One year OSIRHYS IV project synthesis: mechanical behaviour of 700 bar type iv high pressure vessel code qualification.

International audienceIn this paper we present results of the OSIRHYS IV French project which aims to develop andvalidate models and methods for composite high pressure design and optimization withbehavior uncertainties knowledge. Models of the five partners of this project are presentedand burst simulation results are compared for three test temperatures (-40°C, 15°C and85°C)

Transcriptomic characterization of the larval stage in gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) by 454 pyrosequencing

Gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) is a teleost belonging to the family Sparidae with a high economical relevance in the Mediterranean countries. Although genomic tools have been developed in this species in order to investigate its physiology at the molecular level and consequently its culture, genomic information on post-embryonic development is still scarce. In this study, we have investigated the transcriptome of a marine teleost during the larval stage (from hatching to 60 days after hatching) by the use of 454 pyrosequencing technology. We obtained a total of 68,289 assembled contigs, representing putative transcripts, belonging to 54,606 different clusters. Comparison against all S. aurata expressed sequenced tags (ESTs) from the NCBI database revealed that up to 34,722 contigs, belonging to about 61% of gene clusters, are sequences previously not described. Contigs were annotated through an iterative Blast pipeline by comparison against databases such as NCBI RefSeq from Danio rerio, SwissProt or NCBI teleost ESTs. Our results indicate that we have enriched the number of annotated sequences for this species by more than 50% compared with previously existing databases for the gilthead seabream. Gene Ontology analysis of these novel sequences revealed that there is a statistically significant number of transcripts with key roles in larval development, differentiation, morphology, and growth. Finally, all information has been made available online through user-friendly interfaces such as GBrowse and a Blast server with a graphical frontend

Clinical and operative predictors of outcomes of carotid endarterectomy

ObjectiveThe net benefit for patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy is critically dependent on the risk of perioperative stroke and death. Information about risk factors can aid appropriate selection of patients and inform efforts to reduce complication rates. This study identifies the clinical, radiographic, surgical, and anesthesia variables that are independent predictors of deaths and stroke following carotid endarterectomy.MethodsA retrospective cohort study of patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy in 1997 and 1998 by 64 surgeons in 6 hospitals was performed (N = 1972). Detailed information on clinical, radiographic, surgical, anesthesia, and medical management variables and deaths or strokes within 30 days of surgery were abstracted from inpatient and outpatient records. Multivariate logistic regression models identified independent clinical characteristics and operative techniques associated with risk-adjusted rates of combined death and nonfatal stroke as well as all strokes.ResultsDeath or stroke occurred in 2.28% of patients without carotid symptoms, 2.93% of those with carotid transient ischemic attacks, and 7.11% of those with strokes (P < .0001). Three clinical factors increased the risk-adjusted odds of complications: stroke as the indication for surgery (odds ratio [OR], 2.84; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.55-5.20), presence of active coronary artery disease (OR, 3.58; 95% CI = 1.53-8.36), and contralateral carotid stenosis ≥50% (OR, 2.32; 95% CI = 1.33-4.02). Two surgical techniques reduced the risk-adjusted odds of death or stroke: use of local anesthesia (OR, 0.30; 95% CI = 0.16-0.58) and patch closure (OR, 0.43; 95% CI = 0.24-0.76).ConclusionsInformation about these risk factors may help physicians weigh the risks and benefits of carotid endarterectomy in individual patients. Two operative techniques (use of local anesthesia and patch closure) may lower the risk of death or stroke

Fire tests carried out in FCH JU FireComp project, recommendations and application to safety of gas storage systems

International audienceIn the event of a fire, composite pressure vessels behave very differently from metallic ones: the material is degraded, potentially leading to a burst without significant pressure increase. Hence, such objects are, when necessary, protected from fire by using thermally-activated devices (TPRD), and standards require testing cylinder and TPRD together. The pre-normative research project FireComp aimed at understanding better the conditions which may lead to burst, through testing and simulation, and proposed an alternative way of assessing the fire performanceof composite cylinders. This approach is currently used by Air Liquide for the safety of composite bundlescarrying large amounts of hydrogen gas

Survival and risk of adverse events in older patients receiving postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy for resected stages II-IIIA lung cancer: observational cohort study

Objective To compare the survival and risk of serious adverse events in older patients with stages II-IIIA non-small cell lung cancer treated with or without postoperative platinum based chemotherapy

The liver X receptor pathway is highly upregulated in rheumatoid arthritis synovial macrophages and potentiates TLR-driven cytokine release

&lt;p&gt;Objectives: Macrophages are central to the inflammatory processes driving rheumatoid arthritis (RA) synovitis. The molecular pathways that are induced in synovial macrophages and thereby promote RA disease pathology remain poorly understood.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Methods: We used microarray to characterise the transcriptome of synovial fluid (SF) macrophages compared with matched peripheral blood monocytes from patients with RA (n=8).&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Results: Using in silico pathway mapping, we found that pathways downstream of the cholesterol activated liver X receptors (LXRs) and those associated with Toll-like receptor (TLR) signalling were upregulated in SF macrophages. Macrophage differentiation and tumour necrosis factor α promoted the expression of LXRα. Furthermore, in functional studies we demonstrated that activation of LXRs significantly augmented TLR-driven cytokine and chemokine secretion.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Conclusions: The LXR pathway is the most upregulated pathway in RA synovial macrophages and activation of LXRs by ligands present within SF augments TLR-driven cytokine secretion. Since the natural agonists of LXRs arise from cholesterol metabolism, this provides a novel mechanism that can promote RA synovitis.&lt;/p&gt