Search

Aim: Tropical forest succession and associated changes in community composition are driven by species demographic rates, but how demographic strategies shift during succession remains unclear. Our goal was to identify generalities in demographic trade-offs and successional shifts in demographic strategies across Neotropical forests that cover a large rainfall gradient and to test whether the current conceptual model of tropical forest succession applies to wet and dry forests. Location: Mexico and Central America. Time period: 1985–2018. Major taxa studied: Trees. Methods: We used repeated forest inventory data from two wet and two dry forests to quantify demographic rates of 781 tree species. For each forest, we explored the main demographic trade-offs and assigned tree species to five demographic groups by performing a weighted principal components analysis to account for differences in sample size. We aggregated the basal area and abundance across demographic groups to identify successional shifts in demographic strategies over the entire successional gradient from very young (

Abandonment of agricultural lands promotes the global expansion of secondary forests, which are critical for preserving biodiversity and ecosystem functions and services. Such roles largely depend, however, on two essential successional attributes, trajectory and recovery rate, which are expected to depend on landscape-scale forest cover in nonlinear ways. Using a multi-scale approach and a large vegetation dataset (843 plots, 3511 tree species) from 22 secondary forest chronosequences distributed across the Neotropics, we show that successional trajectories of woody plant species richness, stem density and basal area are less predictable in landscapes (4 km radius) with intermediate (40–60%) forest cover than in landscapes with high (greater than 60%) forest cover. This supports theory suggesting that high spatial and environmental heterogeneity in intermediately deforested landscapes can increase the variation of key ecological factors for forest recovery (e.g. seed dispersal and seedling recruitment), increasing the uncertainty of successional trajectories. Regarding the recovery rate, only species richness is positively related to forest cover in relatively small (1 km radius) landscapes. These findings highlight the importance of using a spatially explicit landscape approach in restoration initiatives and suggest that these initiatives can be more effective in more forested landscapes, especially if implemented across spatial extents of 1–4 km radius.

Background Unexplained sudden death remains one of the leading causes of death in sickle cell disease (SCD) adults. Ventricular arrhythmia is a well-known risk factor for sudden death but its prevalence and determinants in the context of SCD remain understudied. Purpose The aim of this study was to identify echocardiographic predictors of ventricular arrhythmia in SCD. Methods From January 2019 to March 2021, consecutive adult patients with SCD referred to ambulatory cardiology department for possible cardiac involvement were prospectively included (Drepacoeur cohort). All patients that had 24-hour ECG monitoring (24h-holter) and thransthoracic echocardiography (TTE) on the same day were analysed in this study. The primary end point was the occurrence of ventricular arrhythmia, defined as sustained or non-sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT), more than 500 premature ventricular contractions (PVC) on 24h-holter, or history of VT ablation. Results Overall, 90 patients were included and 54 (60%) were analysed. Mean age was 47.6±11.6 years (range 21–69), 53% were male. Heart function was mainly preserved with a mean left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of 57.9±4.9% and a mean global longitudinal strain (GLS) of −18±2.8%. Mean tricuspid regurgitation velocity was 2.6±0.4m/s. Ventricular arrhythmia was observed in 13 (24.1%) patients (4 non-sustained VT [range 4–121 consecutive PVC], 9 with more than 500 PVC [range 500–13000 PVC/24h] and 1 history of VT ablation). Regarding echocardiographic parameters, ventricular arrhythmia was associated with lower GLS (−15.8±1.8% vs. −19±2.7%, P Conclusion In SCD adults with preserved LVEF, GLS was the only independent echocardiographic predictor of ventricular arrhythmia. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: None.

Generalist predators affect pest populations through direct consumption or by non-consumptive effects, whereby predators induce changes in prey behavior which represent a cost to prey. A diverse community of predatory arthropods has been described in turfgrass, contributing to the direct mortality of pests including black cutworm, fall armyworm, and Japanese beetle. Billbugs are a major pest of turfgrass in the Intermountain West, but the composition of the local predatory arthropod community and whether predators aid in billbug suppression through consumptive or non-consumptive effects is unknown. First, we catalogued the predatory arthropod community on Utah and Idaho golf courses using linear pitfall traps. Then, we assessed adult billbug consumption by resident predators in the field. Using a series of lab assays, we assessed the most abundant predators’ consumption of billbug life stages, including adults, sentinel waxworm larvae at varied soil depths, and eggs in turf stems. Finally, we assessed the non-consumptive effects of these abundant predators on adult billbug activity (mating, oviposition, thanatosis). We found that the predatory arthropod community consisted primarily of carabids (Pterostichus melanarius, Harpalus sp., Amara aenea, and Anisodactylus sp.) and spiders (lycosids), representing 60% and 28% of all predators, respectively. In the field and in lab assays, adult billbug mortality from predation was generally low at

International audience; Background: Adverse childhood events may have differential effects on the brain that persist into adulthood. Findings on structural brain alterations in older adults exposed to early-life adversity are inconsistent notably due to heterogeneity in imaging studies, population, psychiatric comorbidities, nature of adverse events, and genetic vulnerability. This study examines whether exposure related to physical or sexual maltreatment, emotional maltreatment, and global adverse environment during childhood are associated with specific alterations in grey matter volumes and if this varies according to sex and serotonin transporter-linked promoter region (5-HTTLPR) genotype.Method: Structural MRI was used to acquire anatomical scans from 398 community-dwelling older adults. Quantitative regional estimates of 23 subregional volumes were derived using FreeSurfer software. Retrospective reporting of childhood adversity was collected using structured self-reported questionnaire. Analyses adjusted for age, sex, brain volume, head injury, lifetime depression and anxiety disorder, psychiatric medication, and cardiovascular ischemic pathologies.Results: Exposure to adverse family environment was associated with smaller volumes of several frontal, cingulate, and parietal subregions and larger amygdala in the 5-HTTLPR SS genotype participants specifically but larger volumes of caudate, putamen, pallidum, and nucleus accumbens in the SL genotype participants. Highly significant differences were found with excessive sharing of parent problems with children, associated with larger grey-matter volumes in the thalamus and several frontal and parietal regions in 5-HTTLPR SL male participants specifically.Conclusions: Early-life adversity is associated with grey-matter volume alterations in older adults and this varies according to the type of adversity experienced, sex, and serotonergic genetic vulnerability; 5-HTTLPR SS participants appearing most vulnerable and SL individuals most resilient.

Introduction Unexplained sudden death remains one of the leading causes of death in sickle cell disease (SCD) adults. Ventricular arrhythmia is a well-known risk factor for sudden death but its prevalence and determinants in the context of SCD remain understudied. Method From January 2019 to March 2021, consecutive adult patients with SCD referred to ambulatory cardiology department for possible cardiac involvement were prospectively included (Drepacoeur cohort). All patients that had 24-hour ECG monitoring (24h-holter) and thransthoracic echocardiography (TTE) on the same day were analysed. The primary end point was the occurrence of ventricular arrhythmia, defined as sustained or non-sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT), more than 500 premature ventricular contractions (PVC) on 24h-holter, or history of VT ablation. Results Overall, 90 patients were included and 54 (60%) were analysed. Mean age was 47.6 ± 11.6 years (range 21-69), 53% were male. Heart function was mainly preserved with a mean left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of 57.9 ± 4.9% and a mean global longitudinal strain (GLS) of -18 ± 2.8%. Mean tricuspid regurgitation velocity was 2.6 ± 0.4 m/s. Ventricular arrhythmia was observed in 13 (24.1%) patients (4 non-sustained VT, 9 with more than 500 PVC and 1 history of VT ablation). Ventricular arrhythmia was associated with lower GLS (−15.8 ± 1.8% vs. −19 ± 2.7%, P Conclusion In SCD adults with preserved LVEF, GLS was the only independent echocardiographic predictor of ventricular arrhythmia.

Billbugs are native pests of turfgrass throughout North America, primarily managed with preventive, calendar-based insecticide applications. An existing degree-day model (lower development threshold of 10°C, biofix 1 March) developed in the eastern United States for bluegrass billbug, Sphenophorus parvulus (Gyllenhal; Coleoptera: Curculionidae), may not accurately predict adult billbug activity in the western United States, where billbugs occur as a species complex. The objectives of this study were 1) to track billbug phenology and species composition in managed Utah and Idaho turfgrass and 2) to evaluate model parameters that best predict billbug activity, including those of the existing bluegrass billbug model. Tracking billbugs with linear pitfall traps at two sites each in Utah and Idaho, we confirmed a complex of three univoltine species damaging turfgrass consisting of (in descending order of abundance) bluegrass billbug, hunting billbug (Sphenophorus venatus vestitus Chittenden; Coleoptera: Curculionidae), and Rocky Mountain billbug (Sphenophorus cicatristriatus Fabraeus; Coleoptera: Curculionidae). This complex was active from February through mid-October, with peak activity in mid-June. Based on linear regression analysis, we found that the existing bluegrass billbug model was not robust in predicting billbug activity in Utah and Idaho. Instead, the model that best predicts adult activity of the billbug complex accumulates degree-days above 3°C after 13 January. This model predicts adult activity levels important for management within 11 d of observed activity at 77% of sites. In conjunction with outreach and cooperative networking, this predictive degree-day model may assist end users to better time monitoring efforts and insecticide applications against billbug pests in Utah and Idaho by predicting adult activity.

Summary Introduction The aim of this study was to describe the implementation of interactive telemedicine in nursing homes (NHs) and to describe geriatric assessment performed during these acts. Patients and methods The design of the study was a retrospective descriptive study based on acts of interactive telemedicine in a total of 39 NHs located in the departments of Gironde and Dordogne, France. A total of 304 nursing home residents who benefited from interactive telemedicine acts because of complex situations such as behavioral disturbance related to dementia, chronic wounds, psychiatric disorders, chronic spasticity, or palliative care were included in this study. The following variables were collected: mean age, ADL (Katz) score, MMSE score, CIRS-G score, number of drugs intake per day, rate of avoided specialists request (consultation, planned or unplanned hospitalization) and rate of treatment optimizations during telemedicine. Data were analyzed with the statistical software SPSS 23. Results A total of 500 interactive telemedicine acts were analyzed and concerned: behavioral disturbance related to dementia (28.4%), complex chronic wounds (27.8%), dermatological pathologies (9.2%), psychiatric disorders (19.0%), situations of chronic spasticity (10%) and complex palliative care situations (2.8%). Interactive telemedicine avoided transfer to hospital in 378 (75.6%) cases [specialized consultations ( n = 264, 52.8%); programmed hospitalizations (day hospital and hospitalization, n = 110, 22.0%), and emergency admission ( n = 4, 0.8%)]. Inappropriate prescriptions were corrected in 351 cases (70.2%). Discussion and conclusion Telemedicine should be a relevant option to avoid and decrease return trips to the hospital for nursing home residents. These preliminary results also showed that beyond the reason for telemedicine, interactive telemedicine acts make it possible to carry out a global geriatric evaluation.

Objectif Comparer l’activite sympathique chez des patients narcoleptiques de type 1 (NT1), mesuree indirectement par le dosage des catecholamines urinaires [CaUr] et de la cortisolurie, avec des patients atteints d’hypersomnie centrale non orexine-deficients (narcolepsie de type 2 [NT2], hypersomnie idiopathique [HI]), et des temoins sans somnolence objective. Methodes 62 NT1 consecutifs (57 %H, 32 ans (6-80), IMC = 26 kg/m2, non traites) diagnostiques en centre de reference national narcolepsie, ont ete compares a 157 sujets non orexine-deficients (38 %H, 26 ans (8-69), IMC = 23 kg/m2, non traites) : 16 NT2, 53 HI, et 88 temoins. Une evaluation structuree recueillait leurs caracteristiques cliniques et polysomnographiques. Les CaUr (adrenaline [A], noradrenaline [NA], dopamine [D]) et la cortisolurie etaient dosees, apres un recueil standardise sur 24 h lors d’une hospitalisation. Resultats Les concentrations en CaUr n’etaient pas differentes entre les NT1 et les autres sujets : NA = 17(7-56) vs 16(5-42), A = 2,8(0,2-7,4) vs 3(0,2-13), D = 141(82-349) vs 179(79-825) μmol/mol de creatinine. La secretion de cortisol urinaire etait par contre significativement plus faible chez les NT1 : 26,7(1,26-80,9) vs 34,2(2,5-133) nmol/24 h, p = 0,028. Conclusion L’activite sympathique en veille dans la NT1 mesuree par dosage des CaUr n’est pas differente de celle des sujets non orexine-deficients, mais la cortisolurie est plus faible. Ces resultats suggerent une deregulation complexe du systeme sympathico-vagal dans cette pathologie, necessitant de nouvelles explorations des variations circadiennes et des differences jour/nuit de ces dosages.

Vulnerability to develop addiction is influenced by numerous factors, including social behavior. Specifically, in human users, drug taking in a socio-sexual context appears to enhance further drug-seeking behavior. Users report heightened sexual pleasure as a motivation for further drug use and display risk behaviors even when tested in drug-free state. Here, using a preclinical model of limited voluntary drug use in rats, the hypothesis was tested that methamphetamine (Meth)-taking concurrently with socio-sexual experience increases vulnerability to addiction. Male Sprague Dawley rats were socially housed and underwent limited-access Meth self-administration (maximum 1 mg/kg/session). Meth-taking was either concurrent or non-concurrent with sexual behavior: concurrent animals were mated with a receptive female immediately after each session, while non-concurrent animals gained equivalent sexual experience the week prior. Next, drug-seeking behaviors were measured during cue reactivity, extinction, and reinstatement sessions using different extinction and reinstatement protocols in 4 separate studies. Both groups equally acquired Meth self-administration and did not differ in total Meth intake. However, drug-seeking behavior was significantly higher in concurrent animals during cue reactivity tasks, extinction sessions, and cue- or Meth-induced reinstatement tests. In addition, sexual behavior in the absence of Meth triggered reinstatement of drug-seeking in concurrent animals. These results indicate that Meth-taking in a socio-sexual context significantly enhances vulnerability for drug addiction in male rats. This preclinical paradigm of drug self-administration concurrent with socio-sexual behavior provides a useful model for studying the underlying neurobiology of socially driven vulnerability to drug addiction.

El tratamiento de los adenomas hipofisarios intraselares es la cirugia de la hipofisis por via transesfenoidal. Esta via de acceso respeta las vias opticas y permite la adenomectomia selectiva con conservacion de una funcion adenohipofisaria normal. La tecnica por via endoscopica se ha generalizado. Las manifestaciones clinicas de los adenomas adenohipofisarios dependen de la existencia o no de un sindrome tumoral y/o de una hipersecrecion hormonal. La sustitucion hormonal perioperatoria se ha simplificado y sus modalidades difieren en funcion del estado endocrino. La intervencion es breve y se realiza en posicion semisentada. La dificultad del manejo de las vias aereas domina el periodo peroperatorio en los pacientes con acromegalia. Las complicaciones son infrecuentes y son principalmente de tipo metabolico (diabetes insipida).

The origin of the middle meningeal artery (MMA) may vary although it can arise from the ophthalmic artery (OA) with a 0.5% prevalence. We report the exceptional bilateral asymmetric origin from the OAs that has not previously been reported in the literature. Surgeons should be aware of this variation as it could be crucial in the setting of an endovascular approach for meningeal lesions, as in our observation. A 50-year-old male underwent a preoperative cerebral digital subtracted angiography that incidentally revealed MMAs arising from the OA on both sides. In fact, the origin was asymmetric because it was complete on the right side with the anterior and posterior branches of the MMA arising from the OA, whereas it was partial on the left side, with only the anterior branch arising from the OA. The CT scan showed the absence of the foramen spinosum only on the right side. This paper discusses the unique anatomic variation in the light of MMA embryology and its different origins. Knowledge of this variation may have a practical impact in cases of cerebral embolization.

Resume La nature des mecanismes neuropsychologiques sous-jacents a l’expression symptomatique du trouble obsessionnel-compulsif reste encore a determiner. Nombreuses sont les etudes qui mettent en evidence des deficits cognitifs mais la diversite des methodologies et la mixite des sous-types cliniques empechent de degager des constantes en termes de profil neurocognitif. Les etudes qui se sont attachees a l’examen des fonctions executives accordent toutefois une importance au role exerce par l’inhibition et la flexibilite cognitive dans l’expression symptomatique du trouble obsessionnel et compulsif (TOC). La plupart d’entre elles mettent en evidence un defaut d’inhibition et une alteration de la flexibilite cognitive qui pourraient rendre compte du caractere inflexible et repetitif des pensees et des actes commun a toutes les formes du TOC. L’objectif de cet article est de reunir des arguments de la litterature qui plaident en faveur de l’hypothese d’un deficit d’inhibition et de flexibilite cognitive. La premiere partie est consacree a l’approche theorique neuropsychologique placant l’inhibition et la flexibilite comme mediateur prometteur pour la comprehension du TOC. En seconde partie, nous passerons en revue des etudes utilisant differentes mesures de l’inhibition et la flexibilite, dont les resultats vont dans le sens de cette hypothese.

Resume But de l’etude Evaluer l’image du corps, l’estime de soi, l’anxiete et la depression chez les adolescents obeses. Patients et methode L’image du corps (Body Prominence, BPQ ; Figure Rating Scale, FRS ; Questionnaire de Preoccupation Corporelle, QPC), l’estime de soi (Self-Esteem Scale, SES), l’anxiete (Revised Children Manifest Anxiety Scale, RCMA-S) et la depression (Center for Epidemiologic Studies–Depression Scale, CES-D) ont ete evaluees chez 106 adolescents obeses. Resultats Globalement, l’image du corps est perturbee. Le BPQ montre un niveau de conscience corporelle superieur chez les filles. Au FRS, pour « la silhouette actuelle », les garcons se positionnent plus frequemment que les filles en silhouettes rondes. Pour « la silhouette souhaitee », les filles choisissent davantage celles minces. Il n’y a pas de difference de genre au niveau de l’insatisfaction corporelle qui reste importante pour les deux sexes. Le QPC montre que les filles ont un niveau de preoccupation corporelle plus eleve que les garcons avec des focalisations sur certaines zones du corps. Le SES indique qu’un adolescent sur deux presente une faible estime de soi, le RCMA-S qu’un sur trois montre une anxiete pathologique sans difference de genre et le CES-D qu’un sur cinq, surtout les filles, affiche une depression moderee a severe. Conclusion Nos resultats soulignent la necessite de realiser une evaluation pluridimensionnelle chez les adolescents obeses. Afin d’optimiser la qualite des soins dispenses, il est propose aux praticiens une grille de lecture pragmatique : « la pyramide somato-psychique ».

McMurrich S, Sylvia LG, Dupuy JM, Peckham AD, Peters AT, Deckersbach T, Perlis RH. Course, outcomes, and psychosocial interventions for first-episode mania. Bipolar Disord 2012: 14: 797–808. © 2012 The Authors. Journal compilation © 2012 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Objectives: The course of bipolar disorder tends to worsen over time, highlighting the importance of early intervention. Despite the recognized need for adjunctive psychosocial treatments in first-episode mania, very few studies have evaluated psychological interventions for this period of significant risk. In this empirical review, we evaluate existing research on first-episode bipolar disorder, compare this body of research to parallel studies of first-episode schizophrenia, and identify strategies for future research. Methods: A comprehensive literature search of the MEDLINE and PsychINFO databases was conducted to identify studies of first-episode mania, as well as first-episode schizophrenia. Recovery and relapse rates were compared across studies. Results: In contrast to a number of studies of first-episode schizophrenia, the authors identified only seven independent programs assessing first-episode mania. Findings from these studies suggest that, while pharmacological treatment helps patients achieve recovery from acute episodes, it fails to bring patients to sustained remission. Early psychosocial intervention may be imperative in reducing residual symptoms, preventing recurrence of mood episodes, and improving psychosocial functioning. However, very few studies of psychosocial interventions for first-episode mania have been systematically studied. Conclusions: Studies of first-episode mania indicate a gap between syndromal/symptomatic and functional recovery. Novel psychosocial interventions for first-episode mania may help bridge this gap, but require controlled study.

L’objectif de cette enquete etait de recueillir les attentes des patients (par questionnaire et groupes de parole) et des professionnels de sante (par questionnaire) concernant le developpement d’un site Internet regional sur l’obesite. La plupart des patients et professionnels de sante ont exprime un interet pour la creation d’un tel site avec des attentes communes (conseils, informations medicales et pratiques) et d’autres specifiques aux patients (accompagnement et echanges avec des professionnels de sante et d’autres patients) et aux professionnels (formation et outils).

OBJECTIVE: It is currently not possible to determine which individuals with unipolar depression are at highest risk for a manic episode. This study investigates clinical and psychosocial risk factors for mania among individuals with major depressive disorder (MDD), indicating diagnostic conversion from MDD to bipolar I disorder. METHOD: We fitted logistic regression models to predict the first onset of a manic episode among 6,214 cases of lifetime MDD according to DSM-IV criteria in the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions. Participants in this survey were interviewed twice over a period of 3 years, in 2000-2001 and in 2004-2005, and survey data were gathered using the Alcohol Use Disorder and Associated Disabilities Interview Schedule-IV. RESULTS: Approximately 1 in 25 individuals with MDD transitioned to bipolar disorder during the study's 3-year follow-up period. Demographic risk factors for the transition from MDD to bipolar disorder included younger age, black race/ethnicity, and less than high school education. Clinical characteristics of depression (eg, age at first onset, presence of atypical features) were not associated with diagnostic conversion. However, prior psychopathology was associated with the transition to bipolar disorder: history of social phobia (odds ratio [OR] = 2.20; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.47-3.30) and generalized anxiety disorder (OR = 1.58; 95% CI, 1.06-2.35). Lastly, we identified environmental stressors over the life course that predicted the transition to bipolar disorder: these include a history of child abuse (OR = 1.26; 95% CI, 1.12-1.42) and past-year problems with one's social support group (OR = 1.79; 95% CI, 1.19-2.68). The overall predictive power of these risk factors based on a receiver operating curve analysis is modest. CONCLUSIONS: A wide range of demographic, clinical, and environmental risk factors were identified that indicate a heightened risk for the transition to bipolar disorder. Additional work is needed to further enhance the prediction of bipolar disorder among cases of MDD and to determine whether interventions targeting these factors could reduce the risk of bipolar disorder. Language: en

Despite all the work done to describe the process of droplets impacting surfaces, the low predictability and understanding of these phenomena in high pressure natural gas processing represent a problem. Most experiments provided by science so far were performed under idealized conditions which make the results not directly applicable to industrial cases. In the present work, we examine the difficulties of working at real conditions instead of idealized conditions. We propose statistical tools for the interpretation of results that can help both for data discrimination and visualization. In addition, droplet–wall collision experiments have been run at pressures up to 100 bar. Two different systems were studied in order to achieve variation in liquid properties: N2-Decane and CO2-Decane, where the surface tension varies from 20 mN/m to 8 mN/m. We report the existence of regions in which any collision outcome is possible with varying degree of probability. Dry wall cases were found to present a higher deposition probability than wet wall. A deeper characterization in terms of the Reynolds and Ohnesorge numbers is given for the studied systems. The correct description of the physics of droplet removal is fundamental to achieve high separation efficiencies, in order to reduce severe operational problems like breakdown and malfunctioning of downstream devices along the product conditioning chain.

Droplet collision efficiency is a rather uncharted area for real hydrocarbon systems under non-atmospheric conditions. It is also of great interest in many industrial applications. In this work binary head-on droplet collisions at high pressure have been simulated using the lattice Boltzmann method. A model that captures the physics of the coalescence process is used where no external criterion for coalescence is needed. The collision process is described in terms of hydrodynamic variables and through a quantitative study of energy loss. At high pressures, low inertia collisions are the most frequent. Distinguishing between bouncing and coalescence under these conditions is needed in order to provide closure conditions for macroscopic CFD models. A limit of Re

Over the past half century, substantial clinical trial data have accumulated to guide clinical management of bipolar disorder, and 13 medications have gained US Food and Drug Administration approval for the treatment of mania or bipolar depression or the maintenance treatment of bipolar disorder. While the number of studies has grown and many controversies related to pharmacologic treatment of bipolar disorder are not yet resolved, the task of transforming the accumulated evidence into useful guidance for clinical practice becomes more manageable and less error prone by limiting consideration to the highest quality studies. Therefore, this article emphasizes points of relative clarity by highlighting findings supported by double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials with samples of at least 100 subjects. A MEDLINE search was conducted and augmented by a manual search of bibliographies, textbooks, and abstracts from recent scientific meetings for randomized controlled trials published in English between 1950 and April 2010 with at least 100 subjects. Keywords used in the search included randomized controlled trial, mania, hypomania, depression, relapse prevention, placebo, antidepressant, switch, and maintenance treatment of bipolar disorder. A paradigm for implementing evidence-based treatment is offered along with consideration of patterns emerging across clinical trials.

Free energy lattice Boltzmann methods are well suited for the simulation of two phase flow problems. The model for the interface is based on well understood physical grounds. In most cases a numerical interface is used instead of the physical one because of lattice resolution limitations. In this paper we present a framework where we can both follow the droplet behavior in a coarse scale and solve the interface in a fine scale simultaneously. We apply the method for the simulation of a droplet using an interface to diameter size ratio of 1 to 280. In a second simulation, a small droplet coalesces with a 42 times larger droplet producing on it only a small capillary wave that propagates and dissipates.

Intracavernous carotid artery aneurysms (ICCAs) are rarely associated with life-threatening complications. We describe a 55-year-old woman who, after the rupture of an intracavernous carotid artery aneurysm, presented with a contralateral cavernous sinus syndrome and severe posterior fossa and spinal cord symptoms. Following parent artery occlusion, thrombosis of the posterior fossa and spinal cord veins caused a progressive worsening of the neurological status to a "locked-in" state. The patient fully recovered with anticoagulation therapy. Comprehension of the pathophysiological mechanism associated with the rupture of ICCA and early diagnosis of the related symptoms are essential in order to plan a correct treatment that includes the management of the aneurysm rupture and of possible complications related to venous thrombosis.

SummaryIn the process of performing either scientific experiments or research and development related to the design and optimization of high-pressure liquid-from-gas separator units, both laboratory experiments and tests in prototypes are needed. In order to emulate the low interfacial tensions often experienced in high-pressure hydrocarbon systems, the use of carbon dioxide (CO2) as model fluid is studied. This paper describes how the CO2 system behaves at saturation conditions. It describes this system and compares it with traditional laboratory systems and real fluids (from the field). CO2 at saturation pressure under normal temperatures presents an interesting system with low interfacial tension, below 3 mN/m, while the liquid/gas-density ratio is approximately 3. The availability of the fluid (CO2) in research centers and academia is high. When planning a matrix of experiments as part of a database of reproducible laboratory fluids, the present system is an independent base vector ideal for studying the high-Weber/low-Reynolds-number regime. This paper shows how a dispersed CO2-droplet phase, representative of a hydrocarbon-gas/condensate system, can be achieved in the laboratory and used for studying collision outcomes.Results show that it is possible to obtain streams of droplets for droplet experiments. The mean diameter in the studied regime with the particular nozzle used was on the order of 100 µm, while the smallest droplets possible to track with the presented technique were approximately 40 µm. Droplet/wall-collision experiments were focused in this work. Both coalescence and bouncing were observed on both dry and wet walls.The absence of real fluid experiments at laboratory conditions generates a lack of basic knowledge about what is happening in real scrubbers. This system is proposed to be representative for a part of the flow-property region of interest in real gas/liquid scrubbers. This basic knowledge is fundamental when designing separation units at high pressures for gas-processing stages such as subsea gas-separation concepts.

In this paper a procedure to obtain new finite difference stencils is given. We investigate the particular branch of cases where the order of the finite difference stencil is lower than the amount of grid points. New finite difference stencils are obtained and compared with traditional ones from literature. General properties and advantages of the proposed stencils are investigated, in particular the improvements obtained in stability when solving ill-posed problems.

The present work is a study of droplet–surface collisions at high pressures. A technique adapted from Lagrangian particle tracking is presented. The tracking technique is a hybrid between traditional high-speed, high-resolution photography used for drop studies and particle tracking velocimetry. It is suitable for high pressure systems with very short relaxation distances and with a non-steady background fluid. Collisions of droplets towards dry and wet walls were studied for systems of liquid decane with CO 2 or N 2 as gas phase, and a single component, two phase pure CO 2 system at saturation. At low impact velocities, higher deposition efficiencies were observed for collisions against the dry wall compared to the wet wall. The events are described in terms of micro-scale mechanisms. Additionally, deposition efficiency maps are given, and it is shown how to use these in two different modelling frameworks.

Resume La conduite a tenir concernant les medicaments anticoagulants et anti-agregants dans la pathologie tumorale hypophysaire et de la base du crâne ne fait pas l’objet d’un consensus. Nous presentons l’experience de notre service dans la gestion des anticoagulants et des antiagregants pendant la periode peri-operatoire.

Le groupe de travail de la Societe francaise de biologie cinique (SFBC) intitule « Preanalytique et analyses multiplexes en proteomique » presente un protocole dont le but est d’harmoniser les etudes sur l’impact de differentes variables preanalytiques sur des analytes peptidiques ou proteiques. Ce protocole est base sur la standardisation des options preanalytiques correspondant a differentes variables et differents types d’echantillons (serum, plasma, liquide cephalorachidien et urine). Son utilisation permet de suivre une methodologie precise pour definir les conditions preanalytiques pour un parametre donne. Il rendra ainsi possible une comparaison des resultats obtenus par differents groupes dans le cadre de l’elaboration d’une nomenclature standardisee revelatrice des etapes preanalytiques des echantillons.

Cet article de synthese a ete realise dans le cadre du groupe de travail « Groupe preanalytique et analyses multiplexes en proteomique » de la SFBC 2007-2008. Il fait le point sur les methodes d’analyses multiplexes sur supports solides ou en milieu liquide utilisant alors les principes de la cytometrie en flux. Ces approches s’inscrivent dans une demarche d’analyse du proteome mais elles peuvent egalement avoir de l’interet en analyses biomedicales. Elles peuvent en effet donner des informations diagnostiques, pronostiques ou therapeutiques dans diverses pathologies humaines. Il s’agit donc ici de faire un etat des lieux decrivant les techniques d’analyses proteiques multiplexes deja accessibles dans les laboratoires d’analyses biologiques ainsi que les outils disponibles en recherche clinique.