Turbulence attenuation by large neutrally buoyant particles

Turbulence modulation by inertial-range-size, neutrally-buoyant particles is investigated experimentally in a von K\'arm\'an flow. Increasing the particle volume fraction $\Phi_\mathrm{v}$, maintaining constant impellers Reynolds number attenuates the fluid turbulence. The inertial-range energy transfer rate decreases as $\propto\Phi_\mathrm{v}^{2/3}$, suggesting that only particles located on a surface affect the flow. Small-scale turbulent properties, such as structure functions or acceleration distribution, are unchanged. Finally, measurements hint at the existence of a transition between two different regimes occurring when the average distance between large particles is of the order of the thickness of their boundary layers.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figure

Estimates of measles case fatality ratios: a comprehensive review of community-based studies.

BACKGROUND: Global deaths from measles have decreased notably in past decades, due to both increases in immunization rates and decreases in measles case fatality ratios (CFRs). While some aspects of the reduction in measles mortality can be monitored through increases in immunization coverage, estimating the level of measles deaths (in absolute terms) is problematic, particularly since incidence-based methods of estimation rely on accurate measures of measles CFRs. These ratios vary widely by geographic and epidemiologic context and even within the same community from year-to-year. METHODS: To understand better the variations in CFRs, we reviewed community-based studies published between 1980 and 2008 reporting age-specific measles CFRs. RESULTS: The results of the search consistently document that measles CFRs are highest in unvaccinated children under age 5 years; in outbreaks; the lowest CFRs occur in vaccinated children regardless of setting. The broad range of case and death definitions, study populations and geography highlight the complexities in extrapolating results for global public health planning. CONCLUSIONS: Values for measles CFRs remain imprecise, resulting in continued uncertainty about the actual toll measles exacts

Strengthening human genetics research in Africa: report of the 9th meeting of the African Society of Human Genetics in Dakar in May 2016.

The 9th meeting of the African Society of Human Genetics, in partnership with the Senegalese Cancer Research and Study Group and the Human Heredity and Health in Africa (H3Africa) Consortium, was held in Dakar, Senegal. The theme was Strengthening Human Genetics Research in Africa. The 210 delegates came from 21 African countries and from France, Switzerland, UK, UAE, Canada and the USA. The goal was to highlight genetic and genomic science across the African continent with the ultimate goal of improving the health of Africans and those across the globe, and to promote the careers of young African scientists in the field. A session on the sustainability of genomic research in Africa brought to light innovative and practical approaches to supporting research in resource-limited settings and the importance of promoting genetics in academic, research funding, governmental and private sectors. This meeting led to the formation of the Senegalese Society for Human Genetics

Coactivator condensation at super-enhancers links phase separation and gene control

Super-enhancers (SEs) are clusters of enhancers that cooperatively assemble a high density of the transcriptional apparatus to drive robust expression of genes with prominent roles in cell identity. Here we demonstrate that the SE-enriched transcriptional coactivators BRD4 and MED1 form nuclear puncta at SEs that exhibit properties of liquid-like condensates and are disrupted by chemicals that perturb condensates. The intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs) of BRD4 and MED1 can form phase-separated droplets, and MED1-IDR droplets can compartmentalize and concentrate the transcription apparatus from nuclear extracts. These results support the idea that coactivators form phase-separated condensates at SEs that compartmentalize and concentrate the transcription apparatus, suggest a role for coactivator IDRs in this process, and offer insights into mechanisms involved in the control of key cell-identity genes.National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (Grant GM123511)National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (Grant P01-CA042063)National Science Foundation (U.S.) (Grant PHY-1743900)National Cancer Institute (U.S.) (Grant P30-CA14051

Direct evidence for sequence-dependent attraction between double-stranded DNA controlled by methylation

Although proteins mediate highly ordered DNA organization in vivo, theoretical studies suggest that homologous DNA duplexes can preferentially associate with one another even in the absence of proteins. Here we combine molecular dynamics simulations with single-molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer experiments to examine the interactions between duplex DNA in the presence of spermine, a biological polycation. We find that AT-rich DNA duplexes associate more strongly than GC-rich duplexes, regardless of the sequence homology. Methyl groups of thymine acts as a steric block, relocating spermine from major grooves to interhelical regions, thereby increasing DNA-DNA attraction. Indeed, methylation of cytosines makes attraction between GC-rich DNA as strong as that between AT-rich DNA. Recent genome-wide chromosome organization studies showed that remote contact frequencies are higher for AT-rich and methylated DNA, suggesting that direct DNA-DNA interactions that we report here may play a role in the chromosome organization and gene regulationopen

Prevalence of Bacillus cereus and emetic strains detection from Ivory Coast local flours

Bacillus cereus is a pathogen associated with diarrheal and emetic food borne illness. However, in Africa, the prevalence of food borne infections attributable to this bacterium is difficult to establish accurately. Given the involvement of farinaceous foods in the majority of emetic outbreak and the dietary habits in Ivory Coast, implying an increase in the consumption of traditionally produced flours, the prevalence of Bacillus cereus and emetic strains associated to local flours produced in Abidjan were assessed. In this purpose, 100 samples of millet, maize and cassava flours were collected from five different Abidjan municipalities. Microbiological analysis were carried out in accordance with the standard EN ISO 7932 : 2004 and the European regulation EC 2073/2005, to enumerate the Bacillus cereus.. Bacillus cereus strains isolated were screened by polymerase chain reaction, for emetic strains detection. Overall, 31 (31 %) of maize, millet and cassava flours were positive for Bacillus cereus, at levels below 103 CFU/g. Comparing the five municipalities, the concentration of Bacillus cereus was not significantly different (P<0,05). Also, no significant  difference was observed, regardless of the types of flour analyzed. Furthermore, no potentially emetic toxin–producing strains were detected in this work.Keyword : Bacillus cereus, flour, pathogen, emetic strain. French Title: Prevalence de la detection de <i>Bacillus cereus</i> et de souches emetiques dans les farines locales de Cote d'Ivoire Bacillus cereus est un pathogène alimentaire responsable de toxi-infection diarrhéique et émétique. Le syndrome émétique est généralement associé aux aliments farineux. Compte tenu de l’implication des aliments farineux dans les toxi-infections émétiques et de la grande consommation de farines localement produites en Côte d’Ivoire, la prévalence de B. cereus a été évaluée dans cette denrée. 100 échantillons de farines de mil, de maïs et de manioc ont été collectés dans cinq communes d’Abidjan. Des  analyses microbiologiques ont été effectuées conformément à la norme EN ISO 7932: 2004 et à la réglementation européenne CE 2073/2005, afin de dénombrer les Bacillus Cereus et identifier les souches émétiques. Cet pathogène était présent dans 31 (31 % ) des farines de maïs, de mil et de manioc, à des concentrations inférieures à 103 UFC /g. Cette concentration n’est pas significativement différente (p <0,05), d’une commune à l’autre et aucune différence significative n’a été observée, quelque soit le type de farine analysé. Par ailleurs, aucune souche émétique n’a été détectée dans ces farines.Mots clés : Bacillus cereus, farine, pathogène, souche émétique.

Dendritic Cell Subtypes from Lymph Nodes and Blood Show Contrasted Gene Expression Programs upon Bluetongue Virus Infection

Chantier qualité GAHuman and animal hemorrhagic viruses initially target dendritic cells (DCs). It has been proposed, but not documented, that both plasmacytoid DCs (pDCs) and conventional DCs (cDCs) may participate in the cytokine storm encountered in these infections. In order to evaluate the contribution of DCs in hemorrhagic virus pathogenesis, we performed a genome-wide expression analysis during infection by Bluetongue virus (BTV), a double-stranded RNA virus that induces hemorrhagic fever in sheep and initially infects cDCs. Both pDCs and cDCs accumulated in regional lymph nodes and spleen during BTV infection. The gene response profiles were performed at the onset of the disease and markedly differed with the DC subtypes and their lymphoid organ location. An integrative knowledge-based analysis revealed that blood pDCs displayed a gene signature related to activation of systemic inflammation and permeability of vasculature. In contrast, the gene profile of pDCs and cDCs in lymph nodes was oriented to inhibition of inflammation, whereas spleen cDCs did not show a clear functional orientation. These analyses indicate that tissue location and DC subtype affect the functional gene expression program induced by BTV and suggest the involvement of blood pDCs in the inflammation and plasma leakage/hemorrhage during BTV infection in the real natural host of the virus. These findings open the avenue to target DCs for therapeutic interventions in viral hemorrhagic diseases

Mapping the internal recognition surface of an octanuclear coordination cage using guest libraries

Size and shape criteria for guest binding inside the cavity of an octanuclear cubic coordination cage in water have been established using a new fluorescence displacement assay to quantify guest binding. For aliphatic cyclic ketones of increasing size (from C5 to C11), there is a linear relationship between ΔG for guest binding and the guest’s surface area: the change in ΔG for binding is 0.3 kJ mol–1 Å–2, corresponding to 5 kJ mol–1 for each additional CH2 group in the guest, in good agreement with expectations based on hydrophobic desolvation. The highest association constant is K = 1.2 × 106 M–1 for cycloundecanone, whose volume is approximately 50% of the cavity volume; for larger C12 and C13 cyclic ketones, the association constant progressively decreases as the guests become too large. For a series of C10 aliphatic ketones differing in shape but not size, ΔG for guest binding showed no correlation with surface area. These guests are close to the volume limit of the cavity (cf. Rebek’s 55% rule), so the association constant is sensitive to shape complementarity, with small changes in guest structure resulting in large changes in binding affinity. The most flexible members of this series (linear aliphatic ketones) did not bind, whereas the more preorganized cyclic ketones all have association constants of 104–105 M–1. A crystal structure of the cage·cycloundecanone complex shows that the guest carbonyl oxygen is directed into a binding pocket defined by a convergent set of CH groups, which act as weak hydrogen-bond donors, and also shows close contacts between the exterior surface of the disc-shaped guest and the interior surface of the pseudospherical cage cavity despite the slight mismatch in shape

Acceptance of exotic beverages with health benefits in Europe: a crosscountry comparison of hibiscus products

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Amorphous alloys of magnetic transmitters of power transformers for power source of induction installation

In the article are considered the advantages of using transformers with magnetic cores from amorphous alloys in comparison with transformers with conventional magnetic cores of electrotechnical steels. Provides information about the comparison of the average no-load losses for power transformers with magnetic core of transformer steel and a magnetic core made of amorphous alloy. The most promising way of reducing the cost production and operation of distribution transformers is the use of magnetic cores made of amorphous (nanocrystalline) alloys, this provides a more than fivefold reduction of losses of idling of transformers compared with traditional magnetic circuits of electrical steel. Development of new highly effective power supplies for electrotechnological installations with induction heating, it is necessary to use the new coordinating high-frequency transformers on the basis of magnetic conductors from amorphous alloys.В статье рассмотрены преимущества применения трансформаторов с магнитопроводами из аморфных сплавов, по сравнению с трансформаторами с традиционными магнитопроводами из электротехнических сталей. Приведены сведения о сравнении усредненных потерь холостого хода для силовых трансформаторов с магнитопроводом из трансформаторной стали и с магнитопроводом из аморфного сплава. Наиболее перспективный путь снижения затрат на производство и эксплуатацию распределительных трансформаторов – это применение магнитопроводов из аморфных (нанокристаллических) сплавов, при этом обеспечивается более чем пятикратное снижение потерь холостого хода трансформаторов по сравнению с традиционными магнитопроводами из электротехнической стали. Разработка новых высокоэффективных источников питания для электротехнологических установок с индукционным нагревом, необходимо использовать новые согласующие высокочастотные трансформаторы на базе магнитопроводов из аморфных сплавов