Multivariate Statistical Analysis Applied to X-Ray Spectra and X-Ray Mapping of Liver Cell Nuclei

Principal Components Analysis (PCA) and Factorial Analysis of Correspondence (FAC), two Multivariate Statistical Analyses (MSA), were applied to the analysis of X-ray data. MSA are descriptive methods which graphically display the correlations and anticorrelations between a large number of elements. Series of X-ray spectral data and X-ray maps obtained from rat liver were analyzed with reference to the diffusible elements Na, Mg, Cl, K and Ca and also P and S. By using an in situ precipitation method, the pyroantimonate method, it was found that the free, precipitable cations Na+, Mg2+, and Ca2+ are, in the nuclei, mainly distributed throughout the nucleoplasm. Images obtained from FAC allow those areas rich in nucleic acids to be displayed as areas with a strong anticorrelation between P and Sb. In cryoprocessed tissues, the evaluated wet mass-fraction of diffusible elements corresponds to physiological values of total amounts (free and complexed). PCA makes it possible to graphically display the correlation between P and K in chromatin and nucleolus, the correlation between K, Cl and S in cytoplasm and nucleoplasm and the observation of two populations of nuclei according to different Na, Mg and K concentrations. Factorial images obtained from FAC allow those areas rich in nucleic acids to be displayed as areas with a strong correlation between P and K. Similarly those areas rich in proteins are displayed as areas with a strong correlation between S and K

Influence of physical capacities of males with transtibial amputation on gait adjustments on sloped surfaces

The aim of the study was to investigate how kinematic and kinetic adjustments between level and slope locomotion of persons with transtibial amputation are related to their individual muscular and functional capacities. A quantified gait analysis was conducted on flat and slope surfaces for seven patients with transtibial amputation and a control group of eight subjects to obtain biomechanical parameters. In addition, maximal isometric muscular strength (knee and hip extensors) and functional scores were measured. The results of this study showed that most of the persons with transtibial amputation could adapt to ramp ascent either by increasing ankle, knee, and hip flexion angles of the residual limb and/or by recruiting their hip extensors to guarantee enough hip extension power during early stance. Besides, 6-minute walk test score was shown to be a good predictor of adaptation capacities to slope ascent. In ramp descent, the increase of knee flexion moment was correlated with knee extensor strength and residual-limb length. However, no correlation was observed with functional parameters. Results show that the walking strategy adopted by persons with transtibial amputation to negotiate ramp locomotion mainly depends on their muscular capacities. Therefore, muscular strengthening should be a priority during rehabilitation.This material was based on work supported by the French National Research Agency (grant ANR-2010-TECS-020)

Inventaire de la faune apiforme (Hymenoptera, Apoidea) des quartiers Myosotis et Engeland à Uccle (Bruxelles, Belgique)

peer reviewedCe travail présente l’inventaire des abeilles sauvages (Hymenoptera Apoidea) observées dans l’ancien quartier Myosotis et le nouveau quartier Engeland de la commune d’Uccle à Bruxelles. Via une campagne d’échantillonnage dans les deux quartiers, 708 spécimens ont été capturés ou observés appartenant à 58 espèces différentes des 6 familles d’abeilles sauvages de Belgique. La faune apiforme capturée représente 14% de la faune belge et 28% de la faune bruxelloise. On y retrouve 10 espèces mono ou oligolectiques et 5 espèces font l’objet d’enjeux de conservation spécifiques selon la liste rouge des abeilles de Belgique. Quelques recommandations de gestion de conservation sont discutées dans ce travail en vue de favoriser au maximum la richesse de ces anthophiles pour la commune d’Uccle

Reliability of molecular host-identification methods for ticks: an experimental in vitro study with Ixodes ricinus

Background: Reliable information on host use by arthropod vectors is required to study pathogen transmission ecology and to predict disease risk. Direct observation of host use is often difficult or impossible and indirect methods are therefore necessary. However, the reliability of currently available methods to identify the last host of blood-feeding arthropods has not been evaluated, and may be particularly problematic for ticks because host blood has been digested at capture. Biases in host detection may lead to erroneous conclusions on both vector ecology and pathogen circulation. Methods: Here, we experimentally tested for biases in host detection using the generalist three-host tick Ixodes ricinus as a model system. We fed ticks using an artificial feeding system and amplified blood meal traces post-moult (i.e., in the succeeding unfed life stage) via both a quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction assay and a reverse line blotting method. We then experimentally tested for three types of biases in host detection: 1) time post-moult, 2) tick life stage and 3) host type (non-nucleated mammal blood versus nucleated avian blood), and compared these biases between the two molecular methods. Results: Our results show that all three factors can influence host detection in ticks but not necessarily in the expected way. Although host detection rates decreased with time post-moult, mammal blood tended to be more readily detected than bird blood. Tick life stage was also an important factor; detection was higher in nymphs than in adults and, in some cases, remnants from both larval and nymphal blood meals could be detected in the adult stage. These biases were similar for the two detection techniques. Conclusions: We show that different factors associated with questing ticks may influence our ability to correctly infer previous host use and that these factors may bias inferences from field-based studies. As these biases may be common to other vector-borne disease systems, their implications for our understanding of vector ecology and disease transmission require more explicit consideration

Étude sur la préservation des abeilles sauvages du Kauwberg (Uccle) dans une perspective de développement agricole et ludo-sportif du site

Principaux constats · 95 espèces d’abeilles sauvages ainsi que 62 espèces de syrphes ont été recensées au sein du site du Kauwberg entre les années 2020 et 2021. · Sur l’ensemble de la richesse d’abeilles sauvages, 15 espèces sont menacées (statut de liste rouge nationale) au sein du Kauwberg : une espèce en danger d’extinction, deux en situation vulnérables, dix en statuts presque menacées et deux dont les données sont déficientes. · Sur l’ensemble de la richesse d’abeilles sauvages, 15 espèces sont oligolectiques et 80 polylectiques · N’ayant pas de liste rouge pour les espèces de syrphes de Belgique, 10 espèces enregistrées sont à considérer comme rares à très rares, ce qui démontre une nouvelle fois que le site du Kauwberg accueille riche biodiversité de pollinisateurs ; aucune n’est toutefois considérée en danger à l’échelle européenne. · Les milieux ouverts et les potagers se révèlent être les plus riches et abondants en abeilles sauvages. · Au sein des habitats ouverts et potagers, une dominance se dessine vis-à-vis d’Apis mellifera, omniprésente dans cette zone naturelle protégée. Recommandations de gestion · Constituer des bandes fleuries adaptées à ces espèces d’abeilles oligolectiques et/ou menacées d’extinction. · Maintenir et édifier de zones de nidification d’espèces oligolectiques et/ou menacées d’extinction : bois mort, zones dépourvues de végétation orientées plein Sud (sablière, lisière de forêt…) · Maintenir une activité maraîchère dans le site, importante par la diversité floristique que ces micro-habitats proposent. · Maintenir les buttes artificiellement construites pour les activités de dirtbike, utiles pour les nids des insectes/abeilles terricoles. · Réduire la pression exercée par l’apiculture en réduisant voire supprimant les ruches présentes directement sur le site. · Ouvrir le versant Ouest de la sablière pour augmenter l’opportunité de nidification des abeilles terricoles avec une mise en défens du lieu de Mars à Octobre de chaque année pour aider à la conservation et régénération de ces bourgades

Are wearable insoles a validated tool for quantifying transfemoral amputee gait asymmetry?

Background: Amputee gait is known to be asymmetrical, especially during loading of the lower limb. Monitoring asymmetry could be useful in quantifying patient performance during rehabilitation. Wearable insoles can provide normal ground reaction force asymmetry in real-life conditions. Objectives: To characterize the validity of Loadsol® insoles versus force plates in quantifying normal ground reaction force and gait asymmetry. To determine the influence walking speed has on loading asymmetry in transfemoral amputees. Study design: This is a prospective study. Methods: Six transfemoral amputees, wearing Loadsol® insoles, walked at three self-selected speeds on force plates. Validity was assessed by comparing normal ground reaction force data from the insoles and force plates. The Absolute Symmetry Index was used to calculate gait loading asymmetry at each speed. Results: Normalized root mean square errors for the normal ground reaction forces were 6.6% (standard deviation = 2.3%) and 8.9% (standard deviation = 3.8%); correlation coefficients were 0.91 and 0.95 for the prosthetic and intact limb, respectively. The mean error for Absolute Symmetry Index parameters ranged from -2.67% to 4.35%. Loading asymmetry increased with walking speed. Conclusion: This study quantified the validity of Loadsol® insoles in assessing loading asymmetry during gait in transfemoral amputees. The calibration protocol could be improved to better integrate it into a clinical setting. However, our results support the relevance of using such insoles during the clinical follow-up of transfemoral amputees. Clinical relevance: This is the first study to validate Loadsol® insoles versus force plates and report on loading asymmetry during gait at three different speeds in transfemoral amputees. Loadsol® insoles, which provide visual and audio feedback, are clinically easy to use and could have beneficial application in the amputee's rehabilitation and follow-up

Reliability quantification and gait loading asymmetry assessment with wearable insoles in transfemoral amputee people at different speeds

Introduction Amputee people have gait defaults, as for example loading asymmetry, which increase with daily living situations. Replication of realistic daily living environment in a motion analysis laboratory (MAL) is difficult. Wearable pressure insoles, by providing normal ground reaction force (NGrF), can be used to quantify loading gait asymmetry in real life conditions. This asymmetry, considered as an indicator of the quality of the gait, is useful for physicians to monitor the rehabilitation progress or the prosthetic fitting suitability. The study aimed at quantifying the reliability of NGrF measurement and assessing the gait asymmetry of transfemoral amputee people with Pedoped® insoles against force plates. Walking speed effect was also evaluated on gait asymmetry for transfemoral amputee people (TFP). Material and methods In a MAL, five active TFP walked at three self-selected speeds on level ground wearing Pedoped® insoles. Reliability was assessed by comparing NGrF obtained from both systems with Bland-Altman plots, normalized RMSE (NRMSE) and correlation coefficient. Gait loading asymmetry was computed by Absolute Symmetry Index in loading at the three self-selected speeds with insoles. Results The mean NRMSE of NGrF was 7.2% (± 2.8%) and 9.8% (± 3.5%); and coefficient correlation was 0.91 and 0.95 for the prosthetic side and the intact side respectively. Loading asymmetry increased significantly with walking speed for each specific variable of NGrF. Discussion–conclusion After overcoming the calibration problem in amputee population, Pedoped® insoles could be easily used for gait asymmetry follow-up during rehabilitation

Actinomadura meyerae osteitis following wound contamination with hay in a woman in France: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Mycetoma is a chronic granulomatous infection caused by environmental fungi or bacteria. It affects dermal and subcutaneous tissues, with putative contiguous extension to muscles or bones. While common in tropical and subtropical areas, mycetoma is rare in Europe.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>We describe a case of <it>Actinomadura meyerae </it>osteitis in a 49-year-old Caucasian woman who suffered a tibia open fracture contaminated with hay; to the best of our knowledge the first case of autochthonous <it>A. meyerae </it>infection reported in France. The bacterium was cultivated from a bone biopsy. Following surgical osteosynthesis and six months of treatment with cotrimoxazole, our patient made a full recovery.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our case report suggests that <it>A. meyerae </it>is a potential agent of wound infection in farm workers in contact with hay.</p

Belgique

peer reviewedBackground In Havelange (Belgium), two farms are experiencing an ecological transition. We aimed to evaluate the impact of their agricultural activities on insect pollinator communities. This article depicts the situation at the very early stage of the farm transition. This study supports the fact that the maintenance of farm-level natural habitats provides environmental benefits, such as the conservation of two important pollinator communities: wild bees and hoverflies. New information Over two years (2018-2019), by using nets and coloured pan-traps, we collected 6301 bee and hoverfly specimens amongst contrasting habitats within two farmsteads undergoing ecological transition in Havelange (Belgium). We reported 101 bee species and morphospecies from 15 genera within six families and 31 hoverfly species and morphospecies from 18 genera. This list reinforces the national pollinator database by providing new distribution data for extinction-threatened species, such as Andrena schencki Morawitz 1866, Bombus campestris (Panzer 1801), Eucera longicornis (L.) and Halictus maculatus Smith 1848 or for data deficient species, such as A. semilaevis Pérez 1903, A. fulvata (Müller 1766), A. trimmerana (Kirby 1802) and Hylaeus brevicornis Nylander 1852

APSIC: Training and fitting amputees during situations of daily living

Today, the prevalence of major amputation in France can be estimated between 90,000 and 100,000 and the incidence is about 8300 new amputations per year (according to French National Authority for Health estimation). This prevalence is expected to increase in the next decade due to the ageing of the population. Even if prosthetic fitting allows amputee people recovering the walking ability, their autonomy remains limited when crossing obstacles such as slopes, stairs or cross-slopes frequently encountered during outdoors displacements. The aim of the project APSIC was to complete scientific knowledge about adaptation strategies to situations of daily living compared to level walking through an extensive motion analysis study of transtibial and transfemoral amputee compared to non-amputee people. APSIC succeeded in identifying physiologic joint functions and current prosthetic joint limitations in the studied situations, which notably resulted in the design of a prototype of ankle-knee prosthesis adapted to multimodal locomotion of transfemoral amputee. Perspectives of the clinical use of motion analysis within the rehabilitation process were explored and proved to be relevant for personalized approach of motor learning