A 27 year-old man initially considered as a schizophrenic patient was later diagnosed as having Kleine-Levin syndrome.

The influence of a strong external magnetic field on the collimation of a high Mach number plasma flow and its collision with a solid obstacle is investigated experimentally and numerically. The laser irradiation ( $I\sim 2\times 10^{14}~\text{W}\cdot \text{cm}^{-2}$ ) of a multilayer target generates a shock wave that produces a rear side plasma expanding flow. Immersed in a homogeneous 10 T external magnetic field, this plasma flow propagates in vacuum and impacts an obstacle located a few mm from the main target. A reverse shock is then formed with typical velocities of the order of 15–20 $\pm$ 5 km/s. The experimental results are compared with 2D radiative magnetohydrodynamic simulations using the FLASH code. This platform allows investigating the dynamics of reverse shock, mimicking the processes occurring in a cataclysmic variable of polar type.

The Lembo clay deposit occurs on orthogneiss, but it also comprises clays with litho-relicts of volcanic rocks. In this study, ten samples from two sites were investigated. The mineralogical compositions consisted of kaolinite + halloysite + illite + quartz + hematite + anatase ± rutile ± orthoclase ± sanidine ± magnetite ± maghemite ± goethite ± Ba-Al-Fe-phosphates ± carbonates ± sulphates. Kaolinite-halloysite and quartz are the prevailing minerals. Some volcanicderived clays contain Fe-rich kaolinite-halloysite (9.6–14.1 wt.% Fe2O3). The chemical compositions, colours and specific surface area (SSA) measurements reveal two groups of clays: one with a positive whiteness index (IB), small SSA and small Fe content, and the other showing a large SSA, negative IB and relatively large Fe contents. The compositions of the first group are close to those of clays from the Mayouom deposit (Cameroon), and from some European commercial kaolins used in ceramics. Relatively Fe-rich clay materials may conform to most formulations of earthen bricks. As a whole, the Lembo clay deposit comprises various compositions of kaolinitic clays, which may yield the opportunity for extensive application in ceramics.

Different treatment options for pulmonary hypertension have emerged in recent years, and evidence-based management strategies have improved quality of life and survival in adults. In children with pulmonary vascular disease, therapeutic algorithms are not so clearly defined; this study determined current treatment initiation in children with pulmonary hypertension in participating centres of a registry.

Through the multinational Tracking Outcomes and Practice in Pediatric Pulmonary Hypertension registry, patient demographics, diagnosis, and treatment as judged and executed by the local physician were collected. Inclusion criteria were >3 months and <18 years of age and diagnostic cardiac catheterisation consistent with pulmonary hypertension (mean pulmonary arterial pressure ⩾25 mmHg, pulmonary vascular resistance index ⩾3 Wood units×m2, and mean pulmonary capillary wedge pressure ⩽12 mmHg).

At diagnostic catheterisation, 217/244 patients (88.9%) were treatment naïve for pulmonary hypertension-targeted therapy. Targeted therapy was initiated after catheterisation in 170 (78.3%) treatment-naïve patients. A total of 19 patients received supportive therapy, 28 patients were not started on therapy, and 26 patients (10.7%) were on targeted treatment before catheterisation. Among treatment-naïve subjects, treatment was initiated with one targeted drug (n=112, 51.6%), dual therapy (n=39, 18%) or triple-therapy (n=5, 2.3%), and calcium channel blockers with one targeted medication in one patient (0.5%). Phosphodiesterase inhibitors type 5 were used frequently; some patients with pulmonary hypertension related to lung disease received targeted therapy.

There is a diverse therapeutic approach for children with pulmonary hypertension with a need of better-defined treatment algorithms based on paediatric consensus for different aetiologies including the best possible diagnostic workup.

The paramyxean parasite Marteilia refringens infects several bivalve species including European flat oysters Ostrea edulis and Mediterranean mussels Mytilus galloprovincialis. Sequence polymorphism allowed definition of three parasite types ‘M’, ‘O’ and ‘C’ preferably detected in oysters, mussels and cockles respectively. Transmission of the infection from infected bivalves to copepods Paracartia grani could be experimentally achieved but assays from copepods to bivalves failed. In order to contribute to the elucidation of the M. refringens life cycle, the dynamics of the infection was investigated in O. edulis, M. galloprovincialis and zooplankton over one year in Diana lagoon, Corsica (France). Flat oysters appeared non-infected while mussels were infected part of the year, showing highest prevalence in summertime. The parasite was detected by PCR in zooplankton particularly after the peak of prevalence in mussels. Several zooplanktonic groups including copepods, Cladocera, Appendicularia, Chaetognatha and Polychaeta appeared PCR positive. However, only the copepod species Paracartia latisetosa showed positive signal by in situ hybridization. Small parasite cells were observed in gonadal tissues of female copepods demonstrating for the first time that a copepod species other than P. grani can be infected with M. refringens. Molecular characterization of the parasite infecting mussels and zooplankton allowed the distinguishing of three Marteilia types in the lagoon.

N-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 LCPUFA) are subject of growing interest as they are of particular relevance for meat quality and human health. However, their content in the muscles of cattle is generally low probably as the complex result of their biosynthesis from dietary n-3 PUFA in the muscle and/or in other tissues/organs and of their subsequent uptake by the muscle. In view of this, this study aimed at understanding whether the changes in the muscle n-3 LCPUFA content, depending on the diet (maize silage v. grass) or the muscle type (Rectus abdominis, RA v.Semitendinosus, ST) in 12 Charolais steers, were related to variations in the gene expression of proteins involved in n-3 LCPUFA biosynthesis or cellular uptake. Tissue fatty acid composition was analysed by gas-liquid chromatography and mRNA abundance of proteins by quantitative real-time PCR. The grass-based diet resulted in a 2.3-fold (P < 0.0002) increase in both RA and ST n-3 LCPUFA content compared with the maize silage-based diet, whereas no difference in the expression of genes involved in n-3 LCPUFA biosynthesis and uptake was observed between diets. ST exhibited a 1.5-fold higher n-3 LCPUFA content than RA (P < 0.003), whereas the gene expression of proteins involved in n-3 LCPUFA biosynthesis and uptake was 1.3- to 18-fold higher in RA than in ST (P < 0.05). In conclusion, diet- or muscle type-dependent changes in the muscle n-3 LCPUFA content of Charolais steers did not seem to be mediated by the gene expression regulation of proteins involved in the biosynthesis or uptake of these fatty acids.

Compte tenu de la radiosensibilité accrue des enfants aux rayonnements ionisants, notre objectif est d’évaluer les risques de cancers solides et de leucémies à long terme associés aux expositions médicales reçues pendant l’enfance. Deux études de cohorte sont réalisées par le Laboratoire d’épidémiologie de l’Institut de radioprotection et de sûreté nucléaire (IRSN). L’une, la « Cohorte Enfant Scanner » porte sur les enfants nés après le 01/01/1995 et exposés aux rayonnements ionisants lors de scanners réalisés entre 2000 et 2013. L’autre porte sur les enfants exposés lors de procédures de cardiologie interventionnelle avant l’âge de 10 ans entre 2000 et 2013. Pour chacune des cohortes, une évaluation rétrospective individuelle de l’exposition sera réalisée par l’Unité d’expertise en radioprotection médicale de l’IRSN. Un suivi passif en termes de cancers solides et de leucémies sera réalisé grâce aux données des registres de cancers pédiatriques et aux données de mortalité. La « Cohorte Enfant Scanner » est constituée de plus 80 000 enfants et s’inscrit dans le projet européen EPI-CT, qui regroupe 9 cohortes nationales. À terme, la cohorte des enfants en cardiologie interventionnelle regroupera plus de 8 000 enfants. Ces études de cohortes, avec un suivi prolongé, permettront d’étudier l’impact sur la santé des expositions radiologiques reçues pendant l’enfance.

There is increasing evidence to indicate that nutrition is an important factor involved in the onset and development of several chronic human diseases including cancer, cardiovascular disease (CVD), type II diabetes and obesity. Clinical studies implicate excessive consumption of medium-chain saturated fatty acids (SFA) and trans-fatty acids (TFA) as risk factors for CVD, and in the aetiology of other chronic conditions. Ruminant-derived foods are significant sources of medium-chain SFA and TFA in the human diet, but also provide high-quality protein, essential micronutrients and several bioactive lipids. Altering the fatty acid composition of ruminant-derived foods offers the opportunity to align the consumption of fatty acids in human populations with public health policies without the need for substantial changes in eating habits. Replacing conserved forages with fresh grass or dietary plant oil and oilseed supplements can be used to lower medium-chain and total SFA content and increase cis-9 18:1, total conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) to a variable extent in ruminant milk. However, inclusion of fish oil or marine algae in the ruminant diet results in marginal enrichment of 20- or 22-carbon PUFA in milk. Studies in growing ruminants have confirmed that the same nutritional strategies improve the balance of n-6/n-3 PUFA, and increase CLA and long-chain n-3 PUFA in ruminant meat, but the potential to lower medium-chain and total SFA is limited. Attempts to alter meat and milk fatty acid composition through changes in the diet fed to ruminants are often accompanied by several-fold increases in TFA concentrations. In extreme cases, the distribution of trans 18:1 and 18:2 isomers in ruminant foods may resemble that of partially hydrogenated plant oils. Changes in milk fat or muscle lipid composition in response to diet are now known to be accompanied by tissue-specific alterations in the expression of one or more lipogenic genes. Breed influences both milk and muscle fat content, although recent studies have confirmed the occurrence of genetic variability in transcript abundance and activity of enzymes involved in lipid synthesis and identified polymorphisms for several key lipogenic genes in lactating and growing cattle. Although nutrition is the major factor influencing the fatty acid composition of ruminant-derived foods, further progress can be expected through the use of genomic or marker-assisted selection to increase the frequency of favourable genotypes and the formulation of diets to exploit this genetic potential.

Various sources of germination heterogeneity of carrot (Daucus carota L.) seeds were investigated: germination conditions (temperature, oxygen tension), size of seeds, position of the umbels on the mother plants, and pollination conditions of male-sterile plants in hybrid seed production. All seeds tested germinated over a large range of temperatures (5–35°C). However, low temperatures (5–10°C) and temperatures above 30°C reduced germination. Seeds were also sensitive to oxygen deprivation, but their sensitivity to hypoxia depended on the cultivar. The germination responses of seeds to temperature and oxygen depended on their size, particularly at sub- and supra-optimal temperatures. The largest seeds (1.8–2.1 mm) of commercial lots usually germinated better at 5°C and were more sensitive to oxygen deprivation than the smallest ones (1.2–1.8 mm). Experiments performed with open pollinated plants showed that seeds produced by umbels of first and second orders germinated faster and at higher percentages than those collected on third-order umbels. Evidence for the involvement of pollination conditions in the germination quality of carrot seeds was given by pollination by honey bees of male-sterile plants cultivated at various distances from the pollen donors. The longer the distance of the mother plants from the pollinating plants, the lower the seed yield, the heavier the mean seed weight, the more difficult the germination of seeds, and the higher their sensitivity to oxygen deprivation.

We use High Resolution Electron Microscopy (HRTEM) together with Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy (EELS) to analyze the crystallography and the chemical configuration of interfaces in a state-of-the-art La2/3Sr1/3MnO3/SrTiO3/La2/3Sr1/3MnO3 tunnel junction. EELS indicates that manganese ions keep their bulk valency up to the last atomic plane in contact with the insulator. Tunnel magnetoresistance however decreases with temperature faster than magnetisation in these samples. Quantitative HRTEM reveals some local departures from chemical abruptness at the interfaces, which could play a role in this decrease.

A time-resolved X-ray conversion efficiency campaign was conducted at CEA/Limeil–Valenton on the PHEBUS laser, with Au planar targets. The calibrated diagnostic DEMIXART has measured X-ray emissions driven by shaped laser pulses. The results have been analyzed with the “physicist” 1D1/2 hydrodynamical code CHIVAS, where improved transport coefficients have been implemented. The influence of the degeneracy and solid/liquid corrections on various parameters is shown. Other significant effects due to focal spot shapes and lateral conduction are quantified with the FCI2 hydroradiative code of CEA/DRIF.

The local critical current (Ic) at 77 K measured at the mm scale in a 60 mm long sample of YBa2Cu3O7−δ prepared by a melting zone process is correlated to the microstructure. Lower values of Ic (<20 A) were obtained in a part of the sample which optical microscope examination showed to be generally polycrystalline. In contrast, the rest of the sample, consisting mostly of large textured domains, gave values for Ic of 120 A and above. Transmission electron microscope observations revealed that the textured domains contain internal boundaries. Depending on the scale of observation, the misorientation angles across the boundaries could vary from a few tenths of a degree up to a few degrees. This seems characteristic for boundaries in textured material which allow strong coupling of the superconducting current across themselves.

Cette étude a pour buts de valider la structure factorielle de l'échelle Fard en confirmant la présence des pôles somatique, relationnel, cognitif et de vigilance ainsi que de tester la pertinence du nombre de degrés utilisés pour chacun des items de même que le codage choisi pour ceux-ci. Ces buts ont été atteints grâce à une étude de phase IV du prazepam qui avait rassemblé un échantillon de 2 420 patients répondant au diagnostic d'anxiété généralisée selon le DSM III. Ces cas ont ensuite été séparés en différents groupes typologiques. Quatre sous-groupes caractérisés par trois des quatre pôles factoriels ainsi que par l'élévation générale du profil initial ont ainsi été mis en évidence. Trois sous-groupes apparaissent où prédomine un seul pôle (vigilance, relationnel ou cognitif) alors que le quatrième est marqué par un profil général élevé.

Les propriétés psychostimulantes de trois doses (25, 50 et 75 mg) d’un agoniste partiel des benzodiazépines, la pipequaline (PK-8165, figure 1), ont été comparées à celles mesuràes sous placebo chez 18 volontaires sains.

Les mesures réalisées avant la prise, 2, 5 et 7 heures après la prise, comprenaient une batterie d’échelles visuelles analogiques (tableau 1) ainsi que 4 tests informatisés (discrimination visuelle, “visual scanning”, temps de réaction en champ central et latéral, “digit/digit”).

Les données analysées par analyse de variance à mesures répétées montrent que la pipequaline ne possède pas, aux doses utilisées, d’effet sédatif et que, en général, la dose la plus faible induit une diminution des temps de réaction et une augmentation de la capacité d’attention (figures 4 à 6). Quant aux lignes d’auto-évaluation, les sujets se sentent plus éveillés, plus calmes, l’esprit plus clair, plus adroits, plus énergiques, plus attentifs, plus intéressés et plus réservés, en général sous 25 mg (figures 2 et 3).

Ces résultats confirment ceux déjà observés dans une étude précédente et montrent, de surcroît, la sensibilité et le pouvoir de discrimination des méthodes utilisées.

Cette étude suggère que de faibles doses de pipequaline méritent d’être testées en clinique particulièrement dans une symptomatologie asthénique et, sous toute réserve, dans une symptomatologie anxieuse.

In the past three or four years a great deal of attention has been given to the interpretation of the solar UV continuum. Several sets of intensity and limb-darkening measurements made from satellite, rocket and balloon borne instruments are now available, which allow comparisons to be made with theoretical computations. The main purpose of this paper is to discuss these comparisons, we restrict this discussion to the wavelength region between 3000 Å and 1680 Å, in which a significant difference between the observations and the computations still exists. The lines in this wavelength region which are of relevance to the continuum opacity are listed as follows:

the Ly-α line of neutral hydrogen at 1216 Å which appears as a strong emission line;

the resonance doublet of Mgװ at 2795 Å and 2803 Å which causes a broad depression in the solar continuum and shows an emission core similar in shape to the Ly-α line;

the auto-ionization doublet of AlI at 1932 Å and 1936 Å, which appears as two broad absorption features;

several absorption lines such as Mgi 2852 Å Sii 2881 Å;

many FeI and FeII absorption lines.

There are also several discontinuities in the continuum emitted between the lines in the spectrum between 1216 Å and 3000 Å. The most important ones are located at 2500 Å, 2085 Å and 1680 Å, which correspond to the photoionization edges of MgI, AlI and SiI respectively.