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The effects of board cultural diversity on ESG performance: CAC-40 (France) vs OMX-30 (Sweden)
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The cell surface-associated rhamnose-glucose polysaccharide represents the receptor of Streptococcus thermophilus bacteriophage P738
No full textInternational audienceStreptococcus thermophilus is a key lactic acid bacterial species extensively used in dairy fermentations, where bacteriophage (phage) infections pose a significant threat to production efficiency. While the cell surface receptors for four of the five currently known streptococcal phage genera have previously been identified, the specific host-encoded receptor for the P738 phage group has not been elucidated to date. In this study, P738 bacteriophage-insensitive mutants of S. thermophilus UCCSt50 were isolated, and whole-genome sequencing revealed mutations in a glycosyltransferase-encoding gene within the rgp locus, responsible for the biosynthesis of the cell wall-associated r hamnose- g lucose p olysaccharide (RGP). Compositional and methylation analysis demonstrated that loss of a terminal rhamnose residue from the RGP side chain underpinned the observed resistance to P738 binding and infection. Fluorescent binding assays validated the biological functionality of the predicted receptor binding protein of P738, confirming the critical role of the RGP side chain in phage adsorption. These findings reveal a strict requirement for a complete tetrasaccharide side chain structure for P738 binding, contrasting with the less stringent requirements observed for the Brussowvirus SW13. This work offers valuable insights to guide the development of phage-robust starter cultures through knowledge-based strain selection and rotation strategies, thereby supporting more sustainable and reliable dairy fermentation processes. IMPORTANCE Streptococcus thermophilus is one of the most extensively applied members of the lactic acid bacteria, being extensively used as a bacterial starter culture in the production of fermented foods, including cheeses and yogurt. Bacteriophage infections present a significant threat to industrial dairy fermentations, which can lead to substandard production processes and product quality. Understanding phage-host interactions, which commence with the recognition and binding of a given bacteriophage to a particular host-encoded, cell surface-associated receptor, is essential for developing strategies to minimize phage-related risks in dairy fermentations. This study identifies the specific cell surface polysaccharide structure produced by Streptococcus thermophilus as the receptor required for infection by phage P738, bridging a key knowledge gap in phage-host interactions in this important industrial bacterial species. By elucidating how phage P738 recognizes and binds to its host, this work offers valuable information to aid strain selection and the development of phage-robust starter cultures
There’s No Such Thing as Simple Reasoning for LLMs
No full textInternational audienceLarge Language Models (LLMs) have been widely found to struggle with logical reasoning, where even fine-tuned models fail dramatically on out-of-distribution problems. However, existing work has focused on relatively complex "many-hop" reasoning problems. In this paper, we analyse the performance of fine-tuned LLMs on simple reasoning problems, all of which can be solved in at most three inference steps. Due to the simplicity of these problems, the model cannot encounter test problems that are fundamentally different from those it has seen during training. Unfortunately, however, we find that the models remain highly brittle, being susceptible to seemingly innocent perturbations, such as the addition of duplicates to the set of premises and shuffling the order in which the premises are presented
Structural engineering of bimetallic NiMoO<sub>4</sub> for high-performance supercapacitors and efficient oxygen evolution reaction catalysts
No full textInternational audienceAdvancing energy storage and conversion research on 2D nanostructures hinges on the critical development of bifunctional electrodes capable of effectively catalyzing oxygen evolution reactions and facilitating charge storage applications. Although metal oxide materials have been shown to be promising electrode materials for energy storage and conversion, an easy and reliable synthesis strategy for achieving a 2D morphology to fully utilize their electrochemical potential has not yet been achieved. Herein, we report the synthesis of NiMoO4 self-assembled, ultrathin nanosheets through ionic layer epitaxy with precise control over the Ni : Mo composition ratio. X-ray absorption spectroscopy reveals a uniform radial distance shift in NiMoO4, indicating the homogeneous distribution of Ni and Mo in equal proportions. The optimized 1 : 1 NiMoO4 nanosheet device exhibits a high areal capacitance of 4.93 mF cm−2 with promising stability (20 000 cycles). Furthermore, the OER activity of ultrathin 1 : 1 NiMoO4 exhibits an overpotential (η10) of 318 mV and a Tafel value of 51 mV dec−1, suggesting fast reaction kinetics. This investigation reveals a promising possibility for developing high-performance electrode materials using 2D metal oxides, thereby achieving high material efficiency
Adapted Physical Activity for Elderly People and National Policies. A Comparative Investigation
No full textInternational audienceThe global demographic transition presents challenges and opportunities for Western societies, affecting biological, psychological, and social aspects. Ageing is linked to a decline in physical abilities, worsened by sedentary lifestyles, which reduce autonomy and quality of life. Public policies must promote “active ageing,” with APA as a key tool to address ageing‐related issues. This study examines APA policies in Italy, France, and Belgium, three European countries significantly impacted by demographic changes. Italy's fragmented approach reflects regional autonomy; France has institutionalised APA in preventive health; Belgium's regional innovation is hindered by a lack of national coherence. The paper emphasises the need for a holistic integration of sociological, psychological, and institutional approaches to support active ageing effectively. It calls for a shift from traditional biomedical models to more inclusive frameworks that respect older adults' autonomy and dignity, offering valuable insights for shaping future strategies to address an ageing population's evolving needs
Exploring gender differences in physical activity and related barriers in children and adults living with type 1 diabetes: A narrative review
No full textInternational audienceAbstract Aims In the general population, individuals who self‐identify as girls and women are typically less active and report more barriers to physical activity (PA), often influenced by gender stereotypes and sociocultural norms. These barriers may be accentuated in individuals with type 1 diabetes (T1D), who face additional diabetes‐related barriers to engaging in PA. Methods In this narrative review, electronic databases were searched using keywords related to PA barriers and T1D. Titles, abstracts and full texts were screened to select articles analysing gender effects or reporting specific data on girls/women with T1D versus peers without diabetes. Results While many studies have examined gender effects on PA levels in T1D (consistently reporting lower overall and vigorous‐intensity PA in girls/women), few have explored gender effects on barriers to PA. Among the ten barrier‐related studies, some (but not all) suggest that girls/women report higher overall PA barrier scores and diabetes‐related concerns, such as fear of hypoglycaemia, hyperglycaemia or losing control over diabetes management, compared with boys/men. The interactions between PA barriers and PA levels appear complex and may vary between adults and children. However, these interactions remain understudied from a gender perspective. Conclusions Fear of glycaemic challenges related to PA appears to be a greater barrier for girls/women with T1D versus boys/men. However, further research is needed to examine universal barriers to PA. Interactions between diabetes‐related or universal barriers with lower habitual PA also require exploration as a first step towards developing appropriate PA promotion initiatives, whether focused on glycaemic management education or social factors
Characterization of NaNbO<sub>3</sub> thin films by Raman spectroscopy and piezoresponse force microscopy hysteresis loops for energy harvesting and storage applications
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Structural and local piezoelectric and ferroelectric/antiferroelectric properties of NaNbO<sub>3</sub> thin films for energy harvesting and storage applications
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Matériaux ferroélectriques sans plomb pour le développement de condensateurs à haute capacité de stockage de l’énergie électrique
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Home Compostability and Multiscale Characterization of PLA, PBS, and PBAT Biocomposites with Agro-Industrial Fillers (Brewer's Spent Grain, Orange Peel) for Sustainable Packaging
No full textInternational audienceThis presentation addresses the fabrication and multiscale characterization of PLA, PBS, and PBAT biocomposites incorporating agro-industrial waste as organic fillers (orange peel and brewer’s spent grain). In addition to their thermal, mechanical, and water sorption properties, their end-of-life performance was investigated through laboratory-scale decentralized composting tests. These experiments enabled the assessment of their biodegradability, mineralization kinetics, and structural evolution under realistic home-composting conditions