Measurement of R(D) and R(D

The experimental results on the ratios of branching fractions R(D)=B(B[over ¯]→Dτ^{-}ν[over ¯]_{τ})/B(B[over ¯]→Dℓ^{-}ν[over ¯]_{ℓ}) and R(D^{*})=B(B[over ¯]→D^{*}τ^{-}ν[over ¯]_{τ})/B(B[over ¯]→D^{*}ℓ^{-}ν[over ¯]_{ℓ}), where ℓ denotes an electron or a muon, show a long-standing discrepancy with the standard model predictions, and might hint at a violation of lepton flavor universality. We report a new simultaneous measurement of R(D) and R(D^{*}), based on a data sample containing 772×10^{6} BB[over ¯] events recorded at the ϒ(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB e^{+}e^{-} collider. In this analysis the tag-side B meson is reconstructed in a semileptonic decay mode and the signal-side τ is reconstructed in a purely leptonic decay. The measured values are R(D)=0.307±0.037±0.016 and R(D^{*})=0.283±0.018±0.014, where the first uncertainties are statistical and the second are systematic. These results are in agreement with the standard model predictions within 0.2, 1.1, and 0.8 standard deviations for R(D), R(D^{*}), and their combination, respectively. This work constitutes the most precise measurements of R(D) and R(D^{*}) performed to date as well as the first result for R(D) based on a semileptonic tagging method.

Amendment of soil by biochars and activated carbons to reduce chlordecone bioavailability in piglets.

Chlordecone (Kepone or CLD) is a highly persistent pesticide formerly used in French West Indies. Nowadays high levels of this pesticide are still found in soils which represent a subsequent source of contamination for outdoor-reared animals. In that context, sequestering matrices like biochars or activated carbons (ACs) are believed to efficiently decrease the bioavailability of such compounds when added to contaminated soils. The present study intends to test the respective efficiency of soil amendment strategies using commercial ACs or biochars (obtained by a 500 °C or 700 °C pyrolysis of 4 distinct type of wood). This study involved three experimental steps. The first one characterized specific surface areas of biochars and ACs. The second one assessed CLD-availability of contaminated artificial soils (50 µg g-1 of Dry Matter) amended with 5% of biochar or AC (mass basis). The third one assessed CLD bioavailability of those artificial soils through an in vivo assay. To limit ethically the number of animals, selections of the most promising media were performed between each experimental steps. Forty four castrated male 40-day-old piglets were exposed during 10 day by amended artificial soils according to their group (n = 4). Only treatment groups exposed through amended soil with AC presented a significant decrease of concentrations of CLD in liver and adipose tissue in comparison with the control group (p < 0.001). A non-significant decrease was obtained by amending artificial soil with biochars. This decrease was particularly high for a coconut shell activated carbon were relative bioavailability was found lower than 3.2% for both tissues. This study leads to conclude that AC introduced in CLD contaminated soil should strongly reduce CLD bioavailability.

Spatial distribution of Lindane concentration in topsoil across France.

Lindane [γ-hexachlorocyclohexane (γ-HCH)] is an organochlorine pesticide with toxic effects on humans. It is bioaccumulative and can remain in soils for long periods, and although its use for crop spraying was banned in France in 1998, it is possible that residues from before this time remain in the soil. The RMQS soil monitoring network consists of soil samples from 2200 sites on a 16 km regular grid across France, collected between 2002 and 2009. We use 726 measurements of the Lindane concentration in these samples to (i) investigate the main explanatory factors for its spatial distribution across France, and (ii) map this distribution. Geostatistics provides an appropriate framework to analyze our spatial dataset, though two issues regarding the data are worth special consideration: first, the harmonization of two subsets of the data (which were analyzed using different measurement processes), and second, the large proportion of data from one of these subsets that fell below a limit of quantification. We deal with these issues using recent methodological developments in geostatistics. Results demonstrate the importance of land use and rainfall for explaining part of the variability of Lindane across France: land use due to the past direct input of Lindane on cropland and its subsequent persistence in the soil, and rainfall due to the re-deposition of volatilized Lindane. Maps show the concentrations to be generally largest in the north and northwest of France, areas of more intensive agricultural land. We also compare levels to some contamination thresholds taken from the literature, and present maps showing the probability of Lindane concentrations exceeding these thresholds across France. These maps could be used as guidelines for deciding which areas require further sampling before some possible remediation strategy could be applied.

[Conservative treatment of breast carcinoma in small breasts: new minimally invasive surgical technique]. / La terapia conservativa del carcinoma mammario nelle mammelle piccole: nuova tecnica chirurgica mininvasiva.

To achieve satisfactory cosmetic results after breast conserving treatment (BCT) of cancer in patients (with small breasts, the association of BCT and bilateral video-assisted augmentation mammoplasty with differentiated prosthesis volume was performed. From January 2001 21 small breast pts with breast cancer (stage T1N0M0) were treated with BCT and immediate trans-axillary video-assisted breast reconstruction with differentiated volumes. In 15 patients sentinel node biopsy was performed and 6 patients required total axillary dissection. Tumor-free margins were confirmed by histological examination. All patients underwent postoperative radiotherapy. Cosmetic results were evaluated through 6 parameters: breast shape with and without underwear, symmetry, mobility, inframammary fold, tenderness. We observed 4 minor complications: seroma3, paresthesia and slight arm weakness. Mini-invasive surgical revision was required in 3 cases due to scar retraction of the prosthesis pocket. Prosthesis volume resulted 30% (range, 0-47%) higher in the affected side. Cosmetic result was positive in 85% of cases (excellent 15%, good 45%, fair 25%). Trans-axillary video-assisted breast mammoplasty with differentiated prosthesis volumes allows to obtain good aesthetic results in small breast patients and to extend BCT indications with a low morbidity rate.

[Gas gangrene. Clinical considerations, prognosis and therapeutic prospects in our experience]. / La gangrène gazeuse. Considérations cliniques, pronostic et perspective thérapeutiques selon notre expérience.

The prognosis of gas gangrene is changing as the means of treatment become more accurate and are implemented earlier. The authors, in their work referring to 10 cases of gas gangrene, point out to the extreme fastness of debridement and immediate exeresis, of wide-spectrum antibiotic protection and of caloric balance, associated to a treatment using trace elements. The importance of hyperbaric oxygen therapy seems to be increasingly proven with time. Lastly, in their general experience of treatment, the authors suggest the use of a specific frequency soft laser therapy, which might speed up the process of tissue repair.