Cellular-resolution in vivo imaging of the feline retina using adaptive optics: preliminary results

Purpose To perform cellular‐level in vivo imaging of the feline retina using an adaptive optics flood illumination fundus camera (AO FIFC) designed for the human eye. Materials and methods Cellular‐level images were obtained from three eyes of two normal sedated cats. Ocular aberrations were corrected using an AO system based on a 52‐acuator electromagnetic deformable mirror and a 1024 lenslet Hartmann–Shack sensor (both Imagine Eyes, Orsay, France). A square 3°×3° area of the ocular fundus was flood‐illuminated by a pulsed LED emitting at 850 nm and imaged onto a low‐noise, high‐resolution CCD camera. The animal’s pupils were dilated and the effective pupil size was set to 7.5 mm. Conjunctival atraumatic clips were used to avoid eyeball movements and eyelid closure. The cornea was artificially hydrated throughout the experiments. Each acquisition consisted of 20 consecutive images, out of which 10 were numerically averaged to produce an enhanced final image. Results The total amount of ocular aberrations was greatly reduced by the AO correction, from 2.4 to 0.21 microns root mean square on average. The resulting images presented white dots distributed at a density similar to that of cone photoreceptors and they allowed us to visualize small blood vessels and nerve fiber bundles at a higher resolution than classically obtained with conventional fundus photography. Conclusion Retinal imaging with cellular resolution was feasible in cats under sedation using an AO FIFC designed for human eyes without any optical modification. The AO FIFC technology could find new applications in clinical, pharmacological, and toxicological investigations.     

Toxic Metal Removal from Polluted Soil by Acid Extraction

Sulfuric acid leaching is a promising technique to extract toxic metals from polluted soils. The objective of this study was to define the optimum sulfuric acid leaching conditions for decontamination of the fine particle fraction (<125???m) of an industrial soil polluted by Cd (16.8?mg?kg^?1), Cu (3,350?mg?kg^?1), Pb (631?mg?kg^?1) and Zn (3,010?mg?kg^?1). Batch leaching tests in Erlenmeyer shake flasks showed that a soil pulp pH between 1.5 and 2.0 using a solid concentration (SC) ranging from 5 to 20?% is adequate to efficiently solubilize toxic metals. Leaching tests performed at different temperatures (20, 40, 60 and 80?°C) also revealed that it is not beneficial to heat the soil suspension during the leaching treatment. The application in a 1-L stirred tank reactor of five consecutive 1-h leaching steps at 10?% SC and ambient temperature, followed by three water washings steps resulted in the following metal extraction yields: 30?% As, 90?% Cd, 43?% Co, 7?% Cr, 88?% Cu, 75?% Mn, 26?% Ni, 18?% Pb and 86?% Zn. The decontaminated soil conformed to Quebec norms for commercial and industrial use of soil.     

Chemical Leaching of Antimony and Other Metals from Small Arms Shooting Range Soil

This paper discusses the effects of breakwaters on the Rimini coastal environment over the last half century. Sediment cores of 50 cm thick were collected in various seasons from 2002 to 2005 and were subsampled at surface and subsurface levels at 20 inshore and offshore stations in order to take account of various freshwater and wastewater inputs. A 240-cm sediment core was collected in the most impacted area in order to reconstruct the evolution of the marine ecosystem since the time of the breakwaters’ construction. Sediment grain size, physico-chemical parameters, nutrients and inorganic and organic contaminants were determined. The breakwaters have stopped coastal erosion but have given rise to a worsening of environmental quality. No impacts were detected outside the breakwaters. The integrated approach, using biogeochemical markers to reconstruct spatial and historical environmental trends within the sheltered area, proved to be very useful in highlighting its capacity for recovery and providing indications for coastal management.     

Matrix configuration and patch isolation influences override the species–area relationship for urban butterfly communities

The aim of this paper is to examine the role of urban public parks in maintaining connectivity and butterfly assemblages. Using a regression framework, we first test the relative importance of park size and isolation in predicting abundance and species richness of butterfly assemblages across a set of 24 public parks within a large metropolitan area, Marseille (South-East France). Then, we focus on landscape features that affect diversity patterns of the recorded butterfly communities. In this second part, the urban landscape surrounding each park is described (within a 1 × 1 km window) according to two major components: vegetated areas (habitat patches) and impervious or built areas (matrix patches). Specifically, we aim to test whether the incorporation of this built component (matrix) in the landscape analysis provides new insights into the understanding of ecological connectivity in the urban environment. We found a significant effect of both matrix configuration (shape complexity of the built patches) and distance from regional species pool (park isolation) on diversity of butterflies that overrides park size in their contribution to variation in species richness. This result suggests that many previous studies of interactions between biodiversity and urban landscape have overlooked the influence of the built elements.     

Masitinib decreases signs of canine atopic dermatitis: a multicentre, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 trial

This study investigated the efficacy and safety of masitinib, a selective tyrosine kinase inhibitor capable of downregulating mast cell functions, for treatment of canine atopic dermatitis (CAD). Dogs with confirmed CAD received masitinib at 12.5 mg/kg/day (n = 202) or control (n = 104) for 12 weeks. A reduction in CAD Extent and Severity Index (CADESI-02) score of ≥ 50% at week 12 was observed in 61% of masitinib-treated dogs versus 35% of control dogs (P < 0.001), according to the modified intent-to-treat population. For dogs resistant to ciclosporin and/or corticosteroids (60% of the study population), CADESI-02 response rates were 60 versus 31%, respectively (P = 0.004). The mean reduction in pruritus score of severely pruritic dogs was 46 versus 29%, respectively (P = 0.045). Furthermore, 65% of owners with severely pruritic dogs assessed masitinib efficacy as good/excellent versus 35% control (P = 0.05). Overall, 63% of investigators assessed masitinib efficacy as good/excellent versus 35% control (P < 0.001). Premature discontinuations from the modified intent-to-treat population (28.2% masitinib versus 26.0% control) were mainly due to adverse events (13.4 versus 4.8%, respectively) or lack of efficacy (12.4 versus 18.3%, respectively). In total, 13.2% dogs presented with severe adverse events (16.0% masitinib versus 7.7% control). Masitinib showed a risk of reversible protein loss, although regular surveillance of blood albumin and proteinuria allowed for discontinuation of treatment while the dog was still clinically asymptomatic. Masitinib proved to be an effective and mostly well-tolerated treatment of CAD, including severe and refractory cases, with medically manageable adverse effects.     

No major schizophrenia locus detected on chromosome 1q in a large multicenter sample

Reports of substantial evidence for genetic linkage of schizophrenia to chromosome 1q were evaluated by genotyping 16 DNA markers across 107 centimorgans of this chromosome in a multicenter sample of 779 informative schizophrenia pedigrees. No significant evidence was observed for such linkage, nor for heterogeneity in allele sharing among the eight individual samples. Separate analyses of European-origin families, recessive models of inheritance, and families with larger numbers of affected cases also failed to produce significant evidence for linkage. If schizophrenia susceptibility genes are present on chromosome 1q, their population-wide genetic effects are likely to be small.     

An engineered pathway for the formation of protein disulfide bonds

We have engineered a pathway for the formation of disulfide bonds. By imposing evolutionary pressure, we isolated mutations that changed thioredoxin, which is a monomeric disulfide reductase, into a [2Fe-2S] bridged dimer capable of catalyzing O2-dependent sulfhydryl oxidation in vitro. Expression of the mutant protein in Escherichia coli with oxidizing cytoplasm and secretion via the Tat pathway restored disulfide bond formation in strains that lacked the complete periplasmic oxidative machinery (DsbA and DsbB). The evolution of [2Fe-2S] thioredoxin illustrates how mutations within an existing scaffold can add a cofactor and markedly change protein function.     

Origin of the color of Cv. rhapsody in blue rose and some other so-called "blue" roses

Flowers of the rose cultivar Rhapsody in Blue display unusual colors, changing as they age, from a vivid red-purple to a lighter and duller purple, which are based on tonalities corresponding to hue angles between 340 and 320 degrees in the CIELAB scale. Unexpectedly, the chemical basis of these colors is among the simplest, featuring cyanin (cyanidin 3,5-di-O-glucoside), the most frequent anthocyanin in flowers, as the sole pigment and quercetin kaempferol glycosides as copigments at a relatively low copigment/pigment ratio (about 3/1), which usually produces magenta or red shades in roses. This color shift to bluer shades is coupled with the progressive accumulation of cyanin into vacuolar anthocyanic inclusions (AVIs), the occurrence of which increases as the petals grow older. In addition to the normal lambda(max) of cyanin at approximately 545 nm, the transmission spectra of live petals and of epidermal cells exhibit a second lambda(max) in the 620-625 nm range, the relative importance increasing with the presence of AVIs. In petals of fully opened flowers, the only pigmented structures in the vacuoles of epidermal cells are AVIs; their intense and massive absorption in the 520-640 nm area produces a much darker and bluer color than measured for the vacuolar solution present at the very first opening stage. Cyanin is probably "trapped" into AVIs at higher concentrations than would be possible in a vacuolar solution and in quinonoidal form, appearing purple-blue because of additional absorption in the 580-630 nm area. Quite similar pigmentation features were found in very ancient rose cultivars (cv. L'Evêque or Bleu Magenta), also displaying this type of so-called "blue" color.     

Chemical and sensorial aroma characterization of freshly distilled Calvados. 2. Identification of volatile compounds and key odorants

Eight samples of freshly distilled Calvados were extracted using pentane. Gas chromatography with either a mass spectrometer or flame ionization detector was used to determine the volatile compounds composition of the extracts. More than 120 molecules were identified in Calvados and then correlated with results obtained by olfactometric analysis in our earlier work [Guichard, H.; Lemesle, S.; Ledauphin, J.; Barillier, D.; Picoche, B. Chemical and Sensorial Aroma Characterization of Freshly Distilled Calvados. 1. Evaluation of Quality and Defects on the Basis of Key Odorants by Olfactometry and Sensory Analysis. J. Agric. Food Chem. 2002, 50, 424-432 (preceding paper in this issue)]. Of these, 16 of the 19 molecules that constitute the "aroma skeleton" were identified, including 5 esters, 2 ketones, 5 phenolic derivatives, 2 alcohols, and 2 carboxylic acids. Numerous compounds were also associated with odors found in part 1. These molecules can be considered as being responsible for the good quality of Calvados or, in contrast, for defects. Relative levels of some major olfactive compounds were also estimated and tentatively compared with olfactometric indices found in part 1. A good correlation was found in many cases. Two important markers of defects in Calvados were also identified. 3-Methylbut-2-en-1-ol leads to an "herbaceous" defect, and 1,1,3-triethoxypropane seems to give an "acrolein" defect in the product. "Floral" notes of the aroma of freshly distilled Calvados seem to be due to the presence of phenolic derivatives such as 2-phenylethanol and 2-phenylethyl acetate. Low-molecular-weight esters such as ethyl 2-methylpropanoate, ethyl 2-methylbutanoate, and 3-methylbutyl acetate give, in general, the "fruity" notes. However, the overall aroma of Calvados seems likely to be a subtle balance of various functionalized compounds.     

Use of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) as a new technique for detection of adulteration in honeys. 1. Study of adulteration effect on honey thermal behavior.

Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was used to study the thermal behavior of authentic honeys (Lavandula, Robinia, and Fir honeys) and industrial sugar syrups. Thermal or thermochemical parameters such as the glass transition temperature (Tg), enthalpies of fusion (DeltaH(fus)), and heat capacity variation (DeltaC(p)) were measured. The syrups and honeys showed significant differences in thermal phenomena, as well as in their amplitude and position on the temperature scale. Results showed good reproducibility of the method for all samples studied. The effect of adulteration of honey with different amounts of syrup (5, 10, 20, 40, and 60%) was investigated. A linear relationship was found between the percentage of added syrup and the glass transition temperature. A similar relationship was obtained from the enthalpy of fusion results in the temperature range of 40-90 degrees C. Under applied conditions, the effects of adulteration of honeys by industrial syrups appeared to be detectable from a level as low as 5%.