Bio-activité des huiles essentielles de l’Armoise blanche Artemessia herba alba : effet sur la reproduction et la mortalité des adultes d’un ravageur des denrées stockées Ephestia kuehniella (Lepidoptera)

Notre travail révèle un effet insecticide de l’huile essentielle extraite de la plante aromatique Artemissia herba alba, sur la population d’insectes ravageurs des denrées stockées Ephestia kuehniella (Lepidoptera). Le bio-pesticide agit avec un double mécanisme d’action. Administré chez les adultes, l’huile essentielle provoque un taux de mortalité significatif par rapport aux témoins. Alors que son administration sur les chrysalides, prolonge leur développement nymphal et perturbe la reproduction des adultes, en prolongeant la période de préoviposition et en réduisant la période de dépôt des œufs puisque les femelles fécondées, ne pouvant vivre plus d’un ou deux jours, ce qui réduit le nombre d’œufs déposés.Bio-activity of essential oils of Artemisia herba alba : effects on reproduction and adult mortality of a pest of stored Ephestia kuehniella (Lepidoptera)Our work reveals an insecticidal effect of essential oils extracted from aromatic plant Artemissia herba alba on population of insect pests Ephestia kuehniella. The biopesticide is adual mechanism of action. Administered in adults, the essential oil causes significant mortality compared with controls. Whilehis administration on pupae, it extending their pupal development and disrupts reproductive adults by extending the preoviposition period and reducing the period for depositing eggs asfertilized females, who can’t live more than one or two days, which reduces the number of eggs deposited

ASO Author Reflections: Is There Still a Role for Intraperitoneal Oxaliplatin for Colorectal Peritoneal Metastases?

International audienc

Virulence of Moroccan f. Revealed by International Differential Barley Genotypes

Pyrenophora teres f. teres (Ptt), causing net blotch in barley, is an important and frequently isolated leaf pathogen across the globe. The virulence spectrum of Ptt from North Africa including Morocco is poorly understood. Sixteen barley genotypes were challenged, at seedling stage, with 15 Ptt isolates that were collected from different agroecological zones of Morocco. The experiment was conducted in a factorial arrangement of treatments in a randomized complete block design with three replicates. The ANOVA revealed highly significant (P < 0.001) effects of genotype (G), isolate (I) and G×I interaction explaining 23.2, 62.5, and 13.9% of the variation, respectively. Therefore, the current study revealed highly diverse virulence pattern of Moroccan isolates. Furthermore, the results indicated that minor virulence of Ptt isolates dominated over virulence interaction. In addition, Taffa (6-rowed) and Aglou (2 rowed), had the highest level of resistance to Ptt, while Coast and Rabat071 were the most susceptible genotypes. Pt2, Pt7, Pt8 and Pt4 were being the most virulent isolates, while Pt10 and Pt11 were the least virulent isolates. The emergence of the new Ptt pathotypes, which were highly virulent to durable resistance in Rabat071 posed a risk of breaking down the currently deployed resistance to net blotch in Morocco. A careful evaluation and selection of Ptt isolates based on minor virulence pattern to barley genotypes is essential for successful barley breeding program for resistance to net blotch in Morocco

Stellar metallicity gradients of Local Group dwarf galaxies

Aims. We explore correlations between the strength of metallicity gradients in Local Group dwarf galaxies and their stellar mass, star formation history timescales, and environment. Methods. We performed a homogeneous analysis of literature spectroscopic data of red giant stars and determined radial metallicity profiles for 30 Local Group dwarf galaxies. This is the largest compilation of this type to date. Results. The dwarf galaxies in our sample show a variety of metallicity profiles, most of them decreasing with radius and some with rather steep profiles. The derived metallicity gradients as a function of the half-light radius, [Fe/H](R/Re), show no statistical differences when compared with the morphological type of the galaxies, nor with their distance from the Milky Way or M31. No correlations are found with either stellar mass or star formation timescales. In particular, we do not find the linear relation between [Fe/H](R/Re) and the galaxy median age t50, which has been reported in the literature for a set of simulated systems. On the other hand, the high angular momentum in some of our galaxies does not seem to affect the gradient strengths. The strongest gradients in our sample are observed in systems that are likely to have experienced a past merger event. When these merger candidates are excluded, the analysed dwarf galaxies show mild gradients (ã-0.1 dex Re-1) with little scatter between them, regardless of their stellar mass, dynamical state, and their star formation history. These results agree well with different sets of simulations presented in the literature that were analysed using the same method as for the observed dwarf galaxies. Conclusions. The interplay between the multitude of factors that could drive the formation of metallicity gradients likely combine in complex ways to produce in general comparable mild [Fe/H](R/Re) values, regardless of stellar mass and star formation history. The strongest driver of steep gradients seems to be previous dwarf-dwarf merger events in a system

Position estimation for a mobile robot using monocular vision and odometry

We describe a localisation system for a robot moving in a known environment . Unlike the currently used methods for industrial robots, our approach does not require any beacons to be installed : the system uses odometry to estimate the vehicle position continuously, and corrects this estimation when necessary by identifying some objects of the environment through vision . These objects, used as landmarks, were previously recorded in a data base . The different parts of the system are presented particularly the way the uncertainty on odometry is updated and how prior knowledge (position estimation and data base) is employed to facilitate landmark identification. 7 cm on xy and I deg on the heading is the typical precision obtained in term of localisation .Nous présentons un système de localisation pour un robot mobile évoluant dans un environnement connu. La méthode, contrairement à celles actuellement utilisées dans l'industrie, ne nécessite pas l'équipement du site en balises : la position du robot est estimée à chaque instant par odométrie, et recalée périodiquement en repérant, à l'aide d'une caméra mobile montée sur le véhicule, des objets de l'environnement jouant le rôle d'amer. Ces objets sont répertoriés dans une base de données constituée au préalable. Les différentes composantes du système sont présentées : nous montrons en particulier comment l'incertitude sur la position du robot évolue avec les erreurs d'odométrie, et comment les connaissances a priori (position estimée, base de données) sont mises à profit pour identifier les amers. La précision typiquement obtenue en matière de localisation est de 7 cm selon xy et 1 deg en cap

Validation of a hemodynamic model for the study of the cerebral venous outflow system using MR imaging and echo- Color doppler data

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: A comprehensive parameter model was developed to investigate correlations between cerebral hemodynamics and alterations in the extracranial venous circulation due to posture changes and/or extracranial venous obstruction (stenosis). The purpose of this work was to validate the simulation results by using MR imaging and echo-color Doppler experimental blood flow data in humans. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To validate the model outcomes, we used supine average arterial and venous extracerebral blood flow, obtained by using phase-contrast MR imaging from 49 individuals with stenosis in the acquisition plane at the level of the disc between the second and third vertebrae of the left internal jugular vein, 20 with stenosis in the acquisition plane at the level of the disc between the fifth and sixth vertebrae of the right internal jugular vein, and 38 healthy controls without stenosis. Average data from a second group of 10 healthy volunteers screened with an echo-color Doppler technique were used to evaluate flow variations due to posture change. RESULTS: There was excellent agreement between experimental and simulated supine flows. Every simulated CBF fell inside the standard error from the corresponding average experimental value, as well as most of the simulated extracerebral arterial flow (extracranial blood flow from the head and face, measured at the level of the disc between second and third vertebrae) and venous flows. Simulations of average jugular and vertebral blood flow variations due to a change of posture from supine to upright also matched the experimental data. CONCLUSIONS: The good agreement between simulated and experimental results means that the model can correctly reproduce the main factors affecting the extracranial circulation and could be used to study other types of stenotic conditions not represented by the experimental data

Use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in cancer patients. An italian multicenter survey

INTRODUCTION: Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) include a wide range of products (herbs, vitamins, minerals, and probiotics) and medical practices, developed outside of the mainstream Western medicine. Patients with cancer are more likely to resort to CAM first or then in their disease history; the potential side effects as well as the costs of such practices are largely underestimated. PATIENTS AND METHOD: We conducted a descriptive survey in five Italian hospitals involving 468 patients with different malignancies. The survey consisted of a forty-two question questionnaire, patients were eligible if they were Italian-speaking and receiving an anticancer treatment at the time of the survey or had received an anticancer treatment no more than three years before participating in the survey. RESULTS: Of our patients, 48.9% said they use or have recently used CAM. The univariate analysis showed that female gender, high education, receiving treatment in a highly specialized institute and receiving chemotherapy are associated with CAM use; at the multivariate analysis high education (Odds Ratio, (OR): 1.96 95% Confidence Interval, CI, 1.27-3.05) and receiving treatment in a specialized cancer center (OR: 2.75 95% CI, 1.53-4.94) were confirmed as risk factors for CAM use. CONCLUSION: Roughly half of our patients receiving treatment for cancer use CAM. It is necessary that health professional explore the use of CAM with their cancer patients, educate them about potentially beneficial therapies in light of the limited available evidence of effectiveness, and work towards an integrated model of health-care provision

Radioisotopic purity and imaging properties of cyclotron-produced 99mTc using direct 100Mo(p,2n) reaction

Evaluation of the radioisotopic purity of technetium-99m (99mTc) produced in GBq amounts by proton bombardment of enriched molibdenum-100 (100Mo) metallic targets at low proton energies (i.e. within 15\u201320 MeV) is conducted. This energy range was chosen since it is easily achievable by many conventional medical cyclotrons already available in the nuclear medicine departments of hospitals. The main motivation for such a study is in the framework of the research activities at the international level that have been conducted over the last few years to develop alternative production routes for the most widespread radioisotope used in medical imaging. The analysis of technetium isotopes and isomeric states (9xTc) present in the pertechnetate saline Na99mTcO4 solutions, obtained after the extraction/purification procedure, reveals radionuclidic purity levels basically in compliance with the limits recently issued by European Pharmacopoeia 9.3 (2018 Sodium pertechnetate (99mTc) injection 4801\u20133). Moreover, the impact of 9xTc contaminant nuclides on the final image quality is thoroughly evaluated, analyzing the emitted high-energy gamma rays and their influence on the image quality. The spatial resolution of images from cyclotron-produced 99mTc acquired with a mini-gamma camera was determined and compared with that obtained using technetium-99m solutions eluted from standard 99Mo/99mTc generators. The effect of the increased image background contribution due to Compton-scattered higher-energy gamma rays (E \u3b3 \u2009\u2009>\u2009\u2009200\u2009keV), which could cause image-contrast deterioration, was also studied. It is concluded that, due to the high radionuclidic purity of cyclotron-produced 99mTc using 100Mo(p,2n)99mTc reaction at a proton beam energy in the range 15.7\u201319.4 MeV, the resulting image properties are well comparable with those from the generator-eluted 99mTc

Image quality comparison between a phase-contrast synchrotron radiation breast CT and a clinical breast CT: a phantom based study

In this study we compared the image quality of a synchrotron radiation (SR) breast computed tomography (BCT) system with a clinical BCT in terms of contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), noise power spectrum (NPS), spatial resolution and detail visibility. A breast phantom consisting of several slabs of breast-adipose equivalent material with different embedded targets (i.e., masses, fibers and calcifications) was used. Phantom images were acquired using a dedicated BCT system installed at the Radboud University Medical Center (Nijmegen, The Netherlands) and the SR BCT system at the SYRMEP beamline of Elettra SR facility (Trieste, Italy) based on a photon-counting detector. Images with the SR setup were acquired mimicking the clinical BCT conditions (i.e., energy of 30 keV and radiation dose of 6.5 mGy). Images were reconstructed with an isotropic cubic voxel of 273 µm for the clinical BCT, while for the SR setup two phase-retrieval (PhR) kernels (referred to as “smooth” and “sharp”) were alternatively applied to each projection before tomographic reconstruction, with voxel size of 57 × 57 × 50 µm3. The CNR for the clinical BCT system can be up to 2-times higher than SR system, while the SNR can be 3-times lower than SR system, when the smooth PhR is used. The peak frequency of the NPS for the SR BCT is 2 to 4-times higher (0.9 mm−1 and 1.4 mm−1 with smooth and sharp PhR, respectively) than the clinical BCT (0.4 mm−1). The spatial resolution (MTF10%) was estimated to be 1.3 lp/mm for the clinical BCT, and 5.0 lp/mm and 6.7 lp/mm for the SR BCT with the smooth and sharp PhR, respectively. The smallest fiber visible in the SR BCT has a diameter of 0.15 mm, while for the clinical BCT is 0.41 mm. Calcification clusters with diameter of 0.13 mm are visible in the SR BCT, while the smallest diameter for the clinical BCT is 0.29 mm. As expected, the image quality of the SR BCT outperforms the clinical BCT system, providing images with higher spatial resolution and SNR, and with finer granularity. Nevertheless, this study assesses the image quality gap quantitatively, giving indications on the benefits associated with SR BCT and providing a benchmarking basis for its clinical implementation. In addition, SR-based studies can provide a gold-standard in terms of achievable image quality, constituting an upper-limit to the potential clinical development of a given technique