A new type of photoionized code required for the new era of X-ray spectroscopy

With the advent of the present and future spatial X-ray missions, it becomes crucial to model correctly the line spectrum of X-ray emitting media. We have built a photoionization code, Titan, solving the transfer of a thousand lines and of the continuum with the "Accelerated Lambda Iteration" method, which is most reliable for line transfer. In all other photoionization codes the line intensities are computed with the so-called "escape probability formalism", used in its simplest approximation. In a previous paper (Dumont et al. 2003), it was shown that this approximation leads to errors which can exceed one order of magnitude in the case a Thomson thickness of the order of unity. We show here that it also happens in the case of a Thomson thickness of 0.001 to 0.1. The errors on the line fluxes and line ratios are of the order of 30% for a column density of 10^{20} cm^{-2}, and a factor five for a column density of 10^{23} cm^{-2}, in conditions appropriate for Seyfert 2 and for the Warm Absorber of Seyfert 1.Comment: 11 pages, 7 figures. accepted by A&

Stability of Concentrated Solution of Vancomycin Hydrochloride in Syringes for Intensive Care Units

Abstract Background Vancomycin is increasingly administrated by continuous infusion. But the treatment of patient in intensive care need restricted volume to prevent fluid overload. The aim of the study was to evaluate the physical and chemical stability of solutions of a high concentration of vancomycin hydrochloride in 5 % glucose or 0.9 % NaCl. Methods Eight syringes of 50 mL, containing 41.66 mg/mL of vancomycin hydrochloride four syringes in 5 % glucose and four in 0.9 % NaCl were prepared and stored at ambient temperature during 48 h. Immediately after preparation and during 48 h, vancomycin hydrochloride concentrations were measured by a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Spectrophotometric absorbance at different wavelengths, pH measurement and microscopic observations were also performed. Results All solutions were physico-chemically stable during the whole period storage at ambient temperature: no color change, turbidity, precipitation or opacity, no significant pH variations or optic densities were observed in the solutions. Any crystals were seen by microscopic analysis. Solutions are considered chemically stable as the lower limit of the 95 % unilateral confidence interval on the mean remained above 90 % of the initial concentration for at least 48 h. Conclusions Solutions of vancomycin hydrochloride 41.66 mg/mL in syringe of 5 % glucose or 0.9 % NaCl are physically and chemically stable for at least 48 h when stored in syringes at ambient temperature. </jats:sec

Cytostatic Factor Proteins Are Present in Male Meiotic Cells and β-Nerve Growth Factor Increases Mos Levels in Rat Late Spermatocytes

Background: In co-cultures of pachytene spermatocytes with Sertoli cells, beta-NGF regulates the second meiotic division by blocking secondary spermatocytes in metaphase (metaphase II), and thereby lowers round spermatid formation. In vertebrates, mature oocytes are arrested at metaphase II until fertilization, because of the presence of cytostatic factor (CSF) in their cytoplasm. By analogy, we hypothesized the presence of CSF in male germ cells. Methodology/Principal Findings: We show here, that Mos, Emi2, cyclin E and Cdk2, the four proteins of CSF, and their respective mRNAs, are present in male rat meiotic cells; this was assessed by using Western blotting, immunocytochemistry and reverse transcriptase PCR. We measured the relative cellular levels of Mos, Emi2, Cyclin E and Cdk2 in the meiotic cells by flow cytometry and found that the four proteins increased throughout the first meiotic prophase, reaching their highest levels in middle to late pachytene spermatocytes, then decreased following the meiotic divisions. In co-cultures of pachytene spermatocytes with Sertoli cells, beta-NGF increased the number of metaphases II, while enhancing Mos and Emi2 levels in middle to late pachytene spermatocytes, pachytene spermatocytes in division and secondary spermatocytes. Conclusion/Significance: Our results suggest that CSF is not restricted to the oocyte. In addition, they reinforce the view that NGF, by enhancing Mos in late spermatocytes, is one of the intra-testicular factors which adjusts the number of round spermatids that can be supported by Sertoli cells

Blocking TGF-β signaling pathway preserves mitochondrial proteostasis and reduces early activation of PDGFRβ+ pericytes in aristolochic acid induced acute kidney injury in wistar male rats

The platelet-derived growth factor receptor β (PDGFRβ)+ perivascular cell activation becomes increasingly recognized as a main source of scar-associated kidney myofibroblasts and recently emerged as a new cellular therapeutic target.In this regard, we first confirmed the presence of PDGFRβ+ perivascular cells in a human case of end-stage aristolochic acid nephropathy (AAN) and thereafter we focused on the early fibrosis events of transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) inhibition in a rat model of AAN.Neutralizing anti-TGFβ antibody (1D11) and its control isotype (13C4) were administered (5 mg/kg, i.p.) at Days -1, 0, 2 and 4; AA (15 mg/kg, sc) was injected daily.At Day 5, 1D11 significantly suppressed p-Smad2/3 signaling pathway improving renal function impairment, reduced the score of acute tubular necrosis, peritubular capillaritis, interstitial inflammation and neoangiogenesis. 1D11 markedly decreased interstitial edema, disruption of tubular basement membrane loss of brush border, cytoplasmic edema and organelle ultrastructure alterations (mitochondrial disruption and endoplasmic reticulum edema) in proximal tubular epithelial cells. Moreover, 1D11 significantly inhibited p-PERK activation and attenuated dysregulation of unfolded protein response (UPR) pathways, endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondrial proteostasis in vivo and in vitro.The early inhibition of p-Smad2/3 signaling pathway improved acute renal function impairment, partially prevented epithelial-endothelial axis activation by maintaining PTEC proteostasis and reduced early PDGFRβ+ pericytes-derived myofibroblasts accumulation

Natalizumab treatment shows low cumulative probabilities of confirmed disability worsening to EDSS milestones in the long-term setting.

Abstract Background Though the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) is commonly used to assess disability level in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), the criteria defining disability progression are used for patients with a wide range of baseline levels of disability in relatively short-term trials. As a result, not all EDSS changes carry the same weight in terms of future disability, and treatment benefits such as decreased risk of reaching particular disability milestones may not be reliably captured. The objectives of this analysis are to assess the probability of confirmed disability worsening to specific EDSS milestones (i.e., EDSS scores ≥3.0, ≥4.0, or ≥6.0) at 288 weeks in the Tysabri Observational Program (TOP) and to examine the impact of relapses occurring during natalizumab therapy in TOP patients who had received natalizumab for ≥24 months. Methods TOP is an ongoing, open-label, observational, prospective study of patients with RRMS in clinical practice. Enrolled patients were naive to natalizumab at treatment initiation or had received ≤3 doses at the time of enrollment. Intravenous natalizumab (300 mg) infusions were given every 4 weeks, and the EDSS was assessed at baseline and every 24 weeks during treatment. Results Of the 4161 patients enrolled in TOP with follow-up of at least 24 months, 3253 patients with available baseline EDSS scores had continued natalizumab treatment and 908 had discontinued (5.4% due to a reported lack of efficacy and 16.4% for other reasons) at the 24-month time point. Those who discontinued due to lack of efficacy had higher baseline EDSS scores (median 4.5 vs. 3.5), higher on-treatment relapse rates (0.82 vs. 0.23), and higher cumulative probabilities of EDSS worsening (16% vs. 9%) at 24 months than those completing therapy. Among 24-month completers, after approximately 5.5 years of natalizumab treatment, the cumulative probabilities of confirmed EDSS worsening by 1.0 and 2.0 points were 18.5% and 7.9%, respectively (24-week confirmation), and 13.5% and 5.3%, respectively (48-week confirmation). The risks of 24- and 48-week confirmed EDSS worsening were significantly higher in patients with on-treatment relapses than in those without relapses. An analysis of time to specific EDSS milestones showed that the probabilities of 48-week confirmed transition from EDSS scores of 0.0–2.0 to ≥3.0, 2.0–3.0 to ≥4.0, and 4.0–5.0 to ≥6.0 at week 288 in TOP were 11.1%, 11.8%, and 9.5%, respectively, with lower probabilities observed among patients without on-treatment relapses (8.1%, 8.4%, and 5.7%, respectively). Conclusions In TOP patients with a median (range) baseline EDSS score of 3.5 (0.0–9.5) who completed 24 months of natalizumab treatment, the rate of 48-week confirmed disability worsening events was below 15%; after approximately 5.5 years of natalizumab treatment, 86.5% and 94.7% of patients did not have EDSS score increases of ≥1.0 or ≥2.0 points, respectively. The presence of relapses was associated with higher rates of overall disability worsening. These results were confirmed by assessing transition to EDSS milestones. Lower rates of overall 48-week confirmed EDSS worsening and of transitioning from EDSS score 4.0–5.0 to ≥6.0 in the absence of relapses suggest that relapses remain a significant driver of disability worsening and that on-treatment relapses in natalizumab-treated patients are of prognostic importance

From Politics to Painting: The Belgian Side of the Cobra Story

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Dotremont in the Land of Nja: The Start of a Long Story

catalogue d'une exposition au Musée Carl-Henning Pedersen & Else Alfelt de Herning (Danemark), du 28 octobre 2011 au 26 février 2012.a aussi été publié dans la version danoise du catalogue sous le titre ″Dotremont i Nja-landet: Indledning til en lang fortælling″info:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Surréalisme et communisme: L'exposition "Surréalisme", La Boétie, 1945

info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublishe

Survey of filamentous fungi and development of molecular tools for their rapid and accurate identification, in advanced life support systems like the International Space Station

The monitoring of microorganisms in spacecraft aims of saving the integrity of on board equipment as well as the health, protection and performance of the crew members during long-term spaceflights. Due to their ability to grow actively on natural and synthetic materials, Aspergillus, Penicillium and Cladosporium can cause biodeterioration and damage to spaceflight materials such as electronic malfunctioning that occurred on the Mir station. The identification of fungi requires up-to-date knowledge of mycology as well as expertise in the sampling and handling of specific fungi. These manipulations can delay identification and thus postpone cleaning operations and increase the risk of accidental contamination on board. In contrast, molecular tools can quickly obtain a maximum of information on the identity and quantity of microorganisms in the spacecraft, allowing early curative and preventive measures. We selected the real-time PCR technique using the Hybprobe technology with the highly sensible and reproducible LightCycler® system, working faster than the other conventional molecular techniques. Specific primers and probes were developed for the three species most frequently found aboard the International Space Station (ISS): A. flavus, A. niger and A. versicolor. A multiplex reaction that allowed us to distinguish three species of Aspergillus in a single reaction was also optimized. In 2005 and 2006, we benefited from 46 fungal and yeast strains collected on board the ISS during two experimental spaceflights. Most strains belonged to the Aspergillus and Penicillium genera. Our detection tools were validated on these spatial strains that were characterized at the molecular level by AFLP (Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism) and compared with Earth strains. Differences at the genome level suggest the possible effects of space conditions on DNA integrity with consequences on gene expression as well as morphological, physiological, metabolic modifications and on pathogenicity and aggressiveness.Doctorat en sciences agronomiques et ingénierie biologique (AGRO 3)--UCL, 200

Ici ma terre d'élection :Christian Dotremont et le Nord: Collections de la Communauté française de Belgique

Catalogue publié à l'occasion de l'exposition "Ici ma terre d'élection" :Christian Dotremont et le Nord" au Lönnström Art Museum de Rauma (Finlande) abordant l'influence qu'ont exercée les paysages lapons sur l'oeuvre de Christian Dotremont.catalogue bilingue français-anglais avant-propos de Mme Fadila Laanan et préface de Mme Marie-Claire Neurayinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe