Size-associated Variation and Factors Affecting the Morphology of Brown Bodies in Glycera tridactyla (Polychaeta:Glyceridae)

Size-associated variations in brown body morphology (size and shape) were studied from the individuals of Glycera tridactyla. Variables related to size, length (BL) and width (BW) of the brown bodies were measured. On the basis of these measurements, other variables such as the surface area (SA), volume (V), surface area/volume ratio (SA/V) and elongation degree (ED) were calculated. Brown body shape was quantified by the elongation degree. The immature brown bodies were significantly smaller than the mature bodies, and therefore the smaller bodies had a higher SA/V. Results obtained from the regression analysis showed that there was a significant relationship between all the variables with the exception of SA/V:BW for the immature bodies and ED: BL for both groups of the bodies. The body size (proboscis length) of the worm and the sampling time (months) were the affecting factors on size and shape of the brown body. Brown bodies tend to be elongated as the proboscis length increased. The variation in size and/or shape of the brown bodies could refer to an adaptation to the movement along the coelomic fluid

Diversity, structure and sources of bacterial communities in earthworm cocoons.

Animals start interactions with the bacteria that will constitute their microbiomes at embryonic stage. After mating, earthworms produce cocoons externally which will be colonized with bacteria from their parents and the environment. Due to the key role bacterial symbionts play on earthworm fitness, it is important to study bacterial colonization during cocoon formation. Here we describe the cocoon microbiome of the earthworms Eisenia andrei and E. fetida, which included 275 and 176 bacterial species, respectively. They were dominated by three vertically-transmitted symbionts, Microbacteriaceae, Verminephrobacter and Ca. Nephrothrix, which accounted for 88% and 66% of the sequences respectively. Verminephrobacter and Ca. Nephrothrix showed a high rate of sequence variation, suggesting that they could be biparentally acquired during mating. The other bacterial species inhabiting the cocoons came from the bedding, where they accounted for a small fraction of the diversity (27% and 7% of bacterial species for E. andrei and E. fetida bedding). Hence, earthworm cocoon microbiome includes a large fraction of the vertically-transmitted symbionts and a minor fraction, but more diverse, horizontally and non-randomly acquired from the environment. These data suggest that horizontally-transmitted bacteria to cocoons may play an important role in the adaptation of earthworms to new environments or diets

Pseudoxanthoma elasticum and pregnancy.

A 29-year-old woman affected by pseudoxanthoma elasticum gave birth to her second child in our department, thirteen months after the delivery of her first boy. Her care illustrates many of the potential risks of this rare autosomal systemic disorder. In order to detect any changes due to pregnancy, ophthalmologic and cardiologic screening examinations should be performed in the beginning of the pregnancy and repeated several weeks after the delivery. During labor, epidural anesthesia seems to be more advantageous

Connaissance de la houle naturelle : Le point de vue de l’Ingénieur

Knowledge of natural wave formations the engineer’s point of view. The problems facing oceanographers and engineers are not the same and both therefore have different needs. This paper has the following objects : 1. To define the types of problems affecting engineers. 2. To demonstrate how wave characteristics with which engineers are concerned can be measured or recorded. 3. To examine possible suitable methods of interpreting recorded data with a view to obtaining the most complete and concentrated information possible. 4. To present some of the results obtained at Chatou from wave research based on areviously recorded data and aimed at obtaining more detailed knowledge of wave behaviour.Les besoins de l'ingénieur, en ce qui concerne la connaissance de la houle, sont différents de ceux de l'océanographe, car leurs problèmes ne sont pas les mêmes. Cet exposé a pour but : — de préciser la nature des problèmes qui se posent à l'ingénieur ; — de montrer comment on peut mesurer ou enregistrer les caractéristiques de la houle qui l'intéressent ; — d'étudier la façon dont les enregistrements doivent être dépouillés, compte tenu de la nécessité d'obtenir des renseignements complets sous la forme la plus condensée ; — d'indiquer quelques résultats obtenus à Chatou, en ce qui concerne la connaissance de la houle, à partir des enregistrements déjà effectués.Valembois Jean, Germain J., Jaffry P. Connaissance de la houle naturelle : Le point de vue de l’Ingénieur. In: Les énergies de la mer. Compte rendu des quatrièmes journées de l'hydraulique, Paris, 13, 14 et 15 juin 1956. Tome 1, 1957