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Introduction and hypothesis Chronic perineal pain syndrome due to pudendal nerve impingement is difficult to diagnose and to treat. All the known treatment options leave room for improvement considering the outcome. Early neuromodulation of the pudendal nerve after its surgical release could improve outcomes. Objectives The aim of the study was to evaluate the potential beneficial effect of pudendal neuromodulation combined with release surgery using the ENTRAMI technique (endoscopic transgluteal minimally invasive technique). Study design This is a single-center prospective descriptive study. Between March 2019 and March 2020, 16 patients (2 males, 14 females) were included. Data were collected at baseline and 1 month after surgery. Methods Patients eligible for inclusion had chronic perineal pain for at least 3 months in the area served by the pudendal nerve. We combined pudendal nerve release with neuromodulation. Results At 1 month, the numeric pain rating scale (NPRS) dropped from 9.5 at baseline to 3.5 (p = 0.003). Seventy-six percent of patients showed a global impression of change (PGIC) of > 50% at 1 month, and optimal treatment response (PGIC >= 90%) was found in 41% of patients. Limitations The drawback of our study was that it was not randomized or blinded. The peripheral nerve evaluation lead (PNE) used could only be implanted for 1 month because of infection risk and is also prone to dislocations and technical failures. Conclusion Pudendal nerve liberation by the ENTRAMI technique combined with short-term pudendal neuromodulation seems feasible and promising in treating patients with chronic perineal pain. Clinical trial number: NCT03880786.

Background Pudendal and cluneal nerve entrapment can cause a neuropathic pain syndrome in the sensitive areas innervated by these nerves. Recently, a new endoscopic minimal invasive approach for pudendal and inferior cluneal nerve neurolysis has been published in a cadaver study. The aim of our study was to describe the feasibility of this new approach and to evaluate the clinical outcome. Methods Fifteen patients underwent the ENTRAMI technique. The Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) and Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC) were recorded at baseline and at 3 and 6 months after surgery. Result The average duration of intervention (skin to skin) was 139 min (range 50-270 min) for bilateral pudendal neurolysis and/or cluneal neurolysis and 113 min (range 100-130 min) for unilateral pudendal and/or cluneal neurolysis. No perioperative blood loss occurred. At 3 months, 50% of patients declared a more than 30% improvement of their PGIC, increasing to 57% at 6 months; 31% reported more than 90% improvement of PGIC at 6 months. Overall reduction of the average maximal NPRS score was from 9 (range 7-10) to 6 at 3 months (range 0-10; p value < 0.05) and to 5 at 6 months (range 0-10; p value < 0.05). There were no postoperative complications. Conclusions The ENTRAMI technique is feasibly in patients suffering from pudendal and/or cluneal neuralgia and preliminary results are promising.

[email protected] is an innovative participatory sensing platform relying on image-based plants identification as a mean to enlist non-expert contributors and facilitate the production of botanical observation data. One year after the public launch of the mobile application, we carry out a self-critical evaluation of the experience with regard to the requirements of a sustainable and effective ecological surveillance tool. We first demonstrate the attractiveness of the developed multimedia system (with more than 90K end-users) and the nice self-improving capacities of the whole collaborative workflow. We then point out the current limitations of the approach towards producing timely and accurate distribution maps of plants at a very large scale. We discuss in particular two main issues: the bias and the incompleteness of the produced data. We finally open new perspectives and describe upcoming realizations towards bridging these gaps.

These works were dedicated to the electrical modeling of biological cell subjected to pulsed electromagnetic fields. From the variability of living parameters encountered, an accurate modeling of the electrical and stochastic parameters is necessary. In this paper, we propose simple stochastic approaches based upon a Monte Carlo-like “philosophy” to integrate uncertainties. The use of robust stochastic methods in the field of bio-electromagnetic compatibility allows an improvement of both the efficiency and precision of the technique. The potential aimed applications relying in the study on the sensitivity of biological and electrical parameters in the start of the electroporation phenomenon. We will present the electrical model and the theoretical foundations of these techniques—they will be illustrated on numerical examples.

International audience; Electrochemical energy storage is one of the main societal challenges of this century. The performances of classical lithium-ion technology based on liquid electrolytes have made great advances in the past two decades, but the intrinsic instability of liquid electrolytes results in safety issues. Solid polymer electrolytes would be a perfect solution to those safety issues, miniaturization and enhancement of energy density. However, as in liquids, the fraction of charge carried by lithium ions is small (\textless20%), limiting the power performances. Solid polymer electrolytes operate at 80 degrees C, resulting in poor mechanical properties and a limited electrochemical stability window. Here we describe a multifunctional single-ion polymer electrolyte based on polyanionic block copolymers comprising polystyrene segments. It overcomes most of the above limitations, with a lithium-ion transport number close to unity, excellent mechanical properties and an electrochemical stability window spanning 5V versus Li+/Li. A prototype battery using this polyelectrolyte outperforms a conventional battery based on a polymer electrolyte.

Engineering living, multilayered blood vessels to form in vivo arteries is a promising alternative to peripheral artery bypass using acellular grafts restricted by thrombosis and occlusion at long term. Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 (BMP2) is a growth factor determining in the early vascular embryonic development. The aim of the present study was evaluate the collaborative effect of recombinant human--BMP2 and Bone marrow--Mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) seeded on vascular patch to regenerate a vascular arterial wall in a rat model. BM-MSCs expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP) seeded on vascular patch were cultured in presence of recombinant human-BMP2 [100 ng/mL] during 1 week before their implantation on the abdominal aorta of Wistar rats. We observed after 2 weeks under physiological arterial flow a regeneration of a three layers adult-like arterial wall with a middle layer expressing smooth muscle proteins and a border layer expressing endothelial marker. In vitro study, using Matrigel assay and co-culture of BM-MSCs with endothelial cells demonstrated that rh-BMP2 promoted tube-like formation even at long term (90 days) allowing the organization of thick rails. We demonstrated using inhibitors and siRNAs that rh-BMP2 enhanced the expression of HIF-1α and Id1 through, at least in part, the stimulation of JAK2/STAT3/STAT5 signaling pathways. Rh-BMP2 by mimicking embryological conditions allowed vascular BM-MSCs differentiation.

Chronic hypoxia (CH)-induced pulmonary hypertension (PHT) is well known to alter K+ channels in pulmonary myocytes. PHT induces right ventricle hypertrophy that increases oxygen demand; however, coronary blood flow and K+ channel adaptations of coronary myocytes during PHT remain unknown. We determined whether CH and PHT altered K+ currents and coronary reactivity and what impact they might have on right myocardial perfusion. Right ventricle perfusion, as attested by microspheres, was redistributed toward hypertrophied right ventricle [RV/LV (%)=0.59+/-0.07% in CH rats vs. 0.29+/-0.03 in control rats, P

Global thermal transformation of kaolinite–muscovite mixtures containing at most 25 mass % of muscovite was studied up to 1,100 °C. Quantitative and qualitative DTA analysis reveals a great intereaction between the two phylosilicates above 900 °C, which is characterized by an enhancement of spinodal demixion contribution during the structural reorganization of metakaolinite. The corresponding enthalpy variation are respectively −32 ± 1 kJ/mol and −15 ± 1 kJ/mol of kaolinite for pure kaolinite and for the mixture containing 15 mass % of muscovite. This interaction is mainly correlated with the diffusion of potassium ions from muscovite platelets into metakaolinite structure. The resulting consequence is an enhancement of mullite crystallization and grain growth at 1,050 °C (earlier than in the case of pure kaolinite mineral).

The influence of sample thickness and cooling rate on the oxidation kinetics of dense small grain YBa2Cu3O7−δ ceramics is presented. The oxidation behavior is strongly dependent on the phase type exhibited by the material. At high temperature, in the tetragonal phase, the oxygen stoichiometry of the ceramic core is dependent on the diffusion length and isothermal treatments improve the overall. Value increase in the sample thickness decreases the oxygen content. At low temperature, in the orthorhombic phase, the oxidation during cooling becomes very fast and the sample thickness is not observed to be a limiting parameter. An ultrasonic determination of Young’s modulus as a function of temperature shows that this behavior cannot be related to the formation of microcracks. The improvement in oxidation observed in this temperature range is considered as characteristic of a very fast diffusion of oxygen along the grain boundaries, which is enhanced below the tetragonal to orthorhombic transition by the stresses resulting from anisotropic thermal contraction.

Pollution is known to particularly affect patients with respiratory insufficiency and right ventricle abnormalities. We therefore hypothesized that carbon monoxide (CO) at low dose could be involved in cardiovascular disorders in patients with chronic hypoxic pulmonary hypertension secondary to chronic hypoxia. Ten-week-old male and female healthy Dark Agouti rats were randomly divided into two series--untrained (U) and trained (T)--of four groups of 18 animals each. Both U and T series were continuously exposed to ambient air (U(AIR), and T(AIR); n = 16) or air plus 50 ppm CO (U(AIR+CO) and T(AIR+CO); n = 18). Similarly, rats initially subjected to right ventricle hypertrophy secondary to chronic hypoxia (H) were continuously exposed to ambient air (TH(AIR), and UH(AIR); n = 18) or air plus 50 ppm CO (UH(AIR+CO), and TH(AIR+CO); n = 18). Doppler-echocardiography and hemodynamic studies performed at rest both indi-cated that CO had no significant effect on cardiac morphology or functions in control rats (U(AIR+CO) vs U(AIR)). In contrast, cardiac dilation and large decreases in left ventricular ejection fraction, mitral early diastolic rapid inflow (E) deceleration, E/atrial contraction filling (A) ratio, +dP/dt, and -dP/dt were found in TH(AIR+CO) compared with TH(AIR). After exposure, heart rate variability was unaffected in U(AIR+CO), whereas total power spectra were markedly decreased and low frequency/high frequency power ratio was increased in TH(AIR+CO) rats. CO pollution could be directly involved in cardiac disorders of patients with pre-existent hypertrophic cardiomyopathies.

Doppler and M-mode echocardiography (EC) were used to investigate the effects of minoxidil on the cardiac function of the dog and potentially to clarify the pathogenesis of cardiac lesions, in particular the necrotic lesion in the left ventricle and the haemorrhagic lesion in the right atrium. Groups of three dogs were treated with a single oral dose of 0.5 or 2 mg/kg minoxidil or control vehicle, and M-mode and Doppler parameters were recorded at different time points before as well as 1, 3 and 24 h after treatment. The treatment produced a number of changes in M-mode parameters that indicate an increase in left ventricle contractility, in particular, increases in the percentage of thickening of the left ventricle wall during systole and in ejection fraction, and decrease of systolic volume. There was also a decrease in diastolic volume, which indicates a decrease in filling of the left ventricle probably due to the tachycardia and subsequent decrease in inter-systolic time. Doppler EC showed an increase in the velocity of the aortic flow, which indicates an increase in cardiac contractility. There was also a mild increase in stroke volume, which together with the tachycardia resulted in a marked increase in cardiac output. Together, Doppler and M-mode recordings gave evidence of an increase in the contractility of the left ventricle. This change is consistent with the generally accepted mechanism for the development of the left ventricle lesion induced by minoxidil. Minoxidil also produced changes in atrio-ventricular flows. The velocity and/or acceleration of E- and A-waves of the mitral and tricuspid flows increased, and the E/A ratio decreased. The changes in the E-wave indicate a faster diastole of the ventricle probably to compensate for the decrease in inter-systolic time. The changes in A wave are characteristic of an increased amplitude and velocity of the atrial contraction. This latter change is much more marked for tricuspid than for mitral flow. For both flows the E/A ratio decreased, which indicates that the contraction of the atria plays an increased role in ventricle filling after minoxidil treatment. This stimulation of atrial contraction that we evaluate with Doppler EC may play a key role in the development of the atrial lesion produced by minoxidil. The fact that the change is more marked in the right than in the left atrium may explain why the lesion occurs only in the right atrium in dogs. This study showed, therefore, that Doppler EC associated with M-mode EC is a useful method for obtaining pertinent information on the pathogenesis of the left ventricle lesion induced by haemodynamic mechanisms. Moreover, Doppler EC allowed the assessment of changes in the function of the right atrium that may be involved in the development of the right atrial lesion.

In an aluminous cement, which mainly consists of CA, the stable phases arising during hydration are C3AH6 and AH3. This communication presents a chemical route for the synthesis of C3AH6 which is based on hydration of C3A. Mixtures of CA, C3AH6 and AH3 are characterised by ultrasonic testing. The ultrasonic velocity obtained on these mixtures is lower than what is observed in hydrated aluminous cement of similar chemical composition. Interfaces are thought to play a significant role in the ultrasonic response of aluminous cements.

The local critical current (Ic) at 77 K measured at the mm scale in a 60 mm long sample of YBa2Cu3O7−δ prepared by a melting zone process is correlated to the microstructure. Lower values of Ic (Ic of 120 A and above. Transmission electron microscope observations revealed that the textured domains contain internal boundaries. Depending on the scale of observation, the misorientation angles across the boundaries could vary from a few tenths of a degree up to a few degrees. This seems characteristic for boundaries in textured material which allow strong coupling of the superconducting current across themselves.

Natural degradation of YBa2Cu3O7−δ powders leads to trapping of CO2 by the powder. The presence of residual carbon in ceramics or textured materials can strongly affect the superconducting properties. Optimal conditions for carbon elimination during thermal treatment are defined. Amounts of carbon lower than 500 ppm are easily obtained when thermal treatment is performed in temperature, gas flowing rate, and heating ramp conditions allowing CO2 departure before pore closure. Liquid phase formation and the presence of BaCuO2 are limiting factors. An oxycarbonate formed by reaction between this latter compound and evolved CO2 is implied in the last step of the decarbonation process.

The densification kinetics of 0.99 SnO2-0.01 CuO molar mixtures have been studied between 850 and 1150 °C. Both experimental analyses and theoretical modelling show the role of a liquid phase for sintering temperatures T s ≥ 940 °C: sintering is controlled by a liquid phase after a fast shrinkage due to grain rearrangement. The analytical formulation of the shrinkage behaviour suggests that dissolution at the solid-liquid interface is the limiting process when T s ≤ 1000 °C and diffusion is the limiting step at higher temperatures.

The cellular mechanisms mediating hypoxia-induced dilation of cerebral arteries have remained unknown, but may involve modulation of membrane ionic channels. The present study was designed to determine the effect of reduced partial pressure of O2, PO2, on the predominant K+ channel type recorded in cat cerebral arterial muscle cells, and on the diameter of pressurized cat cerebral arteries. A K(+)-selective single-channel current with a unitary slope conductance of 215 pS was recorded from excised inside-out patches of cat cerebral arterial muscle cells using symmetrical KCl (145 mM) solution. The open state probability (NPo) of this channel displayed a strong voltage dependence, was not affected by varying intracellular ATP concentration [(ATP]i) between 0 and 100 microM, but was significantly increased upon elevation of intracellular free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i). Low concentrations of external tetraethylammonium (0.1-3 mM) produced a concentration-dependent reduction of the unitary current amplitude of this channel. In cell-attached patches, where the resting membrane potential was set to zero with a high KCl solution, reduction of O2 from 21% to2% reversibly increased the NPo, mean open time, and event frequency of the Ca(2+)-sensitive, high-conductance single-channel K+ current recorded at a patch potential of +20 mV. A similar reduction in PO2 also produced a transient increase in the activity of the 215-pS K+ channel measured in excised inside-out patches bathed in symmetrical 145 mM KCl, an effect which was diminished, or not seen, during a second application of hypoxic superfusion. Hypoxia had no effect on [Ca2+]i or intracellular pH (pHi) of cat cerebral arterial muscle cells, as measured using Ca(2+)- or pH-sensitive fluorescent probes. Reduced PO2 caused a significant dilation of pressurized cerebral arterial segments, which was attenuated by pretreatment with 1 mM tetraethylammonium. These results suggest that reduced PO2 increases the activity of a high-conductance, Ca(2+)-sensitive K+ channel in cat cerebral arterial muscle cells, and that these effects are mediated by cytosolic events independent of changes in [Ca2+]i and pHi.

Cement hydration involves chemical reactions between water and the anhydrous cement particles. As a result, the mixture of cement and water transforms from a viscous suspension into an elastic solid and the behavior in service of the cement is closely dependent on this transformation. Ultrasonic measurements, based on a transmission technique, have already been successfully applied for continuous and non-destructive control of the change of physical characteristics. This involves evaluating the velocities of ultrasonic waves in a freshly mixed paste or the characterization of the elastic properties of a hardened cement [1–5]. The aim of this letter is to describe an original technique, which exploits the ultrasonic waves reflected and transmitted by a fresh cement paste, and to show how the cement setting at an early age can be followed. Short pulses of acoustic waves are radiated by a source (transducer) with sufficiently low amplitude of vibration for the cement to remain in its viscoelastic or elastic state depending on whether it is a liquid or a solid. A reflection pulse echo technique involves the following measurements between successive echoes: (i) the transit time related to the ultrasonic velocity, (ii) the amplitude ratios related to the attenuation in the propagation medium and to the reflection and transmission coefficients. In the present case, the experimental setup is designed to operate in a semi-infinite mode (Fig.1), which means that the dimensions of the tested sample are very large compared to the ultrasonic wavelength. A transducer sends wideband pulses of longitudinal ultrasonic waves with a central frequency of 1 MHz, which propagate into a buffer acting as a delay line. The proportion of transmitted wave inside the cement based material depends on the reflection coefficient at the buffer/cement interface. The transit time, t , through the cement sample is related to its thickness, e, and the velocity of longitudinal wave, VL, as follows

Local measurements of the critical current (Ic) at 77 K have been made on YBa2Cu3O7−δ consisting of mm sized textured domains denoted “grains”. The samples were cut and polished into thin slices less than 500μm thick in order to isolate various grain boundaries. In one case a current path across the grain boundary was observed to strongly reduce Ic, compared to the values obtained for current paths in the neighboring grains. The superconducting to normal transition at Ic was also shown to be localized at the grain boundary. In two other cases, the grain boundary was observed to modify only slightly the superconducting characteristics of the material. In a polycrystalline form of the ceramic superconductor YBa2Cu3O7−δ the presence of grain boundaries has been deduced to be one of the major factors limiting the critical current (Ic). This conclusion is essentially based on the three following observations. First, the critical current at 77 K, Ic, decreases strongly on application of an external magnetic field which is the characteristic of a Josephson junction. The grain boundaries are thus considered to be at the origin of such weak link behavior [1]. Second, experiments carried out on thin film bicrystal show strong attenuation in transport Ic when the superconducting current path crosses the grain boundary [2]. Third, forms of YBa2Cu3O7−δ containing a reduced number of grain boundaries, such as textured material or thin films, yield measured values of critical current density (Jc) which are higher than the values obtained for small grain ceramics by one order of magnitude or more [3, 4]. This letter discusses the local electrical response around the grain boundaries in ‘bicrystals’ cut out of large grain ceramics fabricated by a method close to melt textured growth. A particular attention is paid to the local nature of the transition to the normal state at the boundary when the transport critical current is just exceeded. With this type of behavior the sample can be considered to be consti

An original preparation of ZnO is described where the powder is obtained by precipitaton from zinc nitrate in aqueous solution followed by a calcination. Scanning electron microscopy reveals a close relation between the initial density and the morphology of the powder, the latter being also strongly dependent on the calcining conditions. The investigation of the densification process shows the extreme sensitivity of the final density to sintering conditions. A physical model based on the competitive influences of shrinkage and evaporation successfully describes the observed phenomena.