Illustrations cliniques en cardiologie

The examples and clinical cases presented in this section are not intended to be considered as absolute models in terms of image quality or device parameter settings. They must initiate an individual analysis according to CT parameters and image quality. Nevertheless, they present practically different CT levels which can be used according to the clinical context and the type of device.     

Entrapment Bias of Arthropods in Miocene Amber Revealed by Trapping Experiments in a Tropical Forest in Chiapas,Mexico

All entomological traps have a capturing bias, and amber, viewed as a trap, is no exception. Thus the fauna trapped in amber does not represent the total existing fauna of the former amber forest, rather the fauna living in and around the resin producing tree. In this paper we compare arthropods from a forest very similar to the reconstruction of the Miocene Mexican amber forest, and determine the bias of different trapping methods, including amber. We also show, using cluster analyses, measurements of the trapped arthropods, and guild distribution, that the amber trap is a complex entomological trap not comparable with a single artificial trap. At the order level, the most similar trap to amber is the sticky trap. However, in the case of Diptera, at the family level, the Malaise trap is also very similar to amber. Amber captured a higher diversity of arthropods than each of the artificial traps, based on our study of Mexican amber from the Middle Miocene, a time of climate optimum, where temperature and humidity were probably higher than in modern Central America. We conclude that the size bias is qualitatively independent of the kind of trap for non–extreme values. We suggest that frequent specimens in amber were not necessarily the most frequent arthropods in the former amber forest. Selected taxa with higher numbers of specimens appear in amber because of their ecology and behavior, usually closely related with a tree–inhabiting life. Finally, changes of diversity from the Middle Miocene to Recent time in Central and South America can be analyzed by comparing the rich amber faunas from Mexico and the Dominican Republic with the fauna trapped using sticky and Malaise traps in Central America.     

Variability in host plant resistance of Sorghum to Striga Hermonthica infestation in West Africa

Fourteen elite sorghum lines were evaluated for their resistance to Striga hermonthica at three locations in Nigeria and Mali. Results showed that many of the lines especially MALISOR 84-1, SAMSORG 41, 97-SB-F5DT-64 (Keninkédié) and the check SRN 39 remained resistant to Striga in all locations with low emerged Striga counts, while SAMSORG 14 had the highest Striga infestation in all locations. Considerable variation in reaction to Striga infestation was observed on Séguètana, 97-SB-F5DT-63 (Wasa), 97-SB-F5DT-65, CMDT 38, CMDT 39 and CMDT 45 which were susceptible to Striga at Samaru, Nigeria but were resistant to Striga at both locations in Mali. Based on low Striga resistance and high grain yield, lines MALISOR 84-1, SAMSORG 41, 97-SB-F5DT-64, 97-SB-F5DT-65, CMDT 39 and SAMSORT 14 have been nominated for wider evaluation across more West African countries.     

Discovery of 2-substituted benzoxazole carboxamides as 5-HT3 receptor antagonists

A new class of 2-substituted benzoxazole carboxamides are presented as potent functional 5-HT(3) receptor antagonists. The chemical series possesses nanomolar in vitro activity against human 5-HT(3)A receptors. A chemistry optimization program was conducted and identified 2-aminobenzoxazoles as orally active 5-HT(3) receptor antagonists with good metabolic stability. These novel analogues possess drug-like characteristics and have potential utility for the treatment of diseases attributable to improper 5-HT(3) receptor function, especially diarrhea predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D).     

Historical biogeography of Eusattus muricatus (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) within the Great Basin, western North America

Genetics of Eusattus muricatus LeConte (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) populations within the Lahontan Basin and the Lahontan Trough of the Great Basin, western North America were assayed using protein electrophoresis. Two similar population phenograms were developed using neighbour-joining and maximum likelihood algorithms. An area cladogram was developed using geological data. Maximum likelihood phenogram and area cladogram were compared to test for congruence between geology and phylogeny. Pairwise regressions of estimated gene flow measures ( Nm ) yielded a significant relationship for populations within the Lahontan Basin but not for the Lahontan Trough. Protein molecular clock calculations showed that populations within the Lahontan Basin were primarily differentiating according to the dune/subbasin isolation events predicted by the area cladogram.     

Illustrations pratiques — Pièges et artefacts/Trucs et astuces

Artifacts result from discrepancy between the estimated density values coming from the reconstructed CT image and the real value. They may come from many reasons (patient, device, algorithm, RX physical) and lead to deterioration of image quality and bad attenuation correction for SPECT or PET.     

Illustrations cliniques en oncologie

The examples and clinical cases presented in this section are not intended to be considered as absolute models in terms of image quality or device parameter settings. They must initiate an individual analysis according to CT parameters and image quality. Nevertheless, they present practically different CT levels, which can be used according to the clinical context and the type of device.