Experimental and Finite Element Analysis of the Tensile Behavior of Architectured Cu-Al Composite Wires.

The present study investigates, experimentally and numerically, the tensile behavior of copper-clad aluminum composite wires. Two fiber-matrix configurations, the conventional Al-core/Cu-case and a so-called architectured wire with a continuous copper network across the cross-section, were considered. Two different fiber arrangements with 61 or 22 aluminum fibers were employed for the architectured samples.

QuoVidi: An open-source web application for the organization of large-scale biological treasure hunts.

Learning biology, and in particular systematics, requires learning a substantial amount of specific vocabulary, both for botanical and zoological studies. While crucial, the precise identification of structures serving as evolutionary traits and systematic criteria is not per se a highly motivating task for students. Teaching this in a traditional teaching setting is quite challenging especially with a large crowd of students to be kept engaged.

Time and spatial trends of operated cryptorchidism in France and environmental hypotheses: a nationwide study from 2002 to 2014.

Study Question: Is there an evolution in the risk of operated cryptorchidism in France and does local geographical environment appear as an important trigger for this defect?

Summary Answer: We observed an increase of the risk of operated cryptorchidism in boys under the age of 7 years during the period 2002-2014 and a strong spatial heterogeneity, with the detection of spatial clusters suggesting environmental factors.

What Is Known Already: Epidemiologic data on cryptorchidism are scarce and its etiology is poorly understood. As part of the testicular dysgenesis syndrome, cryptorchidism is suspected to be a male genital developmental disorder caused by endocrine disruptor chemical (EDC) exposure during the prenatal period.

Greening is a promising but likely insufficient adaptation strategy to limit the health impacts of extreme heat.

Background: Adapting the urban environment to heat is a public health priority in the context of climate change. Cities are now considering interventions on specific urban characteristics known to contribute to the urban heat island (UHI) such as vegetation and imperviousness.

Objectives: To explore how these urban characteristics influence the temperature-mortality relationship in the Paris region.

The Habitat of the Neglected Independent Protonemal Stage of .

is a well-known species of decaying deadwood, which is protected in Europe. All previous studies dealing with the ecology of rely on the sporophyte generation because the gametophyte generation is allegedly undetectable. Recent advances have shown that the protonemal stage, including gemmae, is recognizable in the field, thereby considerably modifying our perception of the species' range and habitat.

Radiographic Yield for Clinical Caries Diagnosis in Young Adults: Indicators for Radiographic Examination.

This prospective cohort study investigated the distribution pattern of carious lesions diagnosed by visual tactile and radiographic examinations, assessed the radiographic yield for clinical caries diagnosis, and estimated how accurately commonly used indicators for caries identified young adults who would benefit from radiographs at different thresholds. Overall, 576 patients aged 16-32 years seeking a first consultation were included. Patients were examined for caries and answered a validated questionnaire on sociodemographics and oral health behavior.

Effect of Light Exposure upon Food Consumption and Brain Size in Dark-Flies (Drosophila melanogaster).

While reducing the investment in the visual system of nocturnal/cave-dwelling species appears to be an evolutionarily stable strategy in response to the difficulty of locating food in the dark, relying on visual information for diurnal species is crucial for their survival and reproduction. However, the manner in which species evolve and adapt to the energetic demands placed upon them by environmental changes is not perfectly understood. In particular, if life in the dark is associated with a reduction in energetic demand, would relocation to a well-lit environment increase energetic demand? This question has a bearing upon our understanding of factors that influence the ability of species to adapt to new habitats.

Access to paediatric palliative care in children and adolescents with complex chronic conditions: a retrospective hospital-based study in Brussels, Belgium.

Background: Paediatric complex chronic conditions (CCCs) are life-limiting conditions requiring paediatric palliative care, which, in Belgium, is provided through paediatric liaison teams (PLTs). Like the number of children and adolescents with these conditions in Belgium, their referral to PLTs is unknown.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to identify, over a 5-year period (2010-2014), the number of children and adolescents (0-19 years) living with a CCC, and also their referral to PLTs.

Mindfulness-Based Group Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Provoked Localized Vulvodynia: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: The aim of the study was to compare the effectiveness of mindfulness-based group cognitive behavior therapy (M-gCBT) versus education support group therapy for the pain and distress associated with provoked localized vulvodynia.

Materials And Methods: Participants were randomized to M-gCBT or education support group therapy. Mindfulness-based group cognitive behavior participants attended 8 weekly sessions.

Pregnancies complicated by both preeclampsia and growth restriction between 34 and 37 weeks' gestation are associated with adverse perinatal outcomes.

Objective: To determine whether adverse outcomes were more common in late preterm pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia and growth restriction compared to those affected by preeclampsia alone.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of 8927 singleton pregnancies with preeclampsia. Pregnancies with small for gestational age (SGA) neonates (birth weight <10th percentile) were compared to those appropriate for gestational age (AGA) neonates.

Does small for gestational age worsen outcomes in gestational diabetics?

Objective: Our goal was to determine whether pregnancy outcomes are worse in gestational diabetics with small for gestational age (SGA) than those without.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of 114 199 pregnancies with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in California, 6446 of which were complicated by SGA. SGA was defined as birth weight  < 10th percentile.

Diagnostic accuracy and prognostic significance of blood fibrosis tests and liver stiffness measurement by FibroScan in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Background & Aims: NAFLD is highly prevalent but only a small subset of patients develop advanced liver fibrosis with impaired liver-related prognosis. We aimed to compare blood fibrosis tests and liver stiffness measurement (LSM) by FibroScan for the diagnosis of liver fibrosis and the evaluation of prognosis in NAFLD.

Methods: Diagnostic accuracy was evaluated in a cross-sectional study including 452 NAFLD patients with liver biopsy (NASH-CRN fibrosis stage), LSM, and eight blood fibrosis tests (BARD, NAFLD fibrosis score, FibroMeter(NAFLD), aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index (APRI), FIB4, FibroTest, Hepascore, FibroMeter(V2G)).

Texture Analysis of T2-Weighted MR Images to Assess Acute Inflammation in Brain MS Lesions.

Brain blood barrier breakdown as assessed by contrast-enhanced (CE) T1-weighted MR imaging is currently the standard radiological marker of inflammatory activity in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. Our objective was to evaluate the performance of an alternative model assessing the inflammatory activity of MS lesions by texture analysis of T2-weighted MR images. Twenty-one patients with definite MS were examined on the same 3.

No increase in drug dispensing for acute gastroenteritis after Storm Klaus, France 2009.

During the night of 23-24 January 2009, Storm Klaus hit south-western France and caused power outages affecting 1,700,000 homes and stopping numerous pumping and drinking water disinfection systems. In France, medicalized acute gastroenteritis (MAGE) outbreaks are monitored by analysing the daily amount of reimbursements of medical prescriptions, registered in the French National Health Insurance database, at the 'commune' administrative level. As AGE is suspected to be associated with perturbations to water supply systems as well as power outages, Storm Klaus provided an opportunity to test its influence on the incidence of MAGE in the communes of three affected French departments (administrative areas larger than communes).

Ultrasonic assisted cross-flow ultrafiltration of starch and cellulose nanocrystals suspensions: characterization at multi-scales.

This study investigates for the first time the behaviors of starch and cellulose nanocrystals (SNC and CNC) suspensions which are simultaneously subjected to pressure, shear flow and ultrasound (US) during cross-flow ultrafiltration. This multi-forces process was characterized from macro-scales to nano-scales, with a custom designed "SAXS Cross-Flow US-coupled Filtration Cell". In addition, rheological behaviors of SNC samples at different concentrations/temperatures have been investigated.

Early symptoms and long-term clinical outcomes of distal limb's cutaneous arterio-venous malformations: a retrospective multicentre study of 19 adult patients.

Introduction: Cutaneous arterio-venous malformations (AVM) are high-flow vascular malformations made up of a direct link between arteries and veins without intermediary capillary space. 'Distal limb's AVM', which mean involving hands or feet, are rare and their functional prognosis is often poor. Little is known about their early clinical symptoms.

Verneuil's disease, innate immunity and vitamin D: a pilot study.

Background: Verneuil's disease is a chronic inflammatory skin disease of the follicles in apocrine glands rich area of the skin (axillary, inguinal, anogenital) and is associated with a deficient skin innate immunity. It is characterized by the occurrence of nodules, abscesses, fistulas, scars. Recently, vitamin D has been shown to stimulate skin innate immunity.

[CLOVES syndrome: a malformational syndrome closely resembling Proteus syndrome].

Background: CLOVES syndrome (Congenital Lipomatous asymmetric Overgrowth of the trunk with lymphatic, capillary, venous, and combined-type Vascular malformations, Epidermal nevi, Skeletal anomalies) is a sporadic malformational syndrome that has recently been described (mutation of PIK3CA), with asymmetric body hypertrophy, lipomatous hamartoma of the trunk and numerous malformations.

Patients And Methods: We report a case of CLOVES syndrome initially diagnosed as Proteus syndrome, revealed by infection of a dorsal lipomatous hamartoma. The patient presented with both right lower limb hypertrophy and capillary and venous-lymphatic malformations, associated with dorsal capillary malformations, left cervico-facial hypertrophy, and cervical epidermal hamartoma, all of which are consistent with Proteus syndrome.

Oral health determinants and caries outcome among non-privileged children.

The study aimed at identifying oral health determinants that are present in early childhood, are amenable to change and for which there is evidence of their modulation of the rate of caries progression in a sample of non-privileged children. The null hypothesis was that determinants associated with the child's institutional environment as evidenced by nursery policies significantly influenced the child's oral health. The sample was formed by 2,511 Brazilian 1-5-year-olds.

Outcomes after knee microfracture of chondral defects in alpine ski racers.

Articular cartilage defects of the knee have been shown to cause pain, swelling, decreased function, and suboptimal athletic performance. Treatment of elite-level athletes presenting with full-thickness chondral defects of the knee continues to be a challenge for orthopedic surgeons. The purpose of this study was to document outcomes in elite professional alpine ski racers after microfracture surgery.

Outcomes following microfracture of full-thickness articular cartilage lesions of the knee in adolescent patients.

The purpose of this study was to document outcomes following microfracture for full-thickness cartilage defects of the knee in adolescents. Our hypothesis was that patients aged 18 years or less would have excellent outcomes and function following microfracture of full-thickness knee articular cartilage defects. This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board.

High-dose ibuprofen is not associated with increased biomarkers of kidney injury in patients with cystic fibrosis.

High-dose ibuprofen (IBU) may slow the decline of lung function in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), but its use has been limited due to concerns over renal and gastrointestinal toxicity. In this pilot study, we examined the association of IBU with markers of acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients with CF. The effect of aminoglycoside (AG) exposure on AKI biomarkers was also examined.

Supramolecular organization in organic-inorganic heterogeneous hybrid catalysts formed from polyoxometalate and poly(ampholyte) polymer.

Hybridization of polyoxometalates (POMs) via the formation of an organic-inorganic association constitutes a new route to develop a heterogeneous POM catalyst with tunable functionality imparted through supramolecular assembly. Herein, we report on strategies to obtain tunable well-defined supramolecular architectures of an organic-inorganic heterogeneous hybrid catalyst formed by the association of a hydrophobically substituted polyampholyte copolymer (poly N, N-diallyl-N-hexylamine-alt-maleic acid) and phosphotungstic acid (H3PW12O40) POMs. The self-assembling property of the initial polyampholyte copolymer matrix is modulated by controlling the pH of the hybridization solution.

The sterol biosynthesis inhibitor molecule fenhexamid impacts the vegetative compatibility of Glomus clarum.

The vegetative compatibility of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF) Glomus clarum MUCL 46238 was evaluated after continuous exposure to fenhexamid, a sterol biosynthesis inhibitor (SBI). Three lineages of this AMF were cultured in vitro for five generations in association with Ri T-DNA transformed carrot roots in the presence of 0, 5 or 10 mg l(-1) of fenhexamid. Whatever the AMF generation, fenhexamid at 5 and 10 mg l(-1) had no significant impact on the number of spores produced.

Application of the white rot fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium in biotreatment of bagasse effluent.

Biotreatment of bagasse effluent using Phanerochaete chrysosporium (white rot fungus) is investigated. This study confirmed that lignin is the major pollutant component in this effluent followed by different carbohydrates. The treatment conditions must be very proper, especially in terms of biomass culture to achieve a successful treatment.