Restudy of some smaller dinoflagellate cysts from the Upper Cretaceous of Belgium

An account is presented of the restudy of seven forms of small dinoflagellate cysts from Upper Cretaceous flints of Belgium. The new genus Rhiptocorys is erected for forms having a hypotract much larger than the epitract, showing an unequal development of high crests and having an epitractal archaeopyle; the diagnosis for its type species, Rhiptocorys veligera (Deflandre), is emended. The new combination Druggidium fourmarierii (Lejeun-Carpentier) is proposed and a former variety elevated to specific status, as Druggidium leave (Lejeune-Carpentier). Emended diagnoses are proposed for both these taxa and for Dinogymnium avellana (Lejeune-Carpentier). Forms attributed by Lejeune-Carpentier (1951) to Phanerodinium cayeuxi Deflandre are reconsidered and one is redescribed as ?Phanerodinium sp. Photographs of all these forms are presented for the first time and interpretative drawings, many redrawn from the first author's original figures, supplement the text

Coupling Rhodium-Catalyzed Hydroformylation of 10-Undecenitrile with Organic Solvent Nanofiltration: Toluene Solution versus Solvent-Free Processes

International audienceIntensification of the rhodium-catalyzed hydroformylation process to produce 12-oxo-dodecanenitrile from biosourced 10-undecenitrile was performed by coupling the reaction with organic solvent nanofiltration (OSN) for the recycling of the expensive Rh catalyst and the ligands. Four phosphorus-based ligands were compared with respect to their catalytic performance and rejection in OSN. Biphephos showed the best compromise and up to 3 reaction-OSN cycles were performed in toluene. A good recycling of the catalytic system was evidenced arising from the OSN (up to 88 % rejection). In order to develop a greener process, a similar approach was achieved in bulk (i. e. solvent-free medium), thus proving the catalyst recycling feasibility but also that the optimal OSN conditions are not the same as for toluene. Finally, integration of OSN in the overall production process is discussed, aiming at the proposal of a hybrid separation process involving a combination of OSN and distillation for an energy-efficient separation step

Outbreak of extended spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae in an intensive care unit (Brest). [Épidémie à Klebsiella pneumoniae productrice de bêta-lactamase à spectre étendu dans deux services de réanimation (Brest)]

International audienceINTRODUCTION: We had for aim to describe control and investigation of an outbreak caused by a strain of Extended spectrum beta-lactamase producing Klebsiella pneumoniae in intensive care units of the Brest teaching hospital. PATIENTS AND METHOD: The case definition was a patient infected by or carrying the epidemic strain. Control measures and investigations are presented. A case-control study was conducted in the surgical intensive care unit. Each case was matched with two controls based on admission times in the unit. The study focused on diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, and potential contacts with healthcare workers, in this context of cross transmission. RESULTS: Between February and May 2011, nine cases were reported in the surgical ICU and two in the medical ICU. Eighteen controls were matched with the nine surgical ICU cases. Several factors were found to be statistically associated with infection or colonization by the epidemic strain: the surgical block in which patients had been operated and the ward of first hospitalization; the number of trans-esophageal and trans-thoracic echocardiographies, of central venous catheter insertions, and of surgical operations; intubation. The total number of invasive procedures was also found to be statistically higher among cases. CONCLUSION: This study identified factors associated with colonization or infection by the epidemic strain. These factors might have been involved in the transmission tree, and be vulnerable elements for the prevention of nosocomial infections and colonisations, and their epidemic spread