Serological profiles in nursery piglets colonized with Staphylococcus aureus

At present, the immune response of pigs in relation to Staphylococcus aureus carriage is poorly understood. This study aimed at investigating the dynamics of the anti-staphylococcal humoral immune response in methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA)-positive piglets and at assessing the effect of the experimental introduction of a methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) Sequence Type (ST) 398 strain. Therefore, serum samples were collected at different times from 31 weaned piglets originating from four different sows. Twenty-four out of the 31 piglets were challenged with MRSA ST398. The serum samples were analysed for IgG antibodies to 39 S. aureus antigens, using a multiplex bead-based assay (xMAP technology, Luminex Corporation). Though antibody responses showed broad inter-individual variability, serological results appeared to be clustered by litter of origin. For most antigens, an age-related response was observed with an apparent increase in antibody titres directed against staphylococcal microbial surface components recognizing adhesive matrix molecules (MSCRAMMs), which have been shown to play a role in S. aureus colonization. In most animals, antibody titres directed against staphylococcal toxins or immune-modulating proteins decreased with age, possibly reflecting absence of bacterial invasion. The introduction of MRSA ST398 did not elicit a significant humoral immune reaction. This study describes, for the first time, the humoral immune response in weaned pigs colonized with S. aureus

Draft Genome Sequence of Xylella fastidiosa subsp. Fastidiosa Strain IVIA5235, Isolated from Prunus avium in Mallorca Island, Spain

We report the complete annotated genome sequence of the plant-pathogenic bacterium Xylella fastidiosa subsp. fastidiosa strain IVIA5235. This strain was recovered from a cherry tree in Mallorca, Spain

Persistence with Partial Survival

We introduce a parameter $p$, called partial survival, in the persistence of stochastic processes and show that for smooth processes the persistence exponent $\theta(p)$ changes continuously with $p$, $\theta(0)$ being the usual persistence exponent. We compute $\theta(p)$ exactly for a one-dimensional deterministic coarsening model, and approximately for the diffusion equation. Finally we develop an exact, systematic series expansion for $\theta(p)$, in powers of $\epsilon=1-p$, for a general Gaussian process with finite density of zero crossings.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures, references added, to appear in Phys.Rev.Let

Observations And Experiments For The Definition Of A New Robotic Device Dedicated To CT, CBCT And MRI-Guided Percutaneous Procedures.

In this paper, we present the work achieved to define the robotic functionalities of interest for percutaneous procedures as performed in interventional radiology. Our contributions are twofold. First, a detailed task analysis is performed with workflow analysis of biopsies, one of the most frequent tasks, under three imaging modalities, namely CT, CBCT and MRI. Second, the functionalities of a robotic assistant are identified, and we analyze whether a single device can bring an added value during procedures in the three modalities while keeping the robotized workflow close to manual tasks, to minimize learning time and difficulty of use. Experimental analysis on CBCT is notably used to confirm the interest of the determined robotic functionalities.journal articleresearch support, non-u.s. gov't2018 07importedIEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, Honolulu, United States, juillet 2018 Research team : AV

Hydraulically-actuated compliant revolute joint for medical robotic systems based on multimaterial additive manufacturing

IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA), Montréal, Canada, janvier 2019 Research team : AV

An experimental and kinetic modelling study of the oxidation of the four isomers of butanol

Butanol, an alcohol which can be produced from biomass sources, has received recent interest as an alternative to gasoline for use in spark ignition engines and as a possible blending compound with fossil diesel or biodiesel. Therefore, the autoignition of the four isomers of butanol (1-butanol, 2-butanol, iso-butanol, and tert-butanol) has been experimentally studied at high temperatures in a shock tube and a kinetic mechanism for description of their high-temperature oxidation has been developed. Ignition delay times for butanol/oxygen/argon mixtures have been measured behind reflected shock waves at temperatures and pressures ranging from approximately 1200 to 1800 K and 1 to 4 bar. Electronically excited OH emission and pressure measurements were used to determine ignition delay times. A detailed kinetic mechanism has been developed to describe the oxidation of the butanol isomers and validated by comparison to the shock tube measurements. Reaction flux and sensitivity analysis indicate that the consumption of 1 butanol and iso-butanol, the most reactive isomers, takes place primarily by H-atom abstraction resulting in the formation of radicals, the decomposition of which yields highly reactive branching agents, H-atoms and OH radicals. Conversely, the consumption of tert butanol and 2-butanol, the least reactive isomers, takes place primarily via dehydration, resulting in the formation of alkenes, which lead to resonance stabilized radicals with very low reactivity. To our knowledge, the ignition delay measurements and oxidation mechanism presented here for 2-butanol, iso-butanol, and tert butanol are the first of their kind.

Everyday vulnerabilities and ''social dispositions'' in the Malian Sahel, an indication for evaluating future adaptability to water crises?

International audienceSince the 1970s, precipitation in the Sahel has decreased and become very irregular, leading to widespread drought, whilst the human need for water has rapidly increased. A new ''dispositions''-based approach was adapted in order to analyse human interactions with environmental hazards and applied to the case of Hombori village in northeastern Mali. This article explores how the population and political stakeholders perceive, live with and respond to the increasing scarcity of water. It also explores how their current vulnerability and ability to cope with variations in available water resources indicate future adaptability to climate shocks. On the one hand, this research shows how the population copes with variations in water resource availability: the population's socio-spatial organisation explains the inhabitants' exposure to this problem and some of the factors affecting vulnerability, the elderly and women being the hardest hit. The water issue is generally managed on a ''day-to-day'' basis and considered a big problem only in the dry season, thus lowering any incentive for self-protection. The main two variables that could explain this kind of risk management are the conflicting local governance and current social rules. On the other hand, the discussion of results, based on a conceptual model of social responses, explains why these current ''social dispositions'' to cope with and even address the water scarcity issue do not guarantee future adaptability to climate change

The BRICS in the Global Order: A New Political Agenda?

Regarding the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) it’s important to analyze comparatively the new power cycle in order to understand not only the impact of the world crisis as well as the relationship between the official political discourses and the economic instability. Actually, the trade liberalization and economic interdependence accompanied with an uncertain international system are putting pressure to the BRICS with their own agendas for global order in seeking for a balance and also to regain a new political and economical dynamic for the promotion of new strategies