The effect of laser radiations on human ceruloplasmin. Absorption, circular dichroism and electron paramagnetic resonance study.

Laser radiations at wavelengths ranging from 514.5 to 360.0 nm decolorize human ceruloplasmin. Kinetic behavior of the two chromophores absorbing at 610 nm, as measured by absorption and circular dichroism data, indicate different quantum yields of the two type I copper ions, whose maximum lies approximatively at 400 nm. Furthermore, as Electron Paramagnetic Resonance measurements demonstrate, the photochemical process involves reduction of the two type I copper ions leaving type II copper unchanged.     

Notes on reptiles of Tunesia. VI. Morphological and ecological differences between the members of the genera Tropiocolotes Peters, 1880 and Stenodactylus Fitzinger, 1826

The distribution area, the nature of the biotopes and the morphological and biometrical features of three species of Gekkonidae without adhesive pads: Tropiocolotes t. tripolitanus Peters, 1880; Stenodactylus stenodactylus Guichenot, 1850 et Stenodactylus petriei Anderson, 1896 are reported. Their differences are analysed together with their ecological specialization.     

Genetic Diversity and Ecological Success of Staphylococcus aureus Strains Colonizing Humans

The genetic determinants and phenotypic traits which make a Staphylococcus aureus strain a successful colonizer are largely unknown. The genetic diversity and population structure of 133 S. aureus isolates from healthy, generally risk-free adult carriers were investigated using four different typing methods: multilocus sequence typing (MLST), amplified fragment length polymorphism analysis (AFLP), double-locus sequence typing (DLST), and spa typing were compared. Carriage isolates displayed great genetic diversity which could only be revealed fully by DLST. Results of AFLP and MLST were highly concordant in the delineation of genotypic clusters of closely related isolates, roughly equivalent to clonal complexes. spa typing and DLST provided considerably less phylogenetic information. The resolution of spa typing was similar to that of AFLP and inferior to that of DLST. AFLP proved to be the most universal method, combining a phylogeny-building capacity similar to that of MLST with a much higher resolution. However, it had a lower reproducibility than sequencing-based MLST, DLST, and spa typing. We found two cases of methicillin-resistant S. aureus colonization, both of which were most likely associated with employment at a health service. Of 21 genotypic clusters detected, 2 were most prevalent: cluster 45 and cluster 30 each colonized 24% of the carrier population. The number of bacteria found in nasal samples varied significantly among the clusters, but the most prevalent clusters were not particularly numerous in the nasal samples. We did not find much evidence that genotypic clusters were associated with different carrier characteristics, such as age, sex, medical conditions, or antibiotic use. This may provide empirical support for the idea that genetic clusters in bacteria are maintained in the absence of adaptation to different niches. Alternatively, carrier characteristics other than those evaluated here or factors other than human hosts may exert selective pressure maintaining genotypic clusters.     

Sex-ratio of Skylark Alauda arvensis broods in relation to timing of breeding

Capsule Earlier broods tend to be more male biased than later broods     

A Sero-epidemiological Study of Arboviral Fevers in Djibouti,Horn of Africa

Arboviral infections have repeatedly been reported in the republic of Djibouti, consistent with the fact that essential vectors for arboviral diseases are endemic in the region. However, there is a limited recent information regarding arbovirus circulation, and the associated risk predictors to human exposure are largely unknown. We performed, from November 2010 to February 2011 in the Djibouti city general population, a cross-sectional ELISA and sero-neutralisation-based sero-epidemiological analysis nested in a household cohort, which investigated the arboviral infection prevalence and risk factors, stratified by their vectors of transmission. Antibodies to dengue virus (21.8%) were the most frequent. Determinants of infection identified by multivariate analysis pointed to sociological and environmental exposure to the bite of Aedes mosquitoes. The population was broadly naïve against Chikungunya (2.6%) with risk factors mostly shared with dengue. The detection of limited virus circulation was followed by a significant Chikungunya outbreak a few months after our study. Antibodies to West Nile virus were infrequent (0.6%), but the distribution of cases faithfully followed previous mapping of infected Culex mosquitoes. The seroprevalence of Rift valley fever virus was 2.2%, and non-arboviral transmission was suggested. Finally, the study indicated the circulation of Toscana-related viruses (3.7%), and a limited number of cases suggested infection by tick-borne encephalitis or Alkhumra related viruses, which deserve further investigations to identify the viruses and vectors implicated. Overall, most of the arboviral cases'' predictors were statistically best described by the individuals'' housing space and neighborhood environmental characteristics, which correlated with the ecological actors of their respective transmission vectors'' survival in the local niche. This study has demonstrated autochthonous arboviral circulations in the republic of Djibouti, and provides an epidemiological inventory, with useful findings for risk mapping and future prevention and control programs.     

A Neurosecretory Phenomenon in Some Cerebral Nervous Cells of the Land Snail

Some cerebral neurosecretory cells of the land snail Helix aspersa maxima have been studied using light microscopy combined with image analysis. The amount of neurosecretion varies during the course of the day, displaying a peak at 22:00 GMT. This peak is in phasis with the maxima of the locomotor and food-intake activities recorded by means of a video apparatus.     

A Neurosecretory Phenomenon in Some Cerebral Nervous Cells of the Land Snail Helix aspersa maxima (Mollusca,Gastropoda), and Its Relationship to Circadian Locomotor and Food-Intake Activities

Some cerebral neurosecretory cells of the land snail Helix aspersa maxima have been studied using light microscopy combined with image analysis. The amount of neurosecretion varies during the course of the day, displaying a peak at 22:00 GMT. This peak is in phasis with the maxima of the locomotor and food-intake activities recorded by means of a video apparatus.