Innovation through pertinent patents research based on physical phenomena involved

One can find innovative solutions to complex industrial problems by looking for knowledge in patents. Traditional search using keywords in databases of patents has been widely used. Currently, different computational methods that limit human intervention have been developed. We aim to define a method to improve the search for relevant patents in order to solve industrial problems and specifically to deduce evolution opportunities. The non-automatic, semi-automatic, and automatic search methods use keywords. For a detailed keyword search, we propose as a basis the functional decomposition and the analysis of the physical phenomena involved in the achievement of the function to fulfill. The search for solutions to design a bi-phasic separator in deep offshore shows the method presented in this paper

Leishmaniose en Equateur : 5. Leishmaniose et anthropisation sur la façade pacifique

On a étudié l'impact de l'anthropisation du milieu forestier sur l'incidence de la leishmaniose, due à #Leishmania panamensis, dans trois stations côtières de l'Equateur, Corriente Grande, en forêt primaire, Paraiso Escondido et La Tablada, en forêt secondarisée; on a considéré aussi la situation des maisons isolées en milieu déforesté dans les deux dernières stations. En parallèle, on a étudié la densité des espèces de phlébotomes anthropophiles, particulièrement #Lutzomyia trapidoi, dans le milieu domestique et les caféières adjacentes, ainsi qu'en sous-bois. L'incidence de la leishmaniose était quasiment nulle en forêt primaire, alors qu'elle oscillait entre 106 et 147 °/oo en forêt plus ou moins dégradée. A Corriente Grande, aucun #Lu. trapidoi$n'était récolté dans les maisons; en sous-bois ses récoltes atteignaient 8$ représentait plus de 83 % des captures en sous-bois et dans les caféières (41 Homme/heure), ainsi que dans les maisons (10,6 H/h). A La Tablada, en milieu domestique, #Lu. gomezi était l'espèce dominante : 2,8 H/h contre 1 H/h #Lu. trapidoi, dans les caféières et en sous-bois #Lu. trapidoi était l'espèce dominante, 21 H/h et 14 H/h. En forêt primaire très humide, la transmission peut être très faible. En milieu secondarisé, les caféières proches des habitations procurent un excellent biotope aux populations de #Lu. trapidoi; le cycle de #L. panamensis s'est adapté à cette situation écologique en se rapprochant des maisons, les réservoirs circulant dans les caféières. En milieu déforesté, on ne constate plus de nuisances de phlébotomes et plus de transmission de leishmaniose. (Résumé d'auteur

Spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 (SCA2): clinical features and genetic analysis.

Spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 (SCA2) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disease that results from the expansion of an unstable trinucleotide CAG repeat encoding for a polyglutamine tract. In normal individuals, alleles contain between 14 and 31 CAG repeats, whereas the pathological alleles have more than 35 CAG repeats. The clinical phenotype of SCA2 includes a progressive cerebellar ataxia with additional features such as ophthalmoplegia, extra-pyramidal or pyramidal signs and peripheral neuropathy. We report a SCA2 large African family with several affected individuals. A major pathological allele carrying 43 CAG repeats was identified in the proband. To our knowledge, this is a first report of a SCA disorder described in Central African patients, thus indicating the need to consider this diagnosis in young African ataxic patients

Leishmaniose en Equateur : 1. Incidence de la leishmaniose tégumentaire sur la façade pacifique

Une enquête porte à porte sur 961 personnes dans deux stations de la côte Pacifique de l'Equateur a permis d'évaluer l'incidence et la prévalence de la leishmaniose tégumentaire à #Leishmania panamensis$, et de noter ses manifestations cliniques. Dans les collines subandines, à Paraiso Escondido, la prévalence de cas actifs était de 4,8 %; dans les collines de la cordillère littorale, elle était de 3,6 %, et dans les deux cas il n'y avait pas de différence significative entre les sexes. L'incidence de nouveaux cas en 1991 était forte, 147 °/oo à Paraiso Escondido, et 106 °/oo à La Tablada. La prévalence cumulée atteignait 66 % à Paraiso Escondido, et 47 % à La Tablada. 62 % des patients des deux stations présentaient une seule lésion ou cicatrice. Autochtones et migrants se contaminent dans leurs cinq premières années d'existence en zone d'endémie. Néammoins, l'incidence reste élevée dans toutes les classes d'âge en raison du grand nombre de migrants (50 %). Les questionnaires ont révélé une contamination en saison sèche, de juillet jusqu'à la fin d'année. La moustiquaire était utilisée comme protection contre les phlébotomes. Ces caractéristiques clinico-épidémiologiques étaient corroborées par celles, obtenues en détection passive, à l'Hôpital A. Egas de Santo Domingo. La contamination de jeunes enfants et d'adultes des deux sexes, les lésions à la face, suggèrent une transmission domiciliaire. (Résumé d'auteur

International study on inter-reader variability for circulating tumor cells in breast cancer

Introduction: Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) have been studied in breast cancer with the CellSearch® system. Given the low CTC counts in non-metastatic breast cancer, it is important to evaluate the inter-reader agreement.Methods: CellSearch® images (N = 272) of either CTCs or white blood cells or artifacts from 109 non-metastatic (M0) and 22 metastatic (M1) breast cancer patients from reported studies were sent to 22 readers from 15 academic laboratories and 8 readers from two Veridex laboratories. Each image was scored as No CTC vs CTC HER2- vs CTC HER2+. The 8 Veridex readers were summarized to a Veridex Consensus (VC) to compare each academic reader using % agreement and kappa (κ) statistics. Agreement was compared according to disease stage and CTC counts using the Wilcoxon signed rank test.Results: For CTC definition (No CTC vs CTC), the median agreement between academic readers and VC was 92% (range 69 to 97%) with a median κ of 0.83 (range 0.37 to 0.93). Lower agreement was observed in images from M0 (median 91%, range 70 to 96%) compared to M1 (median 98%, range 64 to 100%) patients (P < 0.001) and from M0 and <3CTCs (median 87%, range 66 to 95%) compared to M0 and ≥3CTCs samples (median 95%, range 77 to 99%), (P < 0.001). For CTC HER2 expression (HER2- vs HER2+), the median agreement was 87% (range 51 to 95%) with a median κ of 0.74 (range 0.25 to 0.90).Conclusions: The inter-reader agreement for CTC definition was high. Reduced agreement was observed in M0 patients with low CTC counts. Continuous training and independent image review are required

The Relationship between Population Structure and Aluminum Tolerance in Cultivated Sorghum

Background: Acid soils comprise up to 50% of the world's arable lands and in these areas aluminum (Al) toxicity impairs root growth, strongly limiting crop yield. Food security is thereby compromised in many developing countries located in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. In sorghum, SbMATE, an Al-activated citrate transporter, underlies the Alt(SB) locus on chromosome 3 and confers Al tolerance via Al-activated root citrate release. Methodology: Population structure was studied in 254 sorghum accessions representative of the diversity present in cultivated sorghums. Al tolerance was assessed as the degree of root growth inhibition in nutrient solution containing Al. A genetic analysis based on markers flanking Alt(SB) and SbMATE expression was undertaken to assess a possible role for Alt(SB) in Al tolerant accessions. In addition, the mode of gene action was estimated concerning the Al tolerance trait. Comparisons between models that include population structure were applied to assess the importance of each subpopulation to Al tolerance. Conclusion/Significance: Six subpopulations were revealed featuring specific racial and geographic origins. Al tolerance was found to be rather rare and present primarily in guinea and to lesser extent in caudatum subpopulations. Alt(SB) was found to play a role in Al tolerance in most of the Al tolerant accessions. A striking variation was observed in the mode of gene action for the Al tolerance trait, which ranged from almost complete recessivity to near complete dominance, with a higher frequency of partially recessive sources of Al tolerance. A possible interpretation of our results concerning the origin and evolution of Al tolerance in cultivated sorghum is discussed. This study demonstrates the importance of deeply exploring the crop diversity reservoir both for a comprehensive view of the dynamics underlying the distribution and function of Al tolerance genes and to design efficient molecular breeding strategies aimed at enhancing Al tolerance.CGIAR[G3007.04]McKnight FoundationFundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais (FAPEMIG)National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq

Variation in Structure and Process of Care in Traumatic Brain Injury: Provider Profiles of European Neurotrauma Centers Participating in the CENTER-TBI Study.

INTRODUCTION: The strength of evidence underpinning care and treatment recommendations in traumatic brain injury (TBI) is low. Comparative effectiveness research (CER) has been proposed as a framework to provide evidence for optimal care for TBI patients. The first step in CER is to map the existing variation. The aim of current study is to quantify variation in general structural and process characteristics among centers participating in the Collaborative European NeuroTrauma Effectiveness Research in Traumatic Brain Injury (CENTER-TBI) study. METHODS: We designed a set of 11 provider profiling questionnaires with 321 questions about various aspects of TBI care, chosen based on literature and expert opinion. After pilot testing, questionnaires were disseminated to 71 centers from 20 countries participating in the CENTER-TBI study. Reliability of questionnaires was estimated by calculating a concordance rate among 5% duplicate questions. RESULTS: All 71 centers completed the questionnaires. Median concordance rate among duplicate questions was 0.85. The majority of centers were academic hospitals (n = 65, 92%), designated as a level I trauma center (n = 48, 68%) and situated in an urban location (n = 70, 99%). The availability of facilities for neuro-trauma care varied across centers; e.g. 40 (57%) had a dedicated neuro-intensive care unit (ICU), 36 (51%) had an in-hospital rehabilitation unit and the organization of the ICU was closed in 64% (n = 45) of the centers. In addition, we found wide variation in processes of care, such as the ICU admission policy and intracranial pressure monitoring policy among centers. CONCLUSION: Even among high-volume, specialized neurotrauma centers there is substantial variation in structures and processes of TBI care. This variation provides an opportunity to study effectiveness of specific aspects of TBI care and to identify best practices with CER approaches

Brain simulation as a cloud service: The Virtual Brain on EBRAINS

The Virtual Brain (TVB) is now available as open-source services on the cloud research platform EBRAINS (ebrains.eu). It offers software for constructing, simulating and analysing brain network models including the TVB simulator; magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) processing pipelines to extract structural and functional brain networks; combined simulation of large-scale brain networks with small-scale spiking networks; automatic conversion of user-specified model equations into fast simulation code; simulation-ready brain models of patients and healthy volunteers; Bayesian parameter optimization in epilepsy patient models; data and software for mouse brain simulation; and extensive educational material. TVB cloud services facilitate reproducible online collaboration and discovery of data assets, models, and software embedded in scalable and secure workflows, a precondition for research on large cohort data sets, better generalizability, and clinical translation