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National audience; The effects of water stress occuring at various periods during the growth cycle of peppers was studied in greenhouse-grown plants under stable climatic conditions (table II). The method used to provoke water stress was the Robelin method, which consists of applying an identical dryness coefficient (ratio of plant transpiration during dryingout phase to maximum transpiration of the same well-irrigated plants) for a certain time period and during a certain vegetative phase. This method was applied to 4 phenological stages: vegetative growth, early flowering, early fruit setting, and fruit formation (table I, fig 1). A theoretical analysis of the dryness coefficient shows that climatic conditions (temperature, wind speed) and leaf surface are elements affecting the intensity of the water stress provoked when this coefficient is applied for short time periods (h, d). Under the present experimental conditions (stable climatic conditions, dryness coefficient applied every 10 d) and using direct measurements of plant water status, the authors note that water stress is of comparable intensity during phenological stages with high leaf surfaces (flowering, early fruit setting, and fruit formation stages) and that, on the other hand, water stress intensity is markedly reduced when leaf surface is low (fig 2). These observations are the basis for certain suggestions aiming at a better adaptation of the Robelin method to research objectives. An evaluation of the sensitivity of phenological stages submitted to identical water stress was obtained by comparing (fig 3, table IV) 4 yield components analyzed on a plant scale (bulk and dry weight, fruit size and number) to those of a well-irrigated plant (table III). The sensitivity is greater at the early fruit setting stage than at the flowering or fruit formation stages. These observations could have an effect on methods for care and irrigation of peppers.; L’action d’une contrainte hydrique intervenant à différents moments du cycle végétatif du poivron a été étudiée en serre sur des plantes cultivées dans des conditions climatiques stables. La méthode retenue pour provoquer la contrainte hydrique est celle de Robelin, elle consiste à appliquer un coefficient de sécheresse identique (rapport des transpirations des plantes en cours de dessèchement et des transpirations maximales des mêmes plantes bien irriguées) pendant un certain temps et une certaine période de végétation. Cette méthode a été appliquée sur 4 stades phénologiques : végétatif, début de floraison, début de nouaison et formation des fruits. L’analyse théorique du coefficient de sécheresse a montré que les conditions climatiques (température, vitesse du vent) et la surface foliaire sont des éléments intervenant dans l’intensité de la contrainte hydrique provoquée lors de l’application de ce coefficient pour des courtes durées (heure, jour). Dans nos conditions expérimentales (conditions climatiques stables, coefficient de sécheresse appliqué à l’échelle décadaire), nous avons noté à partir des mesures directes de l’état hydrique de la plante, que la contrainte hydrique est d’intensité assez voisine au cours des stades phénologiques ayant une surface foliaire proche (stades floraison, nouaison et formation des fruits); en revanche, l’intensité de la contrainte hydrique est nettement inférieure lorsque la surface foliaire est faible (stade végétatif). Ces observations ont été à l’origine de quelques suggestions permettant de mieux adapter la méthode de Robelin à l’objectif recherché. L’évolution de la sensibilité des stades phénologiques soumis à une contrainte hydrique identique a été obtenue en comparant 4 composantes du rendement, analysées à l’échelle de la plante (poids frais et sec, la taille, et le nombre des fruits) par rapport à un témoin bien irrigué. La sensibilité est plus accusée au stade de nouaison qu’aux stades de floraison et de formation des fruits. Ces observations peuvent avoir des incidences sur la gestion de l’irrigation du poivron.

Bronchioloalveolar carcinoma (BAC), not yet completely defined as a biologic entity, has recently been classified into two different types. Immunohistochemical investigations, aimed at characterizing basement membrane (BM) behavior in the two types of BAC, revealed different distribution patterns. The first (Type I BAC) showed a linear staining for laminin and Type IV collagen similar to normal lung. Fibronectin was widely present in the septal interstitium and patchily distributed along the BM. The second (Type II BAC) showed a variable reaction for Type IV collagen and fibronectin, whereas laminin was absent or appeared as short, interrupted tracts around the epithelial neoplastic population, similar to conventional adenocarcinoma of the lung. These results suggest that only Type I BAC shows structural characteristics different from those of conventional adenocarcinoma of the lung.

The development of energy crops can provide environmental benefits and may represent an opportunity to improve agriculture in areas considered at low productivity. In this work, we studied the energy potential of two species (Brassica carinata A. Braun and Cynara cardunculus L.) and their seed oil productivity under different growth conditions. Furthermore, the biodiesel from the oil extracted from the seeds of these species was produced and analysed in term of utilisation as fuels in compression ignition engines. In particular, the spray penetration and shape ratio were measured in a constant-volume chamber and compared with the results obtained with a standard diesel fuel. These results were obtained using a standard common rail injection system at different injection pressure, injection duration, and constant-volume chamber pressure.

Objectives We used acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) as a probing agent to quantify hydroxyl radical (·OH) in Controls and patients with coronary artery disease and to prospectively investigate ·OH production in patients with myocardial infarction (MI) complicated by heart failure (HF). Background Oxidative stress status (OSS) is a mechanism for transition to HF in experimental heart injury models, but evidence for its causal role in humans is still limited. Methods Thirty healthy subjects (Controls), 12 patients with stable angina (Group 1), and 74 patients with ST-segment elevation MI (Group 2) were enrolled. A dose of 250 mg Flectadol was given intravenously before each blood collection to determine the 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid/salicylic acid (DHBA/SA) ratio. We also quantified vitamin E and coenzyme Q10to monitor antioxidant reserve, as well as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, TNF-soluble receptors, interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-1ra to assess inflammatory status. All measurements were repeated at month 6 in Group 2. Results There were no differences between Controls and Group 1. Group 2 showed increased ·OH production, peaking at 24 h, whereas vitamin E and coenzyme Q10progressively declined. Group 2 patients developing HF during hospitalization (Group 2Bi) presented with an increase of both ·OH production at discharge and inflammatory status, as compared with patients without HF (Group 2Ai), persisting at month 6 in post-MI patients with HF (Group 2Bii). Conclusions We found a distinct pattern of ·OH generation in post-MI patients who show progression to HF. The interplay between OSS and inflammatory status should be targeted as a possible mechanism of progression to post-MI left ventricular dysfunction.

Background and Hypothesis: We retrospectively evaluated the Clinicopathologic findings and outcome predictors in dogs with Leptospira interrogans Australis serogroup infections. Animals and Methods: The medical records of 159 dogs that had a leptospiral microscopic agglutination test (MAT) performed between 2001 and 2004 were reviewed. Results: Twenty dogs met serologic criteria for either symptomatic (16 dogs) or asymptomatic (4 dogs) infection caused by Leptospira interrogans Australis serogroup. Seven of 16 symptomatic dogs died or were euthanized and 9/16 recovered. Systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) was observed in 9/16 dogs. The presence of SIRS did not affect prognosis (P= .357). C-reactive protein (CRP) and haptoglobin (Hpt) concentrations were altered in all symptomatic dogs, but results did not differ significantly between survivors and nonsurvivors (P= .08 and P= .055, respectively). Conversely, the CRP to Hpt ratio (CRP/Hpt) was significantly increased in nonsurvivors. Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) was diagnosed in 7/16 dogs. DIC did not significantly affect outcome (P= .126). Multiple organ involvement was present with renal failure in 16/16, liver damage in 12/16, cardiac damage in 11/16, and muscular damage in 8/16 dogs. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Among the evaluated Clinicopathologic biomarkers, serum albumin, cardiac troponin I, CRP/Hpt, urinary albumin, and urinary total protein to creatinine ratio were found to predict outcome and warrant evaluation in larger prospective studies.