Triggering and modulation of the host-parasite interplay by Echinococcus multilocularis: a review

As more facts emerge regarding the ways in which E. multilocularis-derived molecules trigger the host immune response and modulate the host-parasite interplay, it becomes possible to envisage how the parasite can survive and proliferate in its intermediate host, while in other hosts it dies out. Through effects on cells of both the innate and adaptive arms of the immune response, E. multilocularis can orchestrate a range of outcomes that are beneficial not only to the parasite, in terms of facilitating its intrahepatic proliferation and maturation, and thus life cycle over all, but also to its intermediate host, in limiting pathology. The present review deals with the role of metacestode surface molecules as well as excretory/secretory (E/S) metabolic products of the parasite in the modulation of the host responses such as to optimize its own surviva

Commercial window glass tested as possible high dose dosimeter. Electron and gamma irradiation

The use of commercial window glass as possible high dose routine dosimeter has been investigated. Glass samples have been irradiated with doses in the range of 1-50 kGy using 60Co γ source, 4 MeV and 12 MeV electron accelerators. The samples were given a post irradiation thermal treatment (150 oC for 20 min) in order to improve the post irradiation stability of the measured specific optical absorbance, since a rapid fading of the optical absorbance has been observed at room temperature immediately after irradiation. The optical absorbance measurements of the irradiated samples, kept in the dark and at room temperature, were carried on for several weeks. The samples submitted to heat treatment showed a decrease of about 10-15% of the specific optical absorbance that became much less pronounced after 10 days from the irradiation. The response of the window glass plates is energy and dose rate dependent. This study shows the feasibility of using commercial window glass as a routine dosimeter in a certain dose range after proper calibration in the irradiation plant where they are going to be used

Absorption line shape recovery beyond the detection bandwidth limit: application to the precision spectroscopic measurement of the Boltzmann constant

22 pagesInternational audienceA theoretical model of the influence of detection bandwidth properties on observed line shapes in laser absorption spectroscopy is described. The model predicts artificial frequency shifts, extra broadenings and line asymmetries which must be taken into account in order to obtain accurate central frequencies and other spectroscopic parameters. This reveals sources of systematic effects most probably underestimated so far potentially affecting spectroscopic measurements. This may impact many fields of research, from atmospheric and interstellar physics to precision spectroscopic measurements devoted to metrological applications, tests of quantum electrodynamics or other fundamental laws of nature. Our theoretical model is validated by linear absorption experiments performed on H2O and NH3 molecular lines recorded by precision laser spectroscopy in two distinct spectral regions, near- and mid-infrared. Possible means of recovering original line shape parameters or experimental conditions under which the detection bandwidth has a negligible impact, given a targeted accuracy, are proposed. Particular emphasis is put on the detection bandwidth adjustments required to use such high-quality molecular spectra for a spectroscopic determination of the Boltzmann constant at the 1 ppm level of accuracy

Environmental variables, habitat discontinuity and life history shaping the genetic structure of Pomatoschistus marmoratus

Coastal lagoons are semi-isolated ecosystems exposed to wide fluctuations of environmental conditions and showing habitat fragmentation. These features may play an important role in separating species into different populations, even at small spatial scales. In this study, we evaluate the concordance between mitochondrial (previous published data) and nuclear data analyzing the genetic variability of Pomatoschistus marmoratus in five localities, inside and outside the Mar Menor coastal lagoon (SE Spain) using eight microsatellites. High genetic diversity and similar levels of allele richness were observed across all loci and localities, although significant genic and genotypic differentiation was found between populations inside and outside the lagoon. In contrast to the FST values obtained from previous mitochondrial DNA analyses (control region), the microsatellite data exhibited significant differentiation among samples inside the Mar Menor and between lagoonal and marine samples. This pattern was corroborated using Cavalli-Sforza genetic distances. The habitat fragmentation inside the coastal lagoon and among lagoon and marine localities could be acting as a barrier to gene flow and contributing to the observed genetic structure. Our results from generalized additive models point a significant link between extreme lagoonal environmental conditions (mainly maximum salinity) and P. marmoratus genetic composition. Thereby, these environmental features could be also acting on genetic structure of coastal lagoon populations of P. marmoratus favoring their genetic divergence. The mating strategy of P. marmoratus could be also influencing our results obtained from mitochondrial and nuclear DNA. Therefore, a special consideration must be done in the selection of the DNA markers depending on the reproductive strategy of the species

Seasonal and regional occurrence of heat-resistant spore-forming bacteria in the course of ultra-high temperature milk production in Tunisia

International audienceSpore-forming bacteria, principally Bacillus species, are important contaminants of milk. Because of their high heat resistance, Bacillus species spores are capable of surviving the heat treatment process of milk and lead to spoilage of the final product. To determine the factors influencing the contamination of milk, spore-forming bacteria occurrence throughout the UHT milk production line during winter, spring, and summer was studied. The obtained results confirm that the total viable rate decreases rapidly throughout the production line of UHT milk showing the efficiency of thermal treatments used. However, the persistent high rate of spore-forming bacteria indicates their high heat resistance , especially in spring and summer. In addition, a significant variation of the quality of raw milk according to the location of the collecting centers was revealed. The molecular identification showed a high degree of diversity of heat-resistant Bacillus species, which are isolated from different milk samples. The distribution of Bacillus species in raw milk, stored milk, bactofuged milk, pasteurized milk, and UHT milk were 28, 10, 16, 13, and 33%, respectively. Six Bacillus spp. including Bacillus licheniformis (52.38%), Bacillus pumilus (9.52%), Bacillus sp. (4.76%), Bacillus sporothermodurans (4.76%), Terribacillus aidingensis (4.76%), and Paenibacillus sp. (4.76%) were identified in different milk samples

Radiation heat transfer effect in solid oxide fuel cell: Application of the Lattice Boltzmann Method

the radiation effect within the solid anode, electrolyte, and cathode SOFC layers problem has been investigated in this paper. Energy equation is solved by the Lattice Boltzmann method (LBM). The Rosseland method is used to model the radiative transfer in the electrodes. The Schuster-Schwarzschild method is used to model the radiative transfer in the electrolyte. Without radiatve effect, the found results are in good agreement with those published. The obtained results show that the radiative effect can be neglected

A New Algorithm For Solving Isothermal Carbonization Of Wood Particle

A new algorithm based on the lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) is proposed as a potential solver for one-dimensional heat and mass transfer for isothermal carbonization of thick wood particles. To check the validity of this algorithm, computational results have been compared with the published data and a good agreement is obtained. Then, the model is used to study the effect of reactor temperature and particle size on the evolution of the local temperature and mass loss inside the wood particle

Characterization of Vortex Development and Thermo-Solutal Transfers on Confined Wall Jets Submitted to Suction or Blowing: Part 2

A computational study is conducted to explore the effect of vertical wall suction or blowing on two-dimensional confined wall jet hydrodynamic characteristics. Using an implicit finite volume technique in Cartesian coordinate system, several parameters have been investigated for a wide range of Lewis numbers by fixing the Prandtl number at 7 that corresponds to water. The main purpose is to analyze the control size and location effectiveness on the flow pattern as well as heat and mass transfer rates. Detailed numerical simulations demonstrated that as the local blowing is moved downstream, discrete vortex formation begins at a critical location then shedding phenomenon occurs behind the slot at advanced positions. Since the flow dynamic structure is mainly altered, averages skin friction and thermo-solutal coefficients distributions are largely influenced. Approximately for x_s≤4 (upstream of the natural vortex emission position), Nusselt and Sherwood numbers slightly increase with the control location x_s. However, they gradually decrease as the blowing slot approaches the domain exit. Optimum values were obtained when locating the slot just downstream of the uncontrolled Kelvin-Helmholtz instability onset. Furthermore, computations illustrated that an appropriate suction slot length selection could be a simple and efficient tool to delay or even suppress natural structure emission and development. This choice is essentially related to the recirculation cell size