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Altres ajuts: D.M.C. and D.F. acknowledge awarded ALBA synchrotron beamtimes (Proposals 2018022677 and 2019023346), Mistral beamline staff for assistance in cryo-SXT experiments and CALIPSOplus funding for Proposal 2019023346. We acknowledge Soleil Synchrotron for beamtime awarded (Proposal 20191124) for experiments on the Hermes beamline (STXM-XMCD). Over the last few decades, symbiosis and the concept of holobiont-a host entity with a population of symbionts-have gained a central role in our understanding of life functioning and diversification. Regardless of the type of partner interactions, understanding how the biophysical properties of each individual symbiont and their assembly may generate collective behaviors at the holobiont scale remains a fundamental challenge. This is particularly intriguing in the case of the newly discovered magnetotactic holobionts (MHB) whose motility relies on a collective magnetotaxis (i.e., a magnetic field-assisted motility guided by a chemoaerotaxis system). This complex behavior raises many questions regarding how magnetic properties of symbionts determine holobiont magnetism and motility. Here, a suite of light-, electron- and X-ray-based microscopy techniques [including X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD)] reveals that symbionts optimize the motility, the ultrastructure, and the magnetic properties of MHBs from the microscale to the nanoscale. In the case of these magnetic symbionts, the magnetic moment transferred to the host cell is in excess (102 to 103 times stronger than free-living magnetotactic bacteria), well above the threshold for the host cell to gain a magnetotactic advantage. The surface organization of symbionts is explicitly presented herein, depicting bacterial membrane structures that ensure longitudinal alignment of cells. Magnetic dipole and nanocrystalline orientations of magnetosomes were also shown to be consistently oriented in the longitudinal direction, maximizing the magnetic moment of each symbiont. With an excessive magnetic moment given to the host cell, the benefit provided by magnetosome biomineralization beyond magnetotaxis can be questioned.

Background Recently the distal radial access (DRA) technique has been introduced for coronary angiography and intervention as an alternative to the conventional radial access (RA). Purpose The aim of this study was to provide a quantitative appraisal of the effects of DRA vs conventional RA for coronary angiography with or without intervention. Methods The PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and ClinicalTrials.gov databases were searched for randomised clinical trials (RCT) comparing DRA versus RA for coronary angiography and/or intervention. Data were pooled by meta-analysis using a random-effects model. The number of patients needed to treat for an additional beneficial outcome (NNTB) and the number needed to treat for an additional harmful outcome (NNTH) were calculated. The primary endpoint was radial artery occlusion (RAO) at the longest available follow-up. Additional secondary outcomes were assessed. Results A total of 13 RCT including 4,901 patients were identified and included in the final analysis. Coronary angiography alone was performed in 3 studies, percutaneous coronary intervention was performed in a variable proportion of patients ranging from 24% to 100% across studies. Study population included patients with chronic coronary syndrome in the large majority, and the proportion of acute coronary syndrome ranged from to 31% to 100% across studies. Compared with RA, DRA was associated with a significant lower risk of RAO, either detected at the longest follow-up (risk ratio [RR]: 0.36; 95% CI: 0.23 to 0.58; p Conclusions Compared with RA, DRA is associated with lower risks of RAO and EASY ≥ II hematoma, but requires longer time for radial artery puncture and sheath insertion, more puncture attempts and a higher access site crossover. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: None.

Background Noninvasive functional imaging is often performed in patients with obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) on coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA). However, the prognostic value of stress cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) is unknown in patients with coronary stenosis of unknown significance on CCTA. Purpose To assess the prognostic value of stress CMR in symptomatic patients with obstructive CAD of unknown significance on CCTA. Methods Between 2008–2020, consecutive symptomatic patients without known CAD referred for CCTA were screened. Patients with obstructive CAD (at least 1 ≥50% stenosis on CCTA) were further referred for stress CMR and followed for the occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), defined by cardiovascular death or nonfatal myocardial infarction. Results Of 2,210 patients who completed CMR, 2,038 (46.5% male, mean age 69.8±12.2 years) completed follow-up (median 6.8 [IQR 5.9–9.2] years); 281 experienced a MACE (13.8%). Inducible ischemia and late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) were significantly associated with MACE (HR: 4.51, [95% CI: 3.55–5.74]; and HR: 3.32, [95% CI: 2.55–4.32], respectively; p70% stenosis, with noncalcified plaques and number of vessels with obstructive CAD were prognosticators (p Conclusions In symptomatic patients with obstructive CAD of unknown significance on CCTA, stress CMR had incremental prognostic value to predict MACE. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: None.

Magnetotactic bacteria (MTB) are a diverse group of microorganisms that use intracellular chains of ferrimagnetic nanocrystals, produced within their magnetosome organelles, to align and navigate along the geomagnetic field. The cell biological and biochemical properties of magnetosomes make them a powerful model for studying the molecular mechanisms of biomineralization and compartmentalization in bacteria. While several conserved magnetosome formation genes have been described, the evolutionary strategies for their species-specific diversification remain unknown. Here, we demonstrate that the fragmented nature of magnetosome chains in Magnetospirillum magneticum AMB-1 is controlled by two genes named mcaA and mcaB. McaA recognizes the positive curvature of the inner cell membrane while McaB localises to magnetosomes. Along with the MamK actin-like cytoskeleton, they create space for addition of new magnetosomes in between pre-existing magnetosomes. Phylogenetic analyses suggest that McaAB homologs are widespread and may represent an ancient strategy for organelle positioning in MTB.

Resume Introduction La denutrition augmente la morbi-mortalite postoperatoire. L’objectif etait d’evaluer la renutrition preoperatoire chez les patients denutris a risque de syndrome de renutrition inappropriee (SRI). Methodologie Etude retrospective, entre juin 2016 et janvier 2017, comparant 2 groupes de patients denutris : un groupe patients renutris (PR) et un groupe non renutris (PNR). Les criteres d’inclusion etaient la perte ponderale de plus de 10 % ou une albuminemie inferieure a 35 g/L et un facteur de risque SRI. Le critere de jugement principal etait la morbidite postoperatoire. Les criteres de jugements secondaires etaient l’evolution ponderale et l’albuminemie sur 6 mois. Resultats Soixante-treize patients (30 PR et 43 PNR) ont ete inclus. Au moment de la prise en charge, la mediane de perte de poids etait de 18 % [1–71], l’albuminemie a 26 g/L [13–40] dans le groupe PR et 32,5 g/L [32–48] dans le groupe PNR (p = 0,01). Le taux global de morbidite postoperatoire etaient de 88 % avec 83 % dans le groupe PR versus 90 % dans le groupe PNR (p = 0,47). Le taux de complications anastomotiques etait de 4 % pour les PR contre 26 % pour les PNR (p = 0,03) apres exclusion des chirurgies hepatiques. La perte de poids a moyen terme avait tendance a etre superieure chez les PR (p = 0,7). Un soutien nutritionnel etait poursuivi jusqu’au troisieme mois postoperatoire chez 13 % des PR contre aucun des PNR (p = 0,0002). Conclusion Apres renutrition preoperatoire, nous n’avons pas observe une diminution de la morbidite, mais une diminution du taux de complications anastomotiques en faveur du groupe PR. L’etude souligne l’importance sur le moyen terme d’une prise en charge nutritionnelle afin de preserver les benefices d’une renutrition preoperatoire.

Magnetotactic bacteria (MTB) are microorganisms thriving mostly at oxic–anoxic boundaries of aquatic habitats. MTB are efficient in biomineralising or sequestering diverse elements intracellularly, which makes them potentially important actors in biogeochemical cycles. Lake Pavin is a unique aqueous system populated by a wide diversity of MTB with two communities harbouring the capability to sequester not only iron under the form of magnetosomes but also phosphorus and magnesium under the form of polyphosphates, or calcium carbonates, respectively. MTB thrive in the water column of Lake Pavin over a few metres along strong redox and chemical gradients representing a series of different microenvironments. In this study, we investigate the relative abundance and the vertical stratification of the diverse populations of MTB in relation to environmental parameters, by using a new method coupling a precise sampling for geochemical analyses, MTB morphotype description, and in situ measurement of the physicochemical parameters. We assess the ultrastructure of MTB as a function of depth using light and electron microscopy. We evidence the biogeochemical niche of magnetotactic cocci, capable of sequestering large PolyP inclusions below the oxic–anoxic transition zone. Our results suggest a tight link between the S and P metabolisms of these bacteria and pave the way to better understand the implication of MTB for the P cycle in stratified environmental conditions.

Earth's radiation budget and frequency and intensity of precipitation are influenced by aerosols with ice nucleation activity (INA), i.e., particles that catalyze the formation of ice. Some bacteria, fungi, and pollen are among the most efficient ice nucleators but the molecular basis of INA is poorly understood in most of them. Lysinibacillus parviboronicapiens (Lp) was previously identified as the first Gram-positive bacterium with INA. INA of Lp is associated with a secreted, nanometer-sized, non-proteinaceous macromolecule or particle. Here a combination of comparative genomics, transcriptomics, and a mutant screen showed that INA in Lp depends on a type I iterative polyketide synthase and a non-ribosomal peptide synthetase (PKS-NRPS). Differential filtration in combination with gradient ultracentrifugation revealed that the product of the PKS-NRPS is associated with secreted particles of a density typical of extracellular vesicles and electron microscopy showed that these particles consist in "pearl chain"-like structures not resembling any other known bacterial structures. These findings expand our knowledge of biological INA, may be a model for INA in other organisms for which the molecular basis of INA is unknown, and present another step towards unraveling the role of microbes in atmospheric processes.

Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. BACKGROUND Current guidelines recommend to perform noninvasive functional imaging in patients with obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) on coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA). However, the prognostic value of stress cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) over traditional risk factors and CCTA is not known. PURPOSE To assess the incremental prognostic value of stress CMR beyond traditional risk factors and CCTA in patients with obstructive CAD on CCTA. METHODS Between 2008 and 2020, consecutive symptomatic patients without known CAD referred for CCTA were screened. Among those, patients with obstructive CAD (at least 1 ≥50% stenosis on CCTA) and referred for functional stress CMR were included and followed for the occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), defined by cardiovascular death or nonfatal myocardial infarction. Univariable and multivariable Cox regressions were performed to determine the prognostic value of CCTA and CMR findings. RESULTS Of 2,210 patients who completed the CMR protocol, 2,038 patients (46.5% male, mean age 69.8 ± 12.2 years) completed the follow-up (median 6.8 [IQR 5.9-9.2] years); 281 experienced a MACE (13.8%). Stress CMR was well tolerated without severe adverse events. Using Kaplan-Meier analysis, inducible ischemia and late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) were significantly associated with the occurrence of MACE (hazard ratio, HR: 4.51, [95%CI: 3.55-5.74]; and HR: 3.32, [95%CI: 2.55-4.32], respectively; both p CONCLUSIONS In symptomatic patients with obstructive CAD of unknown significance on CCTA, stress CMR has an incremental prognostic value to predict MACE over traditional risk factors and CCTA findings. Abstract Figure. Kaplan-Meier curves for MACE Abstract Figure. Competitive risk analysis

Purpose This work presents our contribution to a data challenge organized by the French Radiology Society during the Journees Francophones de Radiologie in October 2018. This challenge consisted in classifying MR images of the knee with respect to the presence of tears in the knee menisci, on meniscal tear location, and meniscal tear orientation. Materials and methods We trained a mask region-based convolutional neural network (R-CNN) to explicitly localize normal and torn menisci, made it more robust with ensemble aggregation, and cascaded it into a shallow ConvNet to classify the orientation of the tear. Results Our approach predicted accurately tears in the database provided for the challenge. This strategy yielded a weighted AUC score of 0.906 for all three tasks, ranking first in this challenge. Conclusion The extension of the database or the use of 3D data could contribute to further improve the performances especially for non-typical cases of extensively damaged menisci or multiple tears.

We study experimentally the effect of linear plasma density gradients on the self-modulation of a 400\,GeV proton bunch. Results show that a positive/negative gradient in/decreases the number of micro-bunches and the relative charge per micro-bunch observed after 10\,m of plasma. The measured modulation frequency also in/decreases. With the largest positive gradient we observe two frequencies in the modulation power spectrum. Results are consistent with changes in wakefields' phase velocity due to plasma density gradient adding to the slow wakefields' phase velocity during self-modulation growth predicted by linear theory., Comment: 14 pages, 4 figures

A minimally invasive transverse beam profile monitor based on supersonic gas curtain technology and beam-induced fluorescence has been developed and demonstrated. The concept presented can be used to measure both the profile of the proton beam in the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) and the concentricity of the electron and the proton beams in the LHC hollow electron lens. In this Letter, the performance of such a monitor for a low energy electron beam is discussed, which paves the way for its wider implementation.

We study experimentally the longitudinal and transverse wakefields driven by a highly relativistic proton bunch during self-modulation in plasma. We show that the wakefields' growth and amplitude increase with increasing seed amplitude as well as with the proton bunch charge in the plasma. We study transverse wakefields using the maximum radius of the proton bunch distribution measured on a screen downstream from the plasma. We study longitudinal wakefields by externally injecting electrons and measuring their final energy. Measurements agree with trends predicted by theory and numerical simulations and validate our understanding of the development of self-modulation. Experiments were performed in the context of the Advanced Wakefield Experiment (AWAKE)., 4 figures

Publié sous le titre "Nutrition préopératoire des patients sévèrement dénutris en chirurgie digestive : étude rétrospective"; International audience; Introduction: Malnutrition increases postoperative morbidity and mortality. The objective of this study was to evaluate preoperative refeeding in malnourished patients at risk of refeeding syndrome (RS).Methodology: A retrospective study, conducted between June 2016 and January 2017, reported to the CNIL, compared two groups of malnourished patients: a group of refeeding patients (RP) and a group of non-refeeding patients (NRP). The inclusion criteria were weight loss of more than 10% or albuminemia less than 35g/L and RS risk factor. The primary endpoint was postoperative morbidity. The secondary endpoints were weight change and serum albumin over 6 months.Results: Seventy-three patients (30 RP and 43 NRP) were included. At the time of initial management, median weight loss was 18% [1-71], while albuminemia was 26g/L [13-40] in the RP group and 32.5g/L [32-48] in the NRP group (P=0.01). The overall postoperative morbidity rate was 88% (83% RP versus 90% NRP, P=0.47), and there was no significant difference between the 2 groups. The rate of anastomotic complications was 4% for RP versus 26% for NRP (P=0.03) after exclusion of liver surgery. Medium-term weight loss tended to be greater in RP (P=0.7). Nutritional support was continued until the third postoperative month in 13% of RPs vs. no NRPs (P=0.0002).Conclusion: After preoperative renutrition, we did not observe a decrease in morbidity but rather a decrease in the rate of anastomotic complications in favor of the RP group. This study underscores the middle-term importance of nutritional management in view of preserving the benefits of preoperative renutrition.; INTRODUCTION: La dénutrition augmente la morbi-mortalité postopératoire. L’objectif était d’évaluer la renutrition préopératoire chez les patients dénutris à risque de syndrome de renutrition inappropriée (SRI).METHODOLOGIE: Etude rétrospective, entre juin 2016 et janvier 2017, comparant 2 groupes de patients dénutris : un groupe patients renutris (PR) et un groupe non renutris (PNR). Les critères d’inclusion étaient la perte pondérale de plus de 10% ou une albuminémie inférieure à 35 g/l et un facteur de risque SRI. Les critères de jugements principaux étaient la morbidité postopératoire. Les critères de jugements secondaires étaient l’évolution pondérale et l’albuminémie sur 6 mois.RESULTATS: Nous avons inclus 73 patients (30 PR et 43 PNR). La médiane de perte de poids était de 18% [1-71], l’albuminémie à 26 g/l [13-40] dans le groupe PR et 32,5 g/l [32-48] dans le groupe PNR (p=0,01). Le taux global de morbidité postopératoire étaient de 88% avec 83 % dans le groupe PR versus 90 % dans le groupe PNR (p=0,47). Le taux de complications anastomotiques était de 4% pour les PR contre 26% pour les PNR (p=0,03) après exclusion des chirurgies hépatiques. La perte de poids à moyen terme avait tendance à être supérieure chez les PR (p= 0,7). Un soutien nutritionnel était poursuivi jusqu'au troisième mois postopératoire chez 13% des PR contre aucun des PNR (p=0,0002).CONCLUSION: Après renutrition préopératoire, nous n’avons pas observé une diminution de la morbidité mais une diminution du taux de complications anastomotiques en faveur du groupe PR. L'étude souligne l’importance sur le moyen terme d’une prise en charge nutritionnelle afin de préserver les bénéfices d’une renutrition préopératoire.

Purpose This work presents our contribution to one of the data challenges organized by the French Radiology Society during the Journees Francophones de Radiologie. This challenge consisted in segmenting the kidney cortex from coronal computed tomography (CT) images, cropped around the cortex. Materials and methods We chose to train an ensemble of fully-convolutional networks and to aggregate their prediction at test time to perform the segmentation. An image database was made available in 3 batches. A first training batch of 250 images with segmentation masks was provided by the challenge organizers one month before the conference. An additional training batch of 247 pairs was shared when the conference began. Participants were ranked using a Dice score. Results The segmentation results of our algorithm match the renal cortex with a good precision. Our strategy yielded a Dice score of 0.867, ranking us first in the data challenge. Conclusion The proposed solution provides robust and accurate automatic segmentations of the renal cortex in CT images although the precision of the provided reference segmentations seemed to set a low upper bound on the numerical performance. However, this process should be applied in 3D to quantify the renal cortex volume, which would require a marked labelling effort to train the networks.

We measure the effects of transverse wakefields driven by a relativistic proton bunch in plasma with densities of 2.1×1014 and 7.7×1014 electrons/cm3. We show that these wakefields periodically defocus the proton bunch itself, consistently with the development of the seeded self-modulation process. We show that the defocusing increases both along the bunch and along the plasma by using time resolved and time-integrated measurements of the proton bunch transverse distribution. We evaluate the transverse wakefield amplitudes and show that they exceed their seed value (

Mutualistic symbioses are often a source of evolutionary innovation and drivers of biological diversification

As the French population is aging, a growing number of elderly patients with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis are going to require therapeutic management. Approximately 30 to 40 % of these patients do not undergo surgical treatment and a high proportion is considered to be at high risk for surgery. The transluminal aortic valve implantation technique has been increasingly used over the past few years, thus providing a solution to a major therapeutic issue in our industrialized countries. Thanks to major randomized studies such as the PARTNER US trial, this treatment has been approved for high-risk patients. Expertise and new devices are now opening the way to intermediate risk population.

Resume La denervation renale par voie endovasculaire est une methode nouvelle qui permet la destruction de fibres nerveuses sympathiques qui cheminent dans l’adventice des arteres renales. Une etude clinique randomisee a montre une baisse de la pression arterielle chez des hypertendus resistants aux medicaments antihypertenseurs. Plusieurs societes savantes francaises regroupant des specialistes de l’hypertension arterielle, de la cardiologie et de la radiologie interventionnelle ont souhaite fournir des reperes et des regles de bon usage aux medecins cliniciens et interventionnels concernant cette methode. En 2012, le consensus d’expert limite l’indication de la technique de denervation renale aux patients qui ont une HTA essentielle non controlee sous quadritherapie ou plus, avec un traitement comportant au moins un diuretique, la spironolactone a la dose de 25 mg ayant ete inefficace, avec au moins une PAS > 160 mm Hg et/ou une PAD > 100 mm Hg en consultation et la confirmation d’une PAS > 135 mm Hg et d’une PAD > 85 mm Hg en automesure ou par MAPA (periode diurne), avec anatomie des arteres renales compatible avec l’intervention (deux reins fonctionnels, absence d’antecedents d’angioplastie). La denervation renale est une intervention complexe pouvant presenter des risques de complication arterielle et une formation est necessaire pour l’utilisation du materiel specifique. Le traitement antihypertenseur ne sera pas interrompu dans les suites immediates du geste de denervation renale car l’effet sur la baisse de la pression arterielle est retarde et atteint son effet maximum apres trois mois. La surveillance de la pression arterielle, de la fonction renale et de l’anatomie des arteres renales est necessaire apres 12 mois et 36 mois. Le consensus d’expert impose l’inclusion dans un registre specifique de tous les patients ayant beneficie en France de la technique de denervation renale.

The extensive array of beam instrumentation with which the LHC is equipped, has played a major role in its commissioning, rapid intensity ramp-up and safe and reliable operation. High Luminosity LHC (HL-LHC) brings with it a number of new challenges in terms of beam instrumentation that will be discussed in this chapter. The beam loss system will need significant upgrades in order to be able to cope with the demands of HL-LHC, with cryogenic beam loss monitors under investigation for deployment in the new inner triplet magnets to distinguish between primary beam losses and collision debris. Radiation tolerant integrated circuits are also being developed to allow the front-end electronics to sit much closer to the detector. Upgrades to other existing systems are also envisaged; including the beam position measurement system in the interaction regions and the addition of a halo measurement capability to synchrotron light diagnostics. Additionally, several new diagnostic systems are under investigation, such as very high bandwidth pick-ups and a streak camera installation, both able to perform intra-bunch measurements of transverse position on a turn by turn basis.

As the French population is aging, a growing number of elderly patients with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis are going to require therapeutic management. Approximately 30 to 40 % of these patients do not undergo surgical treatment and a high proportion is considered to be at high risk for surgery. The transluminal aortic valve implantation technique has been increasingly used over the past few years, thus providing a solution to a major therapeutic issue in our industrialized countries. Thanks to major randomized studies such as the PARTNER US trial, this treatment has been approved for high-risk patients. Expertise and new devices are now opening the way to intermediate risk population.

Critical power and critical swimming speed (CSS) are mathematically defined as intensities that could theoretically be maintained indefinitely without exhaustion. Several investigations have been conducted to attribute a physiological meaning to these variables, but results in swimming remain equivocal. Thus, the purpose of this study was to compare CSS with direct determination of the speed at maximal lactate steady state (S (MLSS)). Eight well-trained swimmers (aged 18.6 +/- 1.9 years) performed four tests to exhaustion (95, 100, 105, and 110 % of maximal aerobic speed [MAS]) in order to determine CSS from the distance-time relationship. S (MLSS) was determined from four sub-maximal 30-min constant intensity tests (ranging from 75 % to 90 % MAS). CSS (92.7 +/- 2.6 % MAS) was significantly higher than S (MLSS) (88.3 +/- 2.9 % of MAS) and the bias +/- 95 % limits of agreement for comparisons between CSS and S (MLSS) (0.07 +/- 0.13 m x s(-1)) indicated that the extent of disagreement was too great to use these two variables interchangeably. However, CSS and S (MLSS) were strongly correlated (r = 0.87; SEE = 0.033 m x s(-1); p < 0.01). Results from the present study demonstrate that in swimming, CSS does not represent the maximal speed that can be maintained without a continuous rise of blood lactate concentration and direct determination of S (MLSS) is necessary if precision is required in experimental studies.

In order to increase or maintain speed at sub-maximal intensities, well-trained swimmers have an increase in their stroke rate, thus a decrease in their stroke. The purposes of this study were i) to ascertain whether the maximal speed from which the stroke length decreases significantly (SSLdrop) corresponds to the maximal lactate steady state swimming speed (SMLSS), and ii) to examine the effect of the exercise duration on the stroking parameters above, below, and at SMLSS. Eleven male well-trained swimmers performed an all-out 400-m front crawl test to estimate maximal aerobic speed (MAS) and four sub-maximal 30-min tests (75, 80, 85, and 90 % MAS) to determine SMLSS and SSLdrop and to analyse the evolution of the stroking parameters throughout these tests. SMLSS (88.9 +/- 3.3 % MAS) and SSLdrop (87.3 +/- 4.5 % MAS) were not significantly different from each other (p=0.41) and were highly correlated (r=0.88; p0.001). Moreover, a slight stroke rate increase, and a stroke length decrease, were observed above S (MLSS) but were only significant for the 5 swimmers unable to maintain this speed for 30 min (p0.05). During the 30-min tests swum below and at SMLSS, a steady state of stroking parameters was statistically reported. Thus, SMLSS seems to represent not only a physiological transition threshold between heavy and severe sub-maximal intensities but also a biomechanical boundary beyond which the stroke length becomes compromised.

The paper presents application of marginal cost-based pricing of transmission services which is based on the use of bus incremental cost, in a real network of Philippines, and investigates the relationship between marginal network revenue and the transmission utility's (Transco) revenue requirement. The network income derived from marginal cost pricing fell below Transco's revenue requirement thus necessitating for supplementary charges. The paper proposes an allocation method that allocates supplementary charges based on the user's contribution to incremental flow. This method is applied to allocate the remaining network costs not covered under marginal pricing, and the results are compared with the traditional postage stamp method.

The electricity industry throughout the world is currently undergoing a significant transition towards restructuring and deregulation. Following this new legislation, Thailand has initiated an institutional and structural reform with a belief that this could be the best way forward for the Thai electricity supply industry (ESI) to improve efficiency, lower electricity prices, and tackle financial debts. This paper presents an analysis of the extent to which prices for generation services in a competitive market may differ from regulated electricity prices, if competitive prices are based on marginal costs and regulated prices are based on average costs, by using Thailand as a case study.

Effects of a-tocopherol ( a-T) and a-tocopheryl acetate ( a-TA) on dipalmiroyl-ph-phatidylcholine (DPPC ) multilayers have been investigated by Fourier transform infrared and Raman spectroscopies. Earlier results have been confirmed by the temperature profiles built with the Raman intensity height ratios R = I2880/I~~~~ and r = 12935/12880; both a-T and a-TA broaden the main phase transition, and the onset of the transition temperature T, decreases as the concentration of a-T and a-TA increases. Effects are weaker in the case of a-TA. It has been shown that the chain packing is diminished in the gel phase and that gauche rotamer formation is promoted by a-T, and to a smaller extent by a-TA. The number of gauche bonds introduced by a-T and a-TA has been estimated by the measure of the intensity of the CH2 waggingprogression modes. It seems also, that in the gel phase, a-T slightly increases the methyl end chain mobility, while a-TA decreases it. Moreover, a-T perturbs the infrared (IR) carbonyl stretching vibration (vc=o) of DPPC, whereas aTA does not. This perturbation, which can explain the thermotropic behavior of DPPC/ a-T multilayers, may have three origins: H-bonds between a-T and DPPC, conformational changes of the interfacial region, or increase of the hydration (possibility of dihydrates) . For comparison, IR vc=o spectra of palmiroyl-oleyl-phosphatidylcholine (POPC) have been recorded as well. POPC certainly has a different conformation of the glycerol backbone than DPPC, with a larger molecular area. The example of POPC proves that H-bonds, which certainly occur in a DPPC/a-T mixture, are not the single explanation for changes appearing in the interfacial region of DPPC multilayers, on incorporation of a-T. In any case, a-T seems to locate nearer the polar region of the membrane than a-TA, as seen by IR and Raman spectroscopy. 0 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Applications of expert systems have been flourishing in the field of strategic planning. For the energy sector, a number of expert systems have been developed for carrying out various tasks such as system design, diagnosis and trouble shooting, demand forecast and planning. A review of existing expert systems in the energy sector in general and in energy planning in particular, shows that they have mostly concentrated on the most pressing problems involving load forecast, investment planning, transmission and distribution network design, operation control, etc., in the power sector, while very few have been implemented for supporting energy planning processes. This paper presents an expert system developed for supporting the evaluation of selected variables of the medee-s , a powerful energy demand forecast model. The system was developed using the vp -Expert knowledge-based shell.

Aqueous solution of OPPC multilayers was studied by Raman scattering in a wide range of temperatures. A polymorphism similar to that of oleic acid was encountered. In particular, the LcII and LcI forms were identified. This polymorphism is largely due to the double bond of the oleyl chain in the sn-1 position. It was shown that the LcII form of OPPC has a greater packing that the rippled phase of saturated lipid DPPC.

Arterial hypertension is the largest single contributor to global mortality, and is poorly controlled in approximately 50% of patients despite lifestyle and pharmacologic interventions. Randomized clinical trials have demonstrated that catheter-based renal sympathetic denervation reduces blood pressure (BP) in patients with resistant hypertension. We sought to evaluate the efficacy of this novel therapy in "Real World" clinical practice. Consecutive patients with treatment-resistant primary hypertension, as defined as home BP160 mmHg despite treatment with ≥3 antihypertensive drugs, were selected for denervation following renal artery screening. Ambulatory and home BP monitoring was performed in all patients prior to and following percutaneous renal sympathetic denervation. In total, 35 patients were selected for catheter-based renal sympathetic denervation. The mean age was 63.6 ± 11.7 years, 37.1% were women, 37.1% were diabetic, and 11.4% had renal impairment (GFR45 mL/min). The basal BP (home or ambulatory) was 179.1 ± 20.75/99.66 ± 19.76 mmHg, despite an average of 4.91 ± 0.98 medications per patient. Successful bilateral sympathetic denervation was performed in 33/35 patients (1 renal artery stenosis on angiography [not ablated], 1 patient with renal artery spasm [unilateral denervation]), with an average 5.9 ± 1.6 ablations per renal artery. No procedural complications occurred. At 6 months, blood pressure was 15.5 ± 22.37/87.76 ± 13.97 mmHg (P0.01). At 2 years follow-up, systolic blood pressure (ABPM or Home BP) was 143.8 ± 15.30 mmHg (P0.0001) and diastolic 83.42 ± 12.80 mmHg (P=0.0004). There were no adverse events during follow-up, and no deterioration in renal function was observed. Catheter-based renal denervation is safe and efficacious treatment, which results in significant reductions in blood pressure in patients with treatment-resistant hypertension, stable at 2 years follow-up. These results are applicable to real-world patient populations.

The Tile Calorimeter, covering the central region of the ATLAS experiment up to pseudorapidities of +/-1.7, is a sampling device built with scintillating tiles that alternate with iron plates. The light is collected in wave-length shifting (WLS) fibers and is read out with photomultipliers. In the characteristic geometry of this calorimeter the tiles lie in planes perpendicular to the beams, resulting in a very simple and modular mechanical and optical layout. This paper focuses on the procedures applied in the optical instrumentation of the calorimeter, which involved the assembly of about 460,000 scintillator tiles and 550,000 WLS fibers. The outcome is a hadronic calorimeter that meets the ATLAS performance requirements, as shown in this paper.

This paper summarises the mechanical construction and installation of the Tile Calorimeter for the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider in CERN, Switzerland. The Tile Calorimeter is a sampling calorimeter using scintillator as the sensitive detector and steel as the absorber and covers the central region of the ATLAS experiment up to pseudorapidities ±1.7. The mechanical construction of the Tile Calorimeter occurred over a period of about 10 years beginning in 1995 with the completion of the Technical Design Report and ending in 2006 with the installation of the final module in the ATLAS cavern. During this period approximately 2600 metric tons of steel were transformed into a laminated structure to form the absorber of the sampling calorimeter. Following instrumentation and testing, which is described elsewhere, the modules were installed in the ATLAS cavern with a remarkable accuracy for a structure of this size and weight. © CERN 2013 for the benefit of the ATLAS collaboration.

Transradial intervention of coronary lesion is increasing in frequency and is associated with lower major vascular access site complications. However, the small size of the radial artery is a major limitation of this technique, especially for bifurcation lesions, because 6-French guiding catheters are necessary to optimize the technique. A Sheathless guiding catheter has recently been introduced, optimizing a large lumen with a small size.The aim of this study is to report our preliminary experience performing bifurcated transradial interventions using a 6.5 French Sheathless guide catheter.From March 2009 to February 2012 in three hospitals, 46 consecutive patients were enrolled in this study who underwent transradial approach (TRA) for percutaneous bifurcation coronary interventions using the 6.5 French Sheathless Eaucath guiding catheter system because of small radial artery caliber.In this study, 46 patients were enrolled with mean age of 72.13 ± 16.41 years. The majority of patients were females with sex-ratio 0.53. Procedural success using the 6.5 French Sheathless guide catheter system was 100 % with no cases requiring conversion to a conventional guide and catheter system. During procedures, adjunctive devices used in this cohort included IVUS (2 patients), 35 bifurcated lesions were treated with a kissing-balloon technique in the group of 46 patients undergoing bifurcation PCIs, one patient required rotational atherectomy, thrombus-aspiration catheters had used in four patients, FFR-guided angiography in four patients. We report one case of chronic total occlusion bifurcated lesion successfully treated using this hydrophilic catheter. There were no radial artery site complications.The treatment of coronary bifurcation lesions with 6.5 French Sheathless guiding catheter by transradial approach is feasible and appears safe in this multicenter study.