for the development of localised turbulent patches

Effect of nonuniform wall heating on the three-dimensional secondary instability of falling films

Secondary three-dimensional instabilities of nearly sinusoidal waves on vertically falling and nonuniformly heated films are studied by using a long-wave evolution equation. Two-dimensional waves are unstable with respect to transverse modulations with sufficiently long spanwise wavelength. Two distinct three-dimensional modes of instability are examined: a synchronous mode which does not alter the wave number of the basic two-dimensional waves and a subharmonic mode with one-half of the streamwise wave number. According to a Floquet analysis, the subharmonic instability is most likely to be dominant for streamwise wavenumbers close to the neutral curve. The three-dimensional instability mechanism depends on film heating. The secondary growth rate increases (decreases) with increasing (decreasing) film heating downstream, but the contribution of thermocapillarity to synchronous and subharmonic instabilities is different.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Data pretreatment and multivariate analyses for ochre sourcing: Application to Leopard Cave (Erongo, Namibia)

International audienceUsually referred to as ‘ochre’ or ‘pigment’ in archaeological contexts, ferruginous rocks were commonly exploited during the Later Stone Age in southern Africa. While ochre could lead to crucial inferences about socio-cultural behaviours of past populations, the provenance and the procurement strategies of this material in LSA contexts, as well as its association to rock art remain largely understudied. In the present study, seventeen ochre sources from five geological zones in north-central Namibia and 41 archaeological ochre pieces discovered in the stratigraphic sequence of the Later Stone Age site of Leopard Cave, Erongo Mountains - Namibia, were analysed by ICP-OES and ICP-MS/MS. Geochemical data coupled to data pre-treatment considerations and multivariate statistical analyses demonstrate that archaeological ochres were both collected locally and regionally from more distant sources. Beyond shedding new light on ochre provenance for rock art in north-central Namibia during the Later Stone Age, our data provide new insight into the mobility of past populations and the interactions existing between distinct rock art areas in north-central Namibia

A digital holography set-up for 3D vortex flow dynamics

International audienc