Giant crystals inside mitochondria of equine chondrocytes

The present study reports for the first time the presence of giant crystals in mitochondria of equine chondrocytes. These structures show dark contrast in TEM images as well as a granular substructure of regularly aligned 12 nm small units. Different zone axes of the crystalline structure were analysed by means of Fourier transformation of lattice-resolution TEM images proving the crystalline nature of the structure. Elemental analysis reveals a high content of nitrogen referring to protein. The outer shape of the crystals is geometrical with an up to hexagonal profile in cross sections. It is elongated, spanning a length of several micrometres through the whole cell. In some chondrocytes, several crystals were found, sometimes combined in a single mitochondrion. Crystals were preferentially aligned along the long axis of the cells, thus appearing in the same orientation as the chondrocytes in the tissue. Although no similar structures have been found in the cartilage of any other species investigated, they have been found in cartilage repair tissue formed within a mechanically stimulated equine chondrocyte construct. Crystals were mainly located in superficial regions of cartilage, especially in joint regions of well-developed superficial layers, more often in yearlings than in adult horses. These results indicate that intramitochondrial crystals are related to the high mechanical stress in the horse joint and potentially also to the increased metabolic activity of immature individuals.(VLID)353386

Clinical application of scaffolds for cartilage tissue engineering

The purpose of this paper is to review the basic science and clinical literature on scaffolds clinically available for the treatment of articular cartilage injuries. The use of tissue-engineered grafts based on scaffolds seems to be as effective as conventional ACI clinically. However, there is limited evidence that scaffold techniques result in homogeneous distribution of cells. Similarly, few studies exist on the maintenance of the chondrocyte phenotype in scaffolds. Both of which would be potential advantages over the first generation ACI. The mean clinical score in all of the clinical literature on scaffold techniques significantly improved compared with preoperative values. More than 80% of patients had an excellent or good outcome. None of the short- or mid-term clinical and histological results of these tissue-engineering techniques with scaffolds were reported to be better than conventional ACI. However, some studies suggest that these methods may reduce surgical time, morbidity, and risks of periosteal hypertrophy and post-operative adhesions. Based on the available literature, we were not able to rank the scaffolds available for clinical use. Firm recommendations on which cartilage repair procedure is to be preferred is currently not known on the basis of these studies. Randomized clinical trials and longer follow-up periods are needed for more widespread information regarding the clinical effectiveness of scaffold-based, tissue-engineered cartilage repair

Les femmes alpinistes au Club Alpin Français (1874-1919) (un genre de compromis)

Le 2 avril 1874, avec la naissance du Club Alpin Français, l'institutionnalisation de l'alpinisme commence et sonne le début des "conquérants de l'inutile". Cette histoire, présentée comme universelle se conjugue-t-elle au féminin? Existe-t-il des "conquérantes de l'inutile" ? A partir des publications officielles du CAF, d'archives publiques et privées et de la presse sportive et féministe, ce travail questionne la spécificité de l'alpinisme féminin et permet de montrer les effets du genre. Ainsi, la masculinité de l'activité, les femmes sont non seulement intégrées au sein du CAF dès sa création mais en régulière progression entre 1874 et 1919. Leur investissement est cependant circonscrit dans une définition normative de l'excursionnisme féminin conforme aux représentations de la féminité de l'époque. Mais avec modération et sens du compromis, elles parviennent progressivement à sortir de ce modèle pour découvrir de nouveaux espaces et de nouvelles difficultés. Elles revendiquent et conquièrent de nouveaux droits mais sans jamais remettre en cause les hiérarchies entre les sexes et la spécificité de l'identité féminine. Ainsi, elles participent aux mutations de l'identité féminine vers une définition plus dynamique, plus instruite et plus libre. Malgré ces mutations, les plus conquérantes sont cependant toujours exclues de l'excellence alpine, nommé le sans-guide caractérisé par la prise de commandement, la tête de la cordée. Grâce à cette soumission à la domination masculine, les femmes alpinistes sont tolérées et initiées par les hommes et l'institution alpine. Le CAF participe à la construction d'une nouvelle femme cultivée, forte et vaillante, dévouée au service de la patrie mais soumise aux règles du genre. En donnant la parole ou le droit de vote aux femmes, en organisant l'instruction alpine des jeunes filles, il est foncièrement avant-gardiste par rapport aux autres associations sportives et participe à ce qu'il nomme le "sain féminisme"On April 2nd 1874, the Club Alpin Francais enters the alpine adventure. Mouniaineering is then officially recognized and marks the beginning of the "conquerants de l'inutile" - pioneers of useless conquests. Do women belong to this evolution? Do they also participate in this conquest? Based on officiaI materials published by the "CAF", on public and private archives, and on sports and feminist articles, this work questions the specificity of female mountaineering shows the effects of gender on the evolution of mountaineering. Therefore the male aspect of mountaineering, women are not only integrated within the CAF, right from the start, but their number is steadily increasing between 1874 and 1919. Women's involvement is nevertheless restricted to activities more appropriate with the contemporary representation of their status. They slowly manage to outgrow these boundaries to discover new frontiers and new difficulties. They claim and obtain new rights but without ever questioning hierarchy between genders and the female specificity. ln doing so they foment changes in the female identity toward a freer, more dynamic and more educated image. ln spite of these changes, the most adventurous ones do not gain access to the utmost revered position in mountaineering, called the " sans-guide ", which consists of leading the rope. This submissive attitude toward the male gender allows women to be tolerated and at the same time initiated by men and the alpine institution. The CAF participates in the creation of a new female persona, educated, strong and brave, devoted to her nation but following scrupulously the gender ruIes. By giving women the right of speech and vote, by organizing the training of young women, the CAF is ahead of its time with respect to other sports organizations. It participates in what it calls the "sane feminism"CHAMBERY -BU Bourget (730512101) / SudocSudocFranceF

Site selection of areas with potential for eelgrass transplantation in Denmark

Eelgrass, Zostera marina, is a key habitat to ensure good quality status within the Water Framework Directive. However, within the last decade, the status of eelgrass populations in Denmark has not naturally improved in response to the National efforts to improve marine water quality. Hence, restoration of eelgrass has been pointed out as mitigation tool in the Danish River Management Plans. We present a GIS site selection tool that screens for areas with good potential for eelgrass restoration in Denmark. This GIS tool utilize up to 9 environmental parameters that affect the survival success of transplanted eelgrass. The GIS tool was run with the best available data for all Danish coastal waters and gives a rough National overview on the potential for eelgrass restoration. We furthermore present a guideline, which stepwise describes which steps should be taken prior to big scale transplantation of eelgrass taking place

Towards Higher-Precision Maneuver and Gust Loads Computations of Aircraft: Status of Related Features in the CFD-Based Multidisciplinary Simulation Environment FlowSimulator

It is common practice in aircraft industry to perform maneuver and gust loads computations on the basis of potential theory aerodynamics methods that neglect important physical effects. In order to master the future challenges of aviation, however, there is a need for higher-precision loads computations. For this and other purposes, the RANS-CFD-based multidisciplinary simulation environment FlowSimulator is being developed. The status of selected features of the environment related to higher-precision maneuver simulations is presented; example applications are discussed