Symbiotic performance of Medicago ciliaris lines in association with different Sinorhizobium strains

We analyzed nodulation and nitrogen fixation efficiency for seven lines of Medicago ciliaris in association with two references strains of Sinorhizobium medicae (M104) and S. meliloti (RCR2011). These M. ciliaris lines were collected in Northern-East (Enfidha and Soliman) and Western (Rhayet and Mateur) Tunisian areas. The M. truncatula reference line Jemalong A17 (JA17) was also included. Plants were harvested after a culture period of 60 days. Two quantitative traits were measured at the harvest including the mean number of nodules per plant and the aerial dry weight (ADW). Analysis of variance showed that nodulation and nitrogen fixation efficiency (NFE) were dependent on the effects of line, strain and their interaction. The highest levels were observed for strain (45.07%) and line (53.24%) effects, respectively, for nodulation and NFE. While studied lines showed generally more number of nodules with RCR2011, they were more efficient with M104 strain. No significant difference in number of nodules was detected between M. ciliaris lines and JA17 with M104, whereas RCR2011 was generally most infective with JA17. Overall, JA17 line exhibited the largest NFE with both strains. Furthermore, there was no significant (P>0.05) correlation between nodulation and NFE for M. ciliaris line by strain associations

Design of double-walled carbon nanotubes for biomedical applications

Double-walled carbon nanotubes (DWNTs) prepared by catalytic chemical vapour deposition were functionalized in such a way that they were optimally designed as a nano-vector for the delivery of small interfering RNA (siRNA), which is of great interest for biomedical research and drug development. DWNTs were initially oxidized and coated with a polypeptide (Poly(Lys:Phe)), which was then conjugated to thiol-modified siRNA using a heterobifunctional cross-linker. The obtained oxDWNT–siRNA was characterized by Raman spectroscopy inside and outside a biological environment (mammalian cells). Uptake of the custom designed nanotubes was not associated with detectable biochemical perturbations in cultured cells, but transfection of cells with DWNTs loaded with siRNA targeting the green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene, serving as a model system, as well as with therapeutic siRNA targeting the survivin gene, led to a significant gene silencing effect, and in the latter case a resulting apoptotic effect in cancer cells

Multi-instrumental analysis of large sprite events and their producing storm in southern France

During the night of 01-02 September, 2009, seventeen distinct sprite events including 3 halos were observed above a storm in north-western Mediterranean Sea, with a video camera at Pic du Midi (42.93N; 0.14E; 2877m). The sprites occurred at distances between 280 and 390km which are estimated based on their parent CG location. The MCS-type storm was characterized by a trailing-stratiform structure and a very circular shape with a size of about 70,000km2 (cloud top temperature lower than -35°C) when the TLEs were observed. The cloud to ground (CG) flash rate was large (45min-1) one hour before the TLE observation and very low (<5min-1) during it. Out of the 17 sprite events, 15 parent+CG (P+CG) strokes have been identified and their average peak current is 87kA (67kA for the 14 events without halo), while the associated charge moment changes (CMC) that could be determined, range from 424 to 2088±20%Ckm. Several 2-second videos contain multiple sprite events: one with four events, one with three events and three with two events. Column and carrot type sprites are identified, either together or separately. All P+CG strokes are clearly located within the stratiform region of the storm and the second P+CG stroke of a multiple event is back within the stratiform region. Groups of large and bright carrots reach ~70km height and ~80km horizontal extent. These groups are associated with a second pulse of electric field radiation in the ELF range which occurs ~5ms after the P+CG stroke and exhibits the same polarity, which is evidence for current in the sprite body. VLF perturbations associated with the sprite events were recorded with a station in Algiers. © 2012 Elsevier B.V

Endovascular retrieval of two migrated venous stents by means of balloon catheters

AbstractThe usefulness of vascular stenting was demonstrated in both arterial and venous applications to restore patency and improve suboptimal results after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty. Dislodgment of venous stents with an embolization into the right cavities or the pulmonary artery, however, is one of the most feared complications of this procedure. Percutaneous removal of these migrated stents is an appealing method of replacing more invasive operative intervention with cardiopulmonary bypass, which may be very hazardous in these often severely ill patients. We describe the cases of two patients with stents that migrated into the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery. In one patient, we were able to successfully remove these stents by using an angioplasty balloon with an operative extraction from the iliac vein, thereby obviating the need for a major operative procedure. (J Vasc Surg 1998;28:541-6.

Les aspects parasitologiques de l'épidémiologie du paludisme dans le Sahara malien

Dans le cadre de l'évaluation épidémiologique de la Transsaharienne, une enquête transversale paludométrique a été réalisée d'Août 1988 à Septembre 1988 le long du tronçon malien. Neuf localités ont été visitées : Douentza, Gossi, Bourem, Almoustarat, Anefis, Aguel-Hoc, Tarlit, Tessalit, Kidal, Bouressa. 2185 unités ont été prélevées pour les études cliniques, parasitologiques et immunologiques. L'indice plasmodique global est de 5,3 % avec une grande variation du Sud (44,6 %) au Nord (0 %). L'indice gamétocytique et l'indice splénique sont très faibles. #P. falciparum est l'espèce dominante. #P. malariae a été décrit une fois en association avec #P. falciparum. #P. ovale n'a jamais été observé. Par contre un cas de #P. vivax a été décrit chez une jeune fille leucoderme de 8 ans à Kidal. #A. gambiae s.s. (forme Mopti) et #A. arabiensis sont les principaux vecteurs au Nord du Mali. Une hypothèse de circulation de #P. vivax dans le Sahara malien est émise. (Résumé d'auteur

Microdosing psychedelics: More questions than answers? An overview and suggestions for future research

Background: In the past few years, the issue of \u2018microdosing\u2019 psychedelics has been openly discussed in the public arena where claims have been made about their positive effect on mood state and cognitive processes such as concentration. However, there are very few scientific studies that have specifically addressed this issue, and there is no agreed scientific consensus on what microdosing is. Aim: This critique paper is designed to address questions that need to be answered by future scientific studies and to offer guidelines for these studies. Approach: Owing to its proximity for a possible approval in clinical use and short-lasting pharmacokinetics, our focus is predominantly on psilocybin. Psilocybin is allegedly, next to lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), one of the two most frequently used psychedelics to microdose. Where relevant and available, data for other psychedelic drugs are also mentioned. Conclusion: It is concluded that while most anecdotal reports focus on the positive experiences with microdosing, future research should also focus on potential risks of (multiple) administrations of a psychedelic in low doses. To that end, (pre)clinical studies including biological (e.g. heart rate, receptor turnover and occupancy) as well as cognitive (e.g. memory, attention) parameters have to be conducted and will shed light on the potential negative consequences microdosing could have

Observation of Terrestrial Gamma-Ray Flashes at Mid Latitude

We present a sample of Terrestrial Gamma-ray Flashes (TGFs) observed at mid latitudes by the Atmosphere Space Interaction Monitor (ASIM). The events were detected between June 2018 and August 2020 in the latitude bands between 35° and 51° in both hemispheres, which we hereafter refer to as “mid latitudes.” The sample includes the first observations above urn:x-wiley:2169897X:media:jgrd57293:jgrd57293-math-0001 and consists of 14 events clustered in four geographical regions: north-west Atlantic and eastern USA; Mediterranean Sea; the ocean around South Africa; and north-eastern China and Siberia. We examine the characteristics of each event, both standalone and in the context of the global ASIM TGF data set, and we find that our sample is consistent with the global population concerning the number of counts, but shows significantly shorter durations. We analyze the meteorological context and the general evolution of the parent storms and we show that the storms are not extreme in terms of total duration and extension. Whenever possible, we also include the radio sferics and the peak current of the parent stroke. Finally, we present an estimation of the TGF occurrence rate at mid latitudes, based on ASIM's exposure, the local flash rate and tropopause altitude, and we show that it is outside but very close to two standard deviation from the rate of production at tropical latitudes, corrected by the higher atmospheric absorption of higher latitudes. This means that atmospheric absorption plays a major role in the detection of TGFs at mid latitudes, but we cannot rule out other factors.publishedVersio

Chloroquine-enhanced gene delivery mediated by carbon nanotubes

Polyethyleneimine-coated double-walled carbon nanotubes (DWCNTs) were used for dual gene and drug delivery, after loading the DWCNTs with the drug chloroquine, a lysosomotropic compound that is able to promote escape from the lysosomal compartment. Different forms of functionalization of the DWCNTs were examined in order to optimize this system. They included the testing of different treatments on DWCNTs to optimize the loading and delivery of chloroquine and the selection of a cationic polymer for coating the DWCNTs for optimum DNA binding and delivery. An acid oxidation treatment of DWCNTs was selected for optimum chloroquine loading together with polyethyleneimine as optimum cationic coating agent for plasmid DNA binding. Optimization of the conditions for choroquine-enhanced gene delivery were developed using luciferase expression as a model system. We have demonstrated that chloroquine-loading increases the ability of polyethyleneimine-coated DWCNTs to deliver functional nucleic acid to human cells. Cell viability tests have shown no cytotoxicity of the functionalized DWCNTs at the concentrations needed for optimum gene delivery. These results support the potential applications of this methodology in gene therapy