Fungi associated with cysts of Globodera rostochiensis, G. pallida, and Heterodera schachtii; and egg masses and females of Meloidogyne hapla in Belgium

Des kystes du Heterodera schachtii provenant de champs de betteraves à sucre (Beta vulgaris), des kystes du Globodera rostochiensiset du G. pallida provenant de champs de pommes de terre (Solanum tuberosum) du nord de la Belgique, ainsi que des masses d'œufs et des femelles du Meloidogyne hapla provenant d'un champ de tomates (Lycopersicon esculentum) dans la province de Flemish-Brabant, Belgique, furent collectés et examinés pour la présence de champignons. Des 374 kystes du H. schachtii examinés, 57,7% étaient colonisés par une ou plus des 18 espèces différentes de champignons, toutes appartenant aux genres Acremonium, Chaetomium, Cylindrocarpon, Fusarium, Gliocladium, Humicola, Mariannaea, Nematophthora, Periconia, Phoma ou Verticillium; 45,3 % des 726 kystes des Globodera spp. étaient colonisés par une ou plus des 18 espèces différentes des mêmes genres. Des 160 masses d'œufs examinées de M. hapla, 32 % étaient colonisées par une ou plus des 18 espèces appartenant aux genres Arthrobotrys, Cylindrocarpon, Fusarium, Monacrosporium, Paecilomyces, Phoma, Plectosphaerella ou Verticillium, alors que 31 % des 160 femelles étaient colonisées par 12 espèces des mêmes genres, sauf Paecilomyces et Plectosphaerella. Le Fusarium oxysporum était de loin l'espèce prédominante dans les kystes et les nématodes des nodosités. Un champignon noir, de type levure, fut aussi trouvé dans les kystes.Cysts of Heterodera schachtii from sugar-beet (Beta vulgaris) fields and cysts of Globodera rostochiensis and G. pallida from potato (Solanum tuberosum) fields in northern Belgium, as well as egg masses and females of Meloidogyne hapla from a tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) field in the Flemish-Brabant province, Belgium, were collected and examined for the presence of fungi. Of the total of 374 cysts of H. schachtii, 57.7% were colonized by one or more of 18 different species of fungi, all of which were from the genra Acremonium, Chaetomium, Cylindrocarpon, Fusarium, Gliocladium, Humicola, Mariannaea, Nematophthora, Periconia, Phoma, and Verticillium, and 45.3% of the 726 cysts of Globodera spp. were colonized by one or more of 18 different species, from the same gene. Of the 160 egg masses of M. hapla, 32% were colonized by one or more of 18 species of the genra Arthrobotrys, Cylindrocarpon, Fusarium, Monacrosporium, Paecilomyces, Phoma, Plectosphaerella, and Verticillium, while 31% of the 160 females were colonized by 12 species, from the same gene except Paecilomyces and Plectosphaerella. Fusarium oxysporum was by far the predominant species in both the cyst and root-knot nematodes. A black yeast-like fungus was found in cysts

Active Alignment System for CLIC 30 GHz Modules in CTF2

The active alignment system is capable of positioning accelerator components of CLIC (Compact Linear Collider) with a few micron precision. An electronic processing and command system connects the micro-movers and sensors of this system to the CERN-PS complex control system

Closed orbit feed-back from low-β\beta quadrupole movements at LEP

Left and right of each of the four LEP interaction points superconducting low-beta quadrupole magnets are installed to squeeze the vertical beam size at the interaction points. These magnets are the dominant source of vertical closed orbit drifts at LEP because of their strength, the large vertical beta function and their support. Hydrostatic Levelling Systems and resistor-based position sensors were installed to measure the vertical movements of these magnets continuously. The correlation between the mechanical movements and closed orbit variations has been studied. The analysis has shown that the orbit can be kept stable by acting on one correction dipole per low-beta quadrupole pair. This has led to a feed-back system which uses the mechanical measurements to correct the closed orbit and to prevent large orbit variations

Determination of the Accuracy of Wire Position Sensors

An energy spectrometer has been installed in the LEP accelerator to determine the beam energy with a relative accuracy of 10-4. A precisely calibrated bending magnet is flanked by 6 beam position monitors (BPM). The beam energy is determined by measuring the deflection angle of the LEP beams and the integrated bending field. An accuracy of less than 10-6 m on the beam position is necessary to reach the desired accuracy on the LEP beam energy. Capacitive wire positioning sensors are used to determine the relative mounting stability of each BPM and to calibrate the beam position monitors. Two-dimensional sensors are attached to each side of every BPM support and provide a position measurement with respect to two stretched wires mounted on either side of the LEP beam pipe. The fixing points of each wire are monitored by additional reference sensors. The position information is digitised via a multiplexed high accuracy digital voltmeter and read out continuously during LEP operations. Wire position sensor accuracy was tested in the laboratory with a laser interferometer, while relative accuracy tests are performed in the LEP environment. Systematic effects of synchrotron radiation on the wire position sensor performance were studied

Bionomics of the Established Exotic Mosquito Species Aedes koreicus in Belgium, Europe

Adults of an exotic mosquito, Aedes (Finlaya) koreicus (Edwards) (Diptera: Culicidae) were identified by morphology and genotyping from one site in Belgium in 2008. In late summer of that year, the occurrence of adults and immature stages reconfirmed its presence. This is the first record of this species outside its native range and in particular in Europe. Two subsites of the original location were prospected from April until October 2009 with different traps to evaluate the extent of its presence and establishment in the area and to understand the dynamics of the species' population. Next to Ae. koreicus, 15 other mosquito species were collected. Adult individuals of Ae. koreicus were found from May to September and larvae were still found early October. Larvae were mainly retrieved from artificial containers both in 2008 as in 2009. Containers with eggs and/or larvae were found up to 4 km away from the initial location, indicating the species is spreading locally. Though the introduction route is unknown, it may have occurred via international trade as a large industrial center was located nearby. A comparison of different climatic variables between locations in Belgium with Ae. koreicus and putative source locations in South Korea, revealed similarities between winter temperatures and the number of freezing days and nights in four consecutive years (2004-2008), while humidity and precipitation values differed strongly. The introduction of a new potential disease vector into Europe seems to be a result of proper entrance points, created by intense worldwide trade and suitable environmental condition

Opposite macrophage polarization in different subsets of ovarian cancer: observation from a pilot study

The role of the innate immune system in ovarian cancer is gaining importance. The relevance of tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) is insufficiently understood. In this pilot project, comprising the immunofluorescent staining of 30 biopsies taken from 24 patients with ovarian cancer, we evaluated the presence of total TAM (cluster of differentiation (CD) 68 expression), M1 (major histocompatibility complex (MHC) II expression), and M2 (anti-mannose receptor C type 1 (MRC1) expression), and the blood vessel diameter. We observed a high M1/M2 ratio in low-grade ovarian cancer compared to high-grade tumors, more total TAM and M2 in metastatic biopsies, and a further increase in total TAM and M2 at interval debulking, without beneficial effects of bevacizumab. The blood vessel diameter was indicative for M2 tumor infiltration (Spearman correlation coefficient of 0.65). These data mainly reveal an immune beneficial environment in low-grade ovarian cancer in contrast to high-grade serous ovarian cancer, where immune suppression is not altered by neoadjuvant therapy

Early surgical complications after congenital diaphragmatic hernia repair by thoracotomy vs. laparotomy: A bicentric comparison

Purpose: The surgical strategy for congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) repair remains debated and mainly depends on the training and preference of the surgeon. Our aim was to evaluate the occurrence and nature of surgical reinterventions within the first year of life, following repair through thoracotomy as compared to laparotomy. / Methods: This is a retrospective bi-centric cohort study comparing postero-lateral thoracotomy (n = 55) versus subcostal laparotomy (n = 62) for CDH repair (IRB: MP001882). We included neonates with isolated, left-sided, Bochdalek-type CDH who were operated on between 2000 and 2017, and had a minimum follow-up of 1 year. Excluded were patients treated prenatally and/or had extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation. Outcomes were occurrence and nature of surgical reinterventions and mortality by 1 year of life. / Results: Both groups had comparable neonatal severity risk profiles. The overall surgical reintervention rate by 1 year of age was higher in the thoracotomy group (29.1% vs. 6.5%; p = 0.001), mainly because of a higher prevalence of acute bowel complications (18.1% vs. 3.2%; p = 0.012) requiring surgery, such as perforation, obstruction and volvulus. At 1 year of follow-up, groups were similar in terms of recurrence (5.5% vs. 1.6%; p = 0.341), surgical interventions related to severe gastroesophageal reflux disease (3.6% vs. 1.6%; p = 0.600) and mortality (5.5% vs. 6.6%; p = 1.000). / Conclusion: Postnatal CDH repair through thoracotomy was associated with a higher rate of surgical reinterventions within the first year of life, especially for severe acute gastro-intestinal complications. There seemed to be no difference in recurrence and mortality rate. / Type of Study: Retrospective Comparative Cohort Study. / Level of Evidence: Level III

A social engagement Fast Track on Energy Communities-Key Lesson Learned from H2020 EU Projects

Energy communities organise collective and citizen-driven energy actions that will help pave the way for a clean energy transition, while moving citizens to the forefront. The energy market is rapidly transforming and so is the role of the consumer. Yesterday’s passive consumers become central actors in today’s energy markets. Today, as prosumers, citizens can benefit from their generation, consumption, and storage capabilities. Moreover, by supporting social engagement and citizen participation, energy communities can help provide flexibility to the electricity system through demand response, storage, and peer-to-peer energy exchange. Based on the collective debate from nine H2020 running projects (Renaissance, COMETS, Sender, eCREW, Lightness, ReDream, HESTIA, UP-STAIRS and NRG2peers), several challenges and key lessons learned can be identified for just social engagement. These challenges and lessons are relevant for the present and future development of EU energy communities