French Innovative Processes in the Field of Thermal TreatmentFor Decommissioning and Legacy Waste

International audienceIn order to optimize decommissioning waste management and better anticipate related issues, French nuclear waste producers CEA and AREVA, and the French Agency in charge of radioactive waste disposal (ANDRA) have decided to collectively develop technologies mastering costs, schedules and dose uptake as well as optimizing waste volumes and repository safety. In this context, several innovative projects have emerged over the past few years to develop specific thermal treatment processes. This paper focus on four new processes, presenting their goals, technical descriptions and first experimental results

Creation and preclinical evaluation of genetically attenuated malaria parasites arresting growth late in the liver.

Whole-sporozoite (WSp) malaria vaccines induce protective immune responses in animal malaria models and in humans. A recent clinical trial with a WSp vaccine comprising genetically attenuated parasites (GAP) which arrest growth early in the liver (PfSPZ-GA1), showed that GAPs can be safely administered to humans and immunogenicity is comparable to radiation-attenuated PfSPZ Vaccine. GAPs that arrest late in the liver stage (LA-GAP) have potential for increased potency as shown in rodent malaria models. Here we describe the generation of four putative P. falciparum LA-GAPs, generated by CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene deletion. One out of four gene-deletion mutants produced sporozoites in sufficient numbers for further preclinical evaluation. This mutant, PfΔmei2, lacking the mei2-like RNA gene, showed late liver growth arrest in human liver-chimeric mice with human erythrocytes, absence of unwanted genetic alterations and sensitivity to antimalarial drugs. These features of PfΔmei2 make it a promising vaccine candidate, supporting further clinical evaluation. PfΔmei2 (GA2) has passed regulatory approval for safety and efficacy testing in humans based on the findings reported in this study

Effets néfastes sur la stabilité des solutions polyacrylamides utilisées dans la récupération assistée du pétrole

L'étude de la dégradation oxydante des polyacrylamides (PAA et HPAA) en solution aqueuse nous a permis de trouver que du formaldéhyde est produit par l'oxydation de l'acrylamide résiduel. Du formaldéhyde est aussi produit par l'oxydation du méthanol résiduel quand ce non-solvant a été utilisé pour purifier les PAA et HPAA par précipitation de leurs solutions aqueuses. Ce formaldéhyde est responsable de la formation de dérivés insolubles nuisibles pour les propriétés rhéologiques utiles des solutions. Ce résultat rejoint ceux d'études antérieures où un effet comparable a été observé après addition de formaldéhyde aux solutions de PAA et HPAA. Mais l'examen de la littérature relative à la chimie du formaldéhyde montre que les réactions d'oxydation et d'addition qui ont été suggérées pour rendre compte de cet effet sont inadéquates dans le milieu considéré. Le schéma que nous proposons explique mieux les phénomènes observés. Nous avons aussi montré que l'oxydo-réduction du formaldéhyde est responsable de la formation de radicaux libres sur les polyacrylamides. II était alors possible de conclure, sans avoir recours à d'autres expériences, que le formaldéhyde ne doit pas être utilisé dans la récupération assistée du pétrole pour protéger les solutions des polyacrylamides contre la biodégradation

Mitochondrial DNA Sequence Variation in the Boyko, Hutsul, and Lemko Populations of the Carpathian Highlands

Genetic studies of the distribution of mitochondrialDNA(mtDNA) haplogroups in human populations residing within the Carpathian Mountain range have been scarce. We present an analysis of mtDNA haplogroup composition of the Boykos, Hutsuls, and Lemkos, three population groups of the Carpathian highlands. In our study Hutsuls had the highest frequency of subhaplogroup H1 in central and eastern Europe. Lemkos shared the highest frequency of haplogroup I ever reported and the highest frequency of haplogroup M* in the region. MtDNA haplogroup frequencies in Boykos were different from most modern European populations. We interpreted these unique mtDNA frequencies to be evidence of diverse and dynamic population histories in the Carpathian highland region

Palladium(0) NHC complexes : a new avenue to highly efficient phosphorescence

We report the first examples of highly luminescent di-coordinated Pd(0) complexes. Five complexes of the form [Pd(L)(L’)] were synthesized, where L = IPr, SIPr or IPr* NHC ligands and L’ = PCy3, or IPr and SIPr NHC ligands. The photophysical properties of these complexes were determined in toluene solution and in solid state and contrasted to the poorly luminescent reference complex [Pd(IPr)(PPh3)]. Organic light-emitting diodes were successfully fabricated but attained external quantum efficiencies of between 0.3 and 0.7%

Phenotypic expansion of KCNJ13-associated snowflake vitreoretinal degeneration

Introduction: An 18-year old highly myopic woman presented with bilateral retinoschisis associated with a unilateral macular hole in the right eye and vitreomacular traction in the left eye.Methods: Genetic studies disclosed a heterozygous pathogenic variant in the KCNJ13 gene was identified (c.484C>T (p.Arg162Trp)), consistent with a diagnosis of snowflake vitreoretinal degeneration (SVD).Results: While there were no corneal guttata, juvenile cataracts, or perivascular sheathing in this case, salient features of SVD included a fibrillar vitreous structure, crystalline retinopathy, and flattened optic nerves. The patient developed a FTMH in the left eye at 17 months follow up, followed by a rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) requiring 2 surgical repairs.Conclusion: This case expands on the spectrum of clinical features in SVD, including retinoschisis and FTMH. It also characterizes optical coherence tomography findings in this rare disease entity. We emphasize the importance of using panel-based genetic testing to clinically distinguish and further define atypical vitreoretinopathies

Impact of COVID-19 confinement on quality of life and mental health

Introducción: La pandemia por SARS-Cov-2 ha tenido un impacto negativo en múltiples aspectos de la vida humana, tanto en lo físico, psicológico, económico, social y cultural. Las afecciones de la calidad de vida están asociadas al confinamiento y la libertad de salir, de pasar tiempo con sus amigos o familiares, o de realizar actividades; por lo que se ven privados de la mayor parte de su interacción social. El objetivo de este presente artículo es brindar información sobre cómo afecta el confinamiento y aislamiento social por la pandemia a la calidad de vida y salud mental