METSTOR: A GIS to look for potential CO2 storage zones in France

AbstractThe METSTOR project offers a methodology to look for potentially interesting CO2 storage areas in France at the initial stage, before the “site selection” step. Our tool, embodied in a Geographic Information System, is based on an interactive map of CO2 storage capacities. Other relevant information layers are included. The geographic layers are complemented with a series of online technical notices. It seems to be the first open online GIS that offers policy makers, businesses and the public at large an integrated access to that necessary information. Our prototype, limited mainly to the Paris Basin, is released online at www.metstor.fr

Beckman Access versus the Bayer ACS:180 and the Abbott AxSYM cardiac Troponin-I real-time immunoassays: an observational prospective study

BACKGROUND: Reliability of cardiac troponin-I assays under real-time conditions has not been previously well studied. Most large published cTnI trials have utilized protocols which required the freezing of serum (or plasma) for delayed batch cTnI analysis. We sought to correlate the presence of the acute ischemic coronary syndrome (AICS) to troponin-I values obtained in real-time by three random-mode analyzer immunoassay systems: the Beckman ACCESS (BA), the Bayer ACS:180 (CC) and the Abbott AxSYM (AX). METHODS: This was an observational prospective study at a university tertiary referral center. Serum from a convenience sampling of telemetry patients was analyzed in real-time for troponin-I by either the BA-CC (Arm-1) or BA-AX (Arm-2) assay pairs. Presence of the AICS was determined retrospectively and then correlated with troponin-I results. RESULTS: 100 patients were enrolled in Arm-1 (38 with AICS) and 94 in Arm-2 (48 with AICS). The BA system produced 51% false positives in Arm-1, 44% in Arm-2, with negative predictive values of 92% and 100% respectively. In Arm-1, the BA and the CC assays had sensitivities of 97% and 63% and specificities of 18% and 87%. In Arm-2, the BA and the AX assays had sensitivities of 100% and 83% and specificities of 11% and 78%. CONCLUSIONS: In real-time analysis, the performance of the AxSYM and ACS:180 assay systems produced more accurate troponin-I results than the ACCESS system

Ginger Stimulates Hematopoiesis via Bmp Pathway in Zebrafish

) has been widely used in traditional medicine; however, to date there is no scientific research documenting the potential of ginger to stimulate hematopoiesis. expression in the caudal hematopoietic tissue area. We further confirmed that Bmp/Smad pathway mediates this hematopoiesis promoting effect of ginger by using the Bmp-activated Bmp type I receptor kinase inhibitors dorsomorphin, LND193189 and DMH1.Our study provides a strong foundation to further evaluate the molecular mechanism of ginger and its bioactive components during hematopoiesis and to investigate their effects in adults. Our results will provide the basis for future research into the effect of ginger during mammalian hematopoiesis to develop novel erythropoiesis promoting agents

The Amsterdam Declaration on Fungal Nomenclature

The Amsterdam Declaration on Fungal Nomenclature was agreed at an international symposium convened in Amsterdam on 19–20 April 2011 under the auspices of the International Commission on the Taxonomy of Fungi (ICTF). The purpose of the symposium was to address the issue of whether or how the current system of naming pleomorphic fungi should be maintained or changed now that molecular data are routinely available. The issue is urgent as mycologists currently follow different practices, and no consensus was achieved by a Special Committee appointed in 2005 by the International Botanical Congress to advise on the problem. The Declaration recognizes the need for an orderly transitition to a single-name nomenclatural system for all fungi, and to provide mechanisms to protect names that otherwise then become endangered. That is, meaning that priority should be given to the first described name, except where that is a younger name in general use when the first author to select a name of a pleomorphic monophyletic genus is to be followed, and suggests controversial cases are referred to a body, such as the ICTF, which will report to the Committee for Fungi. If appropriate, the ICTF could be mandated to promote the implementation of the Declaration. In addition, but not forming part of the Declaration, are reports of discussions held during the symposium on the governance of the nomenclature of fungi, and the naming of fungi known only from an environmental nucleic acid sequence in particular. Possible amendments to the Draft BioCode (2011) to allow for the needs of mycologists are suggested for further consideration, and a possible example of how a fungus only known from the environment might be described is presented

Un cas de brucellose canine à Brucella abortus

A Berger des Pyrenees bitch, living in a farm, was found harboring B. abortus, biotype I, in a lymph node, seven months after abortion. The canine Brucella infection was coincidental to a bull brucellosis. This observation together with a summary of the available littérature help to recall the great importance of dogs as vectors of brucella infection.Une chienne, Berger des Pyrénées, vivant dans un élevage bovin, est trouvée porteuse de B. abortus, biotype I, sept mois après avoir avorté. L’infection de cette chienne et celle d’un taureau sont concomitantes. Cette observation permet de rappeler et résumer les principales publications qui montrent la grande importance des chiens comme vecteurs de la brucellose.Philippon A., Roumy B., Renoux G., Lagneau . Un cas de brucellose canine à Brucella abortus . In: Bulletin de l'Académie Vétérinaire de France tome 122 n°9, 1969. pp. 923-928

Distribution spatiale des pontes d'Aedes (Ochlerotatus) caspius (Pallas) (Diptera : Culicidae) dans un marais temporaire du littoral méditerranéen français

Dans la région méditerranéenne, une composante importante des habitats aquatiques est constituée par les zones humides stagnantes temporaires. Ces milieux ont des usages multiples (chasse, agriculture, protection des oiseaux), mais sont en contre partie liés à une nuisance forte : le développement de moustiques, du genre Aedes, en particulier. L'objet de cet article est la mise en évidence d'une relation existant entre les caractéristiques des habitats (aux échelles macro et micro-géographique) et la distribution spatiale des pontes d'Aedes caspius. Les groupements végétaux, par l'intermédiaire des espèces discriminantes, permettent de localiser avec précision les différents niveaux de fertilité des aires de pontes des Aèdes caspius. Les variables explicatives humidité, texture, oxydes ferriques sont traduites d'une manière pertinente par la végétation, cette dernière pouvant être appréhendée de manière opérationnelle par l'utilisation des niveaux écologiques "outils techniques et opérationnels" de l'Entente Interdépartementale pour la Démoustication du littoral Méditerranéen (EIDM)

Corrosion resistance and biocompatibility of a new porous surface for titanium implants

International audienceAlterations of the commercially pure titanium (cpTi) surface may be undertaken to improve its biological properties. The aim of this study was to investigate the biocompatibility of cpTi when submitted to a new, porous titanium, surface treatment (porous Ti). Five types of surface treatments, namely sintered microspheres porous titanium (porous Ti), titanium plasma spray (TPS), hydroxyapatite (HA), sandblasted and acid etched (SBAE), and resorbable blast medium, sandblasted with hydroxyapatite (RBM) were made. In the experimental methods, the corrosion potentials were measured over time, and then a linear sweep voltammetric analysis measured the polarization resistances and corrosion currents. For biocompatibility evaluation, MG63 osteoblast-like cells were used. Cell morphology, cell proliferation, total protein content, and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity were evaluated after 2 h, and after 2, 4 and 7 d. Porous Ti and SBAE showed a better corrosion resistance, with a weak corrosion current and a high polarization resistance, than the other surfaces. Cell attachment, cell morphology, cell proliferation, and ALP synthesis were influenced by the surface treatments, with a significant increase observed of the activity of osteoblast cells on the porous coating (porous Ti). Based on these results, it is suggested that the porous Ti surface has a significantly better biocompatibility than the other surface treatments and an excellent electrochemical performance