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The article focuses on a study which aims at analyzing four-dimensional (4D) climatology datasets of aerosol optical depth (AOD) distributed over the Mediterranean basin. It describes the methodology of the study, in which eight different AOD products derived by satellite are used and shows differences in dust aerosols and other marine and continental aerosols.

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Objectives: To evaluate the role of Staphylococcus simulans in bone and joint infections (BJI) and determine their main characteristics. Methods: A search of the database of the microbiology laboratories of Lille hospital and Tourcoing hospital was performed. Only results from blood, bone, and orthopedic device cultures were taken into account for hospitalized patients between January 2004 and January 2009. We considered cases in which S. simulans was the only bacteria isolated in all of the patients' biological samples with clinical and laboratory signs of infection. For patients with complete medical records, we recorded the clinical and epidemiological data. Results: Six cases of BJI due to S. simulans were recorded, with five cases related to orthopedic devices infections. Three patients lived in rural areas. In four out of six patients, S. simulans was isolated in intraoperative biopsy material. In one patient, S. simulans grew in synovial fluid and in another in blood cultures only. The latter patient had a spondylodiscitis, and chronic foot ulcers due to gout disease were suspected to be the origin of the infection. All patients were healed after a mean follow up of 9 ± 3 months. Orthopedic devices were removed in four of the five patients concerned. The combination of rifampicin plus levofloxacin was used in four patients. Conclusion: The present data suggest that, even though S. simulans remains rarely observed in clinical pathology, its role in osteoarticular infections, especially in the case of infected orthopedic devices, is not exceptional. As for the antibiotic treatment, the combination of rifampicin and levofloxacin seems to be an effective strategy according to our clinical results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The West African region is characterized by large concentrations of smoke and biomass burning aerosols, which could significantly modify the regional radiative budget and the hydrological cycle. Here, we propose long-term (2001-2006) RegCM simulations of aerosol optical properties over West Africa together with their spectral dependences. Results of simulations are evaluated at local and regional scale by using surface network (AERONET/PHOTON) and remote sensing observations (MODIS, MISR, OMI) especially during the dry season, December-January-February, DJF. New original satellite retrievals are tested and compared to RegCM simulations. Concerning AOD, we obtain values in agreement with AERONET/PHOTON observations at the local scale but some differences clearly appear between simulated AOD and regional MISR, OMI and MODIS view, especially over (1) the central Africa and (2) the gulf of Guinea during DJF. Concerning simulated SSA (for visible wavelengths), our results display (1) comparable values with level 2 AERONET/PHOTON local observations together with (2) non negligible differences with satellite (MODIS Deep blue, OMI and MISR products) observations. In most cases, satellite SSA is found to be higher than those simulated by RegCM and retrieved through AERONET/PHOTON network. In parallel, we also note significant differences on retrieved SSA from each satellite (OMI, MISR, MODIS Deep Blue) remote sensing techniques over this specific region. Finally, our work highlights that the spectral dependence of aerosol optical properties is a useful parameter to adapt so that modeled simulations should be be better evaluated and constrained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stronger selection on males has the potential to lower the deleterious mutation load of females, reducing the cost of sex. However, few studies have directly quantified the strength of selection for both sexes. As the magnitude of inbreeding depression (ID) is related to the strength of selection, we measured the cost of inbreeding for both males and females in a laboratory population of Drosophila melanogaster. Using a novel technique for inbreeding, we found significant ID for both juvenile viability and adult fitness in both sexes. The genetic variation responsible for this depression in fitness appeared to be recessive for adult fitness (h=0.11) and partially additive for juvenile viability (h=0.29). ID was identical across the sexes in terms of juvenile viability but was significantly more deleterious for males than females as adults, even though female X-chromosome homogamety should predispose them to a higher inbreeding load. We estimated the strength of selection on adult males to be 1.24 greater than on adult females, and this appears to be a consequence of selection arising from competition for mates. Combined with the generally positive intersexual genetic correlation for inbred lines, our results suggest that the mutation load of sexual females could be meaningfully reduced by stronger selection acting on males. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

African biomass burning emission inventories for gases and particles (AMMABB) have been constructed at a resolution of 1 km by 1km with daily coverage for the 2000-2007 period. They have been evaluated using the ORISAM-TM4 global chemistry transport model, which includes a detailed aerosol module. This paper discussed comparisons between modelled results and new AMMA measurements for surface BC and OC concentrations and scattering coefficients, aerosol optical depths and single scattering albedo from sunphotometer and satellite data. Major aerosol seasonal and interannual evolution over the period 2004-2007 observed at Djougou (Benin) and Banizoumbou (Niger) AMMA/IDAF sites are well reproduced by our global model, showing the importance of using accurate biomass burning emissions. It is the first time to our knowledge that a global model treating core/shell mixing for optical calculations reproduces aerosol optical depths (AOD) values of the same order as satellite and AERONET data. Comparison of simulated and measured concentrations for different class sizes simulated by the model give information on possible refinements of the emissions, according to the particulate size fraction, which have an impact on aerosol optical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objectives: Porphyromonas gingivalis is frequently identified to type by evaluation of fimA polymorphisms and less often by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) because of the technical intricacies of PFGE. To compare these techniques, we genotyped P. gingivalis clinical isolates as to (i) their fimA type and (ii) their whole genome restriction profile (PFGE analysis). Material and methods: Thirty-two P. gingivalis strains were isolated from 16 unrelated periodontitis patients. Two strains were isolated from each patient. Strains were subjected to a fimA-typing polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. Strains that could not be typed by PCR were submitted to sequencing of the entire fimA gene. The PFGE profiles of clinical strains were compared using bioinformatic analysis. Results: Seven of the 32 isolates were not typeable by PCR and so their entire fimA gene was sequenced. The sequencing identified each strain as belonging to a single fimA type. In one case, sequencing of the fimA gene did not agree with the result obtained using fimA PCR typing. With the exception of one patient, each patient presented isolates bearing the same fimA type. However, in three patients, isolates with the same fimA type presented different PFGE pulsotypes. Conclusion: The P. gingivalis typing using fimA PCR has limitations in typeability and discriminatory power. A typing technique for P. gingivalis that is easy to perform but that presents adequate typeability and discriminatory power is needed if we want to better understand the epidemiology of periodontal disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AIM: The objective of this study was to investigate clonal relationship among Porphyromonas gingivalis isolated from subgingival plaque and blood samples in positive transient bacteremia subjects with periodontitis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Unrelated patients with general chronic periodontitis or general aggressive periodontitis requiring scaling and root planing (SRP) were included in the study. Genotyping of each isolate was performed using pulsed field gel electrophoresis technique. Genetic relatedness of strains isolated within an individual or between different patients was determined by dendogram analysis. RESULTS: Following SRP, from 16 patients, seven patients showed positive P. gingivalis bacteremia and nine were negative. Thirty-two strains were isolated from subgingival plaque and blood samples before and during induced transient bacteremia. The majority of the patients harboured one clonal type. Two patients showed different clones in plaque and blood samples suggesting that more than one clone can be found in subgingival plaque. P. gingivalis isolates from periodontitis patients after transient bacteremia following SRP, revealed a high heterogeneity among isolates. CONCLUSION: In 6/16 subjects the same P. gingivalis isolate was found in the blood and in oral cavity. P. gingivalis heterogeneity suggests no association of a unique clonal type with transient bacteremia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Measurements of aerosol optical and physical properties, and chemical composition were conducted at Toulouse, an urban site of southwest France, as part of the CAPITOUL experiment. A period of intensive observations was held over 10 days during the summer campaign in June–July, 2004. During this period, PM2.5 concentrations ranged between 1 and 50 µg m−3. Aerosol size distributions exhibit the presence of three distinct modes which could be fitted by lognormal functions. Diurnal variations of aerosol concentration, size distribution, BC concentration, scattering and absorption coefficients, and single scattering albedo show the presence of two maxima corresponding to rush hours due to various urban activities such as vehicle traffic. Over the period of study, the single scattering albedo at 0.52 µm is found to be 0.7 ± 0.1, indicating the dominance of absorbing aerosols over Toulouse. Airborne measurements observed the vertical distribution of aerosols in the atmosphere. These observations clearly show that aerosol is mostly contained within the UBL which contributes significantly to the aerosol optical depth. The GAME radiative transfer model (RTM) has been used to carry out the radiative transfer computations. A synergetic approach was applied to generate spectral values of aerosol parameters required as input for the radiative transfer calculations. Vertical radio soundings and airborne measurements provided in-situ parameters required for the RTM. Simulations indicate that aerosols over Toulouse reduce significantly (−30 W m−2) the solar energy reaching the surface, mainly by absorption of the solar radiation into the atmosphere. At the TOA, aerosol forcing is even found to be positive (+0.8 W m−2). These results confirm that local direct aerosol forcing in urban atmosphere is mainly driven by the absorbing black carbon aerosols. The mean heating rate within the UBL is considerably enhanced, by 4.57 K day−1, due to the presence of absorbing aerosols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Porphyromonas gingivalis, a gram-negative anaerobic bacterium, is a major periopathogen whose transmission from host to host involves exposure to atmospheric oxygen. P. gingivalis contains genetic factors that function in an oxidative stress response, but their expression has not been analyzed during exposure to atmospheric oxygen. The aim of this study was to obtain a better understanding of atmospheric adaptation of P. gingivalis. Methods: The aerotolerance of wild-type and oxyR mutant P. gingivalis strains were determined, and quantitative polymerase chain reaction was performed to analyze gene expression patterns in response to exposure to atmospheric oxygen. The analyzed P. gingivalis genes encoded proteins involved in oxidative response ( oxyR, ahpC -F, batA, dps, ftn, tpx) as well as several major virulence factors ( hagA, hagB, hagE, rgpA, rgpB, hem). Results: Our results demonstrated a critical role for the oxyR gene in the aerotolerance of P. gingivalis. The ahpC-F, batA, and hem genes were slightly overexpressed (between 1.65-fold and 2-fold) after exposure to atmospheric oxygen compared to anaerobic conditions. The level of transcription of dps, ftn, tpx, and rgpA genes increased more than 2.5-fold, and the expression of ahpC-F, dps, ftn, and tpx was partially or completely OxyR-dependent. Conclusion: A different transcription pattern of P. gingivalis genes was observed, depending on the stimulus of oxidative stress. We present new evidence that the expression of tpx, encoding a thiol peroxidase, is partially OxyR-dependent and is induced after atmospheric oxygen exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVES: (i) To compare the prevalence and levels of Capnocytophaga, a known systemic pathogen in immunocompromised patients, in the dental plaque of healthy children and children with cancer, and (ii) to determine the susceptibility of strains isolated from cancer patients to a range of antibiotics. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-one children with cancer undergoing a first course of immunosuppressive chemotherapy and 30 healthy control children were included in the study. Samples were collected on days 0, 7, 14, and 21 of the cure (and equivalent dates in controls). Susceptibility to antibiotics was tested using an agar dilution method and galleries with predefined concentrations of selected antibiotics. RESULTS: There was a significant drop in the total anaerobic cultivable flora on day 14 and in the prevalence of Capnocytophaga on days 14 and 21 in the children with cancer. The proportion of Capnocytophaga in the anaerobic flora, however, was high in certain cancer patients. Beta-lactam/beta-lactamase inhibitor combinations, imipenem, clindamycin, and tetracycline were the most effective against Capnocytophaga. CONCLUSION: This study showed that Capnocytophaga decreased in prevalence and proportion in the dental plaque of cancer patients during chemotherapy but became predominant in some cases. It is recommended that imipenem or beta-lactam/beta-lactamase inhibitor combinations be used to treat Capnocytophaga bacteraemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recommended treatment for Q fever endocarditis is a combination of doxycycline and hydroxychloroquine. We found a correlation between serum doxycycline concentrations and decreases in levels of phase 1 Coxiella burnetii antibodies, in 24 patients with Q fever endocarditis. Patients who had a >2-fold decrease in levels of phase 1 antibodies had serum doxycycline concentrations higher than those of the other patients (mean ± SD, 5.29 ± 1.75 vs. 3.14 ± 1.40 μg/mL; P = .003). We recommend adjusting the posology of doxycycline to achieve a serum concentration of at least 5 μg/mL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The retention and survival of microorganisms on toothbrushes pose a threat of recontamination for certain patients at risk. In order to measure the influence of brush design and optimize the choice of toothbrush model for complementary studies, the in vitro retention of three microbial species (Porphyromonas gingivalis ATCC 33277, Streptococcus mutans ATCC 25175 and Candida albicans ATCC 26555) was evaluated for three types of toothbrush. Two series of standardized experiments were carried out for each brush and microorganism. The first series tested the retention of the microorganisms on the head portion of the brush, while the second measured retention on the head of the brush and the part of the handle inserted in the mouth during brushing. For each series, the microorganisms were counted at T0 and T24 (after storage of the brushes at room temperature for 24 h). Depending on the microorganism studied, from 0.2% to 2% of the initial inoculum was retained on the brush. The number detected increased with the size of the exposed area. After 24 h, P. gingivalis and S. mutans were found on only one type of brush. C. albicans survived on all three. These results confirm that microorganisms can quickly colonize toothbrushes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ceftriaxone concentrations in abdominal tissues were evaluated after administration as antibiotic prophylaxis for pancreatic surgery. Ten patients were given ceftriaxone (1 g i.v.) 30 min before surgery. Ceftriaxone concentrations in fatty tissues ranged from 2.5 to 6.2 microg/g. Ceftriaxone concentrations were 6.0 +/- 8.6 microg/g in pancreatic tissues, 2.1 +/- 2.5 mg/L in pancreatic fluid, 1179 +/- 1271 mg/L in pancreatic bile, and 18 +/- 16 microg/g in the liver. In fatty tissues, 8-10 patients had tissue levels greater than the MIC90 for Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli and the 10 patients had tissue levels greater than the MIC90 for Klebsiella pneumoniae and Proteus mirabilis. In other tissues, penetration was greater than the MIC90 for potential pathogens in 50-100% of the patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ability of a simple rule of thumb, based on creatinine clearance, to predict tobramycin serum concentrations was evaluated in mechanically ventilated patients. They were given tobramycin intravenously over 30 min at 8 h intervals. Creatinine clearance was estimated from the formula developed by Cockcroft & Gault (1976, Nephron 16, 31-41) or was calculated after urine collection for 24 h. The loading dose was 1.5 mg/kg and then dose adjustments were performed on a daily basis. Patients were studied on day 1 and day 3. Mean values of peak and trough levels were within the therapeutic range, but individual values were outside the therapeutic range in 30% to 70% of patients on both day 1 and day 3, most of the patients having subtherapeutic serum concentrations. This was mainly related to the high volume of distribution of tobramycin calculated in these patients. These results further emphasize the need to monitor serum concentrations and to use an individual pharmacokinetic method to make dose adjustment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An elastin peptide (kE57) obtained from organolkaline hydrolysis of calf ligamentum nuchae insoluble elastin, was isolated by gel permeation on Sephadex G150 and high performance liquid chromatography on a TSK G 3000 SW column. It possessed an average Mr=57,000 and similar amino acids composition as its insoluble counterpart. kE57 behave as a competitive inhibitor of human neutrophil elastase (HNE) with Ki=1.4 μM; it also inhibited porcine pancreatic elastase (PPE) but less efficiently Ki=180 μM. Identification of elastic fibres in rat gingiva was ascertained by light and electron microscopic studies. Morphometric studies indicated that rat gingiva contained similar levels of elastic fibres (=2%) as human skin; elastic fibres networks from both tissues also displayed high structural analogy. Gingival chronic inflammation was induced in rats by mechanical impaction associated with an hyperglucidic diet. After 5 weeks, the levels of rat gingiva elastic fibres, decreased from Vv=1.94±0.1% to Vv=1.02±0.06. Local injections of kE57; 100 μg per day, 5 days a week for 5 weeks did restore the integrity of the gingiva elastic fibres network: Vv=1.84±0.1. without influencing leucocyte infiltration, it is proposed that elastin-derived peptides, acting as potent competitive inhibitor of neutrophil elastase involved in periodontitis, might be of therapeutic value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Characteristics and radiative forcing of the aerosol and ozone fields of two configurations of the Centre National de Recherches Météoroglogiques (CNRM) and Cerfacs climate model are analyzed over the historical period (1850–2014), using several Coupled Model Intercomparison Project 6 (CMIP6) simulations. CNRM‐CM6‐1 is the atmosphere‐ocean general circulation model including prescribed aerosols and a linear stratospheric ozone scheme, while the Earth System Model CNRM‐ESM2‐1 has interactive tropospheric aerosols and chemistry of the midtroposphere aloft. The representations of aerosols and ozone in CNRM‐CM6‐1 are issued from simulations of CNRM‐ESM2‐1, and this ensures some comparability of both representations. In particular, present‐day anthropogenic aerosol optical depths are similar (0.018), and their spatial patterns correspond to those of reference data sets such as MACv2 and MACv2‐SP despite a negative bias. Effective radiative forcings (ERFs) have been estimated using 30‐year fixed sea surface temperature simulations (piClim) and several calls to the radiative scheme. Present‐day anthropogenic aerosol ERF, aerosol‐radiation ERF, and aerosol cloud ERF are fully within CMIP5 estimates and, respectively, equal to −1.10, −0.36, and −0.81 W m −2 for CNRM‐CM6‐1 and −0.21, −0.61, and −0.74 W m −2 for CNRM‐ESM2‐1. Additional CMIP6‐type piClim simulations show that these differences are mainly due to the interactivity of the aerosol scheme whose impact is confirmed when assessing the response of both climate model configurations to rising CO 2. Present‐day stratospheric ozone ERF, equal to −0.04 W m −2, is in agreement with that of the CMIP6 ozone. No trend appears in the ozone ERF over the historical period although the evolution of the total column ozone is correctly simulated. Plain Language Summary: The manuscript documents the Météo‐France Centre National de Recherches Météorologiques aerosol‐chemistry modeling contributions to the sixth Coupled Model Intercomparison Project that supports the sixth IPCC Assessment Report of climate change. It establishes that their results are suitable for use by the scientific community in the analysis of the sixth Coupled Model Intercomparison Project experiments. The authors provide an evaluation of the model performance in both present‐day and historical (1850–2014) contexts, as well as a detailed analysis of the model calculated effective radiative forcing due to ozone and aerosols. Key Points: The representations of aerosol and ozone in the CMIP6 CNRM‐CM6‐1 and CNRM‐ESM2‐1 models is describedPresent‐day and historical aerosol and ozone distributions are assessed, as well as their effective radiative forcing (ERF)The present‐day anthropogenic aerosol ERF (‐1.10 W m −2 for CNRM‐CM6‐1) is sensitive to the interactivity of aerosols [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been shown that the vesicles produced by Porphyromonas gingivalis under certain growth conditions contribute to its pathogenicity. In this study. we demonstrate the cytotoxic effect of the vesicles using two methods: one quantitative (the colorimetric cytotoxicity test using sulforhodamine B) and the other qualitative (flow cytometry). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]