Correction chirurgicale de la tétralogie de Fallot étude comparative de deux méthodes

La survie actuelle après correction chirurgicale de la Tétralogie de Fallot (TDF) est de 97% à 12 ans. Les principaux risques à long terme sont une régurgitation pulmonaire ou une sténose récidivante de la sortie droite du coeur, une tachycardie ventriculaire pouvant entrainer une mort subite. Le but de cette étude rétrospective est de comparer la correction chirurgicale de la TDF avec patch pulmonaire versus un conduit valvé xénogreffe. Le collectif se compose de 127 patients entre 2 mois et 16 ans, opérés pour une TDF entre l'année 2000 et 2010. La correction chirurgicale était soit avec un patch, soit avec un conduit valvé à la sortie droite. Cette étude montre d'une part qu'il n'y a pas de différence de survie à un mois entre les deux méthodes opératoires. De plus, elle montre que, lors de la pose d'un patch, il y a plus de sept fois plus d'insuffisances valvulaires modérées à sévères après un mois que lors de la pose d'un conduit valvé. D'autre part, elle démontre que la différence de gradient résiduel à la sortie droite entre la correction avec patch ou conduit n'est pas significative et que la valeur du gradient résiduel à la sortie droite en postopératoire n'est pas représentative du gradient résiduel à un mois. De plus, cette étude prouve que les coronaires aberrantes ainsi qu'un shunt palliatif de Blalock-Taussig sont des facteurs de risque indépendants pour une correction avec un conduit valvé

Effects of bioaerosol exposure on work-related symptoms among Swiss sawmill workers

Objective: Exposure to bioaerosols in the occupational environment of sawmills could be associated with a wide range of health effects, in particular respiratory impairment, allergy and organic dust toxic syndrome. The objective of the study was to assess the frequency of medical respiratory and general symptoms and their relation to bioaerosol exposure. Method: Twelve sawmills in the French part of Switzerland were investigated and the relationship between levels of bioaerosols (wood dust, airborne bacteria, airborne fungi and endotoxins), medical symptoms and impaired lung function was explored. A health questionnaire was distributed to 111 sawmill workers. Results: The concentration of airborne fungi exceeded the limit recommended by the Swiss National Insurance (SUVA) in the twelve sawmills. This elevated fungi level significantly influenced the occurrence of bronchial syndrome (defined by cough and expectorations). No other health effects (irritations or respiratory effects) could be associated to the measured exposures. We observed that junior workers showed significantly more irritation syndrome (defined by itching/running nose, snoring and itching/red eyes) than senior workers. Lung function tests were not influenced by bioaerosol levels nor dust exposure levels. Conclusion: Results suggest that occupational exposure to wood dust in a Swiss sawmill does not promote a clinically relevant decline in lung function. However, the occurrence of bronchial syndrome is strongly influenced by airborne fungi level

Effect of the presence of pyrite traces on silver behavior in natural porous media

In order to better understand the fate of the toxic element Ag(I), sorption of Ag(I) was studied from batch experiments, at different pHs (2–8) and at 298K. A pure quartz sand (99.999% SiO2) and “natural” quartz sand (99% SiO2, and traces of Fe, Al, Mn (hydr)oxides, of clays and of pyrite) were used as sorbents. The Ag(I) sorption behavior depends strongly on pH with isotherm shapes characteristic of Langmuir-type relationship for initial Ag concentration [Ag(I)], range between 5.0×10−7 and 1.0×10−3M. Even if the Ag (I) sorption capacity on pure quartz sand is very low compared to the natural quartz sands, its affinity is rather high. From speciation calculations, several sites were proposed: at pHi 4, 6 and 8, the first surface site is assumed to be due to iron (hydr)oxides while the second surface site is attributed to silanols. At pHi 2, sorption of Ag(I) was assumed to be on two surface sites of iron (hydr)oxides and a third surface site on silanol groups. Even if the sand is mainly composed of silica, the trace minerals play an important role in sorption capacity compared to silica. The conditional surface complexation constants of Ag(I) depend on pH. On the other hand, it is shown that the Ag speciation depends strongly on the history of “natural” quartz sand due to initial applied treatment, little rinsing or longer washing. In the presence of low amount of pyrite, strong complexes between Ag(I) and sulfur compounds such as thiosulfates due to oxidative dissolution of pyrite are formed what decreases Ag sorption capability. SEM–EDS analyses highlighted the surface complexation–precipitation of Ag2S and Ag(0) colloids which confirmed the important role of pyrite on Ag(I) speciation

Diffraction microtomography with sample rotation: influence of a missing apple core in the recorded frequency space

Diffraction microtomography in coherent light is foreseen as a promising technique to image transparent living samples in three dimensions without staining. Contrary to conventional microscopy with incoherent light, which gives morphological information only, diffraction microtomography makes it possible to obtain the complex optical refractive index of the observed sample by mapping a three-dimensional support in the spatial frequency domain. The technique can be implemented in two configurations, namely, by varying the sample illumination with a fixed sample or by rotating the sample using a fixed illumination. In the literature, only the former method was described in detail. In this report, we precisely derive the three-dimensional frequency support that can be mapped by the sample rotation configuration. We found that, within the first-order Born approximation, the volume of the frequency domain that can be mapped exhibits a missing part, the shape of which resembles that of an apple core. The projection of the diffracted waves in the frequency space onto the set of sphere caps covered by the sample rotation does not allow for a complete mapping of the frequency along the axis of rotation due to the finite radius of the sphere caps. We present simulations of the effects of this missing information on the reconstruction of ideal objects.Comment: 7 pages, 11 figures, presented at Focus On Microscopy 200

Paenibacillus melissococcoides sp. nov., isolated from a honey bee colony affected by European foulbrood disease.

A novel, facultatively anaerobic, Gram-stain-positive, motile, endospore-forming bacterium of the genus Paenibacillus, designated strain 2.1T, was isolated from a colony of Apis mellifera affected by European foulbrood disease in Switzerland. The rod-shaped cells of strain 2.1T were 2.2–6.5 μm long and 0.7–1.1 μm wide. Colonies of strain 2.1T were orange-pigmented under oxic growth conditions on solid basal medium at 35–37 °C. Strain 2.1T showed catalase and cytochrome c oxidase activity. Its polar lipid profile consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, aminophospholipid and phospholipid. The only respiratory quinone was menaquinone 7, and the major cellular fatty acids were anteiso-C15 : 0, anteiso-C17 : 0, iso-C15 : 0, iso-C17 : 0 and palmitic acid (C16 : 0), which is consistent with other members of the genus Paenibacillus. The G+C content of the genomic DNA of strain 2.1T was 53.3 mol%. Phylogenetic analyses based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity showed that strain 2.1T was closely related to Paenibacillus dendritiformis LMG 21716T (99.7 % similarity) and Paenibacillus thiaminolyticus DSM 7262T (98.8 %). The whole-genome average nucleotide identity between strain 2.1T and the type strains of P. dendritiformis and P. thiaminolyticus was 92 and 91 %, respectively, and thus lower than the 95 % threshold value for delineation of genomic prokaryotic species. Based on the results of phylogenetic, genomic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic analyses we propose the name Paenibacillus melissococcoides sp. nov. for this novel Paenibacillus species. The type strain is 2.1T (=CCOS 2000T=DSM 113619T=LMG 32539T)

Seasonal survey of the composition and degradation state of particulate organic matter in the Rhône River using lipid tracers

International audienceLipid tracers including fatty acids, hydroxyacids, n-alkanols, sterols and triterpenoids were used to determine the origin and fate of suspended particulate organic matter (POM) collected in the Rhône River (France). This seasonal survey (April 2011 to May 2013) revealed a year-round strong terrestrial higher-plant contribution to the particulate organic matter (POM), with significant algal inputs observed in March and attributed to phytoplanktonic blooms likely dominated by diatoms. Major terrigenous contributors to our samples are gymnosperms, and more precisely their roots and stems, as evidenced by the presence of high proportions of ω-hydroxydocosanoic acid (a suberin biomarker). The high amounts of coprostanol detected clearly show that the Rhône River is significantly affected by sewage waters. Specific sterol degradation products were quantified and used to assess the part of biotic and abiotic degradation of POM within the river. Higher-plant-derived organic matter appears to be mainly affected by photo-oxidation and au-toxidation (free radical oxidation), while organic matter of mammal or human origin, evidenced by the presence of co-prostanol, is clearly more prone to bacterial degradation. Despite the involvement of an intense autoxidation-inducing ho-molytic cleavage of peroxy bonds, a significant proportion of hydroperoxides is still intact in higher plant debris. These compounds could affect the degradation of terrestrial material by inducing an intense autoxidation upon its arrival at sea

Phase shift in an atom interferometer induced by the additional laser lines of a Raman laser generated by modulation

The use of Raman laser generated by modulation for light-pulse atom interferometer allows to have a laser system more compact and robust. However, the additional laser frequencies generated can perturb the atom interferometer. In this article, we present a precise calculation of the phase shift induced by the additional laser frequencies. The model is validated by comparison with experimental measurements on an atom gravimeter. The uncertainty of the phase shift determination limits the accuracy of our compact gravimeter at 8.10^-8 m/s^2. We show that it is possible to reduce considerably this inaccuracy with a better control of experimental parameters or with particular interferometer configurations

First occurrence of the Ichnogenus Selenichnites from the Middle Jurassic Strata of the Skoura Syncline (Middle Atlas, Morocco); Palaeoecological and palaeoenvironmental context

© 2015 Académie des sciences. Mesozoic strata of North Africa yield the first occurrence of the ichnogenus Selenichnites. The trace fossils occur on the top surface of a sandy carbonate deposit in the axis of a Middle Atlas syncline (Skoura Syncline, NE Morocco). The ichnofossil-bearing horizon belongs to the Late Bajocian-Early Bathonian Ich Timellaline/Bou Akrabene Formation. The trace fossils are crescent-shaped and the best preserved exhibits a posterior central axial impression (possible telson tail impression). They are interpreted as feeding burrows (fodinichnia) or hiding depressions of Xiphosurids or Limulids (horseshoe crabs) on a sandy carbonate substrate beneath a veneer of muddy deposits. The sedimentological character suggests a relatively protected shallow water subtidal palaeoenvironment preceding the Bathonian regression of the Atlas domain. This discovery provides the first evidence of xiphosurans or xiphosuran-like organisms inhabiting the southern shores of the Tethys in the Middle Jurassic

First occurrence of the Ichnogenus Selenichnites from the Middle Jurassic Strata of the Skoura Syncline (Middle Atlas, Morocco); Palaeoecological and palaeoenvironmental context

© 2015 Académie des sciences.Mesozoic strata of North Africa yield the first occurrence of the ichnogenus Selenichnites. The trace fossils occur on the top surface of a sandy carbonate deposit in the axis of a Middle Atlas syncline (Skoura Syncline, NE Morocco). The ichnofossil-bearing horizon belongs to the Late Bajocian-Early Bathonian Ich Timellaline/Bou Akrabene Formation. The trace fossils are crescent-shaped and the best preserved exhibits a posterior central axial impression (possible telson tail impression). They are interpreted as feeding burrows (fodinichnia) or hiding depressions of Xiphosurids or Limulids (horseshoe crabs) on a sandy carbonate substrate beneath a veneer of muddy deposits. The sedimentological character suggests a relatively protected shallow water subtidal palaeoenvironment preceding the Bathonian regression of the Atlas domain. This discovery provides the first evidence of xiphosurans or xiphosuran-like organisms inhabiting the southern shores of the Tethys in the Middle Jurassic

Bird-like tracks from the imilchil formation (Middle jurassic, bajocian-bathonian) of the central high atlas, Morocco, in comparison with similar mesozoic tridactylous ichnotaxa

© 2017, Mucchi Editori s.r.l. All rights reserved. Small bird-like tracks have recently been discovered at three outcrops of the Imilchil Formation (Middle Jurassic, Bajocian-Bathonian) in the Central High Atlas of Morocco. The track-bearing strata are part of a marine-continental transitional succession, the studied surfaces being sandy marls and limestones of a brackish depositional environment. The footprints strongly resemble the ichnogenus Trisauropodiscus Ellenberger, 1970, from the Lower Elliot Formation (latest Triassic) of Lesotho, southern Africa and are assigned to Trisauropodiscus isp. These are functionally tridactyl, widely divaricated pes tracks with digit III being longest and a trace of the reverted digit I (hallux) being occasionally imprinted. In contrast to some former studies suggesting Trisauropodiscus as a junior synonym and extramorphological variation of the ornithischian ichnogenus Anomoepus, this ichnotaxon is considered here as a distinctive morphotype among similar theropod tracks found in Jurassic-Cretaceous ichnoassemblages. An amended diagnosis is proposed focusing on the features that are here discussed and considered as key characters of this ichnotaxon. An avian interpretation of the trackmaker is problematical, especially against the background of the stratigraphic range of Trisauropodiscus back to the Late Triassic. Presently, theropods with very bird-like feet are the more likely producers. Future analyses and comparison of Trisauropodiscus with pes skeletons of avian and non-avian theropods might enlighten this