Citizen seismology helps decipher the 2021 Haiti earthquake.

On 14 August 2021, the moment magnitude (Mw) 7.2 Nippes earthquake in Haiti occurred within the same fault zone as its devastating 2010 Mw 7.0 predecessor, but struck the country when field access was limited by insecurity and conventional seismometers from the national network were inoperative. A network of citizen seismometers installed in 2019 provided near-field data critical to rapidly understand the mechanism of the mainshock and monitor its aftershock sequence. Their real-time data defined two aftershock clusters that coincide with two areas of coseismic slip derived from inversions of conventional seismological and geodetic data. Machine learning applied to data from the citizen seismometer closest to the mainshock allows us to forecast aftershocks as accurately as with the network-derived catalog. This shows the utility of citizen science contributing to our understanding of a major earthquake.

The cosmic ray shadow of the Moon observed with the ANTARES neutrino telescope.

One of the main objectives of the ANTARES telescope is the search for point-like neutrino sources. Both the pointing accuracy and the angular resolution of the detector are important in this context and a reliable way to evaluate this performance is needed. In order to measure the pointing accuracy of the detector, one possibility is to study the shadow of the Moon, i.e. the deficit of the atmospheric muon flux from the direction of the Moon induced by the absorption of cosmic rays. Analysing the data taken between 2007 and 2016, the Moon shadow is observed with 3.5 σ statistical significance. The detector angular resolution for downward-going muons is 0 . 73 ∘ ± 0 . 14 ∘ . The resulting pointing performance is consistent with the expectations. An independent check of the telescope pointing accuracy is realised with the data collected by a shower array detector onboard of a ship temporarily moving around the ANTARES location.

An algorithm for the reconstruction of high-energy neutrino-induced particle showers and its application to the ANTARES neutrino telescope.

A novel algorithm to reconstruct neutrino-induced particle showers within the ANTARES neutrino telescope is presented. The method achieves a median angular resolution of [Formula: see text] for shower energies below 100 TeV. Applying this algorithm to 6 years of data taken with the ANTARES detector, 8 events with reconstructed shower energies above 10 TeV are observed. This is consistent with the expectation of about 5 events from atmospheric backgrounds, but also compatible with diffuse astrophysical flux measurements by the IceCube collaboration, from which 2-4 additional events are expected. A [Formula: see text] C.L. upper limit on the diffuse astrophysical neutrino flux with a value per neutrino flavour of [Formula: see text] is set, applicable to the energy range from 23 TeV to 7.8 PeV, assuming an unbroken [Formula: see text] spectrum and neutrino flavour equipartition at Earth.

Sperm whale long-range echolocation sounds revealed by ANTARES, a deep-sea neutrino telescope.

Despite dedicated research has been carried out to adequately map the distribution of the sperm whale in the Mediterranean Sea, unlike other regions of the world, the species population status is still presently uncertain. The analysis of two years of continuous acoustic data provided by the ANTARES neutrino telescope revealed the year-round presence of sperm whales in the Ligurian Sea, probably associated with the availability of cephalopods in the region. The presence of the Ligurian Sea sperm whales was demonstrated through the real-time analysis of audio data streamed from a cabled-to-shore deep-sea observatory that allowed the hourly tracking of their long-range echolocation behaviour on the Internet. Interestingly, the same acoustic analysis indicated that the occurrence of surface shipping noise would apparently not condition the foraging behaviour of the sperm whale in the area, since shipping noise was almost always present when sperm whales were acoustically detected. The continuous presence of the sperm whale in the region confirms the ecological value of the Ligurian sea and the importance of ANTARES to help monitoring its ecosystems.

Single-blind, placebo controlled randomised clinical study of chitosan for body weight reduction.

BACKGROUND: Chitosan is a dietary fibre which acts by reducing fat absorption and thus used as a means for controlling weight. Weight loss clinical trial outcomes, however, have contradictory results regarding its efficacy. The primary objective of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a chitosan from fungal origin in treatment of excess weight in the absence of dietary restrictions. METHODS: A phase IV, randomised, multicentre, single-blind, placebo-controlled, clinical study was conducted by administering chitosan capsules (500 mg, five/day) and indistinguishable placebo capsules as daily supplements to 96 overweight and obese subjects for 90 days. The study participants were divided in 2:1 ratio to receive either chitosan (n = 64) or placebo (n = 32). Efficacy was assessed by measuring body weight, body composition parameters, anthropometric measurements, HbA1C level and lipid profile at day 45 and day 90. Also, short form-36 quality of life (QoL) questionnaire was assessed to evaluate improvement in life-style and dietary habits were recorded for calorie intake. Safety was assessed by evaluating safety parameters and monitoring adverse events. RESULTS: The mean changes in body weight were -1.78 ± 1.37 kg and -3.10 ± 1.95 kg at day 45 and day 90 respectively in chitosan group which were significantly different (p < 0.0001) as compared to placebo. BMI was decreased by10.91 fold compared to placebo after 90 day administration. In concert with this, there was also reduction in body composition and anthropometric parameters together with improvement in QoL score. Chitosan was also able to reduce HbA1C levels (below 6 %) in subjects who had initial higher values. The mean caloric intake shows that there was no change in dietary habits of subjects in both groups. Lipid levels were unaffected and all adverse events were mild in nature and unrelated to study treatment. CONCLUSION: Chitosan from fungal origin was able to reduce the mean body weight up to 3 kg during the 90 day study period. Together with this, there was also improvement in body composition, anthropometric parameters and HbA1C, reflecting overall benefits for the overweight individuals. Additionally, there was also improvement in QoL score. It was safe and well tolerated by all subjects. TRIAL REGISTRATION: CTRI/2014/08/004901.

Critical involvement of the thalamus and precuneus during restoration of consciousness with physostigmine in humans during propofol anaesthesia: a positron emission tomography study.

BACKGROUND: Functional brain imaging offers a way to investigate how general anaesthetics impair consciousness. However, functional imaging changes may result from drug effects unrelated to hypnosis. Establishing a causal link with loss of consciousness is thus difficult. METHODS: To identify changes of neuronal activity functionally linked to the level of consciousness, physostigmine was used to restore consciousness without changing the anaesthetic concentration in 11 subjects anaesthetized with propofol. Eight subjects (responders) regained consciousness after physostigmine and three did not (non-responders). Positron emission tomography was used to measure regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF); during baseline (awake), after anaesthesia-induced loss of consciousness, after physostigmine administration, and recovery. In addition to subtraction analyses, we used conjunction analysis in the responders to identify changes common to the baseline-anaesthesia and physostigmine-anaesthesia contrasts. RESULTS: Complete data were available for seven subjects (four responders and three non-responders). The analyses revealed that unconsciousness was associated with rCBF decreases in the thalamus and precuneus. Restoration of consciousness by physostigmine was associated with rCBF increases in these same structures, with the strongest effect in the thalamus. CONCLUSIONS: The results provide strong evidence that reductions in rCBF in the thalamus and precuneus are functionally related to propofol-induced unconsciousness independently of any non-specific effects of propofol. These observations confirm that the thalamus and precuneus are key elements to understand how general anaesthetics cause unconsciousness and how patients wake up from anaesthesia. Furthermore, they are consistent with the notion that anaesthetic-induced unconsciousness is associated with reduced cholinergic activation.

Potential of Pediococcus pentosaceus (L006) isolated from maize leaf to suppress fumonisin-producing fungal growth.

The present study was aimed at characterizing the ability of lactic acid bacteria isolated from maize to repress the growth of fumonisin-producing fungi. A total of 67 isolates were screened for their antifungal activity against Fusarium proliferatum and Fusarium verticillioides by using the overlay method. The most efficient antifungal isolate was identified as Pediococcus pentosaceus (L006), on the basis of physiological and biochemical characterization and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Production of the antifungal metabolite by this isolate commenced at the end of the growth exponential phase (8 h) and reached a maximum level after a long period of incubation (120 h). The antifungal metabolites produced were shown to be heat stable, resistant to proteolytic enzyme treatments, and pH dependent. The exact chemical nature of these substances remains to be clarified.

Maternal factors implicated in fetal bradycardia after combined spinal epidural for labour pain.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Combined spinal epidural analgesia is effective for fast relief of severe labour pain but has been associated with worrisome decreases in fetal heart rate. Since the reasons for this phenomenon remain elusive, some anaesthesiologists may abstain from using this technique. We postulated that factors unrelated to the neuraxial technique could play a role in the decrease in fetal heart rate. To our knowledge, no prospective study has previously looked into this possibility. METHODS: We collected prospective data on 223 consecutive patients who received combined spinal epidural analgesia (123) or epidural analgesia (100). Maternal blood pressure, analogue pain scores, exogenous infusion of oxytocin, cervical dilatation, maternal age, parity and ethnicity were collected and correlated with the occurrence of decreases in fetal heart rate post combined spinal epidural. RESULTS: Univariate analysis showed a correlation between the incidence of fetal bradycardia and higher maternal pain scores, older maternal age, and combined spinal epidural analgesia. Multivariate analysis revealed that only pain scores and maternal age were independent predictors of fetal bradycardia post neuraxial blockade. CONCLUSIONS: Maternal pain scores and older maternal age are factors unrelated to the neuraxial technique that are independent predictors of fetal bradycardia after neuraxial analgesia for labour.

In vivo and in vitro degradation of poly(ether ester) block copolymers based on poly(ethylene glycol) and poly(butylene terephthalate).

Two in vivo degradation studies were performed on segmented poly(ether ester)s based on polyethylene glycol (PEG) and poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT) (PEOT/PBT). In a first series of experiments, the in vivo degradation of melt-pressed discs of different copolymer compositions were followed up for 24 weeks after subcutaneous implantation in rats. The second series of experiments aimed to simulate long-term in vivo degradation. For this, PEOT/PBT samples were pre-degraded in phosphate buffer saline (PBS) at 100 degrees C and subsequently implanted. In both series, explanted materials were characterized by intrinsic viscosity measurements, mass loss, proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-NMR) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). In both studies the copolymer with the higher PEO content degraded the fastest, although all materials degraded relatively slowly. To determine the nature of the degradation products formed during hydrolysis of the copolymers, 1000 PEOT71PBT29 (a copolymer based on PEG with a molecular weight of 1000 g/mol and 71 wt% of PEO-containing soft segments) was degraded in vitro at 100 degrees C in phosphate buffer saline (PBS) during 14 days. The degradation products present in PBS were analyzed by 1H-NMR and high performance liquid chromatography/mass spectroscopy (HPLC/MS). These degradation products consisted of a fraction with high contents of PEO that was soluble in PBS and a PEOT/PBT fraction that was insoluble at room temperature. From the different in vitro and in vivo degradation experiments performed, it can be concluded that PEOT/PBT degradation is a slow process and generates insoluble polymeric residues with high PBT contents.

Poly(ether ester amide)s for tissue engineering.

Poly(ether ester amide) (PEEA) copolymers based on poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), 1,4-butanediol and dimethyl-7,12-diaza-6,13-dione-1,18-octadecanedioate were evaluated as scaffold materials for tissue engineering. A PEEA copolymer based on PEG with a molecular weight of 300 g/mol and 25wt% of soft segments (300 PEEA 25/75) and the parent PEA polymer (0/100) sustain the adhesion and growth of endothelial cells. The in vivo degradation of melt-pressed PEEA and PEA discs subcutaneously implanted in the back of male Wistar rats was followed up to 14 weeks. Depending on the copolymer composition, a decrease in intrinsic viscosity of about 20-30% and mass loss up to 12% were measured. During the degradation process, erosion of the surface was observed by scanning electron microscopy and light microscopy. The thermal properties of the polymers during degradation were measured by differential scanning calorimetry. During the first 2 weeks, a broadening of the melting endotherm was observed, as well as an increase in the heat of fusion. Porous matrices of PEEAs and PEA could be prepared by molding mixtures of polymer and salt particles followed by leaching of the salt.

Phase separation and physical properties of PEO-containing poly(ether ester amide)s.

Poly(ether ester amide) (PEEA) copolymers based on poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), 1,4-butanediol, and dimethyl-7,12-diaza-6,13-dione-1,18-octadecanedioate (a diester-diamide monomer) were synthesized by a two-step polycondensation reaction. The obtained segmented copolymers are hydrophilic, with a water uptake of 24-340%. PEEA copolymers showed microphase separation, as observed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The long spacing determined by small-angle X-ray scattering shows an increase in the hydrophilic domain size with increasing PEO content. By varying the copolymer composition, the E-modulus of PEEA could be varied between 61 and 427 MPa, with tensile strengths ranging from 12 to 39 MPa. The elongation at break can reach values up to 850%. The mechanical properties decrease with the uptake of water. However, PEEAs with a relatively low content of PEO still retain good tensile properties and are, in principle, suitable for biomedical applications.

[Factors associated with hyperhomocysteinemia in Crohn's disease]. / Facteurs d'hyperhomocystéinémie au cours de la maladie de Crohn.

AIMS: The incidence of thromboembolic disease is increased in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Hyperhomocysteinemia is one of the risk factors for thrombosis. The aims were: 1) to assess the prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia in a large series of patients with Crohn's disease; 2) to search for clinical and biological factors associated with hyperhomocysteinemia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred seventy-one patients with Crohn's disease (64 males, 107 females), median age 31 years (range: 16-82), were studied. The median duration of the disease was 7 years. The concentrations of homocysteine, folate, cobalamin and C-reactive protein were measured in serum from blood sample of each patient. RESULTS: The mean concentration of seric homocysteine was 14.8 micromol/L (N: 4.4 - 12.4 micromol/L). Hyperhomocysteinemia was observed in 89 patients (52%). It was significantly associated with age, sex, smoking habit, serum cobalamin level and history of ileal surgical resection (P<0.05). In the group of operated patients, there was a statistically significant association between hyperhomocysteinemia and the length of small bowel resected. In multivariate analysis, sex and smoking were associated with hyperhomocysteinemia. CONCLUSION: More than half of the patients with Crohn's disease have hyperhomocysteinemia. This result stresses the need for preventing reversible factors associated with hyperhomocysteinemia, such as smoking and cobalamin deficiency, in order to lower the thrombotic risk of patients with Crohn's disease.

Myocardial and interstitial matrix metalloproteinase activity after acute myocardial infarction in pigs.

A structural event during the evolution of a myocardial infarction (MI) is left ventricular (LV) remodeling. The mechanisms that contribute to early changes in LV myocardial remodeling in the post-MI period remain poorly understood. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) contribute to tissue remodeling in several disease states. Whether and to what degree MMP activation occurs within the myocardial interstitium after acute MI remains to be determined. Adult pigs (n = 15) were instrumented to measure regional myocardial function and interstitial MMP levels within regions served by the circumflex and left anterior descending arteries. Regional function was measured by sonomicrometry, and interstitial MMP levels were determined by selective microdialysis and zymography as well as by MMP interstitial fluorogenic activity. Measurements were performed at baseline and sequentially for up to 3 h after ligation of the obtuse marginals of the circumflex artery. Regional fractional shortening fell by over 50% in the MI region but remained unchanged in the remote region after coronary occlusion. Release of soluble MMPs, as revealed by zymographic activity of myocardial interstitial samples, increased by 2 h post-MI. The increased zymographic activity after MI was consistent with MMP-9. Myocardial interstitial MMP fluorogenic activity became detectable within the ischemic region as early as 10 min after coronary occlusion and significantly increased after 1 h post-MI. MMP fluorogenic activity remained unchanged from baseline values in the remote region. The present study demonstrated that myocardial MMP activation can occur within the MI region in the absence of reperfusion. These unique results suggest that MMP release and activation occurs within the ischemic myocardial interstitium in the early post-MI period.

Antimicrobial edible packaging based on cellulosic ethers, fatty acids, and nisin incorporation to inhibit Listeria innocua and Staphylococcus aureus.

Edible cellulosic films made with hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) have proven to be inadequate moisture barriers. To improve its water vapor barrier properties, different hydrophobic compounds were incorporated into the HPMC matrix. Some fatty acids and derivatives were included into the film-forming solution prior to film formation. Stearic acid was chosen because of its high capacity to reduce significantly the water vapor transmission rate. Antimicrobial activity of edible HPMC film was obtained by the incorporation of nisin into the film-forming solution. Nisin is an antimicrobial peptide effective against gram-positive bacteria. The inhibitory activity of this bacteriocin was tested for inhibition of Listeria innocua and Staphylococcus aureus. The use of stearic acid was observed to reduce the inhibitory activity of active HPMC film against both selected strains. This phenomenon may be explained by electrostatic interactions between the cationic nisin and the anionic stearic acid. Further studies showed that antimicrobial activity of film varied with the nature of the hydrophobic compound incorporated, in decreasing order: film without lipid, methylstearate film, and stearic acid film. This corroborated the idea of electrostatic interactions.

Acid and bile tolerance of spore-forming lactic acid bacteria.

Criteria for screening probiotics such as bile tolerance and resistance to acids were studied with 13 spore-forming lactic acid producing bacteria. Different strains of Sporolactobacillus, Bacillus laevolacticus, Bacillus racemilacticus and Bacillus coagulans grown in MRS broth were subjected to low pH conditions (2, 2.5 and 3) and increasing bile concentrations. Among these microorganisms, Bacillus laevolacticus DSM 6475 and all Sporolactobacillus strains tested except Sporolactobacillus racemicus IAM 12395, were resistant to pH 3. Only Bacillus racemilacticus and Bacillus coagulans strains were tolerant to bile concentrations over 0.3% (w/v).

Simultaneous administration of antithrombin III and protein C concentrates for the treatment of a devastating coagulopathy in a child.

Severe disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is a rare event in childhood. We report here a young body with a devastating DIC unresponsive to heparin, fresh frozen plasma and platelet support. This prompted the use of antithrombin III and protein C concentrates and the effects of this combination were temporarily spectacular. We suggest that the simultaneous administration of two inhibitors of blood coagulation could be of interest and should be evaluated in appropriate trials for the treatment of a devastating coagulopathy.

Abnormal IgG cardiolipin antibody titers in patients with Raynaud's phenomenon and/or related disorders: prevalence and clinical significance.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of antibodies to cardiolipin (a-CL) in patients with Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) and/or related disorders (rD) is not known. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of these antibodies. METHODS: We assayed IgG a-CL in 230 consecutive patients with RP/rD and compared the results with those in a series of 230 control blood donors. RESULTS: Sixteen percent of patients were a-CL positive versus 7.8% of the control donors (p = 0.014). The prevalence of a-CL positivity was 8.7% for primary RP, 10.5% for secondary RP, 8% for chilblains, 25% for essential acrocyanosis, 20% for connective tissue diseases, and 17% for undifferentiated connective tissue diseases. Among patients with digital necrosis, 24% were a-CL positive. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of abnormal a-CL titers is higher in patients with RP/rD than in control donors, especially in patients with a connective tissue disease.

DNA probe and PCR-specific reaction for Lactobacillus plantarum.

A 300 bp DNA fragment of Lactobacillus plantarum isolated by randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis was cloned and sequenced. This fragment was tested using a dot-blot DNA hybridization to technique for its ability to identify Lact. plantarum strains. This probe hybridized with all Lact. plantarum strains tested and with some strains of Lact. pentosus, albeit more weakly. Two internal primers of this probe were selected (LbP11 and LbP12) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was carried out. All Lact. plantarum strains tested amplified a 250 bp fragment contrary to the other LAB species tested. This specific PCR for Lact. plantarum was also performed from colonies grown on MRS medium with similar results. These methods enabled the rapid and specific detection and identification of Lact. plantarum.

Autoantibodies to phospholipids and to the coagulation proteins in AIDS.

In HIV-1 infection, an increased prevalence of anticardiolipin autoantibodies (aCL) and lupus anticoagulant (LA) has been described. In order to see if these antibodies are isolated or, like in autoimmune diseases, associated with hematological disorders and with antibodies to other phospholipids and to proteins of coagulation, we investigated 3 groups of patients: 1. 342 HIV-1 infected patients, 2. 145 control patients including 61 systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients, 58 patients with a connective tissue disease, 15 patients with stroke, 11 patients with syphilis and 3. 100 blood donors. In HIV-1 infection antiprothrombin (aPrT) antibodies were present in 2% of patients, the prevalence of antiphosphatidylcholine antibodies (aPC) (50%) was almost as high as aCL (64%), and 39% had both antibodies. Absorption on liposomes of the latter revealed an heterogeneous mixture of aCL and aPC or cross-reacting antibodies. In contrast with SLE, anti-beta 2-glycoprotein I (4%), LA (1%), biological false positive test for syphilis (0.3%), thrombosis (p < 0.001) were uncommon. In HIV-1 infection, antiphospholipid antibodies do not associated with features linked to them in SLE or syphilis.