A Study of the Volume of Fluid Method for Moving Boundary Problems

Moving boundary problems are often encountered in engineering and science. One of the methods to solve such problems numerically is the volume of fluid (VOF) method. The VOF method uses an additional field variable/to track the interface using the Eulerian fixed grid. In this work, the VOF method is combined with the Continuum surface force model. The governing flow equations for Newtonian fluids in incompressible flow in two dimensions are solved using the pressure-based algorithm. A linear interface reconstruction algorithm is developed and improved by interpolations. In order to validate the code, the problem of the convection of a two-fluid channel flow with a cylindrical interface is given as an example

1787 the Grand Convention

International audienc

Determination of liver specific toxicities in rat hepatocytes by high content imaging during 2-week multiple treatment

AbstractDILI is a major safety issue during drug development and one of the leading causes for market withdrawal. Despite many efforts made in the past, the prediction of DILI using in vitro models remains very unreliable. In the present study, the well-established hepatocyte Collagen I-Matrigel™ sandwich culture was used, mimicking chronic drug treatment after multiple incubations for 14days. Ten drugs associated with different types of specific preclinical and clinical liver injury were evaluated at non-cytotoxic concentrations. Mrp2-mediated transport, intracellular accumulation of neutral lipids and phospholipids were selected as functional endpoints by using Cellomics™ Arrayscan® technology and assessed at five timepoints (day 1, 3, 7, 10, 14). Liver specific functional impairments after drug treatment were enhanced over time and could be monitored by HCI already after few days and before cytotoxicity. Phospholipidosis-inducing drugs Chlorpromazine and Amiodarone displayed the same response as in vivo. Cyclosporin A, Chlorpromazine, and Troglitazone inhibited Mrp2-mediated biliary transport, correlating with in vivo findings. Steatosis remained difficult to be reproduced under the current in vitro testing conditions, resulting into false negative and positive responses. The present results suggest that the repeated long-term treatment of rat hepatocytes in the Collagen I-Matrigel™ sandwich configuration might be a suitable tool for safety profiling of the potential to induce phospholipidosis and impair Mrp2-mediated transport processes, but not to predict steatosis

Traitement de données vectorielles multicapteurs. Application à l'acoustique sous-marine

L'utilisation de données vectorielles multi-capteurs en acoustique sous-marine offre de nouvelles possibilités de séparation d'ondes. Nous proposons d'utiliser séquentiellement le traitement vectoriel (polarisation) puis le traitement multi-capteurs (antenne). Pour l'étude de la propagation marine, sismique et acoustique en Ultra Basses Fréquences (U.B.F., entre 1 et 50 Hz), une estimation de la contribution du sous-sol sur des données réelles basée sur ce traitement séquentiel illustre l'intérêt de cette méthode

Strong protection induced by an experimental DIVA subunit vaccine against bluetongue virus serotype 8 in cattle

AbstractBluetongue virus (BTV) infections in ruminants pose a permanent agricultural threat since new serotypes are constantly emerging in new locations. Clinical disease is mainly observed in sheep, but cattle were unusually affected during an outbreak of BTV seroype 8 (BTV-8) in Europe. We previously developed an experimental vaccine based on recombinant viral protein 2 (VP2) of BTV-8 and non-structural proteins 1 (NS1) and NS2 of BTV-2, mixed with an immunostimulating complex (ISCOM)–matrix adjuvant. We demonstrated that bovine immune responses induced by this vaccine were as good or superior to those induced by a classic commercial inactivated vaccine. In this study, we evaluated the protective efficacy of the experimental vaccine in cattle and, based on the detection of VP7 antibodies, assessed its DIVA compliancy following virus challenge. Two groups of BTV-seronegative calves were subcutaneously immunized twice at a 3-week interval with the subunit vaccine (n=6) or with adjuvant alone (n=6). Following BTV-8 challenge 3 weeks after second immunization, controls developed viremia and fever associated with other mild clinical signs of bluetongue disease, whereas vaccinated animals were clinically and virologically protected. The vaccine-induced protection was likely mediated by high virus-neutralizing antibody titers directed against VP2 and perhaps by cellular responses to NS1 and NS2. T lymphocyte responses were cross-reactive between BTV-2 and BTV-8, suggesting that NS1 and NS2 may provide the basis of an adaptable vaccine that can be varied by using VP2 of different serotypes. The detection of different levels of VP7 antibodies in vaccinated animals and controls after challenge suggested a compliancy between the vaccine and the DIVA companion test. This BTV subunit vaccine is a promising candidate that should be further evaluated and developed to protect against different serotypes

Comparaison de deux méthodes de sélection classique avec l'haplodiploïdisation pour la résistance à la mouche de Hesse chez le blé tendre (Triticum aestivum)

L'efficacité des méthodes classiques et alternatives d'amélioration génétique repose sur l'évolution de la variabilité génétique des populations ségrégatives sous sélection. L'objectif de cette étude est de comparer l'évolution de la fréquence des gènes de résistance à la mouche de Hesse (Mayetiola destructor) sous deux méthodes classiques de sélection en comparaison avec la méthode de l'haplodiploïdisation. Les distributions et les proportions observées du caractère "résistance à la mouche de Hesse" ont été évaluées pour des lignées produites par la méthode de filiation unipare (FUP), la méthode " bulk " et l'haplodiploïdisation (DH) de quatre populations hybrides de blé tendre (Triticum aestivum). Ces populations sont issues des croisements entre des parents résistants à la mouche de Hesse marocaine et des parents sensibles mais adaptés aux conditions marocaines. Les résultats ont montré un effet marqué de la méthode d'amélioration génétique. En effet, malgré leur avancement à la génération F6, les lignées produites par les méthodes FUP et " bulk " présentent toujours un taux non négligeable d'hétérozygotie pour ce caractère alors que la méthode DH a abouti à une homozygotie parfaite. Les proportions de résistance observées chez les lignées FUP et haploïdes doublées sont approximativement les mêmes que celles théoriquement attendues. Cependant, la méthode " bulk " a permis une sélection naturelle au champ qui a favorisé le caractère résistant de manière significativeThe relative usefulness of conventional and alternative breeding methods relies on the evolution of genetic variability in segregating populations undergoing selection. The objective of this study was to compare the frequencies of genetic resistance to Hessian fly (Mayetiola destructor) in populations generated by two conventional breeding methods in comparison with lines advanced through doubled haploid method. Distribution and proportions of Hessian fly resistance were evaluated in four populations of bread wheat lines advanced through 'Single Seed Descent' (SSD), 'Bulk', and doubled-haploid (DH) methods. These populations were all derived from crosses involving resistant parents and susceptible lines adapted to Moroccan conditions. The results of this study have shown a clear effect of the breeding method. The Bulk and SSD (F6) derived lines have shown a substantial residual heterozygocity while DH method has produced completely homozygous material. The observed proportions of resistance did not deviate from expected in the populations of lines derived through SSD and DH methods while evidence of natural selection for resistance was significant in the lines derived through the Bulk method

Microscopic diversity in oral Kaposi sarcoma

Kaposi sarcoma is the most common HIV-associated neoplasm, frequently presenting and highlight the histomorphological spectrum of oral Kaposi sarcoma. One hundred and thirty-five cases diagnosed between 1990 and 2011 were retrieved from the archives of the Oral and Dental Hospital of the University of Pretoria, South Africa. Following histological review, each case was placed into one of seven categories based on the predominant pattern of growth. These histological divisions included lesions designated as solid, lymphangioma-like, telangiectatic, desmoplastic, lymphangiectatic, ecchymotic and anaplastic. The presence of co-existent pathology was identified in 25 cases, largely represented by superimposed candidiasis. Concomitant cytomegalovirus and non-necrotizing granulomatous inflammation were also observed. Whilst the prognostic significance of these variants is yet to be determined, the appreciation and recognition of such morphologic diversity remains essential in distinguishing these lesions from possible mimickers.National Research Foundation of South Africa.http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/623240/description#descriptionhb2013ay201

Impact of age, leukocyte count and day 21-bone marrow response to chemotherapy on the long-term outcome of children with philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia in the pre-imatinib era: results of the FRALLE 93 study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>We explored the heterogeneity of philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph1-ALL) in a study of the effect of early features on prognosis in children. Here we report the long-term results of the FRALLE 93 study conducted in the era before the use of tyrosine kinase inhibitors.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Between 1993 and 1999, 36 children with Ph1-ALL were enrolled into the FRALLE 93 protocol. After conventional four-drug induction, children were stratified by availability of an HLA-matched sibling.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Complete remission (CR) was observed in 26 children (72%), of which 13 underwent allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Thirty-one children were good responders to prednisone, defined on day 8, and 21 were good responders to chemotherapy, defined by day-21 bone marrow (M1). Overall five-year disease-free survival (DFS) was 42 ± 9.7%. Based on multivariate analysis, two groups showed marked differences in five-year outcome: children with age<10, leukocyte count <100,000/mm³and day-21 M1 marrow had a more favorable prognosis (14 pts: 100% CR, event free survival [EFS]: 57%, overall survival [OS]: 79%), than the high-risk group (22 patients: 55% CR, EFS: 18%, OS: 27%) (p < 0.005). We also observed a non statistically significant difference (p = 0.14) in outcome between these groups for transplanted patients (5-year DFS: 83 ± 14% and 33 ± 15%, respectively).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Age, leukocyte count and early response to treatment defined by the D21 bone marrow response provide an accurate model for outcome prediction. The combination of available tools such as minimal residual disease assessment with determination of these simple factors could be useful for refining indications for BMT in the current era of tyrosine-kinase inhibitor-based therapy.</p