Monitoring Cognitive and Emotional Processes Through Pupil and Cardiac Response During Dynamic Versus Logical Task

The paper deals with the links between physiological measurements and cognitive and emotional functioning. As long as the operator is a key agent in charge of complex systems, the definition of metrics able to predict his performance is a great challenge. The measurement of the physiological state is a very promising way but a very acute comprehension is required; in particular few studies compare autonomous nervous system reactivity according to specific cognitive processes during task performance and task related psychological stress is often ignored. We compared physiological parameters recorded on 24 healthy subjects facing two neuropsychological tasks: a dynamic task that require problem solving in a world that continually evolves over time and a logical task representative of cognitive processes performed by operators facing everyday problem solving. Results showed that the mean pupil diameter change was higher during the dynamic task; conversely, the heart rate was more elevated during the logical task. Finally, the systolic blood pressure seemed to be strongly sensitive to psychological stress. A better taking into account of the precise influence of a given cognitive activity and both workload and related task-induced psychological stress during task performance is a promising way to better monitor operators in complex working situations to detect mental overload or pejorative stress factor of error.     

The distribution of hydroxycinnamic acid amides in flowering plants

Hydroxycinnamic acid amides have been identified as the main phenolic constituents in the reproductive organs of a range of flowering plants.     

Large-scale patterns of river inputs in southwestern Europe: seasonal and interannual variations and potential eutrophication effects at the coastal zone

We provide data on nutrient export for 28 rivers in southwestern Europe and analyze long-term changes in the context of anthropogenic pressures and regulation policies. Special attention is given to seasonal variations, because the integrated annual values that are usually provided do not allow us to establish comparisons with seasonal phytoplankton dynamics. The eutrophication risk associated with river inputs is addressed by means of an indicator (Index of Coastal Eutrophication Potential, ICEP, Billen and Garnier, Mar Chem 106:148–160, 2007). An overview of the temporal evolution and the intra-annual variability of the ICEP is discussed for specific rivers and integrated coastal regions. The annual dynamics of the eutrophication indicator is analyzed to delimit those periods when the risk of eutrophication is particularly high. The trends in nutrient fluxes and coastal phytoplankton are compared by means of a case study (Seine Bay). The decrease in phosphorus matches a general decrease in phytoplankton biomass in the summer. However, sustained high values of nitrogen still foster the emergence of harmful algal blooms, and we found an increase in the summer abundance of dinoflagellates. The abatement of phosphorus alone is not enough to shortcut harmful blooms and toxic outbreaks in the Seine Bay. A reduction in nitrogen inputs may be necessary to effectively minimize eutrophication problems.     

Sulfato/thiosulfato reducing bacteria characterization by FT-IR spectroscopy: a new approach to biocorrosion control

Sulfato and Thiosulfato Reducing Bacteria (SRB, TRB) can induce corrosion process on steel immersed in seawater. This phenomenon, called biocorrosion, costs approximatively 5 billion euros in France each year. We provide the first evidence that Fourier Transformed InfraRed (FTIR) spectroscopy is a competitive technique to evaluate the sulfurogen flora involved in biocorrosion in comparison with time consuming classical identification methods or PCR analyses. A great discrimination was obtained between SRB, TRB and some contamination bacteria known to be present in seawater and seem to be able to reduce sulfate under particular conditions. Moreover, this preliminary study demonstrates that FTIR spectroscopic and genotypic results present a good correlation (these results are confirmed by other data obtained before or later, data not shown here). The advantages gained by FTIR spectroscopy are to give information on strain phenotype and bacterial metabolism which are of great importance in corrosion processes.     

Comparative evaluation of Strepto B ID chromogenic medium and Granada media for the detection of Group B streptococcus from vaginal samples of pregnant women

Two types of selective media, the chromogenic medium Strepto B ID® and two non-chromogenic media Strepto B agar® and the Granada® medium, were tested and compared to blood agar plates (BAP) for screening of Group B streptococcus vaginal colonization in pregnant women. All tested media were comparable in terms of sensitivity however, their use in routine laboratories may markedly facilitate the rapid detection of GBS in vaginal samples.     

Nitrogen Behaviour and Nitrous Oxide Emission in the Tidal Seine River Estuary (France) as Influenced by Human Activities in the Upstream Watershed

The Seine River estuary (France) is the receptacle of a drainage basin characterised by high population density, heavy industrial activity and intensive agriculture. Whereas nitrate concentrations are high due to diffuse sources in the upstream drainage basin, ammonium mainly originates from the effluents of the Achères wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) downstream from Paris and its suburbs (6.5 million equivalent-inhabitants). Ammonium is mostly nitrified in the tidal freshwater estuary and nitrification causes a strong summer oxygen deficit. Average longitudinal summer profiles of oxygen and nitrogen concentrations for two periods, between 1993–1997 and 1998–2003 in dry hydrological conditions (excluding the wet years 2000 and 2001) clearly reflect the changes due to the improved treatment of wastewater from Paris and its suburbs. On the basis of daily water flux data and twice monthly nitrogen measurements at the boundaries of the upstream freshwater estuarine section (108 km), we calculated nitrification and denitrification fluxes, whose annual averages were 43 and 71 × 10³ kg N d⁻¹ respectively from 1993 to 2003, with summer values (July–September) representing 73 and 57% of the annual fluxes, respectively. The degree of denitrification in the upper estuary appears to be closely related to the nitrification, itself more loosely related to the amount of reduced nitrogen (Kjeldahl) brought by the treated effluents from the Achères WWTP. We estimated the total N₂O emissions to about 40 kg N d⁻¹ (25–60 kg N d⁻¹) in the same sector.     

SIMS microscopy in the biomedical field.

We attempted to indicate the requirements for biomedical applications of SIMS microscopy. Sample preparation methodology should preserve both the structural and the chemical integrity of the tissue. Furthermore, it is often necessary to correlate ionic and light microscope images. This implies a common methodological approach to sample preparation for both microscopes. The use of low or high mass resolution depends on the elements studied and their concentrations. To improve the acquisition and processing of images, digital imaging systems have to be designed and require both ionic and optical image superimposition. However, the images do not accurately reflect element concentration; a relative quantitative approach is possible by measuring secondary ion beam intensity. Using an internal reference element (carbon) and standard curves the results are expressed in micrograms/mg of tissue. Despite their limited lateral resolution (0.5 microns) the actual SIMS microscopes are very suitable for the resolution of biomedical problems posed by action modes and drug localization in human pathology. SIMS microscopy should provide a new tool for metabolic radiotherapy by facilitating dose evaluation. The advent of high lateral resolution SIMS imaging (less than 0.1 microns) should open up new fields in biomedical investigation.