Experimental infection of Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas spat by ostreid herpesvirus 1: demonstration of oyster spat susceptibility

In 2008 and 2009, acute mortalities occurred in France among Pacific cupped oyster, Crassostrea gigas, spat. Different hypothesis including the implication of environmental factors, toxic algae and/or pathogens have been explored. Diagnostic tests indicated that OsHV-1 including a particular genotype, termed OsHV-1 μVar, was detected in most of samples and especially in moribund oysters with the highlighting of virus particles looking like herpes viruses by TEM examination. In this study, an experimental protocol to reproduce OsHV-1 infection in laboratory conditions was developed. This protocol was based on the intramuscular injection of filtered (0.22 μm) tissue homogenates prepared from naturally OsHV-1 infected spat collected on French coasts during mortality outbreaks in 2008. Results of the experimental trials showed that mortalities were induced after injection. Moreover, filtered tissue homogenates induced mortalities whereas the same tissue homogenates exposed to an ultraviolet (UV) treatment did not induce any mortality suggesting that oyster spat mortalities require the presence of a UV sensitive agent. Furthermore, analysis of injected oyster spat revealed the detection of high amounts of OsHV-1 DNA by real-time quantitative PCR. Finally, TEM analysis demonstrated the presence of herpes virus particles. The developed protocol allowed to maintain sources of infective virus which can be useful for the development of further studies concerning the transmission and the development of OsHV-1 infection

In-memory Realization of In-situ Few-shot Continual Learning with a Dynamically Evolving Explicit Memory

Continually learning new classes from a few training examples without forgetting previous old classes demands a flexible architecture with an inevitably growing portion of storage, in which new examples and classes can be incrementally stored and efficiently retrieved. One viable architectural solution is to tightly couple a stationary deep neural network to a dynamically evolving explicit memory (EM). As the centerpiece of this architecture, we propose an EM unit that leverages energy-efficient in-memory compute (IMC) cores during the course of continual learning operations. We demonstrate for the first time how the EM unit can physically superpose multiple training examples, expand to accommodate unseen classes, and perform similarity search during inference, using operations on an IMC core based on phase-change memory (PCM). Specifically, the physical superposition of a few encoded training examples is realized via in-situ progressive crystallization of PCM devices. The classification accuracy achieved on the IMC core remains within a range of 1.28%--2.5% compared to that of the state-of-the-art full-precision baseline software model on both the CIFAR-100 and miniImageNet datasets when continually learning 40 novel classes (from only five examples per class) on top of 60 old classes.Comment: Accepted at the European Solid-state Devices and Circuits Conference (ESSDERC), September 202

Canagliflozin and renal outcomes in type 2 diabetes and nephropathy

BACKGROUND Type 2 diabetes mellitus is the leading cause of kidney failure worldwide, but few effective long-term treatments are available. In cardiovascular trials of inhibitors of sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2), exploratory results have suggested that such drugs may improve renal outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes. METHODS In this double-blind, randomized trial, we assigned patients with type 2 diabetes and albuminuric chronic kidney disease to receive canagliflozin, an oral SGLT2 inhibitor, at a dose of 100 mg daily or placebo. All the patients had an estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of 30 to <90 ml per minute per 1.73 m2 of body-surface area and albuminuria (ratio of albumin [mg] to creatinine [g], >300 to 5000) and were treated with renin–angiotensin system blockade. The primary outcome was a composite of end-stage kidney disease (dialysis, transplantation, or a sustained estimated GFR of <15 ml per minute per 1.73 m2), a doubling of the serum creatinine level, or death from renal or cardiovascular causes. Prespecified secondary outcomes were tested hierarchically. RESULTS The trial was stopped early after a planned interim analysis on the recommendation of the data and safety monitoring committee. At that time, 4401 patients had undergone randomization, with a median follow-up of 2.62 years. The relative risk of the primary outcome was 30% lower in the canagliflozin group than in the placebo group, with event rates of 43.2 and 61.2 per 1000 patient-years, respectively (hazard ratio, 0.70; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.59 to 0.82; P=0.00001). The relative risk of the renal-specific composite of end-stage kidney disease, a doubling of the creatinine level, or death from renal causes was lower by 34% (hazard ratio, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.53 to 0.81; P<0.001), and the relative risk of end-stage kidney disease was lower by 32% (hazard ratio, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.54 to 0.86; P=0.002). The canagliflozin group also had a lower risk of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, or stroke (hazard ratio, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.67 to 0.95; P=0.01) and hospitalization for heart failure (hazard ratio, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.47 to 0.80; P<0.001). There were no significant differences in rates of amputation or fracture. CONCLUSIONS In patients with type 2 diabetes and kidney disease, the risk of kidney failure and cardiovascular events was lower in the canagliflozin group than in the placebo group at a median follow-up of 2.62 years

Computational Modeling of Photonic Crystal Microcavity Single-Photon Emitters

Conventional cryptography is based on algorithms that are mathematically complex and difficult to solve, such as factoring large numbers. The advent of a quantum computer would render these schemes useless. As scientists work to develop a quantum computer, cryptographers are developing new schemes for unconditionally secure cryptography. Quantum key distribution has emerged as one of the potential replacements of classical cryptography. It relies on the fact that measurement of a quantum bit changes the state of the bit and undetected eavesdropping is impossible. Single polarized photons can be used as the quantum bits, such that a quantum system would in some ways mirror the classical communication scheme. The quantum key distribution system would include components that create, transmit and detect single polarized photons. The focus of this work is on the development of an efficient single-photon source. This source is comprised of a single quantum dot inside of a photonic crystal microcavity. To better understand the physics behind the device, a computational model is developed. The model uses Finite-Difference Time-Domain methods to analyze the electromagnetic field distribution in photonic crystal microcavities. It uses an 8-band k · p perturbation theory to compute the energy band structure of the epitaxially grown quantum dots. We discuss a method that combines the results of these two calculations for determining the spontaneous emission lifetime of a quantum dot in bulk material or in a microcavity. The computational models developed in this thesis are used to identify and characterize microcavities for potential use in a single-photon source. The computational tools developed are also used to investigate novel photonic crystal microcavities that incorporate 1D distributed Bragg reflectors for vertical confinement. It is found that the spontaneous emission enhancement in the quasi-3D cavities can be significantly greater than in traditional suspended slab cavities.</p

Highly sensitive conductometric biosensors for total lactate, d- and l-lactate determination in dairy products

International audienceAn original method combining two conductometric biosensors is proposed for the determination of total lactate, l- and d-lactate in dairy products. The biosensors were prepared through cross-linking of l-lactate oxidase from Pediococcus sp. (LODP) or a combination of LODP and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) at the surface of gold interdigitated microelectrodes using glutaraldehyde (GA) vapors. LODP is reported to catalyze specifically l-lactate oxidation into pyruvate and hydrogen peroxide in solution. In this work, we showed that LODP chiral selectivity was lost following enzyme cross-linking, rendering LODP sensor suitable for total lactate determination. Biosensor sensitivity towards both stereoisomers was 1.16 ± 0.04 μS μM−1. The addition of HRP significantly improved the linear range and stability of LODP biosensor, but also increased its sensitivity, the effect being more pronounced for d-lactate (+381%) than for l-lactate (+260%). This result was attributed to a modification in LODP chiral selectivity combined with the production of additional ions (acetate, H+ and HCO3−) via the HRP-catalyzed oxidation of pyruvate. A method, taking advantage of the difference in d- and l-lactate behaviours and combining the monoenzymatic and bienzymatic biosensors calibration data, was proposed for the calculation of their concentrations in unknown samples. Different parameters (HRP/LODP ratio, exposure time to GA vapors, pH and concentration of measurement medium) were optimized in order to achieve the best compromise between sensitivity and stability of the biosensors. The best limit of detection for l- and d-lactate, calculated as three times the signal to noise ratio was achieved with the bi-enzymatic sensor and was equal to 0.05 μM. LODP/HRP biosensor response towards l-lactate was not significantly affected by glucose, fructose and lactose. The proposed biosensors were finally applied to the determination of total lactate, d- and l-lactate concentrations in yogurt samples. Results were in good agreement with those obtained using a reference colorimetric enzymatic method

Intersex Stigma and Discrimination: Effects on Patient-Centred Care and Medical Communication

Individuals with intersex variations fall outside the normative sex binary of male and female for various reasons. These individuals are highly stigmatized and discriminated against in the legal, medical and social spheres. In this paper, we analyze manifestations of such discrimination in the healthcare context and hypothesize that Patient Centred Care (PCC) and Shared Decision Making (SDM) approaches are improperly practiced with intersex individuals. Through a narrative review of current literature, we present evidence of improper practice of PCC and SDM and its effects on intersex individuals and, in the pediatric context, their parents. Misinformation by medical practitioners to parents of intersex individuals promotes the perpetuation of unnecessary surgical interventions. We propose strategies to improve intersex medical care, including better adherence to SDM and PCC guidelines as well as the sociocultural normalisation of intersex identity. Current perceptions of surgical interventions done on intersex infants and children need to better align with evidence-based physical and psychological health risks. All these strategies are part of preserving the autonomy and physical integrity of intersex individuals and ensuring that their well-being remains at the heart of their care in the medical context.Les personnes présentant des variations intersexuelles se situent en dehors du binaire sexuel normatif homme/femme pour diverses raisons. Ces personnes sont fortement stigmatisées et discriminées dans les sphères juridiques, médicale et sociale. Dans cet article, nous analysons les manifestations de cette discrimination dans le contexte des soins de santé et nous émettons l’hypothèse que les approches de soins centrés sur le patient (SCP) et de prise de décision partagée (PDP) sont mal pratiquées avec les personnes intersexuées. Un examen narratif de la littérature actuelle permet de présenter les preuves d’une pratique inadéquate des SCP et de la PDP, ainsi que leurs répercussions sur les personnes intersexuées et, dans le contexte pédiatrique, sur leurs parents. La désinformation des parents de personnes intersexuées par les praticiens médicaux favorise la perpétuation d’interventions chirurgicales inutiles. Nous proposons des stratégies pour améliorer les soins médicaux aux personnes intersexuées, notamment une meilleure adhésion aux directives de la SCP et du PDP ainsi que la normalisation socioculturelle de l’identité intersexuée. Les perceptions actuelles des interventions chirurgicales pratiquées sur les nourrissons et les enfants intersexués doivent mieux correspondre aux risques pour la santé physique et psychologique fondés sur des preuves. Toutes ces stratégies s’inscrivent dans le cadre de la préservation de l’autonomie et de l’intégrité physique des personnes intersexuées et de la garantie que leur bien-être reste au cœur de leur prise en charge dans le contexte médical

Dépistage de la démence : un enjeu dans la décision thérapeutique du sujet âgé atteint de cancer.

National audienc

Godsend

Play as a trickster demon, out for revenge against the gods. You are physically weak, and rely on your ability to shift your soul into other creatures. Exploit their abilities to solve puzzles, crush those who oppose you, and invoke in-fighting amongst their rankshttps://source.sheridancollege.ca/swfaad_capstone_game_design_2018/1000/thumbnail.jp