Mycobacterium tuberculosis ecology in Venezuela: epidemiologic correlates of common spoligotypes and a large clonal cluster defined by MIRU-VNTR-24

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Tuberculosis remains an endemic public health problem, but the ecology of the TB strains prevalent, and their transmission, can vary by country and by region. We sought to investigate the prevalence of <it>Mycobacterium tuberculosis </it>strains in different regions of Venezuela. A previous study identified the most prevalent strains in Venezuela but did not show geographical distribution nor identify clonal genotypes. To better understand local strain ecology, we used spoligotyping to analyze 1298 <it>M. tuberculosis </it>strains isolated in Venezuela from 1997 to 2006, predominantly from two large urban centers and two geographically distinct indigenous areas, and then studied a subgroup with MIRU-VNTR 24 loci.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The distribution of spoligotype families is similar to that previously reported for Venezuela and other South American countries: LAM 53%, T 10%, Haarlem 5%, S 1.9%, X 1.2%, Beijing 0.4%, and EAI 0.2%. The six most common shared types (SIT's 17, 93, 605, 42, 53, 20) accounted for 49% of the isolates and were the most common in almost all regions, but only a minority were clustered by MIRU-VNTR 24. One exception was the third most frequent overall, SIT 605, which is the most common spoligotype in the state of Carabobo but infrequent in other regions. MIRU-VNTR homogeneity suggests it is a clonal group of strains and was named the "Carabobo" genotype. Epidemiologic comparisons showed that patients with SIT 17 were younger and more likely to have had specimens positive for Acid Fast Bacilli on microscopy, and patients with SIT 53 were older and more commonly smear negative. Female TB patients tended to be younger than male patients. Patients from the high incidence, indigenous population in Delta Amacuro state were younger and had a nearly equal male:female distribution.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Six SIT's cause nearly half of the cases of tuberculosis in Venezuela and dominate in nearly all regions. Strains with SIT 17, the most common pattern overall may be more actively transmitted and SIT 53 strains may be less virulent and associated with reactivation of past infections in older patients. In contrast to other common spoligotypes, strains with SIT 605 form a clonal group centered in the state of Carabobo.</p

MONACO v2: Multipurpose and Integrated Data Acquisition System for On-line Neutron and Gamma Measurements

The CEA MONACO v2 a multichannel acquisition system dedicated to neutron and gamma measurements. It is unique as it integrates all the following features in one module: automatic generation of saturation curves, automatic generation of pulse discrimination curves, detector pulse characterization using the embedded oscilloscope module, pulse mode acquisitions in count rate or pulse height analysis, fluctuation mode and current mode acquisitions. Sensors are plugged to a single connector and the implemented operating modes run constantly in parallel. Firsly designed for on line local neutron and gamma measurements with gaseous detectors in reactor experiments, the MONACO v2 system will also be available for self-powered detectors thanks to its wide current mode working range. After two years of development, CEA teams tested two MONACO v2 prototypes in the Slovenian TRIGA Mark II research reactor in 2018, using CEA miniature ion chambers and SPNDs. The system is now ready for industrialization to be available on the nuclear instrumentation market

MONACO v2: Multipurpose and Integrated Data Acquisition System for On-line Neutron and Gamma Measurements

The CEA MONACO v2 a multichannel acquisition system dedicated to neutron and gamma measurements. It is unique as it integrates all the following features in one module: automatic generation of saturation curves, automatic generation of pulse discrimination curves, detector pulse characterization using the embedded oscilloscope module, pulse mode acquisitions in count rate or pulse height analysis, fluctuation mode and current mode acquisitions. Sensors are plugged to a single connector and the implemented operating modes run constantly in parallel. Firsly designed for on line local neutron and gamma measurements with gaseous detectors in reactor experiments, the MONACO v2 system will also be available for self-powered detectors thanks to its wide current mode working range. After two years of development, CEA teams tested two MONACO v2 prototypes in the Slovenian TRIGA Mark II research reactor in 2018, using CEA miniature ion chambers and SPNDs. The system is now ready for industrialization to be available on the nuclear instrumentation market

Progress in the development of the neutron flux monitoring system of the French GEN-IV SFR: simulations and experimental validations

International audienceThe neutron flux monitoring system of the French GEN-IV sodium-cooled fast reactor will rely on high-temperature fission chambers installed in the reactor vessel and capable of operating over a wide-range neutron flux. The definition of such a system is presented and the technological solutions are justified with the use of simulation and experimental results

Anales de Edafología y Agrobiología Tomo 40 Número 7-8

Suelos. Evolución del suelo y de los compuestos húmicos en las etapas intermedias de regresión del bosque climácico en las Villuercas (Cáceres), por F. Velasco y A. Polo.-- Movilidad del plasma en suelos de la sierra de Guadarrama (Madrid), por J. Benayas, J. Gallardo y A. Pinilla.-- Formaciones edáficas del sector N.E. de la provincia de Cuenca. (I) Caracterización del medio, por J. Batlle, J. Gumuzzio y A. Guerra.-- Contribución al estudio de suelos salinos en la submeseta sur (Toledo), por J. Gumuzzio, J. Batlle y A. Guerra.-- Horizontes argicos en suelos sobre rocas intrusivas y metamórficas de la sierra de Guadarrama, por J. Gallardo, T. Aleixandre y A. Guerra.-- Estudio de una secuencia de suelos ecuatorianos desarrollados en la sierra volcánica subtropical húmeda y la llanura tropical (Quevedo-Ecuador), por Juan L. de Olmedo y Guido A. Yanchapaxi.-- Aportación a la génesis de los suelos desarrollados sobre calizas mioplio- cenas de la Alcarria Conquense (II), por J. L. Martín de Vidales, J. Casas, M.A. Hoyos y R. Jiménez Ballesta.-- Estudio de la fracción arcillosa en suelos de estepa de la región pampeana de la República Argentina, por M.A. Pierini, M.A. Pugliere, C.A. Mazza y W. E. Vallejos.-- Estudio mineralógico de las arcillas en suelos de la Navarra húmeda, por Ana M. a Moreno y Jaime Iñiquez.-- The numbers of Rhizobium meliloti and other soil microorganisms as influenced by soil depth, by M.A. Sagardoy.-- Las prácticas agrícolas y sus efectos sobre la fauna de los colémbolos de un suelo de la región semiárida, por D.C. de lzarra.—Fertilidad de Suelos.-- Efecto de la paja y de distintos niveles de nitrógeno en el desarrollo de la cebada, por C. Fortún y V. Remando.-- Incidencia de la paja en el aprovechamiento del fertilizante nitrogenado por un cultivo de trigo, por V. Remando y C. Fortún.-- Aprovechamiento de la paja como abono orgánico en un cultivo de sorgo, por C. Fortún y V. Remando.—Nutrición y Fisiología.-- Estudio de las sustancias de crecimiento aisladas de estaquillas juveniles de Castanea Sativa Mill en relación con la rizogénesis, por Mª T. García, A. Ballester y E. Vieztez.-- U!trastructural modifications and uptake of nutrient elements in Lasallia Pustulata after treatment with different solutions, by C. Ascaso and C. Fortú.-- Componentes fenólicos en extractos de Castanea crenata sieb. et zuec, por M. Cortizo y J. L. G. Mantilla.-- Variación estacional de la actividad biológica y del contenido fenólico en extractos de Castanea crenata sieb. et zucc, por M. Cortizo.-- Efecto de la fertilización nitrogenada y azufrada sobre el crecimiento, superficie foliar y contenido de N, P, K, Ca y Mg en hoja de plantas de judia (Phaeseolus vulgaris, L. ), por F. Ligero, C. Lluch y L. Recalde.-- Influencia del estado de madurez sobre la composición mineral de especies pratenses. III. Cultivares de Dactylis y Festuca, por A. Garcia Ciudad, B. García Criado y L. García Criado.-- Efectos de irradiación con UV lejano y cercano sobre la germinación y el contenido de inhibidores de Helanthus Annuus L., por C.J. Martínez- Honduvilla y J. Baztan.-- Effect of B and GA3 treatments on growth/and B, Cu, Mu and Zn distribution in divarf bean (Phaesols vulgaris, L.) Plants. l. Vegetative stage of development, by M.J. Avila-Rincón, M. V. Gómez-Rodríguez and M.C. Alvarez-Tinaut.-- Effect of boron and GAg treatments on growth and B, Cu , Mn and Zn contents, in divarf bean plants. II. Reproductive stage o f development , by M.J. Avila-Rincón, L . Romero and M. C. A lvarez-Tinaut.-- Efecto de los elementos Li, Na, Rb y Cs sobre el crecimiento y niveles de Adn y Arn en plantas de micotiana rústica, por Carlos Codina Maher, Carmen Morales Pujol y Manuel Serrano García.-- Notas.--BibliografíaPeer reviewe