Modélisation de la turbulence dans les nuages convectifs profonds aux résolutions kilométrique et hectométrique

Une étude de sensibilité aux échelles kilométriques et hectométriques de simulations idéalisées de convection profonde montre qu’une résolution horizontale minimale de 1 km est nécessaire pour commencer à bien représenter les structures convectives et qu'il faut améliorer la turbulence dans les nuages convectifs. Une simulation LES (50 m de résolution) d'un nuage convectif profond permet d’obtenir les flux turbulents de référence, dégradés ensuite à différentes résolutions (2, 1 et 0.5 km), et d'évaluer ainsi la paramétrisation actuelle de la turbulence au sein des nuages convectifs. Les défauts mis en évidence sont une énergie cinétique turbulente insuffisante, liée à une sous-estimation de la production thermique notamment dans des zones à contre-gradient, et des vitesses verticales trop fortes. Une paramétrisation alternative de certains flux turbulents, basée sur des gradients horizontaux, montre une meilleure partition entre mouvements résolus et sous-maille à 1 km de résolution

Radiobiologie avec des neutrons rapides

Des cellules d’un cancer humain (mélanome) particulièrement résistant à des doses classiques de radiothérapie médicale (rayons X de haute énergie) ont été irradiées avec des neutrons de 14 MeV à des doses étagées de 5 centiGrays (cGy) jusqu’à 1,12 Gray (Gy), à deux débits de doses, l’un très faible (0,8 mGy mn-1), l’autre modéré (40 mGy mn-1). L’effet biologique a été étudié par deux techniques : analyse de la survie cellulaire et des anomalies chromosomiques. Un aspect inhabituel de la forme de la courbe de survie a été mis en évidence au très faible débit de dose : mort cellulaire aiguë à 5 cGy suivie d’un plateau de survie de 10 à 32,5 cGy. Le taux d’aberrations chromosomiques induites suit lui-même un plateau au très faible débit de dose, de 10 à 30 cGy. Ces phénomènes disparaissent à plus fort débit de dose, ce qui suggère l’existence d’un seuil de déclenchement de la réparation cellulaire et une saturation vers 35 cGy. Ces résultats ont un intérêt pour la radiobiologie des neutrons et la radioprotection

The tumoral A genotype of the MGMT rs34180180 single-nucleotide polymorphism in aggressive gliomas is associated with shorter patients' survival

Malignant gliomas are the most common primary brain tumors. Grade III and IV gliomas harboring wild-type IDH1/2 are the most aggressive. In addition to surgery and radiotherapy, concomitant and adjuvant chemotherapy with temozolomide (TMZ) significantly improves overall survival (OS). The methylation status of the O-6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) promoter is predictive of TMZ response and a prognostic marker of cancer outcome. However, the promoter regions the methylation of which correlates best with survival in aggressive glioma and whether the promoter methylation status predictive value could be refined or improved by other MGMT-associated molecular markers are not precisely known. In a cohort of 87 malignant gliomas treated with radiotherapy and TMZ-based chemotherapy, we retrospectively determined the MGMT promoter methylation status, genotyped single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the promoter region and quantified MGMT mRNA expression level. Each of these variables was correlated with each other and with the patients' OS. We found that methylation of the CpG sites within MGMT exon 1 best correlated with OS and MGMT expression levels, and confirmed MGMT methylation as a stronger independent prognostic factor compared to MGMT transcription levels. Our main finding is that the presence of only the A allele at the rs34180180 SNP in the tumor was significantly associated with shorter OS, independently of the MGMT methylation status. In conclusion, in the clinic, rs34180180 SNP genotyping could improve the prognostic value of the MGMT promoter methylation assay in patients with aggressive glioma treated with TMZ.ARC -Fondation ARC pour la Recherche sur le Cancer(EML20120904843

Convective-scale perturbation growth across the spectrum of convective regimes

Convection-permitting ensembles have led to improved forecasts of many atmospheric phenomena. However, to fully utilize these forecasts the dependence of predictability on synoptic conditions needs to be understood. In this study, convective regimes are diagnosed based on a convective timescale which identifies the degree to which convection is in equilibrium with the large-scale forcing. Six convective cases are examined in a convection-permitting ensemble constructed using the Met Office Unified Model. The ensemble members were generated using small-amplitude buoyancy perturbations added into the boundary layer, which can be considered to represent turbulent fluctuations close to the gridscale. Perturbation growth is shown to occur on different scales with an order of magnitude difference between the regimes (O(1 km) for cases closer to non-equilibrium convection and O(10 km) for cases closer to equilibrium convection). This difference reflects the fact that cell locations are essentially random in the equilibrium events after the first 12 h of the forecast, indicating a more rapid upscale perturbation growth compared to the non-equilibrium events. Furthermore, large temporal variability is exhibited in all perturbation growth diagnostics for the nonequilibrium regime. Two boundary condition driven cases are also considered and show similar characteristics to the non-equilibrium cases, implying that caution is needed to interpret the timescale when initiation is not within the domain. Further understanding of perturbation growth within the different regimes could lead to a better understanding of where ensemble design improvements can be made beyond increasing the model resolution and could improve interpretation of forecasts

WRF‐TEB: implementation and evaluation of the coupled Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) and Town Energy Balance (TEB) model

Urban land surface processes need to be represented to inform future urban‐climate and building‐energy projections. Here, the single layer urban canopy model Town Energy Balance (TEB) is coupled to the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model to create WRF‐TEB. The coupling method is described generically, implemented into software, and the issue of scientific reproducibility is addressed by releasing all code and data with a Singularity image. The coupling is implemented modularly and verified by an integration test. Results show no detectable errors in the coupling. Separately, a meteorological evaluation is undertaken using observations from Toulouse, France. The latter evaluation, during an urban canopy layer heat island episode, shows reasonable ability to estimate turbulent heat flux densities and other meteorological quantities. We conclude that new model couplings should make use of integration tests as meteorological evaluations by themselves are insufficient, given that errors are difficult to attribute because of the interplay between observational errors and multiple parameterization schemes (e.g. radiation, microphysics, boundary layer)

IL-6 gene amplification and expression in human glioblastomas

The aggressiveness of human gliomas appears to be correlated with the upregulation of interleukin 6 (IL-6) gene. Using quantitative PCR methods, we detected amplification and expression of the IL-6 gene in 5 of 5 primary glioblastoma samples and in 4 of 5 glioblastoma cell lines. This finding suggests that the amplification of IL-6 gene may be a common feature in glioblastomas and may contribute to the IL-6 over-expression. © 2001 Cancer Research Campaign http://www.bjcancer.co

Major molecular response to imatinib in a patient with chronic myeloid leukemia expressing a novel form of e8a2 BCR-ABL transcript.

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