Mosquito salivary gland protein preservation in the field for immunological and biochemical analysis

Mosquito salivary proteins are involved in several biological processes that facilitate their blood feeding and have also been reported to elicit an IgG response in vertebrates. A growing number of studies have focused on this immunological response for its potential use as a biological marker of exposure to arthropod bites. As mosquito saliva collection is extremely laborious and inefficient, most research groups prefer to work on mosquito salivary glands (SGs). Thus, SG protein integrity is a critical factor in obtaining meaningful data from immunological and biochemical analysis. Current methodologies rely on an immediate freezing of SGs after their collection. However, the maintenance of samples in a frozen environment can be hard to achieve in field conditions. In this study, SG proteins from two mosquito species (Aedes aegypti and Anopheles gambiae s.s.) stored in different media for 5 days at either +4°C or room temperature (RT) were evaluated at the quantitative (i.e., ELISA) and qualitative (i.e., SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting) levels. Our results indicated that PBS medium supplemented with an anti-protease cocktail seems to be the best buffer to preserve SG antigens for 5 days at +4°C for ELISA analysis. Conversely, cell-lysis buffer (Urea-Thiourea-CHAPS-Tris) was best at preventing protein degradation both at +4°C and RT for further qualitative analysis. These convenient storage methods provide an alternative to freezing and are expected to be applicable to other biological samples collected in the field

Reconstruction of longitudinal electrons bunch profiles at FACET, SLAC

Work supported by funding from Universite Paris Sud, program "Attractivite" and by the ANR under contract ANR-12-JS05-0003-01 - http://accelconf.web.cern.ch/AccelConf/IPAC2014/papers/thpme093.pdfInternational audienceThe E-203 collaboration is testing a device on FACET at SLAC to measure the longitudinal profile of electron bunches using Smith-Purcell radiation [1]. At FACET the electron bunches have an energy of 20 GeV and a duration of a few hundred femtoseconds [2]. Smith-Purcell radiation is emitted when a charged particle passes close to the sur- face of a metallic grating. We have studied the stability of the measurement from pulse to pulse and the resolution of the measure depending on the number of gratings used

Etude épidémiologique de la rhinopneumonie chez les équidés au Maroc

Lors d'une enquête sérologique sur la rhinopneumonie équine au Maroc, 4 775 prélèvements (59,6 % de chevaux, 18 % de mulets et 22,4 % d'ânes) ont été réalisés durant cinq ans (de 1990 à 1994) dans les différentes régions du pays. La séroprévalence globale de l'infection était de 39 %. Les ânes (46 %) étaient plus affectés que les mulets (42 %) et les chevaux (35 %). En outre, chez les trois espèces, la séroprévalence a augmenté avec l'âge jusqu'à trois ans pour atteindre la valeur de 42 % et elle s'est stabilisée pour les animaux plus âgés. Il n'est pas certain que le sexe et la région géographique où vivaient les animaux les prédisposaient à la maladie. Par contre, leurs conditions d'entretien ont constitué un facteur prédisposant à l'infection. Après une stabilisation pendant les quatre premières années, l'incidence de l'infection s'est subitement accrue en 1994 à cause de la sécheresse qui a sévi cette année-là

A Dual-Band Antenna for RF Energy Harvesting Systems in Wireless Sensor Networks

In this paper, we focus on ambient radio frequency energy available from commercial broadcasting stations in order to provide a system based on RF energy harvesting using a new design of receiving antenna. Several antenna designs have been proposed for use in RF energy harvesting systems, as a pertinent receiving antenna design is highly required since the antenna features can affect the amount of energy harvested. The proposed antenna is aimed at greatly increasing the energy harvesting efficiency over Wi-Fi bands: 2.45GHz and 5GHz. This provides a promising alternative energy source in order to power sensors located in harsh environments or remote places, where other energy sources are impracticable.The dual-band antenna can be easily integrated with RF energy harvesting system on the same circuit board. Simulations and measurements were carried out to evaluate the antenna performances and investigate the effects of different design parameters on the antenna performance.The receiving antenna meets the required bandwidth specification and provides peak gain of more than 4 dBi across the operating band.This work was supported in part by EMMAG Program 2014. The tests have been performed under the collaboration with the Electromagnetic Radiation Laboratory (GRE Lab) of the UPV.Bakkali, A.; Pelegrí Sebastiá, J.; Sogorb Devesa, TC.; Llario Sanjuan, JV.; Bou Escrivà, A. (2016). A Dual-Band Antenna for RF Energy Harvesting Systems in Wireless Sensor Networks. Journal of Sensors. 2016:1-8. doi:10.1155/2016/5725836S182016Sudevalayam, S., & Kulkarni, P. (2011). Energy Harvesting Sensor Nodes: Survey and Implications. IEEE Communications Surveys & Tutorials, 13(3), 443-461. doi:10.1109/surv.2011.060710.00094Bottner, H., Nurnus, J., Gavrikov, A., Kuhner, G., Jagle, M., Kunzel, C., … Schlereth, K.-H. (2004). New thermoelectric components using microsystem technologies. Journal of Microelectromechanical Systems, 13(3), 414-420. doi:10.1109/jmems.2004.828740Hande, A., Polk, T., Walker, W., & Bhatia, D. (2007). Indoor solar energy harvesting for sensor network router nodes. Microprocessors and Microsystems, 31(6), 420-432. doi:10.1016/j.micpro.2007.02.006Alippi, C., & Galperti, C. (2008). An Adaptive System for Optimal Solar Energy Harvesting in Wireless Sensor Network Nodes. IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems I: Regular Papers, 55(6), 1742-1750. doi:10.1109/tcsi.2008.922023Mikeka, C., & Arai, H. (2011). Design Issues in Radio Frequency Energy Harvesting System. Sustainable Energy Harvesting Technologies - Past, Present and Future. doi:10.5772/25348Nintanavongsa, P., Muncuk, U., Lewis, D. R., & Chowdhury, K. R. (2012). Design Optimization and Implementation for RF Energy Harvesting Circuits. IEEE Journal on Emerging and Selected Topics in Circuits and Systems, 2(1), 24-33. doi:10.1109/jetcas.2012.2187106Vyas, R. J., Cook, B. B., Kawahara, Y., & Tentzeris, M. M. (2013). E-WEHP: A Batteryless Embedded Sensor-Platform Wirelessly Powered From Ambient Digital-TV Signals. IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques, 61(6), 2491-2505. doi:10.1109/tmtt.2013.2258168Farinholt, K. M., Park, G., & Farrar, C. R. (2009). RF Energy Transmission for a Low-Power Wireless Impedance Sensor Node. IEEE Sensors Journal, 9(7), 793-800. doi:10.1109/jsen.2009.2022536Md. Din, N., Chakrabarty, C. K., Bin Ismail, A., Devi, K. K. A., & Chen, W.-Y. (2012). DESIGN OF RF ENERGY HARVESTING SYSTEM FOR ENERGIZING LOW POWER DEVICES. Progress In Electromagnetics Research, 132, 49-69. doi:10.2528/pier1207200

MESOTHELIUM PERICARDIQUE PRIMITIF SIMULANT UN KYSTE HYDATIQUE PERICARDIQUE

The mesothelioma of pericardium is a rare tumor. Its clinical presentation is polymorphous and its diagnosis is especially histological. We report a case of 63 years old women who presented, one month before, dyspnea on exertion which evolved to orthopnea, associated to atypical thoracic pain, admitted in intensive care unit for symptoms of compressive effusion. Transthoracic echocardiography was favourable of hydatid cyst of pericardium. A thoracotomy, following cardio-circulatory arrest, showed cystic tumor of pericardium invading the left auricle, mediastinal pleura and the left pulmonary hilum. Histopathologic examination confirmed the diagnosis of mesothelioma of pericardium.Le mésothélium péricardique primitif malin est une tumeur rare. Sa présentation clinique est polymorphe et son diagnostic est surtout histologique. Nous rapportons le cas d’une patiente âgée de 63 ans ayant présenté, un mois auparavant, une dyspnée d’effort ayant évolué vers l’orthopnée et associée à des douleurs thoraciques atypiques, a été admise au service des urgences dans un tableau de pré-tamponnade. L’échocardiographie transthoracique était en faveur d’un kyste hydatique péricardique avec compression des cavités cardiaques droites. Suite à un arrêt cardio-circulatoire, une thoracotomie de sauvetage a montré une masse kystique péricardique envahissant l’oreillette gauche, la plèvre mediastinale et le hile pulmonaire gauches. L’examen anatomopathologique à l’autopsie a objectivé un mésothélium péricardique primitif malin

Longitudinal Profile Monitor Using Smith-Purcell Radiation: Recent Results from the E-203 Collaboration

TUPC38 - Work supported by seed funding from the John Fell Fund, University of Oxford, Université Paris-Sud, program "Attractivité" and by the ANR under contract ANR-12-JS05-0003-01International audienceWe report on recent measurements made at FACET by the E-203 collaboration to test a longitudinal bunch profile monitor based on Coherent Smith-Purcell radiation. The capacity of this monitor to resolve sub-picosecond bunches will be shown as well as a comparison of profile reconstructed for different beam compression settings. We will also present recent electromagnetic simulations of the interactions between the beam and the grating as well as the expected resolution of such monitor. Comparison between Coherent Smith-Purcell radiation measurement and those made with other techniques will also be discussed. Finally future upgrades of the experiment and steps toward the construction of a single shot longitudinal profile monitor will be presented

What Are the Peripheral Blood Determinants for Increased Osteoclast Formation in the Various Inflammatory Diseases Associated With Bone Loss?

Local priming of osteoclast precursors (OCp) has long been considered the main and obvious pathway that takes place in the human body, where local bone lining cells and RANKL-expressing osteocytes may facilitate the differentiation of OCp. However, priming of OCp away from bone, such as in inflammatory tissues, as revealed in peripheral blood, may represent a second pathway, particularly relevant in individuals who suffer from systemic bone loss such as prevalent in inflammatory diseases. In this review, we used a systematic approach to review the literature on osteoclast formation in peripheral blood in patients with inflammatory diseases associated with bone loss. Only studies that compared inflammatory (bone) disease with healthy controls in the same study were included. Using this core collection, it becomes clear that experimental osteoclastogenesis using peripheral blood from patients with bone loss diseases in prevalent diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, periodontitis, and cancer-related osteopenia unequivocally point toward an intrinsically increased osteoclast formation and activation. In particular, such increased osteoclastogenesis already takes place without the addition of the classical osteoclastogenesis cytokines M-CSF and RANKL in vitro. We show that T-cells and monocytes as OCp are the minimal demands for such unstimulated osteoclast formation. In search for common and disease-specific denominators of the diseases with inflammation-driven bone loss, we demonstrate that altered T-cell activity and a different composition—such as the CD14+CD16+ vs. CD14+CD16– monocytes—and priming of OCp with increased M-CSF, RANKL, and TNF- α levels in peripheral blood play a role in increased osteoclast formation and activity. Future research will likely uncover the barcodes of the OCp in the various inflammatory diseases associated with bone loss

Encephalomyocarditis virus infection in an Italian zoo

A fatal Encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) infection epidemic involving fifteen primates occurred between October 2006 and February 2007 at the Natura Viva Zoo. This large open-field zoo park located near Lake Garda in Northern Italy hosts one thousand animals belonging to one hundred and fifty different species, including various lemur species. This lemur collection is the most relevant and rich in Italy. A second outbreak between September and November 2008 involved three lemurs. In all cases, the clinical signs were sudden deaths generally without any evident symptoms or only with mild unspecific clinical signs. Gross pathologic changes were characterized by myocarditis (diffuse or focal pallor of the myocardium), pulmonary congestion, emphysema, oedema and thoracic fluid. The EMCV was isolated and recognized as the causative agent of both outbreaks. The first outbreak in particular was associated with a rodent plague, confirming that rats are an important risk factor for the occurrence of the EMCV infection