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Introduction: Causal inference helps researchers and policy-makers to evaluate public health interventions. When comparing interventions or public health programs by leveraging observational sensitive individual-level data from populations crossing jurisdictional borders, a federated approach (as opposed to a pooling data approach) can be used. Approaching causal inference by re-using routinely collected observational data across different regions in a federated manner, is challenging and guidance is currently lacking. With the aim of filling this gap and allowing a rapid response in the case of a next pandemic, a methodological framework to develop studies attempting causal inference using federated cross-national sensitive observational data, is described and showcased within the European BeYond-COVID project. Methods: A framework for approaching federated causal inference by re-using routinely collected observational data across different regions, based on principles of legal, organizational, semantic and technical interoperability, is proposed. The framework includes step-by-step guidance, from defining a research question, to establishing a causal model, identifying and specifying data requirements in a common data model, generating synthetic data, and developing an interoperable and reproducible analytical pipeline for distributed deployment. The conceptual and instrumental phase of the framework was demonstrated and an analytical pipeline implementing federated causal inference was prototyped using open-source software in preparation for the assessment of real-world effectiveness of SARS-CoV-2 primary vaccination in preventing infection in populations spanning different countries, integrating a data quality assessment, imputation of missing values, matching of exposed to unexposed individuals based on confounders identified in the causal model and a survival analysis within the matched population. Results: The conceptual and instrumental phase of the proposed methodological framework was successfully demonstrated within the BY-COVID project. Different Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable (FAIR) research objects were produced, such as a study protocol, a data management plan, a common data model, a synthetic dataset and an interoperable analytical pipeline. Conclusions: The framework provides a systematic approach to address federated cross-national policy-relevant causal research questions based on sensitive population, health and care data in a privacy-preserving and interoperable way. The methodology and derived research objects can be re-used and contribute to pandemic preparedness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Causal inference helps researchers and policy-makers to evaluate public health interventions. When comparing interventions or public health programs by leveraging observational sensitive individual-level data from populations crossing jurisdictional borders, a federated approach (as opposed to a pooling data approach) can be used. Approaching causal inference by re-using routinely collected observational data across different regions in a federated manner, is challenging and guidance is currently lacking. With the aim of filling this gap and allowing a rapid response in the case of a next pandemic, a methodological framework to develop studies attempting causal inference using federated cross-national sensitive observational data, is described and showcased within the European BeYond-COVID project. Methods: A framework for approaching federated causal inference by re-using routinely collected observational data across different regions, based on principles of legal, organizational, semantic and technical interoperability, is proposed. The framework includes step-by-step guidance, from defining a research question, to establishing a causal model, identifying and specifying data requirements in a common data model, generating synthetic data, and developing an interoperable and reproducible analytical pipeline for distributed deployment. The conceptual and instrumental phase of the framework was demonstrated and an analytical pipeline implementing federated causal inference was prototyped using open-source software in preparation for the assessment of real-world effectiveness of SARS-CoV-2 primary vaccination in preventing infection in populations spanning different countries, integrating a data quality assessment, imputation of missing values, matching of exposed to unexposed individuals based on confounders identified in the causal model and a survival analysis within the matched population. Results: The conceptual and instrumental phase of the proposed methodological framework was successfully demonstrated within the BY-COVID project. Different Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable (FAIR) research objects were produced, such as a study protocol, a data management plan, a common data model, a synthetic dataset and an interoperable analytical pipeline. Conclusions: The framework provides a systematic approach to address federated cross-national policy-relevant causal research questions based on sensitive population, health and care data in a privacy-preserving and interoperable way. The methodology and derived research objects can be re-used and contribute to pandemic preparedness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The granulate ambrosia beetle (GAB) Xylosandrus crassiusculus, was first formally detected in New Zealand in 2019. Since then, GAB has subsequently been found infesting numerous tree species in the Auckland region.Flight intercept traps baited with ethanol lures were deployed from October 2019 to May 2021 at three sites in the Auckland region to ascertain the phenology of GAB in New Zealand. Two distinct peak flight periods were identified in early and late summer, while a smaller and inconsistent third peak was detected in early autumn. Logistical analysis of GAB captures in the ethanol‐lured traps and degree‐day (DD) accumulation indicated that 90% of flight activity is completed by 800 DD.To assess monitoring tactics, flight intercept traps were baited with three different ethanol lures with varying release rates or ethanol‐soaked or non‐soaked wood bolts from three species of trees. A lure releasing 2 g ethanol per day was most effective at capturing GAB. Ethanol‐soaked bolts were less effective than the lures.Xylosandrus crassiusculus represents a significant risk for shrubs and trees native to New Zealand, as well as commercial horticultural and forestry trees. We recommend using ethanol‐lured panel traps for monitoring purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Differences in the genetic material of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants may result in altered virulence characteristics. Assessing the disease severity caused by newly emerging variants is essential to estimate their impact on public health. However, causally inferring the intrinsic severity of infection with variants using observational data is a challenging process on which guidance is still limited. We describe potential limitations and biases that researchers are confronted with and evaluate different methodological approaches to study the severity of infection with SARS-CoV-2 variants.Methods: We reviewed the literature to identify limitations and potential biases in methods used to study the severity of infection with a particular variant. The impact of different methodological choices is illustrated by using real-world data of Belgian hospitalized COVID-19 patients.Results: We observed different ways of defining coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) disease severity (e.g., admission to the hospital or intensive care unit versus the occurrence of severe complications or death) and exposure to a variant (e.g., linkage of the sequencing or genotyping result with the patient data through a unique identifier versus categorization of patients based on time periods). Different potential selection biases (e.g., overcontrol bias, endogenous selection bias, sample truncation bias) and factors fluctuating over time (e.g., medical expertise and therapeutic strategies, vaccination coverage and natural immunity, pressure on the healthcare system, affected population groups) according to the successive waves of COVID-19, dominated by different variants, were identified. Using data of Belgian hospitalized COVID-19 patients, we were able to document (i) the robustness of the analyses when using different variant exposure ascertainment methods, (ii) indications of the presence of selection bias and (iii) how important confounding variables are fluctuating over time.Conclusions: When estimating the unbiased marginal effect of SARS-CoV-2 variants on the severity of infection, different strategies can be used and different assumptions can be made, potentially leading to different conclusions. We propose four best practices to identify and reduce potential bias introduced by the study design, the data analysis approach, and the features of the underlying surveillance strategies and data infrastructure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Differences in the genetic material of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants may result in altered virulence characteristics. Assessing the disease severity caused by newly emerging variants is essential to estimate their impact on public health. However, causally inferring the intrinsic severity of infection with variants using observational data is a challenging process on which guidance is still limited. We describe potential limitations and biases that researchers are confronted with and evaluate different methodological approaches to study the severity of infection with SARS-CoV-2 variants. Methods: We reviewed the literature to identify limitations and potential biases in methods used to study the severity of infection with a particular variant. The impact of different methodological choices is illustrated by using real-world data of Belgian hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Results: We observed different ways of defining coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) disease severity (e.g., admission to the hospital or intensive care unit versus the occurrence of severe complications or death) and exposure to a variant (e.g., linkage of the sequencing or genotyping result with the patient data through a unique identifier versus categorization of patients based on time periods). Different potential selection biases (e.g., overcontrol bias, endogenous selection bias, sample truncation bias) and factors fluctuating over time (e.g., medical expertise and therapeutic strategies, vaccination coverage and natural immunity, pressure on the healthcare system, affected population groups) according to the successive waves of COVID-19, dominated by different variants, were identified. Using data of Belgian hospitalized COVID-19 patients, we were able to document (i) the robustness of the analyses when using different variant exposure ascertainment methods, (ii) indications of the presence of selection bias and (iii) how important confounding variables are fluctuating over time. Conclusions: When estimating the unbiased marginal effect of SARS-CoV-2 variants on the severity of infection, different strategies can be used and different assumptions can be made, potentially leading to different conclusions. We propose four best practices to identify and reduce potential bias introduced by the study design, the data analysis approach, and the features of the underlying surveillance strategies and data infrastructure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Squamous cell carcinoma of the anus (SCCA) is a rare disease often diagnosed at a localised stage. For locally advanced recurrence or metastatic disease, DCF (docetaxel, cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil) demonstrated high efficacy and became one of the standard regimens. However, there is no standard of care in the second line. In the Epitopes-HPV01 and Epitopes-HPV02 prospective trials, 115 patients with advanced SCCA were treated with a DCF regimen in the first line. In these studies, second-line data were registered per protocol. After a median follow-up of >40 months, at progression, 73 patients received a second-line (L2) treatment. In this L2 population, median overall survival (mOS) was 13.5 months (95%CI 9.4–19.8), and median progression-free survival (mPFS) was 5.7 months (3.4–7.3) in L2. Fourteen patients presented an oligometastatic progression and were treated with an ablative treatment (surgery or radiotherapy); mOS was 48.3 months (NE–NE), and mPFS was 31.3 months (23.2–NE). Fifty-nine patients received a systemic treatment (chemotherapy or immunotherapy); mOS was 11 months (8.4–15.4) and mPFS was 4.9 months (3.3–7). The most frequent chemotherapy regimens were the reintroduction of DCF, paclitaxel, FOLFIRI and mitomycin plus fluoropyrimidine. No significant difference was observed between regimens (p = 0.26). Six patients received anti-PD1/L1-based immunotherapy. Second-line treatments are effective in patients with SCCA. Ablative treatment is feasible and is probably the best option for patients with oligometastatic progression. If this is not possible, systemic therapy by an anti-PD1/L1 immunotherapy or chemotherapy can be recommended. Reintroduction of DCF, paclitaxel, FOLFIRI or mitomycin-C plus fluoropyrimidine are possible options. • There is no validated standard treatment in second-line in advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the anus. • Curative-intent ablative treatment should be recommended whenever is possible. • Chemotherapy in second-line is a valid option. • Modified docetaxel, cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil reintroduction, paclitaxel, FOLFIRI, or mitomycin-C + 5-fluorouracil can be recommended. • Anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (PD1) immunotherapy demonstrated some efficacy in second-line. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seasonality influences the abundance and activity of forest insects. Harvesting during periods of reduced activity could minimise colonisation risk on logs and reduce the need for phytosanitary treatments. We describe the winter colonisation dynamics of Pinus radiata logs in operational harvest sites in New Zealand and assess the probability of log colonisation as a function of captures in flight interception traps. After 15 days, 3% and 1% of logs were colonised by Hylastes ater and Hylurgus ligniperda (Coleoptera: Scolytinae), respectively, and 1% by Xenocnema spinipes (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). The same three species were captured in traps. Our observations showed that logs exposed for ≥ 2 weeks are predicted to have a more than 1% probability of bark beetle colonisation, whereas logs removed from forests within 24 or 48 h had predicted colonisation rates of 0.13% and 0.26%, respectively. A positive relationship between trap capture and log colonisation was also observed. Average catches of < 1 bark beetle per trap, three bark beetles per trap or ten bark beetles per trap equated to estimated log colonisation rates of < 10%, 14–98% or > 98% log colonisation. A positive relationship was also shown between log colonisation rates and temperature. A 12.3 °C temperature threshold predicted colonisation rates of 5, 50 and 95% with thermal sums of 10, 20 and 30 degree-hours, respectively. Models based on exposure time, trap catches, or environmental factors can estimate seasonal probability of insect colonisation, which aids identification of periods of low pest pressure when treatments could be avoided or reduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surgical factors and direct cytotoxicity of bile salts on cholangiocytes may play a role in the development of ischemic cholangiopathy (IC) after liver transplantation (LTx). There is no validated consensus on how to protect the bile ducts during procurement, static preservation, and LTx. Meanwhile, IC remains the most troublesome complication after LTx. To characterize bile duct management techniques during the LTx process among European transplant centers in cases of donation after brain death (DBD) and circulatory death (DCD). An European Liver and Intestine Transplant Association–European Liver Transplant Registry web survey designed to conceal respondents' personal information was sent to surgeons procuring and/or transplanting livers in Europe. Sixty-five percent of responses came from large transplant centers (>50 procurements/y). In 8% of DBDs and 14% of DCDs the bile duct is not rinsed. In 46% of DBDs and 52% of DCDs surgeons prefer to remove the gallbladder after graft reperfusion. Protocols concerning preservation solutions (nature, pressure, volume) are extremely heterogeneous. In 54% of DBDs and 61% of DCDs an arterial back table pressure perfusion is performed. Steroids (20%-10%), heparin (72%-60%), prostacyclin (3%-7%), and fibrinolytics (4%-11%) are used as donor-protective interventions in DBD and DCD cases, respectively. In 2% of DBD and 6% of DCD cases a hepatic artery reperfusion is performed first. In 4% of DBD and 6% of DCD cases, fibrinolytics are administered through the hepatic artery during the bench and/or implantation. This European web survey shows for the first time the heterogeneity in the management of bile ducts during procurement, preservation, and transplantation in Europe. In the context of sharing more marginal liver grafts, an expert meeting must be organized to formulate guidelines to be applied to protect liver grafts against IC. • Ischemic cholangiopathy is still a major complication after liver transplantation. • Surgical factors and bile cytotoxicity may play a role in ischemic cholangiopathy. • There is no validated consensus or guidelines to protect bile ducts. • Bile duct management during the LTx process is heterogeneous across Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ageing brings profound changes in walking gait. For example, older adults reduce the modification of pelvic and trunk kinematics with walking speed. However, the modification of the coordination between lower-limb segments with age has never been investigated across various controlled speeds.Research Question: Is the effect of speed on the intersegmental coordination different between elderly and young adults?Methods: Nineteen senior and eight young adults walked on a treadmill at speeds ranging from 0.56 to 1.94 m s-1. The motion of the lower-limb segments in the sagittal plane was recorded by cinematography. When the angles of the thigh, shank and foot during a stride are plotted one versus the other, they describe loops constraint on a plane. The coordination between lower-limb segments was thus evaluated by performing a principal component analysis between the thigh, shank and foot elevation angles. The effect of speed and age on the intersegmental coordination was examined using a two-level linear mixed model ANOVA.Results: In both age groups the orientation of the plane changes with speed, due to a more in-phase shank and foot motion. However, the effect of speed on the covariation plane is lessened with age.Significance: Our results demonstrate that there is an age-related specific adjustment of the intersegmental coordination to speed. In particular, older adults restrict their repertoire of angular segment motion. These differences in coordination are mainly related to different foot-shank coordination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Gait is a powerful measurement tool to evaluate the functional decline throughout ageing. Falls in elderly adults happen mainly during the redirection of the center of mass of the body (CoM) in the transition between steps. In young adults, this step–to–step transition begins before the double contact phase (DC) with a simultaneous forward and upward acceleration of the CoM. We hypothesize that, compared to young adults, elderly adults would exhibit unbalanced contribution of the back leg and the front leg during the transition. We calculated the mean vertical push-off done by the back leg (F BACK) and the mean impact force on the front leg (F FRONT) during the transition. Eight young (mean ± SD; age: 24 ± 2 y) and 19 elderly (age: 74 ± 6 y) healthy adults walked on a force-measuring treadmill at five selected speeds ranging from 0.56 to 1.67 m·s−1. Results show that, at mid and high speeds, elderly adults exhibit a smaller F BACK compared to young adults, possibly linked to the decreased plantar flexion of the back foot. As a consequence, F FRONT is significantly increased and the transition begins lately in the step, at the beginning of DC. Also, elderly adults show an inability to accelerate the CoM upward and forward simultaneously. Our findings show a different adaptation of the step–to–step transition with speed in elderly adults and identify two potential indicators of gait impairment with age: the F FRONT /F BACK contribution and the synchronization between the upward and forward acceleration of the CoM during the transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

International trade and movement of people are largely responsible for increasing numbers of non-native insect introductions to new environments. For forest insects, trade in live plants and transport of wood packaging material (WPM) are considered the most important pathways facilitating long-distance invasions. These two pathways as well as trade in firewood, logs, and processed wood are commonly associated with insect infestations, while "hitchhiking" insects can be moved on cargo, in the conveyances used for transport (e.g., containers, ships), or associated with international movement of passengers and mail. Once established in a new country, insects can spread domestically through all of the above pathways. Considerable national and international efforts have been made in recent years to reduce the risk of international movement of plant pests. International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs) No. 15 (WPM), 36 (plants for planting), and 39 (wood) are examples of phytosanitary standards that have been adopted by the International Plant Protection Convention to reduce risks of invasions of forest pests. The implementation of ISPMs by exporting countries is expected to reduce the arrival rate and establishments of new forest pests. However, many challenges remain to reduce pest transportation through international trade, given the ever-increasing volume of traded goods, variations in quarantine procedures between countries, and rapid changes in distribution networks. It is therefore likely that many more human-assisted invasions of forest insects will take place. New geographic expansions by natural modes are also made possible due to changes in host distribution and/or climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The authors demonstrated the feasibility of sintering lunar regolith layer-by-layer solely using concentrated sunlight. First trials using actual concentrated sunlight led to an inhomogeneous sintering of individual layers of lunar regolith simulant, due to the significant flux density variations caused by atmospheric fluctuations. Tests focusing Xenon light demonstrated however the concept with the manufacturing of the first solar 3D printed brick made of lunar regolith simulant. The use of artificial light enabled steady illumination conditions over several hours as required to sinter lunar regolith layer-by-layer. Actual compressive strength of the sintered bricks, below 5 MPa, might be currently too low for a direct lunar application. High porosity levels and weak layer-to-layer bonding were observed on the micro-scale, but ways of improving the technology were found by reducing the thermal gradient and the cooling time between consecutive layers, thus showing the potential of the process. Adaptation of the technology on the Moon is presented to illustrate the suitability of solar additive manufacturing on the lunar surface, as a possible technique for shielding habitats and building roads prior to arrival of the astronauts. Highlights • A novel 3D printing technique using only sunlight and lunar soil is presented. • The lunar soil is sintered layer-by-layer by concentrated sunlight. • A brick was solar 3D-printed using Xenon light and JSC-2A lunar simulant. • Characterisation indicates a compression strength of the solar sintered parts smaller than 5 MPa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Profound behavioral changes occur in the mother at parturition, a time when the maternal brain undergoes extensive remodeling of neural circuits, especially in olfactory structures. Adult neurogenesis, a form of brain plasticity, could constitute an adaptive response to motherhood. The present study hypothesized that chemical disruption of olfactory neurogenesis would impair the establishment of maternal behavior in sheep. In addition, because ewes are able to learn the olfactory signature of their offspring, we also examined whether disruption of olfactory neurogenesis altered recognition of the familiar lamb. At one month of gestation, ewes received either infusion of the antimitotic drug Ara-C or saline into the lateral ventricles via one-month-long osmotic minipumps. Ara-C infusion dramatically decreased olfactory neurogenesis but spared hippocampal neurogenesis. Mothers exhibiting more than a 70% reduction in olfactory neurogenesis emitted fewer maternal bleats during the first hours after parturition. Reduction of olfactory neurogenesis also negatively affected discrimination of the familiar lamb. Differences in ewes’ aggressive behavior toward familiar and alien lambs were observed in sham mothers, but not in mothers with reduced olfactory neurogenesis. In addition, when ewes were given the choice between familiar and unfamiliar anesthetized lambs, so that only olfactory cues were available, mothers with a reduction in neurogenesis greater than 70% were not able to discriminate their own lamb from an alien lamb. These results indicate that adult-born olfactory neurons are to some extent involved in the establishment of maternal behavior in sheep by contributing to the processing of offspring odors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) was protected during Mars atmospheric entry by a 4.5 meter diameter heatshield, which was constructed by assembling 113 thermal tiles made of NASA's flagship porous ablative material, Phenolic Impregnated Carbon Ablator (PICA). Analysis and certification of the tiles thickness were based on a one-dimensional model of the PICA response to the entry aerothermal environment. This work provides a detailed three-dimensional heat and mass transfer analysis of the full-scale MSL tiled heatshield. One-dimensional and three-dimensional material response models are compared at different locations of the heatshield. The three-dimensional analysis is made possible by the use of the Porous material Analysis Toolbox based on OpenFOAM (PATO) to simulate the material response. PATO solves the conservation equations of solid mass, gas mass, gas momentum and total energy, using a volume-averaged formulation that includes production of gases from the decomposition of polymeric matrix. Boundary conditions at the heatshield forebody surface were interpolated in time and space from the aerothermal environment computed with the Data Parallel Line Relaxation (DPLR) code at discrete points of the MSL trajectory. A mesh consisting of two million cells was created in Pointwise, and the material response was performed using 840 processors on NASA's Pleiades supercomputer. The present work constitutes the first demonstration of a three-dimensional material response simulation of a full-scale ablative heatshield with tiled interfaces. It is found that three-dimensional effects are pronounced at the heatshield outer flank, where maximum heating and heat loads occur for laminar flows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing demand for donor organs and the decreasing organ quality is prompting research toward new methods to reduce ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI). Several strategies have been proposed to protect preserved organs from this injury. Before curcumin/dextrin complex (CDC), a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent, can be used clinically we need to better understand the intracellular uptake under hypothermic conditions on a rat model of liver donation after circulatory death (DCD) and brain death (DBD). To be able to use the fluorescence of CDC for quantification the stability of CDC in different preservation solutions at 4°C or 37°C was investigated. Livers from Wistar rats were procured after being flushed-out through the portal vein using CDC-enriched preservation solutions and stored at 4°C for variable periods. The CDC signal was stable in different preservation solutions over a period of 4 h and allowed the rapid and lasting uptake of curcumin into cells. After 4 h of preservation, CDC was no longer visible microscopically, and HPLC analysis showed very low to non-detectable tissue levels of CDC, proving metabolization during preservation. However, the distribution of CDC was not affected by warm ischemia damage (p = 0.278) nor by flushing the livers before or after 4 h of cold storage and without a warm preflush. Finally, curcumin reduced oxidative stress, lowered histological injury and did not change gene expression after WI/cold storage. Therefore, the use of CDC flush solution for the initial organ flush can offer a promising approach to the enhancement of liver preservation and the maintenance of its quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors investigate mechanical properties of sintered lunar regolith. Using JSC-1A and DNA lunar simulants, they study the influence of changes in glass content, main plagioclase series, and ilmenite content on a defined sintering process and on the mechanical properties of resulting sintered samples. Ilmenite addition up to 20 wt% of the regolith showed a negligible effect on the sintered product. The anorthite plagioclase endmember cannot be replaced by albite, responsible for the low sintering temperature of DNA and covering up the effect of the glass phase. The vacuum environment was revealed to have a positive effect on JSC-1A sintering: the grains bond at lower temperature than in air, thus preventing the formation of additional porosity and increasing the compression strength up to 152 MPa compared with only 98 MPa for sintering JSC-1A in air. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long distance dispersal to locate suitable breeding sites is recognized as a key trait influencing the population dynamics and distribution of bark beetles and other saprophytic insects. While dispersal behavior has been studied for a range of aggressive ‘tree killing’ bark beetles, few have considered the dispersal behaviour of non-aggressive saprophytic bark beetles that utilize kairomones (host volatiles). We present the results of a mark-recapture experiment that examined adult dispersal patterns of the saprophytic bark beetle Hylurgus ligniperda. Releases took place in summer and autumn 2014, in a clearcut pine forest in the central North Island, New Zealand. Both flight-experienced and flight-naïve adults were marked and released in the center of a circular trap grid that extended to 960 m with 170 or 200 panel traps baited with a kairomone blend of alpha-pinene and ethanol. Of the 18,464 released H. ligniperda, 9,209 (49.9%) of the beetles flew, and 96 (1.04%) of the beetles that flew were recaptured. Individuals were recaptured at all distances. The recapture of flight-experienced beetles declined with dispersal distance, and a diffusion model showed heterogeneous dispersal tendencies within the population. Our best model estimated that 46% of flight-experienced beetles disperse > 1 km, and 1.6% > 5 km. Conversely, no declining pattern was shown in the recapture of flight-naïve beetles, suggesting that emerging H. ligniperda may require a period of flight to initiate chemotropic orientation behavior and subsequent attraction to traps. We discuss the implications of these findings for the management of phytosanitary risks. For instance, combining landscape knowledge of source populations with dispersal processes facilitates estimation of pest pressure at economically sensitive areas such as harvest and timber storage sites. Quantitative dispersal estimates also inform pest risk assessments by predicting spread rates for H. ligniperda that has proven establishment capabilities in other countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New neurons are continuously added to the main olfactory bulb (MOB) of the mammalian brain. While their function has been demonstrated in olfactory learning, it is less known in an ethological context such as mothering. We addressed this question by investigating whether in sheep mothers the adult-generated olfactory neurons contribute to the processing of odors involved in attraction to lambs and in memorization of its individual signature. Parturient ewes, after having 2 days of contact with their lamb and being separated from them for 3 h, were exposed for 2 h either to their own lamb, an unfamiliar lamb or a familiar adult sheep and then sacrificed. A control group was composed of mothers not exposed to any lambs for 5 h before sacrifice. Bromodeoxyuridine, a marker of cell division, was injected 3 months before parturition and revealed through immunocytochemistry in combination with markers of activation or neuronal maturation. The percentage of adult-born cells activated in the granular layer of the MOB was compared between the four groups. Results show that the whole population of olfactory neuroblasts and in particular the 3-month-old neuroblasts, are preferentially activated by lamb exposure and that the preferential activation is specific to olfactory neurogenesis since no activation was observed in newborn neurons of the dentate gyrus. However, neither neuroblasts nor mature neurons of the MOB differentiate between familiar and unfamiliar lamb exposure. Therefore, our data shows that adult-born neurons contribute to the processing of infantile odors which are determinant for maternal behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Novel equilibrium ablation and thermal response model for NuSil-coated PICA. • Charred NuSil surface modeled as pure silica based on post-test analysis. • 2D material response simulations of PICA-NuSil compared to HyMETS arc jet data. • Hypersonic flow in the HyMETS wind tunnel characterized through CFD simulations using a machine learning methodology based on stagnation point measurements. A novel equilibrium ablation and thermal response model for NASA's Phenolic Impregnated Carbon Ablator (PICA) is presented. For the first time, the model accounts for the effect of NuSil, a silicone overcoat applied as contamination control during assembly, test, and launch operations for both the Mars Science Laboratory and the Mars 2020 heatshields. The protective effect of NuSil against atomic oxygen is discussed based on experimental results collected under arc jet environment. A detailed mass and heat transfer analysis for PICA-NuSil was implemented in the Porous material Analysis Toolbox based on OpenFOAM, PATO. The model includes specific boundary conditions for the coating removal and surface equilibrium processes using representative elements of the NuSil-environment system. The charred NuSil surface was modeled as SiO 2 based on the observation that a silicon oxycarbide layer, formed during the decomposition of NuSil, transforms into domains of pure silica and charred PICA. Two-dimensional material response simulations were performed to compare PICA and PICA-NuSil using boundary conditions calibrated with arc jet data. The present work constitutes the first demonstration of a multi-dimensional ablation response of a silicone-coated carbon-phenolic ablator. It is shown that simulations agree with experiments, and the model reproduces measured temperature and recession. Differences between the PICA-NuSil response under Earth and Mars atmospheres are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objective: In this study, we have evaluated the organ procurement and transplantation activity from donors after cardiac death (DCD) at our institution over an 8-year period. Our aim was to determine whether this program influenced transplantation programs, or donation after brain death (DBD) activity. Methods: We prospectively collected our procurement and transplantation statistics in a database for retrospective review. Results: We observed an increasing trend in potential and actual DCD number. The mean conversion rate turning potential into effective donors was 58.1%. DCD accounted for 16.6% of the deceased donor (DD) pool over 8 years. The mean age for effective DCD donors was 53.9 years (range, 3–79). Among the effective donors, 63.3% (n = 31) came from the transplant center and 36.7% (n = 18) were referred from collaborative hospitals. All donors were Maastricht III category. The number of kidney and liver transplants using DCD sources tended to increase. DCD kidney transplants represented 10.8% of the DD kidney pool and DCD liver transplants made up 13.9% of the DD liver pool over 8 years. The DBD program activity increased in the same time period. In 2009, 17 DCD and 33 DBD procurements were performed in a region with a little >1 million inhabitants. Conclusion: The establishment of a DCD program in our institution enlarged the donor pool and did not compromise the development of the DBD program. In our experience, DCD are a valuable source for abdominal organ transplantation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In gait lab, the quantification of the ground reaction forces (GRFs) acting upon individual limbs is required for dynamic analysis. However, using a single force plate, only the resultant GRF acting on both limbs is available. The aims of this study are (a) to develop an algorithm allowing a reliable detection of the front foot contact (FC) and the back foot off (FO) time events when walking on a single plate, (b) to reconstruct the vertical GRFs acting upon each limb during the double contact phase (DC) and (c) to evaluate this reconstruction on healthy and clinical gait trials. For the purpose of the study, 811 force measurements during DC were analyzed based on walking trials from 27 healthy subjects and 88 patients. FC and FO are reliably detected using a novel method based on the distance covered by the centre of pressure. The algorithm for the force reconstruction is a revised version of the approach of Davis and Cavanagh [24]. In order to assess the robustness of the algorithm, we compare the resulting GRFs with the real forces measured with individual force plates. The median of the relative error on force reconstruction is 1.8% for the healthy gait and 2.5% for the clinical gait. The reconstructed and the real GRFs during DC are strongly correlated for both healthy and clinical gait data (R(2)=0.998 and 0.991, respectively). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A mute is a device that is placed in the bell of a brass instrument to alter its sound. However, when a straight mute is used with a brass instrument, the frequencies of its first impedance peaks are slightly modified, and a mistuned, extra impedance peak appears. This peak affects the instrument's playability, making some lower notes difficult or impossible to produce when playing at low dynamic levels. To understand and suppress this effect, an active mute with embedded microphone and speaker has been developed. A control loop with gain and phase shifting is used to control the damping and frequency of the extra impedance peak. The stability of the controlled system is studied and then the effect of the control on the input impedance and radiated sound of the trombone is investigated. It is shown that the playability problem results from a decrease in the input impedance magnitude at the playing frequency, caused by a trough located on the low frequency side of the extra impedance peak. When the extra impedance peak is suppressed, the playability of the note is restored. Meanwhile, when the extra impedance peak is moved in frequency, the playability problem position is shifted as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Regulation of neuroendocrine responses is often studied in animals housed indoors in individual contiguous pens. In sheep, these housing conditions are used to control the environment, facilitate biological sampling and limit social stress. However, this type of housing also prevents exploratory behaviors and could induce stereotypies, non-compliant with welfare and possibly associated with a state of stress. In this context, we investigated the impact of housing in a single-pen, with other familiar conspecifics, on emotional state by evaluating behavioral, hormonal and neuronal measures in adult ewes. We hypothesized that emotional state would be more negative in animals housed in a single-pen for one week (Pen) than in freely moving animals (Free) but less negative than in socially isolated subjects (Isol). We tested our hypothesis in ovariectomized ewes to avoid the interaction with sexual steroid variations. Our behavioral, endocrine and neuronal (Fos activation of the corticotropin-releasing hormone neurons in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus) measures confirmed that withdrawing familiar conspecifics was sufficient to induce strong stress responses in Isol ewes, but there was no indication that Pen ewes were stressed. However, the latter showed less mastication activity than Free ewes, probably due to limited accessibility to straw. The highest plasma prolactin levels were observed in Isol and Free animals, which might result from stress and physical activity, respectively. In Free ewes, plasma dopamine was low, consistent with its inhibitory control of prolactin. However, Isol animals had both high levels of prolactin and dopamine, suggesting a dysregulated balance in socially stressed ewes. As in other species, we suggest that the regulation of prolactin by dopamine varies with stress and/or social context. Overall, this study shows that the impact of housing conditions on different neuroendocrine systems should be considered more in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate here effects of adaptations like dimension reduction, omission of parameter correlation, and grid refinement on parameter influence over material temperature response and total recession. The task is accomplished by applying Morris screening and method of Sobol' sensitivity studies applied to a range of 3-D, 1-D, and 1-D TC1-driver cases for the MSL entry through the Martian atmosphere, where the material response of the MSL heat shield is simulated with NASA's PATO toolbox. Results of the investigation show that lower-dimensional approaches can, in some cases, be utilized for initial parameter screening prior to execution of a fully-detailed simulation, but in general, obtained sensitivities differ. Moreover, coarse computational grids do not impose significantly distinct input-output mechanics and can be utilized for accurate screening and quantitative sensitivity analysis exercises even with non-negligible residual values. The investigation also discusses the implications of an unknown correlation structure on parameter sensitivities while finding little evidence of significant correlation effects on parameter classification given input uncertainty bounds defined in this work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arc jets are unique facilities used to evaluate the performance of Thermal Protection Systems (TPS) for hypersonic vehicles. They produce high pressure and high enthalpy plasma flow to simulate the extreme heat encountered during atmospheric entry. The constricted arc heater part of an arc jet increases the test gas temperature by Joule heating. This study details the development of the three-dimensional unsteady plasma flow analysis tool, ARCHeS (ARC Heater Simulator). Coupled Navier-Stokes, radiative transfer and Maxwell equations yield current density, magnetism, radiation, and flow field solutions. The present work constitutes the first demonstration of an unsteady three-dimensional plasma flow simulation of high pressure and high enthalpy arc heater that captures kink instabilities of the electric arc. It is found that the arc attachment is mainly driven by upstream arc instabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The lubrication phenomenon occurring by shearing a nanoscale liquid bridge was simulated using the molecular dynamics method by varying the width of the liquid bridge, and the momentum transport phenomena of the liquid bridge were analyzed. The Fennell method was used to calculate the coulombic interaction and the Lees–Edwards method was used to maintain the velocity gradient in the liquid bridge. First, to estimate the overall viscosity coefficient of the liquid bridge, the width and interfacial region of the liquid bridge were determined. The overall viscosity coefficient was then modeled by considering two contributions from the bulk and interfacial region and the momentum fluxes or viscosity coefficients in the bulk and interfacial region were obtained. The model approximately expresses the simulation results, and the viscosity of the interfacial region was determined to be between one fourth and one third of that of the bulk. In addition, the partial momentum fluxes were calculated to verify the validity of the proposed model. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Although adult neurogenesis has been conserved in higher vertebrates such as primates and humans, timing of generation, migration, and differentiation of new neurons appears to differ from that in rodents. Sheep could represent an alternative model to studying neurogenesis in primates because they possess a brain as large as a macaque monkey and have a similar life span. By using a marker of cell division, bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU), in combination with several markers, the maturation time of newborn cells in the dentate gyrus (DG) and the main olfactory bulb (MOB) was determined in sheep. In addition, to establish the origin of adult-born neurons in the MOB, an adeno-associated virus that infects neural cells in the ovine brain was injected into the subventricular zone (SVZ). A migratory stream was indicated from the SVZ up to the MOB, consisting of neuroblasts that formed chain-like structures. Results also showed a long neuronal maturation time in both the DG and the MOB, similar to that in primates. The first new neurons were observed at 1 month in the DG and at 3 months in the MOB after BrdU injections. Thus, maturation of adult-born cells in both the DG and the MOB is much longer than that in rodents and resembles that in nonhuman primates. This study points out the importance of studying the features of adult neurogenesis in models other than rodents, especially for translational research for human cellular therapy. J. Comp. Neurol. 521:169-188, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pinus radiata (radiata pine or Monterey pine) is threatened in its native range in California and, at the same time, one of the most widely-planted tree species worldwide, especially in the southern hemisphere. It is affected by a wide range of plant-feeding insects both in its native range and in regions where it is planted as an introduced tree. In addition, there are many invasive insects that have colonised P. radiata, in some cases causing major damage. Here, our objectives were to provide a complete and up-to-date overview of all insect species recorded from P. radiata worldwide, to summarise where these insects are native and which countries or regions they have invaded, to categorise them according to their impacts as damaging species or as vectors of plant pathogens, and to examine border interceptions to determine whether pathways exist that would allow these species to enter and potentially invade additional regions. Our compilation of insects feeding on P. radiata provides a list of 649 species (and an additional 11 species identified at the genus level only). Coleoptera is the most represented order in the list (299 species), followed by Lepidoptera (224 species) and Hemiptera (65 species). We classified 28 species as high-impact, including 12 true bark beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae), eight Lepidoptera, five other Coleoptera, two Hymenoptera and one Hemiptera. These species can cause substantial direct damage or act as vectors of highly-damaging plant pathogens. Other species cause only occasional damage, rarely requiring management (classified as 'low-medium impact') or they are generally benign ('negligible impact'). Hemiptera and Scolytinae have a high proportion of species established outside their native range. The Nearctic and Neotropic regions have been invaded by the most high-impact species, mainly by species native to Europe. Border interceptions of 185 species (29% of those on our list) were recorded during import inspections between 1995-2021, indicating considerable potential for further invasions. The findings of our study can be used to identify potential high-impact invaders and the pathways that may require more phytosanitary attention. Furthermore, our analyses provide useful insights into the insect-plant interactions resulting from the global distribution of a tree species and the native and non-native insects feeding on it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Introduction: Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) (LTx) using donation after circulatory death (DCD) donors is increasingly performed, but still considered to risk of poorer outcomes compared with standard donations after brain death (DBD)-OLT. Therefore we reviewed our results of DCD-OLT. Patients and Methods: Between 2003 and 2010, we performed 30 DCD-OLT (6% of all OLT). We retrospectively reviewed medical records of donors and recipients after DCD versus DBD-OLT to analyze biliary complications, retransplantation rates, and patient/graft survivals. Results: Median donor age was similar for DCD and DBD-OLT: 51 versus 53 years (P = .244). Median donor warm ischemia time (stop ventilation to cold perfusion in DCD donors) was 24 minutes. Median cold ischemia time was shorter for DCD (6 hours 54 minutes) compared with DBD-OLT (8 hours 36 minutes; P < .0001). Median laboratory model of end-stage liver disease score was 15 for DCD, and 16 for DBD-OLT (P = .59). Median post-OLT Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) peak was higher after DCD: 1178 versus DBD-OLT 651 IU/L (P = .005). The incidence of nonanastomotic strictures was different: 33.3% for DCD versus 12.5% for DBD-OLT (P = .001). The overall retransplantation rate was 3% after both DCD and DBD-OLT. After DCD-LTx actuarial 1, 3- and 5-year patient survivals were 93, 85 and 85%, and corresponding graft survivals, 90%, 82%, and 82% respectively, and not different compared with DBD-OLT: 88%, 78%, and 72% (P = .348) and 85%, 74%, and 68% (P = .524) respectively. Conclusion: Despite substantial ischemic injury (high peak AST and biliary strictures) short- and long-term survival after DCD-OLT was comparable to DBD-OLT. Rapid donor surgery, careful donor and recipient selection, as well as short warm and cold ischemia times are key factors to optimize outcomes after DCD-OLT. However, strategies to reduce biliary complications remain warranted. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We investigated how modifications in winter and spring temperature conditions may affect the survival of a spring-hatching Lepidoptera, the oak processionary moth Thaumetopoea processionea., Supercooling and chilling injury experiments indicate that eggs are especially cold hardy at the start of the winter period, although this ability is reduced later in the season. In the spring, young larvae are sufficiently cold hardy to ensure no direct mortality as a result of late frosts., A comparison of phenological models shows that neonate larvae may await the unfolding of new oak leaves for relatively long periods (e.g. 1-30 days). Under both low (4°C after 5 days at 16°C) and high temperature experimental scenarios (constant 16°C), the majority of neonate larvae can survive starvation for more than 2 weeks., Larvae may also suffer from food depletion once their development has been initiated (e.g. during cold springs) if the threshold temperature for feeding is not reached for several consecutive days, or in the case of late frosts affecting foliage availability. When temperature is reduced to 4°C, developing larvae become inactive and do not feed anymore; their starvation survival capability is reduced to approximately 2 weeks (cold spring hypothesis). At 16°C, developing larvae that are deprived of food can only survive for 10 days (late frost hypothesis)., We conclude that, in the oak processionary moth, neonate larvae are relatively well adapted to early hatching relative to budburst, ensuring them the highest foliage quality for development. In some years, however, phenological asynchrony or cold spring conditions may affect the persistence of populations at the limits of the species' range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This correspondence presents an asymptotic analysis of the eigenvalue decomposition (EVD) of the sample covariance matrix associated with independent identically distributed (i.i.d.) non necessarily circular and Gaussian data that extends the well known analysis presented in the literature for circular and Gaussian data. Closed-form expressions of the asymptotic bias and variance of the sample eigenvalues and eigenvectors are given. As an application of these extended expressions, the statistical performance analysis of the widely used minimum description length (MDL) criterion applied to the detection of the number of noncircular or/and non-Gaussian sources impinging on an array of sensors is considered with a particular attention paid to uncorrelated rectilinear sources. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Abstract: Production of new neurons continues throughout life in the subventricular zone (SVZ) and the dentate gyrus (DG) of the hippocampus and is influenced by both endocrine and social factors. In sheep parturition is associated with the establishment of a selective bond with the young based on an olfactory learning. The possibility exists that endocrine changes at parturition together with interactions with the young modulate cell proliferation in the neurogenic zones. In the present study, we first investigated the existence of cell proliferation in sheep. Newly born cells labeled by the cell proliferation marker 5-bromo-2′-deoxyuridine (BrdU) were found in the SVZ, the main olfactory bulb (MOB) and the DG and completely co-localized with Ki-67, another mitotic marker. Forty to 50% of the BrdU-labeled cells contained GFAP suggestive of the presence of neural stem cells. Secondly, parturition with or without interactions with the lamb for 2days, down-regulated the number of BrdU-labeled cells in the 3 proliferation sites in comparison to no pregnancy. An additional control provided evidence that this effect is specific to early postpartum period: estrus with interactions with males did not affect cell proliferation. Our results provide the first characterization of neural cell proliferation in the SVZ, the DG and unexpectedly in the MOB of adult sheep. We hypothesize that the down-regulation of cell proliferation observed in the early postpartum period could facilitate the olfactory perceptual and memory demands associated with maternal behavior by favouring the survival and integration of neurons born earlier. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Squeezing of a liquid film between two parallel plates: adherence or wall slip? The wall no-slip condition constitutes a satisfactory boundary condition for most of fluid mechanics models and in theory of lubrication. Nevertheless the experimental description of wall slip has resulted in more and more frequent discussion of this assumption over the last decade. Prospective theoretical work currently aims at optimizing the bearing pressure and at minimizing friction by considering alternations of slip zones and no-slip zones. The wall slip is frequently introduced into the theoretical models through the Navier condition, which stipulates that the slip speed is proportional to the parietal shear rate, the factor of proportionality being named slip length. The slip lengths announced in the literature go from molecular scales when physics experiments are carried out under very controlled microgeometrical and physico-chemical conditions, towards the order of magnitude of flow thickness in tests of fluid mechanics or lubrication types. The presented study consists in squeezing a liquid film between the circular plates of a plane/plane rheometer with imposed deformation and in measuring the normal force reaction of the film. Even if the literature offers several works devoted to the slip effect during squeeze flow, it is, to our knowledge, only for non conformal contacts. The presentation of our experimental results tends to differ with the no-slip condition in the conformal contacts subjected to squeezing, and as a consequence also the theoretical prediction of damping coefficients in lubricated mechanisms operating under hydrodynamic regime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In sheep, the onset of filial bonding relies on early intake of colostrum. The aim of our work was to describe in the newborn lamb housed with its mother the immediate post-ingestive effects of colostrum intake, in terms of behaviour and brain activity. In Experiment 1, lambs received five nasogastric infusions of colostrum, or saline, or sham intubations during the first 6 h after birth. Mother–young interactions were recorded before and after the first, third and fifth infusions. The activity of the dam and of the young, which diminished over time in all groups, was temporarily increased in both partners just after each intubation procedure. The number of high-pitched bleats was significantly lower in lambs that received colostrum than in the sham group, suggesting soothing or satiating properties of colostrum. In Experiment 2, newborn lambs received a single nasogastric infusion of colostrum or saline 4.5 h after birth, or were sham intubated. Neuronal activation was investigated 1.5 h later for maximum c-Fos activity. Infusion of colostrum and saline induced different patterns of c-Fos-like immunoreactivity in the paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei of the hypothalamus as compared with the sham group. A specific oxytocinergic/vasopressinergic (OT/VSP) cell population in the paraventricular nucleus was activated following colostrum and saline infusion, but not sham intubation. Only colostrum induced the activation of the cortical amygdala and insular cortex, two structures involved in learning, associative processes, reward and emotion. We hypothesize that filial bonding may be triggered through colostrum-rewarded learning/calming processes and that the OT/VSP system may play a role. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The cortical (CoA) and the medial (MeA) nuclei of the amygdala are involved in the processing of olfactory information relevant to social recognition in the ewe. To better understand the neural pathways responsible for these effects, the connections of both CoA and MeA with the telencephalic and diencephalic regions were studied by injecting an anterograde (Biotin-Dextran-Amine, BDA) or a retrograde (Fluorogold, FG) neuronal tracer into either the CoA or the MeA. Concerning the primary olfactory structures, the CoA receives inputs from both the main olfactory bulb and the accessory olfactory bulb (AOB), while the MeA is innervated by cells only from the AOB. Among the other olfactory structures, only the entorhinal cortex and the tenia tecta are connected with both the CoA and the MeA. With respect to the other secondary olfactory structures, the connections with the CoA and the MeA show segregating neuronal routes. The CoA is connected with the accessory olfactory nucleus, the piriform, the endopiriform and the orbitofrontal cortices while the MeA exhibited connections with the nucleus of the lateral olfactory tract, the perirhinal and the insular cortices. Concerning the diencephalic structures, only the MeA receives projections from the PVN and the MBH. On the other hand, we showed that the BNST is the major site of connection with both the CoA and the MeA. Reciprocal projections were observed between the CoA and the MeA and between both nuclei and the basal or the lateral nuclei of the amygdala with the exception of the CoA which does not send inputs to the lateral nucleus. These data are discussed in relation with olfactory learning in the context of sexual and maternal behavior in sheep. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Extraction of oxygen from lunar soil is key to the sustainability of human and robotic operations on the Moon and would open the path to in-space refuelling with space resources. This work investigates reducing the temperature of the electrochemical FFC process, by changing the salt from pure CaCl 2 to eutectic mixtures with KCl, NaCl and LiCl. Initial experimental results demonstrate the feasibility of removing at least 40% of the oxygen present in lunar minerals in 24 ​h in all eutectics and at temperatures as low as 660 ​°C; 85% of the oxygen could be removed in the comparative experiment using the baseline conditions of CaCl 2 at 950 ​°C. Besides the expected impact on the kinetics when running the process at lower temperature, parasitic reactions linked to the graphite anode's interaction with the extracted oxygen, calcium cycling between the electrodes, and other mechanisms specific to each salt mixture appear to have a significant impact on the reduction process. Further work is needed to understand the limiting factors for the reduction in each eutectic salt electrolyte. • The electro-reduction of lunar regolith simulant LMS-1 is demonstrated. • LMS-1 is reduced in CaCl 2 , CaCl 2 –KCl, CaCl 2 –NaCl, CaCl 2 –LiCl, and LiCl. • The approach is based on the FFC-Cambridge process. • Eutectic salt mixtures allowed to lower the process temperature down to 660 ​°C. • More than 40% of the oxygen can be extracted in CaCl 2 –LiCl eutectic at 660 ​°C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Finite impulse responses (FIR) of single-input single-output (SISO) channels can be blindly identified from second-order statistics of transformed data, for instance when the channel is excited by binary phase shift keying (BPSK), minimum shift keying (MSK), or quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK) inputs. Identifiability conditions are derived by considering that noncircularity induces diversity. Theoretical performance issues are addressed to evaluate the robustness of standard subspace-based estimators with respect to these identifiability conditions. Then benchmarks such as asymptotically minimum variance (AMV) bounds based on various statistics are presented. Some illustrative examples are eventually given where Monte Carlo experiments are compared to theoretical performances. These comparisons allow to quantify limits to the use of the alphabet diversities for the identification of FIR SISO channels, and to demonstrate the robustness of algorithms based on high-order statistics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1. The Eurasian spruce bark beetle Dendroctonus micans is a major pest of spruce which is expanding its range in France, Turkey, England and Wales. Its monospecific predator Rhizophagus grandis has followed its prey naturally into most areas and since the 1960s has also been mass-produced and released within newly infested locations. Assessing bark-beetle presence at previously uninfested sites, or predator establishment after release or natural spread, currently depends on direct observation of D. micans brood chambers. This is a slow and unreliable process because bark-beetle attacks are solitary, cryptic and occur on living trees. An effective trapping method would thus be most useful. 2. A synthetic lure for R. grandis was first field-tested in release–recapture experiments. Release points were surrounded by one or two concentric rings of traps baited with either D. micans larval frass or with a blend of synthetic chemicals. Kairomone-trapping using the synthetic lure was then tested in the field, monitoring R. grandis in 58 spruce stands in Belgium and France. 3. In the release–recapture experiments, up to 65% of the released predators were caught within 48 h. Catches with the synthetic lure and with prey frass were not significantly different. 4. Field-trapping assays showed R. grandis establishment in 30 stands, including areas where the predator had been introduced artificially. Trapping was unsuccessful at the southern and western limits of D. micans’ range. Combined visual and trapping approaches identified 32 stands containing the predators, with two false negatives with the trapping method, compared to 19 for the visual surveys. 5. Unexpectedly, male and female D. micans adults were trapped in some cases. The combined approach identified 43 attacked stands, among which there were four false negatives with the trapping method and 11 with the visual surveys. 6. Synthesis and applications. To our knowledge, this is one of the first cases of using kairomone traps to monitor a predator after releases for biocontrol. Furthermore, because this predator is strictly prey-specific, this technique also identifies stands colonized by D. micans bark beetles. Following inoculative predator releases, kairomone trapping could be used to survey for D. micans in areas under colonization or in European Union ‘Protected Zones’. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The present study was designed to investigate the role of the medial preoptic area (MPOA) and the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) in the onset and maintenance of maternal behavior in sheep. In a first experiment, the MPOA or BNST were transiently inactivated during the first 2 h postpartum in primiparous ewes with the use of the anaesthetic lidocaine. MPOA inactivation greatly impaired the display of maternal behavior whereas inactivation of BNST or of adjacent sites (septum or diagonal band of Broca) or infusion of cerebrospinal fluid did not. In a separation/reunion lamb test (S/R) performed at 2 h postpartum, ewes with MPOA inactivation exhibited little reaction after separation of their lambs and did not show any motivation to reunite with them. Ewes with BNST inactivation showed intermediate performances in the S/R test. Moreover, in control ewes that were maternal for the first 2 h postpartum, MPOA or BNST inactivation performed in the following 12 h induced deficits in the S/R test, indicating that the MPOA and to a lesser extent BNST are also involved in the maintenance of maternal behavior. A second experiment showed that, in multiparous ewes, MPOA inactivation at parturition induced less deficit in the display of maternal behavior and in the S/R test than in primiparous mothers. These findings indicate that the MPOA and, to some extent, the BNST are functionally involved in the initiation and in the maintenance of maternal behavior in sheep, but this involvement is influenced by maternal experience. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper is devoted to a statistical performance analysis of blind estimation of bit error rates (BER5) of a bank of detectors, using empirical estimation algorithms that have appeared in the literature (by Dixit et al.). In particular, we prove that these blind estimators asymptotically (in the number of observed bits) achieve the accuracy obtained with perfect knowledge of the transmitted bits. We propose a maximum-likelihood solution which follows from the standard expectation-maximization (EM) algorithm, considered to be a reference algorithm. Finally, the optimal fusion rule is revisited and our theoretical results are compared to Monte Carlo simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper addresses asymptotically minimum variance (AMV) of parameter estimators within the class of algorithms based on second-order statistics for estimating parameter of strict-sense stationary complex circular processes. As an application, the estimation of the frequencies of cisoids for mixed spectra time series containing a sum of cisoids and an MA process is considered. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In sheep, ewes at parturition are responsive to any newborn lamb, but within less than 1 h, mothers learn to recognize the odor of their lamb and restrict maternal care to their own offspring (maternal selectivity). In a first experiment, we investigated the long-term retention of maternal selectivity after various mother-young contact and separation durations. After 4 h of contact, 36 h of separation leads to a total loss of selectivity. Increasing contact duration to 7 days prior to this separation maintains selectivity. These data suggest that lamb memory after going through an initial labile state after parturition, is consolidated over time into a more stable long-term memory. Fos immunohistochemistry reveals that reintroduction of the lamb after 4 h of mother-young contact and 3 h of separation activates different maternal brain regions than reintroduction of the lamb after 7 days of mother-young contact and 3 h of separation. While the piriform cortex shows an enhanced activation at both times, a selective enhancement of activation is observed in the frontal medial and orbitofrontal cortices only after 7 days of mother-young contact. These data suggest that as consolidation occurs, the neurobiological networks sustaining lamb memory involve different structures. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The influence of estrus, pregnancy, parturition, and maternal experience on the expression of estrogen receptor-α (ERα) was investigated in hypothalamic and limbic regions of the sheep brain, using immunocytochemistry. Four days before parturition, previous maternal experience was associated with a higher density of ERα-labeled neurons in the paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei, the medial preoptic area, and the medial amygdala, but not in the mediobasal hypothalamus. Furthermore, an interaction was found between physiological state and experience in the peripartum period as the effect of experience existing 4 days prepartum was not found at parturition, when densities were lowest both in primiparous and in multiparous ewes. An additional effect of physiological state was also observed between parturition and estrus, densities being significantly lower at parturition than at estrus in the SON, PVN, and MPOA, but not in the medial amygdala. These results indicate that in sheep ERα expression is influenced by previous physiological and/or maternal experience at specific times of the reproductive cycle. They are also congruent with the higher ability of multiparous than nulliparous ewes to show maternal behavior several days prepartum. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This survey of the coastal dunes of northern France is based on stratigraphy, 14C dating, sedimentology and morphology applied for palaeoclimatic and palaeodynamic purpose. The dunes rest on a Flandrian prism sealed by Atlantic peats grown backward from a subboreal dune ridge. Two historical building phases are recorded: the late Roman dunes and the 13th century dunes. These events are separated by pedogenesis. Contribution of reworked fluvial sands also records the recent climatic degradation, with an increased storminess (Little Ice Age) associated with more efficient erosion (soil erosion and floods). The dunes of Picardy also record the Global Warming: their morphologies attest a shift from parabolic into longitudinal, by coupling storminess and sea-level rise. To cite this article: M. Meurisse et al., C. R. Geoscience 337 (2005). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Visceral stimuli and the gut–brain axis play a crucial role in the control of ingestion even in the neonate. The aim of this study was to assess the neuronal activation in the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) and the area postrema (AP) following nutritional and non-nutritional stimulations. Lambs received a single gastric infusion of colostrum or saline at 5% birth weight or were sham infused. Infusion of either liquid led to c-Fos-like immunoreactivity (c-FLI) in the NTS and AP. Differences were observed along the sections of the NTS rostro-caudal axis according to the nature of the stimulation, suggesting a specificity of certain afferents and/or NTS areas for nutritional or non-nutritional signals. In the AP, the neuronal activation induced by colostrum was much higher than that induced by saline. A higher number of TH-immunoreactive cells were activated following colostrum infusion, suggesting a specific involvement of the catecholaminergic pathway in the treatment of meal-related stimuli. In spite of functional convergence, the two medullary structures observed responded differently according to the stimulation, indicating a complementary role in the integration of visceral signals. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In sheep, recognition of the familiar lamb by the mother depends on the learning of its olfactory signature after parturition. The authors quantified Fos changes in order to identify brain regions activated during lamb odor memory formation. Brain activation was compared with those measured in anosmic ewes displaying maternal behavior but not individual lamb recognition. In intact ewes, parturition induced significant increase in Fos expression in olfactory cortical regions and in cortical amygdala, whereas in anosmic mothers, Fos expression was very low. In contrast, no difference was observed between intact and anosmic ewes in hypothalamic areas and medial amygdala, suggesting a differentiation between the neural network controlling maternal responsiveness and that involved in olfactory lamb memory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several studies have analysed aromatic interactions, involving mostly phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan. Only a few studies have considered histidine as an interacting aromatic residue. An extensive analysis of aromatic His–X interactions is performed here on a data set of 593 PDB structures: 68% of the histidine are involved in aromatic pairs and 1271 non-redundant His–X pairs were analysed. Thirty percent of these pairs involve an aromatic partner less than 6 apart in the sequence. These near-sequence pairs correspond to conformations which stabilise secondary structures, mainly α-helices when the residues are 4 apart and β-strands when they are 2 apart in the sequence. The partners of the other His–X pairs (887, 70%) are more than 5 apart in the sequence. Of these far-sequence pairs, 35% bridge beta strands and only 9% helices. The near-sequence pairs are sterically constrained as supported by conformer distribution. The X partners of far-sequence His–X pairs are mainly “above” the histidine ring with tilted and normal rings, corresponding to a “T shape; face to edge” orientation. Phenylalanine, the only aromatic residue with no heteroatom, is a disfavoured partner, whereas histidine is the preferred one. Heteroatom–heteroatom interactions are favoured in near-sequence as well as in far-sequence His–His, His–Trp and His–Tyr pairs. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]