Geotraceability: an innovative concept to enhance conventional traceability in the agri-food chain

With the globalization of trade, people have become enlightened and demanding consumers as regards the origin of their food and the environment in which it is produced. The concept of geotraceability described in this article responds to that requirement by combining geographical information with conventional traceability data. The inclusion of geographical information relating to the environment of the production plots is based not only on exploiting some functionalities of spatial analysis tools that exist in geographical information systems (GIS) but also on developing specific tools such as a geoidentifier and geoindicators. This article also describes the characteristics and methods of implementing a geographical information management system linked with traceability information. Lastly, the potential for using geotraceability systems in supply chains is analyzed, in particular for consumer warnings in cases of food crisis and assistance for certification of differentiated quality agricultural products

Towards a computer aided diagnosis system dedicated to virtual microscopy based on stereology sampling and diffusion maps

An original strategy is presented, combining stereological sampling methods based on test grids and data reduction methods based on diffusion maps, in order to build a knowledge image database with no bias introduced by a subjective choice of exploration areas. The practical application of the exposed methodology concerns virtual slides of breast tumors

PDE4 as a target in preterm labour

Cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases (PDE) are the enzymes catalyzing the hydrolysis and inactivation of the second messengers, cAMP and cGMP. Eleven PDE families are described to date, and selective inhibitors of some PDEs families are currently used in clinic for treating cardiovascular disorders, erectile dysfunction, and pulmonary hypertension. Isoforms of the PDE4 family are involved in smooth muscle contraction and inflammation. PDE4 selective inhibitors are currently in clinical trials for the treatment of diseases related to inflammatory disorders. Because of their myorelaxant properties, we first examined their expression in human myometrium and uncover an increased expression of one specific isoform, PDE4B2, in the near-term myometrium as compared to myometrium in the nonpregnant state. Using human myometrial cells in culture, we demonstrated that PDE4B2 can be induced by its own substrate, under the control of one of the major utero-contractile agonists, PGE2, itself upregulated by the proinflammatory cytokine IL-1β. Functionally, augmentation of global PDE4 activity decreases the ability of β-adrenergic agonists (the most commonly used tocolytic drugs) to inhibit myometrial contraction at the end of pregnancy and during pathophysiological situations, such as persistent intrauterine inflammation which is a major cause of very preterm delivery. Currently exploring the anti-inflammatory properties of PDE4 inhibitors in gestational tissues, we recently demonstrated the ability of these drugs to block a persistent inflammatory response of the foetal membranes in Humans and to prevent inflammation-driven preterm delivery and foetal demise in mice. These data open up a new therapeutical strategy to prevent inflammation-induced preterm delivery and its sequelae in very preterm infants

Hormonal replacement therapy, prothrombotic mutations and the risk of venous thrombosis

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) increases the risk of venous thrombosis. We investigated whether this risk is affected by carriership of hereditary prothrombotic abnormalities. Therefore, we determined the two most common prothrombotic mutations, factor V Leiden and prothrombin 20210A in women who participated in a case-control study on venous thrombosis. Relative risks were expressed as odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI95). Among 7 7 women aged 45-64 years with a first venous thrombosis, 51% were receiving HRT at the time of thrombosis, compared with 24% of control women (OR = 3.3, CI95 1.8-5.8). Among the patients, 23% had a prothrombotic defect, versus 7% among the control women (OR = 3.8, CI95 1.7- 8.5). Women who had factor V Leiden and used HRT had a 15-fold increased risk (OR = 15.5, CI95 3.1-77), which exceeded the expected joint odds ratio of 6.1 (under an additive model). We conclude that the thrombotic risk of HRT may particularly affect women with prothrombotic mutations. Efforts to avoid HRT in women with increased risk of thrombosis are advisable

Quaterthiophenes with Terminal Indeno[1,2-b]thiophene Units as p-Type Organic Semiconductors

Quaterthiophenes 4T, Oct-4T, and Tol-4T based on a central 2,2′-bithiophene core α,ω-terminated with 4,4-unsubstituted and 4,4-disubstituted n-octyl or p-tolyl indeno[1,2-b]thiophene have been synthesized by Stille or Miyaura−Suzuki couplings. Compound 4T was also synthesized by an alternative route involving a soluble precursor bearing solubilizing trimethylsilyl groups which have been eliminated in the last step. The electronic properties of the compounds have been analyzed by cyclic voltammetry, UV−vis absorption and fluorescence emission spectroscopy. Thermal evaporation of 4T and Oct-4T leads to crystalline thin films and UV−vis absorption and X-ray diffraction data for these films suggest that the molecules adopt a quasi-vertical orientation onto the substrate. Strong π-π intermolecular interactions have been observed for 4T but not for molecules Oct-4T due to the presence of n-octyl chains. Sublimed thin films of Tol-4T show an amorphous character. The characterization of field-effect transistors fabricated from these three materials gave a hole-mobility of 2.2 × 10−2 cm2 V−1 s−1 with an on/off ratio of 2.2 × 104 for 4T while no field-effect was observed for Oct-4T and Tol-4T

First 2-Hydroxy-3-Methylbut-3-Enyl Substituted Xanthones Isolated From Plants: Structure Elucidation, Synthesis and Antifungal Activity

Two new 2-hydroxy-3-methylbut-3-enyl substituted xanthones, ( - )-caledol 1 and ( - )-dicaledol 2 were isolated from a dichloromethane extract of the leaves of Calophyllum caledonicum (Clusiaceae). Compounds 1 and 2 are the first 2-hydroxy-3-methylbut-3-enyl substituted xanthones isolated from natural source. Their structures were elucidated by means of combined analytical methods including HRFABMS, 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopies and also confirmed by total synthesis using biomimetic ortho -prenylphenols photooxygenation ( 1 O 2 ) as a key step. The antifungal activity against Aspergillus fumigatus is reported

Velocity Correlations in Driven Two-Dimensional Granular Media

Simulations of volumetrically forced granular media in two dimensions produce s tates with nearly homogeneous density. In these states, long-range velocity correlations with a characteristic vortex structure develop; given sufficient time, the correlations fill the entire simulated area. These velocity correlations reduce the rate and violence of collisions, so that pressure is smaller for driven inelastic particles than for undriven elastic particles in the same thermodynamic state. As the simulation box size increases, the effects of veloc ity correlations on the pressure are enhanced rather than reduced.Comment: 12 pages, 6 figures, 21 reference