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After clean drinking water, vaccination is the most impactful global health intervention. However, development of new vaccines against difficult-to-target diseases is hampered by the lack of diverse adjuvants for human use. Of particular interest, none of the currently available adjuvants induce Th17 cells. Here, we develop and test an improved liposomal adjuvant, termed CAF®10b, that incorporates a TLR-9 agonist. In a head-to-head study in non-human primates (NHPs), immunization with antigen adjuvanted with CAF®10b induced significantly increased antibody and cellular immune responses compared to previous CAF® adjuvants, already in clinical trials. This was not seen in the mouse model, demonstrating that adjuvant effects can be highly species specific. Importantly, intramuscular immunization of NHPs with CAF®10b induced robust Th17 responses that were observed in circulation half a year after vaccination. Furthermore, subsequent instillation of unadjuvanted antigen into the skin and lungs of these memory animals led to significant recall responses including transient local lung inflammation observed by Positron Emission Tomography-Computed Tomography (PET-CT), elevated antibody titers, and expanded systemic and local Th1 and Th17 responses, including >20% antigen-specific T cells in the bronchoalveolar lavage. Overall, CAF®10b demonstrated an adjuvant able to drive true memory antibody, Th1 and Th17 vaccine-responses across rodent and primate species, supporting its translational potential.

International audience; Merapi is a two-sided, paradoxical volcano: on the one hand 1.8 million people live on its flanks. It is one of the most densely populated volcanoes on Earth, with population densities averaging 764 inhabitants per square kilometre within a 10 km radius from the summit. The main reasons for the high densities are land resources and associated livelihoods from agriculture, livestock, sand mining, and tourism. On the other hand, Merapi is also one of the world’s most active volcanoes. Dome-collapse pyroclastic density currents (PDCs) occur every few years (e.g. 1994, 2002, 2006), and more violent explosive episodes are generated with an average recurrence interval of several decades (e.g. 1872, 1930, 2010). Risk management at Merapi is based on volcanic hazard zonation (called KRB I, II, and III, from the less exposed to the most exposed), derived from its eruptive history. Since its first publication by the Volcanological Survey of Indonesia in 1978, the danger map has been updated twice, in 2002 and after the deadly eruption of Merapi in 2010. Most of the information is provided by scientists during the ‘raising awareness program’ phase and achieved in the framework of a Community-Based Disaster Risk Management (CBDRM), which empowers communities with self-developed ways of coping with crises due to natural hazards. In periods of emergency, the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation provides four warning levels of volcanic activity. In 2010, Merapi produced its largest eruption since 1872, damaging around 12,000 buildings, claiming 367 lives, including 200 directly by PDCs, and triggering massive evacuations of up to 400,000 people, as counted in the evacuation camps.

Questions : Which role did historical anthropogenic disturbances play in modifying the natural fire regime? To what extent have they shaped current forest? Do those disturbances have lingering impacts in the present‐day landscape? Are certain tree species related to former land use? Location : eastern Quebec, Canada. Methods : Spatial data on landscape structure, burnt areas, settlements, and forest patches were vectorized on an archival map dating back to 1938. For each landscape class, the total area, the number of polygons, and the proportion of the total landscape occupied by the largest polygon were analyzed according to elevation and to the Euclidean distance from the "settlement" polygons. An index of the spatial link between the landscape classes was calculated, based on the proportions of the perimeter of the polygons of each class shared with each of the other classes. A Kolmogorov–Smirnov test for pooled data was used to obtain the frequency distributions of landscape classes as a function of distance. The association between settlement fires and present‐day vegetation, and more specifically Populus and Betula stands, was tested by superimposing the most recent ecoforest map on the 1938 land‐use map. Distance bands on either side of the 1938 settlement front were delineated to calculate the proportion of each distance class occupied by present‐day aspen and birch stands. Results : Anthropogenic fires generated a recognizable landscape pattern of land use. Burnt areas were mostly located within 2 km from a settlement. Most burnings observed on the 1938 map were human‐induced, based on their spatial connection with the settled areas. Lingering impacts of these 20th‐century fires on present‐day forests were identified using the peculiar spatial distribution of tree species. The presence and spatial distribution of aspen in the present‐day landscape is tightly associated with previously burnt areas. Conclusions : Past land‐use strongly altered the natural fires regime and associated tree species. Current land‐use could potentially lead to increased degraded forest landscapes in the near future. -- Keywords : anthropogenic fires, aspen, boreal forest, land use, North America, Populus, settlement, spatial landscape structure, temperate forest.

International audience; Volcanic risk at Vesuvius is one of the highest in the world due to the ~670,000 inhabitants living in the Red Zone, the area exposed to both pyroclastic flows and tephra fallout, to be evacuated before renewal of any eruptive activity. The national emergency plan for Vesuvius builds its risk zonation on a scenario similar to the last sub-Plinian eruption, which occurred in 1631. This study aims at providing new insights on the geometry of the caldera associated with this historical eruption. The impact of past Vesuvius eruptions on present-day soil CO2 concentration has been investigated by means of an extended geochemical survey carried out for identifying the circulation pathways of hydrothermal fluids inside the volcano. We performed 4018 soil CO2 concentration measurements over the whole Somma-Vesuvius volcanic complex, covering an area of 50 km2. Besides relatively low values, the results show a significant spatial CO2 concentration heterogeneity over Somma-Vesuvius ranging from the atmospheric value (~400 ppm) up to ~24,140 ppm. The summit of Vesuvius shows an area with anomalous CO2 concentrations well matching the crater rim of the 1906 eruption. Along the cone flanks, secondary CO2 anomalies highlight a roughly circular preferential pathway detected along 8 radial profiles at distances between ~840 m and ~1150 m from the bottom of the present-day crater resulting from the last eruption in 1944. In depth review of the available literature highlights an agreement between this circle-like shaped anomaly and the 1631 sub-Plinian eruption caldera boundary. Indeed, based on the historical chronicles the depression produced by the 1631 eruption had a diameter of 1686 m, whereas the CO2 circular anomaly indicates a diameter of 1956 m. Finally, the results were compared with a 3-D density model obtained from a recent gravity survey that corroborates both the literature and the CO2 data in terms of potential buried structure at the base of the Vesuvius cone.

The pre-colonial history of Tonga and West Polynesia still suffers from major gaps because its reconstruction is essentially based on legends left by oral tradition, and by archaeological evidence somehow difficult to interpret. By the fourteenth century, the powerful Tu'i Tonga kingdom united the islands of the Tongan archipelago under a centralised authority and, according to tradition, extended its influence to neighbouring island groups in the Central Pacific. However, some periods of deep crisis were identified, e.g. in the mid- 15th century, marked by an abrupt cessation of inter-archipelago migration on the deep seas in the Pacific, significant cultural changes, and a decrease in accessible natural resources. The origins of these disturbances are still debated, and are usually assigned to internal political problems or loss of external influence vis-à-vis neighboring states. However, the hypothesis of a major natural disaster was never suggested up to now.Drawing on a body of new evidence from sedimentary signatures and radiocarbon dating of charcoal and marine bioclasts, geomorphology, and sedimentology, in support of previously published archaeological data, we argue that the Tu’i Tonga kingdom was severely impacted by a megatsunami in the mid-15th century. We also discuss the likely sources of this event, which happened in an isolated region of the world before the European maritime “great discoveries”. This tsunami could be the source of vivid local myths that strongly suggest that a giant wave covered almost the entire island of Tongatapu at one time.

Introduction: Thyroid eye disease (TED) is the most common orbital disorder, resulting from an immune-mediated inflammation and enlargement of orbital fat and muscle. It affects females five times more frequently than males and may severely impact cosmesis and visual function. Immuno-modulating medicine and/or radiotherapy are offered during the early progressive phase to lessen the risk of development of serious disease outcomes. Surgery plays an important role in disease management: it may be offered in the active phase to reverse vision loss from compressive optic neuropathy or corneal exposure, but is more commonly performed in the quiescent phase, for proptosis, ocular misalignment or lid malpositions.Areas covered: This article reviews challenges and developments in established and novel non-surgical and surgical therapies for TED.Expert commentary: New medications and radiotherapy may prevent serious disease sequelae and hopefully reduce need for surgery. Restorative surgeries such as orbit...

International audience; Due to an unfortunate oversight we did not publish the hypothetical slip model

On 4 January 1907, an earthquake occurred off the west coast of Sumatra, Indonesia, with an instrumental surface-wave magnitude (Ms) in the range of 7.5–8.0 at periods of ~ 40 s. The tsunami it generated was destructive on the islands of Nias and Simeulue, where it killed hundreds and gave rise to the legend of the S’mong. This tsunami was also observed in other parts of the Indian Ocean basin. Relative to its instrumented magnitude, the size of the tsunami was anomalous, qualifying the event as a “tsunami earthquake”. However, unusually for a tsunami earthquake, the shaking on Nias was severe (7 EMS). We revisit the 1907 earthquake with a multidisciplinary approach by extracting evidence describing shaking effects or the tsunami from written documents and by acquiring new seismograms. Combining these, we discriminate two large earthquakes within an hour of each other with clear differences in seismological character. The first we interpret to be a tsunami earthquake with characteristic low levels of shaking, an estimated average seismic moment (Mo) of 2.5 × 1028 dyn cm (Mw ≈ 8.2) in the frequency band 6–8 mHz, and an epicentral location close to the front of the Sunda Megathrust. The seismograms we analyzed also document a regular growth of moment with period, approaching MW ≈ 8.4 at the longest resolvable period (~ 170 s). For the second earthquake that caused damage on Nias, we estimate Ms ≈ 7 based on seismograms and phase data. We also identify two Ms ≈ 6 aftershocks within 24 h of the mainshock. Additionally, we present a dataset of 88 locations within the Indian Ocean basin where the tsunami was observed. Using a subset of these, we forward modeled the tsunami to propose a seismic rupture model extending along the Sunda Megathrust for about 220 km (~ 94.7°E to ~ 97°E) with a maximum modeled slip of ~ 21 m. Our new rupture model provides an acceptable fit to our new dataset of tsunami runup and inundation values from 88 local and far-field locations in the Indian Ocean basin. We also urge caution against an over-reliance on the S’mong legend for tsunami evacuation as its premise, that a tsunami will only follow an earthquake with very severe ground motions, is rendered ineffective for tsunami earthquakes. NRF (Natl Research Foundation, S’pore) MOE (Min. of Education, S’pore) Accepted version

Many societal and environmental changes occurred between the 2nd millennium BC and the middle of the 2nd millennium AD in western Africa. Key amongst these were changes in land use due to the spread and development of agricultural strategies, which may have had widespread consequences for the climate, hydrology, biodiversity, and ecosystem services of the region. Quantification of these land-use influences and potential feedbacks between human and natural systems is controversial, however, in part because the archaeological and historical record is highly fragmented in time and space. To improve our understanding of how humans contributed to the development of African landscapes, we developed an atlas of land-use practices in western Africa for nine time-windows over the period 1800 BC–AD 1500. The maps are based on a broad synthesis of archaeological, archaeobotanical, archaeozoological, historical, linguistic, genetic, and ethnographic data, and present land use in 12 basic categories. The main differences between categories is the relative reliance on, and variety of, domesticated plant and animal species utilized, and the energy invested in cultivating or keeping them. The maps highlight the irregular and frequently non-linear trajectory of land-use change in the prehistory of western Africa. Representing an original attempt to produce rigorous spatial synthesis from diverse sources, the atlas will be useful for a range of studies of human–environment interactions in the past, and highlight major spatial and temporal gaps in data that may guide future field studies., Open access funding provided by Max Planck Society. This work was supported by Grants to JOK from the European Research Council (COEVOLVE, 313797), the Swiss National Science Foundation (ACACIA, CR10I2_146314), and the Fondation Herbette (2016-2-E-16). JMR was funded by the Funds for Research Training in Industry and Agriculture (National Funds for Scientific Research, Belgium) and the Leopold II Funds (Belgium). Data were also acquired in the framework of the Era-Net BiodivERsA CoForChange project, funded by the French National Research Agency and National Environment Research Council (UK).

Summary Species distribution within plant communities results from both the influence of deterministic processes, related to environmental conditions, and neutral processes related to dispersal limitation and stochastic events, the relative importance of each factor depending on the observation scale. Assessing the relative contribution of environment necessitates controlling for spatial dependences among data points. Recent methods, combining multiple regression and Moran's eigenvectors maps (MEM), have been proved successful in disentangling the influence of pure spatial processes related to dispersal limitation, pure environmental variables (not spatially structured) and spatially structured environmental properties. However, the latter influence is usually not testable when using advanced spatial models like MEM. To overcome this issue, we propose an original approach, based on torus-translations and Moran spectral randomizations, to test the fraction of species abundance variation that is jointly explained by space and seven soil variables, using three environmental and tree species abundance data sets (consisting of 120, 52 and 34 plots of 0·2 ha each, located along 101-, 66- and 35-km-long transect-like inventories, respectively) collected in tropical moist forests in southern Cameroon. The overall abundance of species represented by ≥30 individuals, and 27% of these species taken individually, were significantly explained by fine-scale (

Palaeoecological and archaeological studies have demonstrated that human populations have long inhabited the moist forests of central Africa. However, spatial and temporal patterns of human activities have hardly been investigated with satisfactory accuracy. In this study, we propose to characterize past human activities at local scale by using a systematic quantitative and qualitative methodology based on soil charcoal and charred botanical remains. A total of 88 equidistant test-pits were excavated along six transects in two contrasting forest types in southern Cameroon. Charred botanical remains were collected by water-sieving and sorted by type (wood charcoals, oil palm endocarps and unidentified seeds). A total of 50 Accelerator Mass Spectrometry 14C dates were also obtained. Results showed that charred macroremains were found at multiple places in the forest, suggesting scattered human activities, which were distributed into two main periods (Phase A: 2300–1300 BP; Phase B: 580 BP to the present). Charred botanical remains indicated two types of land-use: (1) domestic, with oil palm endocarps most often associated with potsherds (villages) and (2) agricultural, with charcoal as probable remnant of slash-and-burn cultivation (fields). Oil palm endocarp abundance decreased with distance from the identified human settlements. Our methodology allowed documenting, at high resolution, the spatial and temporal patterns of human activities in central African moist forests and could be applied to other tropical contexts.

A total of 27 children with esotropia (mean age, 3.9 years; range, 9 months to 13.8 years) were enrolled in a 9-month observational study following botulinum toxin A (BTX-A) injection of one (n = 7) or both (n = 20) medial rectus muscles. BTX-A dosage ranged from 3.0 to 6.0 units per muscle. Three participants developed tonic pupil, noted at the first follow-up visit, occurring 12-19 days after injection. All 3 cases occurred in the left eye of participants who underwent bilateral BTX-A injection by the same surgeon. Anisocoria diminished from a maximum of 4 mm at the 2-week visit to 1–2 mm in all patients over the 9-month postinjection data collection period. No adverse visual outcomes were noted. Tonic pupil is an infrequently reported complication of BTX-A injection for strabismus. The experience of our investigator group suggests the need for careful injection technique and thorough preinjection counseling.

Résumé Introduction La Dysmorphie Musculaire (DM) est un sujet d’étude contemporain. Officiellement inscrite dans le DSM- 5 en 2013 au sein des dysmorphophobies spécifiques « muscle dysmorphia », elle ne possède pas encore d’entité nosographique à part entière. Methodologie À l’aide de la méthodologie Prisma et du mot-clé « muscle dysmorphia », nous avons étudié les bases de données bibliographique Cochrane, Ebsco, PsycInfo, Pubmed, Science Direct, Web of science entre 1993 et 2017. Résultats 40 articles ont été retenus sur cette thématique. Les résultats nous ont permis d’observer une prévalence fluctuant dans les populations sportives ou non sportives, jeunes ou adultes, entre 5,9 % à 44 %. La dysmorphie musculaire touche principalement les hommes pratiquant le bodybuilding dans un but de recherche esthétique influencé par l’internalisation d’un idéal corporel acquis de l’environnement socioculturel. Elle s’accompagne de troubles internalisés et externalisés allant des troubles anxio-dépressifs à la consommation de produits améliorant la performance. Discussion Dans la discussion, nous évoquerons les enjeux actuels autour de la vision nosographique de la dysmorphie musculaire ainsi que la nécessité de développer une meilleure compréhension tant épidémiologique que clinique. Des stratégies de prévention ainsi que des repérages précoces et interventions brèves peuvent constituer des réponses adaptées aux difficultés rencontrées chez les personnes souffrant de dysmorphie musculaire. Introduction Muscle dysmorphia is a contemporary subject of interest officially inscribed in the DSM- 5 in 2013 under the body dysmorphic disorder “muscle dysmorphia”. It does not yet have its own nosographic entity. Method Cochrane, Ebsco, PsycInfo, Pubmed, Science Direct and Web of science data bases have been used, spanning from 1993 to 2017. Results The prevalence of muscle dysmorphia varies in physically active or non-active populations, young or adult. As proof, no current consensus exists on its prevalence on the overall population as the number of people afflicted varies from study to study. Prevalence going from 5.9% to 44% in literary review. This fluctuation can be explained by a difference of prevalence depending on the population under study and its own risk factors. Furthermore, the many studies undertaken showed the large occurrence of comorbidities in an externalized aspect: consumption of dietary supplements, taking of performance enhancing substances, body checking, overtraining and suicide attempts. There are also heavy comorbidities in an internalized aspect: anxiety disorders, social anxiety, depression, mood swings, low esteem of body image, alexithymia, obsession over one's body for not being muscular enough and low enough in body fat. Discuss/conclusion Muscle dysmorphia mainly affects men partaking in bodybuilding for aesthetic reasons, in order to adhere to an internalized physical ideal that social factors have pressured them into following. The perspective of future research and therapeutic treatment create an opportunity to fill in the gaps in the corpuses of said investigated research.

While most past studies have emphasized the relationships between specific forest stands and edaphic factors, recent observations in Central African moist forests suggested that an increase of slash-and-burn agriculture since 3000–2000 BP (Before Present) could be the main driver of the persistence of light-demanding tree species. In order to examine anthropogenic factors in the persistence of such populations, our study focused on Pericopsis elata, an endangered clustered timber species. We used a multidisciplinary approach comprised of botanical, anthracological and archaeobotanical investigations to compare P. elata patches with surrounding stands of mixed forest vegetation (“out-zones”). Charcoal samples were found in both zones, but were significantly more abundant in the soils of patches. Eleven groups of taxa were identified from the charcoals, most of them also present in the current vegetation. Potsherds were detected only inside P. elata patches and at different soil depths, suggesting a long human presence from at least 2150 to 195 BP, as revealed by our charcoal radiocarbon dating. We conclude that current P. elata patches most likely result from shifting cultivation that occurred ca. two centuries ago. The implications of our findings for the dynamics and management of light-demanding tree species are discussed.

Cette étude évalue l’abondance des graines d’Erythrophleum suaveolens dans la banque de semences du sol des forêts denses humides d’Afrique centrale. Les travaux ont été menés au Nord-Congo dans deux types forestiers : la forêt à Celtis sur des sols argilo-sableux à sablo-argileux et la forêt à Manilkara sur des sols sableux. Les tiges d’E. suaveolens (dhp ≥ 10 cm) ont été inventoriées dans deux blocs de 400 ha, et les structures diamétriques de leurs populations ont été comparées. En outre, 80 fosses (2 x 40 fosses par type de forêt) ont été creusées au pied de 20 arbres (10 par forêt), sur trois couches contiguës de 10 cm chacune, soit à une profondeur totale de 30 cm, et l’abondance des graines dans la banque de semences du sol a été évaluée. La dormance des graines récoltées a été testée par des essais de germination après traitement au H2SO4 et cinq graines prélevées jusqu'à une profondeur de 20 cm dans la forêt à Celtis ont été utilisées pour estimer leur âge par spectroscopie de masse par accélérateur (AMS). Dans les deux types forestiers, les structures diamétriques présentent une distribution gaussienne, illustrant un déficit de régénération. Alors que les densités de tiges (dhp ≥ 10 cm) sont proches, avec 0,85 et 1,05 tige/ha respectivement, dans la forêt à Celtis et la forêt à Manilkara. Les densités de graines sont significativement plus élevées dans la forêt à Celtis (8,55 graines/m2) que dans la forêt à Manilkara (0,15 graine/m2). Le pourcentage maximum de germination obtenu était de 19,1 % pour des graines n’ayant subi aucun traitement. Les lots traités à l’acide ont présenté de moindres taux de germination. Ces graines semblent pouvoir se conserver une dizaine d’années au moins dans la banque du sol. Les facteurs pouvant influencer les variations de densité des graines sont discutés et des recommandations sylvicoles sont formulées.

Protection against the consequences of Pyroclastic Density Currents (PDCs) is almost impossible due to their high velocity, temperature, sediment load and mobility. PDCs therefore present a challenge for volcanic crisis management in that specific precautionary actions, essentially evacuations, are required to reduce loss of life. In terms of crisis communication for PDC hazards, there are three challenging questions that arise in terms of reducing risk to life, infrastructure and livelihoods. (1) How do we accurately communicate the hazardous zones related to potential PDC inundation? The areas exposed to PDC hazard are difficult to assess and to map. In terms of risk/crisis management, the areas considered at risk are usually those that were affected by PDCs during previous eruptive episodes (decades or centuries ago). In case of “larger-than-normal” eruptions, the underestimation of the hazard zone may lead to refusals to evacuate in the “newly” threatened area. Another difficulty in assessing the PDC hazard zones relate to their transport processes that allow surmounting of the topography and in some cases across the surface of water. Therefore warning systems must be able to cover vast areas in a minimum of time. (2) How do we efficiently warn people in time? PDCs are extremely mobile and fast. It is therefore necessary to raise the alert early enough before the onset of the first PDCs. A challenging question in terms of crisis communication is related to the type of tools used by the local authorities, modern and traditional tools both of which have advantages and disadvantages. (3) Why are people reluctant to evacuate? Local inhabitants can be reluctant to evacuate during a crisis if traditional warning signs or signals they are familiar with are lacking, if they don’t receive both traditional and official warning, and because they may lose their livelihoods. Thus a deeper understanding of the at‐risk communities and efficient dissemination of information are key issues in order to reduce vulnerability in PDC hazard regions.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Bevacizumab intravitreal injection, a vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitor, is used to treat retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). However, concerns have been raised regarding its systemic absorption and effect on developing tissues including brain. This study compared neurodevelopment at 18 months’ corrected age in preterm infants of METHODS: Data from the Canadian Neonatal Network and the Canadian Neonatal Follow-Up Network databases were retrospectively reviewed. Infants born at RESULTS: Of 125 treated infants, 27 received bevacizumab and 98 laser. The bevacizumab group, compared with laser, obtained a median Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development Third Edition motor composite score of 81 (interquartile range, 70–91) versus 88 (79–97), a language composite score of 79 (65–97) versus 89 (74–97), and a cognitive score of 90 (80–100) versus 90 (85–100). Difference was detected on the motor score only (P = .02). Odds of severe neurodevelopmental disabilities (Bayley scores CONCLUSIONS: Preterm infants treated with bevacizumab versus laser had higher odds of severe neurodevelopmental disabilities. Further investigation on the long-term safety of antivascular endothelial growth factor treatment of ROP is needed.

The PREPARTOI project (“Prevention and research for the mitigation of the tsunami risk in the French territories of the Indian Ocean”, the French acronym equivalent to « get-ready »), began in early 2010. The first stage of this integrated tsunami risk assessment project consisted in evaluating the tsunami hazard on La Réunion Island by collecting and synthesizing all available data about past tsunamis and their effects. This first step was implemented through archive and field research during 2010. Seven tsunami occurrences were identified as having impacted La Réunion Island between 1883 (explosion of the Krakatau volcano) and October 2010 (end of the field research). All these events had sources along the Indonesian margin and were triggered by earthquakes of magnitude higher or equal to Mw=7.7, affecting the island with maximal runups reaching 7m. These tsunamis mostly affected the harbors damaging many boats, especially in 2004. Although historically the tsunami hazard is quite moderate on the island’s coasts, the high concentration of people along the shore and in low elevation areas, highlights considerable stakes and high vulnerability resulting in significant risk, especially in Saint-Paul, a city which was completely flooded in 1883.

Traditionnellement, les études paléoécologiques menées en Afrique centrale ont documenté l’évolution de la végétation, en particulier le rôle du climat dans le façonnage des paysages forestiers tropicaux. Ces études restent néanmoins peu nombreuses, en raison des conditions d’accès au terrain et de la grande diversité en matière d’espèces végétales. En outre, la relation entre l’homme et son environnement y demeure un champ d’investigation relativement récent. Conduite dans une optique pluridisciplinaire, entre archéologie et écologie, cette thèse s’intéresse aux activités humaines passées dans le nord du bassin du Congo et à leur impact sur les forêts telles que nous les voyons aujourd’hui. L’analyse du cadre spatio-temporel des activités anthropiques dans l’Intervalle de la Sangha montre l’ampleur du manque de connaissances sur cette présence humaine. Elle souligne également l’absence d’occupations humaines entre ~1300 et 600 BP dans la zone d’étude. Une méthodologie est donc proposée pour combler ces lacunes, basée sur l’acquisition et l’analyse statistique des restes botaniques carbonisés trouvés dans les sols. Les résultats montrent une opposition spatiale entre espaces domestiques et agricoles. La combinaison d’endocarpes de palmier à huile carbonisés et de tessons de céramique indiquerait la présence de villages, tandis que la présence de charbons de bois supposerait davantage l’existence de champs. Par ailleurs, le rassemblement et l’analyse d’importants jeux de données (i. e. paléoécologiques, archéologiques, historiques et dendrologiques), centrés sur l’Intervalle de la Sangha et couvrant le dernier millénaire, soulignent l’effet des changements d’usage des terres sur la régénération de quatre populations d’arbres héliophiles actuellement exploités pour leur bois (Erythrophleum suaveolens, Pericopsis elata, Terminalia superba et Triplochiton scleroxylon). Les résultats mettent particulièrement en exergue le rôle de la colonisation européenne à partir de la deuxième moitié du 19e siècle dans ces changements, et le déficit de régénération de ces populations d’héliophiles depuis cette période. Ainsi, ce travail souligne l’importance de la chronologie, de l’identification des activités humaines passées au sein des forêts denses humides et de l’impact de l’histoire humaine récente sur les paysages forestiers d’Afrique centrale. Enfin, nous identifions plusieurs lacunes et proposons des pistes de recherche, notamment en direction des gestionnaires forestiers.

Objective: HIV-1 infection is characterized by a progressive decline of CD4 cell count, the underlying mechanisms of which are still debated. We recently found that during HIV-1 infection, CD4 T cells overexpress a ligand of the NK activating receptor NKp44 (NKp44L) and are sensitized to NK cytolytic activity. The expression of NKp44L is triggered by a highly conserved motif of gp41 (3S) and is inhibited by anti-3S antibodies. Design: To assess whether viral tropism can affect NKp44L expression, NK cytotoxicity, and anti-3S antibodies production, 10 macaques were infected either with the CCR5 tropic SHIV 162P3 or with a CXCR4/CCR5 dual-tropic SHIV 89.6 P. Results: In SHlV 162P3 -infected macaques, expression of NKp44L was inversely correlated with anti-3S antibodies, in relation to CD4 depletion and NK cytotoxicity. By contrast, no such correlation was found in macaques infected with SHIV 89.6p which, induced a rapid decline of CD4 T cells. Conclusions: These results highlight the key role played by NK cells in CD4 cell count decline with respect to coreceptor usage, and provided the setting to investigate new strategies for preventive and/or therapeutic immunization to stimulate anti-3S antibodies.

International audience; Much work has been done on Karthala volcano over the last 30 years concerning the volcanology, structural geology, petrology, geochemistry and geophysics. We focus here on the current state of knowledge about the structure of this typical shield volcano and its recent eruptive activity. Karthala is a large basaltic shield volcano with a typical “Hawaiian” shape, with two well-developed rift zones diverging from a polylobate summit caldera complex. Karthala has not been dissected by erosion, although the concave morphology of its southern and eastern flanks may have resulted from huge flank landslides. Karthala volcano is one of the most active African volcanoes. During the last two centuries, most of the eruptions have been magmatic, emitting alkali basalts. They have been characterised by eruptive fissures which opened along the rift zones, within the caldera, or at low elevation far from the rift zones and the caldera. Karthala’s eruptive style is mostly effusive; however, phreatic and phreatomagmatic explosions also occur. Karthala erupted regularly (with an average frequency of one eruption every 6–8 years) over the past 100 years until the phreatic eruption of 1991. Since then, its activity has increased, with four eruptions from 2005 to 2007, two of them with significant impacts on the local population. The two phreatomagmatic to violent-strombolian eruptions in 2005 were more explosive and long-lasting than the preceding eruptions, projecting ashes and volcanic debris onto the eastern part of the island, affecting as many as 245,000 people. In the recent past, the 1977 eruption was the most destructive of Karthala’s historic lava flows. But in 1858, a lava flow travelled 13 km from the upper part of the north rift zone to the western coast, going close to the capital Moroni. Wherever the location of the eruptive vent, lava flows can reach inhabited areas and the sea in a few hours.

Island communities frequently display specific risk-related characteristics that are attributable to the island locations of volcano-affected communities, in terms of exposure, vulnerability and living with the volcanic risk. This chapter examines volcanic crisis response and communication in island communities. We analyse lessons from volcanic crises in 1976 at La Soufriere (Guadeloupe, France), in 2005 and 2006 at Karthala (Grande Comore, Comoros), and in 1995 at Fogo (Cape Verde). Our analysis underscores the strong influence of deep-seated causes (historical, political, cultural, social, economic, and environmental) on the success and failure of volcanic risk communication, all of which are affected by island characteristics. The case studies demonstrate the intensity of politics that manifests in these instances—perhaps because of, rather than despite, the smallness and tightness of the communities, amongst other island characteristics. Consequently, improved information and less uncertainty would not straightforwardly lead to better communication or more harmonious acceptance of decision-making processes and of decisions. One fundamental point is the need to engage with—not just consult—local populations regarding risk communication and decision-making, tailoring messages to the various audiences, and being clear regarding what is known and not known, plus what is feasible to do to fill in knowledge gaps to support decisions. Ultimately, it is necessary to foster synergies with communities to ensure that no party or knowledge dominates, but instead information is exchanged leading to decisions and decision-making processes that are better understood and accepted by all who are involved. Living with volcanic risk thus means working with communities on their terms.

La fouille d’archéologie préventive réalisée sur «le Chemin de Paris» à Larchant fait suite au projet d’agrandissement de la carrière de Bonnevault (Silbeco France). Nous sommes dans le cas d’une occupation dites de plateau avec une pente en direction du sud-est. Deux zones de fouille ont été ouvertes : la zone 1 marquée par un replat et la zone 2 distante d’environ 200 m et située dans la partie haute de la pente.Deux époques ont été identifiées à Larchant : le Néolithique final et le Hallstatt D. De plus, quelques vestiges antiques résultent de l’occupation d’une villa gallo-romaine présente au nord-ouest du terrain, au-delà de l’emprise de fouille. Le site associe épandage de mobilier et structure en creux. Mais de façon générale, l’état de conservation des vestiges dépend de sa position dans la pente. En effet, les plus fortes concentrations de mobilier et les structures en creux les mieux conservées ont été localisées en zone 1, dans le secteur du replat qui a moins souffert des colluvionnements. Au-delà de ce replat les vestiges sont très arasés.« Le Chemin de Paris » offre donc une vision très succincte des différentes occupations. Pour le Néolithique, la majorité des vestiges sont en zone avec de rares lambeau du sol initial préservés. Ils se caractérisent par un mobilier homogène, reposant sur un même niveau et principalement en position à plat. La céramique, très fragmentaire en générale, y est mieux conservée. Cependant, ces niveaux d’occupation ne sont conservés que sur quelques m² et ne permettent pas de définir une organisation de l’espace occupé. Au-delà de ces petites zones, le mobilier apparaît à tous les niveaux, côtoyant des artefacts résiduels antiques. Deux fosses et un trou de poteau découverts au sein du replat ont livré un matériel du Néolithique final. Toutes les autres structures sont trop arasées pour permettre de définir leur fonction et leur chronologie.L’érosion, les colluvionnements, et les labours ne permettent pas de définir l’extension de l’implantation humaine durant la première moitié du IIIè millénaire avant notre ère. Par contre des hypothèses sur les activités pratiquées sur le site ont pu être émises à partir des artefacts : taille du silex, filage, agriculture...La zone 2 est fortement érodée avec quelques éléments du Néolithique final découverts uniquement sous la semelle de labour. Leur présence implique deux hypothèses : soit l’occupation est totalement détruite et témoigne d’une étendue importante du site néolithique rejoignant les deux zones, soit une seconde occupation, indépendante de la première, se développe non loin de la zone 2, probablement plus au sud-ouest si nous tenons compte du pendage du terrain. Tous ces vestiges se placent dans l’étape 1 du Néolithique final (2900-2450 avant J.-C. ; Salanova et al. 2011). L’attribution chronologique est confirmée par une datation C14 dans la fosse ST17 : 2870-2615 Cal. B.C. (à 89,7 % de probabilité). Enfin, les artefacts diagnostics, du mobilier céramique en particulier, témoignent d’une affiliation du site avec le groupe du Gord qui évolue dans une large partie orientale du Bassin Parisien.Pour l’occupation protohistorique, elle n’est constituée que d’un seul silo découvert en limite nord-ouest de la zone 2. Il est de grande dimension et à servi de zone de rejets détritiques. Le mobilier céramique attribue les artefacts au Hallstatt D. Il n’y a aucun autre indice protohistorique sur le reste du site. Il est donc fort probable que ce silo soit en retrait par rapport à une implantation humaine protohistorique se développe en dehors de l’emprise de fouille.En conclusion, malgré une vision très ponctuelle de l’occupation préhistorique, « Le Chemin de Paris » est donc un des rares sites de plateau de fin du Néolithique dans le Bassin Parisien qui associe épandage de mobilier et structure en creux.

While the volcanology of Grande Comore has been widely described, issues of crisis management raised by a vulnerability census have only been treated superficially, and disaster-related risk-reduction work is almost non-existent. Four recent eruptions, in April 2005, November 2005, May 2006 and January 2007, led to a renewed scientific interest in the volcano’s eruptive history and mechanisms of eruption, as well as in volcanic risk assessment and crisis management in the Comoros Islands.The crisis management system built up over the last few decades has been much improved over the last few years. However, this system is still weak due to structural vulnerabilities in the country. In this chapter we describe the risk and crisis management protocols, explain how they have been implemented over the years, and suggest ways to improve the handling of the next volcanic crisis.

Background and aims – Prior to European colonisation of Central Africa, human populations were dispersed through the forests, where they practiced slash-and-burn cultivation. From the 19 th century they were progressively concentrated in villages along roads, leaving large areas of forest derelict. In south-western Cameroon, and elsewhere in Central Africa, forest canopy is dominated by long-lived light-demanding tree species, suggesting a possible role of human disturbance. The aim of this study was to bring new insights into the possible effect of historical human disturbances in terms of timing and spatial extent on the current forest composition. Location – Wet evergreen littoral forest in south-western Cameroon. Methods and key results – A combined vegetation sampling and archaeobotanical survey were conducted. Potsherds, oil-palm endocarps, and charcoal were found throughout the study area, suggesting generalised human occupation and anthropogenic fire. Human occupancy occurred in two periods: between 2200 and 1500 BP, and, more recently, beginning three centuries ago. High frequency of fire and the presence of Elaeis guineensis both dated recently (between 260 and 145 BP) suggest slash-and-burn shifting cultivation practices. These human-induced disturbances may coincide with the age of the current emergent light-demanding species, the age of which can be estimated around 200 years, or with the phases of drying climate recorded in the Central African forest in the early 18 th century. Conclusions – These results support the idea that historical human disturbances are one of the major factors that shaped the current forest composition in Central Africa.

Publication Inra prise en compte dans l'analyse bibliométrique des publications scientifiques mondiales sur les Fruits, les Légumes et la Pomme de terre. Période 2000-2012. http://prodinra.inra.fr/record/256699; International audience; The identification of the molecular polymorphisms giving rise to phenotypic trait variability—both quantitative and qualitative—is a major goal of the present agronomic research. Various approaches such as positional cloning or transposon tagging, as well as the candidate gene strategy have been used to discover the genes underlying this variation in plants. The construction of functional maps, i.e. composed of genes of known function, is an important component of the candidate gene approach. In the present paper we report the development of 63 single nucleotide polymorphism markers and 15 single-stranded conformation polymorphism markers for genes encoding enzymes mainly involved in primary metabolism, and their genetic mapping on a composite map using two pea recombinant inbred line populations. The complete genetic map covers 1,458 cM and comprises 363 loci, including a total of 111 gene-anchored markers: 77 gene-anchored markers described in this study, 7 microsatellites located in gene sequences, 16 flowering time genes, the Tri gene, 5 morphological markers, and 5 other genes. The mean spacing between adjacent markers is 4 cM and 90% of the markers are closer than 10 cM to their neighbours. We also report the genetic mapping of 21 of these genes in Medicago truncatula and add 41 new links between the pea and M. truncatula maps. We discuss the use of this new composite functional map for future candidate gene approaches in pea.

International audience; This paper aims at providing reliable and cost effective genotyping conditions, level of polymorphism in a range of genotypes and map position of newly developed microsatellite markers in order to promote broad application of these markers as a common set for genetic studies in pea. Optimal PCR conditions were determined for 340 microsatellite markers based on amplification in eight genotypes. Levels of polymorphism were determined for 309 of these markers. Compared to data obtained for other species, levels of polymorphism detected in a panel of eight genotypes were high with a mean number of 3.8 alleles per polymorphic locus and an average PIC value of 0.62, indicating that pea represents a rather polymorphic autogamous species. One of our main objectives was to locate a maximum number of microsatellite markers on the pea genetic map. Data obtained from three different crosses were used to build a composite genetic map of 1,430 cM (Haldane) comprising 239 microsatellite markers. These include 216 anonymous SSRs developed from enriched genomic libraries and 13 SSRs located in genes. The markers are quite evenly distributed throughout the seven linkage groups of the map, with 85% of intervals between the adjacent SSR markers being smaller than 10 cM. There was a good conservation of marker order and linkage group assignment across the three populations. In conclusion,we hope this report will promote wide application of these markers and will allow information obtained by different laboratories worldwide in diverse fields of pea genetics, such as QTL mapping studies and genetic resource surveys, to be easily aligned.

The model plants Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) and rice (Oryza sativa) have provided a wealth of information about genes and genetic pathways controlling the flowering process, but little is known about the corresponding pathways in legumes. The garden pea (Pisum sativum) has been used for several decades as a model system for physiological genetics of flowering, but the lack of molecular information about pea flowering genes has prevented direct comparison with other systems. To address this problem, we have searched expressed sequence tag and genome sequence databases to identify flowering-gene-related sequences from Medicago truncatula, soybean (Glycine max), and Lotus japonicus, and isolated corresponding sequences from pea by degenerate-primer polymerase chain reaction and library screening. We found that the majority of Arabidopsis flowering genes are represented in pea and in legume sequence databases, although several gene families, including the MADS-box, CONSTANS, and FLOWERING LOCUS T/TERMINAL FLOWER1 families, appear to have undergone differential expansion, and several important Arabidopsis genes, including FRIGIDA and members of the FLOWERING LOCUS C clade, are conspicuously absent. In several cases, pea and Medicago orthologs are shown to map to conserved map positions, emphasizing the closely syntenic relationship between these two species. These results demonstrate the potential benefit of parallel model systems for an understanding of flowering phenology in crop and model legume species.

An extensive self-potential survey was carried out in the central volcanic complex of Tenerife Island (Canary Islands, Spain). A total amount of ~. 237. km of profiles with 20. m spacing between measurements was completed, including radial profiles extending from the summits of Teide and Pico Viejo, and circular profiles inside and around Las Cañadas caldera and the northern slopes of Teide and Pico Viejo. One of the main results of this mapping is the detection of well-developed hydrothermal systems within the edifices of Teide and Pico Viejo, and also associated with the flank satellite M. Blanca and M. Rajada volcanoes. A strong structural control of the surface manifestation of these hydrothermal systems is deduced from the data, pointing to the subdivision of Teide and Pico Viejo hydrothermal systems in three zones: summit crater, upper and lower hydrothermal systems. Self-potential maxima related to hydrothermal activity are absent from the proximal parts of the NE and NW rift zones as well as from at least two of the mafic historical eruptions (Chinyero and Siete Fuentes), indicating that long-lived hydrothermal systems have developed exclusively over relatively shallow felsic magma reservoirs. Towards Las Cañadas caldera floor and walls, the influence of the central hydrothermal systems disappears and the self-potential signal is controlled by the topography, the distance to the water table of Las Cañadas aquifer and its geometry. Nevertheless, fossil or remanent hydrothermal activity at some points along the Caldera wall, especially around the Roques de García area, is also suggested by the data. Self-potential data indicate the existence of independent groundwater systems in the three calderas of Ucanca, Guajara and Diego Hernández, with a funnel shaped negative anomaly in the Diego Hernández caldera floor related to the subsurface topography of the caldera bottom. Two other important self-potential features are detected: positive values towards the northwestern Santiago rift, possibly due to the relatively high altitude of the water-table in this area; and a linear set of minima to the west of Pico Viejo, aligned with the northwestern rift and related to meteoric water infiltration along its fracture system. © 2014 Elsevier B.V., This work has been funded by the Instituto Geográfico Nacional (Ministerio de Fomento, Gobierno de España). S. Barde-Cabusson was funded by JAE-Doc Program (JAEDoc 09 01319).

In the last decade, the myth of the pristine tropical forest has been seriously challenged. In central Africa, there is a growing body of evidence for past human settlements along the Atlantic forests, but very little information is available about human activities further inland. Therefore, this study aimed at determining the temporal and spatial patterns of human activities in an archaeologically unexplored area of 110,000 km2located in the northern Congo Basin and currently covered by dense forest. Fieldwork involving archaeology as well as archaeobotany was undertaken in 36 sites located in southeastern Cameroon and in the northern Republic of Congo. Evidence of past human activities through either artifacts or charred botanical remains was observed in all excavated test pits across the study area. The set of 43 radiocarbon dates extending from 15,000 BP to the present time showed a bimodal distribution in the Late Holocene, which was interpreted as two phases of human expansion with an intermediate phase of depopulation. The 2300–1300 BP phase is correlated with the migrations of supposed farming populations from northwestern Cameroon. Between 1300 and 670 BP, less material could be dated. This is in agreement with the population collapse already reported for central Africa. Following this, the 670–20 BP phase corresponds to a new period of human expansion known as the Late Iron Age. These results bring new and extensive evidence of human activities in the northern Congo Basin and support the established chronology for human history in central Africa.

International audience; Cold stress affects plant growth and development. In order to better understand the responses to cold (chilling or freezing tolerance), we used two contrasted pea lines. Following a chilling period, the Champagne line becomes tolerant to frost whereas the Terese line remains sensitive. Four suppression subtractive hybridisation libraries were obtained using mRNAs isolated from pea genotypes Champagne and Terese. Using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) performed on 159 genes, 43 and 54 genes were identified as differentially expressed at the initial time point and during the time course study, respectively. Molecular markers were developed from the differentially expressed genes and were genotyped on a population of 164 RILs derived from a cross between Champagne and Terese. We identified 5 candidate genes colocalizing with 3 different frost damage quantitative trait loci (QTL) intervals and a protein quantity locus (PQL) rich region previously reported. This investigation revealed the role of constitutive differences between both genotypes in the cold responses, in particular with genes related to glycine degradation pathway that could confer to Champagne a better frost tolerance. We showed that freezing tolerance involves a decrease of expression of genes related to photosynthesis and the expression of a gene involved in the production of cysteine and methionine that could act as cryoprotectant molecules. Although it remains to be confirmed, this study could also reveal the involvement of the jasmonate pathway in the cold responses, since we observed that two genes related to this pathway were mapped in a frost damage QTL interval and in a PQL rich region interval, respectively.

Tracing human history in west central Africa suffers from a scarcity of historical data and archaeological remains. In order to provide new insight into this problem, we reviewed 733 radiocarbon dates of archaeological sites from the end of the Late Stone Age, Neolithic Stage, and Early and Late Iron Age in Cameroon, Gabon, Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Congo, and the western Democratic Republic of Congo. This review provides a spatiotemporal framework of human settlement in the forest biome. Beyond the well-known initial spread of Iron Age populations through central African forests from 2500 cal BP, it depicts the geographical patterns and links with the cultural evolution of the successive phases of human expansion from 5000 to 3000 cal BP and then from 3000 to 1600 cal BP, of the hinterland depopulation from 1350 to 860 cal BP, and of recolonization up to 500 cal BP. DOI: 10.2458/azu_js_rc.55.16385

Five new microsatellite markers were isolated from Northern pike (Esox lucius), a freshwater fish widely distributed in both Northern Europe and Northern America. Characterization in 30 individuals from a population from France revealed four to seven alleles and an expected heterozygosity of 0.243–0.642. No departure from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium nor linkage disequilibrium were found. The level of polymorphism was higher than previously reported in the literature for pike populations from Northern America and Northern Europe, but with different microsatellite loci.