AN ANALYSIS TO LENGTHEN OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE BUDGET TO 2-YEAR AND ALLOW A CARRYOVER OF EXPIRED FUNDS TO THE END OF THE FIRST QUARTER OF THE SUBSEQUENT FY

Includes Supplementary MaterialIn this thesis, I propose the extension of the operation and maintenance (O&M) appropriation or period of availability from one year to two years, along with allowing a carryover of the expired funds to cover new starts and program increases during a continuing resolution. I present both the advantages and disadvantages that such policy change would bring and argue that the advantages far outweigh the concerns raised by Congress and those who oppose the two-year proposal. Extending O&M funding availability to two years would alleviate the spike of end-of-year obligations and lower the amount of expired unobligated funds, leading to fiscal and program stability. I also discuss the opponents’ main argument against such a policy shift; i.e., Congress’s perceived loss of control. This policy proposal, if implemented, would bring much-needed budgetary flexibility and procurement stability throughout the fleet and to the DOD in general.Lieutenant Commander, United States NavyApproved for public release. Distribution is unlimited

Nonlinear polarization dynamics of Kerr beam self-cleaning in a GRIN multimode optical fiber

We experimentally study polarization dynamics of Kerr beam self-cleaning in a graded-index multimode optical fiber. We show that spatial beam cleaning is accompanied by nonlinear polarization rotation, and a substantial increase of the degree of linear polarization.Comment: 5 pages, 6 figure

Maladie de Lapeyronie: Aspects cliniques et thérapeutiques à propos de 17 cas

Buts: rapporter les aspects cliniques et thérapeutiques de la maladie de Lapeyronie (MLP).Matériel et méthodes: étude descriptive monocentrique recrutant 17 cas de MLP dans un service d’urologie au Sénégal entre janvier et décembre 2012. L’âge des patients, les motifs de consultation, le délai de consultation, l’examen des plaques de fibrose, le degré de courbure, le traitement et ses résultats ont été analysés.Résultats: l’âge moyen était de 58,2 ans (33 et 80 ans). La courbure était la plainte la plus observée (13 patients/17) et isolée chez 4 patients. La douleur pénienne était observée chez 4 patients et la dysérection chez 7 patients. Le délai de consultation moyen était de 21,2 mois (1 et 72 mois). Le grand axe moyen des plaques de fibrose était 2,8 cm (0,5 et 7,5 cm). Le degré de courbure de la verge moyen était de 31,6 (0 et 95). Neuf patients ont rec¸u un traitement à base de vitamine E et des infiltrations de corticoïdes dans la plaque. Il a été efficace chez 3 patients vus à la phase inflammatoire. Un redressement satisfaisant de verge par plicature de l’albuginée des corps caverneux selon Nesbit a été réalisée chez 5 malades en phase de séquelle. Trois patients n’ont pas pu être opérés.Conclusion: la MLP a une faible prévalence et la plupart des patients consultent en phase de séquelle. Le traitement médical a été efficace à la phase inflammatoire et la chirurgie a permis de régler la courbureMots Clés: maladie de Lapeyronie; douleur; courbure; dysfonction érectile; Sénéga

Cancer de la prostate localisé à haut risque de récidive:résultats de la prise charge

No Abstract

Plasmodium falciparum Transcriptome Analysis Reveals Pregnancy Malaria Associated Gene Expression

gene.-exposed women than from men.These findings suggest that other parasite proteins, such as PFI1785w, may contribute beside VAR2CSA to the pathogenesis of PAM. These data may be very valuable for future vaccine development

Facile whole mitochondrial genome resequencing from nipple aspirate fluid using MitoChip v2.0

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Mutations in the mitochondrial genome (mtgenome) have been associated with many disorders, including breast cancer. Nipple aspirate fluid (NAF) from symptomatic women could potentially serve as a minimally invasive sample for breast cancer screening by detecting somatic mutations in this biofluid. This study is aimed at 1) demonstrating the feasibility of NAF recovery from symptomatic women, 2) examining the feasibility of sequencing the entire mitochondrial genome from NAF samples, 3) cross validation of the Human mitochondrial resequencing array 2.0 (MCv2), and 4) assessing the somatic mtDNA mutation rate in benign breast diseases as a potential tool for monitoring early somatic mutations associated with breast cancer.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>NAF and blood were obtained from women with symptomatic benign breast conditions, and we successfully assessed the mutation load in the entire mitochondrial genome of 19 of these women. DNA extracts from NAF were sequenced using the mitochondrial resequencing array MCv2 and by capillary electrophoresis (CE) methods as a quality comparison. Sequencing was performed independently at two institutions and the results compared. The germline mtDNA sequence determined using DNA isolated from the patient's blood (control) was compared to the mutations present in cellular mtDNA recovered from patient's NAF.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>From the cohort of 28 women recruited for this study, NAF was successfully recovered from 23 participants (82%). Twenty two (96%) of the women produced fluids from both breasts. Twenty NAF samples and corresponding blood were chosen for this study. Except for one NAF sample, the whole mtgenome was successfully amplified using a single primer pair, or three pairs of overlapping primers. Comparison of MCv2 data from the two institutions demonstrates 99.200% concordance. Moreover, MCv2 data was 99.999% identical to CE sequencing, indicating that MCv2 is a reliable method to rapidly sequence the entire mtgenome. Four NAF samples contained somatic mutations.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We have demonstrated that NAF is a suitable material for mtDNA sequence analysis using the rapid and reliable MCv2. Somatic mtDNA mutations present in NAF of women with benign breast diseases could potentially be used as risk factors for progression to breast cancer, but this will require a much larger study with clinical follow up.</p

Plasmodium falciparum Clearance Is Rapid and Pitting Independent in Immune Malian Children Treated With Artesunate for Malaria

Background. In Plasmodium falciparum-infected patients treated with artemisinins, parasitemia declines through so-called pitting, an innate splenic process that transforms infected red blood cells (iRBCs) into onceinfected RBCs (O-iRBCs). Methods. We measured pitting in 83 French travelers and 42 Malian children treated for malaria with artesunate. Results. In travelers, O-iRBCs peaked at 107.7% initial parasitemia. In Malian children aged 1.5-4 years, OiRBCs peaked at higher concentrations than in children aged 9-13 years (91.60% vs 31.95%; P = .0097). The parasite clearance time in older children was shorter than in younger children (P = .0001), and the decline in parasitemia in children aged 1.5-4 years often started 6 hours after treatment initiation, a lag phase generally absent in infants and older children. A 6-hour lag phase in artificial pitting of artesunate-exposed iRBCs was also observed in vitro. The proportion of iRBCs recognized by autologous immunoglobulin G (IgG) correlated with the parasite clearance time (r = −0.501; P = .0006) and peak O-iRBC concentration (r = −0.420; P = .0033). Conclusions. Antimalarial immunity correlates with fast artemisinin-induced parasite clearance and low pitting rates. In nonimmune populations, artemisinin-induced P. falciparum clearance is related to pitting and starts after a 6-hour lag phase. In immune populations, passively and naturally acquired immune mechanisms operating faster than pitting may exist. This mechanism may mitigate the emergence of artemisinin-resistant P. falciparum in Africa

Feasibility of Onchocerciasis Elimination with Ivermectin Treatment in Endemic Foci in Africa: First Evidence from Studies in Mali and Senegal

The control of onchocerciasis, or river blindness, is based on annual or six-monthly ivermectin treatment of populations at risk. This has been effective in controlling the disease as a public health problem, but it is not known whether it can also eliminate infection and transmission to the extent that treatment can be safely stopped. Many doubt that this is feasible in Africa. A study was undertaken in three hyperendemic onchocerciasis foci in Mali and Senegal where treatment has been given for 15 to 17 years. The results showed that only few infections remained in the human population and that transmission levels were everywhere below postulated thresholds for elimination. Treatment was subsequently stopped in test areas in each focus, and follow-up evaluations did not detect any recrudescence of infection or transmission. Hence, the study has provided the first evidence that onchocerciasis elimination is feasible with ivermectin treatment in some endemic foci in Africa. Although further studies are needed to determine to what extent these findings can be extrapolated to other areas in Africa, the principle of onchocerciasis elimination with ivermectin treatment has been established

Genetic Determination and Linkage Mapping of Plasmodium falciparum Malaria Related Traits in Senegal

Plasmodium falciparum malaria episodes may vary considerably in their severity and clinical manifestations. There is good evidence that host genetic factors contribute to this variability. To date, most genetic studies aiming at the identification of these genes have used a case/control study design for severe malaria, exploring specific candidate genes. Here, we performed a family-based genetic study of falciparum malaria related phenotypes in two independent longitudinal survey cohorts, as a first step towards the identification of genes and mechanisms involved in the outcome of infection. We studied two Senegalese villages, Dielmo and Ndiop that differ in ethnicity, malaria transmission and endemicity. We performed genome-scan linkage analysis of several malaria-related phenotypes both during clinical attacks and asymptomatic infection. We show evidence for a strong genetic contribution to both the number of clinical falciparum malaria attacks and the asymptomatic parasite density. The asymptomatic parasite density showed linkage to chromosome 5q31 (LOD = 2.26, empirical p = 0.0014, Dielmo), confirming previous findings in other studies. Suggestive linkage values were also obtained at three additional chromosome regions: the number of clinical malaria attacks on chromosome 5p15 (LOD = 2.57, empirical p = 0.001, Dielmo) and 13q13 (LOD = 2.37, empirical p = 0.0014 Dielmo), and the maximum parasite density during asymptomatic infection on chromosome 12q21 (LOD = 3.1, empirical p<10−4, Ndiop). While regions of linkage show little overlap with genes known to be involved in severe malaria, the four regions appear to overlap with regions linked to asthma or atopy related traits, suggesting that common immune related pathways may be involved