Bacteriocinogenic potential and genotypic characterization of three Enterococcus faecium isolates from Algerian raw milk and traditional butter

The detection of bacteriocinogenic potential of Enterococcus sp. isolates from Algerian raw milk coded LO4 and LO12 and from traditional butter coded BRO2 was carried on M17 buffered medium. PCR amplification of Enterococcus sp. DNA using specific enterococcal primers gave 733 bp fragments. The phylogenetic analysis using the neighbour joining method further supported the identification of the three strains as Enterococcus faecium. These bacteria were bacteriocinogenic against Pseudomonas sp, Proteus mirabilis and E. faecium. Lyophilisate extracts were tested for sensitivity to enzymes, heating and effect of pH. Complete inactivation in bacteriocinogenic activity was observed after treatment with proteolytic enzymes. The antibacterial activity from E faecium LO12 was stable (1280 AU/ml) for range pH 2 to 12. Maximal activity from BRO2 strain was at pH 7 (20480 AU/ml) and from LO4 strain was at pH 7 and 6 (2560 AU/ml). Antibacterial activities of E. faecium BRO2 (5120 AU/ml) and E. faecium LO12 (640 AU/ml) remained stable at 60°C for 30 min. The antibacterial activity of .E faecium LO4 was stable at 100°C for 30 min (5120 AU/ml)

An Optical Counterpart to the Anomalous X-ray Pulsar 4U 0142+61

The energy source of the anomalous X-ray pulsars is not well understood, hence their designation as anomalous. Unlike binary X-ray pulsars, no companions are seen, so the energy cannot be supplied by accretion of matter from a companion star. The loss of rotational energy, which powers radio pulsars, is insufficient to power AXPs. Two models are generally considered: accretion from a large disk left over from the birth process, or decay of a very strong magnetic field (10^15 G) associated with a 'magnetar'. The lack of counterparts at other wavelengths has hampered progress in our understanding of these objects. Here, we present deep optical observations of the field around 4U 0142+61, which is the brightest AXP in X-rays. We find an object with peculiar optical colours at the position of the X-ray source, and argue that it is the optical counterpart. The optical emission is too faint to admit the presence of a large accretion disk, but may be consistent with magnetospheric emission from a magnetar.Comment: 16 pages, 3 figures, accepted by Nature. Press embargo until 1900 hrs London time (GMT) on 6 December 200

Marqueurs chromosomiques: à propos d'un cas

Les marqueurs chromosomiques peuvent être définis comme des petits chromosomes de structure anormale présents en addition aux 46 chromosomes humains connus. C'est un groupe hétérogène d'anomalies de structure chromosomique pouvant être avec ou sans conséquence phénotypique. Plusieurs tentatives sont réalisées afin de retrouver une corrélation génotype-phénotype lors de la présence d'un marqueur chromosomique. L'identification du marqueur, son origine et sa structure suit une stratégie bien codifiée actuellement allant d'abord de l'orientation clinique suivie des techniques de cytogénétique conventionnelle (caryotype métaphasique standard, bandes C, NOR) et de cytogénétique moléculaire (M-FISH, CGH, CGH array) puis une détection par des techniques plus ciblées (painting, sondes locus spécifique). Cet ensemble permet une meilleure analyse et correspondance clinico-génétique. Nous rapportons le cas d'un nourrisson présentant une dysmorphie faciale avec un retard psychomoteur dont l'analyse cytogénétique a révélé la présence d'un marqueur chromosomique avec un caryotype métaphasique 47,XX,+mar. A travers cette observation, nous mettons en valeur le rôle de la cytogénétique conventionnelle et moléculaire dans le diagnostic des syndromes dysmorphiques permettant une meilleure prise en charge du patient et un conseil génétique adéquat pour sa familleKey words: Marqueurs chromosomiques, anomalie chromosomique, analyse cytogénétique, dysmorphi

New insights into the diverse electronic phases of a novel vanadium dioxide polymorph: A terahertz spectroscopy study

10.1038/srep09182Scientific Reports

Elective Modernism and the Politics of (Bio) Ethical Expertise

In this essay I consider whether the political perspective of third wave science studies – ‘elective modernism’ – offers a suitable framework for understanding the policy-making contributions that (bio)ethical experts might make. The question arises as a consequence of the fact that I have taken inspiration from the third wave in order to develop an account of (bio)ethical expertise. I offer a précis of this work and a brief summary of elective modernism before considering their relation. The view I set out suggests that elective modernism is a political philosophy and that although its use in relation to the use of scientific expertise in political and policy-making process has implications for the role of (bio)ethical expertise it does not, in the final analysis, provide an account that is appropriate for this latter form of specialist expertise. Nevertheless, it is an informative perspective, and one that can help us make sense of the political uses of (bio)ethical expertise

Separation between coherent and turbulent fluctuations. What can we learn from the Empirical Mode Decomposition?

The performances of a new data processing technique, namely the Empirical Mode Decomposition, are evaluated on a fully developed turbulent velocity signal perturbed by a numerical forcing which mimics a long-period flapping. First, we introduce a "resemblance" criterion to discriminate between the polluted and the unpolluted modes extracted from the perturbed velocity signal by means of the Empirical Mode Decomposition algorithm. A rejection procedure, playing, somehow, the role of a high-pass filter, is then designed in order to infer the original velocity signal from the perturbed one. The quality of this recovering procedure is extensively evaluated in the case of a "mono-component" perturbation (sine wave) by varying both the amplitude and the frequency of the perturbation. An excellent agreement between the recovered and the reference velocity signals is found, even though some discrepancies are observed when the perturbation frequency overlaps the frequency range corresponding to the energy-containing eddies as emphasized by both the energy spectrum and the structure functions. Finally, our recovering procedure is successfully performed on a time-dependent perturbation (linear chirp) covering a broad range of frequencies.Comment: 23 pages, 13 figures, submitted to Experiments in Fluid

The influence of 'significant others' on persistent back pain and work participation: a qualitative exploration of illness perceptions

Background Individual illness perceptions have been highlighted as important influences on clinical outcomes for back pain. However, the illness perceptions of 'significant others' (spouse/partner/close family member) are rarely explored, particularly in relation to persistent back pain and work participation. The aim of this study was to initiate qualitative research in this area in order to further understand these wider influences on outcome. Methods Semi-structured interviews based on the chronic pain version of the Illness Perceptions Questionnaire-Revised were conducted with a convenience sample of UK disability benefit claimants, along with their significant others (n=5 dyads). Data were analysed using template analysis. Results Significant others shared, and perhaps further reinforced, claimants' unhelpful illness beliefs including fear of pain/re-injury associated with certain types of work and activity, and pessimism about the likelihood of return to work. In some cases, significant others appeared more resigned to the permanence and negative inevitable consequences of the claimant's back pain condition on work participation, and were more sceptical about the availability of suitable work and sympathy from employers. In their pursuit of authenticity, claimants were keen to stress their desire to work whilst emphasising how the severity and physical limitations of their condition prevented them from doing so. In this vein, and seemingly based on their perceptions of what makes a 'good' significant other, significant others acted as a 'witness to pain', supporting claimants' self-limiting behaviour and statements of incapacity, often responding with empathy and assistance. The beliefs and responses of significant others may also have been influenced by their own experience of chronic illness, thus participants lives were often intertwined and defined by illness. Conclusions The findings from this exploratory study reveal how others and wider social circumstances might contribute both to the propensity of persistent back pain and to its consequences. This is an area that has received little attention to date, and wider support of these findings may usefully inform the design of future intervention programmes aimed at restoring work participation

A case–control study of the impact of the East Anglian breast screening programme on breast cancer mortality

Although breast cancer screening has been shown to work in randomised trials, there is a need to evaluate service screening programmes to ensure that they are delivering the benefit indicated by the trials. We carried out a case–control study to investigate the effect of mammography service screening, in the NHS breast screening programme, on breast cancer mortality in the East Anglian region of the UK. Cases were deaths from breast cancer in women diagnosed between the ages of 50 and 70 years, following the instigation of the East Anglia Breast Screening Programme in 1989. The controls were women (two per case) who had not died of breast cancer, from the same area, matched by date of birth to the cases. Each control was known to be alive at the time of death of her matched case. All women were known to the breast screening programme and were invited, at least once, to be screened. There were 284 cases and 568 controls. The odds ratio (OR) for risk of death from breast cancer in women who attended at least one routine screen compared to those who did not attend was 0.35 (CI: 0.24, 0.50). Adjusting for self-selection bias gave an estimate of the breast cancer mortality reduction associated with invitation to screening of 35% (OR=0.65, 95% CI: 0.48, 0.88). The effect of actually being screened was a 48% breast cancer mortality reduction (OR=0.52, 95% CI: 0.32, 0.84). The results suggest that the National Breast Screening Programme in East Anglia is achieving a reduction in breast cancer deaths, which is at least consistent with the results from the randomised controlled trials of mammographic screening

Ferritins: furnishing proteins with iron

Ferritins are a superfamily of iron oxidation, storage and mineralization proteins found throughout the animal, plant, and microbial kingdoms. The majority of ferritins consist of 24 subunits that individually fold into 4-α-helix bundles and assemble in a highly symmetric manner to form an approximately spherical protein coat around a central cavity into which an iron-containing mineral can be formed. Channels through the coat at inter-subunit contact points facilitate passage of iron ions to and from the central cavity, and intrasubunit catalytic sites, called ferroxidase centers, drive Fe2+ oxidation and O2 reduction. Though the different members of the superfamily share a common structure, there is often little amino acid sequence identity between them. Even where there is a high degree of sequence identity between two ferritins there can be major differences in how the proteins handle iron. In this review we describe some of the important structural features of ferritins and their mineralized iron cores and examine in detail how three selected ferritins oxidise Fe2+ in order to explore the mechanistic variations that exist amongst ferritins. We suggest that the mechanistic differences reflect differing evolutionary pressures on amino acid sequences, and that these differing pressures are a consequence of different primary functions for different ferritins