The long-term prospective multi-centre nationwide (French) observational study FRANCISCO will provide new information on perimembranous ventricular septal defect with left ventricular overload but no pulmonary hypertension in children older than 1 year. Outcomes will be compared according to treatment strategy (watchful waiting, surgical closure, or percutaneous closure) and anatomic features of the defect. The results are expected to provide additional guidance about the optimal treatment of this specific population, which is unclear at present.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of a non-restrictive satiating diet in men displaying various degrees of satiety efficiency. In all, sixty-nine obese men aged 41·5 (sd 5·7) years were randomly assigned to a control (10–15, 55–60 and 30 % energy as protein, carbohydrate and lipid, respectively; n 34) or satiating (20–25, 45–50 and 30–35 % energy as protein, carbohydrate and lipid, respectively; n 35) diet for 16 weeks, and were classified as having a low (LSP) or high (HSP) satiety phenotype. Both diets were consumed ad libitum. Changes in body weight, BMI, percent fat mass, waist circumference, satiety responsiveness and eating behaviour traits were assessed following the intervention. Dropout rates were higher in the control diet (44·1 %) compared with the satiating diet (8·6 %). Decreases in body weight, BMI and waist circumference were significant in both groups, yet HSP individuals lost more body weight than LSP individuals (P=0·048). Decreases in % fat mass were greater in the satiating diet (LSP: −2·1 (sd 2·1) %; P<0·01 and HSP: −3·0 (sd 2·5) %; P<0·001) compared with the control diet (LSP: −1·1 (sd 2·5) % and HSP: −1·3 (sd 2·6) %) (P=0·034). Satiety responsiveness was markedly improved in the satiating diet, whereas no significant changes were observed in the control group. Changes in dietary restraint (+3·3 (sd 2·9) to +7·2 (sd 5·5)), flexible control (+0·9 (sd 1·4) to +2·3 (sd 2·7)), rigid control (+2·2 (sd 1·5) to +2·5 (sd 2·8)), disinhibition (−2·8 (sd 3·7) to −3·2 (sd 2·6)) and susceptibility to hunger (−2·7 (sd 4·1) to −4·6 (sd 3·9)) were similar between the diets. Compared with the control diet, the satiating diet favoured adherence, decreased % fat mass and improved satiety responsiveness in both HSP and LSP individuals.

A system for automatic, reliable, semi-instantaneous estimation of avalanche activity is presented in an attempt to check deterministic models and improve the surveillance of risk zones. The principle is the seismic detection of avalanches. Two experimental sites equipped with standard seismological equipment are described. Avalanche seismic signals are recorded, as well as many extraneous signals of natural or human origin. After several years of a posteriori identification of the signals, we are now able to set up criteria for the automatic recognition of non-avalanche signals. We have therefore developed an automatic analysis/decision system to discriminate between avalanche signals and others. This system worked satisfactorily in pre-operational conditions during the winter of 1995-96. The results are presented and compared with other data related to avalanche activity. Although there is still room for improvement, our system seems to be able to estimate avalanche activity better than human visual observations.

The majority of maxillofacial gunshot wounds are caused by suicide attempts. Young men are affected most often. When the lower one-third of the face is involved, airway patency (1.6% of the cases) and hemorrhage control (1.9% of the cases) are the two most urgent complications to monitor and prevent. Spinal fractures are observed with 10% of maxillary injuries and in 20% of orbital injuries. Actions to treat the facial gunshot victim need to be performed, keeping in mind spine immobilization until radiographic imaging is complete and any required spinal stabilization accomplished. Patients should be transported to a trauma center equipped to deal with maxillofacial and neurosurgery because 40% require emergency surgery. The mortality rate of maxillofacial injuries shortly after arrival at a hospital varies from 2.8% to 11.0%. Complications such as hemiparesis or cranial nerve paralysis occur in 20% of survivors. This case has been reported on a victim of four gunshot injuries. One of the gunshots was to the left mandibular ramus and became lodged in the C4 vertebral bone.

Maurin O, de Régloix S, Dubourdieu S, Lefort H, Boizat S, Houze B, Culoma J, Burlaton G, Tourtier JP. Maxillofacial Gunshot Wounds. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2015;30(3):14.

The understanding of flexibility and deformability in proteins is one of the current major challenges of structural molecular biology. The knowledge of the average atomic positions of three-dimensional folding of proteins, which is obtained either by X-ray diffraction or n.m.r. spectroscopy, is generally not sufficient to explain their functional mechanisms. Very often it is necessary to consider the existence of other concerted atomic motions as, for example, in the well-known case of the CO molecule fixation at the active site of myoglobin which requires the concerted displacement of a large number of atoms in order to open a channel down to this site. This opening, which depends on the physico-chemical conditions, plays the role of a regulator in the biochemical reactions (Janin & Wodak, 1983; Tainer et al. 1984; Westhof et al. 1984; Ormos et al. 1988).

Les conséquences de la circulation ferroviaire, en termes de nuisances environnementales (vibrations, bruits, pollutions diverses, ...) sont d'autant plus importantes que les vitesses des trains sont élevées. En ce qui concerne les vibrations, l'effet de cette vitesse est directement lié à son positionnement relatif vis-à-vis de celle des ondes se propageant dans le sol (en particulier, celle des ondes superficielles de Rayleigh). Pour des sols assez mous (argile, tourbe, ...), une vitesse d'onde de Rayleigh bien inférieure à 100 m.s-1 est tout-à-fait possible, et dans ce cas, l'atteinte d'un régime super-Rayleigh est bien envisageable pour des trains circulant à grande vitesse. Cette situation se traduit par des déplacements importants au niveau du rail (supérieurs éventuellement à 12 mm), ne jouant pas sur le confort des passagers mais préoccupant pour la durée de vie de la structure.Cet article présente la mise en œuvre numérique d'un modèle semi-analytique de propagation d'ondes soumis à un ensemble de charges mobiles. Des séries d'essais ont pu également être opérées sur deux sites spécifiques (sol tourbeux) avec des paramètres variables (type et composition des trains, vitesse du train, poids du convoi). La comparaison qui a pu être réalisée entre les déplacements et les vitesses obtenus, d'une part, grâce aux simulations numériques et, d'autre part, par les mesures expérimentales, doit être considérée comme relativement satisfaisante compte tenu des différentes incertitudes présentes dans les deux démarches. Cet accord est suffisamment significatif pour estimer que le modèle qui est proposé permet d'obtenir des informations crédibles sur le comportement de la voie et du sol environnant.

Rotation strongly affects the stability of turbulent flows in the presence of large eddies. In this paper, we examine the applicability of the classic Bradshaw-Richardson criterion to flows more general than a simple combination of rotation and pure shear. Two approaches are used. Firstly the linearized theory is applied to a class of rotating two-dimensional flows having arbitrary rates of strain and vorticity and streamfunctions that are quadratic. This class includes simple shear and elliptic flows as special cases. Secondly, we describe a large-eddy simulation of initially quasi-homogeneous three-dimensional turbulence superimposed on a periodic array of two-dimensional Taylor-Green vortices in a rotating frame.

The results of both approaches indicate that, for a large structure of vorticity W and subject to rotation Ω, maximum destabilization is obtained for zero tilting vorticity (½W + 2Ω = 0) whereas stability occurs for zero absolute vorticity (2Ω = 0) These results are consistent with the Bradshaw-Richardson criterion; however the numerical results show that in other cases the Bradshaw-Richardson number $B=2\Omega(W+2\Omega)/W^2$ is not always a good indicator of the flow stability.

Evaluating the ecological impact of an oil spill is a complex issue requiring coherently articulated examination of the sequence of interactions that link the cell, where contaminants exert their effects, to the ecosystem, where interactions with human activities arise. This sequence of interactions traverses the frontiers between scientific disciplines (chemistry, toxicology, physiology, and fisheries ecology). Using the common sole (Solea solea L.) as a model species for the coastal habitats polluted by the “Erika” oil spill, our research project attempted to define indices of functional integrity that characterised the consequences of fuel exposure at the different biological levels. The coupling of field observations with experimental laboratory work revealed how functional alterations which are readily observable within individuals and their organs are progressively obscured as investigation progresses towards more complex organisational levels. Some of the approaches and indices are proposed as instruments for evaluating the impact of contamination by hydrocarbons.

The adhesion of primary osteoblastic cells on top of biocompatible polyelectrolyte multilayer (PEM) films was investigated for native films and after changing the films properties either with a chemical stimulus (film functionalization), with a mechanical stimulus (film cross-linking), or with both stimuli combined. For the functionalization, a 15 amino acid peptide containing a –RGD- (-Arg-Gly-Asp) sequence was grafted to poly(L-glutamic) acid and deposited on top of poly(L-lysine)/poly(L-glutamic) (PLL/PGA), PLL/Poly(alginic), and PLL/Poly(galacturonic) films. The film buildup and the adsorption of the PGA-RGD was followed by Optical Waveguide Lightmode Spectroscopy and by Atomic Force Microscopy. The mechanical stimulus was achieved by crosslinking the films with a water soluble carbodiimide (EDC) in combination with N-hydroxysulfo-succinimide (sulfo-NHS) to induce amide formation. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy evidenced the conversion of amine and carboxylic groups into amide groups.

The alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity test was used to assess osteoblast adhesion and proliferation on top of the different films over a period of eight days in culture. Whereas the native films are poorly adherent, the RGD-functionalized films exhibit an increased short time adhesion. The native films could also be successfully cross-linked thereby dramatically enhancing cell proliferation. The cells did not react similarly on the different types of films investigated : the cross-linked (PLL/Palg) and (PLL/Pgal) films were much more efficient than the native or functionalized films in terms of proliferation. On the other hand, for the (PLL/PGA) films, functionalization and film cross-linking had a similar long term effect. Very interestingly, for these latter films, both stimuli could be combined.