Fate and effects of Camembert cheese micro-organisms in the human colonic microbiota of healthy volunteers after regular Camembert consumption

The objective of this study was to determine i) if Camembert cheese micro-organisms could be detected in fecal samples after regular consumption by human subjects and ii) the consequence of this consumption on global metabolic activities of the host colonic microbiota. An open human protocol was designed where 12 healthy volunteers were included: a 2-week period of fermented products exclusion followed by a 4-weeks Camembert ingestion period where 2x40 g/day of Camembert cheese was consumed. Stools were collected from the volunteers before consumption, twice during the ingestion period (2nd and 4th week) and once after a wash out period of 2 weeks. During the consumption of Camembert cheese, high levels of Lactococcus lactis and Leuconostoc mesenteroides were measured in fecal samples using real-time quantitative PCR, reaching median values of 8.2 and 7.5 Log(10) genome equivalents/g of stool. For Ln. mesenteroides, persistence was observed 15 days after the end of Camembert consumption. The survival of Geotrichum candidum was also assessed and the fecal concentration reached a median level of 7.1 Log(10) CFU/g in stools. Except a decreasing trend of the nitrate reductase activity, no significant modification was shown in the metabolic activities during this study.     

Indoor boundary layer chemistry modeling

Ozone (O₃) chemistry is thought to dominate the oxidation of indoor surfaces. We consider the hypothesis that reactions taking place within indoor boundary layers result in greater than anticipated hydroxyl radical (OH) deposition rates. We develop models that account for boundary layer mass‐transfer phenomena, O₃‐terpene chemistry and OH formation, removal, and deposition; we solve these analytically and by applying numerical methods. For an O₃‐limonene system, we find that OH flux to a surface with an O₃ reaction probability of 10^?8 is 4.3 × 10^?5 molec/(cm² s) which is about 10 times greater than predicted by a traditional boundary layer theory. At very low air exchange rates the OH surface flux can be as much as 10% of that for O₃. This effect becomes less pronounced for more O₃‐reactive surfaces. Turbulence intensity does not strongly influence the OH concentration gradient except for surfaces with an O₃ reaction probability >10^?4. Although the O₃ flux dominates OH flux under most conditions, OH flux can be responsible for as much as 10% of total oxidant uptake to otherwise low‐reactivity surfaces. Further, OH chemistry differs from that for ozone; therefore, its deposition is important in understanding the chemical evolution of some indoor surfaces and surface films.     

Role network measures to assess healthcare team adaptation to complex situations: the case of venous thromboembolism prophylaxis

Hospitals are complex environments that rely on clinicians working together to provide appropriate care to patients. These clinical teams adapt their interactions to meet changing situational needs. Venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis is a complex process that occurs throughout a patient’s hospitalisation, presenting five stages with different levels of complexity: admission, interruption, re-initiation, initiation, and transfer. The objective of our study is to understand how the VTE prophylaxis team adapts as the complexity in the process changes; we do this by using social network analysis (SNA) measures. We interviewed 45 clinicians representing 9 different cases, creating 43 role networks. The role networks were analysed using SNA measures to understand team changes between low and high complexity stages. When comparing low and high complexity stages, we found two team adaptation mechanisms: (1) relative increase in the number of people, team activities, and interactions within the team, or (2) relative increase in discussion among the team, reflected by an increase in reciprocity.

 

Practitioner Summary: The reason for this study was to quantify team adaptation to complexity in a process using social network analysis (SNA). The VTE prophylaxis team adapted to complexity by two different mechanisms, by increasing the roles, activities, and interactions among the team or by increasing the two-way communication and discussion throughout the team. We demonstrated the ability for SNA to identify adaptation within a team.     

Determining the Characteristics of Cosmic-Radiation Nuclei in the Sileye Experiment on Board the Mir Orbital Station

An algorithm for reconstructing the characteristics (charge, mass, and energy) of cosmic-radiation nuclei with 20- to 200-MeV/nucleon energies is described. The detector is a telescope of three two-coordinate planes with two 1-mm-thick iron filters inserted between them. Each plane is composed of two strip silicon detectors with 3.6-mm-wide orthogonally oriented strips, an effective area of 6 × 6 cm², and a thickness of 380 m. The algorithm for reconstructing the nuclei characteristics is based on the analysis of how the specific ionization losses change as the nuclei pass through the filter material. The results of the Monte Carlo simulation are presented for the energy dependence of the telescope acceptance and the energy deposited in the detectors by different nuclei in view of the detector calibration on the nuclear beams of the accelerator. The mass resolution of the telescope is 30, 12, and 5% for He, N, and Al nuclei, respectively. The energy resolution, which is 20%, is much the same for all nuclei.     

Reservoir Management Using a Network Flow Optimization Model Considering Quadratic Convex Cost Functions on Arcs

The allocation of water resources between different users is a hard task for water managers because they must deal with conflicting objectives. The main objective is to obtain the most accurate distribution of the resource and the associated circulating flows through the system. This induces the need for a river basin optimization model that provides optimized results. This article presents a network flow optimization model to solve the water allocation problem in water resource systems. Managing a water system consists in providing water in the right proportion, at the right place and at the right time. Time expanded network allows to take into consideration the temporal dimension in the decision making. Since linear cost functions on arcs present many limitations and are not realistic, quadratic convex cost functions on arcs are considered here. The optimization algorithm developed herein extend the cycle canceling algorithm developed for linear cost functions. The methodology is applied to manage the three reservoirs of La Haute-Vilaine’s watershed located in the north west of France to protect a three vulnerable areas from flooding. The results obtained with the algorithm are compared to a reference scenario which consists in considering reservoirs transparent. The results show that the algorithm succeeds in managing the reservoir releases efficiently and keeps the flow rates below the vigilance flow in the vulnerable areas.     

Modelling the Performance of Single-Photon Counting Kinetic Inductance Detectors

We present the first published results of near-infrared single-photon detection in aluminium lumped element kinetic inductance detectors (LEKIDs). Using aluminium as a well-understood material that follows conventional superconductor theory, we discuss and validate a model that describes the energy-resolving performance of a LEKID to single-photon absorption events. We also discuss data analysis techniques used to extract single-photon detections from noisy data. We measure an energy resolution of 662 meV for a 1550 nm photon source which is in close agreement to our model predictions for this non-optimised device limited by generation–recombination noise.     

Synthesis of alkyloxy (di)alkylamino propanols, hydroxy alkyloxy (di)alkylamino propanols, and the dimer compounds for use as fuel additives

Alkyl glycidyl ethers and bis glycidyl ethers, synthesized in a heterogeneous weakly hydrous medium, were condensed with primary or secondary amines to obtain 3-alkyloxy propanolamines or bis alkyloxy propanolamines in a regioselective manner. The compounds were characterized by conventional spectroscopic methods, and complete nuclear magnetic resonance data are given. Their high-temperature stability, their good emulsifying power, their oxidation, and corrosion inhibition make these compounds suitable for solubilizing ethanol-diesel fuel blends.     

Cloud condensation nuclei from the activation with ozone of soot particles sampled from a kerosene diffusion flame

Due to the exponential increase in aircraft traffic in recent decades, the role of soot particles emitted by aircraft engines on the radiative forcing needs to be addressed, and especially their interaction with clouds has to be better understood and quantified. In this work, we investigate the hygroscopic properties of fresh and aged soot sampled on line in a kerosene flame. The activated fraction (F_a) of size selected soot is measured by means of a variable supersaturation condensation nucleus counter at several heights above the burner (HAB), thereby probing soot particles with different residence times in the flame, i.e., different degrees of maturity. In order to simulate atmospheric aging, the activity of soot as cloud condensation nuclei is measured as a function of ozone exposure. We show that fresh soot is hydrophobic (F_a～0), while F_a increases when soot is exposed to ozone. The measurements depend on the HAB at which soot particles are sampled showing that activation of soot particles is related to their chemical composition. This study brings new results on the link between atmospheric aging of soot and its hygroscopic properties, which is of great interest for understanding the role of soot in the cloud formation.

Copyright © 2018 American Association for Aerosol Research     

Wide varieties of cationic nanoparticles induce defects in supported lipid bilayers

Nanoparticles with widely varying physical properties and origins (spherical versus irregular, synthetic versus biological, organic versus inorganic, flexible versus rigid, small versus large) have been previously noted to translocate across the cell plasma membrane. We have employed atomic force microscopy to determine if the physical disruption of lipid membranes, formation of holes and/or thinned regions, is a common mechanism of interaction between these nanoparticles and lipids. It was found that a wide variety of nanoparticles, including a cell penetrating peptide (MSI-78), a protein (TAT), polycationic polymers (PAMAM dendrimers, pentanol-core PAMAM dendrons, polyethyleneimine, and diethylaminoethyl-dextran), and two inorganic particles (Au-NH2, SiO2-NH2), can induce disruption, including the formation of holes, membrane thinning, and/or membrane erosion, in supported lipid bilayers.     

Carbon nanotubes in macrophages: imaging and chemical analysis by X-ray fluorescence microscopy

X-ray fluorescence microscopy (microXRF) is applied for the first time to study macrophages exposed to unpurified and purified single-walled (SW) and multiwalled (MW) carbon nanotubes (CNT). Investigating chemical elemental distributions allows one to (i) image nanotube localization within a cell and (ii) detect chemical modification of the cell after CNT internalization. An excess of calcium is detected for cells exposed to unpurified SWCNT and MWCNT and related toxicological assays are discussed.