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Integrating physical and information space into applications increases application's complexity and development difficulty. In Ubiquitous environment, context collection, aggregation and notification raise complex scientific problems and new challenges. In this paper we address these challenges by proposing a conceptual context-oriented middleware architecture. We first discuss the reason to use context in ubiquitous computing, and context-oriented middleware requirements. Then we present our approach by describing a service-oriented architecture model. It provides a dynamic adaptation ability, supports multiple context models and multi-domain context consumer. Finally, we discuss the benefit of our conceptual approach by describing and comparing current context middlewares.

Developing ubiquitous applications is particularly complex. Beyond the dynamic aspect of such applications, the evolution of computing towards the multiplication of mobile access terminals is not making things easier. One solution to simplifying the development and use of such applications is to use software platforms dedicated to deployment and adaptation of applications and handling the heterogeneity of peripherals. They allow designers to focus on business aspects and facilitate reuse. The Kalimucho platform was designed and developed against this background. It executes and supervises applications based on software components.

Development of ubiquitous applications is inherently complex. Adaptation system is a solution for ubiquitous computing. It enhances the efficiency of application by the adaptation of software, facilitates application development, and offers a good user experience. Adaptation system is faced with challenges of different research domain including context modeling, situation identification, context reasoning, and adaptation decision. In this paper we discuss the architecture design of adaptation system and the taxonomy of its key technologies in details including communication middleware, context management middleware, adaptation middleware, adaptation platform, application model and software engineering, we analyze and introduce these technologies with the most well-know ubiquitous projects. At the end, we introduce future research directions according to structural adaptation.

Résumé. Le développement d’applications ubiquitaires est pa r iculièrement complexe. Au-delà de l’aspect dynamique de telles a pplications, l’évolution de l’informatique vers la multiplication des termin aux d’accès mobiles ne facilite pas les choses. Une solution pour simplifi er le développement et l'exploitation de telles applications est d’utilise r des plateformes logicielles dédiées au déploiement et à l’adaptation des applic ations et gérant l’hétérogénéité des périphériques. Elles permettent aux concepteurs de se focaliser sur les aspects métiers et facilitent la réutilisation. C’est dans cette optique qu’a été conçue et développée la plateforme Kalimucho. Elle permet l’exécution et la supervision d’applications à base de composants logiciels et offre aux applications un accès à leur contexte d’e xécution.

The tumor suppressor protein p53 is a transcription factor that induces G 1 arrest of the cell cycle and/or apoptosis. The murine double-minute protein MDM2 and its homologue MDM4 (also known as MDMX) are critical regulators of p53. Altered transcripts of the human homologue of mdm2, MDM2, have been identified in human tumors, such as invasive carcinoma of the breast, lung carcinoma, and liposarcoma. MDM2 alternate forms act to negatively regulate the normal MDM2 gene product, thus activating p53. Although many reports have documented a plethora of tumor types characterized by MDM2 alternative transcripts, few have investigated the signals that might initiate alternative splicing. We have identified a novel role of these alternative MDM2 transcripts in the normal surveillance mechanism of the cell and in DNA damage response. We report that alternate forms of MDM2 are detected after UV irradiation. Furthermore, we show that mouse cells treated with UV are also characterized by alternative transcripts of mdm2, suggesting that this is an important and evolutionarily conserved mechanism for regulating the expression of MDM2/mdm2. An additional p53 regulator and mdm2 family member, MDM4, is likewise alternatively spliced following UV irradiation. By activating alternative splicing of both MDM2 and MDM4, yet another layer of p53 regulation is initiated by the cells in response to damage. A stepwise model for malignant conversion by which alternate forms of MDM2 and MDM4 place selective pressure on the cells to acquire additional alterations in the p53 pathway is herein proposed.

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) constitute a class of nanomaterials that possess characteristics suitable for a variety of possible applications. Their compatibility with aqueous environments has been made possible by the chemical functionalization of their surface, allowing for exploration of their interactions with biological components including mammalian cells. Functionalized CNTs (f-CNTs) are being intensively explored in advanced biotechnological applications ranging from molecular biosensors to cellular growth substrates. We have been exploring the potential of f-CNTs as delivery vehicles of biologically active molecules in view of possible biomedical applications, including vaccination and gene delivery. Recently we reported the capability of ammonium-functionalized single-walled CNTs to penetrate human and murine cells and facilitate the delivery of plasmid DNA leading to expression of marker genes. To optimize f-CNTs as gene delivery vehicles, it is essential to characterize their interactions with DNA. In the present report, we study the interactions of three types of f-CNTs, ammonium-functionalized single-walled and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (SWNT-NH 3 + ; MWNT-NH3 + ), and lysine-functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT-Lys-NH3 + ), with plasmid DNA. Nanotube-DNA complexes were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy, surface plasmon resonance, PicoGreen dye exclusion, and agarose gel shift assay. The results indicate that all three types of cationic carbon nanotubes are able to condense DNA to varying degrees, indicating that both nanotube surface area and charge density are critical parameters that determine the interaction and electrostatic complex formation between f-CNTs with DNA. All three different f-CNT types in this study exhibited upregulation of marker gene expression over naked DNA using a mammalian (human) cell line. Differences in the levels of gene expression were correlated with the structural and biophysical data obtained for the f-CNT:DNA complexes to suggest that large surface area leading to very efficient DNA condensation is not necessary for effective gene transfer. However, it will require further investigation to determine whether the degree of binding and tight association between DNA and nanotubes is a desirable trait to increase gene expression efficiency in vitro or in vivo. This study constitutes the first thorough investigation into the physicochemical interactions between cationic functionalized carbon nanotubes and DNA toward construction of carbon nanotube-based gene transfer vector systems.

in the lung, this study analyzes the expression and utilization of HIV-1 coreceptors on AM of healthy individuals. AM were productively infected with five different primary isolates of HIV-1. Levels of surface expression of CCR5, CXCR4, and CD4 were low compared to those of blood monocytes, but CCR3 was not detectable. mRNA for CCR5, CXCR4, CCR2, and CCR3 were all detectable, but to varying degrees and with variability among donors. Expression of CCR5, CXCR4, and CCR2 mRNA was downregulated following stimulation with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). In contrast, secretion of the chemokines RANTES, MIP-1␣, and MIP-1␤ was upregulated with LPS stimulation. Interestingly, HIV-1 replication was diminished following LPS stimulation. Infection of AM with HIV-1 in the presence of the CC chemokines demonstrated blocking of infection. Together, these studies demonstrate that AM can be infected by a variety of primary HIV-1 isolates, AM express a variety of chemokine receptors, the dominant coreceptor used for HIV entry into AM is CCR5, the expression of these receptors is dependent on the state of activation of AM, and the ability of HIV-1 to infect AM may be modulated by expression of the chemokine receptors and by chemokines per se.

Carbon nanotubes (CNT) are intensively being developed for biomedical applications including drug and gene delivery. Although all possible clinical applications will require compatibility of CNT with the biological milieu, their in vivo capabilities and limitations have not yet been explored. In this work, water-soluble, singlewalled CNT (SWNT) have been functionalized with the chelating molecule diethylentriaminepentaacetic (DTPA) and labeled with indium ( 111 In) for imaging purposes. Intravenous (i.v.) administration of these functionalized SWNT (f-SWNT) followed by radioactivity tracing using gamma scintigraphy indicated that f-SWNT are not retained in any of the reticuloendothelial system organs (liver or spleen) and are rapidly cleared from systemic blood circulation through the renal excretion route. The observed rapid blood clearance and half-life (3 h) of f-SWNT has major implications for all potential clinical uses of CNT. Moreover, urine excretion studies using both f-SWNT and functionalized multiwalled CNT followed by electron microscopy analysis of urine samples revealed that both types of nanotubes were excreted as intact nanotubes. This work describes the pharmacokinetic parameters of i.v. administered functionalized CNT relevant for various therapeutic and diagnostic applications.

We hypothesized that the angiogenic mediator, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), known to be expressed in the lung and to be capable of inducing local edema in skin, might evoke the development of lung edema if expressed in excess amounts. To test this hypothesis, we developed an in vivo model of VEGF overexpression in the lung on the basis of delivery to the respiratory epithelium of the VEGF165 complementary DNA by an E1 Ϫ adenovirus vector (AdVEGF165). Administration of AdVEGF165 by the intratracheal route (10 9 plaque-forming units [pfu]) to C57Bl/6 mice showed increased expression of VEGF messenger RNA in lung tissue by Northern analysis. Overexpression of VEGF protein in the lung at Days 1 to 10 was confirmed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Intratracheal administration of AdVEGF165 resulted in a dose-dependent increase in lung wet/dry weight ratios over time, lung histology showed widespread intraalveolar edema, and pulmonary capillary permeability was significantly increased as quantified by the Evans blue dye assay and [ 131 I]albumin permeability. To confirm the specificity of these observations, mice were pretreated with intranasal administration of an adenovirus vector expressing a truncated soluble form of the VEGF receptor flt-1 (Ad sflt ). Ad sflt (10 9 pfu) pretreatment completely abrogated the increased lung wet/dry weight ratio caused by AdVEGF165 administration, whereas an identical adenovirus vector with an irrelevant transgene had no effect upon subsequent AdVEGF165-induced pulmonary edema. Together, these data suggest that overexpression of VEGF in the lung may be one mechanism of increased pulmonary vascular permeability in the early stages of acute lung injury.

Dans BEDON, R. et H. MAVERAUD-TARDIVO (dir.), 2016, Présence des divinités et des cultes dans les villes et les agglomérations secondaires de la Gaule, CAESARODUNUM XLVII -XLVIII, Limoges.

Abstract : The study of pagan religions in southern Aquitaine has already received considerable attention, yet hardly any of these have taken the spatial factors into consideration. Far from seeking to reestablish religious events in a new study, a work has been carried on the location of the sanctuaries and the votive inscriptions and focuses on the geographical impact of location on this land. Combining this data with the basic elements of the society - major and minor cities, roads, villae, etc. - enable us to quite clearly discern a variability in the organization. Several homogeneous areas emerge and, together, reveal different cultural logics.

Résumé : Déjà largement étudiée, la thématique des religions païennes et de ses manifestations en Aquitaine méridionale n’a pourtant guère été abordée sur le plan spatial. Loin d’entrer dans une nouvelle étude de ces manifes-tations religieuses, un travail de spatialisation des sanctuaires et des inscriptions votives a été mené afin d’en étudier leurs faciès de répartition sur l’ensemble de ce territoire. Le croisement des ces données avec les cadres spatiaux de la société (agglomérations principales et secondaires, voies de communication, villae, etc…) a permis de définir des variabilités de répartition assez nettes. Plusieurs zones homogènes ont ainsi pu émerger et semblent répondre à des logiques culturelles différentes.

La réflexion que l’on porte au début de sa thèse sur la modélisation conceptuelle de ses données reste très rarement figée. Elle évolue en parallèle de l’acquisition de nouvelles sources, par le recul octroyé par les années de recherches mais également par la conception de ses premières analyses spatiales. Il y a dans cette élaboration, une relation permanente de va et vient entre les sources enregistrées et le modèle. Cela est notamment perceptible lors des phases de formalisation du contenu étudié. En se basant sur les propos  de O. Barge, S. Sanz, et J. Mouraille, M. Le Couédic rappelait notamment dans sa thèse « qu’il semble illusoire de créer un système au préalable sans avoir terminé l’acquisition de l’information ou, du moins, en avoir une vue assez globale. Il faut adapter le système en fonction des données, elles-mêmes acquises en fonction des problématiques, et inversement » (LE COUEDIC, 2010, p. 125).
Le modèle présenté ici a pour objectif de témoigner des évolutions d’une recherche doctorale portant sur « l’organisation et les usages des espaces dans les Pyrénées occidentales durant la période gallo-romaine (Ier – Ve siècle ap. J.-C.) ». Il vise concrètement à mettre en exergue les modalités d’organisation et d’utilisation des espaces de piémonts pyrénéens par le biais d’une modélisation questionnant les principaux aspects des sociétés antiques et leurs rapports avec leurs environnements.

Journée d'étude-atelier du réseau ISA, Information Spatiale et Archéologie http://isa.univ-tours.fr/ Jeudi 30 novembre-vendredi 1er décembre 2017. Pau.