Effect of a pre-milking teat foam and a liner disinfectant on the presence of mesophilic and (proteolytic) psychrotrophic bacteria prior to milking

Contamination of raw milk by psychrotrophs can lead to the production of heat-resistant proteases and subsequent spoilage of UHT milk. Therefore, this research communication evaluated the effect of a pre-milking teat disinfectant (active components: L-(+)-lactic acid and salicylic acid) and a liner disinfectant (active components: peracetic acid and hydrogen peroxide) on the number of mesophilic and (proteolytic) psychrotrophic bacteria prior to milking. The teat orifices of 10 cows were sampled using a swabbing procedure before and after treatment with a pre-milking teat disinfectant on six subsequent days. On the teat orifices, there was a small but statistically significant decrease in the psychrotrophic bacterial counts between pre and post dipping. No differences were observed for the mesophilic bacterial counts and proteolytic active counts. Liners were also sampled using swabs pre and post disinfection. No statistically significant decrease in the bacterial counts was observed post liner disinfection, although there was a numerical decrease. Sixty-two percent of the proteolytic psychrotrophs were pseudomonads: 16.5% of which were P. fragi, 14.3% P. lundensis, 10.0% P. fluorescens and 2.9% P. putida. Trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS) analysis revealed a wide variety in proteolytic activity (from 0 to 55 mu mol glycine/ml milk) and the presence of high producers. It can be concluded that there was only a minor effect of teat and liner disinfection on the psychrotrophic bacterial counts indicating that the measures presented did not result in a reduction of the targeted bacteria on teat orifices and liners

Excitable waves at the margin of the contact area between a cell and a substrate.

International audienceIn this paper, we study a new physical mechanism to generate an activator field which signals the extreme margin of the contact area between an adherent cell and the substrate. This mechanism is based on the coupling between the adhesive bridges connecting the substrate to the cytoskeleton and a cytosolic activator. Once activated by adhesion on the adhesive bridges, this activator is free to diffuse on the membrane. We propose that this activator is part of the mecano-transduction pathway which links adhesion to actin polymerization and, thus, to cellular motility. The consequences of our model are as follows: (a) the activator is localized at the rim of the contact area, (b) the adhesion is reinforced at the margin of the contact area between the cell and the substrate, (c) excitable waves of the activator can propagate along the adhesion rim

Unternehmensgründungen von Ausländern in Deutschland: Einkommenseffekte und Implikationen für die Gründungslehre

The paper uses data from the German Socio-Economic Panel Study (SOEP) to analyze start-ups by foreigners in Germany. The regression results are the following: First, foreigners in self-employment are found to earn more than foreigners in a regular employment position. Second, foreigners seem to gain more from self-employment relative to Germans. The earnings increase from self-employment is larger for foreigners than it is for Germans. The findings are discussed from a policy and an entrepreneurship education perspective. We argue that there is a great potential for entrepreneurship education targeting foreigners.Self-employment, SOEP, foreigners, Germany, earnings, entrepreneurship education

Effects of etelcalcetide on fibroblast growth factor 23 in patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism receiving hemodialysis

Background: Etelcalcetide is an intravenous calcimimetic approved for treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism (sHPT) in patients receiving hemodialysis. Besides lowering parathyroid hormone (PTH), etelcalcetide also significantly reduces fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23), but the mechanisms are unknown. Methods: To investigate potential mediators of etelcalcetide-induced FGF23 reduction, we performed secondary analyses of the 26-week randomized trials that compared the effects on PTH of etelcalcetide (n = 509) versus placebo (n = 514) and etelcalcetide (n = 340) versus cinacalcet (n = 343) in adults with sHPT receiving hemodialysis. We analyzed changes in FGF23 in relation to changes in PTH, calcium, phosphate and bone turnover markers. We also investigated how concomitant treatments aimed at mitigating hypocalcemia altered the FGF23-lowering effects of etelcalcetide. Results: Etelcalcetide reduced FGF23 [median % change (quartile 1-quartile 3)] from baseline to the end of the trial significantly more than placebo [-56% (-85 to -7) versus +2% (-40 to +65); P < 0.001] and cinacalcet [-68% (-87 to -26) versus -41% (-76 to +25); P < 0.001]. Reductions in FGF23 correlated strongly with reductions in calcium and phosphate, but not with PTH; correlations with bone turnover markers were inconsistent and of borderline significance. Increases in concomitant vitamin D administration partially attenuated the FGF23-lowering effect of etelcalcetide, but increased dialysate calcium concentration versus no increase and increased dose of calcium supplementation versus no increase did not attenuate the FGF23-lowering effects of etelcalcetide. Conclusion: These data suggest that etelcalcetide potently lowers FGF23 in patients with sHPT receiving hemodialysis and that the effect remains detectable among patients who receive concomitant treatments aimed at mitigating treatment-associated decreases in serum calcium

Actin machinery and mechanosensitivity in invadopodia, podosomes and focal adhesions.

International audienceThe invasiveness of cells is correlated with the presence of dynamic actin-rich membrane structures called invadopodia, which are membrane protrusions that are associated with localized polymerization of sub-membrane actin filaments. Similar to focal adhesions and podosomes, invadopodia are cell-matrix adhesion sites. Indeed, invadopodia share several features with podosomes, but whether they are distinct structures is still a matter of debate. Invadopodia are built upon an N-WASP-dependent branched actin network, and the Rho GTPase Cdc42 is involved in inducing invadopodial-membrane protrusion, which is mediated by actin filaments that are organized in bundles to form an actin core. Actin-core formation is thought to be an early step in invadopodium assembly, and the actin core is perpendicular to the extracellular matrix and the plasma membrane; this contrasts with the tangential orientation of actin stress fibers anchored to focal adhesions. In this Commentary, we attempt to summarize recent insights into the actin dynamics of invadopodia and podosomes, and the forces that are transmitted through these invasive structures. Although the mechanisms underlying force-dependent regulation of invadopodia and podosomes are largely unknown compared with those of focal adhesions, these structures do exhibit mechanosensitivity. Actin dynamics and associated forces might be key elements in discriminating between invadopodia, podosomes and focal adhesions. Targeting actin-regulatory molecules that specifically promote invadopodium formation is an attractive strategy against cancer-cell invasion

Secundaire preventie na een residentiële ontwenningsbehandeling voor jongeren

Verslaving is een complexe ziekte met een chronisch verloop en opeenvolgende crisissituaties die een acute aanpak vereisen. Het residentieel programma is een eerste stap in de behandeling. Hier wordt de basis gelegd voor een nieuw, clean leven. In de laatste fase van het residentieel programma ligt de nadruk op resocialisatie: de uitbouw van een nieuwe vriendenkring, zinvolle daginvulling, werk, hobby’s en huisvesting. Eens deze basis er is, wordt de patiënt ‘losgelaten’ en moet hij het waarmaken in het ‘echte’ leven. Hij moet de veiligheid en geborgenheid van de kliniek missen en hij is de eerste maanden na zijn ontslag uiterst kwetsbaar. Het is dan ook belangrijk dat de patiënt in die kwetsbare periode intensief kan opgevolgd worden. Tot nog toe werd de patiënt verwezen naar een ambulante setting met ongekende therapeuten, met wie hij geen binding heeft. De patiënt ziet dit meestal niet zitten en haakt vroegtijdig af, met vaak een herval als gevolg. Om deze ‘missing link’ tussen residentiële behandeling en een stabiel leven op te vullen, werd ons intensief nazorgprogramma ontwikkeld. Het nazorgproject legt de nadruk op een actieve participatie van hulpverlener, patiënt en zijn omgeving en een intensieve wisselwerking tussen de verschillende actoren. Er is een continuïteit van hulpverlening die de zaken verder kan opvolgen en direct kan interveniëren bij crisissituaties. Op deze manier kan vaak een herval vermeden worden of de schade beperkt gehouden

The Murchison Greenstone Belt, South Africa: Accreted slivers with contrasting metamorphic conditions

International audienceThis paper presents new petrological and geochronological data for the ∼3.09-2.92 Ga Murchison Greenstone Belt (MGB), located in South Africa's Kaapvaal Craton, and discusses their geotectonic implications. The MGB is made of three tectono-metamorphic units: the Silwana Amphibolites, the Murchison Unit and the La France Formation. They underwent contrasting clockwise pressure-temperature-deformation (P-T-D) histories, and are separated from each other by relatively narrow, high-strain shear zones, with a sinistral, transpressive top-to-the-south movement, consistent with the deformation patterns observed throughout the belt. These patterns are explained by a N-S compressional stress field, affecting the Murchison Belt between 2.97 and 2.92 Ga. Results of new petrological investigations indicate that ultramafic to felsic volcano-sedimentary rocks of the Murchison Unit underwent a greenschist- to lower-amphibolite-facies metamorphism at maximum P-T conditions of 5.6 ± 0.6 kbar at 570 °C, along a relatively hot, minimum apparent geotherm of ∼30 °C/km. In contrast, the Silwana Amphibolites and the La France Formation were metamorphosed at much higher peak metamorphic conditions of 8.7-10 kbar, 630-670 °C, and 8-9 kbar, 600-650 °C, respectively, and require a colder apparent geotherm of ∼20 °C/km. A retrograde, nearly isothermal-decompression P-T path followed by isobaric cooling is also inferred for the La France Formation. The timing of the structural-metamorphic overprint is bracketed between 2.97 and 2.90 Ga, which is constrained by U-Pb zircon ages of a syn-deformation granite within the Murchison Unit and the post-deformation Maranda granite, respectively. Monazite and xenotime from La France metapelites yield much younger ages of ca. 2.75 Ga, with few inherited components at 2.92 Ga. They point to a later activation of the MGB, perhaps related with tectono-thermal events in the Rooiwater Complex and the Pietersburg Greenstone Belt. The relatively cold apparent geotherms recorded in the Silwana and La France rocks, the contrasted peak P-T conditions between the different units, and the near isothermal decompression of the La France Formation indicate that the Kaapvaal craton crust must have been cold enough to enable significant crustal thickening and strain localisation along narrow shear zones and, as a consequence, fast tectonic juxtaposition of rocks metamorphosed at different crustal depths. These features are similar to those observed along Palaeozoic or modern day, oblique subduction-collision zones, but different to those of hot Archaean provinces. We therefore interpret the MGB as representing part of an oblique collision-zone between two terrains of the Kaapvaal craton: the Witwatersrand and Pietersburg terrains

Computing the bounded subcomplex of an unbounded polyhedron

We study efficient combinatorial algorithms to produce the Hasse diagram of the poset of bounded faces of an unbounded polyhedron, given vertex-facet incidences. We also discuss the special case of simple polyhedra and present computational results.Comment: 16 page