Distribution of toxigenic <i>Fusarium spp.</i> and mycotoxins production in milling fractions of <i>Durum</i> wheat

International audienceWe defined reliable and sensitive PCR assays to specifically detect trichothecene-producing Fusarium spp. in milling fractions and kernel tissues of naturally infected durum wheat. The assays were based on a combination of primers derived from the trichodiene synthase and the β-tubulin genes. The occurrence of toxigenic Fusarium spp. in semolina and wheat tissues (grain ends, crease, pericarp, aleurone layer, germ and albumen) was detected, even for a weakly contaminated wheat sample. We therefore demonstrated the penetration of toxigenic Fusarium spp. into the interior of durum wheat kernel for the Nefer variety and indicated that none of the tissue structures within the wheat kernel acted as an effective barrier to fungal invasion. Moreover, after inoculation by toxigenic Fusarium strains, semolina was shown to allow high yields of trichothecenes while bran was demonstrated to contain biochemical inhibitors able to significantly reduce trichothecenes production. These results will be useful for improving breeding strategy to control trichothecenes contamination of durum wheat kernels

Rehabilitative Soft Exoskeleton for Rodents

Robotic exoskeletons provide programmable, consistent and controllable active therapeutic assistance to patients with neurological disorders. Here we introduce a prototype and preliminary experimental evaluation of a rehabilitative gait exoskeleton that enables compliant yet effective manipulation of the fragile limbs of rats. To assist the displacements of the lower limbs without impeding natural gait movements, we designed and fabricated soft pneumatic actuators (SPAs). The exoskeleton integrates two customizable SPAs that are attached to a limb. This configuration enables a 1 N force load, a range of motion exceeding 80 mm in the major axis, and speed of actuation reaching two gait cycles/s. Preliminary experiments in rats with spinal cord injury validated the basic features of the exoskeleton. We propose strategies to improve the performance of the robot and discuss the potential of SPAs for the design of other wearable interfaces

Multi-pronged neuromodulation intervention engages the residual motor circuitry to facilitate walking in a rat model of spinal cord injury

A spinal cord injury usually spares some components of the locomotor circuitry. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the midbrain locomotor region and epidural electrical stimulation of the lumbar spinal cord (EES) are being used to tap into this spared circuitry to enable locomotion in humans with spinal cord injury. While appealing, the potential synergy between DBS and EES remains unknown. Here, we report the synergistic facilitation of locomotion when DBS is combined with EES in a rat model of severe contusion spinal cord injury leading to leg paralysis. However, this synergy requires high amplitudes of DBS, which triggers forced locomotion associated with stress responses. To suppress these undesired responses, we link DBS to the intention to walk, decoded from cortical activity using a robust, rapidly calibrated unsupervised learning algorithm. This contingency amplifies the supraspinal descending command while empowering the rats into volitional walking. However, the resulting improvements may not outweigh the complex technological framework necessary to establish viable therapeutic conditions. Deep brain stimulation and epidural electrical stimulation of the spinal cord enable locomotion in humans with spinal cord injury (SCI) but the potential synergy between both approaches is unclear. The authors show that a complex technological approach is required to enable volitional walking in rats with SCI

Robotics and Autonomous Systems 42 (2003) 203–222 Robox at Expo.02: A large-scale installation of personal robots

In this paper we present Robox, a mobile robot designed for operation in a mass exhibition and the experience we made with its installation at the Swiss National Exhibition Expo.02. Robox is a fully autonomous mobile platform with unique multi-modal interaction capabilities, a novel approach to global localization using multiple Gaussian hypotheses, and a powerful obstacle avoidance. Eleven Robox ran for 12 hours daily from May 15 to October 20, 2002, traveling more than 3315 km and interacting with 686,000 visitors

Disentangling the reasons why older adults do not readily participate in cancer trials: a socio-epidemiological mixed methods approach

International audienceAbstract Background Few studies of the under-representation of older adults in cancer clinical trials (CTs) have encompassed the entire pathway from a trial being available in a cancer centre to the patient’s invitation to participate and then agreement or refusal to participate. Objectives The study’s primary objective was to evaluate CT non-invitation and refusal rates. The secondary objectives were to identify factors associated with non-invitation and refusal and to assess experiences of CT participation from the patients’ and professionals’ perspectives. Methods Here, we used mixed methods and a socio-epidemiological approach to analyse reasons for the non-participation of eligible older patients with a solid cancer in cancer CTs in France. Results We found that non-invitation and low CT participation are mainly related to the patients’ sociodemographic characteristics and living conditions (such as social isolation, being single, divorced or widowed, not having children and the absence of close family members) and the healthcare professionals’ perceptions of insufficient informal support or a high homecare requirement. Conclusion Our results suggest that efforts to increase fair inclusion and the participation of older adults in CTs should target the physician–patient relationship, the medical profession and hospital funding, rather than the patient alone