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This paper investigates the interactions between policy drivers and academic practice in international research collaboration. It draws on the case of the Open Research Area (ORA), a funding scheme in the social sciences across four national research agencies, seeking to boost collaboration by supporting "integrated" projects. The paper discusses the scheme's governance and its place within the European policy space before turning to awarded researchers' perceptions of its originality and impact on their project's emergence and development. Drawing on Bourdieu's field theory, we analyse the scheme's capacity to challenge researchers' habitual collaborative practice as well as the hierarchical foundations of the social science field. We relate the discourses of researchers, located in France, Germany, The Netherlands and the United Kingdom, to such structural dimensions of the academic profession as, disciplinary cultures, institutional environments and national performance management of research careers. The paper argues that the ORA introduced novel mechanisms of power sharing and answerability in social sciences research capable of unsettling the autonomy of the scientific field. This analysis offers a new perspective on the often unquestioned superiority of the model of international collaboration induced by schemes such as the ORA.

Background: Promptly identifying individuals with addictive disorders reduces mortality and morbidity and improves quality of life. Although screening in primary care with the Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral Treatment strategy has been recommended since 2008, it remains underutilized. This may be due to barriers including lack of time, patient reluctance or perhaps the timing and approach for discussing addiction with their patients. Objective: This study aims to explore and cross-analyze patient and addiction specialist experiences and opinions about early addictive disorder screening in primary care to identify interaction-related screening obstacles. Design and participants: Qualitative study with purposive maximum variation sampling among nine addiction specialists and eight individuals with addiction disorders conducted between April 2017 and November 2019 in Val-de-Loire, France. Main Measures: Using a grounded theory approach, verbatim data was collected from face-to-face interviews with addiction specialists and individuals with addiction disorders. These interviews explored their opinions and experiences with addiction screening in primary care. Initially, two independent investigators analyzed the coded verbatim according to the data triangulation principle. Secondly, convergences and divergences between addiction specialist and addict verbatim categories were identified, analyzed, and conceptualized. Key Results: Four main interaction-related obstacles to early addictive disorder screening in primary care were identified and conceptualized: the new concepts of shared self-censorship and the patient's personal red line, issues not addressed during consultations, and opposition between how physicians and patients would like to approach addictive disorder screening. Conclusions: To continue analysis of addictive disorder screening dynamics, further studies to examine the perspectives of all those involved in primary care are required. The information revealed from these studies will provide ideas to help patients and caregivers start discussing addiction and to help implement a collaborative team-based care approach. Trial registration: This study is registered with the Commission Nationale de l'Informatique et des Libertés (CNIL) under No. 2017–093. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic carbon (C org) and bulk nitrogen (N bulk) isotope compositions (respectively δ13C org and δ15N bulk) of sedimentary rocks deposited in the Archean and Proterozoic eons are commonly used as proxies for the biomass δ13C org and δ15N bulk values in paleo-environment and paleo-ecosystem studies. Many sedimentary rocks from these eons were deposited under ferruginous conditions, but it remains unknown whether C and N isotope signatures are preserved during diagenetic degradation of organic matter under this chemical state. Lake Pavin, Massif Central, France, is a permanently stratified freshwater lake with anoxic and ferruginous deep waters and represents a unique natural site for evaluating the impact of organic matter decomposition predominantly through iron redox cycling and methanogenesis. Here we present C and N isotope compositions of sediment collected from traps placed at different depths in the water column and from cores recovered in the anoxic zone of the lake. The δ13C org and δ15N tot values in the living biomass of Lake Pavin are estimated from the shallowest sediment traps. The biomass δ13C org values show a seasonally-controlled bimodal distribution, around −23.3 ± 1.7 ‰ (2σ) in September and November (organic matter produced in summer and autumn) and −28.0 ± 2.6 ‰ (2σ) in April and June (organic matter produced in winter and spring). These seasonal variations are attributed to variable δ13C values in dissolved inorganic carbon, inherited from fluctuation in the relative rates of photosynthesis versus respiration. The δ15N tot values are near −1 ‰ for most seasons, indicating that the dominant N source to photosynthetic biomass is atmospheric N 2. Along the water column profile, organic matter mineralization released about 20% of C and 30% of N, with only moderate effects on δ13C org and δ15N tot (decreased by 1.3 and 0.4 ‰, respectively). Although the water column data show significant seasonal variations, global annual fluxes, estimated from regular trap collection over 15 months, are remarkably consistent with the top sediment composition. In the sedimentary column, microbial degradation through ferric iron reduction and methanogenesis induces a loss of 40–50% C org and 50–60% N tot , with negligible modification of δ13C org and δ15N tot. We conclude that although the C/N ratio increases significantly as organic matter is degraded in the water column and in the first ∼15 cm of the sedimentary column, δ13C org and δ15N tot are well preserved, supporting the idea that C and N isotope signatures can be reliably interpreted as tracers of primary biomass in sedimentary rocks deposited in anoxic and ferruginous environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban allotment gardens (UAGs) are important for the provision of foodstuffs, social cohesion, residents' well‐being, and prevention of the formation of local heat islands during summer. The soils of these gardens however may be adversely affected by pollution threats and thus create health risks. In such cases, appropriate management becomes necessary. For several gardens exhibiting soil contamination (e.g., Pb at 100–400 mg kg−1) in the city of Nantes, local actors collaborated, including scientists, the municipality's Parks and Open Space Department, elected officials, sanitary administration, and each site's gardeners' association. The soil characterization step was performed along with a sanitary risk evaluation and discussion of management options, based on both the pollution characteristics and local context. The most frequent option consisted of replacing the polluted soils with clean soils. Managing the excavated polluted soils on‐site (e.g., for ornamental purposes) limited the economic and environmental impacts associated with this solution. Alternative solutions, including a combined system of nonaccumulative cropping vegetables at the time of phytoextraction, were also employed to maintain gardening uses. In some cases, land use (gardening) was changed into, for example, an orchard, open space, or ornamental space. A combination of solutions was introduced in several gardens. The various options available for managing polluted soils, as implemented in Nantes' UAGs and based mainly on nature‐based solution, can be applied more generally in order to improve soil quality. In addition to enhancing the quality of both residents' lives and biodiversity, several solutions allow preserving or even restoring soil functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Colorectal cancer (CRC) mass screening has been implemented in France since 2008. Participation rates remain too low. The objective of this study was to test if the implementation of a training course focused on communication skills among general practitioners (GP) would increase the delivery of gaiac faecal occult blood test and CRC screening participation among the target population of each participating GP. A cluster randomised controlled trial was conducted with GP's practice as a cluster unit. GPs from practices in the control group were asked to continue their usual care. GPs of the intervention group received a 4-h educational training, builtwith previous qualitative data on CRC screening focusing on doctor-patient communication with a follow-up of 7 months for both groups. The primary outcome measure was the patients' participation rate in the target population for each GP. Seventeen GPs (16 practices) in intervention group and 28 GPs (19 practices) in control group participated. The patients' participation rate in the intervention group were 36.7% vs. 24.5% in the control group (P = 0.03). Doctor-patient communication should be developed and appear to be one of the possible targets of improvement patients adherence and participation rate in the target population forCRCmass screening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Under-prescription of antidepressants (ADs) among people meeting the criteria for major depressive episodes and excessive prescription in less symptomatic patients have been reported. The reasons influencing general practitioners' (GPs) prescription of ADs remain little explored. This study aimed at assessing the influence of GP and patient characteristics on AD prescription. Methods This cross-sectional study was based on a sample of 816 GPs working within the main health care insurance system in the Seine-Maritime district of France during 2010. Only GPs meeting the criteria for full-time GP practice were included. The ratio of AD prescription to overall prescription volume, a relative measure of AD prescription level, was calculated for each GP, using the defined daily dose (DDD) concept. Associations of this AD prescription ratio with GPs' age, gender, practice location, number of years of practice, number of days of sickness certificates prescribed, number of home visits and consultations, number and mean age of registered patients, mean patient income, and number of patients with a chronic condition were assessed using univariate and multivariate analysis. Results The high prescribers were middle-aged (40–59) urban GPs, with a moderate number of consultations and fewer low-income and chronic patients. GPs' workload (e.g., volume of prescribed drug reimbursement and number of consultations) had no influence on the AD prescription ratio. GPs with more patients with risk factors for depression prescribed fewer ADs, however, which could suggest the medications were under-prescribed among the at-risk population. Conclusions Our study described a profile of the typical higher AD prescriber that did not include heavy workload. In future work, a more detailed assessment of all biopsychosocial components of the consultation and other influences on GP behavior such as prior training would be useful to explain AD prescription in GP's practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Chronic heart failure, a common pathology, is increasing due to the aging population and improvements in heart disease detection and management. The prevalence is estimated at ~10% of the French general practice patient population over 59 years old. The primary objective of this study is to improve the quality of life for heart failure patients though a complex intervention involving patient and general practitioner (GP) education in primary care. Methods A randomised, cluster controlled trial, stratified over 4 areas of the Auvergne region in France comparing intervention and control groups. The inclusion criteria are: patients older than 50 years with New York Heart Association stage I, II, or III heart failure, with reduced ejection fraction or with preserved ejection fraction. Heart failure should be confirmed by the patient?s cardiologist according to the European Society of Cardiology guidelines criteria. The exclusion criteria include: severe cognitive disorders, living in an institution, participating in another clinical trial, having New York Heart Association stage IV heart failure, or a lack of French language skills. The complex intervention consists of training at the GP practice with an interactive 2-day workshop to provide a patient?s education programme. GPs are trained to perform case management, lifestyle counselling and motivational interviewing, to educate patients on the main topics including clinical alarm signs, physical activity, diet and cardiovascular risk factors. The patients? education sessions are scheduled at 1, 4, 7, 10, 13 and 19 months following the start of the trial. The primary outcome to be assessed is the impact on the quality of life as determined using two questionnaires: the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire and SF-36. To detect a difference in the mean quality of life at 19 months, we anticipate studying a minimum of 400 patients from 80 GPs. Discussion This trial will provide insight into the effectiveness of a complex intervention to educate patients with heart failure including a 2-day GP workshop and patients? education programme in the setting of a GP consultation to improve the quality of life in patients with chronic heart failure. This complex intervention tool could be used during initial and further medical training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Former industrial suburbs, which are now the object of economic and functional transformations almost everywhere in Europe, are suitable testing grounds for implementing a more sustainable urban development. The case of the northern suburbs of Paris, which we will look at here, shows that there is no lack of political will or regulatory tools for imagining and planning this sustainable city. However, the social problems that affect these suburbs are a definite impediment to its realization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent studies have shown decreased susceptibility of Candida krusei to amphotericin B (AmB), in addition to its inherent resistance to fluconazole. The susceptibility of C. krusei to AmB was studied in the Parasitology-Mycology laboratory of Grenoble Teaching Hospital, France. Between 2003 and 2011, we analysed 200 C. krusei isolates from 130 patients. The isolates were mainly collected in intensive care, cardio-thoracic and cancer/haematology units. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined by the E-test method. The modal MIC was 0.5 μg ml−1; the MIC50 and MIC90 (MICs encompassing 50% and 90% of all isolates tested, respectively) were 0.5 μg ml−1 and 1 μg ml−1. The Cuzick's and Kendall's tests showed a significant increase in MIC values between 2003 and 2011 ( P = 0.001 and P ≤ 0.001, respectively), regardless of age or gender. No statistical difference was reached with these tests when the first 100 or 50 data were excluded. Despite the increase observed in the first period of the study, our results confirm the low AmB MICs reported in previous studies. However, some authors have recently reported much higher MICs. This discrepancy cannot be explained by method biases and could reflect C. krusei epidemiological differences among populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Antifungal prescription practices have changed over the last decade, and the impact of these changes is unclear. Our objective here was to evaluate the effect of antifungal drug use on the distribution and drug susceptibility of Candida spp. in a French intensive care unit (ICU). Methods Antifungal drug use was measured as the number of defined daily doses per 1000 hospital days (DDDs/1000HD). The distribution of Candida spp. over a 6 year period (2004–09) and the MICs of antifungal drugs over 2007–09 were determined. Statistical analyses were performed to assess relationships between antifungal drug use, Candida spp. distribution and MIC changes over time. Results Of 26 450 samples from 3391 patients, 1511 were positive for Candida spp. Candida albicans predominated (52.5%), followed by Candida glabrata (16.6%) and Candida parapsilosis (7.5%). C. parapsilosis increased significantly, from 5.7% in 2004 to 12.5% in 2009 (P = 0.0005). Caspofungin use increased significantly between 2004 (17.9 DDDs/1000HD) and 2009 (69.9 DDDs/1000HD) (P < 0.0001). Between 2007 and 2009, the increase in caspofungin use correlated significantly with the increase in caspofungin MICs displayed by C. parapsilosis (P < 0.0001) and C. glabrata (P = 0.03). Amphotericin B consumption changed over time and correlated with an increase in amphotericin B MICs for C. albicans (P = 0.0002) and C. glabrata (P = 0.0005). Significant declines occurred in both fluconazole use (P < 0.0001) and fluconazole MICs of C. albicans (P < 0.001) Conclusions Antifungal drug use in the ICU is associated with major changes in the distribution and drug susceptibility of Candida spp. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background: Great variability in breast cancer (BC) treatment practices according to patient, tumour or organisation of care characteristics has been reported but the relation between these factors is not well known. In two French regions, we measured compliance with Clinical Practice Guidelines for non-metastatic BC care management and identified factors associated with non-compliance at clinical and organisational levels. Methods: Eligible patients had invasive unilateral BC without distant metastases and at least two contacts with one of the two regional healthcare systems (2003-2004) in the first year after diagnosis. Medical data were collected from patient medical records in all public and private hospitals (99 hospitals). The care process was defined by 20 criteria: clinical decisions for treatment and therapeutic procedures. Each criterion was classified according to level of compliance ("Compliant", "Justifiable" and "Not Compliant") and factors of non-compliance were identified (mixed effect logistic regression). Results: 926 women were included. Non-compliance with clinical decisions for treatment was associated with older patient age (OR 2.1; 95%CI: 1.3-3.6) and region (OR 3.0; 95%CI: 1.2-7.4). Non-compliance with clinical decisions for radiotherapy was associated with lymph node involvement or the presence of peritumoural vascular invasion (OR 1.5; 95%CI: 1.01-2.3) and non-compliance with overall treatment (clinical decisions for treatment + therapeutic procedures) was associated with the presence of positive lymph nodes (OR 2.0; 95%CI: 1.2-3.3), grade III versus grade I (OR 2.9; 95%CI: 1.4-6.2), and one region of care versus another (OR 3.5; 95%CI: 1.7-7.1). Finally, heterogeneity of compliance in overall treatment sequence was identified between local cancer units (p < 0.05). Conclusion: This study provides interesting insights into factors of non-compliance in non-metastatic BC management and could lead to quality care improvements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within the framework of a large research project launched to assess the feasibility of microseismic monitoring of growing underground caverns, this specific work focuses on the analysis of the induced seismicity recorded in a salt mine environment. A local seismic network has been installed over an underground salt cavern located in the Lorraine basin (Northeast of France). The microseismic network includes four 3-components and three single component geophones deployed at depths between 30 and 125 m in cemented boreholes drilled in the vicinity of the study area. The underground cavern under monitoring is located within a salt layer at 180 m depth and it presents a rather irregular shape that can be approximated by a cylindrical volume of 50 m height and 180 m diameter. Presently, the cavern is full of saturated brine inducing a significant pressure on its walls (~2.0 MPa) to keep the overburden mechanically stable. Nevertheless some small microseismic events were recorded by the network and analyzed (approximately 2,000 events in 2 years of recording). In October 2005 and April 2007, two controlled pressure transient experiments were carried out in the cavern, in order to analyze the mechanical response of the overburden by tracking the induced microseismicity. The recorded events were mainly grouped in clusters of 3–30 s of signal duration with emergent first arrivals and rather low frequency content (between 20 and 120 Hz). Some of these events have been spatially located by travel-time picking close to the actual cavern and its immediate roof. Preliminary spectral analysis of isolated microearthquakes suggests sources with non-negligible tensile components possibly related to fluid-filled cracks. Rock-debris falling into the cavern from delamination of clay marls in the immediate roof is probably another source of seismic excitation. This was later confirmed when the most important seismic swarms occurred at the site during May 2007, accompanied by the detachment of more than 8 × 104 m3 of marly material on top of the cavern roof. In any case, no clear evidence of classical brittle ruptures in the most competent layers of the overburden has been observed during the analyzed period. Current work is focused on the discrimination of all these possible mechanisms to better understand the damage processes in the cavern overburden and to assess its final collapse hazard. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diseases always have a significant impact during military deployments. We evaluated the operational impact of health problems observed in a French infantry battalion (n = 690) during a 4-month assignment in Ivory Coast. In all, 55.7% of soldiers consulted at least once and sought care for 608 health problems. A total operational incapacity was observed in 22.2% of cases (7.6/1,000 person-days). The 5 diseases causing the greatest operational incapacity were diarrhea (2.1 days lost/1,000 person-days), musculoskeletal diseases and injuries (53.7 days), malaria (29 days), dental diseases (30.9 days), and fevers of undetermined origin (7 days). The incidence of diarrhea and skin infections was higher in rank-and-file troops than among noncommissioned officers. It was also higher during the mission's first month, when individual susceptibility to infections is suspected to be highest. Some diseases that are not serious nonetheless have a significant operational impact and should be better studied to determine preventive measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Population differentiation of alien invasive plants within their non-native range has received increasingly more attention. Common gardens are typically used to assess the levels of genotypic differentiation among populations. However, in such experiments, environmental maternal effects can influence phenotypic variation among individuals if seed sources are collected from field populations under variable environmental regimes. In the present study, we investigated the causes of an altitudinal cline in an invasive plant. Seeds were collected from Senecio inaequidens (Asteraceae) populations along an altitudinal gradient in southern France. In addition, seeds from the same populations were generated by intra-population crossings in a climatic chamber. The two seed lots were grown in a common garden in Central Belgium to identify any evidence of environmentally induced maternal effects and/or an altitudinal cline in a suite of life-history traits. Results failed to detect any environmental maternal effects. However, an altitudinal cline in plant height and above-ground biomass was found to be independent of the maternal environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main approach to protect grapes against diseases involves the use of plant protection products. Understanding the quantitative amount and the distribution of these products on the vines is essential to assess the effectiveness of spray equipment and to evaluate the relationship between dosage and response when targeting pathogens. Improving the targeting of sprayers is an important lever to reduce the quantities of phytosanitary inputs applied, taking into account various cropping systems and training. For this purpose, a regularly distributed artificial canopy, adjustable in height and width was designed to mimic three grapevine growth stages for two of the most common trellised training systems encountered in France for 'wide row vineyards' (Royat cordon and Guyot, inter-row width 2.5 m). This artificial canopy was evaluated with the perspective of using it as a testing facility for classifying sprayers. Using a dye tracer, spray deposits were directly recovered after the rinsing of artificial leaves. A first series of experiments defined the most adapted sampling strategy in the canopy according to the crop stage, with the comparison of two contrasted sprayers. A second series of experiments compared the quantities of deposits obtained from both the artificial and a real vine, for several sprayers at a full growth stage and for one sprayer at three growth stages. Deposition patterns and mean deposits on both targets were found comparable, allowing a realistic perspective for the classification of spray application modalities using the artificial vine. A third series of experiments compared deposition at three crop stages on artificial and real vines for one type of sprayer. A fourth series of experiments on the artificial vineyard discriminated between three behaviour classes within 65 spraying modalities that combined sprayer types and sprayer settings (such as nozzle types). The discrimination was achieved using a PCA analysis that confirmed the soundness of the sampling strategy used. Overall, these results highlight the ability of the EvaSprayViti test facility to assess and rank the performance of vineyard sprayers. • A regularly organized 3D test facility emulates vineyards canopy deposition properties. • Spray deposition patterns were similar in vineyards and on EvaSprayViti test facility. • The test facility allows clear discrimination of sprayer configurations. • The test facility can be parametrised to emulate different growth stages. • EvaSprayViti test facility helps rank vineyard sprayer performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The availabilities of iron and phosphorus have considerably impacted biological productivity in past and present natural aquatic environments, and therefore have been key regulators of climate changes over geological time scales. Microbial organisms are known to play important roles in reactions that drive Fe and P cycling at redox interfaces in Earth’s surface environments. Here we study the depth variations of Fe and P speciation in Lake Pavin (Massif Central, France), a deep (bottom depth ∼92m) and permanently stratified lake with anoxic and ferruginous conditions in the water column below ∼60m depth. We particularly focus on the potential roles of microbes on Fe and P transformations and traces left by these processes in the sedimenting particular matter. Bulk chemical analyses, powder X-ray diffraction and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) at the Fe K-edge were performed to characterize the mineralogy and Fe oxidation state of solid particles at different depths in the water column and in sediments deposited at the bottom of the lake. Fe is mainly hosted by Fe(III)-(oxyhydr)oxides and phyllosilicates in the shallower oxygenated water column of the lake (25m). The amount of Fe in suspended matter increases with depth, and an additional amorphous Fe(II)–Fe(III)-phosphate phase is detected close to the chemocline (at 56m depth), while vivianite (an Fe(II)-phosphate with a formula of Fe(II)3(PO4)2·8(H2O)) becomes dominant in the deeper anoxic water (67m and 86m depths). Fe-(oxyhydr)oxides are preserved down to these depths in the water column suggesting that Fe-reduction has little impact on the particulate Fe budget over the monimolimnion. These Fe-(oxyhydr)oxides undergo reductive dissolution at the surface of the sediments, where vivianite is the main Fe-bearing phase. These results are confirmed by imaging at the micrometer and nano-scales using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and synchrotron-based scanning transmission X-ray microscopy (STXM), as well as high spatial and energy resolution XANES spectra at the Fe L2,3-edges and the C K-edge. Moreover, polyphosphate-accumulating microorganisms were observed by microscopy and chemical imaging at all depths except in the deeper part of the lake (86m), and some Fe was associated with these polyphosphate inclusions below 56m. Finally, the Fe-phosphates encrust microbial bodies, suggesting that microbial activities might be involved in the formation of these phases. Based on comparisons with laboratory experiments, we propose that Fe-oxidation (in contrast to Fe-reduction) may play a role in the precipitation of Fe-phosphates in the water column of Lake Pavin. Polyphosphate-accumulating microorganisms could also be involved in Fe-phosphate formation in the lake, for instance by increasing dissolved phosphate concentrations in the monimolimnion. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Foodborne viruses, especially noroviruses (NoV), are increasingly reported as the cause of foodborne outbreaks. NoV outbreaks have been reported linked to fresh soft red fruits and leafy greens. Belgium, Canada and France were the first countries to provide data about the prevalence of NoV on fresh produce. In total, 867 samples of leafy greens, 180 samples of fresh soft red fruits and 57 samples of other types of fresh produce (tomatoes, cucumber and fruit salads) were analyzed. Firstly, the NoV detection methodology, including virus and RNA extraction, real-time RT-PCR and quality controls were compared among the three countries. In addition, confirmation and genotyping of the NoV strains was attempted for a subset of NoV positive samples using conventional RT-PCR targeting an alternative region followed by sequencing. Analysis of the process control showed that 653, 179 and 18 samples of the leafy greens, soft red fruits and other fresh produce types were valid for analysis based on the recovery of the process control. NoV was detected by real-time RT-PCR in 28.2% (N=641), 33.3% (N=6) and 50% (N=6) of leafy greens tested in Canada, Belgium and France, respectively. Soft red fruits were found positive by real-time RT-PCR in 34.5% (N=29) and 6.7% (N=150) of the samples tested in Belgium and France, respectively. 55.5% (N=18) of the other fresh produce types, analyzed in Belgium, were found NoV positive by real-time RT-PCR. Conventional RT-PCR resulted in an amplicon of the expected size in 19.5% (52/266) of the NoV positive samples where this assay was attempted. Subsequent sequencing was only successful in 34.6% (18/52) of the suspected amplicons obtained by conventional RT-PCR. From this study, using the described methodology, NoV genomes were frequently detected in fresh produce however sequence confirmation was not successful for the majority of the samples tested. Infection or outbreaks were rarely or not known to be related to the NoV positive samples. With the increase in sensitivity of the detection methodology, there is an increasing concern about the interpretation of positive NoV results by real-time amplification. Strategies to confirm the results by real-time RT-PCR should be developed in analogy with the detection of microbial pathogens in foods. Detection might indicate contact with NoV in the fresh produce chain. Consequently, a potential risk for infection cannot be excluded but the actual risk from RT-PCR NoV positive produce is still unknown. Studies should be designed determining the probability of infection related to the presence or levels of NoV genomic copies. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Clin Microbiol Infect 2011; 17: 1882-1889 Abstract A prospective (2005-2007) hospital-based multicentre surveillance of EORTC/MSG-proven or probable invasive aspergillosis (IA) cases whatever the underlying diseases was implemented in 12 French academic hospitals. Admissions per hospital and transplantation procedures were obtained. Cox regression models were used to determine risk factors associated with the 12-week overall mortality. With 424 case-patients included, the median incidence/hospital was 0.271/103 admissions (range 0.072-0.910) without significant alteration of incidence and seasonality over time. Among the 393 adults (62% men, 56 years (16-84 years)), 15% had proven IA, 78% haematological conditions, and 92.9% had lung involvement. Acute leukaemia (34.6%) and allogeneic stem cell transplantation (21.4%) were major host factors, together with chronic lymphoproliferative disorders (21.6%), which emerged as a new high-risk group. The other risk host factors consisted of solid organ transplantation (8.7%), solid tumours (4.3%), systemic inflammatory diseases (4.6%) and chronic respiratory diseases (2.3%). Serum galactomannan tests were more often positive (≥69%) for acute leukaemia and allogeneic stem cell transplantation than for the others (<42%; p <10−3). When positive ( n = 245), cultures mainly yielded Aspergillus fumigatus (79.7%). First-line antifungal therapy consisted of voriconazole, caspofungin, lipid formulations of amphotericin, or any combination therapy (52%, 14%, 8% and 19.9%, respectively). Twelve-week overall mortality was 44.8% (95% CI, 39.8-50.0); it was 41% when first-line therapy included voriconazole and 60% otherwise (p <0.001). Independent factors for 12-week mortality were older age, positivity for both culture and galactomannan and central nervous system or pleural involvement, while any strategy containing voriconazole was protective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two legionellosis outbreaks occurred in the city of Rennes, France, during the past decade, requiring in-depth monitoring of Legionella pneumophila in the water network and the cooling towers in the city. In order to characterize the resulting large collection of isolates, an automated low-cost typing method was developed. The multiplex capillary-based variable-number tandem repeat (VNTR) (multiple-locus VNTR analysis [MLVA]) assay requiring only one PCR amplification per isolate ensures a high level of discrimination and reduces hands-on and time requirements. In less than 2 days and using one 4-capillary apparatus, 217 environmental isolates collected between 2000 and 2009 and 5 clinical isolates obtained during outbreaks in 2000 and 2006 in Rennes were analyzed, and 15 different genotypes were identified. A large cluster of isolates with closely related genotypes and representing 77% of the population was composed exclusively of environmental isolates extracted from hot water supply systems. It was not responsible for the known Rennes epidemic cases, although strains showing a similar MLVA profile have regularly been involved in European outbreaks. The clinical isolates in Rennes had the same genotype as isolates contaminating a mall's cooling tower. This study further demonstrates that unknown environmental or genetic factors contribute to the pathogenicity of some strains. This work illustrates the potential of the high-throughput MLVA typing method to investigate the origin of legionellosis cases by allowing the systematic typing of any new isolate and inclusion of data in shared databases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]