The Amateur Sky Survey Mark III Project

The Amateur Sky Survey (TASS) is a loose confederation of amateur and professional astronomers. We describe the design and construction of our Mark III system, a set of wide-field drift-scan CCD cameras which monitor the celestial equator down to thirteenth magnitude in several passbands. We explain the methods by which images are gathered, processed, and reduced into lists of stellar positions and magnitudes. Over the period October, 1996, to November, 1998, we compiled a large database of photometric measurements. One of our results is the "tenxcat" catalog, which contains measurements on the standard Johnson-Cousins system for 367,241 stars; it contains links to the light curves of these stars as well.Comment: 20 pages, including 4 figures; additional JPEG files for Figures 1, 2. Submitted to PAS

Talking about food choices of former homeless young people: making sense of conflicting discourses of blame through social worlds theory.

After a pilot study at a charitable youth organisation in the North East of Scotland found no considerable improvements in the food choices of former homeless young people accommodated by the organisation (Perry, 2013), the Foodways and Futures project (2013-2016) set out to explore why. Both members of staff at the same organisation as well as young people were invited to voice their views and opinions on the factors influencing young people’s food choices. Whilst everyone’s contribution was considered equally informative for our findings, I was attentive to where the information originated from. In this, I found that three conflicting discourses of blame pervade the participants’ expressions of the rationales underlying young people’s food choices. Trying to make sense of these, I employ Strauss’ Social Worlds Theory (1978). I find that the different discourses of blame make sense in the context of the complex organisational structures. In objecting to a tendency in the literature to assign standardised discourse of blame primarily to youth workers’ practice, these discourses showcase mutual understanding instead

Esophageal schwannoma mimicking non-functional parathyroid adenoma on ^99mTc-sestamibi imaging: a case report.

Technetium-99m sestamibi single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography ( <sup>99m</sup> Tc-sestamibi SPECT/CT) is a mainstay of the pre-operative localization of parathyroid lesions. We report here the case of a 30 year-old woman with a fortuitously discovered 2 cm cervical mass for which a parathyroid origin was originally suspected due to its retro-thyroidal localization and a personal history of nephrolithiasis. Normal serum calcium and parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels excluded primary hyperparathyroidism, raising suspicion of a non-functional parathyroid adenoma, and SPECT/CT imaging showed that the mass was <sup>99m</sup> Tc-sestamibi-avid. Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) was performed; cytology was non-diagnostic but the needle washout was negative for thyroglobulin, calcitonin and PTH, arguing against a thyroidal or parathyroidal origin of the mass. Core needle biopsy revealed a schwannoma, ostensibly originating from the recurrent laryngeal nerve; upon surgical resection, it was finally found to arise from the esophageal submucosa. This case illustrates the fact that endocrinologists, radiologists, nuclear medicine, head and neck, and other specialists investigating patients with cervical masses should be aware that schwannomas need to be considered in the differential diagnosis of focal <sup>99m</sup> Tc-sestamibi uptake in the neck region

Recent progress in the discovery of macrocyclic compounds as potential anti-infective therapeutics

Novel therapeutic strategies are urgently needed for the treatment of serious diseases caused by viral, bacterial and parasitic infections, because currently used drugs are facing the problem of rapidly emerging resistance. There is also an urgent need for agents that act on novel pathogen-specific targets, in order to expand the repertoire of possible therapies. The high throughput screening of diverse small molecule compound libraries has provided only a limited number of new lead series, and the number of compounds acting on novel targets is even smaller. Natural product screening has traditionally been very successful in the anti-infective area. Several successful drugs on the market as well as other compounds in clinical development are derived from natural products. Amongst these, many are macrocyclic compounds in the 1-2 kDa size range. This review will describe recent advances and novel drug discovery approaches in the anti-infective area, focusing on synthetic and natural macrocyclic compounds for which in vivo proof of concept has been established. The review will also highlight the Protein Epitope Mimetics (PEM) technology as a novel tool in the drug discovery process. Here the structures of naturally occurring antimicrobial and antiviral peptides and proteins are used as starting points to generate novel macrocyclic mimetics, which can be produced and optimized efficiently by combinatorial synthetic methods. Several recent examples highlight the great potential of the PEM approach in the discovery of new anti-infective agents

CO2 leakage in a shallow aquifer - Observed changes in case of small release

International audienceGeological storage of CO2 in deep saline aquifers is one of the options considered for the mitigation of CO2 emissions into the atmosphere. A deep geological CO2 storage is not expected to leak but potential leakage monitoring is required by legislation, as e.g. the EU Directive relative to Geological Storage of CO2. To ensure that the storage will be permanent and safe for the environment and human health, the legislation require that the CCS operators monitor the injection, the storage complex and if needed the environment to detect any CO2 leakage and its hazardous effects on the environment. Various monitoring methods are available for the monitoring of CO2 storage sites and the environment as listed by the IEA-GHG and the monitoring selection tool. Geophysical based methods have a greater area of investigation but may suffer from insufficient sensitivities to detect small leakages. At the opposite, geochemical monitoring methods may have insufficient investigation area but may be able to detect more subtle changes even if monitoring in deep environments is not straightforward. Leakage detection is not yet well constrained and research efforts and tests are required to gain confidence into monitoring strategies. In the framework of the CIPRES project, funded by the French Research Agency, a shallow CO2 release experiment has been performed in October 2013 in a chalk aquifer from the Paris basin. The Catenoy site has been characterised since March 2013 through several wells set on a straight line oriented along the local flow (see Gombert et al., this conference). Such an experiment is designed to gain confidence in leakage detection in subsurface environments by understanding processes and principles governing seepage occurrence. Contrary to other experiments such as ZERT or CO2FieldLab ones, where gaseous CO2 was injected directly in the water, the injection was done with water saturated with CO2 at atmospheric pressure. 10 m3 of water were pumped from the aquifer, then saturated with 20 kg of food-grade CO2 and injected during 40 hours between 12 and 25 m depth. Daily monitoring of soil gases and water was performed during injection and post-injection phases (2 weeks duration) in the area previously delimited by a tracer test. The aim is to determine if geochemical methods are accurate enough to allow detecting small release in shallow environments. If successful, such an experiment can help to gain confidence in leakage detection. As expected, no change was noticed in the unsaturated zone. The shape of gas concentrations distribution at the surface (CO2, O2, N2, 4He, 222Rn) observed during the injection is strictly similar to the repartition of gas species observed since March 2013. The main process observed is respiration and no change linked to the injection was highlighted, only seasonal effects. Slight changes were observed in the saturated zone. The water was collected at 15 m deep excepted for one stratified borehole where water was sampled at 15 and 18 m. The pH of the injected water was lower (mean value: 5.3±0.1) than the initial pH of the aquifer (7.1-7.2) due to CO2 dissolution. Only two monitoring boreholes set 10 m and 20 m downstream from the injection well may be considered as influenced by the experiment. A probable enrichment in HCO3 linked to interaction of the CO2 saturated water with chalk was noticed, with an enrichment close to +8 to +10% of the initial value. For one borehole the pH value remained nearly stable in relation with pH buffering and in the other borehole a slight decrease was observed (-0.1 to -0.15 pH unit). However this decrease is significant as it is above the instrumental uncertainty of the electrodes. In addition, a slight increase of the electrical conductivity was noticed but it did not exceed +6% compared to baseline data. Such slight changes in the physico-chemical parameters are related to small variations in dissolved elements. Apart from HCO3, the other major ion affected by CO2-water rock-interaction is Ca as the aquifer is mainly composed by calcite. Concentrations increases by +8 to +9% whose amplitude is in agreement with the increase of HCO3. Trace elements were also little affected, the main change concerned Sr (+8 to +10% increase). Modifications occurring during this CO2 release experiment have small amplitude as expected but these results highlight that geochemical methods are able to detect small leakages. Consequently, effects were noticed only during a short period of time. It is not possible to determine if all the injected CO2 has migrated downwards in the direction of flow or if partial lateral migration has occurred, but post-injection monitoring and boreholes logging 12 days after the stop of injection did not reveal any discrepancy in the water columns. On the other hand, the magnitude of the pH change is consistent with the behaviour of the co-injected tracer (dilution ratio ~30). In the perspective of getting more information on the remobilisation of trace metal elements, a push-pull test will be performed in 2014 on the basis of the learning of this first experiment

Imaging features of retroperitoneal extra-adrenal paragangliomas in 10 dogs

Retroperitoneal paragangliomas are rare tumors of the neuroendocrine system. Only a few canine case reports are available with rare descriptions of their imaging features. The objectives of this multi-center, retrospective case series study were to describe the diagnostic imaging features of confirmed retroperitoneal paragangliomas and specify their location. Medical records and imaging studies of 10 affected dogs with cytological or histopathologic results concordant with retroperitoneal paragangliomas were evaluated. Dogs had a median age of 9 years. Four of them had clinical signs and laboratory reports compatible with excessive production of catecholamines. Six ultrasound, four CT, four radiographic, and one MRI studies were included. The paragangliomas did not have a specific location along the aorta. They were of various sizes (median 33 mm, range: 9–85 mm of length). Masses had heterogeneous parenchyma in six of 10 dogs, regardless of the imaging modality. Strong contrast enhancement was found in all CT studies. Encircling of at least one vessel was detected in six of 10 masses, clear invasion of a vessel was identified in one of 10 masses. In five of 10 cases, the masses were initially misconstrued as lymph nodes by the on-site radiologist. Retroperitoneal paragangliomas appear along the abdominal aorta, often presenting heterogeneous parenchyma, possibly affecting the local vasculature, and displaying strong contrast enhancement on CT. Clinical signs can be secondary to mass effects or excessive catecholamine production. Underdiagnosis and misdiagnosis of this tumor are suspected as they can be silent, of small size, or confused with other structures

Contrôle du Phomopsis, maladie émergente, en culture de carotte porte-graîne

The first triangular browning umbels caused by Diaporthe angelicae on carrot seed crops were observed in France in 2007. This fungal phytopathogen negatively impacted carrot seed production. Little is known about this fungus. In order to control it in carrot seed production, a better understanding of its life cycle and its epidemiology is required. So, this is the reason why a three-years research project named DIAPOCAR was initiated in 2012. It appears that flower is the main sensitive organ and flowering the most sensitive stage of the umbel. In the field, contaminations are particularly observed during flowering of the umbels of order I and II if the weather is favourable to disease. Field fungicide trials show significant efficacy differences between fungicides and only three of them are efficient against carrot phomopsis. Finally, model simulations with the sunflower phomopsis model are promising and this tool to aid decision-making can be used to apply fungicides only when the weather is favourable to the disease. It should help carrot seed growers to determine the best timing for fungicide applications. Thus, a greater understanding of the biology of this fungus has led to a better control of phomopsis on carrot seed crops

First Report of Root and Collar Rot Caused by Fusarium tricinctum and Fusarium avenaceum on Carrot in France

In 2017, carrot (Daucus carota L.) seed production represented around 22% of the area devoted to the production of vegetable fine seeds. Since 2015, symptoms of root and collar rot have been observed in carrot seed parcels located in the Central Region, one of the most important production zone in France. Diseased plants became dried prematurely, compromising seed development. Depending on the year and the climatic conditions, the disease in a same field can be considered as epidemic (rate losses between 30 to 100% of plants in 2016) or can impact plants more sporadically (less than 10% in 2017 and 2018). Sixteen diseased carrot samples (Nantaise type) were collected from five fields of seed production in the Central Region: two fields in 2016 and 2017, one field in 2018. Seven fungal isolates, obtained from lesions, were grown on Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) medium and incubated for one week at 20°C in darkness. From the colony top, fluffy mycelium pigmented in pink, red, purple or orange was observed, with a red color at the reverse. To induce sporulation, isolates were grown on Synthetischer Nährstoffarmer Agar (SNA) medium during three weeks at 24°C in near-UV radiations under a 12h-photoperiod. Four isolates (FT001, FT003, FT007, FT017) developed orange sporodochia with lunar or crescent-shaped macroconidia (40.3 ± 0.8 × 5.9 ± 0.1 µm; n=90) and lime or pear-shaped microconidia (10.7 ± 0.2 × 7.7 ± 0.2 µm; n=60), as described in Fusarium tricinctum (Leslie and Summerell 2006). Three isolates (FA001, FA002, FA006) developed orange sporodochia with sickle-shaped macroconidia (50.5 ± 1.1 × 5.0 ± 0.1 µm; n= 60), but no microconidia, as observed in Fusarium avenaceum (Leslie and Summerell 2006). To confirm the identification, DNA was extracted from the mycelium of the seven isolates and molecular markers (ATP citrate lyase, ACL1; RNA polymerase II, RPB2) were used for PCR amplification (Gräfenhan et al. 2011; O’Donnell et al. 2013). The ACL1 sequences from the seven field isolates (GenBank Accession numbers MK183788-MK183791; MK181528-MK181530) were 99-100% identical with the ACL1 sequence of a reference F. tricinctum isolate (query coverages 99-100%; E-values of 0.0) and a reference F. avenaceum isolate (query coverages 98-99%; E-values of 0.0) [respectively DAOM 235630 isolate, GenBank Acc. No. JX397813 and BBA64135 isolate, GenBank Acc. No. JX397768, Niessen et al. 2012]. Using RPB2, sequences from field isolates (GenBank Acc. No. MK183109-MK183115) were 98.5-99.9% identical with the RPB2 sequence of a reference F. tricinctum isolate (query coverages 96-100%; E-values of 0.0) and a reference F. avenaceum isolate (query coverages 95-100%; E-values of 0.0) [respectively MRC 1895 isolate, GenBank Acc. No. MH582113 and MRC 1413 isolate, GenBank Acc. No. MH582082, O’Donnell et al. 2018]. To confirm pathogenicity, FT001 and FA002 were inoculated on collars of 10-weeks old carrot plants in the greenhouse. Forty plants per isolate and 40 control plants were used. Ten microliters of a conidial suspension (105 conidia.mL-1) - or sterile water for the controls - were deposited at the collar, previously wounded using a scalpel blade. Necrotic lesions developed at 20 dpi (FT001) and at 30 dpi (FA002). Fusarium tricinctum and F. avenaceum were re-isolated from the lesions and identified by sequencing using ACL1 and RPB2 markers. No isolation of Fusarium was obtained from the controls. To our knowledge, this is the first report of F. tricinctum and F. avenaceum in carrot in France

Remobilization of leaf S compounds and senescence in response to restricted sulphate supply during the vegetative stage of oilseed rape are affected by mineral N availability

The impact of sulphur limitation on the remobilization of endogenous S compounds during the rosette stage of oilseed rape, and the interactions with N availability on these processes, were examined using a long-term 34SO42− labelling method combined with a study of leaf senescence progression (using SAG12/Cab as a molecular indicator) and gene expression of the transporters, BnSultr4;1 and BnSultr4;2, involved in vacuolar sulphate efflux. After 51 d on hydroponic culture at 0.3 mM 34SO42− (1 atom% excess), the labelling was stopped and plants were subject for 28 d to High S-High N (HS-HN, control), Low S-High N (LS-HN) or Low S-Low N (LS-LN) conditions. Compared with the control, LS-HN plants showed delayed leaf senescence and, whilst the shoot growth and the foliar soluble protein amounts were not affected, S, 34S, and SO42− amounts in the old leaves declined rapidly and were associated with the up-regulation of BnSultr4;1. In LS-LN plants, shoot growth was reduced, leaf senescence was accelerated, and the rapid S mobilization in old leaves was accompanied by decreased 34S and SO42−, higher protein mobilization, and up-regulation of BnSultr4;2, but without any change of expression of BnSultr4;1. The data suggest that to sustain the S demand for growth under S restriction (i) vacuolar SO42− is specifically remobilized in LS-HN conditions without any acceleration of leaf senescence, (ii) SO42− mobilization is related to an up-regulation of BnSultr4;1 and/or BnSultr4;2 expression, and (iii) the relationship between sulphate mobilization and up-regulation of expression of BnSultr4 genes is specifically dependent on the N availability

Addressing inactivity after stroke: The Collaborative Rehabilitation in Acute Stroke (CREATE) study.

BACKGROUND: Stroke patients are often inactive outside of structured therapy sessions - an enduring international challenge despite large scale organizational changes, national guidelines and performance targets. We examined whether experienced-based co-design (EBCD) - an improvement methodology - could address inactivity in stroke units. AIMS: To evaluate the feasibility and impact of patients, carers, and staff co-designing and implementing improvements to increase supervised and independent therapeutic patient activity in stroke units and to compare use of full and accelerated EBCD cycles. METHODS: Mixed-methods case comparison in four stroke units in England. RESULTS: Interviews were held with 156 patients, staff, and carers in total; ethnographic observations for 364 hours, behavioral mapping of 68 patients, and self-report surveys from 179 patients, pre- and post-implementation of EBCD improvement cycles.Three priority areas emerged: (1) 'Space' (environment); (2) 'Activity opportunities' and (3) 'Communication'. More than 40 improvements were co-designed and implemented to address these priorities across participating units. Post-implementation interview and ethnographic observational data confirmed use of new social spaces and increased activity opportunities. However, staff interactions remained largely task-driven with limited focus on enabling patient activity. Behavioral mapping indicated some increases in social, cognitive, and physical activity post-implementation, but was variable across sites. Survey responses rates were low at 12-38% and inconclusive. CONCLUSION: It was feasible to implement EBCD in stroke units. This resulted in multiple improvements in stroke unit environments and increased activity opportunities but minimal change in recorded activity levels. There was no discernible difference in experience or outcome between full and accelerated EBCD; this methodology could be used across hospital stroke units to assist staff and other stakeholders to co-design and implement improvement plans