Entropy Fluctuations and Correlations in Compressible Turbulent Plane Channel Flow.

The thermodynamic turbulence structure of compressible aerodynamic flows is often characterised by the correlation coefficient of entropy with pressure or temperature. We study entropy fluctuations s' and their correlations with the fluctuations of the other thermodynamic variables in compressible turbulent plane channel flow using dns data. We investigate the influence of the hcb (Huang-Coleman-Bradshaw) friction Reynolds number (100⪅Reτ★⪅1000) and of the centreline Mach number (0.3⪅M¯CLx⪅2.5) on the magnitude and location of the peak of the root-mean-square srms'. The complete series expansions of s' with respect to the fluctuations of the basic thermodynamic variables (pressure p, density ρ and temperature T) are calculated for the general case of variable heat-capacity cp(T) thermodynamics. The correlation coefficients of s' with the fluctuations of the basic thermodynamic quantities (cs'p', cs'ρ', cs'T'), for varying (Reτ★,M¯CLx), are studied. Insight on these correlations is provided by considering the probability density function (pdf) of s' and its joint pdfs with the other thermodynamic variables.

The chaperone/usher pathways of Pseudomonas aeruginosa: identification of fimbrial gene clusters (cup) and their involvement in biofilm formation.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa, an important opportunistic human pathogen, persists in certain tissues in the form of specialized bacterial communities, referred to as biofilm. The biofilm is formed through series of interactions between cells and adherence to surfaces, resulting in an organized structure. By screening a library of Tn5 insertions in a nonpiliated P. aeruginosa strain, we identified genes involved in early stages of biofilm formation. One class of mutations identified in this study mapped in a cluster of genes specifying the components of a chaperone/usher pathway that is involved in assembly of fimbrial subunits in other microorganisms. These genes, not previously described in P. aeruginosa, were named cupA1-A5. Additional chaperone/usher systems (CupB and CupC) have been also identified in the genome of P. aeruginosa PAO1; however, they do not appear to play a role in adhesion under the conditions where the CupA system is expressed and functions in surface adherence. The identification of these putative adhesins on the cell surface of P. aeruginosa suggests that this organism possess a wide range of factors that function in biofilm formation. These structures appear to be differentially regulated and may function at distinct stages of biofilm formation, or in specific environments colonized by this organism.

Involvement of the Cpx signal transduction pathway of E. coli in biofilm formation.

In a genetic screening directed to identify genes involved in biofilm formation, mutations in the cpxA gene were found to reduce biofilm formation by affecting microbial adherence to solid surfaces. This effect was detected in Escherichia coli K12 as well as in E. coli strains isolated from patients with catheter-related bacteremia. We show that the negative effect of the cpxA mutation on biofilm formation results from a decreased transcription of the curlin encoding csgA gene. The effect of the cpxA mutation could not be observed in cpxR- mutants, suggesting that they affect the same regulatory pathway. The cpxA101 mutation abolishes cpxA phosphatase activity and results in the accumulation of phosphorylated CpxR. Features of the strain carrying the cpxA101 mutation are a reduced ability to form biofilm and low levels of csgA transcription. Our results indicate that the cpxA gene increases the levels of csgA transcription by dephosphorylation of CpxR, which acts as a negative regulator at csgA. Thus, we propose the existence of a new signal transduction pathway involved in the adherence process in addition to the EnvZ-OmpR two-component system.

Night aircraft noise index and sleep research results.

A number of countries have introduced regulations for the protection of people living around airports against the high level of aircraft noise. Certain noise indices have been determined for 24-hour periods, others for extended daytime periods, while a few are weighted for the noise occurring during the night. The noise environment problem limits the development of airports and any reduction of the noise at source is balanced by the increase in air traffic so that the overall noise level around airports remains high. The only possibility for the expansion of traffic is during the night and the airport authorities are interested in this solution for airports that remain open at night and in the case of proposals for some new airports in Western Europe. Research yields some useful results with regard to our understanding of the effects of noise and the duration and quality of sleep of people living around airports. In this paper we consider how these results can be used in proposing some noise criteria corresponding to the preservation of a certain quality of sleep.

[Needle aspiration biopsy in the diagnosis of cutaneous leishmaniasis]. / Prélèvement par aspiration à l'aiguille dans le diagnostic de la leishmaniose cutanée.

The classic diagnostic procedure for cutaneous leishmaniasis is based on the examination of Giemsa-stained smears made from the fluid obtained by scraping the edges of the lesion with a lancet, or prepared with small plugs of superficial tissues. In this report, we compare the results given by this standard method with those obtained by the examination of needle aspirates. Aspirates are secured by injecting a few millimetres outside the external border of the lesion 0.3 to 0.5 ml of saline through a thin needle, rubbing the injured skin, and thereafter pulling back slowly the plunger. Amastigotes were found in all smears from needle aspirates, and in only 11 out 15 obtained by scraping. Aspirates were also more suitable for cultures of parasites.