New protective coatings against lampenflora growing in the Pommery Champagne cellar

Phototrophic microorganisms such as cyanobacteria and microalgae can proliferate readily in underground heritage sites where the introduction of artificial illumination equipment has significantly altered previously stable environmental conditions. The extended lampenflora biofilm growth on the bas-reliefs carved in the underground Pommery Champagne cellar in Reims (France) represents a recurring biocolonisation problem which requires periodic cleaning. The aim of this work was to limit the growth of lampenflora on chalk substrates using preventative biocidal treatments based on polyoxometalate ionic liquids (POM-ILs). Biocidal assays carried out in laboratory showed how two different colourless POM-IL coatings were more effective than commercial Preventol RI80 against two algal strains isolated from the Pommery bas reliefs, Pseudostichococcus monallantoides and Chromochloris zofingiensis. However, only one POM-IL variant was capable of sustained prevention of biofilm growth when applied to wet chalk, which replicates the more drastic natural environmental conditions of the cellar and can limit the performance of the biocidal coatings. Crucially, coating concentration studies demonstrate how POM-IL-coated slabs from previous experiments retain their biocidal activity and can prevent subsequent recolonisation following the re-inoculation of coated slabs with algae and cyanobacteria. Consequently, POM-ILs represent excellent candidates to eliminate lampenflora growth on the chalk bas-reliefs in the unique subterranean environment of the Pommery Champagne cellar. © 2022 The Author

Cellular Adhesion Gene SELP Is Associated with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Displays Differential Allelic Expression.

In rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a key event is infiltration of inflammatory immune cells into the synovial lining, possibly aggravated by dysregulation of cellular adhesion molecules. Therefore, single nucleotide polymorphisms of 14 genes involved in cellular adhesion processes (CAST, ITGA4, ITGB1, ITGB2, PECAM1, PTEN, PTPN11, PTPRC, PXN, SELE, SELP, SRC, TYK2, and VCAM1) were analyzed for association with RA. Association analysis was performed consecutively in three European RA family sample groups (Nfamilies = 407). Additionally, we investigated differential allelic expression, a possible functional consequence of genetic variants. SELP (selectin P, CD62P) SNP-allele rs6136-T was associated with risk for RA in two RA family sample groups as well as in global analysis of all three groups (ptotal = 0.003). This allele was also expressed preferentially (p<10-6) with a two- fold average increase in regulated samples. Differential expression is supported by data from Genevar MuTHER (p1 = 0.004; p2 = 0.0177). Evidence for influence of rs6136 on transcription factor binding was also found in silico and in public datasets reporting in vitro data. In summary, we found SELP rs6136-T to be associated with RA and with increased expression of SELP mRNA. SELP is located on the surface of endothelial cells and crucial for recruitment, adhesion, and migration of inflammatory cells into the joint. Genetically determined increased SELP expression levels might thus be a novel additional risk factor for RA

Microstructure and indentation mechanical properties of YSZ nanostructured coatings obtained by suspension plasma spraying

[EN] A commercial nanosuspension of yttria-stabilised zirconia (YSZ) was successfully deposited on austenitic stainless steel substrate by suspension plasma spraying technique (SPS). A SG-100 torch with internal radial injection was used for the spraying. The pneumatic system transported the feed suspension from the containers to the plasma torch. In order to study the effect of the spraying parameters, a factorial model was used to design the experiments, changing both spraying translation speed and suspension flow rate. The coating microstructure was characterised by FEG-SEM. All coatings displayed a two-zone microstructure formed by nanometre-sized particles surrounded by fully molten areas. Moreover, crystalline phases were determined by XRD and Raman spectroscopy. Mechanical properties were also determined using nanoindentation technique. Nanoindentation tests showed a bimodal distribution of the mechanical properties (hardness and Young's modulus) which is related to the two zones (molten and partially molten) present in the coatings. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.This work has been supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (project MAT2009-14144-C03) and the Research Promotion Plan of the Universitat Jaume I, action 2.1 (ref. E-2011-05) and action 3.1 (ref. PREDOC/2009/10). The authors are grateful to Leszek Łatka for his help in plasma spray experiments.Carpio, P.; Rayón Encinas, E.; Pawlowski, L.; Cattini, A.; Benavente Martínez, R.; Bannier, E.; Salvador Moya, MD.... (2013). Microstructure and indentation mechanical properties of YSZ nanostructured coatings obtained by suspension plasma spraying. Surface and Coatings Technology. 220:237-243. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.surfcoat.2012.09.047S23724322

Testing for the association of the KIAA1109/Tenr/IL2/IL21 gene region with rheumatoid arthritis in a European family-based study

INTRODUCTION: A candidate gene approach, in a large case-control association study in the Dutch population, has shown that a 480 kb block on chromosome 4q27 encompassing KIAA1109/Tenr/IL2/IL21 genes is associated with rheumatoid arthritis. Compared with case-control association studies, family-based studies have the added advantage of controlling potential differences in population structure. Therefore, our aim was to test this association in populations of European origin by using a family-based approach. METHODS: A total of 1,302 West European white individuals from 434 trio families were genotyped for the rs4505848, rs11732095, rs6822844, rs4492018 and rs1398553 polymorphisms using the TaqMan Allelic discrimination assay (Applied Biosystems). The genetic association analyses for each SNP and haplotype were performed using the Transmission Disequilibrium Test and the genotype relative risk. RESULTS: We observed evidence for association of the heterozygous rs4505848-AG genotype with rheumatoid arthritis (P = 0.04); however, no significance was found after Bonferroni correction. In concordance with previous findings in the Dutch population, we observed a trend of undertransmission for the rs6822844-T allele and rs6822844-GT genotype to rheumatoid arthritis patients. We further investigated the five SNP haplotypes of the KIAA1109/Tenr/IL2/IL21 gene region. We observed, as described in the Dutch population, a nonsignificant undertransmission of the AATGG haplotype to rheumatoid arthritis patients. CONCLUSIONS: Using a family-based study, we have provided a trend for the association of the KIAA1109/Tenr/IL2/IL21 gene region with rheumatoid arthritis in populations of European descent. Nevertheless, we failed to replicate a significant association of this region in our rheumatoid arthritis family sample. Further investigation of this region, including detection and testing of all variants, is required to confirm rheumatoid arthritis association

The ITGAV rs3738919-C allele is associated with rheumatoid arthritis in the European Caucasian population: a family-based study

The integrin αvβ3, whose αv subunit is encoded by the ITGAV gene, plays a key role in angiogenesis. Hyperangiogenesis is involved in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and the ITGAV gene is located in 2q31, one of the suggested RA susceptibility loci. Our aim was to test the ITGAV gene for association and linkage to RA in a family-based study from the European Caucasian population

High strength fabrics for combat clothing

Fabrics and garments for combat clothing are being developed to provide improved levels of fragmentation protection compared to that offered by the current ADF uniform fabrics. Woven and knitted fabrics from 100% ballistic fibre were prepared and tested for V50 performance (1.1g FSP) to demonstrate that knitted and woven fabrics perform similarly at typical garment fabric weights. Knitted fabrics and CAD were used to construct underwear garments for fragmentation protection

Etude régionale par éléments finis d'une nappe libre située dans les craies du Crétacé en Belgique

La nappe aquifère de Hesbaye située au Nord-Ouest de Liège (Belgique) est logée dans les craies du Crétacé, surmontées d'une épaisse couche de limon. L'alimentation en eau de la région est assurée par les 60 000 m3 extraits Joumel!ement des galeries captantes et des puits.Un modèle mathématique par éléments finis a été construit pour simuler numériquement le comportement de l'aquifère en régime transitoire. La complexité de la géologie locale a nécessité l'emploi d'une méthode par éléments finis permettant une discrétisatlon 30 souple et détaillée de la zone étudiée, modélisation réalisée avec un maillage fixe en condition de nappe libre.Des développements numériques comprenant la simulation de la surface libre en mode transitoire, ont été introduits dans le modèle LAGATHER du programme LAGAMINE (Université de Liège). Le programme a été testé sur des exemples bidimensionnels avant d'étre appliqué en 30 à l'aquifère de Hesbaye.La discrétisation et les principaux résultats sont présentés.The Hesbaye aquifer located in Cretaceous chalks near Liège (Belgium), is recharged by infiltration through the overlying loess and conglomerate.Wells and collecting adits produce a daily flow of 60 000 m3 out of this aquifer, to provide the alimentation of the area of Liège and its suburbs.More Man 500 boreholes, plezometers and wells give many informations for the idealization and the calibration procedures. Variation ranges of permeability and effective porosity are determined from 150 pumping tests. The main drainance axis of the aquifer (called « dry valleys ») are located and characterized by higher permeabilities.Finite element modelling has been developed to foresee the evolution of the water table and to get some additional informations especially about these main drainance axis.The modelling method is based on the LAGAMINE code (from Liège University). The LAGATHER code is one of the module of the LAGAMINE which is initially adapted to treat non-linear thermic problems. Here, it has been developed to compute flows in porous media in transient conditions. The water table is calculated with a fixed mesh structure using a new method developed by (CHARLIER et al., 1988). Constitutive laws of the flow are changed to take into account the state of saturation or no-saturation of the media. Then the flow equation (the Darcy's law) becomes non-linear. The transition from unsaturated to saturated field is treated at a constant zero pressure, according to the analogy with thermodynamical phase changes at constant temperature. The method has been checked on uniaxial and two dimensionnal sections.3D discretisation and modelling of the whole aquifer has been realized. The problem requires about 2 670 8-nodes isoparametric brick finite elements. The complexity of the geological conditions justifies fully the use of finite element method by the diversity and the wide range of the hydrogeological parameters to introduce in the model.The discretisation is described and some of the must significant results are presented