Distribution et abondance des larves de thonidés dans l'Atlantique tropico-oriental. Étude des données de 1963 à 1974

From several sources of data, the authors study seasonal variations of larval abundance for five species of tuna in Eastern Tropical Atlantic and its relation to the hydrological conditions. Distributional maps and TS graphs are given

Clinical and radiological outcomes of a cohort of 9 patients with anatomical fractures of the cuboid treated by locking plate fixation

INTRODUCTION: Cuboid fractures are very rare. Hence, their treatment has not been standardized. Advances in imaging techniques, particularly three-dimensional computed tomography (3D CT), and the introduction of cuboid-specific plates has improved the care of these injuries. The aim of this study was to determine the radiological and clinical outcomes of anatomical reconstruction of comminuted cuboid fractures with a locking plate. HYPOTHESIS: Fixation of comminuted cuboid fractures with a cuboid-specific locking plate leads to stable anatomical reduction and good functional outcomes. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was a retrospective study of 9 consecutive cases of comminuted cuboid fracture treated at a single hospital between January 2009 and December 2015. A 3D CT scan was performed preoperatively with subtraction of the posterior tarsal bone to allow the articular facets to be viewed and analyzed. Fracture fixation was done with a Locking Cuboid Plate (DePuy Synthes™). Associated lesions in the foot were treated during the same procedure. The patients were reviewed by an independent observer who performed a clinical examination, and determined the AOFAS and Maryland Foot Score. The success of the reconstruction was determined by comparing the parameters on weight-bearing X-rays views between the fixed and non-operated cuboid. RESULTS: The mean follow-up was 4.1 years (range 1-6). The Maryland Foot Score was 93.1 [86-100] and the AOFAS was 91.9 [82-100]. The reconstruction was anatomical and long lasting in all 9 cases. There was no foot misalignment in the frontal plane, based on the radiographs (hindfoot axis 5.5° [0-9]). The mean Djian-Annonier angle was 123.9° [108-130]. CONCLUSION: Cuboid fractures can be treated effectively through appropriate imaging and with a cuboid-specific locking plate as evidenced by very good midterm clinical and radiological outcomes in this study. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV Retrospective study

Antipersistent binary time series

Completely antipersistent binary time series are sequences in which every time that an $N$-bit string $\mu$ appears, the sequence is continued with a different bit than at the last occurrence of $\mu$. This dynamics is phrased in terms of a walk on a DeBruijn graph, and properties of transients and cycles are studied. The predictability of the generated time series for an observer who sees a longer or shorter time window is investigated also for sequences that are not completely antipersistent.Comment: 6 pages, 6 figure

Research of a vacuum diffusion boron silicification process for constructional materials

In this work process of vacuum diffusion boron silicification of materials in sodium chloride vapour were researched. Gaseous medium composition was found by using the thermodynamic calculations of chemical reactions between NaCl vapour and the components of saturating powder mixture in the process for the temperature T = 1400 − 1600 K and pressure P = 1.33 − 1333 Pa, when the content of boron is 1 weight percent and 10 weight percent in backfilling. Formation mechanism of diffusion layer оn example of the vacuum activated boron silicification of graphite was determined. Keywords: boron silicification, diffusion saturation, activator, vacuum, graphite.В работе были проведены исследования механизма процесса вакуумного диффузионного боросилицирования материалов в парах хлористого натрия. Используя термодинамический расчет химических реакций между парами активатора и компонентами насыщающей порошковой смеси был определен состав газовой среды в этом процессе для температур Т = 1400 – 1600 К и давлений Р = 1.33 – 1333 Па, при содержании бора 1 и 10 вес.% в засыпке. На примере вакуумного активированного боросилицирования графита установлен механизм образования диффузионного слоя.В роботі були проведені дослідження механізму процесу вакуумного дифузійного боросиліціювання матеріалів у парах хлористого натрію. Використовуючи термодинамічний розрахунок хімічних реакцій між парами активатора та компонентами насичуючої порошкової суміші був визначений склад газового середовища у цьому процесі для температур Т = 1400 – 1600 К та тисків Р = 1.33 – 1333 Па, при вмісті бору 1 та 10 ваг.% в засипці. На прикладі вакуумного активованого боросиліціювання графіту встановлено механізм утворення дифузійного шар

A preclinical model of TB meningitis to determine drug penetration and activity at the sites of disease.

Tuberculosis meningitis (TBM) is essentially treated with the first-line regimen used against pulmonary tuberculosis, with a prolonged continuation phase. However, clinical outcomes are poor in comparison, for reasons that are only partially understood, highlighting the need for improved preclinical tools to measure drug distribution and activity at the site of disease. A predictive animal model of TBM would also be of great value to prioritize promising drug regimens to be tested in clinical trials, given the healthy state of the development pipeline for the first time in decades. Here, we report the optimization of a rabbit model of TBM disease induced via inoculation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis into the cisterna magna, recapitulating features typical of clinical TBM: neurological deterioration within months post-infection, acid-fast bacilli in necrotic lesions in the brain and spinal cord, and elevated lactate levels in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). None of the infected rabbits recovered or controlled the disease. We used young adult rabbits, the size of which allows for spatial drug quantitation in critical compartments of the central nervous system that cannot be collected in clinical studies. To illustrate the translational value of the model, we report the penetration of linezolid from plasma into the CSF, meninges, anatomically distinct brain areas, cervical spine, and lumbar spine. Across animals, we measured the bacterial burden concomitant with neurological deterioration, offering a useful readout for drug efficacy studies. The model thus forms the basis for building a preclinical platform to identify improved regimens and inform clinical trial design

Rifabutin central nervous system concentrations in a rabbit model of tuberculous meningitis.

Tuberculous meningitis (TBM) has a high mortality, possibly due to suboptimal therapy. Drug exposure data of antituberculosis agents in the central nervous system (CNS) are required to develop more effective regimens. Rifabutin is a rifamycin equivalently potent to rifampin in human pulmonary tuberculosis. Here, we show that human-equivalent doses of rifabutin achieved potentially therapeutic exposure in relevant CNS tissues in a rabbit model of TBM, supporting further evaluation in clinical trials

Using Time-Resolved Fluorescence to Measure Serum Venom-Specific IgE and IgG

We adapted DELFIA™ (dissociation-enhanced lanthanide fluoroimmunoassay), a time resolved fluorescence method, to quantitate whole venom specific and allergenic peptide-specific IgE (sIgE), sIgG1 and sIgG4 in serum from people clinically allergic to Australian native ant venoms, of which the predominant cause of allergy is jack jumper ant venom (JJAV). Intra-assay CV was 6.3% and inter-assay CV was 13.7% for JJAV sIgE. DELFIA and Phadia CAP JJAV sIgE results correlated well and had similar sensitivity and specificity for the detection of JJAV sIgE against intradermal skin testing as the gold standard. DELFIA was easily adapted for detecting sIgE to a panel of other native ant venoms