Feeding predictability as a cognitive enrichment protects brain function and physiological status in rainbow trout: a multidisciplinary approach to assess fish welfare.

Cognitive enrichment is a promising but understudied type of environmental enrichment that aims to stimulate the cognitive abilities of animals by providing them with more opportunities to interact with (namely, to predict events than can occur) and to control their environment. In a previous study, we highlighted that farmed rainbow trout can predict daily feedings after two weeks of conditioning, the highest conditioned response being elicited by the combination of both temporal and signalled predictability. In the present study, we tested the feeding predictability that elicited the highest conditioned response in rainbow trout (both temporal and signalled by bubbles, BUBBLE + TIME treatment) as a cognitive enrichment strategy to improve their welfare. We thus analysed the long-term effects of this feeding predictability condition as compared with an unpredictable feeding condition (RANDOM treatment) on the welfare of rainbow trout, including the markers in the modulation of brain function, through a multidisciplinary approach. To reveal the brain regulatory pathways and networks involved in the long-term effects of feeding predictability, we measured gene markers of cerebral activity and plasticity, neurotransmitter pathways and physiological status of fish (oxidative stress, inflammatory status, cell type and stress status). After almost three months under these predictability conditions of feeding, we found clear evidence of improved welfare in fish from BUBBLE + TIME treatment. Feeding predictability allowed for a food anticipatory activity and resulted in fewer aggressive behaviours, burst of accelerations, and jumps before mealtime. BUBBLE + TIME fish were also less active between meals, which is in line with the observed decreased expression of transcripts related to the dopaminergic system. BUBBLE + TIME fish tented to present fewer eroded dorsal fin and infections to the pathogen Flavobacterium psychrophilum. Decreased expression of most of the studied mRNA involved in oxidative stress and immune responses confirm these tendencies else suggesting a strong role of feeding predictability on fish health status and that RANDOM fish may have undergone chronic stress. Fish emotional reactivity while isolated in a novel-tank as measured by fear behaviour and plasma cortisol levels were similar between the two treatments, as well as fish weight and size. To conclude, signalled combined with temporal predictability of feeding appears to be a promising approach of cognitive enrichment to protect brain function via the physiological status of farmed rainbow trout in the long term.

Measurement of the ν_{e}-Nucleus Charged-Current Double-Differential Cross Section at ⟨E_{ν}⟩=2.4 GeV Using NOvA.

The inclusive electron neutrino charged-current cross section is measured in the NOvA near detector using 8.02×10^{20} protons-on-target in the NuMI beam. The sample of GeV electron neutrino interactions is the largest analyzed to date and is limited by ≃17% systematic rather than the ≃7.4% statistical uncertainties. The double-differential cross section in final-state electron energy and angle is presented for the first time, together with the single-differential dependence on Q^{2} (squared four-momentum transfer) and energy, in the range 1 GeV≤E_{ν}<6 GeV. Detailed comparisons are made to the predictions of the GENIE, GiBUU, NEUT, and NuWro neutrino event generators. The data do not strongly favor a model over the others consistently across all three cross sections measured, though some models have especially good or poor agreement in the single differential cross section vs Q^{2}.

Search for Active-Sterile Antineutrino Mixing Using Neutral-Current Interactions with the NOvA Experiment.

This Letter reports results from the first long-baseline search for sterile antineutrinos mixing in an accelerator-based antineutrino-dominated beam. The rate of neutral-current interactions in the two NOvA detectors, at distances of 1 and 810 km from the beam source, is analyzed using an exposure of 12.51×10^{20} protons-on-target from the NuMI beam at Fermilab running in antineutrino mode. A total of 121 of neutral-current candidates are observed at the far detector, compared to a prediction of 122±11(stat.)±15(syst.) assuming mixing only between three active flavors. No evidence for ν[over ¯]_{µ}→ν[over ¯]_{s} oscillation is observed. Interpreting this result within a 3+1 model, constraints are placed on the mixing angles θ_{24}<25° and θ_{34}<32° at the 90% C.L. for 0.05 eV^{2}≤Δm_{41}^{2}≤0.5 eV^{2}, the range of mass splittings that produces no significant oscillations at the near detector. These are the first 3+1 confidence limits set using long-baseline accelerator antineutrinos.

[Cost analysis of GreenLight photoselective vaporization of the prostate versus standard transurethral resection of the prostate: Benefit of ambulatory care]. / Analyse des coûts de la photovaporisation prostatique au laser Greenlight versus résection transurétrale de la prostate : intérêt de la prise en charge ambulatoire.

PURPOSE: To compare the costs associated with GreenLight XPS 180W photoselective vaporization of the prostate (PVP) for an outpatient versus standard transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) with a three nights hospitalization in a French private hospital. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective cost minimization analysis was performed between 2017 and 2019 in a French private hospital for the hospital stays associated with TURP and PVP procedures for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The peri-operative cost-benefit assessment of the two procedures was analyzed from the establishment's point of view according to the micro-costing method. RESULTS: 871 surgical treatment for BPH had been performed during the period of the study, including 743 photoselective laser vaporization (85%). The average length of stay of patients undergoing TURP was 3,7 days versus 0,9 days for PVP including 64,7% ambulatory. The cost-benefit was more of 500€ per patient in favor of ambulatory PVP compared with TURP in conventional three nights hospitalization for level 1 hospital stays. CONCLUSION: In this private hospital center, ambulatory PVP seemed more cost-effective than TURP with a three nights hospitalization for a severity level 1 patient. The financial profit for the establishment was mostly due to reduction of the main length of stay and ambulatory care. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3.

Focal Areas of High Signal Intensity in Children with Neurofibromatosis Type 1: Expected Evolution on MRI.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Focal areas of high signal intensity are T2WI/T2-FLAIR hyperintensities frequently found on MR imaging of children diagnosed with neurofibromatosis type 1, often thought to regress spontaneously during adolescence or puberty. Due to the risk of tumor in this population, some focal areas of high signal intensity may pose diagnostic problems. The objective of this study was to assess the characteristics and temporal evolution of focal areas of high signal intensity in children with neurofibromatosis type 1 using long-term follow-up with MR imaging. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively examined the MRIs of children diagnosed with neurofibromatosis type 1 using the National Institutes of Health Consensus Criteria (1987), with imaging follow-up of at least 4 years. We recorded the number, size, and surface area of focal areas of high signal intensity according to their anatomic distribution on T2WI/T2-FLAIR sequences. A generalized mixed model was used to analyze the evolution of focal areas of high signal intensity according to age, and separate analyses were performed for girls and boys. RESULTS: Thirty-nine patients (ie, 285 MR images) with a median follow-up of 7 years were analyzed. Focal areas of high signal intensity were found in 100% of patients, preferentially in the infratentorial white matter (35% cerebellum, 30% brain stem) and in the capsular lenticular region (22%). They measured 15 mm in 95% of cases. They appeared from the age of 1 year; increased in number, size, and surface area to a peak at the age of 7; and then spontaneously regressed by 17 years of age, similarly in girls and boys. CONCLUSIONS: Focal areas of high signal intensity are mostly small (<15 mm) abnormalities in the posterior fossa or capsular lenticular region. Our results suggest that the evolution of focal areas of high signal intensity is not related to puberty with a peak at the age of 7 years. Knowledge of the predictive evolution of focal areas of high signal intensity is essential in the follow-up of children with neurofibromatosis type 1.

In vitro antimicrobial effect of various commercial essential oils and their chemical constituents on Aeromonas salmonicida subsp. salmonicida.

AIMS: This study aimed to evaluate in vitro efficacy of essential oils (EOs) and their compounds (EOCs) alone or in combination against Aeromonas salmonicida subsp. salmonicida, the causative agent of furunculosis in salmonid fish. METHODS AND RESULTS: Antimicrobial activity of 13 EOs and 16 EOCs was investigated for four A. salmonicida subsp. salmonicida strains using broth microdilution. The checkerboard assay was used to evaluate a putative synergy between the most efficient EOs and EOCs against the tested strains. Cinnamon bark, oregano, clove, and thyme oils and their major compounds cinnamaldehyde, eugenol, carvacrol and thymol showed the lower minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration values. The association of cinnamaldehyde and eugenol (V/V: 30%/70%) showed a synergistic activity against three tested strains. The combinations of cinnamon with oregano, clove or thyme EOs showed a neutral or additive activity against all the tested strains. CONCLUSIONS: Cinnamon, oregano, clove and thyme oils and their major phytochemical compounds showed strong activities against A. salmonicida subsp. salmonicida strains. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: To reduce the use of antibiotics in aquaculture, phytochemicals such as cinnamaldehyde and eugenol can be tested alone or in combination in in vivo studies as functional feed alternatives.

Interband cascade Lasers with AlGaAsSb cladding layers emitting at 3.3†µm.

We investigate the impact of the growth conditions of AlGaAsSb cladding layers on the properties of interband cascade lasers (ICLs). For an optimized structure emitting at 3.3 µm, we achieve an internal quantum efficiency of 65% per stage in good agreement with conventional ICL using InAs/AlSb superlattice cladding layers, in spite of internal losses of 15 cm-1 due to higher optical losses in the n-type AlGaAsSb alloys. Finally, we report a narrow ridge ICL emitting at 3.33 µm operating in continuous wave up to 80°C that produces 1 mW/uncoated facet at 80 °C, 10 mW at 40 °C and more than 12 mW at 20°C.

First measurement of neutrino oscillation parameters using neutrinos and antineutrinos by NOvA.

The NOvA experiment has seen a 4.4σ signal of ν[over ¯]_{e} appearance in a 2 GeV ν[over ¯]_{µ} beam at a distance of 810 km. Using 12.33×10^{20} protons on target delivered to the Fermilab NuMI neutrino beamline, the experiment recorded 27 ν[over ¯]_{µ}→ν[over ¯]_{e} candidates with a background of 10.3 and 102 ν[over ¯]_{µ}→ν[over ¯]_{µ} candidates. This new antineutrino data are combined with neutrino data to measure the parameters |Δm_{32}^{2}|=2.48_{-0.06}^{+0.11}×10^{-3} eV^{2}/c^{4} and sin^{2}θ_{23} in the ranges from (0.53-0.60) and (0.45-0.48) in the normal neutrino mass hierarchy. The data exclude most values near δ_{CP}=π/2 for the inverted mass hierarchy by more than 3σ and favor the normal neutrino mass hierarchy by 1.9σ and θ_{23} values in the upper octant by 1.6σ.

The BiPo-3 detector.

The BiPo-3 detector is a low radioactive detector dedicated to measuring ultra-low natural contaminations of 208Tl and 214Bi in thin materials, initially developed to measure the radiopurity of the double ß decay source foils of the SuperNEMO experiment at the µBq/kg level. The BiPo-3 technique consists in installing the foil of interest between two thin ultra-radiopure scintillators coupled to low radioactive photomultipliers. The design and performances of the detector are presented. In this paper, the final results of the 208Tl and 214Bi activity measurements of the first enriched 82Se foils are reported for the first time, showing the capability of the detector to reach sensitivities in the range of some µBq/kg.

Search for Neutrinoless Quadruple-ß Decay of

We report the results of a first experimental search for lepton number violation by four units in the neutrinoless quadruple-ß decay of ^{150}Nd using a total exposure of 0.19 kg yr recorded with the NEMO-3 detector at the Modane Underground Laboratory. We find no evidence of this decay and set lower limits on the half-life in the range T_{1/2}>(1.1-3.2)×10^{21} yr at the 90% C.L., depending on the model used for the kinematic distributions of the emitted electrons.

Electrically-controlled rapid femtosecond pulse duration switching and continuous picosecond pulse duration tuning in an ultrafast Cr4+:forsterite laser.

We demonstrate rapid switching between picosecond and femtosecond operational regimes in a Cr(4+):forsterite laser, using an electrically-contacted GaInNAs SESAM with saturable absorption characteristics controlled via the quantum-confined Stark effect. Additionally, continuous picosecond pulse duration tuning by over a factor 3 is reported.

Genetic diversity of Flavobacterium psychrophilum isolated from rainbow trout in France: predominance of a clonal complex.

Flavobacterium psychrophilum is the causative agent of "bacterial cold water disease" and "rainbow trout fry syndrome" in salmonid farming worldwide. These diseases, especially rainbow trout fry syndrome, are among the main hazards for French aquaculture. In this study, a multilocus sequence typing approach (MLST) was used to evaluate the genetic diversity of this bacterium. Seven housekeeping genes in a set of 66 isolates were investigated. They were recently collected from rainbow trout during clinical episodes in French farms from the two main geographical areas of production. A total of 5808 bp of sequence were analyzed for each isolate and showed relatively low levels of gene (H=0.4313) and nucleotide (π×100=0.31%) diversities. MLST identified 15 sequence types (STs), of which 14 have never been described. eBURST analysis separated the 15 STs in one clonal complex of 8 genetically related STs (with ST2 as founder) and 7 singletons. Genetic diversity was largely due to recombination, as demonstrated by a pairwise homoplasy index (PHI=5.35×10(-9)) significantly different from zero (p<0.05). The evolution of standardized association index (I(A)(S)) (all isolates: 0.6088, p<0.05; single representative of STs: 0.4567, p<0.05; and clusters of STs: 0.084, p>0.05), showed an epidemic structure of the population. These results emphasized the expansion of a limited number of dominant genetic variants in French clinical F. psychrophilum isolates from a single host species, with no geographic relationships.

Broadly tunable femtosecond mode-locking in a Tm:KYW laser near 2 µm.

Efficient mode-locking in a Tm:KY(WO(4))(2) laser is demonstrated by using InGaAsSb quantum-well SESAMs. Self-starting ultrashort pulse generation was realized in the 1979-2074 nm spectral region. Maximum average output power up to 411 mW was produced around 1986 nm with the corresponding pulse duration and repetition rate of 549 fs and 105 MHz respectively. Optimised pulse durations of 386 fs were produced with an average power of 235 mW at 2029 nm.

Femtosecond mode-locked Tm(3+) and Tm(3+)-Ho(3+) doped 2 µm glass lasers.

We report on the spectroscopic characterization, continuous-wave and continuous wave mode-locked laser performance of bulk Tm(3+):GPNG fluorogermanate and Tm(3+)-Ho(3+):TZN tellurite glass lasers around 2 µm. A slope efficiency of up to 50% and 190 mW of output power were achieved from the Tm(3+):GPNG laser at 1944 nm during continuous wave operation. The Tm(3+)-Ho(3+):TZN laser produced a 26% slope efficiency with a maximum output power of 74 mW at 2012 nm. The Tm(3+):GPNG produced near-transform-limited pulses of 410 fs duration centered at 1997 nm with up to 84 mW of average output power and repetition frequency of 222 MHz when was passively modelocked using an ion-implanted InGaAsSb-based quantum well SESAM. Using the same SESAM, the Tm(3+)-Ho(3+):TZN laser generated 630-fs pulses with 38 mW of average output power at 2012 nm. Data analysis of pulses at different intracavity pulse energies provided an estimation of n(2) at 2012 nm of 2.9 × 10(-15) cm(2)/W for the Tm(3+)-Ho(3+):TZN.

Femtosecond (191 fs) NaY(WO4)2 Tm,Ho-codoped laser at 2060 nm.

We report, for the first time to our knowledge, femtosecond-pulse operation of a Tm,Ho:NaY(WO(4))(2) laser at around 2060 nm. Transform-limited 191 fs pulses are produced with an average output power of 82 mW at a 144 MHz pulse repetition frequency. Maximum output power of up to 155 mW is generated with a corresponding pulse duration of 258 fs. An ion-implanted InGaAsSb quantum-well-based semiconductor saturable absorber mirror is used for passive mode-locking maintenance.

Cavity-dumping of a semiconductor disk laser for the generation of wavelength-tunable micro-Joule nanosecond pulses.

We report on cavity-dumping of a semiconductor disk laser as a method to generate energetic wavelength-tunable nanosecond pulses with repetition rates ranging from 0.1 to 4 MHz. Experimentally, emission of 24 ns pulses with peak output power of 41 W in a single beam output (and of 30 ns with peak power of 57 W in a combined beam output) with wavelength tuning from 1045 to 1080 nm was obtained. Numerical modeling is also introduced to provide more insight into the most important parameters controlling this mode of operation and to define optimization avenues.

Femtosecond pulse operation of a Tm,Ho-codoped crystalline laser near 2 microm.

We demonstrate, for the first time to our knowledge, femtosecond-regime mode locking of a Tm,Ho-codoped crystalline laser operating in the 2 microm spectral region. Transform-limited 570 fs pulses were generated at 2055 nm by a Tm,Ho:KY(WO(4))(2) laser that produced an average output power of 130 mW at a pulse repetition frequency of 118 MHz. Mode locking was achieved using an ion-implanted InGaAsSb quantum-well-based semiconductor saturable absorber mirror.

Physiological and Structural Differences Between Enterococcus faecalis JH2-2 and Mutant Strains Resistant to (P)-Divercin RV41.

The aim of this study was to show the differences that could exist at the physiological and structural levels between Enterococcus faecalis JH2-2 (wild type) and three mutant strains resistant to divercin RV41. These mutant strains were recently isolated and characterized for their intermediate resistance to recombinant DvnRV41; a subclass IIa bacteriocin produced by Escherichia coli. These mutant strains were named 35A1 (altered in gene coding phosphoesterase activity), 35H1 (altered in gene coding σ(54) factor) and 36H4 (altered in gene coding glycerophosphodiesterase). The growth and resistance of each strain were tested against lysozyme. The inhibitory substance did not show any cross-resistance but exhibited an additive effect ascribed to the combined action of lysozyme and (P)-DvnRV41. The use of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) allowed to unravelling differences at the structural levels between the aforementioned strains. Thus, mutants 35H1 and 36H4 showed clear differences from mutant 35A1 and wild-type strain. These differences were located, mainly in the fatty acid region and in the polysaccharide composition. This study contributes to understanding more the resistance/sensitivity of Ent. faecalis to (P)-DvnRV41, a subclass IIa bacteriocin.

Passive mode locking of a Tm,Ho:KY(WO4)2 laser around 2 microm.

We report the first demonstration, to our knowledge, of passive mode locking in a Tm(3+), Ho(3+)-codoped KY(WO(4))(2) laser operating in the 2000-2060 nm spectral region. An InGaAsSb-based quantum well semiconductor saturable absorber mirror is used for the initiation and stabilization of the ultrashort pulse generation. Pulses as short as 3.3 ps were generated at 2057 nm with average output powers up to 315 mW at a pulse repetition frequency of 132 MHz for 1.15 W of absorbed pump power at 802 nm from a Ti:sapphire laser.

Optically-pumped saturable absorber for fast switching between continuous-wave and passively mode-locked regimes of a Nd:YVO4 laser.

We report on the fast (approximately 50 micros) remote-controlled switching between continuous-wave (cw), cw mode-locked (ML) and Q-switched ML modes of operation of a Nd:YVO(4) laser using an optically-pumped saturable absorber (SA). Pulses as short as 40 ps with an average output power of 0.5 W are obtained in cw ML regime.