A {\mu}-TPC detector for the characterization of low energy neutron fields

The AMANDE facility produces monoenergetic neutron fields from 2 keV to 20 MeV for metrological purposes. To be considered as a reference facility, fluence and energy distributions of neutron fields have to be determined by primary measurement standards. For this purpose, a micro Time Projection Chamber is being developed to be dedicated to measure neutron fields with energy ranging from 8 keV up to 1 MeV. In this work we present simulations showing that such a detector, which allows the measurement of the ionization energy and the 3D reconstruction of the recoil nucleus, provides the determination of neutron energy and fluence of these neutron fields

Diverse aging rates in ectothermic tetrapods provide insights for the evolution of aging and longevity

Comparative studies of mortality in the wild are necessary to understand the evolution of aging; yet, ectothermic tetrapods are underrepresented in this comparative landscape, despite their suitability for testing evolutionary hypotheses. We present a study of aging rates and longevity across wild tetrapod ectotherms, using data from 107 populations (77 species) of nonavian reptiles and amphibians. We test hypotheses of how thermoregulatory mode, environmental temperature, protective phenotypes, and pace of life history contribute to demographic aging. Controlling for phylogeny and body size, ectotherms display a higher diversity of aging rates compared with endotherms and include phylogenetically widespread evidence of negligible aging. Protective phenotypes and life-history strategies further explain macroevolutionary patterns of aging. Analyzing ectothermic tetrapods in a comparative context enhances our understanding of the evolution of aging.Animal science

Fidaxomicin for treatment of Clostridium difficile infection in clinical practice: a prospective cohort study in a French University Hospital.

Two randomized controlled trials (RCTs) showed the non-inferiority of fidaxomicin compared with vancomycin for Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) treatment and its superiority regarding recurrence rate. The aim of this study was to evaluate fidaxomicin's efficacy in clinical practice. This single-center prospective cohort study included hospitalized patients treated with fidaxomicin for CDI. Demographic, clinical and biological data were collected. Primary outcome was efficacy of fidaxomicin (clinical cure, recurrence and global cure) at 10 weeks. Secondary outcome was efficacy among different subgroups. Ninety-nine patients were included: 42 severe CDI, 16 complicated CDI and 41 recurrent CDI. Rates of clinical cure, recurrence and global cure were 87, 15 and 59%, respectively. Subgroup analysis showed a higher recurrence rate for patients with recurrent CDI compared with first episode (8 vs. 26%; p = 0.04). Binary toxin was associated with severe/complicated CDI (80 vs. 50%; p < 0.01) and recurrence (32 vs. 7%; p < 0.01). Fidaxomicin was used as a first line for 83% of the patients with recurrence and for only 52% of first episodes even though 86% had recurrence's risk factors. Compared with RCTs, fidaxomicin in real world is used for patients with more severe and recurrent CDI, but clinical cure and recurrence rates were similar. Comparative studies are needed in these specific subgroups. Our data also illustrate clinicians' difficulty to define a "patient at risk for recurrence" among the first episodes. Finally, we showed that binary toxin could be important in the screening for severity and recurrence risks