Validation of the Medonic CA620/530 Vet 20-ml microcapillary sampler system for hematology testing of feline blood

The aim of the current study was to compare feline hematologic variables in blood collected in microcapillary tubes (20 ml) and conventional blood tubes with the Medonic CA620/530 Vet in-house hematologic analyzer. A comparison of results obtained in 60 cats presented at the clinics of the veterinary school showed that the correlations between the 2 methods were 0.97 for white blood cell, 0.95 for red blood cell, and 0.93 for platelet counts; 0.92 for hemoglobin concentration; and 0.99 for mean corpuscular volume. No clinically relevant differences between the 2 blood sampling techniques were observed for any variable, which suggests that both techniques are interchangeable in cats. Moreover, microcapillary tubes would allow easier repeated sampling in the same cat and would likely be useful in other small species

KINEMATIC RELEVANCE OF SHORT APPROACH JUMPS AS A TRAINING TOOL FOR COMPETITION LONG JUMPING

Training for the long jump involves short approach jumps which are often assumed to replicate full approach jump take-0%. The aim of this study was to compare directly the kinematics of short and full approach jumps. One elite female long jumper completed seven 10 step approach jumps during one training session, and five full approach jumps in an international competition. Video from a fixed camera was digitised and kinematic variables for the final touchdown calculated. Approach run step kinematics were obtained from a panning camera. Statistically significant (p < 0.05) differences were identified in approach step characteristics and in horizontal velocity, but none were found in vertical velocity generated. Results indicate short approach jumps are a useful tool for generation of vertical velocity but do not directly replicate full approach jumps in approach or take off

Monarchie, État et nation en Italie durant le Risorgimento (1831-1870)

Dans cet article, l’auteur présente les travaux les plus récents portant sur la monarchie de Piémont-Sardaigne qui devint la dynastie italienne après 1861. L’étude de la Maison de Savoie et de ses représentants (Charles-Albert, Victor-Emmanuel II puis Humbert Ier après 1878) fut longtemps marquée soit par une approche quasiment hagiographique, soit, au contraire par une dénonciation systématique. Pour essayer de sortir de ce débat, l’auteur reprend un certain nombre de pistes qui ont été largement débattues (la nature du Statuto, la « conquête » de l’Italie par les Piémontais, le caractère non-italien de la dynastie sarde, etc.) pour essayer de faire le point. Elle montre aussi que l’évolution de l’histoire politique a permis d’ouvrir de nouveaux chantiers (autour de la sociabilité politique, des rituels du pouvoir, de la mise en scène de la monarchie) permettant d’éclairer d’un jour nouveau les relations entre monarchie et nation de la fin de la Restauration jusqu’à la prise de Rome, en 1870. Elle montre ainsi la centralité de l’institution monarchique dans l’histoire italienne du XIXe siècle.In this article, the Author presents the most recent research on the Piedmontese monarchy, that became, after 1861 the Italian dynasty. The study of the House of Savoy and of its major representatives (Charles Albert, Victor Emmanuel IId and Humbert Ist after 1878) has long been divided between an almost hagiographical approach and a fiercely critical one. In order to overcome this debate, the Author makes her point on many aspects of the historiographical debate – the nature of the Constitution (the Statuto), the so alled “conquest” of Italy by the Piedmontese, the non-italianity of the sardinian dynasty. But she also shows that the evolution of political history has allowed to investigate new fields such as political sociability, the rituals of power, the ceremonies staging the monarchy; such a change of point of view gives a new light on the links between monarchy and nation from the 1830’s until the final assault on Rome, in september 1870. She therefore claims the centrality of the monarchical institution in 19th century Italian History.In diesem Artikel stellt die Autorin die neuesten Arbeiten über die Monarchie von Piemont-Sardinien vor, die nach 1861 die italienische Dynastie wurde. Das Studium des Hauses Savoyen und seiner Vertreter (Karl Albert, Viktor Emanuel II. und Umberto I. nach 1878) war lange Zeit entweder durch einen fast hagiographischen Ansatz markiert oder umgekehrt, durch eine systematische Denunzierung. Um aus dieser Debatte herauszufinden, entwickelt die Autorin einen eigenen Standpunkt zu einer Reihe von häufig diskutierten Themen (die Art der Statuto, die „Eroberung“ Italiens durch die Piemonteser, den Charakter der nicht-italienischen sardischen Dynastie usw.). Sie zeigt auch, dass die Entwicklung der politischen Geschichte neue Themenfelder eröffnet hat (etwa politische Geselligkeit und Rituale der Macht, die Inszenierung der Monarchie). Dieser Wechsel der Blickrichtung wirft ein neues Licht auf das Verhältnis von Monarchie und Nation nach dem Ende der Restauration bis zum Sturz von Rom im Jahre 1870. Die Autorin zeigt somit die zentrale Stellung der Monarchie in der Geschichte Italiens des neunzehnten Jahrhunderts

Push, pull, and push-back to land certification: regional dynamics in pilot certification projects in Côte d'Ivoire

Since 2000, many African countries have adopted land tenure reforms that aim at comprehensive land registration (or certification) and titling. Much work in political science and in the advocacy literature identifies recipients of land certificates or titles as 'programme beneficiaries', and political scientists have modelled titling programmes as a form of distributive politics. In practice, however, rural land registration programmes are often divisive and difficult to implement. This paper tackles the apparent puzzle of friction around rural land certification. We study Côte d'Ivoire's rocky history of land certification from 2004 to 2017 to identify political economy variables that may give rise to heterogeneous and even conflicting preferences around certification. Regional inequalities, social inequalities, and regional variation in pre-existing land tenure institutions are factors that help account for friction or even resistance around land titling, and thus the difficult politics that may arise around land tenure reform. Land certification is not a public good or a private good for everyone

Introduction

Les célébrations officielles et médiatiques d’un grand anniversaire national sont fréquemment l’occasion de réfléchir sur l’état de la production scientifique, sur sa diffusion éditoriale et pédagogique en relation avec les usages publics du passé. En 2011, le cent cinquantième anniversaire de l’Unité italienne n’a pas échappé à la règle. L’anniversaire de l’acte de naissance officiel du nouveau royaume italien unifié et indépendant le 17 mars 1861 a été volontiers mis en perspective dans une..

USING MSG THERMAL INFRARED SURFACE TEMPERATURE TO IMPROVE SVAT MODEL SIMULATIONS

ABSTRACT Interesting perspectives concerning the calibration of Soil Vegetation Atmosphere Transfer (SVAT) models are offered thanks to the higher acquisition frequency of the thermal infrared (TIR) brightness temperature provided by MSG. SVAT models are useful for the monitoring of root zone soil moisture, sensible and latent surface fluxes. They may be helpful for meso-scale meteorological models initialisation, or for hydrological and agricultural applications. It was recently proven that SVAT models could be correctly calibrated thanks to thermal infrared data. However, this was only shown at the local field scale on homogeneous covers with ground-based data. The purpose of this presentation is to present the potentialities of TIR brightness temperatures acquired by MSG in order to calibrate SVAT model over patchy regions. The feasibility studies are performed with simulated data to test calibration and desegregation methodologies

Silver paint as a soldering agent for DyBaCuO single-domain welding

peer reviewedSilver paint has been tested as a soldering agent for DyBaCuO 4 single-domain welding. Junctions have been manufactured on Dy-Ba-Cu-O single domains cut either along planes parallel to the c-axis IT or along the ab-planes. Microstructural and superconducting characterizations of the samples have been performed. For both types of junctions, the microstructure in the joined area is very clean: no secondary phase or Ag particle segregation has been observed. Electrical and magnetic measurements for all configurations of interest are reported (rho(T) curves, and Hall probe mapping). The narrow resistive superconducting transition reported for all configurations shows that the artificial junction does not affect significantly the measured superconducting properties of the material

Going beyond ‘regular and casual’: development of a classification of sexual partner types to enhance partner notification for STIs

OBJECTIVES To develop a classification of sexual partner types for use in partner notification (PN) for STIs. METHODS A four-step process: (1) an iterative synthesis of five sources of evidence: scoping review of social and health sciences literature on partner types; analysis of relationship types in dating apps; systematic review of PN intervention content; and review of PN guidelines; qualitative interviews with public, patients and health professionals to generate an initial comprehensive classification; (2) multidisciplinary clinical expert consultation to revise the classification; (3) piloting of the revised classification in sexual health clinics during a randomised controlled trial of PN; (4) application of the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) to identify index patients' willingness to engage in PN for each partner type. RESULTS Five main partner types emerged from the evidence synthesis and consultation: 'established partner', 'new partner', 'occasional partner', 'one-off partner' and 'sex worker'. The types differed across several dimensions, including likely perceptions of sexual exclusivity, likelihood of sex reoccurring between index patient and sex partner. Sexual health professionals found the classification easy to operationalise. During the trial, they assigned all 3288 partners described by 2223 index patients to a category. The TDF analysis suggested that the partner types might be associated with different risks of STI reinfection, onward transmission and index patients' engagement with PN. CONCLUSIONS We developed an evidence-informed, useable classification of five sexual partner types to underpin PN practice and other STI prevention interventions. Analysis of biomedical, psychological and social factors that distinguish different partner types shows how each could warrant a tailored PN approach. This classification could facilitate the use of partner-centred outcomes. Additional studies are needed to determine the utility of the classification to improve measurement of the impact of PN strategies and help focus resources

Immune disruptions and night shift work in hospital healthcare professionals : the intricate effects of social jet-lag and sleep debt

Objectives: We aimed to examine the effects of circadian and sleep rhythm disruptions on immune biomarkers among hospital healthcare professionals working night shifts and rotating day shifts. Methods: Hospital nurses working either as permanent night shifters (n=95) or as day shifters rotating between morning and afternoon shifts (n=96) kept a daily diary on their sleep and work schedules over a full working week. Blood samples were collected at the beginning and end of the last shift during the week, and participants were categorized into three groups based on work shift: morning shift (39 day shifters sampled at 7:00 and 14:00), afternoon shift (57 day shifters sampled at 14:00 and 21:00), and night shift (95 night shifters sampled at 21:00 and 7:00). Circulating blood counts in immune cells, interleukin-6 and C-reactive protein concentrations as well as total sleep time per 24 hours during work days (TST24w) and free days (TST24f), sleep debt (TST24f — TST24w) and social jet-lag (a behavioral proxy of circadian misalignment) were assessed. Results: Compared with day shifters, night shifters had shorter sleep duration (TST24w=5.4 ± 1.4h), greater sleep debt (3.2 ± 1.4 h) and social jet-lag (6.7 ± 2.4 h). Variations of immune biomarkers concentrations were consistent with the expected diurnal variations among day shifters (i.e., low level in the morning, increase during the day, peak value in the evening). By contrast, in night shifters, blood concentrations of total lymphocytes, T-helper cells, cytotoxic T-cells, memory B-cells and interleukin-6 were lower at 21:00, increased during the night, and reached higher values at 7:00. Multivariate analyses ruled out significant impact of TST24w, sleep debt, and social jet-lag on immune biomarkers concentrations among day shifters. In contrast, among night shifters, multivariate analyses indicated a combined effect of total sleep time (TST24w), sleep debt and social jet-lag for total lymphocytes and T-helper cells but only a social jet-lag effect for interleukin-6 and a single total sleep time effect for neutrophil and B-Cells. Conclusions: Altogether, our results point to intricate response patterns of immune rhythms to circadian misalignment and sleep debt in night shifters. Specifically, these altered pattern expressions of immune cells may increase vulnerability to infections and reduce vaccination efficiency in night workers