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Abstract: The joint paper presents a common view of fast reactor specific missions in the development of nuclear energy and a cross-analysis of merits and demerits of several Fast Reactors concepts studied worldwide and especially in the Generation-IV International Forum (GIF) framework. The paper provides the context for fast reactors development in the United States, France and Japan and focuses on the comparison on Sodium-cooled Fast Reactor (SFR), Gas-cooled Fast Reactor (GFR), and Lead-cooled Fast Reactor (LFR), i.e. the three fast reactor concepts that have the potential to meet the nuclear fuel cycle sustainability goals. The information provided in the article permits the reader to understand each country''s objectives to see that not only the objectives searched for but also the technical orientations are converging. The authors underline that SFR technology evaluation relies significantly on the substantial base technology development programs within each country which is without comparison for the other two fast reactor technologies, e.g., SFR technology has already been developed to commercial or near commercial scale in each country whereas the performance of LFR and GFR technology is still uncertain. The main GFR merits are the potential for high temperatures and the easier possibilities for inspections and repairs. The main challenges are the fuel (fabrication, in-pile behavior), materials for high temperatures, and the implementation of mitigation means to manage severe core degradation. The main LFR merit is the lack of chemical reactivity of the lead coolant with air and water. The main challenges are the development of corrosion resistant structural and cladding materials, the implementation of mitigation means to manage severe core degradation, the density of the lead, and the comparably large core size. The selection of a reference fast reactor concept in view of possible industrialization is made on a national base, taking into account the each countries’ strategic objectives, existing technology base, the proven or expected technical performance, the R&D challenges and technical means to conduct that R&D, the possibility to share development costs and risks, etc. It is important to note that in different contexts, the U.S., French, and Japanese organizations have selected the SFR as their reference fast reactor concept. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

LHCb aims to use its O(20000) CPU cores in the high level trigger (HLT) and its 120 TB Online storage system for data reprocessing during LHC shutdown periods. These periods can last a few days for technical maintenance or only a few hours during beam interfill gaps. These jobs run on files which are staged in from tape storage to the local storage buffer. The result are again one or more files. Efficient file writing and reading is essential for the performance of the system. Rather than using a traditional shared file-system such as NFS or CIFS we have implemented a custom, light-weight, non-Posix network file-system for the handling of these files. Streaming this file-system for the data-access allows to obtain high performance, while at the same time keep the resource consumption low and add nice features not found in NFS such as high-availability, transparent fail-over of the read and write service. The writing part of this streaming service is in successful use for the Online, real-time writing of the data during normal data acquisition operation. The network file system relies on a commercial file system which manages the data on persistent disk storage. The implementation together with performance figures are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The LHCb event-builder is implemented using a large Gigabit Ethernet network using a push-protocol for a single stage read-out at a 1 MHz event injection rate. The destination assignment and dynamic load-balancing are facilitated by LHCb's Timing and Fast Control system. The assembly of event fragments is done on each event-filter farm node instead of having dedicated builder units. The design of the event-builder will be shortly described, followed by a description of the implementation, the protocol used and the performance during first data taking. The emphasis will be on the experience we gained during the running of such a large event-building network. We will discuss the problems we encountered and how we overcame them. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Announces that the 5th European Biophysical Societies Association (EBSA) and the 15th International Union of Pure and Applied Biophysics International Biophysics Congress will be held in Montpellier, France on August 27-September 1, 2005. Organizing committee; Information on EBSA; Schedule of the EBSA Congress.

Reports the results from an investigation into the distribution of CdII, ZnII, CoII, MnII, feII, AgII, and CsI in the colloidal fractions of water from the Vienne river. How the distribution of these elements were investigated; Methodology used in the study; Results of the study.

Abstract: The early diagenesis of the major carrier phases (Fe and Mn minerals), trace elements (As, Co, Cr, Hg, MeHg, Ni) and nutrients (ΣNO3, , ΣPO4) and their exchange at the sediment water/interface were studied in the Berre Lagoon, a Mediterranean lagoon in France, at one site under two contrasting oxygenation conditions (strictly anoxic and slightly oxic) and at an adjacent site with perennially well-oxygenated water. From the concentration profiles of the primary biogeochemical constituents and trace elements of the pore and bottom waters, as well as the total and reactive particulate phases, it was possible to locate and identify the diagenetic reactions controlling the mobility of trace elements in the sediments and quantify their rates by coupling one-dimensional steady-state transport-reaction modelling and thermodynamic speciation calculations. Under oxic conditions and in the absence of benthic organisms, the main redox reactions were well identified vertically in the surface sediments and followed the theoretical sequence of oxidant consumption: . However, under anoxic conditions, only MnO2, Fe(OH)3 and reduction were present, and they all occurred at the interface. The main biogeochemical controls on the mobility of As, Cr, Hg, MeHg and Ni in the surface sediments were identified as the adsorption/desorption on and/or coprecipitation/codissolution with Fe oxy-hydroxides. In contrast, Co mobility was primarily controlled by its reactivity towards Mn oxy-hydroxides. In sulphidic sediments, As, Hg and MeHg were sequestered along with Fe sulphides, whereas Co and Ni precipitated directly as metallic sulphides and Cr mobility was enhanced by complexation with dissolved organic ligands. The fluxes of trace elements at the sediment–water interface are essentially dependent on the localisation of their remobilisation and immobilisation reactions under the interface, which in turn is governed by the benthic water oxygenation conditions and kinetic competition among those reaction and diffusion processes. Under oxic conditions, the precipitation of Fe or Mn oxy-hydroxides in the surface sediments constitutes the most efficient mechanism to sequester most of the trace elements studied, thus preventing their diffusion to the water column. Under anoxic conditions the export of trace elements to the water column is dependent on the kinetic competition during the reductive dissolution of Fe and/or Mn oxy-hydroxides, diffusion and immobilisation with sulphides. It is also shown that benthic organisms in the perennially oxygenated site have a clear impact on this general pattern. Based on the extensive dataset and geochemical modelling, it is predicted that the planned re-oxygenation of the entire lagoon basin, if complete, will most likely limit or reduce the export of the trace elements from the sediments to the water column and therefore, limit the impact of the contaminated sediment. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: To evaluate the genotoxic risk that contaminated sediment could constitute for benthic organisms, three contaminated (VA, VC and VN) and one uncontaminated (RN) sediment samples were collected in the Berre lagoon (France). Potentially bioavailable contaminants in sediments were obtained using sediment extraction with synthetic seawater adjusted to pH 4 or pH 6, simulating the range of pH prevailing in the digestive tract of benthic organisms. The genotoxic activities of these extracts were evaluated by three short-term bioassays: the Salmonella mutagenicity test using the Salmonella typhimurium strain TA102, the alkaline comet assay and the micronucleus assay on the Chinese Hamster Ovary cells CHO-K1. Results of the Salmonella mutagenicity assay detected a mutagenic response for RN extract at pH 6, and for VA extract at pH 4. Results of the comet and micronucleus assays detected low genotoxic/clastogenic activities for VA and VC extracts at pH 6 and higher activities for RN, VA and VC extracts at pH 4. To identify if metals (Al, Fe, Mn, As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb and Zn) were involved in these genotoxic activities, their concentrations were determined in the extracts, and their speciation was assessed by thermodynamic calculations. Results showed that extracts from sites VA, VC and VN generally presented the highest trace metal contents for both extractants, while the site RN presented lower trace metal contents but the highest Fe and Mn contents. Thermodynamic calculations indicated that Fe, Mn, As and in a lower extend Co, Ni and Zn were mainly present under free forms in extracts, and were consequently, more likely able to induce a genotoxic effect. Results globally showed no correspondence between free metal contents and genotoxic activities. They suggested that these positive results could be due to uncharacterized compounds, acting as direct genotoxic agents or enhancing the genotoxic properties of analyzed metals. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Older children still contribute to the transmission of pertussis to infants in French regions with low booster coverage at 2 years of age. Booster vaccination seems crucial for protection against symptomatic pertussis in childhood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: To determine a minimum threshold of medical staffing needs (obstetricians-gynecologists, anesthesiologists-resuscitation specialists, nurse-anesthetists, pediatricians, and midwives) to ensure the safety and quality of care for unscheduled obstetrics-gynecology activity., Materials and Methods: Face to face meetings of French healthcare professionals involved in perinatal care in different types of practices (academic hospital, community hospital or private practice) who belong to French perinatal societies: French National College of Gynecologists-Obstetricians (CNGOF), the French Society of Anesthesia and Resuscitation Specialists (SFAR), the French Society of Neonatology (SFN), the French Society of Perinatal Medicine (SFMP), the National College of French Midwives (CNSF), and the French Federation of Perinatal Care Networks (FFRSP)., Results: Different minimum thresholds for each category of care provider were proposed according to the number of births/year in the facility. These minimum thresholds can be modulated upwards as a function of the level of care (Level 1, 2 or 3 for perinatal centers), existence of an emergency department, and responsibilities as a referral center for maternal-fetal and/or surgical care. For example, an obstetrics-gynecology department handling 3000-4500 births per year without serving as a referral center must have an obstetrician-gynecologist, an anesthesiologist-resuscitation specialist, a nurse-anesthetist, and a pediatrician onsite specifically to provide care for unscheduled obstetrics-gynecology needs and a second obstetrician-gynecologist available within a time compatible with security requirements 24/7; the number of midwives always present (24/7) onsite and dedicated to unscheduled care is 5.1 for 3000 births and 7.2 for 4500 births. A maternity unit's occupancy rate must not exceed 85 %., Conclusion: The minimum thresholds proposed here are intended to improve the safety and quality of care of women who require unscheduled care in obstetrics-gynecology or during the perinatal period., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest Loïc Sentilhes and Dan Benhamou are consultants for Ferring Pharmaceuticals. The other authors report no conflicts of interest in relation to this article., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The bioavailability of trace elements (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, Zn) in lowly to moderately contaminated coastal sediments from the Berre lagoon, France, was assessed by comparing their potentially bioavailable concentrations and bioaccumulated concentrations in the polychaete Alitta succinea. No linear correlations were observed contrarily to what is generally observed in similar works in areas with highly contaminated sediment. Correlations between trace and major elements (Fe, Ca, S, Mg, P, Al) in Alitta succinea tissues and their distribution in organism tissues show that, in such lowly to moderately contaminated sediments, biological variabilities should be considered. Normalization procedures allow to take into account these variabilities and to identify that sediment contamination is partly involved in the benthic ecosystem degradation of the Berre lagoon. Alitta succinea cannot be used as relevant bioindicator for Zn and Co bioavailability in sediment, since these elements are regulated by this organism., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Biological and chemical measurements were performed in mesocosms to investigate the bioavailability of copper, with a greater emphasis on the effects of competing ions and copper speciation. Measurements were achieved in three different natural waters for two aquatic species (Gammarus pulex and Fontinalis antipyretica) along a copper gradient concentration: natural concentration, spiked at 5 and 15 μg L(-1). Aquatic mosses exhibited high enrichment rates that were above the background levels compared to gammarids. The accumulation of copper in F. antipyretica is better correlated to the weakly complexed copper concentrations measured using differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV) and diffusive gradient in thin film (DGT) than to the free copper concentration measured using an ion selective electrode (ISE). In unspiked natural waters, the presence of dissolved organic ligands strongly controls the metal speciation and consequently largely minimised the impact of competing cations on the accumulation of Cu in mosses. Furthermore, the BioMet Biotic Ligand Model (BLM) successfully describes the site-specific copper bioaccumulation for the freshwater mosses studied. However, the comparison of the results with a previous study appears to indicate that the adsorption/desorption of Cu in mosses is impacted by seasons. This highlights a limit of the BioMet model in which the physiological state of aquatic organisms is not considered. No toxic effect of Cu exposure on lipid peroxidation was observed in the mosses and gammarids regardless of the site and the concentration considered. However, the oxidative stress measured in the mosses via their guaiacol peroxidase (GPX) activity increased in the case where internalised Cu reached maximal values, which suggests a threshold effect on the GPX activity., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is a heterogeneous disorder characterized by recurrent infections and defective immunoglobulin production., Methods: The DEFI French national prospective study investigated peripheral T-cell and B-cell compartments in 313 CVID patients grouped according to their clinical phenotype, using flow cytometry., Results: In patients developing infection only (IO), the main B-cell or T-cell abnormalities were a defect in switched memory B cells and a decrease in naive CD4(+) T cells associated with an increase in CD4(+)CD95(+) cells. These abnormalities were more pronounced in patients developing lymphoproliferation (LP), autoimmune cytopenia (AC), or chronic enteropathy (CE). Moreover, LP and AC patients presented an increase in CD21(low) B cells and CD4(+)HLA-DR(+) T cells and a decrease in regulatory T cells., Conclusion: In these large series of CVID patients, the major abnormalities of the B-cell and T-cell compartments, although a hallmark of CVID, were only observed in half of the IO patients and were more frequent and severe in patients with additional lymphoproliferative, autoimmune, and digestive complications.

Tropheryma whipplei, which causes Whipple disease, is found in human feces and may cause gastroenteritis. To show that T. whipplei causes gastroenteritis, PCRs for T. whipplei were conducted with feces from children 2-4 years of age. Western blotting was performed for samples from children with diarrhea who had positive or negative results for T. whipplei. T. whipplei was found in samples from 36 (15%) of 241 children with gastroenteritis and associated with other diarrheal pathogens in 13 (33%) of 36. No positive specimen was detected for controls of the same age (0/47; p = 0.008). Bacterial loads in case-patients were as high as those in patients with Whipple disease and significantly higher than those in adult asymptomatic carriers (p = 0.002). High incidence in patients and evidence of clonal circulation suggests that some cases of gastroenteritis are caused or exacerbated by T. whipplei, which may be co-transmitted with other intestinal pathogens.

Purpose: Some general practitioners (GPs) report discomfort in caring for people with disabilities. These feelings may impede the provision of quality health care to these patients., Method: A cross-sectional survey interviewed 600 GPs in southeastern France and assessed their personal and professional characteristics, their attitudes and opinions towards people with disabilities, and their knowledge and practices in this field., Results: 21.3% of the GP reported discomfort in treating people with mental impairments and 8.2% people with physical impairments. Discomfort with either type of impairment was more frequent among GPs who perceived frequent communication problems with persons with disabilities (p < 0.05) or who did not belong to a professional network (p < 0.10). GPs who reported less experience with the disabled patients (p < 0.05), no medical training about disabilities (p = 0.04), a lack of assistance during consultations (p = 0.02), and inadequate consultation time (p = 0.09) expressed more discomfort in caring for patients with mental impairments. GPs' discomfort was associated with their assessment of the patient's level of disability among patients with physical impairments (p = 0.01)., Conclusion: This study suggests that substantial obstacles related to GPs' attitudes impede the delivery of quality health care to patients with disabilities and that GPs need more support and guidance in dealing with them. These results raise also the issue of adequate time and remuneration for consultations with these patients.

Background: Because they undergo breast cancer screening (BCS) relatively infrequently, women with physical or mental impairments may be at higher risk of late-stage breast cancer than women without impairments. A panel of 600 general practitioners (GPs) in Provence (southeastern France) provided information from which barriers potentially associated with BCS practices for women with disabilities were evaluated., Methods: In 2002, a telephone questionnaire collected data about GPs' personal and professional characteristics and their attitudes and practices regarding patients with disabilities. Analysis in 2003 used simple and multiple logistic regressions., Results: More than a quarter of the GPs reported apparently inadequate BCS practices for people with disabilities. Feelings of discomfort when treating people with disabilities, lack of assistance, and communication difficulties were inversely associated with BCS for women with mental and physical impairments. General practitioners' information-seeking strategies were associated with BCS for women with mental impairments, and nursing home work experience was inversely associated with BCS for women with physical impairments., Conclusions: Appropriate training sessions should be made available to improve primary health care quality and prevention practices and to reduce GPs' misperceptions of people with disabilities.

Vaccines are essential to prevent, control (as for poliomyelitis) or eradicate (as for smallpox) infectious diseases. In some cases, when a curative treatment is not available or efficient, they are the only way to fight the spread of the disease, by prevention. The national recommended childhood immunization schedule may vary each year and in each country (changes in infections characters, outbreaks, new vaccines availability...). In this review, new patterns in childhood vaccination in France are discussed.

Background: France is the European country with the highest number of imported malaria cases (7,500 in 2000). The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the nature and efficacy of prophylactic measures in children under 15 years of age referred for malaria., Methods: Post travel questionnaires were given to the parents of malarial children in the emergency room. The study took place in two university hospitals in Marseilles, southern France, from August to October 2001., Results: Eighty-eight children under 15 years of age were included in this 3-month period. Most of them had been infected in Comoro archipelago. Almost two-thirds used bed nets, but only 47% did so every night. Sprayed bed nets were used by 23%. Average compliances with cutaneous repellents, bedroom repellents and long-sleeved clothing were 32%, 24% and 26%, respectively. Air conditioners were uncommon. Only 22% of the children used chemoprophylaxis correctly, according to French recommendations. Five percent did not use any chemoprophylaxis, and 61% reported non recommended drug use. Although all the children traveled to chloroquine-resistant areas, chemoprophylaxis with mefloquine was less common than that with chloroquine + proguanil. No child fully complied with French recommendations concerning both anti mosquito measures and chemoprophylaxis., Conclusions: Insufficient use of antimalaria precautions by traveling families is associated with the high incidence of pediatric imported malaria in southern France. Travelers' education should be increased to allow the optimization of malaria prophylaxis.