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International audience; In France, the COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing lockdown measures have created unprecedented circumstances that increase stress and anxiety, thus leading individuals experiencing home confinement to adopt various coping strategies that contribute to building resilience. Given the novelty and recency of the COVID-19 lockdown, factors of coping and resilience in this specific context of home confinement remain undefined. Based on some recent observations, we conducted a study on a convenience sample in France (N = 809) in order to investigate two potential factors of lockdown resilience and coping: social position and household affordances, while also exploring some complementary hypotheses based on the literature. Social position and household affordances were identified as significant predictors of lockdown coping and resilience, and low social position was found to coincide with less social support coping strategies. Results are discussed in relation to the theory and the limits identified in this study. Recommendations are made for potential second waves of COVID-19 spread or similar pandemics in the future.

Resume A l’Assistance publique–Hopitaux de Paris (AP–HP), le test QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube ® (QFT) est utilise par certains medecins du travail, etant plus specifique et plus facile d’utilisation que l’intradermoreaction (IDR), dans le depistage de l’infection tuberculeuse latente (ITL) parmi les soignants. Objectif L’objectif etait d’evaluer le devenir des personnels ayant un test QFT positif quant a la survenue d’une tuberculose et a l’evolution des valeurs du QFT sur deux ans. Methode Une etude descriptive et prospective a ete realisee de 2008 a 2011, dans 8 etablissements volontaires du groupe AP–HP. Le bilan initial comprenait en plus du QFT, une IDR et une radiographie pulmonaire. Le QFT et la radiographie pulmonaire ont ete repetes a 12 et 24 mois. Resultats Les personnels ayant des QFT positifs ont ete inclus ( n = 183). Parmi les sujets inclus, 87 % etaient vaccines par le BCG, 56 % de QFT positifs ont ete retrouves chez les aides-soignants et les agents hospitaliers dont 34 % etaient originaires d’un pays de haute endemie tuberculeuse. Respectivement apres 1 an et 2 ans de suivi, 22,7 % et 9,2 % des QFT etaient devenus negatifs. Parmi les tests QFT superieurs a 1 UI/mL, 83 % sont restes positifs apres 1 an de suivi. La reversion etait plus frequente lorsque les valeurs etaient proches du seuil : 40,9 % parmi les 22 QFT ayant une valeur comprise entre 0,35 et 0,7 UI/mL sont devenus negatifs a un an. Parmi les 14 QFT negatifs a 1 an, 8 cas de fluctuation ont ete observes a 2 ans. Vingt-six pourcent des sujets ont ete traites. Aucune influence du traitement sur la negativation du test QFT n’a ete demontree apres un an de suivi ( p = 0,47) ni apres 2 ans ( p = 0,67). Parmi les 67 radiographies realisees chez les non-traites, aucune tuberculose pulmonaire n’a ete depistee. Conclusion Le QFT est moins imparfait que l’IDR chez le personnel de sante. La frequence des reversions, notamment pour les valeurs proches du seuil, sans influence du traitement, a ete confirmee par notre etude. Le controle du QFT peut se discuter si le taux est proche du seuil.

Summary Purpose of the study To analyse the annual level of global external, internal and skin exposure to ionizing radiation of employees in a university health care establishment (AP–HP). Method The exposure to ionizing radiation was assessed among the 6,618 subjects (7.12% of the personnel of AP–HP) occupationally exposed. Their external exposure was monitored using 43,680 passive dosimeters, every month (34.8%) for category A or three months (65.2%) for category B. Ring dosimeters were used to measure the finger doses for workers in nuclear medicine and interventional radiology. Moreover, 1,672 workers in controlled zone had electronic dosimeters. The internal exposure was determined by radiochemical and radiometric measurements. Results The annual average external effective dose was low (0.032 mSv). No internal contamination was observed. Total body doses and skin doses never exceeded the dose limit. Ring dosimeter gave a better assessment of finger doses. The upper doses were observed in radiotherapy (0.038 mSv) and nuclear medicine (0.66 mSv). Conclusion The occupational exposure of health care workers was very far from the regulatory total body dose limit (20 mSv). These measurements remain a step into the radiation protection optimization process needed by the stochastic effects of ionizing radiation, without known threshold.

Resume But de l’etude L’etude consiste a evaluer une methode de depistage large par chromatographie liquide couplee a la spectrometrie de masse (ESI-LC/MS) utilisant un logiciel avec bibliotheque de spectres (Chromalynx™, Waters) d’identification automatique des composes detectes, puis de comparer les resultats obtenus avec une methode classique de depistage immunoanalytique (Syva EMIT II/Plus), technique frequemment utilisee en premiere intention pour des analyses toxicologiques. Materiel et methodes Pres de 400 dossiers toxicologiques issus du service d’urgence du centre hospitalier ont ete analyses avec ces deux methodes de depistage. Les resultats rendus positifs par la methode de depistage ESI-LC-MS utilisant le logiciel Chromalynx™ sont systematiquement verifies par chromatographie liquide couple a la spectrometrie de masse en tandem (LC-MS/MS) pour evaluer la fiabilite de la methode. Resultats La methode de depistage ESI-LC-MS avec logiciel de comparaison de spectres a permis de detecter un produit ou plus dans 66 % des dossiers contre 33 % pour la methode immunoanalytique. Les faux positifs (8 % des cas) ainsi que les faux negatifs (2 % des cas) rendus par le logiciel sont facilement interpretables apres analyse des spectres de masse ou si necessaire apres reinjection de l’echantillon avec modification des tensions de cone sauf parfois lors de coelutions avec des composes present en concentration importante qui peuvent masquer un autre compose. Conclusion Cette methode de depistage ESI-LC-MS apparait donc comme etant un moyen efficace de diagnostic face a une intoxication aigue. Elle permet de repondre par molecule contrairement a l’immunoanalyse ou les resultats sont donnes par classe de molecules ce qui est un avantage certain. Le grand nombre de molecules potentiellement detectables en fait une methode de choix, surtout dans les cas d’intoxications non expliquees. C’est une methode qui, comparativement a l’immunoanalyse, beneficie d’une bonne specificite mais qui reste cependant moins sensible, moins rapide et qui necessite plus de connaissances techniques, notamment pour l’interpretation des resultats.

AVO analysis can be conducted by estimating amplitude variation with offset (AVO) attributes from seismic prestack data and by characterizing the measured amplitude responses by the position of their projection in the attribute space. The most common AVO attributes are the intercept (zero-offset reflectivity) and AVO gradient. We have constructed an optimized, model-based linear AVO equation that is more accurate than usual AVO approximations. The parameters of this equation represent new AVO attributes that are more directly related to the information contained in seismic reflection amplitudes. We use these new AVO attributes to classify reflector responses from field data. Five seismic facies are defined that are characterized by differentdistributions of seismic parameters. Nine reflector classes are formed by associating appropriate pairs of facies. The expected locations of the different reflector classes in the space of optimized attributes are found by modeling and are used to derive a classification scheme. This scheme is applied to sections of optimized attributes calculated from the prestack data, leading to a vertical section showing the distribution of most probable facies in an area containing a sand reservoir. We compare the new approach to classification with intercept and gradient. The new method is more robust and less sensitive to the number of attributes (two or three) used for classification. It offers an optimal, flexible, and robust way of extracting the information contained in reflection amplitudes by simple linear AVO equations.

Linear equations used to approximate reflection coefficient-versus-angle curves are usually valid only for small seismic parameter changes across reflectors, and they are rather inaccurate close to the critical angle. These inaccuracies affect the quality of AVO analysis and cause systematic errors when estimating relative seismic-parameter variations at reflectors, especially for density. We present an optimal model-based approach to build more accurate linear AVO approximations. Their basis functions are calculated by applying singular value decomposition to realistic modeled AVO curves. By extending the validity range of linear approximations to larger angles, this approach helps when using information contained at near-critical offsets. It alsooffers several advantages in other situations. The basis functions of the new approximations are orthogonal. Their coefficients represent new AVO attributes that can be used either to classify AVO responses directly, or to obtain more accurate estimates of usual AVO attributes (intercept, gradient, and possibly a third coefficient). This leads to a better estimation of seismic-parameter contrasts at reflecting interfaces. These coefficients are naturally sorted in decreasing order of importance. Therefore, the proper number of terms in the proposed equations can be chosen easily to offer an optimal compromise between noise and the information carried by each coefficient. Synthetic tests confirm the robustness of the method. This flexible and robust approach will be particularly well adapted for three-parameter AVO analysis.

CSEM inversion for large 3D models is computationally very intensive, making the use of advanced inversion algorithms like Gauss-Newton particularly challenging. To overcome this problem model compression techniques can be applied. By decreasing the number of parameters they reduce both memory needs and computing time at the cost of a decreased resolution. We propose a new model compression approach where the compression operator is slightly changed at each iteration. Like many compression techniques it uses a coarse grid to reduce the number of parameters, but random lateral and vertical shifts are applied to this grid at the beginning of every iteration. Compared to usual model compression with a static compression operator, the new method presents exactly the same benefits in terms of computational efficiency but it preserves resolution much better. We have illustrated this approach with Gauss-Newton inversion of synthetic 2D CSEM data. It shows that a significantly higher degree of model compression than with static approaches can be used: good inversion results are obtained with 132 times less parameters than the number of nodes in the modeling grid. This approach will help making Gauss-Newton algorithms applicable to 3D inversion of larger 3D CSEM data sets.

Causse (2004 J. Geophys. Eng. 1 28–45) and Causse and Hokstad (2005 US Patent no 6839658 B2) have proposed a model-based approach to build accurate travel time approximations that take into account the vertical velocity heterogeneities in the earth. This new approach can improve the estimation of kinematic parameters from reflection data, e.g. the stacking velocity. We use these new equations to perform an automatic velocity analysis of reflection data, and apply the method to two ground-penetrating radar data sets acquired at the same agricultural site at two different dates. We obtain profiles of radar velocities, which are used to estimate the water content and the porosity in the soil. These estimates show a good correlation with independent measurements of the water content and the porosity.

La qualite des cours d'eau peut etre influencee suite a des pressions diverses resultant des activites humaines. En milieu rural, l'activite agricole peut generer dans certains cas, un impact non negligeable sur la qualite des milieux aquatiques. Nous avons etudie particulierement l'impact de l'abreuvement et du pietinement du betail en prairie pâturee ou l'approvisionnement en eau se fait a partir d'un cours d'eau. Cette contribution porte essentiellement sur des campagnes d'observations et d'analyses relatives aux caracteristiques suivantes: la qualite de l'eau (physico-chimique, bacteriologique et biologique) et la qualite du milieu (etat des berges et du lit) a partir d'un cas concret localise dans le bassin de la Semois en Region wallonne de Belgique. Les resultats d'analyse confirment la bonne qualite du ruisseau protege par une cloture ou l'abreuvement du betail est controle (Le Fourneau), par rapport au ruisseau non protege ou l'acces du betail est libre (Le Landau). Pour ce dernier, les valeurs en NH 4 , NO 2 et PO 4 sont deux a trois fois plus elevees. En termes d'indicateurs de contamination fecale, la difference est de l'ordre d'une a deux unites logarithmiques, le ruisseau protege repondant aux valeurs imperatives de la Directive Eaux de baignade 76/160/CEE. L'Indice Biologique Global Normalise (IBGN) passe de 9 pour le Landau a 15 pour le Fourneau. Signalons egalement que les capacites d'accueil pour le frai de la truite sont deux fois plus importantes dans le Fourneau que dans le Landau. Cette etude permet aussi de montrer qu'il est possible par diverses mesures de precaution, de concilier l'abreuvement du betail au cours d'eau avec la protection du milieu en vue d'atteindre le bon etat ecologique exige par la Directive Cadre Eau (DCE). Cet usage legitime du cours d'eau par les agriculteurs - eleveurs merite donc d'etre maintenu sous certaines conditions.

Background: Our aims were to compare the doses of wheat and rye flour that induce early bronchial responses in occupationally exposed asthmatic subjects and to assess the effects of the dose of inhaled flour, the duration of exposure and the dose rate. Methods: Ten patients underwent tests with lactose, wheat flour and rye flour. We compared the decrease in forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) observed during the challenge with flour and with lactose. We also calculated the amount of flour that was instantaneously active. Results: Seven subjects had significantly decreased FEV1 values following exposure to wheat and rye flour and two subjects only did so for rye flour. The provocative dose (PD, dose required to reduce FEV1 by 15%) of rye was lower than that of wheat flour (geometric mean; PD15 rye: 95 μg; wheat: 368 μg). The calculated doses of rye and wheat flour were better correlated with the change in FEV1 than were the cumulative doses. Conclusion: The bronchial response was greater with rye than with wheat flour. The response was related to the dose of allergen inhaled and to the dose rate.

Available high-order travel time equations allow us to flatten seismic gathers in a larger range of offsets than the normal moveout hyperbola, but they require the estimation of at least one extra parameter and they are still insufficiently accurate in certain situations, e.g. when strong ray bending occurs. To approximate reflection travel times very accurately with as few parameters as possible, I have derived new time-offset series, following a simple model-based approach: using information on velocities and on the recording configuration available for a given survey, I build a set of reference velocity models and calculate the associated travel time-offset functions. These functions define the vectorial space of all realistic time-offset curves. A set of basis functions for this vectorial space can be obtained by singular value decomposition. The new travel time series basically consist of weighted sums of these basis functions. A simple test in a plane-layered medium with strong heterogeneity and large aperture shows that the new series may be more efficient than other types of high-order travel time equations: with less coefficients, they provide more accurate approximations of the exact travel time curve (also at large offsets), and more reliable estimates of parameters of the velocity model, such as the RMS velocity and the quartic coefficient a4 of the Taner and Koehler series. On a practical level, the estimation of coefficients is simplified because the bases of functions are othogonal. The proposed procedure can be applied to many types of problems, e.g. to handle non-hyperbolic travel times resulting from anisotropy, wave conversions, high heterogeneity, wide apertures, etc. It should be useful for optimizing velocity analysis and different processing techniques that use travel time approximations, e.g. moveout correction, multiple attenuation and time migration.

Seismic inversion by modelling and data fitting depends on the criterion chosen to measure the misfit between observed and modelled data. The popular least-squares error criterion has an important drawback: it is sensitive both to the shape of the recording surface and to velocity variations along this surface. Tests on synthetic seismic reflection data show that least-squares inversion may work surprisingly poorly in situations where (i) the range of angles between reflected rays and the acquisition surface is large, (ii) the velocity varies significantly along this surface, or (iii) a compensation for the effects of dissipation is applied to the gradients. In these situations, the gradients may contain important artefacts and have incorrect amplitudes. The outgoing flux of energy of the residual wavefield across the acquisition surface provides an alternative measure of the data misfit which is independent of the recording surface, provided this surface is closed, and which is only sensitive to the aperture in the practical situation of an open surface or line of receivers. Energy-flux inversion presents a strong resemblance to reverse-time migration, but with the additional possibility of iteratively improving the images. In all the tests, energy-flux inversion provided better images than least-squares inversion.

The “intelligent” well is a common name for a well completed with remotely operated valves controlling fluid flow into or out of the different production zones. The downhole valves may be combined with different downhole measurements. Although it may be disputed if these installations make the wells intelligent, the prospective benefits for well operation and reservoir management are significant. The technology is still immature; about 50 wells with downhole controllable valves are currently installed worldwide. As reliability is improving, this number is expected to increase rapidly. In more advanced systems, wellbore sensors can measure parameters in the well such as pressure, temperature, fluid-flow velocities, and void fractions. The immediate benefit of such systems is to minimize interventions caused by critical changes in downhole flow conditions (surprise handling).

Conventional approximations of reflection traveltimes assume a small offset-to-depth ratio, and their accuracy decreases with increasing offset-to-depth ratio. Hence, they are not suitable for velocity analysis and stacking of long-offset reflection seismic data. Assuming that the offset is large, rather than small, we present a new traveltime approximation which is exact at infinite offset and has a decreasing accuracy with decreasing offset-to-depth ratio. This approximation has the form of a series containing powers of the offset from 1 to -∞. It is particularly accurate in the presence of a thin high-velocity layer above the reflector, i.e. in a situation where the accuracy of the Taner and Koehler series is poor. This new series can be used to gain insight into the velocity information contained in reflection traveltimes at large offsets. and possibly to improve velocity analysis and stacking of long-offset reflection seismic data.

The deterioration of prestack migration images caused by an erroneous velocity or dissipation model can be represented by a space‐variant filter. We have derived an approximate expression of this spatial filter for the case of a plane horizontal reflector between two homogeneous half‐spaces, using analytical expressions for the Green’s functions and a stationary phase approximation of the Kirchhoff integral. We have used complex, frequency‐dependent velocities to represent a general homogeneous viscoacoustic medium. Hence, the filter can describe the effects of errors in phase velocity and absorption on the image of the reflector for different situations. A pure phase velocity error deforms the reflector, affects the value of the recovered reflectivity, and creates a spurious amplitude versus offset (AVO) effect. Neglecting dissipation destroys the phase of the image, decreases the resolution, and causes an underestimation of the reflectivity. To have a true‐amplitude, good‐resolution migration with Claerbout’s crosscorrelation imaging principle, the forward extrapolation of the downgoing wavefield should be done with the complex conjugate of the velocity in the viscoacoustic medium, and the backward extrapolation of the upgoing wavefield should be done with the complex velocity. In both cases, this amplifies the wavefields to compensate for the effects of attenuation on wave propagation.

Intrinsic absorption in the earth affects the amplitude and phase spectra of the seismic wavefields and records, and may degrade significantly the results of acoustic full‐waveform inversion. Amplitude distortion affects the strength of the scatterers and decreases the resolution. Phase distortion may result in mislocated interfaces. We show that viscoacoustic gradient‐based inversion algorithms (e.g., steepest descent or conjugate gradients) compensate for the effects of phase distortion, but not for the effects of amplitude distortion. To solve this problem at a reasonable numerical cost, we have designed two new forms of preconditioning derived from an analysis of the inverse Hessian operator. The first type of preconditioning is a frequency‐dependent compensation for dispersion and attenuation, which involves two extra modeling steps with inverse absorption (amplification) at each iteration. The second type only corrects the strength of the recovered scatterers, and requires two extra modeling steps at the first iteration only. The new preconditioning methods have been incorporated into a finite‐difference inversion scheme for viscoacoustic media. Numerical tests on noise‐free synthetic data illustrate and support the theory.

The application of desorption and direct inlet with electron impact and chemical ionization mass spectrometry of some 2-chloroethyl phosphonates related to etephon is described. Comparison of these methods showed that there are highly useful for obtaining: 1) adduct ions, especially protonated molecular ions: chemical ionization. 2) significant fragment ions: methane and electron impact ionization. Interpretation of spectra, based on the considerable analogy between the different structures of the phosphonates is described in this work. A choice between EI and CI mass spectrometry with either direct inlet or desorption technics, depending on the volatility of the compounds and the purpose of analysis, is done. The low fragmentation obtained by ammonia chemical ionization was used to analyze different mixtures of phosphonates.

Background Homocysteine seems to have a direct neurotoxic effect and could increase the vulnerability to excitotoxic and oxidative injury. Hydrocephalus, a partially reversible gait and cognitive impairment, is mainly due to an ill-circulating cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Our hypothesis is that CSF may play a role in the clearance or secretion of Homocysteine. The aim of this study is to gauge homocysteine and other thiols in the CSF of hydrocephalic patients, and to correlate these biological parameters with hydrodynamic patterns.

Resume Des reactions anaphylactiques apres consommation d’escargots chez des patients allergiques aux acariens ont ete plusieurs fois decrites. Observations. — Deux enfants allergiques aux acariens ont presente a plusieurs reprises un œdeme de Quincke apres consommation d’escargots. Le bilan immunoallergologique comprenant pricks-tests, test labial et IgE Rast objective l’allergie associee aux acariens et a l’escargot. Conclusion. — Compte tenu du caractere potentiellement grave des reactions anaphylactiques, il convient de prevenir les enfants allergiques aux acariens et leurs parents du risque eleve d’allergie associee avec l’escargot.

Summary We propose a method, namely OptAVO to build enhanced linear AVO approximations. The basis functions of the approximation are orthogonal and their coefficients represent a new set of AVO attributes. These attributes can directly be used for AVO classification or to obtain better estimates of the usual coefficients (e.g., intercept, gradient). The method will be illustrated for class I reflectors using large reflection angles. A real data example shows the applicability of the proposed approach.

The traditional hyperbolic traveltime correction is generally inappropriate for flattening reflected events at large offsets. For this, non-hyperbolic traveltime equations may be used. These equations have usually three terms, making the processing more cumbersome and costly. I apply here a new two-term non-hyperbolic traveltime approximation for velocity analysis and moveout correction. Practical aspects and benefits of this approach are illustrated by an application to ground penetrating radar (GPR) field data.

Summary Non-hyperbolic approximations of offset-traveltime curves usually have at least three terms. This complicates the practical calculation and interpretation of velocity spectra. We show here how conventional velocity spectra (i.e. computed using hyperbolae) can be improved using a nonhyperbolic traveltime approximation with only two terms.

4D seismic is a valuable tool for reservoir monitoring and improved reservoir management. With the introduction of intelligent completion systems arizes the opportunity of a continuous monitoring of the near wellbore formations from the well. Future intelligent well completions may include high-frequency downhole source and sensors to be utilized for active and passive seismic reservoir monitoring. The advantage of such a system lies in its excellent repeatability and high resolution, resulting in more sensitive and detailed reservoir observation and formation evaluation. Specific benefits are monitoring of fluid/gas contact zone movements as gas/water coning, improved reservoir characterization, and optimization of reservoir drainage. Finite difference seismic modeling was performed to illustrate the advantages and challenges related to continuous in-well reservoir monitoring. The reservoir model was based on log, core and production data, as well as geological information. Rock physical calculations were performed to relate expected variations of reservoir pore fillings to changes in seismic properties. The time-lapse seismograms reveal important features of high-frequency seismic monitoring. Due to high repeatability even small changes in seismic contrast can be resolved at a small scale, hence in-well seismic data provide detailed reservoir information to be combined with conventional 4D seismic results. Moreover, new processing requirements are identified.

Statoil commenced in autumn 1996 disposal of CO2 gas into a shallow water saturated marine sand formation located in the Norwegian North Sea Sleipner area

Anaphylactic reactions after consumption of squid by patients sensitized to house dust mites have been reported several times.A child allergic to dust mites developed an angioneurotic edema after eating squid. An immunoallergological assessment, including the prick test, labial test and IgE RAST revealed an allergy associated to both dust mites and squid.In light of the potential seriousness of anaphylactic reactions, parents of children allergic to dust mites and these children should be made aware of the increased risk of allergies to squid that they may face.

In conventional reflection seismic, data are usually stacked along hyperbolae. The hyperbolic approximation for reflection traveltimes is valid for small offset-to-depth ratios in media with weakly dipping reflectors.

Full-waveform inversion by modelling and data fitting depends on the criterion chosen to measure the misfit between observed and modelled data.

Migration images are sensitive to errors in the velocity macromodel. To analyze the effects of velocity errors, we derive analytical formulae of the image of a horizontal plane reflector in a homogeneous macromodel, obtained by migration with an incorrect velocity. We let the velocities be complex and frequency dependent (viscoacoustic model), so that the analysis also describes the effects of errors in the attenuation macromodel.

We present a method to compute P-P and P-S AVO attributes from the vertical and horizontal components of the particle velocity measured at the sea bottom.

Anaphylactic reactions after consumption of snails by patients sensitized to house-dust mites have been reported several times.Two 8- and 10-year old children sensitized to house-dust mites developed Quincke's oedema after eating snails. Immunoallergologic investigations including pricks-test, labial test, IgE Rast confirmed associated allergy between snails and house dust mites.Considering the potential severity of anaphylactic reactions, it is necessary to warn children allergic to house dust mites and their parents about the high risk of associated allergy with snails.

The authors report a sery of 16 cases of intolerance to the benzoates in children. Sixteen children (9 boys and 7 girls) were directed to the Hospital of Tarbes from June 1995 to July 1995, for recurring urticaria (7/16) combined with asthma (1/16), atopic eczema (2/16), dermorespiratory syndrome (2/16) and asthma (1/16). All were subject to an immunological examination comprising alimentation inquiry, prick test, IgE determination, RAST, oral provocation test to benzoates, which establishes the diagnosis, whose confirmation is certified by the benefit of the food eviction. To conclusion, the authors underline several points: the presumable underestimation of the intolerance, the often mentioned atopic familial context, the observed pathology (urticaria, asthma, eczema), the importance of the provocation test. Finally, besides food such as grey shrimps, sodas and antibiotic syrups, one finds benzoates in the antiallergic syrups initially prescribed as a preventive measure.

Some foods and drug additives may induce allergic reactions.A girl with a family history of asthma in both parents developed asthma in her early life. She was successfully given continuous bronchodilator therapy until the age of 7 years. At that time, she had more frequent and severe exacerbations (8 within 10 months) despite reinforced continuous treatment. Oral challenges with bisulfite and sodium benzoate, both additives abundantly ingested by the patient, revealed heightened sensitivity to administration of sodium benzoate. Avoidance of this additive was followed by complete and prolonged disappearance of episodes of coughing and wheezing.Adverse reactions to benzoate in this patient required avoidance of some drugs, some of those classically prescribed under the form of syrups in asthma.

Seismic inversion by modeling and data fitting in arbitrary acoustic or elastic media is a well-known method for getting information about the interior of the earth. In real absorbing media, however, the propagation and scattering of waves become frequency dependent. This leads to a distortion of the seismic signals which will degrade the result of inversion. We present a method for inversion in arbitrary viscoacoustic media, which compensates for the distortion due to both propagation and scattering.

The glycoproteic hormones, LH and FSH, circulate under heterogenous molecular forms, the isoforms. The more acidic isoforms of FSH are found in hypogonadic patients and a displacement towards the basic forms is observed during substitutive treatment.A 13 year-old girl with Turner syndrome was examined for pubertal delay. Ultrasonography failed to see both ovaries and endocrine investigations showed a type P1 response (LH-RH test using immunological method). Control of hormonal levels by a polyclonal immunoenzymatic method confirmed primary hypogonadism.Radioimmunological methods using monoclonal antibodies can underevaluate FSH and LH levels under circumstances in which the distribution of isoforms may vary. Discrepancy must lead to the measure of gonadotrophins using polyclonal immunoenzymatic methods.