Retrospective study of epidemiological, clinicopathological and biological profils of 62 colorectal cancers cases in Jijel provence (Algeria)

In Algeria, the CRC wing and become the first digestive cancer in both sexes,  outperforming stomach cancer. To enrich the Algerian cancer registries, we analyzed the profiles of patients with these cancers in Jijel Willaya. This was a retrospective and descriptive analysis of epidemiological, clinicopathological and biological profiles of 62 CRC cases. We found that the CRC represented the first type of digestive cancers in which the three quarters were colon cancers. The most affected age group was 60-70 years with a male predominance and an average age of 56.20 years. The bleeding and abdominal pain were the majority telltale signs. The combined chemotherapy has been standardized with all patients and the Lieberkühnien adenocarcinoma was the major histological form. The disease issue and the choice of therapy depended on the K-RAS gene mutations. Our results were often compatible with the available literature and may provide reliable and relevant data on this disease.Key words: Colorectal cancer; Epidemiology; Therapy; Adenocarcinoma; K-RAS gen

Influence of oxygen deficiency on optical and dielectric properties of La0.75Ba0.10Sr0.15FeO2.875-δ compounds

Using the conventional sol-gel process, the series of non-stoichiometric oxygen lanthanum ferrites with the formula 0.750.100.152.875 ― (δ=0.00, 0.125 and 0.25) were prepared. X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed the formation of the orthorhombic structure with Pnma space group. In the present work, we confirm the potential of 0.750.100.15 2.875 ― (δ=0.00, 0.125 and 0.25) as an efficient dielectric material. All samples show high absorbance in the visible region with wavelength above 300 nm. The optical band gaps are found to increase from 3.25 to 4.1 with increasing oxygen vacancy concentration. The dielectric constant, dielectric loss and loss factor were carried out as a function of oxygen vacancy concentration and frequency (102 -106 Hz) at room temperature. The variation of dielectric constant with frequency indicates dispersive behavior and giant dielectric response (more than 104 ) at low frequencies for compounds deficient in oxygen. Such value of makes ′ these samples an interesting material to be used in applications namely the reduction of electronic components size. To summarize, incorporating vacancy oxygen enhances the dielectric properties. Thus, the interesting dielectric constant and weak loss strengthen the use for potential applications.publishe

Ovulation rate and early embryonic survival rate in female rabbits of a synthetic line and a local Algerian population

[EN] A higher litter size at birth has been reported in female rabbits from a Synthetic line than in those of the Local Algerian population. The aim of this work was to analyse whether this difference in litter size was due to a higher ovulation rate and/or embryonic survival rate in Synthetic line than in Local Algerian population. In total, 24 multiparous female rabbits from Synthetic line and 23 from Local population were used in this experiment. Litter size at birth was recorded up to the first 3 parities. Litter size was 20% higher in Synthetic line than Local population. At their 4th gestation, the females were euthanized at 72 h post coitum. Synthetic line females had 50% more ova and embryos than those of Local population (+4.42 ova and +3.92 embryos, respectively). Synthetic line displayed a lower percentage of normal embryos and a larger number of unfertilized oocytes than Local population (–2.81% and +0.64 oocytes, respectively), but differences were not relevant. Synthetic line showed a lesser embryonic stage of development at 72 h post coitum, showing a higher percentage of early morulae (31.50 vs. 8.50%) and a lower percentage of compact morulae (51.45 vs. 78.65%) than Local population. No relevant difference was found for early embryonic survival rate between Synthetic line and Local population. In conclusion, the difference in litter size was mainly due to a higher ovulation rate in the Synthetic line, allowing more embryos to develop in this line.Belabbas, R.; García, M.; Ainbaziz, H.; Berbar, A.; Zitouni, G.; Lafri, M.; Bouzouan, M.... (2016). Ovulation rate and early embryonic survival rate in female rabbits of a synthetic line and a local Algerian population. World Rabbit Science. 24(4):275-282. doi:10.4995/wrs.2016.5301.SWORD275282244Argente, M. J., Santacreu, M. A., Climent, A., & Blasco, A. (2003). Relationships between uterine and fetal traits in rabbits selected on uterine capacity1. Journal of Animal Science, 81(5), 1265-1273. doi:10.2527/2003.8151265xBelabbas R., AinBaziz H., Ilès I., Zenia S., Boumahdi Z., Boulbina I., Temim S. 2011. Study of prolificacy and its main biological components in rabbits of local Algerian population (Oryctolagus cuniculus). Livest. Res. Rur. Dev., 23: 61.Brun J.M., Baselga M. 2004. Analysis of reproductive performances during the formation of a rabbit synthetic strain. In Proc.: 8th World Rabbit Congress, September 7-10, 2004, Puebla, Mexico, 32-37.Bolet, G., & Theau-Clément, M. (1994). Fertilisation rate and preimplantation embryonic development in two rabbit strains of different fecundity, in purebreeding and crossbreeding. Animal Reproduction Science, 36(1-2), 153-162. doi:10.1016/0378-4320(94)90062-0Buhi, W. C., & Alvarez, I. M. (2003). Identification, characterization and localization of three proteins expressed by the porcine oviduct. Theriogenology, 60(2), 225-238. doi:10.1016/s0093-691x(03)00027-xGacem M., Lebas F. 2000. Rabbit husbandry in Algeria. Technical structure and evaluation of performances. World Rabbit Sci., 8(Suppl. 1): B75-80.Gacem M., Zerrouki N., Lebas F., Bolet G., 2008. Strategy of developing rabbit meat in Algeria: creation and selection of a synthetic strain. In Proc.: 9th World Rabbit Congress, June 10-13, 2008, Verona, Italy, 85-89.Nancarrow C.D., Hill J.L. 1995. Oviduct proteins in fertilization and early embryo development. J. Reprod. Fertil., (Suppl) 49: 3-13.Salvetti P., Guérin P., Theau-Clément M., Hurtaud J., Beckers J.F., Joly T. 2007. Essais d'amélioration de la production d'embryons chez la lapine. In Proc.: 12èmes Journées de la Recherche Cunicole, 27-28 Novembre 2007, Le Mans, France, 41-44.Xie, S., Broermann, D. M., Nephew, K. P., Bishop, M. D., & Pope, W. F. (1990). Relationship between oocyte maturation and fertilization on zygotic diversity in swine. Journal of Animal Science, 68(7), 2027. doi:10.2527/1990.6872027xYoussef Y.K., Iraqi M.M., El-Raffa A.M., Afifi E.A., Khalil M.H., García M.L., Baselga M. 2008. A joint project to synthesize new lines of rabbits in Egypt and Saudi Arabia: emphasis for results and prospects. In Proc.: 9th World Rabbit Congress, June 10-13, 2008, Verona, Italy, 1637-1642

Longitudinal changes in functional connectivity of cortico-basal ganglia networks in manifests and premanifest huntington's disease

Huntington's disease (HD) is a genetic neurological disorder resulting in cognitive and motor impairments. We evaluated the longitudinal changes of functional connectivity in sensorimotor, associative and limbic cortico-basal ganglia networks. We acquired structural MRI and resting-state fMRI in three visits one year apart, in 18 adult HD patients, 24 asymptomatic mutation carriers (preHD) and 18 gender- and age-matched healthy volunteers from the TRACK-HD study. We inferred topological changes in functional connectivity between 182 regions within cortico-basal ganglia networks using graph theory measures. We found significant differences for global graph theory measures in HD but not in preHD. The average shortest path length (L) decreased, which indicated a change toward the random network topology. HD patients also demonstrated increases in degree k, reduced betweeness centrality bc and reduced clustering C. Changes predominated in the sensorimotor network for bc and C and were observed in all circuits for k. Hubs were reduced in preHD and no longer detectable in HD in the sensorimotor and associative networks. Changes in graph theory metrics (L, k, C and bc) correlated with four clinical and cognitive measures (symbol digit modalities test, Stroop, Burden and UHDRS). There were no changes in graph theory metrics across sessions, which suggests that these measures are not reliable biomarkers of longitudinal changes in HD. preHD is characterized by progressive decreasing hub organization, and these changes aggravate in HD patients with changes in local metrics. HD is characterized by progressive changes in global network interconnectivity, whose network topology becomes more random over time. Hum Brain Mapp, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc

Deciphering the components of regional net ecosystem fluxes following a bottom-up approach for the Iberian Peninsula

Quantification of ecosystem carbon pools is a fundamental requirement for estimating carbon fluxes and for addressing the dynamics and responses of the terrestrial carbon cycle to environmental drivers. The initial estimates of carbon pools in terrestrial carbon cycle models often rely on the ecosystem steady state assumption, leading to initial equilibrium conditions. In this study, we investigate how trends and inter-annual variability of net ecosystem fluxes are affected by initial non-steady state conditions. Further, we examine how modeled ecosystem responses induced exclusively by the model drivers can be separated from the initial conditions. For this, the Carnegie-Ames-Stanford Approach (CASA) model is optimized at set of European eddy covariance sites, which support the parameterization of regional simulations of ecosystem fluxes for the Iberian Peninsula, between 1982 and 2006. <br><br> The presented analysis stands on a credible model performance for a set of sites, that represent generally well the plant functional types and selected descriptors of climate and phenology present in the Iberian region – except for a limited Northwestern area. The effects of initial conditions on inter-annual variability and on trends, results mostly from the recovery of pools to equilibrium conditions; which control most of the inter-annual variability (IAV) and both the magnitude and sign of most of the trends. However, by removing the time series of pure model recovery from the time series of the overall fluxes, we are able to retrieve estimates of inter-annual variability and trends in net ecosystem fluxes that are quasi-independent from the initial conditions. This approach reduced the sensitivity of the net fluxes to initial conditions from 47% and 174% to −3% and 7%, for strong initial sink and source conditions, respectively. <br><br> With the aim to identify and improve understanding of the component fluxes that drive the observed trends, the net ecosystem production (NEP) trends are decomposed into net primary production (NPP) and heterotrophic respiration (<i>R</i><sub>H</sub>) trends. The majority (~97%) of the positive trends in NEP is observed in regions where both NPP and <i>R</i><sub>H</sub> fluxes show significant increases, although the magnitude of NPP trends is higher. Analogously, ~83% of the negative trends in NEP are also associated with negative trends in NPP. The spatial patterns of NPP trends are mainly explained by the trends in <i>f</i>APAR (<i>r</i>=0.79) and are only marginally explained by trends in temperature and water stress scalars (<i>r</i>=0.10 and <i>r</i>=0.25, respectively). Further, we observe the significant role of substrate availability (<i>r</i>=0.25) and temperature (<i>r</i>=0.23) in explaining the spatial patterns of trends in <i>R</i><sub>H</sub>. These results highlight the role of primary production in driving ecosystem fluxes. <br><br> Overall, our study illustrates an approach for removing the confounding effects of initial conditions and emphasizes the need to decompose the ecosystem fluxes into its components and drivers for more mechanistic interpretations of modeling results. We expect that our results are not only specific for the CASA model since it incorporates concepts of ecosystem functioning and modeling assumptions common to biogeochemical models. A direct implication of these results is the ability of this approach to detect climate and phenology induced trends regardless of the initial conditions

Spectral factor analysis for multi-isotope imaging in nuclear medicine

Abstract. In nuclear medicine, simultaneous dual-isotope imaging is used to determine the distribution of two radiotracers from a single acquisition and for emission/transmission (E/T) imaging in SPECT. However, no general solution to the cross-talk problem caused by scattered and unscattered photons has been found yet and accurate quantification cannot be performed. We describe a general method of spectral factor analysis (SFA) for multi-isotope acquisitions. SFA corrects for cross-talk due to unscattered and scattered photons in planar or SPECT imaging involving two or more radiotracers and for E/T scans. A Tc-99m/I-123 phantom study shows that quantitative accuracy is within 10% with SFA, while errors up to 170% are observed using conventional spectral windows

QMCPACK: Advances in the development, efficiency, and application of auxiliary field and real-space variational and diffusion Quantum Monte Carlo

We review recent advances in the capabilities of the open source ab initio Quantum Monte Carlo (QMC) package QMCPACK and the workflow tool Nexus used for greater efficiency and reproducibility. The auxiliary field QMC (AFQMC) implementation has been greatly expanded to include k-point symmetries, tensor-hypercontraction, and accelerated graphical processing unit (GPU) support. These scaling and memory reductions greatly increase the number of orbitals that can practically be included in AFQMC calculations, increasing accuracy. Advances in real space methods include techniques for accurate computation of band gaps and for systematically improving the nodal surface of ground state wavefunctions. Results of these calculations can be used to validate application of more approximate electronic structure methods including GW and density functional based techniques. To provide an improved foundation for these calculations we utilize a new set of correlation-consistent effective core potentials (pseudopotentials) that are more accurate than previous sets; these can also be applied in quantum-chemical and other many-body applications, not only QMC. These advances increase the efficiency, accuracy, and range of properties that can be studied in both molecules and materials with QMC and QMCPACK

Measurement of the Beam-Recoil Polarization in Low-Energy Virtual Compton Scattering from the Proton

Double-polarization observables in the reaction $\vec{e}p \rightarrow e'\vec{p'}\gamma{}$ have been measured at $Q^2=0.33 (GeV/c)^2$. The experiment was performed at the spectrometer setup of the A1 Collaboration using the 855 MeV polarized electron beam provided by the Mainz Microtron (MAMI) and a recoil proton polarimeter. From the double-polarization observables the structure function $P_{LT}^\perp$ is extracted for the first time, with the value $(-15.4 \pm 3.3 (stat.)^{+1.5}_{-2.4} (syst.)) GeV^{-2}$, using the low-energy theorem for Virtual Compton Sattering. This structure function provides a hitherto unmeasured linear combination of the generalized polarizabilities of the proton

The study of soil, hydrological, erosion and vegetation processes following wildfire in the Colmeal study area, central Portugal

The EROSFIRE-II project (PTDC/AGR-CFL/70968/2006) has as overall aim to predict soil erosion risk in recently burnt forest areas, including following common post-fire forest management practices. Although the project’s main focus is on onsite erosion processes, also the export of sediments out of small catchments is addressed. To this end, a study area of about 60 ha located near to the village of Colmeal (municipality of Góis, central Portugal) was instrumented extensively following a wildfire during August 2008, and has been monitored intensively afterwards.(...