Ion specific tuning of nanoparticle dispersion in an ionic liquid: a structural, thermoelectric and thermo-diffusive investigation.

Dispersions of charged maghemite nanoparticles (NPs) in EAN (ethylammonium nitrate) a reference Ionic Liquid (IL) are studied here using a number of static and dynamical experimental techniques; small angle scattering (SAS) of X-rays and of neutrons, dynamical light scattering and forced Rayleigh scattering. Particular insight is provided regarding the importance of tuning the ionic species present at the NP/IL interface. In this work we compare the effect of Li+, Na+ or Rb+ ions. Here, the nature of these species has a clear influence on the short-range spatial organisation of the ions at the interface and thus on the colloidal stability of the dispersions, governing both the NP/NP and NP/IL interactions, which are both evaluated here. The overall NP/NP interaction is either attractive or repulsive. It is characterised by determining, thanks to the SAS techniques, the second virial coefficient A2, which is found to be independent of temperature. The NP/IL interaction is featured by the dynamical effective charge ξeff0 of the NPs and by their entropy of transfer SNP (or equivalently their heat of transport ) determined here thanks to thermoelectric and thermodiffusive measurements. For repulsive systems, an activated process rules the temperature dependence of these two latter quantities.

Building composite indices in the age of big data - Application to honey bee exposure to infectious and parasitic agents.

Pollinator insects play a crucial role in maintaining biodiversity and agricultural production worldwide. Yet they are subject to various infectious and parasitic agents (IPAs). To better assess their exposure to IPAs, discriminative and quantitative molecular methods have been developed. These tools produce large datasets that need to be summarised so as to be interpreted. In this paper, we described the calculation of three types of composite indices (numerical, ordinal, nominal) to characterize the honey bee exposure to IPAs in 128 European sites. Our summarizing methods are based on component-based factorial analyses. The indices summarised the dataset of eight IPAs quantified at two sampling times, into synthetic values providing different yet complementary information. Because our dataset included two sampling times, we used Multiple Factor Analysis (MFA) to synthetize the information. More precisely, the numerical and ordinal indices were generated from the first component of MFA, whereas the nominal index used the first main components of MFA combined with a clustering analysis (Hierarchical Clustering on components). The numerical index was easy to calculate and to be used in further statistical analyses. However, it contained only about 20% of the original information. Containing the same amount of original information, the ordinal index was much easier to interpret. These two indices summarised information in a unidimensional manner. Instead, the nominal index summarised information in a multidimensional manner, which retained much more information (94%). In the practical example, the three indices showed an antagonistic relationship between N. ceranae and DWV-B. These indices represented a toolbox where scientists could pick one composite index according to the aim pursued. Indices could be used in further statistical analyses but could also be used by policy makers and public instances to characterize a given sanitary situation at a site level for instance.

Cardiac tamponade during venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac tamponade may present with very different signs and clinical consequences in patients who are supported with venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Failure to recognize cardiac tamponade in this setting can cause failure to wean from venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, and even lead to death. CASE PRESENTATION: We present a 44-year-old Caucasian female in whom cardiac tamponade manifested as venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation weaning failure. After discovering the contribution of cardiac tamponade, it was possible to wean the patient from venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support. No clear signs of cardiac tamponade had existed beforehand. CONCLUSIONS: The diagnosis of cardiac tamponade can be very challenging in venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation supported patients due to (patho)physiological particularities related to the parallel blood flow.

Design of concentrated colloidal dispersions of iron oxide nanoparticles in ionic liquids: Structure and thermal stability from 25 to 200 °C.

HYPOTHESIS: Some of the most promising fields of application of ionic liquid-based colloids imply elevated temperatures. Their careful design and analysis is therefore essential. We assume that tuning the structure of the nanoparticle-ionic liquid interface through its composition can ensure colloidal stability for a wide temperature range, from room temperature up to 200 °C. EXPERIMENTS: The system under study consists of iron oxide nanoparticles (NPs) dispersed in ethylmethylimidazolium bistriflimide (EMIM TFSI). The key parameters of the solid-liquid interface, tuned at room temperature, are the surface charge density and the nature of the counterions. The thermal stability of these nanoparticle dispersions is then analysed on the short and long term up to 200 °C. A multiscale analysis is performed combining dynamic light scattering (DLS), small angle X-ray/neutron scattering (SAXS/SANS) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). FINDINGS: Following the proposed approach with a careful choice of the species at the solid-liquid interface, ionic liquid-based colloidal dispersions of iron oxide NPs in EMIM TFSI stable over years at room temperature can be obtained, also stable at least over days up to 200 °C and NPs concentrations up to 12 vol% (≈30 wt%) thanks to few near-surface ionic layers.

Coronary CT angiography for suspected acute coronary syndrome: sex-associated differences.

AIM: The optimal diagnostic test in the work-up of suspected acute coronary syndrome (ACS) may differ between men and women. The aim of this study was to compare sex-associated differences between using a diagnostic strategy including early coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) and standard of care (SOC). METHODS: In total, 500 patients who presented with symptoms suggestive of ACS at the emergency department were randomised between a diagnostic strategy supplemented with early CCTA and SOC. RESULTS: Women were generally older than men (mean ± standard deviation 56 ± 10 vs 53 ± 10 years, p < 0.01) and were less often admitted to hospital (33% vs 44%, p = 0.02). Obstructive coronary artery disease on CCTA (> 50% luminal narrowing) was less frequently seen in women (14% vs 26%, p = 0.02), and ACS was diagnosed less often in women (5% vs 10%, p = 0.03). Women underwent less outpatient testing when early CCTA was used in the emergency department evaluation of suspected ACS (p = 0.008). CONCLUSION: Women had a lower incidence of obstructive CAD on CCTA and were less often admitted to hospital than men. They were subjected to less outpatient testing when early CCTA was used in the emergency department evaluation of suspected ACS.

Thermodiffusion anisotropy under a magnetic field in ionic liquid-based ferrofluids.

Ferrofluids based on maghemite nanoparticles (NPs), typically 10 nm in diameter, are dispersed in an ionic liquid (1-ethyl 3-methylimidazolium bistriflimide - EMIM-TFSI). The average interparticle interaction is found to be repulsive by small angle scattering of X-rays and of neutrons, with a second virial coefficient A2 = 7.3. A moderately concentrated sample at Φ = 5.95 vol% is probed by forced Rayleigh scattering under an applied magnetic field (up to H = 100 kA m-1) from room temperature up to T = 460 K. Irrespective of the values of H and T, the NPs in this study are always found to migrate towards the cold region. The in-field anisotropy of the mass diffusion coefficient Dm and that of the (always positive) Soret coefficient ST are well described by the presented model in the whole range of H and T. The main origin of anisotropy is the spatial inhomogeneities of concentration in the ferrofluid along the direction of the applied field. Since this effect originates from the magnetic dipolar interparticle interaction, the anisotropy of thermodiffusion progressively vanishes when temperature and thermal motion increase.

Exchange-bias and magnetic anisotropy fields in core-shell ferrite nanoparticles.

Exchange bias properties of MnFe[Formula: see text]O[Formula: see text]@[Formula: see text]-Fe[Formula: see text]O[Formula: see text] core-shell nanoparticles are investigated. The measured field and temperature dependencies of the magnetization point out a well-ordered ferrimagnetic core surrounded by a layer with spin glass-like arrangement. Quasi-static SQUID magnetization measurements are presented along with high-amplitude pulse ones and are cross-analyzed by comparison against ferromagnetic resonance experiments at 9 GHz. These measurements allow one to discern three types of magnetic anisotropies affecting the dynamics of the magnetic moment of the well-ordered ferrimagnetic NP's core viz. the easy-axis (uniaxial) anisotropy, the unidirectional exchange-bias anisotropy and the rotatable anisotropy. The uniaxial anisotropy originates from the structural core-shell interface. The unidirectional exchange-bias anisotropy is associated with the spin-coupling at the ferrimagnetic/spin glass-like interface; it is observable only at low temperatures after a field-cooling process. The rotatable anisotropy is caused by partially-pinned spins at the core/shell interface; it manifests itself as an intrinsic field always parallel to the external applied magnetic field. The whole set of experimental results is interpreted in the framework of superparamagnetic theory, i.e., essentially taking into account the effect of thermal fluctuations on the magnetic moment of the particle core. In particular, it is found that the rotatable anisotropy of our system is of a uniaxial type.

A case series of 3 patients with acute colonic pseudo-obstruction after vincristine administration.

Acute colonic pseudo-obstruction (ACPO) or Ogilvie's syndrome is characterized by acute colonic dilatation in the absence of mechanical obstruction. It usually occurs in hospitalized patients with acute illness or following surgical procedures, but several medications such as cytotoxic chemotherapy can also induce ACPO. We report three cases of patients with Ogilvie's syndrome after induction therapy with vincristine-containing chemotherapy. Conservative management failed in all three cases. Awareness for this syndrome is necessary when administrating vincristine, because delay in diagnosis may lead to colonic ischaemia and perforation.

Transfer of the rhomboid nerve for restoration of shoulder external rotation in partial brachial plexus palsy.

Restoration of shoulder external rotation in partial brachial plexus palsies is a real challenge. The transfer of the spinal accessory nerve to the suprascapular nerve remains the gold standard. This transfer, however, cannot be always performed. Therefore, in these cases, we previously proposed the transfer of the rhomboid nerve to the suprascapular nerve through a posterior approach. The goal of the present study is to assess this technique through a short series. Eight male patients had a partial plexus palsy. Five patients had C5, C6 root injuries, two patients had C5, C6, C7 root injuries, and one patient had C5 to C8 root injuries. No patients had C5 or C6 root avulsions. In one patient, the spinal accessory nerve was injured and in seven patients, the proximal suprascapular nerve was not available. All patients underwent a transfer from the rhomboid nerve to the suprascapular nerve. Concerning shoulder elevation, transfers from the branch of the long head of the triceps or ulnar nerve fascicle were transferred to the axillary nerve. For elbow flexion, fascicles from the ulnar nerve, median nerve, or both were used. For elbow extension, three intercostal nerves in one patient and one fascicle from the ulnar nerve in two patients were transferred to the branch of the long head of the triceps. For wrist and finger extension, palliative surgery was proposed. All patients recovered external shoulder rotation (from 70-110º) and shoulder elevation (range, 80-140º). Active elbow flexion was coded M4 in seven patients and M3 in one patient. All patients recovered active elbow extension. The transfer of the rhomboid nerve to the suprascapular nerve is an efficient procedure for shoulder external rotation in partial brachial plexus palsies without C5 root avulsion. The results in terms of range-of-motion are, however, poorer than with the spinal accessory nerve. Therefore, this technique is appropriate if the spinal accessory nerve is injured or if the suprascapular nerve is not available in the cervical area. This technique must be associated with another transfer to the axillary nerve for shoulder elevation. The study of more patients will be necessary to confirm these results.

Colloidal dispersions of oxide nanoparticles in ionic liquids: elucidating the key parameters.

The combination of ionic liquid and nanoparticle properties is highly appealing for a number of applications. However, thus far there has been limited systematic exploration of colloidal stabilisation in these solvents, which provides an initial direction towards their employment. Here, we present a new and comprehensive study of the key parameters affecting the colloidal stability in dispersions of oxide nanoparticles in ionic liquids. Twelve diverse and representative ionic liquids are used to disperse iron oxide nanoparticles. The liquid interface of these nanoparticles has been carefully tuned in a molecular solvent before transferring into an ionic liquid, without passing through the powder state. Multiscale-characterisation is applied, on both the micro and the nano scale, incorporating both small angle X-ray scattering and dynamic light scattering. The results show the surface charge of the nanoparticles to be a crucial parameter, controlling the layering of the surrounding ionic liquid, and hence producing repulsion allowing efficient counterbalancing of the attractive interactions. For intermediate charges the strength of the repulsion depends on the specific system causing varying levels of aggregation or even none at all. Several samples consist of sufficiently repulsive systems leading to single dispersed nanoparticles, stable in the long term. Thanks to the magnetic properties of the chosen iron oxide nanoparticles, true ferrofluids are produced, appropriate for applications using magnetic fields. The strength and breadth of the observed trends suggests that the key parameters identified here can be generalised to most ionic liquids.

Serial high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T measurements to rule out acute myocardial infarction and a single high baseline measurement for swift rule-in: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

AIMS: The purpose of this study was to determine (a) the ability of serial high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T measurements to rule out acute myocardial infarction and (b) the ability of a single high baseline high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T measurement to rule in acute myocardial infarction in patients presenting to the emergency department with acute chest pain. METHODS AND RESULTS: Embase, Medline, Cochrane, Web of Science and Google scholar were searched for prospective cohort studies that evaluated parameters of diagnostic accuracy of serial high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T to rule out acute myocardial infarction and a single baseline high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T value>50 ng/l to rule in acute myocardial infarction. The search yielded 21 studies for the systematic review, of which 14 were included in the meta-analysis, with a total of 11,929 patients and an overall prevalence of acute myocardial infarction of 13.0%. For rule-out, six studies presented the sensitivity of serial measurements <14 ng/l. This cut-off classified 60.1% of patients as rule-out and the summary sensitivity was 96.7% (95% confidence interval: 92.3-99.3). Three studies presented the sensitivity of a one-hour algorithm with a baseline high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T value<12 ng/l and delta 1 hour <3 ng/l. This algorithm classified 60.2% of patients as rule-out and the summary sensitivity was 98.9% (96.4-100). For rule-in, six studies reported the specificity of baseline high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T value>50 ng/l. The summary specificity was 94.6% (91.5-97.1). CONCLUSION: Serial high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T measurement strategies to rule out acute myocardial infarction perform well, and a single baseline high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T value>50 ng/l to rule in acute myocardial infarction has a high specificity.

The value of preoperative examination and MRI for the diagnosis of graftable roots in total brachial plexus palsy.

The objective of our study was to evaluate the reliability of clinical examination paired with MRI to determine whether one or both of the superior C5 and C6 roots are graftable in cases of complete brachial plexus palsy. We conducted a retrospective study from 2013 to 2018. Twenty-seven patients who had total brachial plexus palsy and were more than 18 years of age were included. The Horner and the Tinel signs, potential phrenic nerve injury and anterior serratus muscle function were investigated. MRI with STIR 3D sequence was performed in each patient. Surgical exploration of the C5 and C6 roots confirmed if they were avulsed and, if found to be ruptured, assessed the possibility of grafting them. Serratus anterior testing had a specificity and a positive predictive value of 100% and diagnostic accuracy of 78%. The presence of the Tinel sign had a sensitivity and a negative predictive value of 100% and diagnostic accuracy of 93%. MRI had a sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic accuracy of 89%. A decision tree to determine whether or not C5 and/or C6 can be grafted has been developed. Its sensitivity and negative predictive value were 100%. This study provides initial validation of this diagnostic method for the diagnosis of graftable C5 and/or C6 roots. It could help prevent needless cervical exploration.

Inversion of thermodiffusive properties of ionic colloidal dispersions in water-DMSO mixtures probed by forced Rayleigh scattering.

Thermodiffusion properties at room temperature of colloidal dispersions of hydroxyl-coated nanoparticles (NPs) are probed in water, in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and in mixtures of water and DMSO at various proportions of water, [Formula: see text]. In these polar solvents, the positive NPs superficial charge imparts the systems with a strong electrostatic interparticle repulsion, slightly decreasing from water to DMSO, which is here probed by Small Angle Neutron Scattering and Dynamic Light Scattering. However if submitted to a gradient of temperature, the NPs dispersed in water with ClO4- counterions present a thermophilic behavior, the same NPs dispersed in DMSO with the same counterions present a thermophobic behavior. Mass diffusion coefficient [Formula: see text] and Ludwig-Soret coefficient [Formula: see text] are measured as a function of NP volume fraction [Formula: see text] at various [Formula: see text]. The [Formula: see text]-dependence of [Formula: see text] is analyzed in terms of thermoelectric and thermophoretic contributions as a function of [Formula: see text]. Using two different models for evaluating the Eastman entropy of transfer of the co- and counterions in the mixtures, the single-particle thermophoretic contribution (the NP's Eastman entropy of transfer) is deduced. It is found to evolve from negative in water to positive in DMSO. It is close to zero on a large range of [Formula: see text] values, meaning that in this [Formula: see text]-range [Formula: see text] largely depends on the thermoelectric effect of free co- and counterions.

Thermodiffusion of citrate-coated γ-Fe2O3 nanoparticles in aqueous dispersions with tuned counter-ions - anisotropy of the Soret coefficient under a magnetic field.

Under a temperature gradient, the direction of thermodiffusion of charged γ-Fe2O3 nanoparticles (NPs) depends on the nature of the counter-ions present in the dispersion, resulting in either a positive or negative Soret coefficient. Various counter-ions are probed in finely tuned and well characterized dispersions of citrate-coated NPs at comparable concentrations of free ionic species. The Soret coefficient ST is measured in stationary conditions together with the mass-diffusion coefficient Dm using a forced Rayleigh scattering method. The strong interparticle repulsion, determined by SAXS, is also attested by the increase of Dm with NP volume fraction Φ. The Φ-dependence of ST is analyzed in terms of thermophoretic and thermoelectric contributions of the various ionic species. The obtained single-particle thermophoretic contribution of the NPs (the Eastman entropy of transfer sNP) varies linearly with the entropy of transfer of the counter-ions. This is understood in terms of electrostatic contribution and of hydration of the ionic shell surrounding the NPs. Two aqueous dispersions, respectively, with ST > 0 and with ST < 0 are then probed under an applied field H[combining right harpoon above], and an anisotropy of Dm and of ST is induced while the in-field system remains monophasic. Whatever the H[combining right harpoon above]-direction (parallel or perpendicular to the gradients and ), the Soret coefficient is modulated keeping the same sign as in zero applied field. In-field experimental determinations are well described using a mean field model of the interparticle magnetic interaction.

e-Transmission of ECGs for expert consultation results in improved triage and treatment of patients with acute ischaemic chest pain by ambulance paramedics.

AIMS: In pre-hospital settings handled by paramedics, identification of patients with myocardial infarction (MI) remains challenging when automated electrocardiogram (ECG) interpretation is inconclusive. We aimed to identify those patients and to get them on the right track to primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS AND RESULTS: In the Rotterdam-Rijnmond region, automated ECG devices on all ambulances were supplemented with a modem, enabling transmission of ECGs for online expert interpretation. The diagnostic protocol for acute chest pain was modified and monitored for 1 year. Patients with an ECG that met the criteria for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) were immediately transported to a PCI hospital. ECGs that did not meet the STEMI criteria, but showed total ST deviation ≥800 µv were transmitted for online interpretation by the ECG expert. Online supervision was offered as a service if ECGs showed conduction disorders, or had an otherwise 'suspicious' pattern according to the ambulance paramedics. We enrolled 1,076 patients with acute ischaemic chest pain who did not meet the automated STEMI criteria. Their mean age was 63 years; 64% were men. After online consultation, 735 (68%) patients were directly transported to a PCI hospital for further treatment. PCI within 90 min was performed in 115 patients. CONCLUSION: During a 1-year evaluation of the modified pre-hospital triage protocol for patients with acute ischaemic chest pain, over 100 acute MI patients with an initially inconclusive ECG received primary PCI within 90 min. Because of these results, we decided to continue the operation of the modified protocol.

Thermodiffusion of repulsive charged nanoparticles - the interplay between single-particle and thermoelectric contributions.

Thermodiffusion of different ferrite nanoparticles (NPs), ∼10 nm in diameter, is explored in tailor-made aqueous dispersions stabilized by electrostatic interparticle interactions. In the dispersions, electrosteric repulsion is the dominant force, which is tuned by an osmotic-stress technique, i.e. controlling of osmotic pressure Π, pH and ionic strength. It is then possible to map Π and the NPs' osmotic compressibility χ in the dispersion with a Carnahan-Starling formalism of effective hard spheres (larger than the NPs' core). The NPs are here dispersed with two different surface ionic species, either at pH ∼ 2 or 7, leading to a surface charge, either positive or negative. Their Ludwig-Soret ST coefficient together with their mass diffusion Dm coefficient are determined experimentally by forced Rayleigh scattering. All probed NPs display a thermophilic behavior (ST < 0) regardless of the ionic species used to cover the surface. We determine the NPs' Eastman entropy of transfer and the Seebeck (thermoelectric) contribution to the measured Ludwig-Soret coefficient in these ionic dispersions. The NPs' Eastman entropy of transfer sNP is interpreted through the electrostatic and hydration contributions of the ionic shell surrounding the NPs.

Metabolisation of thiamethoxam (a neonicotinoid pesticide) and interaction with the Chronic bee paralysis virus in honeybees.

Pathogens and pesticides are likely to co-occur in honeybee hives, but much remains to be investigated regarding their potential interactions. Here, we first investigated the metabolisation kinetics of thiamethoxam in chronically fed honeybees. We show that thiamethoxam, at a dose of 0.25ng/bee/day, is quickly and effectively metabolised into clothianidin, throughout a 20day exposure period. Using a similar chronic exposure to pesticide, we then studied, in a separate experiment, the impact of thiamethoxam and Chronic bee paralysis virus (CBPV) co-exposure in honeybees. The honeybees were exposed to the virus by contact, mimicking the natural transmission route in the hive. We demonstrate that a high dose of thiamethoxam (5.0ng/bee/day) can cause a synergistic increase in mortality in co-exposed honeybees after 8 to 10days of exposure, with no increase in viral loads. At a lower dose (2.5ng/bee/day), there was no synergistic increase of mortality, but viral loads were significantly higher in naturally dead honeybees, compared with sacrificed honeybees exposed to the same conditions. These results show that the interactions between pathogens and pesticides in honeybees can be complex: increasing pesticide doses may not necessarily be linked to a rise in viral loads, suggesting that honeybee tolerance to the viral infection might change with pesticide exposure.

Draft genome and reference transcriptomic resources for the urticating pine defoliator Thaumetopoea pityocampa (Lepidoptera: Notodontidae).

The pine processionary moth Thaumetopoea pityocampa (Lepidoptera: Notodontidae) is the main pine defoliator in the Mediterranean region. Its urticating larvae cause severe human and animal health concerns in the invaded areas. This species shows a high phenotypic variability for various traits, such as phenology, fecundity and tolerance to extreme temperatures. This study presents the construction and analysis of extensive genomic and transcriptomic resources, which are an obligate prerequisite to understand their underlying genetic architecture. Using a well-studied population from Portugal with peculiar phenological characteristics, the karyotype was first determined and a first draft genome of 537 Mb total length was assembled into 68,292 scaffolds (N50 = 164 kb). From this genome assembly, 29,415 coding genes were predicted. To circumvent some limitations for fine-scale physical mapping of genomic regions of interest, a 3X coverage BAC library was also developed. In particular, 11 BACs from this library were individually sequenced to assess the assembly quality. Additionally, de novo transcriptomic resources were generated from various developmental stages sequenced with HiSeq and MiSeq Illumina technologies. The reads were de novo assembled into 62,376 and 63,175 transcripts, respectively. Then, a robust subset of the genome-predicted coding genes, the de novo transcriptome assemblies and previously published 454/Sanger data were clustered to obtain a high-quality and comprehensive reference transcriptome consisting of 29,701 bona fide unigenes. These sequences covered 99% of the cegma and 88% of the busco highly conserved eukaryotic genes and 84% of the busco arthropod gene set. Moreover, 90% of these transcripts could be localized on the draft genome. The described information is available via a genome annotation portal (http://bipaa.genouest.org/sp/thaumetopoea_pityocampa/).

Proteome Analysis of Urticating Setae From Thaumetopoea pityocampa (Lepidoptera: Notodontidae).

Thaumetopoea pityocampa (Denis & Schiffermüller) (Lepidoptera: Notodontidae) is harmful to conifer trees because of defoliation and to public health because of the release of urticating setae from the caterpillars. Contact with setae by humans and domestic animals induces dermatitis, usually localized to the exposed areas. Recent studies demonstrated the presence of a complex urticating mechanism where proteins present in the setae may play a role as activators of immune responses. Yet, limited information is available at present about the proteins occurring in the setae of T. pityocampa. Using a refined method for protein extraction from the setae, and a combination of liquid chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), de novo assembly of transcriptomic data, and sequence similarity searches, an extensive data set of 353 proteins was obtained. These were further categorized by molecular function, biological process, and cellular location. All the 353 proteins identified were found to match through BLAST search with at least one Lepidoptera sequence available in databases. We found the previously known allergens Tha p 1 and Tha p 2 described from T. pityocampa, as well as enzymes involved in chitin biosynthesis, one of the principal components of the setae, and serine proteases that were responsible for inflammatory and allergic reactions in other urticating Lepidoptera. This new proteomic database may allow for a better understanding of the complexity of allergenic reactions due to T. pityocampa and to other Lepidoptera sharing similar defense systems.

An examination of the spatial distribution of the tissue fragments created during a single explosive attack.

Throughout the course of a forensic investigation following an explosive attack, the identification and recovery of tissue fragments is of extreme importance. There are few universally accepted methods to achieve this end. This project aims to explore this issue through the examination of the spatial distribution of the tissue fragments resulting from an explosive event. To address this, a two stage pilot study was conducted: first, a series of controlled explosions on porcine carcases was undertaken. Second, the data produced from these explosions were used to chart the spatial distribution of the tissue debris. In the controlled explosions, 3kg military grade explosive was chosen to create the maximum amount of fragmentation; this level of explosive also prevented the complete disappearance of forensic evidence through evaporation. Additionally, the blast created by military grade explosive is highly powerful and would mean that the maximum possible distance was achieved and would therefore allow the recorded distances and pattern spread to be a guideline for forensic recovery of associated with an explosive amount of an unknown size and quality. A total station was employed to record the location of the resulting forensic evidence, with the collected data analysed using R Studio. The observed patterns suggested that the distribution of remains is fairly consistent in trials under similar environmental conditions. This indicates potential for some general guidelines for forensic evidence collection (for example, the distance from the explosion that a search should cover).