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Near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy coupled with partial least squares (PLS-1) regression was used to predict the lignin contents and monosaccharide compositions of milled wood of Pinus radiata. The effects of particle size and moisture content were investigated by collecting NIR spectra of four sample types: large (

Conversion of natural forest to anthropogenic land use systems (LUS) often leads to considerable loss of carbon, however, proper management of these LUS may reverse the trend. A study was conducted in a semi-deciduous forest zone of Cote d’Ivoire to assess soil microbial functioning and soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks in varying tree stands, and to determine whether complex tree stands can mimic the natural forest in terms of these soil attributes. Tree plantations studied were monocultures of teak (Tectona grandis) and full-sun cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.), and a mixture of four tree species (MTS) with Tectona grandis, Gmelina arborea, Terminalia ivoriensis and Terminalia superba. An adjacent natural forest was considered as the reference. Each of these LUS had five replicate stands where soil (0–10 cm depth) samples were taken for physico-chemical parameters and microbial biomass-C (MBC), microbial activities, MBC/SOC ratio and metabolic quotient (qCO2). SOC and total N stocks were also calculated. The C mineralization rate (mg C–CO2 kg−1) and mineral N concentration (mg kg−1) drastically declined in the monocultures of cocoa (154.9 ± 29.3 and 49.8 ± 9.8, respectively) and teak (179.6 ± 27.1 and 54.1 ± 7.3) compared to the natural forest (258.4 ± 21.9 and 108.7 ± 12). However, values in MTS (194.7 ± 24.6 and 105.4 ± 7.4) were not significantly different from those in the natural forest. Similarly, SOC stocks in MTS (28.8 ± 1.9 Mg ha−1) were not significantly different from those recorded in the natural forest (32.9 ± 1.7 Mg ha−1) whereas teak (25.4 ± 1.7 Mg ha−1) and cocoa (23.1 ± 3.4 Mg ha−1) exhibited significantly lower values. Despite the acidic soil and recalcitrant litter conditions, increased MBC/SOC ratio and decreased qCO2 were recorded in the monocrops, suggesting a probable increase in the fungi/bacteria ratio. The complex MTS stand was found to mimic the natural forest in terms of soil microbial activity and organic status, due to the provision of a diversity of litter quality, which may serve as a basis for developing a climate smart timber system in West and Central Africa.

International audience; Tilted stems of softwoods form compression wood (CW) and opposite wood (OW) on their lower and upper sides, respectively. More is known about the most severe form of CW, severe CW (SCW), but mild CWs (MCWs) also occur widely. Two grades of MCWs, MCW1 and MCW2, as well as SCW and OW were identified in the stems of radiata pine (Pines radiata) that had been slightly tilted. The four wood types were identified by the distribution of lignin in the tracheid walls determined by fluorescence microscopy. A solution of the fluorescent dye acridine orange (AO) (0.02% at pH 6 or 7) was shown to meta chromatically stain the tracheid walls and can also be used to determine lignin distribution. The lignified walls fluoresced orange to yellow depending on the lignin concentration. Microscopically well characterized discs (0.5 mm diameter) of the wood types were used to determine lignin concentrations and lignin monomer compositions using the acetyl bromide method and thioacidolysis, respectively. Lignin concentration and the proportion of p-hydroxyphenyl units (H-units) relative to guaiacyl (G-units) increased with CW severity, with

Although a combined formulation of gum arabic and alginate is used for a variety of applications in pharmaceutical, food, and cosmetic industries, the origin of the interactions between these two polysaccharides has not yet been systematically studied or established. This study investigated the nature and strength of the possible interactions between gum arabic and alginate, using a variety of techniques: solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (SS-NMR), infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), hydrophobic-interaction-chromatography (HIC), fluorescence spectroscopy, rheology, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and thermogravimetric (TG) analyses. The results showed that alginate interacts with gum arabic at pH 4, despite the net negative charge of each of them. Of the three main fractions of gum arabic (i.e., the arabinogalactan-peptide fraction containing 1 wt% protein, arabinogalactan protein containing 10 wt% protein, and glycoprotein containing 25–50 wt% protein), only the latter two fractions interact with alginate. The interaction intensity of glycoprotein with alginate was almost four times greater than the interaction intensity of arabinogalactan protein with alginate. We suggest the local positive charges in the proteinaceous content of gum arabic at pH 4 enables an electrostatic interaction between proteins in the second and the third fractions of gum arabic with negatively charged carboxylate groups in alginate. The gum arabic-alginate-mixture presented different thermal behavior, higher viscosity, and elastic modulus compared with the individual solutions of gum arabic or alginate at pH 4. The information obtained from this study will be beneficial for the rational design of biopolymers that give foods novel textural properties.

Epilepsy affects at least 50 million individuals worldwide, especially in sub-Saharan Africa (sSA). Cognitive impairment is common in people with epilepsy (PWE) yet, little is known on the burden of cognitive impairment in people with epilepsy in sSA. This study was thus designed to assess cognitive impairment in PWE or epilepsy-associated neurocognitive disorders (EAND) in a rural population in Cameroon.This was a case-control study including PWE and age/sex-matched healthy controls from July to September 2017 in Bilomo, a village in the Mbam and Kim Division. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), International HIV Dementia Scale (IHDS), Dubois' Five Word testing, Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB), Isaac's Set Test and the Clock drawing test were administered to the study participants to evaluate global and specific cognitive functions.Eighty participants were included (40 cases and 40 controls) with a mean age of 25.78 years. Using the MoCA, 87.5% of cases had cognitive impairment, against 37.5% of controls (p 0.001; OR 11.67; CI 3.40-45.09). Using the IHDS, the prevalence of global cognitive impairment was 84.6% among the cases against 40% for the controls (p = 0.001; OR 7.07; CI 2.29-29.19). Specifically, executive function deficits (92.5% of cases vs 40.0% of controls p = 0.001 OR = 18.50 CI; 4.48-105.08) and decreased verbal fluency (100% of cases against 45% of controls p 0.001) were the most affected cognitive domains. Longer duration of epilepsy and higher seizure frequency were associated with global cognitive impairment. Low level of education was associated with both decreased verbal fluency and executive dysfunction while a longer stay in Bilomo correlated with poor results on the Isaac's Set Test.The prevalence of cognitive impairment appears to be much higher in PWE in the Mbam valley, particularly decreased executive function and verbal fluency, than in people without epilepsy. Longer disease duration, higher seizure frequency, low level of education and length of stay in Bilomo are associated with poorer cognitive performance. More studies are needed to refine evaluation tools to better characterize and manage EAND in sSA.

Introduction La tuberculose ultraresistante est une tuberculose grave associee a une forte mortalite et a un succes therapeutique tres faible. C’est une forme plus grave de la tuberculose multiresistante a laquelle s’ajoute une resistante aux aminoglycosides et/ou aux fluoroquinolones. La Republique Democratiques du Congo (RDC) fait face egalement a ce fleau ; l’arrivee des nouveaux antituberculeux, veritable alternative, constituent un grand espoir dans la prise en charge de ses patients dont l’issue etait fatale avant 2015 en RDC. Methodes Il s’agit d’une etude retrospective des dossiers des patients traites de 2015 a 2017 a Kinshasa. Etaient inclus tous les patients atteints de la tuberculose ultraresistante et pre-ultraresistante confirmee et qui avaient ete mis en traitement. Tous les patients etaient soumis a des regimes therapeutiques individualises de 20 mois a base de la Bedaquiline ; une hospitalisation etait obligatoire au centre specialise de prise en charge des complications de la tuberculose multiresistante (CEDA) pendant 6 a 20 mois. Un monitoring des effets indesirables et une prise en charge holistique y etaient administres. Resultats Trente-deux patients etaient retenus dans l’etude. Vingt-neuf TB preUR et 3 TB UR. Trois sur 32 (9,4 %) avait une co-infection VIH-TB. Six regimes therapeutiques differents a base de la Bedaquiline etaient appliques. Quinze sur 32 etaient decedes (46,8 %) durant le traitement et 17/32 ont termine leur traitement avec succes (53,2 %). Tous les patients co-infectes sont decedes en cours de traitement. La survie cumulee des patients etait de 62,5 % a 3 mois, de 53,1 % a 6 mois et de 53,1 % a 20 mois. La survie mediane globale des patients etait de 5,8 (EIQ : 2,4–20) mois ; elle etait de 1,6 (EIQ : 1,3–2,5) mois chez les patients decedes et de 20 (EIQ : 20–20,2) mois chez les patients declares gueris (p Conclusion La tuberculose pre-ultraresistante et ultraresistante reste grevee d’un taux eleve de mortalite ; l’arrivee des nouveaux antituberculeux constitue un reel espoir dans la prise de cette pathologie qui necessite certainement de nouvelles combinaisons.

The independent effect of lipid lowering therapy (LLT) on venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk is uncertain.To test statin and non-statin LLT as potential VTE risk factors.Using Rochester Epidemiology Project resources, we identified all Olmsted County, MN residents with objectively diagnosed incident VTE (cases) over the 13-year period, 1988-2000 (n=1340), and one to two matched controls (n=1538). We reviewed their complete medical records for baseline characteristics previously identified as independent VTE risk factors, and for statin and non-statin LLT. Using conditional logistic regression, we tested the overall effect of LLT on VTE risk and also separately explored the role of statin versus that of non-statin LLT, adjusting for other baseline characteristics.Among cases and controls, 74 and 111 received statin LLT, and 32 and 50 received non-statin LLT, respectively. Univariately, and after individually controlling for other potential VTE risk factors (i.e., BMI, trauma/fracture, leg paresis, hospitalization for surgery or medical illness, nursing home residence, active cancer, central venous catheter, varicose veins, prior superficial vein thrombosis, diabetes, congestive heart failure, angina/myocardial infarction, stroke, peripheral vascular disease, smoking, anticoagulation), LLT was associated with decreased odds of VTE (unadjusted OR=0.73; p=0.03). When considered separately, statin and non-statin LLT were each associated with moderate, non-significant lower odds of VTE. After adjusting for angina/myocardial infarction, each was significantly associated with decreased odds of VTE (OR=0.63, p0.01 and OR=0.61, p=0.04, respectively).LLT is associated with decreased VTE risk after adjusting for known risk factors.

Fluid inclusions provide a record of the physical and chemical composition of fluids that flow through the Earth's crust. Here, we describe a novel use of synchrotron Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) microscopy to map three parameters in individual fluid inclusions: (1) very low concentrations of CO 2 , (2) variations of the state of CO 2 and (3) variations in water structure. The intensity of the synchrotron light source allows compositional mapping of individual fluid inclusions, which provides high-resolution images of the distribution of different CO 2 and H 2 O species within individual inclusions. High resolution spectra of the CO 2 , recorded here for the first time in fluid inclusions, show the rotational lines of CO 2 gas. The results reveal predicted as well as unexpected distributions of CO 2 gas in the inclusions.

Effects of polarons on the single (NH4OH) and double (NH4OH þ LiOH) dedoped nanostructured products obtained in the oxidative polymerization of aniline are investigated. These effects are probed by 15 N and 13 C solid-state NMR, FTIR, Raman and EPR spectroscopy. The morphologies were imaged using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The micrographs confirmed the presence of mixed morphologies which include granular and nanotubular products. Single dedoping with NH4OH (SD) was not sufficient to completely remove positive charges. Subsequent dedoping with LiOH (DD) significantly removed positive charges. NMR experiments confirmed that the imine part of the structure has been more exposed to the effects of polarons. EPR data showed that the spin concentration in the DD samples was more than an order of magnitude lower that of the SD sample. The FTIR and Raman spectra exhibit characteristic bands for polyaniline and oligoanilines.

We present the synthesis of a novel conducting polymer (CP) incorporating both pyrrole and thiophene units in its monomer, which is also substituted with an initiator for grafting of sidechains by atom-transfer radical polymerisation (ATRP). The precursor monomer for the CP macroinitiator, 2-(2,5-di(pyrrol-2-yl)thiophen-3-yl)ethyl 2-bromopropanoate) (PyThon) is very readily electropolymerised at low monomer concentrations and low applied potentials. Density functional theory (DFT) predictions of ionisation potentials and spin-charge distribution for PyThon are in good agreement with these experimental results. We present also the grafting of sidechains from electropolymerised PolyPyThon (PPyThon) to yield surface-confined polymer brushes. Functionalisation with polystyrene (PS), poly(2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorostyrene) (PFS) and poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether acrylate (PEGMEA) is demonstrated and confirmed by FT-IR and water contact angle measurements. These PPyThon-based molecular brushes are electroactive in both water and acetonitrile, and show evidence of changes in surface conformation related to the redox state of the CP. The growth of human fibroblasts on PPyThon films is also demonstrated, indicating good biocompatibility of the polymer. We conceive PPyThon-based molecular brushes as a substrate for electrical stimuli-responsive surfaces with application particularly in the biomedical field.

Gallic acid was successfully incorporated into zein ultra-fine fibres at different loading amount (5%, 10% and 20%) in order to develop an encapsulating technology for functional ingredient delivery using electrospinning. The produced fibres exhibit diameters ranging from 327 to 387 nm. The physical and thermal properties of encapsulated gallic acid were determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC); and the interaction between gallic acid and zein was attested by attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR). Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) demonstrated a different thermal stability of the fabricated complex before and after the gallic acid incorporation. Lastly, the 1,1′-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay showed that the gallic acid had retained its antioxidant activity after incorporation in zein electrospun fibres. Overall, electrospinning technique had shown promising results as an efficient and effective method for the preparation of sub-micron structured encapsulated functional ingredient that may find uses in food industry.

Objective: to describe the process of introduction and implementation of humanised care (humanised childbirth); to determine how the practice of humanised care affects midwives, obstetricians, and other service providers in the hospital; and to determine the factors influencing the change in practice. Design: a qualitative study with grounded theory approach. A semi-structured, in-depth individual interview was conducted for data collection with open coding and a constant comparative analysis until the saturation of concepts. Setting: mothers’ and children’s hospital functioning as a top referral centre in Benin. Participants: 16 hospital staff, including 6 midwives. Findings: humanised care was initiated by midwives with hesitation and difficulties. Midwives and obstetricians learned that a supportive environment for women could produce a positive birth outcome without medication. Communication between the midwives and women and their families improved with a higher level of appreciation of the care provided by the midwives among the women and their families. Humanised care appears to affect the professional value of midwives, their levels of job satisfaction, and their personal motivation for work towards improving their performance. A positive influence on obstetricians and other staff was observed. These individuals were inspired to make changes in hospital culture to improve care, to avoid unnecessary interventions, and to improve communication. Important factors in achieving favourable results were the leadership and commitment of the hospital management team and the recognition and support they extended towards the hospital staff, especially the midwives. Key conclusions and implications for practice: a system of humanised care that stresses improved communication between the women giving birth, their families, and care providers, based on respect for women’s dignity and liberty, and avoidance of unnecessary intervention can be promoted with proper managerial support. This system can promote favourable changes in hospital practice, which are helpful in motivating midwives in resource-limited settings.

Objectives This study sought to assess clinical and angiographic outcomes in a series of 29 patients who underwent transcatheter closure of coronary artery fistulae (CAF). Background Transcatheter closure of CAF has become an alternative to surgical closure, but the reported experience is relatively limited. Methods Medical records of all patients with CAF who underwent transcatheter closure at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, between 1997 and 2010, were reviewed. Patients with other complex cardiac lesions and those requiring surgery were excluded. Results Twenty-nine patients with CAF underwent 36 transcatheter closure procedures. The most were women (55%), and the median age at the time of transcatheter closure was 49 years. Twenty-three patients had a single CAF. The most common presenting symptom was chest pain (52%). Thirty devices were deployed antegrade into 1 or more arterial feeders, 3 using an arteriovenous wire loop and 3 retrograde at the fistulous connection. Successful closure occurred immediately in all patients with no residual flow in 89% and with trivial flow in 11%. Four complications occurred including 2 device migrations, 1 coronary spasm, and 1 coronary thrombosis. A follow-up angiogram was obtained in 18 (62%) patients with a median time to follow-up angiography of 1.5 years. Ten patients (56%) of the 18 patients with follow-up angiography had no recanalization of embolized vessel; 4 patients (22%) had trivial recanalization, and 4 patients (22%) had large recanalization. A repeat closure procedure was performed in all 4 patients of the latter. Conclusions Transcatheter closure of CAF is feasible and should be considered in carefully selected patients. Recanalization of the treated coronary fistulae can occur, so follow-up angiography or other imaging modality should be performed in these patients.

Emx2 is a homeodomain protein that plays a critical role in inner ear development. Homozygous null mice die at birth with a range of defects in the CNS, renal system and skeleton. The cochlea is shorter than normal with about 60% fewer auditory hair cells. It appears to lack outer hair cells and some supporting cells are either absent or fail to differentiate. Many of the hair cells differentiate in pairs and although their hair bundles develop normally their planar cell polarity is compromised. Measurements of cell polarity suggest that classic planar cell polarity molecules are not directly influenced by Emx2 and that polarity is compromised by developmental defects in the sensory precursor population or by defects in epithelial cues for cell alignment. Planar cell polarity is normal in the vestibular epithelia although polarity reversal across the striola is absent in both the utricular and saccular maculae. In contrast, cochlear hair cell polarity is disorganized. The expression domain for Bmp4 is expanded and Fgfr1 and Prox1 are expressed in fewer cells in the cochlear sensory epithelium of Emx2 null mice. We conclude that Emx2 regulates early developmental events that balance cell proliferation and differentiation in the sensory precursor population.

Eight limonoids, anthothecanolide (1), 3-O-acetylanthothecanolide (2), 2,3-di-O-acetylanthothecanolide (3), 6R,8alpha-dihydroxycarapin (4), 3beta-acetoxy-3-deoxo-6R-hydroxycarapin (5), methyl angolensate, methyl 6-hydroxyangolensate and khayalactone together with sitosterol glucoside, have been isolated from the extracts of the stem bark of Khaya anthotheca. Compounds 1-4 are described for the first time. Their structures were established by analysis of the high-field NMR and MS data. The structure of compound 4 was confirmed by a single crystal X-ray structure analysis.

To be an appropriate indicator of sustainability, a net income measure projected into the future should consider risk. Several authors have demonstrated how risk can be formally incorporated into welfare measures like Green Net National Product (NNP), however, the resulting measure can be considerably more complex than its deterministic counterpart. A practical alternative to formally incorporating risk is to use simulations of the type outlined in this paper to provide information about the expected impact of risk. This information can be used to apply a stochastic version of a sustainability rule that requires that the expected value of net income be non declining. This paper discusses the importance of risk and uncertainty to welfare measurement and more specifically the measurement of net income from forest services in a region of northern Alberta. Two different approaches to valuing resource extraction are compared. The depreciation approach and the wealth-based approach provide very different projections of net income. We demonstrate that when a renewable resource is subject to risk, the wealth-based approach provides a more appropriate measure of the influence of resource use on future consumption possibilities and the sustainability of net income.

This paper presents a probability density function representing a non-Gaussian random process in closed form. The probability density is based on the Kac-Siegert solution of Volterra's stochastic series expansion of a nonlinear system. A method is developed, however, to obtain the Kac-Siegert solution from knowledge of the time history only of the random process, and the result is expressed as a function of a normal distribution. Then, by applying the change of random variable technique, the asymptotic probability density function applicable to the response of a nonlinear system (which is a non-Gaussian random process) is developed in closed form. A comparison of the presently developed probability density function and the histogram constructed from a record indicating strong non-Gaussian characteristics shows excellent agreement.