Flexible technologies and smart clothing for citizen medicine, home healthcare, and disease prevention.

Improvement of the quality and efficiency of healthcare in medicine, both at home and in hospital, is becoming more and more important for patients and society at large. As many technologies (micro technologies, telecommunication, low-power design, new textiles, and flexible sensors) are now available, new user-friendly devices can be developed to enhance the comfort and security of the patient. As clothes and textiles are in direct contact with about 90% of the skin surface, smart sensors and smart clothes with noninvasive sensors are an attractive solution for home-based and ambulatory health monitoring. Moreover, wearable devices or smart homes with exosensors are also potential solutions. All these systems can provide a safe and comfortable environment for home healthcare, illness prevention, and citizen medicine.     

Xanthomonas citri pv. citri Pathotypes: LPS Structure and Function as Microbe‐Associated Molecular Patterns

Xanthomonas citri pv. citri is the pathogen responsible for Asiatic citrus canker, one of the most serious citrus diseases worldwide. The lipopolysaccharide (LPS) molecule has been demonstrated to be involved in X. citri pv. citri virulence. Despite enormous progress in investigations of the molecular mechanisms for bacterial pathogenicity, determination of the detailed LPS structure–activity relationship is limited, as the current knowledge is mainly based on structural determination of one X. citri pv. citri strain. As X. citri pv. citri strains are distinguished into three main pathogenicity groups, we characterized the full structure of the LPS from two pathotypes that differ in their host‐range specificity. This revealed an intriguing difference in LPS O‐chain structure. We also tested the LPSs and isolated lipid A moieties for their ability to act as microbe‐associated molecular patterns in Arabidopsis thaliana. Both LPS/lipid As induced ROS accumulation, but no difference was observed between the two pathotypes.     

Parameters regulating interfacial and mechanical properties of short glass fiber reinforced polypropylene

The performance of thermoplastic composites is known to depend on the intrinsic properties of the two composite components, the quality of the fiber–matrix interface, and the crystalline properties of their matrix. The objective of this work is to characterize the effect of the addition of modified polypropylene (PP) and silane coupling agent on the mechanical and interfacial properties of short fiber reinforced PP composites. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), single fiber composite fragmentation tests (SFC), and mechanical testing are used to understand the different parameters regulating the interfacial properties of composites. No influence of the modified PP on the level of crystallinity is observed. Some differences in the size of the spherulites are observed for acrylic acid grafted PP (PP‐g‐AA). Those samples also show lower mechanical properties in spite of good interfacial interactions. Maleic anhydride grafted PP (PP‐g‐MAh) leads to better mechanical performances than PP‐g‐AA. A high MAh content PP‐g‐MAh grade with low viscosity is the best polymeric additive used in the present work. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 78: 2047–2060, 2000     

Compartmentalized Innate Immune Response of Human Fetal Membranes against Escherichia coli Choriodecidual Infection

An infectious process into the uterine cavity represents a major endangered condition that compromises the immune privilege of the maternal–fetal unit and increases the risk for preterm birth (PTB) and premature rupture of membranes (PROM). Fetal membranes are active secretors of antimicrobial peptides (AMP), which limit bacterial growth, such as Escherichia coli. Nevertheless, the antibacterial responses displayed by chorioamniotic membranes against a choriodecidual E. coli infection have been briefly studied. The objective of this research was to characterize the profile of synthesis, activity, and spatial distribution of a broad panel of AMPs produced by fetal membranes in response to E. coli choriodecidual infection. Term human chorioamniotic membranes were mounted in a two independent compartment model in which the choriodecidual region was infected with live E. coli (1 × 10⁵ CFU/mL). Amnion and choriodecidual AMP tissue levels and TNF-α and IL-1β secretion were measured by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The passage of bacterium through fetal membranes and their effect on structural continuity was followed for 24 h. Our results showed that E. coli infection caused a progressive mechanical disruption of the chorioamniotic membranes and an activated inflammatory environment. After the challenge, the amnion quickly (2–4 h) induced production of human beta defensins (HBD)-1, HBD-2, and LL-37. Afterwards (8–24 h), the amnion significantly produced HBD-1, HBD-2, HNP-1-3, S100A7, sPLA2, and elafin, whereas the choriodecidua induced LL-37 synthesis. Therefore, we noticed a temporal- and tissue-specific pattern regulation of the synthesis of AMPs by infected fetal membranes. However, fetal membranes were not able to contain the collagen degradation or the bacterial growth and migration despite the battery of produced AMPs, which deeply increases the risk for PTB and PROM. The mixture of recombinant HBDs at low concentrations resulted in increased bactericidal activity compared to each HBD alone in vitro, encouraging further research to study AMP combinations that may offer synergy to control drug-resistant infections in the perinatal period.     

Influence of Social Environment on Genetically Based Subfamily Signature in the Honeybee

In honeybees, the cuticular hydrocarbon profiles are partly genetically based and differ between subfamilies, which suggests that they might be used by the workers as labels for subfamily recognition. This ability could potentially form the basis for nepotistic conflicts between subfamilies that would be detrimental to the inclusive fitness of the colony. Here we have compared the subfamily hydrocarbon profiles of 5-day-old workers maintained in isolation with those kept in their parental colony. We demonstrate that the cuticular hydrocarbon profiles tend to be less distant between most subfamilies within the hive compared with those held in isolation. The main consequence of this partial homogenization of the majority of subfamily signatures may result in a reduction of the number of recognizable subfamilies in the colony. Nevertheless, a few subfamilies retain very distinct cuticular hydrocarbon profiles.     

Interaction between farming systems, riparian zones, and landscape patterns: a case study in western France

We analyze the factors driving land use within and outside riparian zones in four small (about 800 ha) watersheds in Brittany. The results show a difference between riparian and non-riparian zones (less used for grassland), but other factors are also important, such as field size or farm management type. In large farms, small fields are easily abandoned. A multivariate analysis with farm and field characteristics explains 30% of land use variation. Our results suggest that farm type deflects land use from the regional mode, so it is important, in the implementation of environmental zoning, to assess constraints at the farm level.     

End-of-day moods on work and leisure days in relation to extraversion, neuroticism, and amount of change in daily activities.

Tested hypotheses that (a) the relationship between daily activity variation (AV) of Ss and their end-of-day moods (M) is moderated by extraversion-introversion (E-I), the relationship being positive for extraverts and negative for introverts; and (b) the relationships of AV, M, and E-I are stronger on a nonwork (leisure) than a work day (WL). A possible influence of neuroticism-stability (N-S) on the above relationships was also explored. 98 adults were given the Eysenck Personality Inventory and, based on their scores, were placed into 1 of 4 groups (formed by combinations of extraversion or introversion and neuroticism or stability). Ss also completed a time diary for 1 work and 1 nonwork day, indicating their activities, moods, and other information. A 2 * 4 analysis of variance of M scores for the dichotimized classifications of WL, E-I, N-S, and AV supported both hypotheses. Neurotics showed inverted responses from those of stables, such that the positive relationship between AV and M for stable extraverts became negative, and the negative relationship for stable introverts became positive, when Ss were neurotic. A post-hoc formulation to account for results is presented, and there is a discussion of forms of varied experience that leisure days offer. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Sunflower aroma detection by the honeybee

Combined electrophysiological recordings (EAG) and gas chromatographic separation were performed in order to investigate which volatile chemical components of a sunflower extract could be detected by honeybee workers and thus are likely to trigger the foraging behavior. A direct coupling device allowed for the stimulation of the antennal receptors with individual constituents of a polar fraction of the flower aroma shown to be attractive to bees. More than 100 compounds were separated from the extract. Twenty-four compounds elicited clear EAG responses. These compounds were identified by mass spectrometry (electronic impact and chemical ionisation). Both short- and long-chain aliphatic alcohols, one short-chain aliphatic aldehyde, one acid, two esters, and terpenic compounds were found to stimulate the antennal receptors. Six compounds identified in previous behavioral experiments were found to exhibit EAG activity. The chemicals screened by this method may be used for recognition of the plant odor and the selective behavior of honeybees.     

Critical analysis of phospholipid hydrolyzing activities in ripening tomato fruits. Study by spectrofluorimetry and high-performance liquid chromatography

Using the spectrofluorimetric method described by Wittenaueret al. [Wittenauer, L.A., Shirai, K., Jackson, R.L., and Johnson, J.D. (1984)Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 118, 894–901] for phospholipase A₂ (PLA₂) measurement, we have detected a phospholipase activity in Ailsa Craig and in mutantrin tomatoes at their normal harvest time (mature green stage). This activity in Ailsa Craig tomatoes increased at the beginning of fruit ripening (green-orange stage) and then decreased slowly. The decrease in activity, however, was greater when ripening occurred after tomato picking at normal harvest time than when ripening occurred on tomato plants. This phospholipase activity was always higher inrin tomatoes than in normal ones. Thin-layer chromatography of compounds obtained after incubation of tomato extract demonstrated a decrease in the substrate 1-acyl-2-{6[(7-nitro-2,1,3, benzoxadiazol-4-yl)amino]-caproyl}-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (C₆-NBD-PC), and an increase in one product (NBD-aminohexanoic acid), but failed to detect the second product (1-acyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine). We, therefore, developed a new one-step method for separation and quantification of a mixture of phospholipids and other lipids, using straight-phase-high-performance liquid chromatography with light-scattering detection. This method detected another fatty acid-releasing activity in enzyme extract from green-orange tomatoes. This lipolytic enzyme (or family of enzymes) slowly produced free fatty acids when 1-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine was added as substrate. The production of fatty acids was stoichiometric and more rapid when 1-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphate and 1-oleoyl-sn-glycerol were used as substrates. On the other hand, the same tomato extract was unable to hydrolyze 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphate and 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycerol. Crude tomato extract exhibited lipid acyl hydrolase activity according to the definition of Galliard [Galliard, T. (1979), inAdvances in the Biochemistry and Physiology of Plant Lipids (Appelqvist, L.A., and Liljenberg, C. eds.), pp. 121–132, Elsevier, Amsterdam]. But in order to demonstrate whether tomato extract contains PLA₂ activity and/or lysophospholipase activity, further work on purified tomato extract will be necessary.