Tertiary and quaternary geology of the Belgian Continental Shelf

A synthesis of the geology of the Belgian continental shelf is here presented. The main part of this document is dedicated to the review of the lithostratigraphy, geotechnical properties, geometry and distribution of the Tertiary and Quaternary deposits. The data compilation, review and assessment have been conducted from the numerous existing studies and large data sets, available offshore, but also onland when offshore data were scarce or lacking. Three main projects have enabled to collect the offshore data: (1) the project “Seismic stratigraphy, Southern Bight, North Sea” (RCMG, City of London Polytechnic/NERC, University of Caen/CNRS); (2) the project “Seismisch onderzoek op het Belgisch Continentaal Plat. Eerste faze. Ontginningszone 2” (MEZ/Administratie van het Mijnwezen, RCMG); (3) the project “Studie oppervlaktelaag van het Belgisch Continentaal Plat. Seismisch prospectie sector B” MEZ/Belgian Geological Survey-BGD, RCMG). Data consist mainly of seismic profiles (16,000 km), cores (79) and cone penetration tests (CPTs, 177). All the data have been digitised and integrated in appropriate georeferenced softwares. Synthetic integrated maps and tables have been produced, aimed to provide the end-users with clear and directly usable information.This synthesis has been conducted in the framework of the project “Optimal Offshore Wind Energy Developments in Belgium”, financed by the Belgian federal government (Federal Office for Scientific, Technical and Cultural Affairs). This project is in keeping with the part I project network “Production patterns and sustainable consumption” of the PADD II program. Objectives of this project consisted in providing recommendations for the selection of sites that are convenient with respect to the stability of offshore wind structures and the minimisation of geo-environmental impacts

Avascular Necrosis of the Foot and Ankle in a Patient with Systemic Sclerosis: A Case Based Review

This review describes a case of atraumatic avascular necrosis in the foot and ankle in a patient with systemic sclerosis who did not receive corticosteroid therapy. Both avascular necrosis and systemic sclerosis are uncommon disease entities. This case demonstrates that vasculitis and secondary vasoconstriction in the pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis are important risk factors for the development of avascular necrosis of the foot and ankle. Therefore, if these patients develop chronic foot and ankle pain, avascular necrosis should be included in the differential diagnosis, even if they do not receive corticosteroids. For the diagnosis and follow-up of avascular necrosis MRI remains the gold standard. Thus, MRI should be used to diagnose avascular necrosis in an early stage. Level of Clinical Evidence: 4.This review describes a case of atraumatic avascular necrosis in the foot and ankle in a patient with systemic sclerosis who did not receive corticosteroid therapy. Both avascular necrosis and systemic sclerosis are uncommon disease entities. This case demonstrates that vasculitis and secondary vasoconstriction in the pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis are important risk factors for the development of avascular necrosis of the foot and ankle. Therefore, if these patients develop chronic foot and ankle pain, avascular necrosis should be included in the differential diagnosis, even if they do not receive corticosteroids. For the diagnosis and follow-up of avascular necrosis MRI remains the gold standard. Thus, MRI should be used to diagnose avascular necrosis in an early stage. Level of Clinical Evidence: 4

How different sterols contribute to saponin tolerant plasma membranes in sea cucumbers

Sea cucumbers produce saponins as a chemical defense mechanism, however their cells can tolerate the cytotoxic nature of these chemicals. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms behind this tolerance a suite of complementary biophysical tools was used, firstly using liposomes for in vitro techniques then using in silico approaches for a molecular-level insight. The holothuroid saponin Frondoside A, caused significantly less permeabilization in liposomes containing a Δ7 holothuroid sterol than those containing cholesterol and resulted in endothermic interactions versus exothermic interactions with cholesterol containing liposomes. Lipid phases simulations revealed that Frondoside A has an agglomerating effect on cholesterol domains, however, induced small irregular Δ7 sterol clusters. Our results suggest that the structural peculiarities of holothuroid sterols provide sea cucumbers with a mechanism to mitigate the sterol-agglomerating effect of saponins, and therefore to protect their cells from the cytotoxicity of the saponins they produce

Central nervous system demyelination associated with etanercept in a 51 years old woman

There are few case reports documenting a new onset of demyelinating processes in patients receiving anti-tumour necrosis factor alpha therapy (anti-TNF alpha) for chronic inflammatory arthropathies. Whether anti-TNF alpha therapy induces new onset demyelination or just exacerbates pre-existing latent multiple sclerosis is not fully understood. We are reporting a 51-year-old woman without a prior history of multiple sclerosis, who developed demyelinating brain lesions three months after starting Etanercept. Her symptoms partially resolved on cessation of the drug. Our case was unusual compared to some previous case reports, as the patient's age at presentation was beyond that for idiopathic multiple sclerosis. This may strengthen the hypothesis of a causal relationship between new onset demyelination and Etanercept; however, exacerbation of pre-existing demyelinating process by Etanercept in this patient still cannot be totally excluded. We recommend doing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain before starting patients on anti-TNF alpha therapy to exclude latent demyelination. In addition, new onset demyelination following anti-TNF alpha therapy should be reported and studied thoroughly as this may yield a significant advancement in our understanding of the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis. Long-term follow-up of these cases is also important to determine the long-term prognosis and the rate of relapse of demyelinating process in this group of patients

Surfactin Protects Wheat against Zymoseptoria tritici and Activates Both Salicylic Acid- and Jasmonic Acid-Dependent Defense Responses

Natural elicitors induce plant resistance against a broad spectrum of diseases, and are currently among the most promising biocontrol tools. The present study focuses on the elicitor properties of the cyclic lipopeptide surfactin on wheat, in order to stimulate the defenses of this major crop against the challenging fungal pathogen Zymoseptoria tritici. The protection efficacy of surfactin extracted from the strain Bacillus amyloliquefaciens S499 was investigated through greenhouse trials. Surfactin protected wheat by 70% against Z. tritici, similarly to the chemical reference elicitor Bion®50WG. In vitro biocidal assays revealed no antifungal activities of surfactin towards the pathogen. A biomolecular RT-qPCR based low-density microarray tool was used to study the relative expression of 23 wheat defense genes. Surfactin significantly induced wheat natural defenses by stimulating both salicylic acid- and jasmonic acid-dependent signaling pathways. Surfactin was successfully tested as an elicitor on the pathosystem wheat–Z. tritici. These results promote further sustainable agricultural practices and the reduction of chemical inputs

Nonconvulsive Status Epilepticus in Patients with Altered Mental Status Admitted to Hamad General Hospital, Doha, Qatar

This is a prospective, hospital-based study reporting an update and the prevalence of nonconvulsive status epilepticus (NCSE) in patients with altered mental status (AMS) in Qatar. Patients presenting with NCSE are compared to controls. Two-hundred and fifty patients with AMS are involved. Patients with NCSE are: 65 (12–79 years, m, 37, f, 28); controls: 185 (12–80 years, m, 101, f, 84). Occurrence of NCSE in patients with AMS was 26%. NCSE patients were younger than controls (p < 0.001). Deaths in the NCSE group occurred in 31% and 19% in controls (p < 0.0007). Hospitalization length was longer in NCSE proper and in comatose NCSE compared to controls (p < 0.02, p < 0.03). Recovery occurred in 40% of NCSE patients and 53% of controls (p < 0.08). About 31% of patients (n = 21) had refractory NCSE and 9 died. This is the first study reporting the prevalence of NCSE in Qatar. This prevalence (26%) is in the middle range. NCSE did not do better than the controls, result being disappointing regarding comatose NCSE. NCSE is an emerging condition requiring rapid diagnosis and rapid treatment. Regarding the optimal duration of continuous EGG (cEEG) monitoring to diagnose the majority of NCSE cases, 3 days of cEEG monitoring could accomplish this task

Enzymatically-synthesized xylo-oligosaccharides laurate esters as surfactants of interest

Lipase-catalyzed synthesis of xylo-oligosaccharides esters from pure xylobiose, xylotriose and xylotetraose in the presence of vinyl laurate was investigated. The influence of different experimental parameters such as the loading of lipase, the reaction duration or the use of a co-solvent was studied and the reaction conditions were optimized with xylobiose. Under the best conditions, a regioselective esterification occurred to yield a monoester with the acyl chain at the OH-4 of the xylose unit at the non-reducing end. Surface-active properties of these pure xylo-oligosaccharides fatty esters have been evaluated. They display interesting surfactant activities that differ according to the degree of polymerization (DP) of the glycone moiety. © 202

High-Generation Amphiphilic Janus-Dendrimers as Stabilizing Agents for Drug Suspensions

Pharmaceutical nanosuspensions are formed when drug crystals are suspended in aqueous media in the presence of stabilizers. This technology offers a convenient way to enhance the dissolution of poorly water-soluble drug compounds. The stabilizers exert their action through electrostatic or steric interactions, however, the molecular requirements of stabilizing agents have not been studied extensively. Here, four structurally related amphiphilic Janus-dendrimers were synthesized and screened to determine the roles of different macromolecular domains on the stabilization of drug crystals. Physical interaction and nanomilling experiments have substantiated that Janus-dendrimers with fourth generation hydro- philic dendrons were superior to third generation analogues and Poloxamer 188 in stabilizing indomethacin suspensions. Contact angle and surface plasmon resonance measurements support the hypothesis that Janus-dendrimers bind to indomethacin surfaces via hydrophobic interactions and that the number of hydrophobic alkyl tails determines the adsorption kinetics of the Janus-dendrimers. The results showed that amphiphilic Janus-dendrimers adsorb onto drug particles and thus can be used to provide steric stabilization against aggregation and recrystallization. The modular synthetic route for new amphiphilic Janus-dendrimers offers, thus, for the first time a versatile platform for stable general-use stabilizing agents of drug suspensions.Peer reviewe

Genome-wide BAC-end sequencing of Cucumis melo using two BAC libraries

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Although melon (<it>Cucumis melo </it>L.) is an economically important fruit crop, no genome-wide sequence information is openly available at the current time. We therefore sequenced BAC-ends representing a total of 33,024 clones, half of them from a previously described melon BAC library generated with restriction endonucleases and the remainder from a new random-shear BAC library.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We generated a total of 47,140 high-quality BAC-end sequences (BES), 91.7% of which were paired-BES. Both libraries were assembled independently and then cross-assembled to obtain a final set of 33,372 non-redundant, high-quality sequences. These were grouped into 6,411 contigs (4.5 Mb) and 26,961 non-assembled BES (14.4 Mb), representing ~4.2% of the melon genome. The sequences were used to screen genomic databases, identifying 7,198 simple sequence repeats (corresponding to one microsatellite every 2.6 kb) and 2,484 additional repeats of which 95.9% represented transposable elements. The sequences were also used to screen expressed sequence tag (EST) databases, revealing 11,372 BES that were homologous to ESTs. This suggests that ~30% of the melon genome consists of coding DNA. We observed regions of microsynteny between melon paired-BES and six other dicotyledonous plant genomes.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The analysis of nearly 50,000 BES from two complementary genomic libraries covered ~4.2% of the melon genome, providing insight into properties such as microsatellite and transposable element distribution, and the percentage of coding DNA. The observed synteny between melon paired-BES and six other plant genomes showed that useful comparative genomic data can be derived through large scale BAC-end sequencing by anchoring a small proportion of the melon genome to other sequenced genomes.</p

Processing Induced Changes in Food Proteins: Amyloid Formation during Boiling of Hen Egg White

Amyloid fibrils (AFs) are highly ordered protein nanofibers composed of cross β-structure that occur in nature, but that also accumulate in age-related diseases. Amyloid propensity is a generic property of proteins revealed by conditions that destabilize the native state, suggesting that food processing conditions may promote AF formation. This had only been shown for foie gras, but not in common foodstuffs. We here extracted a dense network of fibrillar proteins from commonly consumed boiled hen egg white (EW) using chemical and/or enzymatic treatments. Conversion of EW proteins into AFs during boiling was demonstrated by thioflavin T fluorescence, Congo red staining, and X-ray fiber diffraction measurements. Our data show that cooking converts approximately 1–3% of the protein in EW into AFs, suggesting that they are a common component of the human diet