On the Usability of Polymer-Based Artificial Tendons for Elastic Energy Storage in Active Ankle Prostheses.

In the recent past, the development of lower-limb prostheses has taken a new turn with the emergence of active systems. However, their intrinsic wearable nature induces strict requirements regarding weight and encumbrance. In order to reduce the load - and thus the bulkiness - of their active part, several prototypes leverage the concept of compliant actuation, consisting in including an elastic element in parallel and/or in series with the actuator.

Coumarins as factor XIIa inhibitors: Potency and selectivity improvements using a fragment-based strategy.

Previously, we described weak coumarin inhibitors of factor XIIa, a promising target for artificial surface-induced thrombosis and various inflammatory diseases. In this work, we used fragment-based drug discovery approach to improve our coumarin series. First, we screened about 200 fragments for the S1 pocket.

Comparison of analytical performances between clot waveform analysis and FibWave in edoxaban-treated patients and healthy controls.

Introduction: The activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) and the prothrombin time (PT) are widely available coagulation parameters which are however poor predictors of the anticoagulant effect of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs). Some coagulometers use the clot waveform analysis (CWA) to assess the clotting time but mainly based on a unique parameter. The improvement of these methodologies and the evaluation of the other waveform parameters may increase the sensitivity to DOACs.

Validation of the AquaCHROM™ ECC for the Detection and Enumeration of Coliforms and Escherichia coli in Water Samples: AOAC Performance Tested MethodSM 072202.

Background: The AquaCHROM™ ECC method from CHROMagar is intended for the detection and enumeration of Escherichia coli and coliform bacteria in 100 mL water samples after 18-24 h of incubation at 35-37°C.

Objective: To validate the AquaCHROM ECC method for qualitative and quantitative detection of E. coli and coliforms with different water matrixes.

First Expert Elicitation of Knowledge on Drivers of Emergence of Bovine Besnoitiosis in Europe.

Bovine besnoitiosis (BB) is a chronic and debilitating parasitic disease in cattle caused by the protozoan parasite . South European countries are affected and have reported clinical cases of BB. However, BB is considered as emerging in other countries/regions of central, eastern and northern Europe.

Blood Inflammatory, Hydro-Electrolytes and Acid-Base Changes in Belgian Blue Cows Developing Parietal Fibrinous Peritonitis or Generalised Peritonitis after Caesarean Section.

This study aimed to describe the inflammation, hydro-electrolyte and acid-base imbalances caused by generalised peritonitis (GP) and parietal fibrinous peritonitis (PFP) after caesarean section. After clinical examination, blood was sampled from 11 cows with PFP, 30 with GP and 14 healthy cows. Serum and plasma refractometry and glutaraldehyde tests were used to evaluate the inflammation level, while hydro-electrolytes and acid-base parameters were assessed using an EPOC® device.

A Review of the EUSO-Balloon Pathfinder for the JEM-EUSO Program.

is a pathfinder for , the mission concept of a spaceborne observatory which is designed to observe Ultra-High Energy Cosmic Ray (UHECR)-induced Extensive Air Showers (EAS) by detecting their UltraViolet (UV) light tracks "from above." On August 25, 2014, was launched from Timmins Stratospheric Balloon Base (Ontario, Canada) by the balloon division of the French Space Agency CNES. After reaching a floating altitude of 38 km, imaged the UV light in the wavelength range ∼290-500 nm for more than 5 hours using the key technologies of .

Emergence of in Belgium.

Bovine besnoitiosis is a cattle disease caused by a protozoan parasite called It is of serious economic concern to the cattle industry and also compromises animal welfare. For several years, it has been considered an emerging disease in some countries and regions located in the north of Europe far away from the known endemic areas in the south. This study describes the situation in the southern part of Belgium, where the parasite was recently introduced through imports of animals coming from departments of France where the disease was present.

Antimicrobial Susceptibility Profile of Several Bacteria Species Identified in the Peritoneal Exudate of Cows Affected by Parietal Fibrinous Peritonitis after Caesarean Section.

The aim of this study was to identify the species and antimicrobial susceptibility of bacteria involved in parietal fibrinous peritonitis (PFP). We studied 156 peritoneal fluid samples from cows presenting PFP after caesarean section. Bacteria were cultured in selective media and their antimicrobial susceptibility was tested by disk diffusion assay.

Parietal fibrinous peritonitis in cattle: A literature review.

Background: Parietal fibrinous peritonitis (PFP) is a complication of laparotomy in cattle, consisting of fluid and fibrin accumulation within a fibrous capsule between the parietal peritoneum and the abdominal muscles. Since scientific information on PFP is scarce, we aim to collect available information to help practitioners in its diagnosis and treatment, and to formulate research perspectives.

Methods: PubMed and GoogleScholar databases were scanned using "cattle" or "bovine", and one of the following keywords: "seroma", "parietal fibrinous peritonitis", "retroperitoneal abscess", or "wound infection".

Assessment of acquired activated protein C resistance with the FibWave and comparison with the ETP-based APC resistance.

Introduction: Activated protein C (APC) resistance is a major risk factor of venous thrombosis which may be acquired by hormonal therapy or other causes. The FibWave, a sensitive global clot-based assay design to analyze the coagulation kinetics in plasma, may be a good candidate to assess this prothrombotic state. This study aims to assess the suitability of the FibWave to differentiate the coagulation kinetics of women on oral contraceptives.

Corrigendum: The GIP Gamma-Tubulin Complex-Associated Proteins are Involved in Nuclear Architecture in .

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2013.

Infectious Agents Identified by Real-Time PCR, Serology and Bacteriology in Blood and Peritoneal Exudate Samples of Cows Affected by Parietal Fibrinous Peritonitis after Caesarean Section.

The aim of this study was to identify the pathogens potentially involved in parietal fibrinous peritonitis (PFP). PFP is a complication of laparotomy in cattle, characterized by an accumulation of exudate inside a fibrinous capsule. We have studied 72 cases of PFP in Belgian blue cows, confirmed by a standard diagnostic protocol.

Preferential Disomic Segregation and Interspecific Recombination in Tetraploid 'Giant Key' Lime; Outlook for Triploid Lime Breeding.

The triploid 'Tahiti' lime ( (Yu. Tanaka) Tanaka) naturally originated from a merger between a haploid ovule of lemon ( (L.) Burm) and a diploid pollen from a 'Mexican' lime ( (Christm.

Comparison between generalised peritonitis and parietal fibrinous peritonitis in cows after caesarean section.

Background: Parietal fibrinous peritonitis (PFP) and generalised peritonitis (GP) are two postoperative complications in cows, characterised by fluid and fibrin accumulation throughout the peritoneum (GP) or in an encapsulated cavity (PFP). Unlike GP, PFP is scarcely documented.

Methods: Twenty-one GP cases and 12 PFP cases were confirmed by ultrasound in cows referred to the Veterinary Clinic (Liège University) for complications after caesarean section.

Evaluation of a new thromboplastin reagent STA-NeoPTimal on a STA R Max analyzer for the measurement of prothrombin time, international normalized ratio and extrinsic factor levels.

Introduction: We aimed at evaluating the performance of a new prothrombin time (PT) reagent (STA-NeoPTimal) with two other PT reagents (STA-Neoplastine R and STA-Neoplastine CI Plus) and the reference PT reagent used in our laboratory (ReadiPlasTin).

Methods: Evaluation consisted in intra- and interassay precision assessment, determination of sensitivity to unfractionated heparin (UFH) or enoxaparin in spiked samples and to direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) in patients (n = 43). Method comparison of the 4 PT reagents, factor II, V, VII and X assays was tested on normal (n = 20) and abnormal samples: VKA (n = 47), preoperative (n = 23), liver failure (n = 12) and burned patients (n = 37).

The presence of Mycoplasma bovis in colostrum.

In herds with Mycoplasma bovis circulation, colostrum is often considered infectious. However, in contrast to milk, the presence of M. bovis in colostrum was not previously evidenced.

Assessment of two selective agar media to isolate colistin-resistant bovine Escherichia coli: Correlation with minimal inhibitory concentration and presence of mcr genes.

The identification of colistin-resistant enterobacteria in veterinary medicine is impaired by the absence of first-line reliable phenotypic assay. The purpose of this study was to assess two selective agar media for the detection of colistin-resistant bovine pathogenic Escherichia coli. A total of 158 E.

Optimal wavelength for the clot waveform analysis: Determination of the best resolution with minimal interference of the reagents.

Introduction: Clot waveform analysis (CWA), a new methodology to assess coagulation process, can be usefully applied in various clinical settings. However, its clinical use is limited mainly because of the absence of standardization. No consensus exists regarding the wavelengths at which CWA has to be performed what is crucial for the sensitivity of the CWA.

Development of new methodologies for the chromogenic estimation of betrixaban concentrations in plasma.

Introduction: Chromogenic anti-Xa assays are the most appropriate tests to estimate the amount of betrixaban in plasma but the sensitivity of available tests is limited and improvements are needed to encompass the on-therapy range.

Methods: Betrixaban was spiked at concentrations ranging from 0 to 500 ng/mL in plasma from healthy donors. Three commercial tests were used (Biophen DiXaI , STA Liquid Anti-Xa, and HemosIL Liquid Anti-Xa), and adaptation of their sample dilution scheme was performed.

Development and validation of a liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry method for the simultaneous quantification of serotonin and thromboxane B2 from activated platelets.

Introduction: Availability of a rapid and reliable platelet activation assay avoiding limitations of current techniques would be valuable to diagnose heparin-induced thrombocytopenia and platelet secretion disorders.

Objectives: The first aim was to develop and validate an ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) method to quantify in a single run TxB2 synthesized and serotonin released from platelets. The second aim was to use our method in association with light transmission aggregometry (LTA) to select good platelet responders for the diagnosis of HIT.