Luminosity-independent measurement of the proton-proton total cross section at √s=8 TeV.

The TOTEM collaboration has measured the proton-proton total cross section at √s=8 TeV using a luminosity-independent method. In LHC fills with dedicated beam optics, the Roman pots have been inserted very close to the beam allowing the detection of ~90% of the nuclear elastic scattering events. Simultaneously the inelastic scattering rate has been measured by the T1 and T2 telescopes. By applying the optical theorem, the total proton-proton cross section of (101.7±2.9) mb has been determined, well in agreement with the extrapolation from lower energies. This method also allows one to derive the luminosity-independent elastic and inelastic cross sections: σ(el)=(27.1±1.4) mb; σ(inel)=(74.7±1.7) mb.

Double diffractive cross-section measurement in the forward region at the LHC.

The first double diffractive cross-section measurement in the very forward region has been carried out by the TOTEM experiment at the LHC with a center-of-mass energy of sqrt[s]=7 TeV. By utilizing the very forward TOTEM tracking detectors T1 and T2, which extend up to |η|=6.5, a clean sample of double diffractive pp events was extracted. From these events, we determined the cross section σDD=(116±25) µb for events where both diffractive systems have 4.7<|η|min<6.5.

Dynamical energy analysis for built-up acoustic systems at high frequencies.

Standard methods for describing the intensity distribution of mechanical and acoustic wave fields in the high frequency asymptotic limit are often based on flow transport equations. Common techniques are statistical energy analysis, employed mostly in the context of vibro-acoustics, and ray tracing, a popular tool in architectural acoustics. Dynamical energy analysis makes it possible to interpolate between standard statistical energy analysis and full ray tracing, containing both of these methods as limiting cases. In this work a version of dynamical energy analysis based on a Chebyshev basis expansion of the Perron-Frobenius operator governing the ray dynamics is introduced. It is shown that the technique can efficiently deal with multi-component systems overcoming typical geometrical limitations present in statistical energy analysis. Results are compared with state-of-the-art hp-adaptive discontinuous Galerkin finite element simulations.

Connaissances, attitudes et pratiques des tradipraticiens de la sante de la ville d'Abidjan sur le paludisme.

INTRODUCTION : An estimated 300 to 500 million clinical cases of malaria occur each year worldwide, 90% in Africa, mostly among young children. In Cote d'Ivoire, malaria is 46.03% of disease states and 62.44% of hospital admissions. In children under 5 years, it is 42.67% of the reasons for consultation and 59.68% of hospital admissions. In pregnant women, it represents 22.91% of disease states and 36.07% of hospital admissions. In Africa, traditional medicine is the first resort for the vast majority of people, because of its accessibility both geographically, economically and culturally. However, some modern practitioners show an attitude of distrust of traditional medicine and its players, calling them irrational. This work had set out to assess knowledge, attitudes and practices of traditional healers in the uncomplicated and complicated in the context of collaboration between traditional and modern medicine for the optimal management of critical cases. MATERIALS AND METHOD : The study focused on traditional healers practicing in the city of Abidjan. The study was conducted using individual interviews over a period of 30 days. The interviews were conducted in local languages, with the assistance, if necessary, translators. For data collection, we used a questionnaire containing four items: the socio-demographic characteristics of traditional healers, their knowledge on malaria, diagnostic practices and traditional therapies. RESULTS : Of the 60 healers and included in the study, only six were women (10%), a sex-ratio of a woman to 9 men. 66.7% of respondents traditional healers are herbalists and 25% of naturopaths.Only 8.3% were spiritualists. The etiology of malaria most commonly cited by the traditional healers were mosquito bites (16.7%), food (1.7%), solar (1.7%) and fatigue (1.7%) . 25% of traditional healers are associated with mosquitoes, sun and fatigue. Symptomatology most cited were fever (100%), dark urine (86%), the yellow or pale conjunctiva (80%), vomiting (71.7%), nausea (58.3%) and abdominal pain (48.3%). Traditional healers recognized three types of malaria: the white shape, form yellow / red and the black form. Traditional healers malarious patients surveyed were receiving both first (58.3%) than second-line (41.7%). 78.3% of them practiced an interview and physical examination of theirpatients before the diagnosis. In 13.3% of cases they were divinatory consultation. Medications used to treat malaria were herbal in 95% of cases. The main sign of healing was the lack of fever (58.3%). 90%of traditional healers interviewed referring cases of malaria black (severe malaria). This reference is made to modern health facilities (90.2%). 68.3% of respondents practiced traditional healers of malaria prophylaxis among pregnant women and children under 5 years.CONCLUSION : A description of clinical malaria by traditional practitioners in health is not very far from that of modern medicine. Nevertheless, the logics of our respondents are etiological more complex and linked to their cultural context. The management of cases is made from medicinal plants in treatment failure patients are usually referred to modern health facilities. The involvement of traditional healers in the detection and quick reference risk cases can contribute to reducing child mortality due to severe malaria.

[Knowledge, attitude, and practice of traditional healers on the topic of malaria in the city of Abidjan]. / Connaissances, attitudes et pratiques des tradipraticiens de la sante de la ville d'Abidjan sur le paludisme.

INTRODUCTION: An estimated 300 to 500 million clinical cases of malaria occur each year worldwide, 90% in Africa, mostly among young children. In Cote d'Ivoire, malaria is 46.03% of disease states and 62.44% of hospital admissions. In children under 5 years, it is 42.67% of the reasons for consultation and 59.68% of hospital admissions. In pregnant women, it represents 22.91% of disease states and 36.07% of hospital admissions. In Africa, traditional medicine is the first resort for the vast majority of people, because of its accessibility both geographically, economically and culturally. However, some modern practitioners show an attitude of distrust of traditional medicine and its players, calling them irrational. This work had set out to assess knowledge, attitudes and practices of traditional healers in the uncomplicated and complicated in the context of collaboration between traditional and modern medicine for the optimal management of critical cases. MATERIALS AND METHOD: The study focused on traditional healers practicing in the city of Abidjan. The study was conducted using individual interviews over a period of 30 days. The interviews were conducted in local languages, with the assistance, if necessary, translators. For data collection, we used a questionnaire containing four items: the socio-demographic characteristics of traditional healers, their knowledge on malaria, diagnostic practices and traditional therapies. RESULTS: Of the 60 healers and included in the study, only six were women (10%), a sex-ratio of a woman to 9 men. 66.7% of respondents traditional healers are herbalists and 25% of naturopaths.Only 8.3% were spiritualists. The etiology of malaria most commonly cited by the traditional healers were mosquito bites (16.7%), food (1.7%), solar (1.7%) and fatigue (1.7%) . 25% of traditional healers are associated with mosquitoes, sun and fatigue. Symptomatology most cited were fever (100%), dark urine (86%), the yellow or pale conjunctiva (80%), vomiting (71.7%), nausea (58.3%) and abdominal pain (48.3%). Traditional healers recognized three types of malaria: the white shape, form yellow / red and the black form. Traditional healers malarious patients surveyed were receiving both first (58.3%) than second-line (41.7%). 78.3% of them practiced an interview and physical examination of theirpatients before the diagnosis. In 13.3% of cases they were divinatory consultation. Medications used to treat malaria were herbal in 95% of cases. The main sign of healing was the lack of fever (58.3%). 90%of traditional healers interviewed referring cases of malaria black (severe malaria). This reference is made to modern health facilities (90.2%). 68.3% of respondents practiced traditional healers of malaria prophylaxis among pregnant women and children under 5 years. CONCLUSION: A description of clinical malaria by traditional practitioners in health is not very far from that of modern medicine. Nevertheless, the logics of our respondents are etiological more complex and linked to their cultural context. The management of cases is made from medicinal plants in treatment failure patients are usually referred to modern health facilities. The involvement of traditional healers in the detection and quick reference risk cases can contribute to reducing child mortality due to severe malaria.

Bacillus thuringiensis isolates entomopathogenic for Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae) and Anticarsia gemmatalis (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).

Samples of the Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) were collected from soil and insects. Eight isolates were selected from rural soil, 15 from urban soil and 11 from insects. These were evaluated for entomopathogenicity against larvae of Anticarsia gemmatalis and Culex quinquefasciatus. The pathogenicity tests showed that a higher percentage of isolates were active against A. gemmatalis (60%) compared to C. quinquefasciatus (31%). Probit analysis (LC50) indicated that against A. gemmatalis four of the isolates presented values similar to the reference strain against A. gemmatalis, while against C. quinquefasciatus one isolate showed an LC50 similar to the reference strain (IPS-82). SDS-PAGE characterisation of two isolates showed a 27 kDa protein fraction related to the Bt subspecies israelensis cytolytic toxin (cyt) gene. One 130 kDa protein, possibly related to the Bt crystal inclusions (cry1) gene, was identified in the other two isolates, which were more toxic for lepidoptera; another isolate presented a protein of 100 kDa. Some new local Bt isolates had similar LC50 probit values to the reference strains.

Etude de la consommation des medicaments traditionnels ameliores dans Le district sanitaire de Kadiolo (region de Sikasso; Mali)

L'etude; qui a recu le soutien de la Direction du Developpement et de la Cooperation de la Confederation Helvetique dans le cadre du Programme d'Appui Socio-Sanitaire Mali Suisse; s'est deroulee de fevrier a mars 2004. Le but etait d'evaluer l'impact d'un atelier de formation des prescripteurs sur les Medicaments Traditionnels Ameliores (MTA); realise en octobre 2001; sur la consommation des MTA dans les structures sanitaires du District de Kadiolo. L'etude a demande la collecte des donnees de consommation; a partir des fiches de stock des annees 2001; 2002 et 2003 du Depot Repartiteur du Centre de Sante de Reference et des Depots de Vente des Centres de Sante Communautaires. Pour evaluer l'appreciation des MTA; des enquetes ont ete menees aupres des prescripteurs et des utilisateurs. La consommation totale des MTA dans le CSRef et dans les 16 CSCom du Cercle a connu une augmentation progressive; en passant de 2.565.480 F CFA en 2001 a 4.307.760 F CFA en 2003. La consommation des MTA pendant l'annee 2003 a ete de 27;83 F CFA par habitant. Les MTA ont ete en general bien apprecies par les prescripteurs et par les consommateurs. Les differentes projections des donnees de consommation relevees a Kadiolo nous ont permis d'estimer le marche potentiel des MTA actuellement disponibles au Mali a une valeur comprise entre 414 et 560 millions de F CFA

From milk to diet: feed recognition for milk authenticity.

The presence of plastidial DNA fragments of plant origin in animal milk samples has been confirmed. An experimental plan was arranged with 4 groups of goats, each provided with a different monophytic diet: 3 fresh forages (oats, ryegrass, and X-triticosecale) and one 2-wk-old silage (X-triticosecale). Feed-derived rubisco (ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase, rbcL) DNA fragments were detected in 100% of the analyzed goat milk samples, and the nucleotide sequence of the PCR-amplified fragments was found to be 100% identical to the corresponding fragments amplified from the plant species consumed in the diet. Two additional chloroplast-based molecular markers were used to set up an assay for distinctiveness, conveniently based on a simple PCR. In one case, differences in single nucleotides occurring within the gene encoding for plant maturase K (matK) were exploited. In the other, plant species recognition was based on the difference in the length of the intron present within the transfer RNA leucine (trnL) gene. The presence of plastidial plant DNA, ascertained by the PCR-based amplification of the rbcL fragment, was also assessed in raw cow milk samples collected directly from stock farms or taken from milk sold on the commercial market. In this case, the nucleotide sequence of the amplified DNA fragments reflected the multiple forages present in the diet fed to the animals.

Rapid diagnostic tests for the home-based management of malaria, in a high-transmission area.

Rapid diagnostic tests (RDT) are sometimes recommended to improve the home-based management of malaria. The accuracy of an RDT for the detection of clinical malaria and the presence of malarial parasites has recently been evaluated in a high-transmission area of southern Mali. During the same study, the cost-effectiveness of a 'test-and-treat' strategy for the home-based management of malaria (based on an artemisinin-combination therapy) was compared with that of a 'treat-all' strategy. Overall, 301 patients, of all ages, each of whom had been considered a presumptive case of uncomplicated malaria by a village healthworker, were checked with a commercial RDT (Paracheck-Pf). The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of this test, compared with the results of microscopy and two different definitions of clinical malaria, were then determined. The RDT was found to be 82.9% sensitive (with a 95% confidence interval of 78.0%-87.1%) and 78.9% (63.9%-89.7%) specific compared with the detection of parasites by microscopy. In the detection of clinical malaria, it was 95.2% (91.3%-97.6%) sensitive and 57.4% (48.2%-66.2%) specific compared with a general practitioner's diagnosis of the disease, and 100.0% (94.5%-100.0%) sensitive but only 30.2% (24.8%-36.2%) specific when compared against the fulfillment of the World Health Organization's (2003) research criteria for uncomplicated malaria. Among children aged 0-5 years, the cost of the 'test-and-treat' strategy, per episode, was about twice that of the 'treat-all' (U.S.$1.0. v. U.S.$0.5). In older subjects, however, the two strategies were equally costly (approximately U.S.$2/episode). In conclusion, for children aged 0-5 years in a high-transmission area of sub-Saharan Africa, use of the RDT was not cost-effective compared with the presumptive treatment of malaria with an ACT. In older patients, use of the RDT did not reduce costs. The question remains whether either of the strategies investigated can be made affordable for the affected population.

Silver staining combined with alcian blue and hematoxylin-eosin for the detection of Lawsonia intracelullaris in swine proliferative enteropathy.

Fragments of ileum from 663 pigs were collected in abattoirs, prepared with the use of standard histological methods and stained with a novel sensitive histochemical method for the detection of porcine proliferative enteropathy. The method is a combination of the following 3 well-known methods, the Warthin-Starry method, alcian blue and hematoxylin-eosin. In 11 cases, mucus-producing cells were completely absent, severe adenomatous proliferation was observed and intracellular bacteria were found in enterocytes. Disappearance of goblet cells and the presence of adenomatous proliferation without any detectable intracellular bacteria were observed in 16 cases. In the remaining 636 cases, histological changes and intracellular bacteria were not found. When comparing the conventional Warthin-Starry method with the modified staining method presented here, the same 16 cases were found. However, the method presented here enables examination of large numbers of sections in a relatively short period of time.

Meiotic mutants of Medicago sativa show altered levels of alpha- and beta-tubulin.

We have analysed the level of accumulation of alpha- and beta-tubulin polypeptides in flowers collected from different meiotic mutants of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). The H33 mutant previously identified as a producer of male and female gametes with the somatic chromosome number (2n gametes) as a result of defective spindle orientation or, more rarely, abnormal cytokinesis, showed a higher level of alpha- and beta-tubulin compared to control diploid plants and approximately the same level as control tetraploid plants. A higher level of tubulin was likewise observed in diploid plants displaying abnormalities in spindle orientation and cytokinesis, which had gone through 3-4 cycles of phenotypic recurrent selection to increase 2n gamete production. A similar analysis was performed on another class of Medicago meiotic mutants characterized by production of 4n pollen (jumbo pollen, due to the absence of cytokinesis at the end of meiosis) and 2n eggs. Again, the level of alpha- and beta-tubulin was found to be higher in the mutants than in diploid controls. We conclude that meiotic defects, such as abnormal spindle orientation or cytokinesis leading to the formation of 2n gametes, determine an increased level of tubulin, the main constituent of plant microtubules (MTs).

Cost analysis of an Italian ICU.

BACKGROUND: Cost reduction is an important issue in medicine today, especially when considering ICUs, since they account for a large percentage of all hospital expenditure. Through a retrospective analysis of the data regarding the expenses incurred during the years 1996-97, we have been able to evaluate the total costs of our ICU and the influence that each component had on the final costs, thus gathering the necessary information for the improvement of the unit itself. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of a 5-bedded multidisciplinary ICU activity over a two-year period (1996-1997). Cost-related data have been supplied by the Hospital Administration as to wages, infrastructures, equipment buying and maintenance; by Hospital Pharmacy as to drugs and devices supplies; and by Laboratory and Radiology as to diagnostic investigations. RESULTS: According to our experience, physicians and non-medical staff account for more than 50% of the total expenditure--the latter slightly prevailing. Furthermore, we have assessed that the cost distribution is hardly comparable to that reported by other authors. CONCLUSIONS: It is useful to analyse the total distribution and to evaluate their nature only to gain the necessary data that will lead to a more effective management of the unit. Nevertheless, this methodology is valid within the cost analysis of our ICUs but the ICUs of other countries show great differences in the way they are structured and some of the use more reliable activity-based costing methodology.

Overexpression of the calcium-dependent protein kinase OsCDPK2 in transgenic rice is repressed by light in leaves and disrupts seed development.

Independent transgenic rice lines overexpressing the rice CDPK isoform OsCDPK2 were generated by particle bombardment. High levels of OsCDPK2 were detected in leaves removed from etiolated plants, as well as in stems and flowers. However, there was no overexpression in green leaves that had been exposed to light, confirming that OsCDPK2 protein stability was subject to light regulation. The morphological phenotype of transgenic plants producing high levels of recombinant OsCDPK2 was normal until the onset of seed development. Flowers developed normally, producing well-shaped ovaries and stigmas, and mature anthers filled with pollen grains. However, seed formation in these plants was strongly inhibited, with only 3-7% of the flowers producing seeds. Seed development was arrested at an early stage. We discuss these data with respect to the possible requirement for specific CDPK isoforms during rice seed development.

In rice, Oryzalin and abscisic acid differentially affect tubulin mRNA and protein levels.

The effect of the anti-microtubular drug Oryzalin (3,5-dinitro-N4,N4-dipropylsulfanilamide) on growth and elongation of rice (Oryza sativa L. cv. Arborio) roots and coleoptiles was investigated. At 100 nM, Oryzalin strongly reduced primary root elongation, caused loss of cell anisotropy and the disappearance of the cortical microtubule array. Under these conditions the amounts of alpha- and beta-tubulin protein, but not mRNA, were heavily reduced. Similar data were also obtained in coleoptile segments treated with different concentrations of Oryzalin. However, when coleoptile elongation was inhibited by cis-abscisic acid, remarkable decreases in alpha- and beta-tubulin accumulation were observed to occur at the mRNA level but not at the protein level. The transcriptional decreases could be reversed by re-addition of 3-indole acetic acid. Altogether, these data indicate that rice tubulin accumulation can be controlled at different levels, mRNA or protein, in response to Oryzalin or abscisic acid treatments.

Molecular cloning of three rice alpha-tubulin isotypes: differential expression in tissues and during flower development.

We have isolated three rice cDNA sequences coding for divergent isotypes of alpha-tubulin. TubA1 and TubA2 are members of the plant subfamily I of alpha-tubulins whereas TubA3 belongs to subfamily II. The pattern of accumulation of TubA3 mRNA in rice flowers, roots and coleoptile segments treated with auxin differs significantly from what observed for TubA1 and TubA2 mRNAs.

Palatal myoclonus and unusual MRI findings in a patient with membranous lipodystrophy.

We describe an Italian male patient, deceased at 29 years of age, affected with a syndrome characterized by childhood-onset seizures, mental disorders, motor dysfunction and bilateral palatal myoclonus. Skeletal X-ray examination showed diffuse osteopenia of the tubular bones, and cyst-like lesions in the carpal, metacarpal and tarsal bones bilaterally and in the proximal end of the right femur. Skin biopsy showed subcutaneous and adipose tissue containing membranocystic structures. Cerebral MR and CT scans showed fronto-temporal atrophy, altered signal of the white matter and mineralization of the caudate and dentate nuclei. These findings strongly recall polycystic lipomembranous osteodysplasia with sclerosing leukoencephalopathy, but in the present case, bone alterations were not prominent; moreover, palatal myoclonus has never previously been described in this syndrome.

Warm heart surgery eliminates diaphragmatic paralysis.

Since January 1992, we adopted a new method of myocardial protection: warm blood cardioplegia with continuous ante-retrograde combined delivery during normothermic cardiopulmonary bypass, (CPB) instead of cold blood intermittent cardioplegia plus topical ice slush in hypothermic CPB. We have compared postoperative chest X-rays of 50 patients who underwent elective coronary artery bypass with normothermic CPB to postoperative chest X-rays, of 50 patients operated upon with hypothermia. In the cold group transitory diaphragmatic paralysis, as well as pleural effusions and thoracentesis related to the hypothermia, and topical cooling, were statistically increased over that of warm group. The data suggest that topical cooling with slush ice is responsible for phrenic nerve injury and that warm heart surgery has no associated incidence of diaphragmatic injury.

Molecular cloning of two novel rice cDNA sequences encoding putative calcium-dependent protein kinases.

We have isolated, from a cDNA library constructed from rice coleoptiles, two sequences, OSCPK2 and OSCPK11, that encode for putative calcium-dependent protein kinase (CDPK) proteins. OSCPK2 and OSCPK11 cDNAs are related to SPK, another gene encoding a rice CDPK that is specifically expressed in developing seeds [20]. OSCPK2 and OSCPK11-predicted protein sequences are 533 and 542 amino acids (aa) long with a corresponding molecular mass of 59436 and 61079 Da respectively. Within their polypeptide chain, they all contain those conserved features that define a plant CDPK; kinase catalytic sequences are linked to a calmodulin-like regulatory domain through a junction region. The calmodulin-like regulatory domain of the predicted OSCPK2 protein contains 4 EF-hand calcium-binding sites while OSCPK11 has conserved just one canonical EF-hand motif. In addition, OSCPK2- and OSCPK11-predicted proteins contain, at their N-terminal region preceding the catalytic domain, a stretch of 80 or 74 residues highly rich in hydrophilic amino acids. Comparison of the NH2-terminal sequence of all three rice CDPKs so far identified (OSCPK2, OSCPK11 and SPK) indicates the presence of a conserved MGxxC(S/Q)xxT motif that may define a consensus signal for N-myristoylation. OSCPK2 and OSCPK11 proteins are both encoded by a single-copy gene and their polyadenylated transcripts are 2.4 and 3.5 kb long respectively. OSCPK2 and OSCPK11 mRNAs are equally abundant in rice roots and coleoptiles. A 12 h white light treatment of the coleoptiles reduces the amount of OSCPK2 mRNA with only a slight effect on the level of OSCPK11 transcript. With anoxic treatments, OSCPK2 mRNA level declined significantly and promptly while the amount of OSCPK11 transcript remained constant.