A global non-invasive methodology for the phenotyping of potato under water deficit conditions using imaging, physiological and molecular tools.

BACKGROUND: Drought is a major consequence of global heating that has negative impacts on agriculture. Potato is a drought-sensitive crop; tuber growth and dry matter content may both be impacted. Moreover, water deficit can induce physiological disorders such as glassy tubers and internal rust spots. The response of potato plants to drought is complex and can be affected by cultivar type, climatic and soil conditions, and the point at which water stress occurs during growth. The characterization of adaptive responses in plants presents a major phenotyping challenge. There is therefore a demand for the development of non-invasive analytical techniques to improve phenotyping. RESULTS: This project aimed to take advantage of innovative approaches in MRI, phenotyping and molecular biology to evaluate the effects of water stress on potato plants during growth. Plants were cultivated in pots under different water conditions. A control group of plants were cultivated under optimal water uptake conditions. Other groups were cultivated under mild and severe water deficiency conditions (40 and 20% of field capacity, respectively) applied at different tuber growth phases (initiation, filling). Water stress was evaluated by monitoring soil water potential. Two fully-equipped imaging cabinets were set up to characterize plant morphology using high definition color cameras (top and side views) and to measure plant stress using RGB cameras. The response of potato plants to water stress depended on the intensity and duration of the stress. Three-dimensional morphological images of the underground organs of potato plants in pots were recorded using a 1.5 T MRI scanner. A significant difference in growth kinetics was observed at the early growth stages between the control and stressed plants. Quantitative PCR analysis was carried out at molecular level on the expression patterns of selected drought-responsive genes. Variations in stress levels were seen to modulate ABA and drought-responsive ABA-dependent and ABA-independent genes. CONCLUSIONS: This methodology, when applied to the phenotyping of potato under water deficit conditions, provides a quantitative analysis of leaves and tubers properties at microstructural and molecular levels. The approaches thus developed could therefore be effective in the multi-scale characterization of plant response to water stress, from organ development to gene expression.

Accurate gamma-ray spectrometry measurements of the half-life of 92Sr.

Studies of the nuclear fuel cycle require an accurate knowledge of the energy release from the decay of radioactive nuclides produced in a reactor, including precise half-life data for the short-lived radionuclides. Moreover, short-lived fission products are crucial for fission rate distribution measurements performed in low-power facilities, such as EOLE and MINERVE of CEA Cadarache [Fougeras, P., 2005. EOLE, MINERVE and MASURCA facilities and their associated neutron experimental programs. In: 13th International Conference on Nuclear Engineering, Beijing, China, 16-20 May 2005], and their nuclear decay data need to be known to high precision. For these reasons, the half-life of (92)Sr has been measured to solve a recently observed inconsistency identified with the quoted value in the main nuclear applications libraries (including JEFF3.1): T(1/2)=2.71+/-0.01 h [Parsa, B., Ashari, A., Goolvard, L., Nobar, Y.M., 1971. Decay scheme of 2.71 h (92)Sr. Nucl. Phys. A 175, 629-640]. An overestimation of 4.5% has been identified in this work, based on two independent methods. Specific gamma-ray spectrometry measurements on activated fissile foils have been carried out, using two HPGe detectors. Influencing factors such as net area measurements of photopeaks, pulse pile-up accuracy and dead time corrections in the presence of decaying activity are discussed. A new value has been obtained by combining eight series of measurements: T(1/2)=2.594+/-0.006 h. The uncertainty has been reduced by a factor of two with respect to previous evaluations. This measured value also shows good agreement with the most recent studies of T(1/2)=2.627+/-0.009 h [Nir-El, Y., 2003. Private Communications. Soreq Research Centre, Yavne, Israel].

Spontaneous electrodermal activity during sleep in man: an intranight study.

This study was designed to examine the intranight evolution of spontaneous electrodermal activity (EDA). Eight paid volunteer male students were recorded for 3 complete nights (after a habituation night). The results show that: during the first sleep cycle, EDA is significantly lower than during the rest of the night; rapid eye movement sleep evolves in a particular manner, which emphasizes the specificity of this sleep stage; and there is no internight habituation effect.

Generation effect in short-term verbal and visuospatial memory: comparisons between dementia of Alzheimer type and dementia of frontal lobe type.

Memory deficit is the predominant presenting symptom in dementia. To compare short-term memory (STM) deficit in early dementia of Alzheimer type (DAT) vs frontal lobe type (DFT), and determine the residual memory capacity for stimulation, the generation effect (the memory advantage of items generated rather than read) was tested on verbal and visuospatial STM in patients with DAT (n = 10), DFT (n = 9) and in age-matched normal controls (n = 12). The generation effect enhanced performance in all groups. However, the profile of STM deficit differed in the two dementias: verbal and visuospatial memory were both decreased in DAT vs verbal memory only in DFT. These results provide a further criterion for differentiating between DAT and DFT, and show that memory performance can be enhanced in early dementia using techniques such as the generation effect.

Sleep, brain activation and cognition.

Some data have shown the presence of time-of-day effects in learning processes. We explore here whether the same phenomenon occurs during the night and how it relates to REM sleep. In an initial approach to the question, this paper points out the relationships between: 1) REM sleep and brain activation, and 2) REM sleep and information processing. The data are discussed in terms of a REM sleep implication on information processing and we examine the possibility of modifying this processing by acting on REM sleep.

Modification of REM sleep behavior by REMs contingent auditory stimulation in man.

Following studies about supposed relationship between rapid eye movement sleep (REM sleep) and learning, a new approach, based on operant conditioning is introduced. We demonstrate that rapid eye movements (REMs) contingent auditory stimulation in man leads to some consistent (quantitative and qualitative) modifications of REM sleep behavior. Stimulating REMs in the frame of a continuous reinforcement schedule increases total REM sleep duration but decreases REMs density, and modifies hemispheric EEG symmetry. The contrasting effects of such sensory stimulations and results related to information processing hypothesis are discussed.

REM sleep modifications following a Morse code learning session in humans.

Various experimental data indicate that rapid eye movement (REM) sleep is involved in learning processes. In animals, any complex task in a learning environment leads to an increase of the consecutive total REM sleep time, especially just before learning completion. In humans, the oculomotor activity during REM sleep seems to constitute an interesting marker of learning performance. In this work, we focus on the qualitative analysis of REM sleep characteristics after a Morse code learning session. Eight male subjects were polygraphically recorded during three consecutive nights. A computer aided teaching session was performed just before bedrest onset of the experimental night. The learning performance (percentage of saving) was checked on awakening. The Morse code learning led to some modifications in REM sleep components, particularly increases of REM sleep time and number of REM episodes. We did not observe any significant modification in the total number of REMs in the experimental night. However, the correlative analysis between learning performance and sleep parameters indicates a superior r for the oculomotor activity than for the tonic components. This is consistent with the information processing hypothesis in which the temporal distribution of REMs reflects the subject's ability to increase the signal-noise ratio from environmental information intake.

Enhancement of memory by auditory stimulation during postlearning REM sleep in humans.

REM sleep involvement in memory processes was demonstrated in animals and humans: 1) REM sleep deprivation impairs the memory fixation, 2) learning sessions are followed by modifications of REM sleep characteristics. Moreover, sleep patterns can be modified by applying auditory stimulations during REM sleep. We show that REM actual auditory stimulations significantly improve the retention of a Morse code learning task. These results are discussed in terms of brain activation.

Modification of EEG asymmetry induced by auditory biofeedback loop during REM sleep in man.

Several studies have emphasized the relationship between (1) rapid eye movement sleep (REM sleep) and learning, and (2) between REM sleep and asymmetry in EEG activity. Since we have shown that obtaining operant conditioned responses via auditory biofeedback during REM sleep is feasible, we demonstrate here that REM contingent auditory stimulations (white noise stimulation or interruption of a continuous white noise stimulation) lead to differential changes in phasic and tonic components of REM sleep. Whereas during baseline nights a relative right activation is found in the medium bands of EEG frequencies, our procedure seems to induce a systematic interhemispheric change during experimental nights. A new approach to the information processing hypothesis during REM sleep is proposed in terms of functional lateralized modifications of the EEG.

Diurnal variations of tonic electrodermal activity.

Diurnal variability of skin conductance level (SCL) was examined in two complementary experiments, simultaneously with variability of skin temperature (ST) and that of simple reaction time (RT) which was recorded as a behavioural index of arousal. In Experiment I, 6 subjects spent 6 days in the laboratory in homogeneous conditions. Three recording sessions, each lasting 2 h, began, respectively, at 9:00 a.m. (morning), 1:00 p.m. (afternoon) and 5:00 p.m. (evening). Results indicated that SCL increased linearly throughout the day. Experiment II was undertaken to test whether this effect could still be observed in more heterogeneous conditions. Subjects (n = 12) attended to their own activities between the two 30-min sessions beginning, respectively, at 9:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. during a single experimental day. Again, SCL was higher in the evening than in the morning. In both experiments the SCL pattern seemed to be asynchronous with ST and RT variations. Taken as a whole, these data bring additional evidence of temporal electrodermal variation, a phenomenon which should be further taken into account in EDA research.

Amniocentesis and amnioinfusion during pregnancy. Report of four complicated cases.

We report two foetal complications after amnioinfusion with dye injection for evaluation of severe oligohydramnios in pregnancy. In the first case, an underskin colouring was to disappear within a few days. In the second case, an irreversible skin after-effect with muscular atrophy and lesion of the underskin tissues developed progressively, although the trained practitioner did not notice any particular resistance during the injection of the dye and the ultrasonographer did not point out that the foetus had been stuck by the needle. Both later reported cases concern two life threatening maternal complications due to amniocentesis for foetal karyotyping indicated by maternal age, a septic shock occurred 24h after entering the amniotic cavity, leading to a long stay in intensive care units. In one of those cases, the patient recovered from a cardiac arrest. We come to the conclusion that the essential continuous ultrasonographic monitoring cannot avoid all complications, some of which may lead to severe adverse foetal effects and others may need an intensive medical care for the mother, mainly after iatrogenic chorioamnionitis. Experience of the perinatologist remains an important factor to limit the complications without avoiding them completely. The indications must be carefully evaluated, the information given to the patients must be clear and in the future, intraamniotic injections of dyes will have to be avoided and replaced by non-invasive tests for diagnosis of preterm premature rupture of membranes, such as diamine-oxidase, foetal fibronectin or PROM-tests. The rules of a good practice will have to be defined and widely spread.

Long-term retention of a poorly learned saccharin aversion : Evidence for an incubation effect.

The retention of a weak conditioned saccharin aversion was tested using independent groups over a 14-day period. The delay between CS (saccharin 0.1 %) and US (LiCl 0.15 M) was 6 hours. Significant variations in the retention function were observed, in particular an improvement of memory - i.e. an incubation effect - over the 14-day period. This result suggests that retention of conditioned taste aversion may share common features with the retention of more classical aversive conditioning.

[An improved technique for transverse pelvic incisions: supra-pubian deinsertion of rectus abdominis (author's transl)]. / Un artifice améliorant la qualité des incisions transversales en chirurgie pelvienne: la désinsertion sus-pubienne des grands droits

Deinsertion of the rectus muscles allows an esthaetic supra-pubian transverse incision, enlargeable at will and yielding a solid repair. The technique has the same indications, and many more, as the Pfannenstiel incision. For those who keep on using the latter the present technique always enables the surgeon to transform a narrow field into a large transverse laporotomy.

[Transverse laparotomy by supre-pubic detachment of the recti muscles in gynecologic surgery. Apropos of 266 cases]. / Laparotomie transversale par désinsertion sus-publenne des droits en chirurgie gynécologique. A propos de 266 cas

The authors have studied 266 case histories where supra-pubic detachment of rectus muscles was used according to Cherny's method. This allowed aseptic gynaecological surgery to be carried out in all its forms by a true transverse incision. The advantages are great : it is aesthetic and the incision can be enlarged if necessary indefinitely. This means that surgery can be carried out easily and explains the great rarity of intra-abdominal complications. On the other hand two relatively rare complications do occur with this incision : peritoneal haematomata and lateral herniations. Details have been given of the methods necessary to avoid these complications.

PIP: 266 cases in which suprapubic detachment of the recti muscles was performed according to Cherney's method were studied. This method, which is described and compared with other methods, allowed aseptic gynecological surgery to be performed in all its forms by a true transverse incision. This technique offers great advantages, both from an esthetic viewpoint and because, if necessary, the incision can be enlarged indefinitely. Thus, surgery can be performed easily, which explains the great rarity of abdominal complications. Conversely, 2 relatively rare complications do occur when using this incision: peritoneal hematoma and lateral inguinal hernia. The techniques required to prevent the occurrence of such complications are described in the report. There is a single formal contraindication, in case of septic lesion; if, however, such lesions are found unexpectedly during the operation, the appropriate technique to be followed is described. The incision should be avoided in the case of patients suffering from obesity and blood disorders, because of the risk of hematoma.

[5th day syndrome after appendectomy. Plea against surgical treatment straight off]. / "Syndrome de 5e jour" après appendicectomie. Plaidoyer contre le traitement chirurgical d'emblée.

Thirteen cases of post-appendicectomy "fifth day syndrome" (0.45% of 2,919 children operated upon) are reported. The diagnosis must be established on precise criteria. Treatment is primarily medical, using antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs, and it must produce rapid and complete results. It is only when it fails (2 cases in our series) that a second operation is justified.

[Confluent tuberculomas of the vermis cerebelli associated with an occipital localization. Report of a case and review of the literature]. / Tuberculomes confluents du vermis cérébelleux associés à une autre localisation occipitale. Rapport d'un cas et revue de la littérature.

An unusual case of multiple cerebral tuberculomas is reported. The patient, a 19-year-old woman, presented with a 6-month history of raised intracranial pressure and cerebellar symptoms. CT scan disclosed a conglomerate of several ring-enhancing lesions within the cerebellar vermis and another homogeneously enhancing mass against the right occipital horn. Solid and ring-enhancing lesions are the main mode of presentation of cerebral tuberculomas. Although the patient had no history of systemic tuberculosis, this diagnosis was considered highly probable in this geographic area and was confirmed by pathological examination of the cerebellar mass, the excision of which was considered necessary. Antitubercular medications led to complete regression of the associated occipital lesion, as demonstrated by sequential CT scan examinations.

[Management of Meckel's diverticulum of fortuitous discovery]. / Conduite à tenir devant un diverticule de Meckel de découverte fortuite.

A Meckel's diverticulum was discovered in 89 patients during routine exploration at the time of an appendicectomy. Subsequent treatment and complications of surgical correction of a Meckel's diverticulum are discussed. A different attitude appears necessary depending on whether the patient is a child or an adult : apart from some particular circumstances, a healthy diverticulum should be removed in children and left untouched in adults.

Perceptual weighting of pain behaviours of others, not information integration, varies with expertise.

BACKGROUND: Being able to estimate effort pain in patients is important for health care providers working in physical rehabilitation services. Previous studies have shown that clinicians and physiotherapists underestimate patients' pain. METHODS: The present study examined how two sources of visual information, namely body kinematics (movement speed and postural constraints) and facial expressions are integrated in order to estimate effort pain magnitude experienced by a paraplegic person performing a sitting pivot transfer. In addition, the effect of familiarity with paraplegia on judgment was assessed by comparing performance among physiotherapists, paraplegic patients and unfamiliar participants. Functional measurement was used to determine the psychophysical law of visual information integration carried by pain behaviours (guarding and facial expression). RESULTS: Results indicate that guarding behaviour (specified by movement speed) carried important information for perceived effort pain independently of familiarity. In contrast, facial expression of pain was relevant only to unfamiliar and physiotherapist participants and not to paraplegic participants. Even if physiotherapists underestimated effort pain as compared to the other groups, they relied more strongly on facial expression, than other participants, in their estimation of effort pain expressed by a paraplegic patient. CONCLUSIONS: These results bring further insights into understanding physiotherapists' perception of patients' pain. In order to improve their ability to adapt the difficulty of the rehabilitation sessions, they should learn to raise their global level of pain magnitude estimation (for example, by performing themselves the body movement) instead of overweighting facial pain expression signals.