Helium isotopes on the Pacific-Antarctic ridge (52.5°–41.5°S)

International audienceThe first isotopic data and concentrations of helium are reported for the Pacific-Antarctic ridge between 52.5°S and 41.5°S. The 4He/3He ratio is extremely homogeneous over more than 1200 km, with a mean ratio of 99,275 (R/Ra = 7.29) and a standard deviation of 2719 (0.19), which is the lowest dispersion observed for the global mid oceanic ridge system. Moreover, the Menard T.F. is a frontier between two mantles with slightly different helium isotopic ratios (96,595 ± 1520 and 100,347 ± 2330). No difference in the helium concentration between the two ridge segments defined by the Menard T.F. can be observed, as well as no significant difference in the U and Th contents suggesting that the difference in helium isotopic ratio is old (>500 My) and may represent a slight difference in degassing or/and trace element depletion histor

Ultrastructural alterations in capillaries of the diabetic hypertensive rat retina: protective effects of ACE inhibition

Aims/hypothesis: The ACE inhibitor cilazapril was administered to diabetic hypertensive rats to evaluate its ability to influence the development of retinal capillary alterations. Methods: Normotensive (strain: Wistar Kyoto) and genetically hypertensive (strain: spontaneously hypertensive) rats were rendered diabetic by intravenous injections of streptozotocin. Half of the diabetic animals received cilazapril with their daily food. At 20 weeks of diabetes, endothelial cells, pericytes and extracellular matrix were assessed by ultrastructural morphometry. Each experimental group consisted of seven animals. Results: Cilazapril normalised systolic arterial pressure in diabetic hypertensive rats (137±2mmHg compared with 188±16mmHg in non-medicated diabetic hypertensive rats, p<0.001). The number of endothelial intercellular junctions was reduced in untreated diabetic hypertensive rats (0.15±0.05, p<0.02, vs 0.47±0.20 in non-diabetic normotensive rats). In diabetic hypertensive animals treated with cilazapril, this loss was attenuated (0.32±0.16, p<0.05). The significant thickening of the basement membrane observed in the diabetic normotensive (132.8±19.4nm) and diabetic hypertensive (150.3±20.2nm) groups was decreased by cilazapril in the diabetic hypertensive group (116.7±11.0nm, p<0.01), but was unaffected in the normotensive (131.9±17.3nm) group. No protective effect of the drug was observed in either group on pericytes. Conclusions/interpretation: Long-term administration of an effective antihypertensive therapy normalises endothelial alterations and basement membrane thickness in diabetic hypertensive conditions, and thus may account for the well-known improvement of the blood-retinal barrier observed during antihypertensive treatmen

Performance of selective media for E. coli O157, using non-sorbitol fermenting strains and physiological characters of shiga-toxin producing species isolated in Côte d'Ivoire

Performance of three selective media, tmperature and pH effects on growth of E. coli O157:H7 isolated in Ivory Coast were investigated. Thirty-eight (38) non-sorbitol fermenting E. coli were characterized by serotyping, detection of shiga-toxin gene (PCR) and plating on SMAC, VRMUG and BCMtm media for Performance evaluation. Temperature and pH effects on E. coli O157:H7 were measured in varied culture conditions. All culture media were sensitive (100%) for the growth of E. coli O157. Their specificities were 97.3, 94.7 and 50.7% respectively for VRMUG, BCMtm and SMAC media. Predictive value for VR-MUG medium was 66%, whereas that for SMAC medium was only 5.4%. Serotype O157:H7 E. coli population grew slightly at 42 °C and didn’t grow under acid conditions (pH 4.5, 3.5). The performance of the culture media evaluatedand the physiological data obtained for E. coli O157:H7 during this study would contribute to improve both isolation and identification methods of the pathovars.© 2010 International Formulae Group. All rights reserved.Keywords: E. coli O157H7, performance, culture medium, shiga-toxin, pH, temperatur

Procedimiento de la jurisdicción contenciosa en el sistema interamericano de protección de derechos humanos.

El Pacto de San José de Costa Rica, al que Argentina adhirió en el año 1984 por medio de la ley 23.054 (ADLA XLIV-B, 1250), consta de un preámbulo y tres partes, a saber: “De los deberes de los Estados y derechos protegidos”, la segunda de los “Medios de Protección” y la tercera “De las disposiciones generales y transitorias”

Social robotics for children: an investigation of manufacturers’ claims

As the market for commercial children’s social robots grows, manufacturers’ claims around the functionality and outcomes of their products have the potential to impact consumer purchasing decisions. In this work, we qualitatively and quantitatively assess the content and scientific support for claims about social robots for children made on manufacturers’ websites. A sample of 21 robot websites was obtained using location-independent keyword searches on Google, Yahoo, and Bing from April to July 2021. All claims made on manufacturers’ websites about robot functionality and outcomes (n = 653 statements) were subjected to content analysis, and the quality of evidence for these claims was evaluated using a validated quality evaluation tool. Social robot manufacturers made clear claims about the impact of their products in the areas of interaction, education, emotion, and adaptivity. Claims tended to focus on the child rather than the parent or other users. Robots were primarily described in the context of interactive, educational, and emotional uses, rather than being for health, safety, or security. The quality of the information used to support these claims was highly variable and at times potentially misleading. Many websites used language implying that robots had interior thoughts and experiences; for example, that they would love the child. This study provides insight into the content and quality of parent-facing manufacturer claims regarding commercial social robots for children

Les escargots comestibles de Côte d'Ivoire: influence de substrats d'élevage sur les paramètres de croissance de Archachatina ventricosa (Gould, 1850) en élevage hors-sol

Edible Ivorian Snails: Influence of the Breeding Substratum on the Parameters of Growth of Archachatina ventricosa (Gould, 1850) in Indoor Rearing. Two hundred fifty youngs of Archachatina ventricosa (Gould, 1850) with an average of 2.30 g body weight and 20.12 mm shell length, two weeks old approximately were bred for 48 weeks on five types of substrata [S1 (ground collected under a cassava plantation (Manihot spp.); S2 (S1 with oyster powder 10%), S3 (S1 with sawdust 10%), S4 (S1 with oyster powder 5% and sawdust 5%), S5 (ground of humid tropical forest)]. In order to determine the substratum inducing the best performances of growths, all the individuals were fed a concentrated food with 14.01% of calcium. This study revealed that the quality of the substratum influences the parameters of growth of A. ventricosa. The best growth was obtained on the substratum S3 (0.284 g/j; 0.169 mm/j). The substrata S2 and S4 support a similar growth to the pilot substratum (S5). The sawdust thus supports a better growth of A. ventricosa and could then be advised as source of amendment of the substrata to whoever would like to make the breeding of this specie

Effet antibactérien de l’extrait aqueux de l’écorce de Terminalia glaucescens Planch ex Benth (Combretaceae) sur la croissance in vitro des entérobactéries productrices de bêta-lactamases à spectre élargi (EBLSE)

Les bacteries productrices de beta-lactamases a spectre elargi sont responsables des echecs therapeutiques a infection bacterienne. Cette etude vise a evaluer les effets antibacteriens de lfextrait aqueux du macere d'fecorce de tige de Terminalia glaucescens Planch ex Benth (Combretaceae) sur huit enterobacteries productrices de beta-lactamases a spectre elargi (EBLSE) et deux souches de reference de Escherichia coliATCC. Les methodes de diffusion et de dilution sur Muller-Hinton ont permis dfevaluer l'factivite antibacterienne de l'fextrait. L'factivite  antibacterienne in vitro de l'fextrait aqueux de l'fecorce de tige de T.glaucescens est plus elevee que celle de la ceftriaxone (30 µg) et de la cefotaxime (30 µg) vis-a-vis des souches bacteriennes. Toutes ces souches sont resistantes aux deux antibiotiques, a l''fexception de celles de E. coli ATCC 25922 et 35218. L'fextrait aqueux de T. glaucescens est actif sur les 10 souches. Les zones d'finhibition a 200 mg/ml sont comprises entre 13±0,6 a 19,3±0,6 mm. Les CMI de l'extrait aqueux varient de 1,56 a 50 mg/ml. L'fextrait est bactericide sur toutes les souches apres 24 et 48 heures d'fincubation. Cette etude a montre que l'extrait de T. glaucescens pourrait etre utilise dans le traitement des maladies infectieuses.Mots cles: Terminalia glaucescens, extrait aqueux, activite antibacterienne

Antibacterial activity of the aqueous extract of Thonningia sanguinea against Extended-Spectrum-b-Lactamases (ESBL) producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae strains

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of Thonningia sanguinea against two sensitive and two multi-drug resistant (ESBL) Enterobacteria strains namely Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Method: The confirmation of the ESBL producing strains was done by the double-disc synergy tests and the broth dilution method was used for the determination of the antimicrobial parameters (MIC and MBC) on these sensitive and ESBL producing strains. Results: The two sensitive strains had the same MIC and MBC values respectively 3.125 mg /ml and 12.50 mg/ml. The ESBL producing strains also had the same MIC of 6.25 mg /ml and MBC values of 25 mg/ml. The extract was bactericidal for all tested strains. Conclusion: The results suggest that the flowers of T. sanguinea can be used in association with antibiotics for alternative therapy of diseases caused by ESBL producing E. coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae. Keywords: Antimicrobial activity, Thonningia sanguinea, ESBL producing strains; E. coli > Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research Vol. 6 (3) 2007: pp. 779-78