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La pose de prothèse articulaire est une intervention améliorant la qualité de vie des patients souffrant de douleurs articulaires chroniques et de problèmes de mobilité. Son succès dépend à la fois de l’intervention et de l’éducation du patient dans le cadre d’un parcours de réhabilitation améliorée après chirurgie (RAAC) auquel l’équipe pharmaceutique peut contribuer par des entretiens pharmaceutiques post-opératoires (EPPO).

Les verrous sont des solutions instillées dans les cathéters centraux pour lutter contre les complications thrombotiques et infectieuses, en préventif ou en curatif. Des recommandations sur les verrous anti-infectieux ont motivé la Commission des anti-infectieux (CAI) à se saisir du sujet et à l’étendre à l’ensemble des verrous.

•La quantité de dispositifs médicaux utilisée en réanimation néonatale est importante.•Les différentes pratiques de perfusion néonatale en France sont très hétérogènes.•Cette hétérogénéité génère une différence de prise en charge des nouveau-nés.•Standardiser les montages de perfusion est nécessaire pour coter le risque d’ICC.

In this paper, we study the relationship between geographic distance, asymmetric information and the success of crowdfunding campaigns. For this purpose, we collect data from the 'Kickstarter' crowdfunding platform from 2012 to 2013. The sample contains 9,146 projects financed by more than 300,000 funders in 165 countries. An ordinary least squares (OLS) model was used. Results show a positive and significant relationship between information asymmetry items and the success of the crowdfunding campaign. This relationship is negative between the geographic distance of the funders and the campaign's success, meaning that the farther the funder is located from the project, the less is the probability of the campaign's success. Results also show that the number of funders, the duration of the project, and the economic sector are linked to crowdfunding campaign success.

ABSTRACTThe world has just experienced a significant health crisis, which has an impact on each of us. COVID-19 is causing a global health emergency and an unprecedented global economic slowdown. All aspects of our economy are impacted: trade, investment, growth, and employment are damaged. This crisis will affect the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals as well as the everyday life of almost every human being on Earth.

L’administration 5 fluoro-uracile est réalisée via un système de perfusion à débit fixe avec ballonnet en élastomère (diffuseur/infuseur). Depuis juillet 2022, 9 cas de matériovigilance (MTV) ont été déclarés sur l’établissement sur 2 modèles : 7 sur un grand volume (GV) 250ml coque souple (CS) et 2 sur un GV coque rigide (CR). Les anomalies recensées (fuites, perfusions trop rapides supérieures à la norme tolérée de 10 %) ont entraîné 2 évènements indésirables graves : ischémie mésentérique et spasme coronarien.

Remote ischaemic conditioning with transient ischaemia and reperfusion applied to the arm has been shown to reduce myocardial infarct size in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI). We investigated whether remote ischaemic conditioning could reduce the incidence of cardiac death and hospitalisation for heart failure at 12 months.

ABSTRACTMastitis is among the main reasons women cease breastfeeding, which leads to them supplementing breast milk with artificial formula. In farm animals, mastitis results in significant economic losses and the premature culling of some animals. Nevertheless, researchers do not know enough about the effect of inflammation on the mammary gland. This article discusses the changes to DNA methylation in mouse mammary tissue caused by lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation (4 h post-injection of lipopolysaccharide). We analysed the expression of some genes related to mammary gland function, epigenetic regulation, and the immune response. The analysis focused on three comparisons: inflammation during the first lactation, inflammation during second lactation with no history of inflammation, and inflammation during second lactation with previous inflammation. We identified differentially methylated cytosines (DMCs), differentially methylated regions (DMRs), and some differentially expressed genes (DEGs) for each comparison. The three comparisons shared some DEGs; however, few DMCs and only one DMR were shared. These observations suggest that inflammation is one of several factors affecting epigenetic regulation during successive lactations. Furthermore, the comparison between animals in second lactation with and without inflammation, with no inflammation history during first lactation showed a different pattern compared to the other conditions in this experiment. This indicates that inflammation history plays an important role in determining epigenetic changes. The data presented in this study suggest that lactation rank and previous inflammation history are equally important when explaining mammary tissue gene expression and DNA methylation changes.Abbreviations:RRBS, reduced representation bisulfite sequencing; RT–qPCR, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction; MEC, mammary epithelial cells; TSS, transcription start site; TTS, transcription termination site; UTR, untranslated region; SINE, short interspersed nuclear element; LINE, long interspersed nuclear element; CGI, CpG island; DEG, differentially expressed gene; DMC, differentially methylated cytosine; DMR, differentially methylated region; GO term, gene ontology term; MF, molecular function; BP, biological process

ABSTRACTMastitis is among the main reasons women cease breastfeeding. In farm animals, mastitis results in significant economic losses and the premature culling of some animals. Nevertheless, the effect of inflammation on the mammary gland is not completely understood. This article discusses the changes to DNA methylation in mouse mammary tissue caused by lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation after in vivo intramammary challenges and the differences in DNA methylation between 1stand 2ndlactations. Lactation rank induces 981 differential methylations of cytosines (DMCs) in mammary tissue. Inflammation in 1stlactation compared to inflammation in 2ndlactation results in the identification of 964 DMCs. When comparing inflammation in 1stvs. 2ndlactations with previous inflammation history, 2590 DMCs were identified. Moreover, Fluidigm PCR data show changes in the expression of several genes related to mammary function, epigenetic regulation, and the immune response. We show that the epigenetic regulation of two successive physiological lactations is not the same in terms of DNA methylation and that the effect of lactation rank on DNA methylation is stronger than that of the onset of inflammation. The conditions presented here show that few DMCs are shared between comparisons, suggesting a specific epigenetic response depending on lactation rank, the presence of inflammation, and even whether the cells had previously suffered inflammation. In the long term, this information could lead to a better understanding of the epigenetic regulation of lactation in both physiological and pathological conditions.Abbreviations:RRBS, reduced representation bisulphite sequencing; RT-qPCR, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction; MEC, mammary epithelial cells; MaSC, mammary stem cell; TSS, transcription start site; TTS, transcription termination site; UTR, untranslated region; SINE, short interspersed nuclear element; LINE, long interspersed nuclear element; CGI, CpG island; DEG, differentially expressed gene; DMC, differentially methylated cytosine; DMR, differentially methylated region; GO term, gene ontology term; MF, molecular function; BP, biological process

Aim:Development of protein vaccine to prevent congenital infection is a major public health priority. Our goal is the design of mucosal synthetic pathogen inducing protective immune responses against congenital toxoplasmosis. Materials & methods:Mice were immunized intranasally, establishing pregnancy and challenging orally. Placental immune response, congenital infection, pup growth, parasitic load rates were studied. Results:Pups born to vaccinated infected dams had significantly fewer brain cysts, no intraocular inflammation and normal growth. Protection was associated with a placental cellular Th1 response downregulated by IL-6 and correlated with persistence of vaccine for few hours in the nose before being totally eliminated. Conclusion:Our vaccine conferred high protection against congenital toxoplasmosis. These results provide support for future studies of other congenital vaccine.

Mutations in the type III receptor tyrosine kinase FLT3 are frequent in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and are associated with a poor prognosis. AML is characterized by the overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can induce cysteine oxidation in redox-sensitive signaling proteins. Here, we sought to characterize the specific pathways affected by ROS in AML by assessing oncogenic signaling in primary AML samples. The oxidation or phosphorylation of signaling proteins that mediate growth and proliferation was increased in samples from patient subtypes with FLT3 mutations. These samples also showed increases in the oxidation of proteins in the ROS-producing Rac/NADPH oxidase-2 (NOX2) complex. Inhibition of NOX2 increased the apoptosis of FLT3-mutant AML cells in response to FLT3 inhibitors. NOX2 inhibition also reduced the phosphorylation and cysteine oxidation of FLT3 in patient-derived xenograft mouse models, suggesting that decreased oxidative stress reduces the oncogenic signaling of FLT3. In mice grafted with FLT3 mutant AML cells, treatment with a NOX2 inhibitor reduced the number of circulating cancer cells, and combining FLT3 and NOX2 inhibitors increased survival to a greater extent than either treatment alone. Together, these data raise the possibility that combining NOX2 and FLT3 inhibitors could improve the treatment of FLT3 mutant AML.

L’intervention de Sauvé Kapandji (iSK) est une chirurgie fréquente pour la prise en charge des séquelles post-traumatiques de l’articulation radio ulnaire distale (RUD). Les séries évaluant les résultats à long terme et le risque de complications sont rares. L’objectif principal était de décrire les résultats cliniques et radiographiques à long terme après iSK réalisée dans un contexte post-traumatique. Les objectifs secondaires étaient de relever les complications post-opératoires, les reprises chirurgicales et leurs facteurs de risque de survenue. Notre hypothèse était que bien que l’iSK apportait de bons résultats cliniques, il existait des facteurs de risque de complications à identifier.

Arable soils are a large source of nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions, making up half of the biogenic emissions worldwide. Estimating their source strength requires methods capable of capturing the spatial and temporal variability of N2O emissions, along with the effects of crop management. Here, we applied a process-based model, CERES, with geo-referenced input data on soils, weather, and land use to map N2O emissions from wheat-cropped soils in three agriculturally intensive regions in France. Emissions were mostly controlled by soil type and local climate conditions, and only to a minor extent by the doses of fertilizer nitrogen applied. As a result, the direct emission factors calculated at the regional level were much smaller (ranging from 0.0007 to 0.0033 kg N2O-N kg–1 N) than the value of 0.0125 kg N2O-N kg–1 N currently recommended in the IPCC Tier 1 methodology. Regional emissions were far more sensitive to the soil microbiological parameter s governing denitrification and its fraction evolved as N2O, soil bulk density, and soil initial inorganic N content. Mitigation measures should therefore target a reduction in the amount of soil inorganic N upon sowing of winter crops, and a decrease of the soil N2O production potential itself. From a general perspective, taking into account the spatial variability of soils and climate thereby appears necessary to improve the accuracy of national inventories, and to tailor mitigation strategies to regional characteristics. The methodology and results presented here may easily be transferred to winter oilseed rape, whose has growing cycle and fertilser requirements are similar.

ABSTRACTThe role of the recently described interleukin-32 (IL-32) in Staphylococcus aureus-induced mastitis, an inflammation of the mammary gland, is unclear. We determined expression of IL-32, IL-6, and IL-8 in S. aureus- and Escherichia coli-infected bovine mammary gland epithelial cells. Using live bacteria, we found that in S. aureus-infected cells, induction of IL-6 and IL-8 expression was less pronounced than in E. coli-infected cells. Notably, IL-32 expression was decreased in S. aureus-infected cells, while it was increased in E. coli-infected cells. We identified the staphylococcal phenol-soluble modulin (PSM) peptides as key contributors to these effects, as IL-32, IL-6, and IL-8 expression by epithelial cells exposed to psmmutant strains was significantly increased compared to that in cells exposed to the isogenic S. aureuswild-type strain, indicating that PSMs inhibit the production of these interleukins. The use of genetically complemented strains confirmed this observation. Inasmuch as the decreased expression of IL-32, which is involved in dendritic cell maturation, impairs immune responses, our results support a PSM-dependent mechanism that allows for the development of chronic S. aureus-related mastitis.

The distal compartments of the udder are the first to interact with invading pathogens. The regulatory and effector functions of two major teat regions [Fürstenberg's rosette (FR); teat cistern (TC)] are largely unknown. The objective of this study was to establish an in vitro model with explants of the FR and the TC to analyse their response towards Escherichia coli LPS and Staphylococcus aureus lipoteichoic acid (LTA). Quantitative stereological analysis confirmed differences in the cellular composition of FR and TC explants. Chemokine (CXCL8, CCL5, CCL20) and TNF-α mRNA were expressed at low levels in both locations. Explant stimulation with LPS increased the mRNA abundance of all tested chemokines and TNF-α. Stimulation with LTA only induced CCL20 and CXCL8. LPS- and LTA-stimulated explant supernatants contained CXCL8 and CXCL3. Supernatants significantly attracted neutrophils in vitro. Compared with TC, the FR showed high constitutive mRNA expression of S100 proteins (A8, A9, A12). In the TC, both LPS and LTA significantly induced S100A8, whereas S100A9 and S100A12 expression was only induced by LPS. The novel model system underpins the role of the teat for recognising pathogens and shaping a pathogen- and location-specific immune response.

We described chemical inhibitors of Mos1 transposition. Some were already known to affect a related prokaryotic transposase (Tn5) or HIV-1 integrase, whereas the other were new compounds in this field. The new compounds were all organized around a bis-(heteroaryl)maleimides scaffold. Their mechanism of action depended on the chemical substitutions on the scaffold. The cross-activity, between HIV-1 integrase and Mos1 transposase, of the new group of inhibitors showed that Mos1 transposase could constitute an excellent surrogate HIV-1 inhibitor screen.

ABSTRACTIbeA in extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli(ExPEC) strains was previously described for its role in invasion. Here we investigated the role of IbeA and IbeT, encoded by a gene located downstream of ibeA, in the adhesion of the avian ExPEC strain BEN2908 to human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMEC). The ΔibeAmutant was less adhesive to HBMEC than the wild-type strain BEN2908 was. Because strain BEN2908 also expresses type 1 fimbriae, we measured the adhesion specifically due to IbeA by comparing the adhesive properties of a Δfimderivative of strain BEN2908 to those of a double ΔfimΔibeAmutant. No differences were observed, indicating that the reduction of adhesion in BEN2908 ΔibeAcould be due to a decrease in type 1 fimbria expression. We indeed showed that the decreased adhesion of BEN2908 ΔibeAwas correlated with a decrease in type 1 fimbria expression. Accordingly, more bacteria had a fimpromoter orientated in the off position in a culture of BEN2908 ΔibeAthan in a culture of BEN2908. Expression of fimBand fimE, two genes encoding recombinases participating in controlling the orientation of the fimpromoter, was decreased in BEN2908 ΔibeA. A reduction of type 1 fimbria expression due to a preferential orientation of the fimpromoter in the off position was also seen in an ibeTmutant of strain BEN2908. We finally suggest a role for IbeA and IbeT in modulating the expression of type 1 fimbriae through an as yet unknown mechanism.

IbeA in extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC) strains was previously described for its role in invasion. Here we investigated the role of IbeA and IbeT, encoded by a gene located downstream of ibeA, in the adhesion of the avian ExPEC strain BEN2908 to human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMEC). The ibeA mutant was less adhesive to HBMEC than the wild-type strain BEN2908 was. Because strain BEN2908 also expresses type 1 fimbriae, we measured the adhesion specifically due to IbeA by comparing the adhesive properties of a fim derivative of strain BEN2908 to those of a double fim ibeA mutant. No differences were observed, indicating that the reduction of adhesion in BEN2908 ibeA could be due to a decrease in type 1 fimbria expression. We indeed showed that the decreased adhesion of BEN2908 ibeA was correlated with a decrease in type 1 fimbria expression. Accordingly, more bacteria had a fim promoter orientated in the off position in a culture of BEN2908 ibeA than in a culture of BEN2908. Expression of fimB and fimE, two genes encoding recombinases participating in controlling the orientation of the fim promoter, was decreased in BEN2908 ibeA. A reduction of type 1 fimbria expression due to a preferential orientation of the fim promoter in the off position was also seen in an ibeT mutant of strain BEN2908. We finally suggest a role for IbeA and IbeT in modulating the expression of type 1 fimbriae through an as yet unknown mechanism.

Gnathostome teeth are one of the most promising models for developmental evolutionary studies, they are the most abundant organ in the fossil record and an excellent example of organogenesis. Teeth have a complex morphology and are restricted to the mouth in mammals, whereas actinopterygian teeth have a simple morphology and are found in several locations, notably on pharyngeal bones. Morphological and developmental similarities support the hypothesis that oral and pharyngeal teeth are serially homologous. Gene expression data from the mouse and some teleosts have shown that the gene families involved in pharyngeal odontogenesis are also involved in oral tooth formation, with the notable exception of the evx gene family. Here, we present a complete description of early odontogenesis in the medaka (Oryzias latipes), which has both oral and pharyngeal dentition. We show that oral and pharyngeal teeth share deep developmental similarities. In the medaka, like in the zebrafish, eve1 is the only evx gene expressed during odontogenesis. In each forming tooth, regardless of its location, eve1 transcription is activated in the placode, then becomes restricted to the inner dental epithelium and is activated in the dental mesenchyme during early differentiation, and finally ceases at late differentiation. Thus eve1 expression is not specific to pharyngeal teeth development as was previously suggested. Because it permits direct comparisons between oral and pharyngeal teeth by molecular, development and functional studies, the medaka is an excellent model to develop further insights into the evolution of odontogenesis in gnathostomes. J. Exp. Zool. (Mol. Dev. Evol.) 308B:693–708, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

ABSTRACTExtraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli(ExPEC) strains of human and avian origin show similarities that suggest that the avian strains potentially have zoonotic properties. However, the phylogenetic relationships between avian and human ExPEC strains are poorly documented, so this possibility is difficult to assess. We used PCR-based phylotyping and multilocus sequence typing (MLST) to determine the phylogenetic relationships between 39 avian pathogenic E. coli(APEC) strains of serogroups O1, O2, O18, and O78 and 51 human ExPEC strains. We also compared the virulence genotype and pathogenicity for chickens of APEC strains and human ExPEC strains. Twenty-eight of the 30 APEC strains of serogroups O1, O2, and O18 were classified by MLST into the same subcluster (B2-1) of phylogenetic group B2, whereas the 9 APEC strains of serogroup O78 were in phylogenetic groups D (3 strains) and B1 (6 strains). Human ExPEC strains were closely related to APEC strains in each of these three subclusters. The 28 avian and 25 human strains belonging to phylogenetic subcluster B2-1 all expressed the K1 antigen and presented no significant differences concerning the presence of other virulence factors. Moreover, human strains of this phylogenetic subcluster were highly virulent for chicks, so no host specificity was identified. Thus, APEC strains of serotypes O1:K1, O2:K1, and O18:K1 belong to the same highly pathogenic clonal group as human E. colistrains of the same serotypes isolated from cases of neonatal meningitis, urinary tract infections, and septicemia. These APEC strains constitute a potential zoonotic risk.

ABSTRACTExtraintestinal pathogenic (ExPEC) Escherichia colistrains of serotype O18:K1:H7 are mainly responsible for neonatal meningitis and sepsis in humans and belong to a limited number of closely related clones. The same serotype is also frequently isolated from the extraintestinal lesions of colibacillosis in poultry, but it is not well known to what extent human and avian strains of this particular serotype are related. Twenty-two ExPEC isolates of human origin and 33 isolates of avian origin were compared on the basis of their virulence determinants, lethality for chicks, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) patterns, and classification in the main phylogenetic groups. Both avian and human isolates were lethal for chicks and harbored similar virulence genotypes. A major virulence pattern, identified in 75% of the isolates, was characterized by the presence of F1 variant fimbriae; S fimbriae; IbeA; the aerobactin system; and genomic fragments A9, A12, D1, D7, D10, and D11 and by the absence of P fimbriae, F1C fimbriae, Afa adhesin, and CNF1. All but one of the avian and human isolates also belonged to major phylogenetic group B2. However, various subclonal populations could be distinguished by PFGE in relation to animal species and geographical origin. These results demonstrate that very closely related clones can be recovered from extraintestinal infections in humans and chickens and suggest that avian pathogenic E. coliisolates of serotype O18:K1:H7 are potential human pathogens.

How regional patterning of the neural tube in vertebrate embryos may influence the emergence and the function of neural networks remains elusive. We have begun to address this issue in the embryonic mouse hindbrain by studying rhythmogenic properties of different neural tube segments. We have isolated pre‐ and post‐otic hindbrain segments and spinal segments of the mouse neural tube, when they form at embryonic day (E) 9, and grafted them into the same positions in stage‐matched chick hosts. Three days after grafting, in vitro recordings of the activity in the cranial nerves exiting the grafts indicate that a high frequency (HF) rhythm (order: 10 bursts/min) is generated in post‐otic segments while more anterior pre‐otic and more posterior spinal territories generate a low frequency (LF) rhythm (order: 1 burst/min). Comparison with homo‐specific grafting of corresponding chick segments points to conservation in mouse and chick of the link between the patterning of activities and the axial origin of the hindbrain segment. This HF rhythm is reminiscent of the respiratory rhythm known to appear at E15 in mice. We also report on pre‐/post‐otic interactions. The pre‐otic rhombomere 5 prevents the emergence of the HF rhythm at E12. Although the nature of the interaction with r5 remains obscure, we propose that ontogeny of fetal‐like respiratory circuits relies on: (i) a selective developmental program enforcing HF rhythm generation, already set at E9 in post‐otic segments, and (ii) trans‐segmental interactions with pre‐otic territories that may control the time when this rhythm appears. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Neurobiol, 2006

Children with physical disabilities generally require more care, attention and direct supervision than children without disabilities. Research demonstrates that these higher care-giving demands are associated with poorer psychological and physical health states for parents and other family members. Assistive technologies may have a role in mitigating caregiver stress and burden by improving functional performance, social interaction and autonomy in children with physical disabilities. In this paper, we report on the initial development and testing of the Family Impact of Assistive Technology Scale – a new measure designed to detect the multidimensional effect of assistive device use on families who have young children with disabilities. To study the content validity and face validity of the Family Impact of Assistive Technology Scale, we conducted structured evaluations of the proposed constructs and items with 14 clinical experts and parents of young children with cerebral palsy. Experts agreed that the Family Impact of Assistive Technology Scale contains the key variables needed to study the effect of assistive technology use on child and family functioning. Parents concurred that items on the preliminary version were relevant and clear. Further research is planned to estimate the reliability and other aspects of validity of the Family Impact of Assistive Technology Scale.

Abstract: The long-term (9 years) effect of pig slurry applications vs mineral fertilization on denitrifying activity, N2O production and soil organic carbon (C) (extractable C, microbial biomass C and total organic C) was compared at three soil depths of adjacent plots. The denitrifying activities were measured on undisturbed soil cores and on sieved soil samples with acetylene method to estimate denitrification rates under field or potential conditions. Pig slurry applications had a moderate impact on the C pools. Total organic C was increased by +6.5% and microbial biomass C by ≥25%. The potential denitrifying activity on soil suspension was stimulated (×1.8, P<0.05) 12 days after the last slurry application. This stimulation was still apparent, but not significant, 10 months later and, according to both methods of denitrifying activity measurement (r 2=0.916, P<0.01 on sieved soil; r 2=0.845, P<0.001 on soil cores), was associated with an increase in microbial biomass C above a threshold of about 105 mg kg−1. The effect of pig slurry on denitrification and N2O reduction rates was detected on the surface layer (0–20 cm) only. However, no pig slurry effect could be detected on soil cores at field conditions or after NO3− enrichments at 20°C. Although the potential denitrifying activity in sieved soil samples was stimulated, the N2O production was lower (P<0.03) in the plot fertilized with pig slurry, indicating a lower N2O/(N2O + N2) ratio of the released gases. The pig-slurry-fertilized plot also showed a higher N2O reduction activity, which is coherent with the lower N2O production in anaerobiosis.

Estimation of nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from arable soils, in relation to crop fertilization, is essential to devise strategies to mitigate the impact of agriculture on global warming. This paper presents the development and test of a N2O model resulting from the linkage of a dynamic soil-crop simulation model (CERES) with two sub-models of N2O production and reduction in soils. These sub-models (NOE and NGAS) account for both the nitrification and denitrification pathways. The resulting models (CERES–NOE and CERES–NGAS) were tested against experimental data collected on three contrasting wheat-cropped soils representative of the Beauce agricultural region in France. Although the input variables for the N2O modules were correctly simulated, CERES–NGAS was over-responsive to soil water content in a Haplic Calcisol, and strongly over-estimated the N2O fluxes as a result. On the other hand, CERES–NOE predicted correct mean N2O emission levels for all sites, but failed to simulate the peak fluxes observed in the weeks following fertilizer application in the most N2O-productive soil. Both models achieved root mean squared errors in the 23–26 g N–N2O ha−1day−1range, significantly higher than the average experimental error on the measurements. On the other hand, their mean deviations were acceptable, being lower than 2.2 g N–N2O ha−1day−1, compared with a mean observed flux of 7.9 g N–N2O ha−1day−1. Overall, the response of CERES–NOE to soil type was more accurate, but this came at the cost of costly, site-specific characterization on the soils’ biological properties. The development of pedo-transfer functions to infer these parameters from basic soil characteristics appears as a pre-requisite for the use of CERES–NOE on a wider scale.

Emissions of N$_2$O, a greenhouse gas, were measured in field conditions on a Rendzic Leptosol, an Eutric Leptosol, a Haplic Calcisol, a Haplic Luvisol and two Gleyic Luvisols under cultivation, and on a Haplic Fluvisol and two Gleyic Cambisols under cultivation and grassland conditions. The kinetics of N$_2$O production and consumption during denitrification in these soils were studied during anaerobic incubations in the laboratory, with NO$_3^-$ and N$_2$O addition in the presence or absence of acetylene. The soils with the highest "in situ" levels of N$_2$O emission, i.e. the Gleyic Luvisols under cultivation and the grassland soils, exhibited considerable transient accumulation of N2O during denitrification studied in the laboratory. We therefore propose an empirical indicator, measured in the laboratory, of the soil's potential to emit N$_2$O on the field scale. Carbon addition to one of the Gleyic Luvisols promoted N$_2$O reduction and limited the transient accumulation of N$_2$O during laboratory denitrification.

ABSTRACTThe M protein is an important surface-located virulence factor of Streptococcuspyogenes, the group A streptococcus (GAS). Expression of M protein is primarily controlled by Mga, a transcriptional activator protein. A recent report suggested that the saglocus, which includes nine genes necessary and sufficient for production of streptolysin S, another GAS virulence factor, is also needed for transcription of emm, encoding the M protein (Z. Li, D. D. Sledjeski, B. Kreikemeyer, A. Podbielski, and M. D. Boyle, J. Bacteriol. 181:6019–6027, 1999). To investigate this in more detail, we constructed an insertion-deletion mutation insagA, the first gene in the saglocus, in the M6 strain JRS4. The resulting strain, JRS470, produced no detectable streptolysin S and showed a drastic reduction in cell surface-associated M protein, as measured by cell aggregation and Western blot analysis. However, transcription of the emmgene was unaffected by the sagAmutation. Detailed analysis with monoclonal antibodies and an antipeptide antibody showed that the M protein in the sagAmutant strain was truncated so that it lacks the C-repeat region and the C-terminal domain required for anchoring it to the cell surface. This truncated M protein was largely found, as expected, in the culture supernatant. Lack of surface-located M protein made the sagAmutant strain susceptible to phagocytosis. Thus, although sagAdoes not affect transcription of the M6 protein gene, it is needed for the surface localization of this important virulence factor.

Bacteria capable of denitrification are spread among phylogenetically diverse groups. In the present investigation, molecular methods (amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis (ARDRA) and partial 16S rDNA gene sequencing) were used to determine the genetic diversity of culturable denitrifying soil bacteria. The purpose of this work was to study the microbial density and diversity of denitrifying communities isolated from two luvisols and a rendosol. The denitrifying bacterial density was significantly higher in the two luvisols (3×106and 4×106bacteria g−1dry soil) than in the rendosol (4×105bacteria g−1dry soil). Denitrifying isolates from soils were grouped according to the similarity of their restriction patterns into 26 ARDRA types. Interestingly ARDRA analysis suggests that some denitrifying isolates are specific to a soil type while others seem to be geographically widespread. The number of individual isolates found in each ARDRA type appeared to be highly variable between the two sampling dates but some denitrifying types were capable of persisting in soil. The tree obtained from the partial sequences revealed five major branches exhibiting highest identity to the following genera: (i) Burkholderia‐Ralstonia, (ii) Pseudomonas, (iii) Xanthomonas‐Frateuria, (iv) Bacillusand (v) Streptomyces. Our 16S rDNA‐based analysis clearly reveals broad diversity exceeding that previously described in the literature.

Bacteria capable of denitrification are spread among phylogenetically diverse groups. In the present investigation, molecular methods (amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis (ARDRA) and partial 16S rDNA gene sequencing) were used to determine the genetic diversity of culturable denitrifying soil bacteria. The purpose of this work was to study the microbial density and diversity of denitrifying communities isolated from two luvisols and a rendosol. The denitrifying bacterial density was significantly higher in the two luvisols (3×106and 4×106bacteria g−1dry soil) than in the rendosol (4×105bacteria g−1dry soil). Denitrifying isolates from soils were grouped according to the similarity of their restriction patterns into 26 ARDRA types. Interestingly ARDRA analysis suggests that some denitrifying isolates are specific to a soil type while others seem to be geographically widespread. The number of individual isolates found in each ARDRA type appeared to be highly variable between the two sampling dates but some denitrifying types were capable of persisting in soil. The tree obtained from the partial sequences revealed five major branches exhibiting highest identity to the following genera: (i) Burkholderia-Ralstonia, (ii) Pseudomonas, (iii) Xanthomonas-Frateuria, (iv) Bacillusand (v) Streptomyces. Our 16S rDNA-based analysis clearly reveals broad diversity exceeding that previously described in the literature.

To test theoretical assumptions supporting the use of near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) in clinical practice, we examined the behaviour of NIR light transmission and attenuation in the human head. Sterile probes for emitting and detecting NIR light at a fixed separation of 40 mm were placed in turn on intact skin, skull, dura and cerebral cortex of 10 patients undergoing elective neurosurgery. In the first five patients, the detecting probe was moved through successive extracerebral layers with the emitter on the skin surface. In the second five patients, the process was reversed, with the emitting probe moved and the detector in the same place on the scalp. NIR intensity was measured at each tissue interface and compared with the intensity measured at the skin surface with all layers intact. Removal of bone and dura from the light path caused a significant reduction in detected intensity. The largest mean reduction in light intensity was a 14-fold decrease with removal of bone (unadjusted P < 0.0001; paired t test). The assumptions that extracerebral tissues contribute little to attenuation of NIR light in the adult head and that most of this attenuation occurs superficially in the scalp are drawn into question by this study. We postulate that the skull and/or its interface with other layers may act as an optical 'channel', distorting the behaviour of NIR light in the human head.

We have compared the effect of increasing optode separation (range 0.7-5.5 cm) on the sensitivity of near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to discrete reductions in scalp and cerebral oxygenation in 10 healthy men (mean age 32, range 26-39 yr) using multichannel NIRS. During cerebral oligaemia (a mean reduction in middle cerebral artery flow velocity of 47%) induced by a mean reduction in end-tidal PCO2 of 2.4 kPa, the decrease in oxyhaemoglobin detected by NIRS became significantly greater with increasing optode separation (P < 0.0001). In response to scalp hyperaemia induced by inflation and release of a pneumatic scalp tourniquet, increases in oxyhaemoglobin became significantly smaller with increasing optode separation (P < 0.0002). These results are consistent with theoretical models of the behaviour of NIR light in the adult head and support the concept of using multi-detector NIRS to separate intra- and extracranial NIR signal changes. However, the emitter-detector separation used by currently available cerebral oximeters is not large enough to provide optimal spatial resolution.

The Tol proteins of Escherichia coliare involved in outer membrane stability. They are also required for the uptake of the group A colicins and the translocation of filamentous phage DNA into the cytoplasm. The tol‐palgenes constitute two operons in the E. coligenome, orf1tolQRAand tolBpalorf2. The TolQ TolR TolA proteins form a complex in the cytoplasmic membrane, while TolB and Pal interact near the outer membrane. Most of the amino acid residues of TolA, TolB, TolR and Pal are localized in the periplasm. Recent advances in the knowledge of interactions of Tol‐Pal proteins with other envelope components, or with group A colicins, are presented, together with current hypotheses about the role of the Tol proteins in outer membrane stability.