| 1. |
- Artibani, Walter, et al.
(author)
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EAU Policy on Live Surgery Events.
- 2014
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In: European Urology. - : Elsevier BV. - 1873-7560 .- 0302-2838. ; 66:1, s. 87-97
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Live surgery is an important part of surgical education, with an increase in the number of live surgery events (LSEs) at meetings despite controversy about their real educational value, risks to patient safety, and conflicts of interest.
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| 2. |
- Chauveau, Bertrand, et al.
(author)
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Atypical Anti-Glomerular Basement Membrane Nephritis : A Case Series From the French Nephropathology Group
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In: American Journal of Kidney Diseases. - 1523-6838.
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- RATIONALE & OBJECTIVE: Atypical anti-glomerular basement membrane (GBM) nephritis is characterized by a bright linear immunoglobulin staining along the GBM by immunofluorescence without a diffuse crescentic glomerulonephritis nor serum anti-GBM antibodies by conventional ELISA. We characterized a series of patients with atypical anti-GBM disease.STUDY DESIGN: Case series.SETTING & PARTICIPANTS: Patients were identified by the French Nephropathology Group as having atypical anti-GBM nephritis between 2003 and 2022.FINDINGS: Among 38 potential cases, 25 were included. 14 (56%) were female and 23 (92%) had hematuria. Median [interquartile range (IQR)] serum creatinine at diagnosis was 150 [102-203] μmol/L and median [IQR] urine protein to creatinine ratio was 2.4 [1.3-5.2] g/g. 9 (36%) patients had endocapillary proliferative glomerulonephritis (GN), 4 (16%) had mesangial proliferative GN, 4 (16%) had membranoproliferative GN, 2 (8%) had pure and focal crescentic GN, 1 (4%) had focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, and 5 had glomeruli that were unremarkable on histopathology. Nine patients (36%) had crescents, involving a median of 9% of glomeruli. Bright linear staining for IgG was seen in 22 cases (88%) and for IgA in 3 cases (12%). The nine patients (38%) who had a monotypic staining pattern tended to be older with less proteinuria and rarely had crescents. Kidney survival rate at one year was 83% and did not appear to be associated with the light chain restriction.LIMITATIONS: Retrospective case series with a limited number of biopsies including electron microscopy.CONCLUSIONS: Compared to typical anti-GBM disease, atypical anti-GBM nephritis frequently presents with endocapillary or mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis pattern and appears to have slower disease progression. Further studies are needed to fully characterize its pathophysiology and associated clinical outcomes.
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| 3. |
- Clement, Yves, et al.
(author)
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Evolutionary forces affecting synonymous variations in plant genomes
- 2017
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In: PLOS Genetics. - : PUBLIC LIBRARY SCIENCE. - 1553-7390 .- 1553-7404. ; 13:5
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Base composition is highly variable among and within plant genomes, especially at third codon positions, ranging from GC-poor and homogeneous species to GC-rich and highly heterogeneous ones (particularly Monocots). Consequently, synonymous codon usage is biased in most species, even when base composition is relatively homogeneous. The causes of these variations are still under debate, with three main forces being possibly involved: mutational bias, selection and GC-biased gene conversion (gBGC). So far, both selection and gBGC have been detected in some species but how their relative strength varies among and within species remains unclear. Population genetics approaches allow to jointly estimating the intensity of selection, gBGC and mutational bias. We extended a recently developed method and applied it to a large population genomic dataset based on transcriptome sequencing of 11 angiosperm species spread across the phylogeny. We found that at synonymous positions, base composition is far from mutation-drift equilibrium in most genomes and that gBGC is a widespread and stronger process than selection. gBGC could strongly contribute to base composition variation among plant species, implying that it should be taken into account in plant genome analyses, especially for GC-rich ones.
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| 4. |
- Döscher, Ralf, et al.
(author)
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The EC-Earth3 Earth system model for the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project 6
- 2022
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In: Geoscientific Model Development. - : Copernicus GmbH. - 1991-959X .- 1991-9603. ; 15:7, s. 2973-3020
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The Earth system model EC-Earth3 for contributions to CMIP6 is documented here, with its flexible coupling framework, major model configurations, a methodology for ensuring the simulations are comparable across different high-performance computing (HPC) systems, and with the physical performance of base configurations over the historical period. The variety of possible configurations and sub-models reflects the broad interests in the EC-Earth community. EC-Earth3 key performance metrics demonstrate physical behavior and biases well within the frame known from recent CMIP models. With improved physical and dynamic features, new Earth system model (ESM) components, community tools, and largely improved physical performance compared to the CMIP5 version, EC-Earth3 represents a clear step forward for the only European community ESM. We demonstrate here that EC-Earth3 is suited for a range of tasks in CMIP6 and beyond.
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| 5. |
- Fontan, Clement, 1985, et al.
(author)
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Central Banking
- 2021
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In: Routledge Handbook of Critical Finance Studies / Christian Borch, Robert Wosnitzer (Editors). - New York, NY : Routledge. - 9781138079816 ; , s. 154-172
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Book chapter (peer-reviewed)abstract
- During the past decades, central banks acquired considerable independence from democratic institutions under the Central Bank Independence (CBI) template. Yet, the changing role of central banks since the 2007–2008 crisis has led to a (re)politicization of central banking and has weakened the scientific and political consensus on the CBI model. In turn, central bankers have tried to neutralize repoliticization and these efforts have shaped their unconventional monetary policies. In this chapter, we review how the (critical) political economy literature has scrutinized the evolving role of central banks this last decade, and we debunk central banks’ depoliticization strategies. First, we examine how financial power shapes central banks’ unconventional policies to the benefit of private finance. Second, we analyze how these “high-finance” struggles affects “low-finance,” that is, what are the distributive effects of post-crisis monetary policy on firms and households? Finally, we review current debates on alternative monetary tools, which could potentially fare better than current monetary arrangements in distributive, ecological, and democratic terms.
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| 6. |
- Jones, Daniel O.B., et al.
(author)
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Environment, ecology, and potential effectiveness of an area protected from deep-sea mining (Clarion Clipperton Zone, abyssal Pacific)
- 2021
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In: Progress in Oceanography. - : Elsevier BV. - 0079-6611. ; 197:September-October 2021
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- To protect the range of habitats, species, and ecosystem functions in the Clarion Clipperton Zone (CCZ), a region of interest for deep-sea polymetallic nodule mining in the Pacific, nine Areas of Particular Environmental Interest (APEIs) have been designated by the International Seabed Authority (ISA). The APEIs are remote, rarely visited and poorly understood. Here we present and synthesise all available observations made at APEI-6, the most north eastern APEI in the network, and assess its representativity of mining contract areas in the eastern CCZ. The two studied regions of APEI-6 have a variable morphology, typical of the CCZ, with hills, plains and occasional seamounts. The seafloor is predominantly covered by fine-grained sediments, and includes small but abundant polymetallic nodules, as well as exposed bedrock. The oceanographic parameters investigated appear broadly similar across the region although some differences in deep-water mass separation were evident between APEI-6 and some contract areas. Sediment biogeochemistry is broadly similar across the area in the parameters investigated, except for oxygen penetration depth, which reached >2 m at the study sites within APEI-6, deeper than that found at UK1 and GSR contract areas. The ecology of study sites in APEI-6 differs from that reported from UK1 and TOML-D contract areas, with differences in community composition of microbes, macrofauna, xenophyophores and metazoan megafauna. Some species were shared between areas although connectivity appears limited. We show that, from the available information, APEI-6 is partially representative of the exploration areas to the south yet is distinctly different in several key characteristics. As a result, additional APEIs may be warranted and caution may need to be taken in relying on the APEI network alone for conservation, with other management activities required to help mitigate the impacts of mining in the CCZ.
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| 7. |
- Kooistra, Lammert, et al.
(author)
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Reviews and syntheses : Remotely sensed optical time series for monitoring vegetation productivity
- 2024
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In: Biogeosciences. - 1726-4170. ; 21:2, s. 473-511
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Vegetation productivity is a critical indicator of global ecosystem health and is impacted by human activities and climate change. A wide range of optical sensing platforms, from ground-based to airborne and satellite, provide spatially continuous information on terrestrial vegetation status and functioning. As optical Earth observation (EO) data are usually routinely acquired, vegetation can be monitored repeatedly over time, reflecting seasonal vegetation patterns and trends in vegetation productivity metrics. Such metrics include gross primary productivity, net primary productivity, biomass, or yield. To summarize current knowledge, in this paper we systematically reviewed time series (TS) literature for assessing state-of-the-art vegetation productivity monitoring approaches for different ecosystems based on optical remote sensing (RS) data. As the integration of solar-induced fluorescence (SIF) data in vegetation productivity processing chains has emerged as a promising source, we also include this relatively recent sensor modality. We define three methodological categories to derive productivity metrics from remotely sensed TS of vegetation indices or quantitative traits: (i) trend analysis and anomaly detection, (ii) land surface phenology, and (iii) integration and assimilation of TS-derived metrics into statistical and process-based dynamic vegetation models (DVMs). Although the majority of used TS data streams originate from data acquired from satellite platforms, TS data from aircraft and unoccupied aerial vehicles have found their way into productivity monitoring studies. To facilitate processing, we provide a list of common toolboxes for inferring productivity metrics and information from TS data. We further discuss validation strategies of the RS data derived productivity metrics: (1) using in situ measured data, such as yield; (2) sensor networks of distinct sensors, including spectroradiometers, flux towers, or phenological cameras; and (3) inter-comparison of different productivity metrics. Finally, we address current challenges and propose a conceptual framework for productivity metrics derivation, including fully integrated DVMs and radiative transfer models here labelled as "Digital Twin". This novel framework meets the requirements of multiple ecosystems and enables both an improved understanding of vegetation temporal dynamics in response to climate and environmental drivers and enhances the accuracy of vegetation productivity monitoring.
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| 8. |
- Larue, Louis, 1989, et al.
(author)
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The promises and perils of central bank digital currencies
- 2020
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In: Revue de la régulation. - 1957-7796. ; :28
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This paper analyzes the proposal that central banks should issue digital currencies (CBDC) to provide a public alternative to private digital accounts and cryptocurrencies. We build on some recent themes in political economy research to give a broader and more balanced perspective than the existing literature, highlighting both the promises and perils of CBDC. We argue that, on the one hand, the present state of the private financial sector is problematic and regulators should seek to tackle the issues of financial power, financial instability and lack of adequate monetary policy options. On the other hand, implementing CBDC comes with risks of its own, such as that of creating a “Frankenstein scenario” where too much power is given to unelected technocrats. Our tentative conclusion is therefore that CBDC should be seen as a second-best option, while the primary focus of policy makers should be on the possibility of financial re-regulation.
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| 9. |
- Lees, Rosemary Susan, et al.
(author)
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Review : Improving our knowledge of male mosquito biology in relation to genetic control programmes
- 2014
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In: Acta Tropica. - : Elsevier BV. - 0001-706X .- 1873-6254. ; 132, s. S2-S11
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The enormous burden placed on populations worldwide by mosquito-borne diseases, most notably malaria and dengue, is currently being tackled by the use of insecticides sprayed in residences or applied to bednets, and in the case of dengue vectors through reduction of larval breeding sites or larviciding with insecticides thereof. However, these methods are under threat from, amongst other issues, the development of insecticide resistance and the practical difficulty of maintaining long-term community-wide efforts. The sterile insect technique (SIT), whose success hinges on having a good understanding of the biology and behaviour of the male mosquito, is an additional weapon in the limited arsenal against mosquito vectors. The successful production and release of sterile males, which is the mechanism of population suppression by SIT, relies on the release of mass-reared sterile males able to confer sterility in the target population by mating with wild females. A five year Joint FAO/IAEA Coordinated Research Project brought together researchers from around the world to investigate the pre-mating conditions of male mosquitoes (physiology and behaviour, resource acquisition and allocation, and dispersal), the mosquito mating systems and the contribution of molecular or chemical approaches to the understanding of male mosquito mating behaviour. A summary of the existing knowledge and the main novel findings of this group is reviewed here, and further presented in the reviews and research articles that form this Acta Tropica special issue.
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| 10. |
- Manzi, Olivier Jean Leonce, 1993, et al.
(author)
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Drought stress recovery of hydraulic and photochemical processes in Neotropical tree saplings
- 2022
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In: Tree physiology. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 1758-4469. ; 42:1, s. 114-129
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Climate models predict an increase in the severity and the frequency of droughts. Tropical forests are among the ecosystems that could be highly impacted by these droughts. Here, we explore how hydraulic and photochemical processes respond to drought stress and re-watering. We conducted a pot experiment on saplings of five tree species. Before the onset of drought, we measured a set of hydraulic traits, including minimum leaf conductance, leaf embolism resistance, and turgor loss point. During drought stress, we monitored traits linked to leaf hydraulic functioning (leaf water potential (ψmd) and stomatal conductance (gs)) and traits linked to leaf photochemical functioning (maximum quantum yield of photosystem II (Fv/Fm) and maximum electron transport rate (ETRmax)) at different wilting stages. After re-watering the same traits were measured after 3, 7, and 14days. Hydraulic trait values decreased faster than photochemical trait values. After re-watering, the values of the four traits recovered at different rates. Fv/Fm recovered very fast close to their initial values only three days after re-watering. This was followed by ETRmax, Ψmd and gs. Finally, we show that species with large stomatal and leaf safety margin and low πtlp are not strongly impacted by drought whereas they have a low recovery on photochemical efficiency. These results demonstrate that πtlp, stomatal and leaf safety margin are a good indicators of plant responses to drought stress and also to recovery for photochemical efficiency.
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