Atomic Resolution Electron Holography

It has been demonstrated that electron holography is a very powerful tool to investigate an electromagnetic potential in medium resolution, since the phase of an electron wave is approximately proportional to the potential. Now, electron holography is at the second stage of development: to establish holography at atomic resolution and further to realize Gabor\u27s idea to improve the resolution restricted by the spherical aberration of the objective lens. We investigate the possibility of electron holography to get information at atomic resolution by computer simulations as well as by digital processing of electron holograms. We show that the phase distribution has more resemblance to the specimen structure than the amplitude distribution. We also compare electron holography with electron microscopy from an image processing point of view

Adventices de l’orge et du blé dans la région de Souss-Massa

A weed survey was conducted in April 2006 in 47 barley fields and 27 bread wheat fields in Souss (Agadir-Taroudant), Massa (Agadir-Tiznit), and Aouganz in the High Atlas. A total of 224 weed species were found in the 74 surveyed fields: 87% were broadleaf species and 81% were annuals. There were differences in weed species composition between locations and between crops. In clay silt soils of the Souss, the 5 predominant weeds were spiny emex (Emex spinosa), nettleleaf goosefoot (Chenopodium murale), bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon), launaea (Launaea nudicaulis), and wallrocket (Diplotaxis tenuisiliqua). In sandy soils of the Massa region, the 5 predominant weeds were pusley (Reichardia tingitana), bermudagrass, ripgut bromegrass (Bromus rigidus), catholic wallrocket (Diplotaxis catholica), and spiny globethistle (Echinops spinosus). In the Aouganz, the 5 predominant species were Arabic cladanthus (Cladanthus arabicus), birdsfoottrefoil (Lotus arenarius), California burclover (Medicago polymorpha), plantain (Plantago lagopus), and scorpion crownvetch (Coronilla scorpioides). Any integrated weed control program should take such weed diversity into consideration.Des prospections floristiques ont été réalisées en avril 2006 dans 47 champs d’orge et 27 champs de blé tendre dans les régions de Souss, de Massa et du versant Sud du Haut Atlas. Les 74 relevés ont permis d’identifier 224 espèces adventices : 87% sont des dicotylédones et 81% sont des annuelles. Des différences floristiques évidentes ont été observées entre les trois milieux d’étude et entre les cultures prospectées. Dans les sols argilo-limoneux de la région de Souss (axe Agadir-Taroudant), les 5 espèces les plus importantes sont : l’émex épineux (Emex spinosa), le chénopode des murs (Chenopodium murale), le chiendent pied de poule (Cynodon dactylon), la launée à tiges nues (Launaea nudicaulis) et la diplotaxe à siliques ténues (Diplotaxis tenuisiliqua). Dans les sols sableux de la région de Massa (axe Agadir-Tiznit), les 5 espèces les plus importantes sont : la reichardie de Tanger (Reichardia tingitana), le chiendent pied de poule, le brome rigide (Bromus rigidus), la diplotaxe catholique (Diplotaxis catholica) et l’oursin épineux (Echinops spinosus). A la commune d’Aouganz (Haut Atlas), les 5 espèces les plus importantes sont : la cladanthe d’Arabie (Cladanthus arabicus), le lotier des sables (Lotus arenarius), la luzerne hérissée (Medicago polymorpha), le plantain pied de lièvre (Plantago lagopus) et la coronille à queue de scorpion (Coronilla scorpioides). Tout programme de désherbage doit tenir compte des infestations par ces différentes espèces adventices

Predictors of antipsychotic monotherapy with olanzapine during a 1-year naturalistic study of schizophrenia patients in Japan

Wenyu Ye1, Haya Ascher-Svanum2, Jennifer A Flynn3, Yuka Tanji3, Michihiro Takahashi3,41Lilly Suzhou Pharmaceutical Co, Shanghai, People's Republic of China; 2Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, IN, USA; 3Lilly Research Laboratories Japan, Eli Lilly Japan K.K., Kobe, 4Terauchi-Takahashi Psychiatric Clinic, Ashiya, JapanPurpose: Although expert guidelines for the treatment of schizophrenia recommend antipsychotic monotherapy, the use of antipsychotic polypharmacy is common. This study identified characteristics that differentiate patients with schizophrenia who are treated with olanzapine monotherapy versus polypharmacy in usual care in Japan.Patients and methods: In a large (N = 1850) prospective, observational study, Japanese patients with schizophrenia who initiated treatment with olanzapine were followed for 1 year. Consistent with past research, antipsychotic polypharmacy was defined as the concurrent use of olanzapine and another antipsychotic for at least 60 days. Switching was defined as discontinuing a prior antipsychotic therapy rather than augmenting the medication regimen. Predictors of antipsychotic monotherapy were based on information available at the time of olanzapine initiation. Baseline characteristics were compared using t-tests and Χ2 tests. Stepwise logistic regression was used to identify independent predictors of monotherapy.Results: Patients treated with olanzapine monotherapy (43.2%) differed from those treated with antipsychotic polypharmacy (56.8%) on demographics, treatment history, baseline symptom levels, functional levels, and treatment-emergent adverse events. Stepwise logistic regression identified multiple variables that significantly predicted monotherapy: older age, shorter duration of schizophrenia, outpatient status, comorbid medical conditions, lower body mass index, no prior anticholinergic use, no prior mood stabilizer use, and switching from a previous antipsychotic (typical or atypical).Conclusion: Consistent with prior research in Japan, antipsychotic polypharmacy appears to be common in the treatment of schizophrenia. Patients treated with monotherapy could be differentiated from those treated with antipsychotic polypharmacy based on a specific set of demographic and baseline clinical characteristics.Keywords: olanzapine, schizophrenia, polypharmacy, quality improvemen

Predictors of continuation with olanzapine during the 1-year naturalistic treatment of patients with schizophrenia in Japan

Wenyu Ye1, Haya Ascher-Svanum2, Yuka Tanji3, Jennifer A Flynn3, Michihiro Takahashi3,41Lilly Suzhou Pharmaceutical Co, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China; 2Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, IN, USA; 3Lilly Research Laboratories Japan, Eli Lilly Japan KK, Kobe, 4Terauchi-Takahashi Psychiatric Clinic, Ashiya, JapanPurpose: Treatment continuation is considered an important measure of antipsychotic effectiveness in schizophrenia, reflecting the medication’s efficacy, safety, and tolerability from both patients’ and clinicians’ perspectives. This study identified characteristics of patients with schizophrenia who continue olanzapine therapy for a 1-year period in Japan.Methods: In a large (N = 1850), prospective, observational study, Japanese patients with schizophrenia who initiated treatment with olanzapine were followed for 1 year. Baseline characteristics were compared using t-tests and chi-square tests. Stepwise logistic regression was used to identify independent baseline predictors of treatment continuation.Results: Most patients (68.2%) continued with olanzapine therapy for the full 1-year study period, with an average duration of 265.5 ± 119.4 days. At baseline, patients who continued were significantly more likely to be male, older, and inpatients; have longer illness duration, higher negative and cognitive symptoms, better health-related quality of life, and prior anticholinergic use. Continuers were significantly less likely to engage in social activities, live independently, work for pay, or have prior antidepressant use. Continuers showed significantly greater early (3-month) improvement in global symptom severity. Logistic regression found that continuation was significantly predicted by longer illness duration, lower positive symptoms, higher negative symptoms, and better health-related quality of life.Conclusions: In this large naturalistic study in Japan, most patients with schizophrenia stayed on olanzapine therapy for the full 1-year study period. Treatment completion with olanzapine was independently predicted by longer illness duration, lower positive symptoms, higher negative symptoms, and better health-related quality of life.Keywords: schizophrenia, atypical, antipsychotics, discontinuatio

Contribution à l’étude des adventices associées aux cultures dans les sols sableux du périmètre irrigué du Loukkos : cas du fraisier et de l’arachide

Des prospections floristiques ont eu lieu dans des serres de fraisier appartenant à 20 producteurs situés sur les sols sableux aux environs de Larache (périmètre irrigué du Loukkos, au Nord-Ouest du Maroc) en Janvier et en Mai 2013. La flore adventice identifiée est composée de 89 espècesdont76 thérophytes ou annuelles (soit 85% de l’effectif total) et 73 dicotylédones (soit 82% de l’effectif total). Les 10 espèces les plus abondantes étaient : le mouron des oiseaux (Stellaria media), le pâturin annuel (Poa annua), le souchet rond (Cyperus rotundus), la vergerette de Canada (Erigeron canadensis), la digitaire (Digitaria sanguinalis), l’ortie (Urtica urens), ledactylocténion d’Egypte (Dactyloctenium aegyptium), le pourpier (Portulacaoleracea), la gnaphale (Gnaphalium antillanum) et le cresson (Lepidium didymum). Dans 25 parcelles d’arachide irriguées par aspersion, la flore adventice identifiée en juillet 2011est composée de 24 espèces dont 19 thérophytes ou annuelles (soit 79% de l’effectif total) et 19 dicotylédones (soit 79% de l’effectif total). Les 10 espèces les plus abondantes étaient : le souchet rond (Cyperus rotundus), le pourpier (Portulaca oleracea), la digitaire (Digitaria sanguinalis), le dactylocténion d’Egypte (Dactyloctenium aegyptium), l’amarante couchée (Amaranthus deflexus), l’amaranthe réfléchie (Amaranthus retroflexus), le chiendent pied-de-poule (Cynodon dactylon), l’oxalide pourpre (Oxalis purpurea), la morelle noire (Solanum nigrum) et le chénopode à feuilles d’obier (Chenopodium opulifolium). Deux espèces adventices annuelles récemment introduites dans le périmètre du Loukkos (Cenchrus longispinus et Verbesina encelioides) méritent d’être surveillées.Les recherches sur la gestion intégrée des adventices sont nécessaires en vue de trouver les techniques appropriées pour réduire les infestations et augmenter la rentabilité des cultures

Acute renal failure in an AIDS patient on tenofovir: a case report

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Licens

Identification of a novel phosphorylation site in hepatitis C virus NS5A

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS5A protein is phosphorylated on multiple residues; however, despite extensive study, the precise identity of these sites has not been determined unambiguously. In this study, we have used a combination of immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry to identify these phosphorylation sites. This analysis revealed the presence of a major phosphorylated residue within NS5A from the genotype 1b Con1 isolate – serine 249 (serine 2221 in polyprotein numbering). However, mutation of this residue (or the corresponding threonine in the JFH-1 isolate) to either a phosphomimetic (aspartate) or a phosphoablative (alanine) residue resulted in no phenotype. We conclude that phosphorylation of this residue, in the context of a highly culture-adapted HCV genome, does not play a role in either viral RNA replication or virus assembly. It is possible that it might be important in an aspect of virus biology that is not recapitulated faithfully in the Huh-7 cell-culture system