Ant genomics sheds light on the molecular regulation of social organization.

Ants are powerful model systems for the study of cooperation and sociality. In this review, we discuss how recent advances in ant genomics have contributed to our understanding of the evolution and organization of insect societies at the molecular level.

Interconnecting race and gender relations: racism, sexism and the attribution of sexism to the racialized Other

This article analyzes the way that attitudes about gender and race relations are interconnected. Based on a survey study conducted in Switzerland with a sample of 273 Swiss nationals (125 men and 148 women), it shows that the attribution of a higher level of sexism to "racialized Others" than to Swiss individuals is a racist process resulting in the justification and naturalization of the ordinary Swiss sexism seen in the gendered division of labor. However, this study also shows that the attribution of a higher level of sexism to the Other can be countered by simultaneously adopting both feminist and non-racist attitudes.

A first attempt of geographically-distributed Multi-scale integrated analysis of societal and ecosystem metabolism (MuSIASEM): mapping human time and energy throughput in metropolitan Barcelona

This study presents a first attempt to extend the “Multi-scale integrated analysis of societal and ecosystem metabolism (MuSIASEM)” approach to a spatial dimension using GIS techniques in the Metropolitan area of Barcelona. We use a combination of census and commercial databases along with a detailed land cover map to create a layer of Common Geographic Units that we populate with the local values of human time spent in different activities according to MuSIASEM hierarchical typology. In this way, we mapped the hours of available human time, in regards to the working hours spent in different locations, putting in evidence the gradients in spatial density between the residential location of workers (generating the work supply) and the places where the working hours are actually taking place. We found a strong three-modal pattern of clumps of areas with different combinations of values of time spent on household activities and on paid work. We also measured and mapped spatial segregation between these two activities and put forward the conjecture that this segregation increases with higher energy throughput, as the size of the functional units must be able to cope with the flow of exosomatic energy. Finally, we discuss the effectiveness of the approach by comparing our geographic representation of exosomatic throughput to the one issued from conventional methods.

Oil price shocks and labor market fluctuations

We examine the impact of real oil price shocks on labor market flows in the U.S. We first use smooth transition regression (STR) models to investigate to what extent oil prices can be considered as a driving force of labor market fluctuations. Then we develop and calibrate a modified version of Pissarides' (2000) model with energy costs, which we simulate in response to shocks mimicking the behavior of the actual oil price shocks. We find that (i) these shocks are an important driving force of job market flows; (ii) the job finding probability is the main transmission mechanism of such shocks; and (iii) they bring a new amplification mechanism for the volatility and should thus be seen as complementary of labor productivity shocks. Overall we conclude that shocks in oil prices cannot be neglected in explaining cyclical labor adjustments in the U.S.

Questioning the utility of RNA-DNA chimera in gene repair.

In principle, we should be glad that Eric Kmiec and his colleagues published in Science's STKE (1) a detailed experimental protocol of their gene repair method (2, 3). However, a careful reading of their contribution raises more doubts about the method. The research published in Science five years ago by Kmiec and his colleagues was said to demonstrate that chimeric RNA-DNA oligonucleotides could correct the mutation responsible for sickle cell anemia with 50% efficiency (4). Such a remarkable result prompted many laboratories to attempt to replicate the research or utilize the method on their own systems. However, if the method worked at all, which it rarely did, the achieved efficiency was usually lower by several orders of magnitude. Now, in the Science's STKE protocol, we are given crucial information about the method and why it is so important to utilize these expensive chimeric RNA-DNA constructs. In the introduction we are told that the RNA-DNA duplex is more stable than a DNA-DNA duplex and so extends the half-life of the complexes formed between the targeted DNA and the chimeric RNA-DNA oligonucleotides. This logical explanation, however, conflicts with the statement in the section entitled "Transfection with Oligonucleotides and Plasmid DNA" that Kmiec and colleagues have recently demonstrated that classical single-stranded DNA oligonucleotides with a few protective phosphothioate linkages have a "gene repair conversion frequency rivaling that of the RNA/DNA chimera". Indeed, the research cited for that result actually states that single-stranded DNA oligonucleotides are in fact several-fold more efficient (3.7-fold) than the RNA-DNA chimeric constructs (5). If that is the case, it raises the question of why Kmiec and colleagues emphasize the importance of the RNA in their original chimeric constructs. Their own new results show that modified single-stranded DNA oligonucleotides are more effective than the expensive RNA-DNA hybrids. Moreover, the current efficiency of the gene repair by RNA-DNA hybrids, according to Kmiec and colleagues in their recent paper is only 4×10-4 even after several hours of pre-selection permitting multiplification of bacterial cells with the corrected plasmid (5). This efficiency is much lower than the 50% value reported five years ago, but is assuredly much closer to the reality.

Interim analysis of the Reitan Catheter Pump (RCP) heart failure efficacy study: RCP improves cardiovascular and renal function in acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF)

Background: The RCP is a 14 French collapsable percutaneous cardiovascular support device positioned in the descending part of the thoracic aorta via the femoral artery. A 10 patient first in man study demonstrated device safety and significant improvement in renal function among high risk PCI patients. We now report haemodynamic and renal efficacy in patients with ADHF.Methods: Prospective non randomised study seeking to recruit 20 patients with ADHF with a need for inotropic or mechanical circulatory support with: i) EF < 30% ii)Cardiac index(CI) < 2.2 L / min / m2 Outcome measures included: 1) Cardiac index (CI) 2) Pulmonary Capillary Wedge Pressure (PCWP) 3) Urine output / serum creatinine 4) Vascular / device complications 5) 30 day mortalityResults: INTERIM ANALYSIS (n=12) The mean age of the study group was 64 years, with a mean baseline creatinine of 193 umol/L, eGFR 38 ml/min. The intended RCP treatment period was 24 hours. During RCP treatment there was a significant mean reduction of PCWP at 4 hours of 17% (25 to 21 mmHg p=0.04). Mean CI increased at 12 hours by 11%, though not reaching significance (1.78 to 1.96 L/min/m2 p=0.08). RCP insertion prompted substantial diuresis. Urine output tripled over the first 12 hours compared to baseline (55 ml/hr vs 213 ml/hr p=0.03). This was associated with significantly improved renal function, a 28% reduction in serum creatinine at 12 hours (193 to 151 umol/L p=0.003), and a increase in eGFR from 38 ml/min to 50 ml/min (p=0.0007). 2 patients previously refused cardiac transplantation were reassessed and successfully transplanted within 9 months of RCP treatment on the basis of demonstrable renal reversibility. There were no vascular or device complications. There were 2 deaths at 30 days, one from multi-organ failure and sepsis, and one from intractable heart failure - neither were device related.Conclusion: RCP support in ADHF patients was associated with improved haemodynamics, and an improvement in renal function. The Reitan Catheter Pump may have a role in providing percutaneous cardiovascular and renal support in the acutely decompensated cardiac patient, and may have a role in suggesting renal reversibility in potential cardiac transplant patients. Further data will be reported at recruitment completion.

Enhancement of autophagic flux after neonatal cerebral hypoxia-ischemia and its region-specific relationship to apoptotic mechanisms.

The multiplicity of cell death mechanisms induced by neonatal hypoxia-ischemia makes neuroprotective treatment against neonatal asphyxia more difficult to achieve. Whereas the roles of apoptosis and necrosis in such conditions have been studied intensively, the implication of autophagic cell death has only recently been considered. Here, we used the most clinically relevant rodent model of perinatal asphyxia to investigate the involvement of autophagy in hypoxic-ischemic brain injury. Seven-day-old rats underwent permanent ligation of the right common carotid artery, followed by 2 hours of hypoxia. This condition not only increased autophagosomal abundance (increase in microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3-11 level and punctuate labeling) but also lysosomal activities (cathepsin D, acid phosphatase, and beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase) in cortical and hippocampal CA3-damaged neurons at 6 and 24 hours, demonstrating an increase in the autophagic flux. In the cortex, this enhanced autophagy may be related to apoptosis since some neurons presenting a high level of autophagy also expressed apoptotic features, including cleaved caspase-3. On the other hand, enhanced autophagy in CA3 was associated with a more purely autophagic cell death phenotype. In striking contrast to CA3 neurons, those in CA1 presented only a minimal increase in autophagy but strong apoptotic characteristics. These results suggest a role of enhanced autophagy in delayed neuronal death after severe hypoxia-ischemia that is differentially linked to apoptosis according to the cerebral region.

Evolution, maintenance and ecological consequences of genetic caste determination in " Pogonomyrmex " harvester ants

Summary Division of labor between reproducers (queens) and helpers (workers) is the main characteristic of social insect societies and at the root of their ecological success. Kin selection models predict that phenotypic differences between queens and workers should result from environmental rather than from genetic differences. However, genetic effects on queen and worker differentiation were found in two populations-of Pogonomyrmex harvester ants. Each of the two populations is composed of two genetically distinct lineages. Queens (which can be of either lineage) generally mate with males of their own and of the alternate lineage and produce two types of female offspring, those fertilized by males of the queens' lineage which develop into queens and those fertilized by males of the alternate lineage which develop into workers. All four lineages were further suggested to be themselves of hybrid origin between-the species P: barbatus and P. rugosus, in which queens and workers do not differ genetically. In a first set of experiments, we tested if female caste determination (the differentiation into queens and workers) in the lineages was genetically hardwired and if it was associated with costs in terms of the ability to optimally allocate resources to the production of queens and workers. To this end we first mated queens of-two lineages to a single male. Queens mated to a male of the alternate lineage successfully raised worker offspring whereas queens mated to a male of their own lineage almost always failed to produce workers. This reveals that pure-lineage individuals have lost the ability to develop into workers. Second, we analyzed offspring produced by naturally mated queens. During the stage of colony founding when only workers are produced, naturally mated queens laid a high proportion of pure-lineage eggs but the large majority of these eggs failed to develop. As a consequence, the number of offspring produced by incipient colonies decreased linearly with the proportion of pure-lineage eggs laid by queens. Moreover, queens of the lineage most commonly represented in a given population produced more pure-lineage eggs, in line with the view that they mate randomly with the two types of males and indiscriminately use their sperm. Altogether these results predict frequency-dependent founding success for pairs of lineages because queens of the more common lineage will produce more pure-lineage eggs and their colonies be less successful during the stage of colony founding. To describe the distribution of populations characterized with genetic caste determination relative to the populations with environmental caste determination we genotyped queens and workers collected during a large survey of -additional populations. Genetic caste determination associated with pairs of interbreeding lineages was frequent and widespread in the studied range and we identified four additional lineages displaying genetic caste determination. Overall, there were thus eight highly differentiated lineages with genetic caste determination. These lineages always co-occurred in the same complementary lineage pairs. Three of the four lineage pairs appeared to have a common origin, while their relationship with the forth could not be resolved. The genetic survey also revealed that, in addition to being genetically isolated from one another, all eight lineages were genetically distinct from P. rugosus and P. barbatus, even when colonies of interbreeding lineages co-occurred with colonies of either putative parent at the same site. This raised the question of the mechanisms involved in the reproductive isolation between the lineages and the parental species and between the two lineages of a lineage pair. At a site where one lineage pair co-occurred with P. rugosus, we identified two pre-zygotic mechanisms (differences in timing for mating flights between P. rugosus and the lineage pair and assortative mating) and one post-zygotic mechanism (high levels of hybrid unviablility) which in combination may largely account for the reproductive isolation between the lineages and their parental species. The mechanisms accounting for the reproductive isolation between the two lineages of a lineage pair varied across lineage pairs. In one lineage pair, inter-lineage individuals exclusively occurred in the sterile worker caste, raising the possibility that inter-lineage eggs have completely lost the ability to develop into queens in this lineage pair and that there is thus no opportunity for gene flow. In each of the three remaining lineage pairs, inter-lineage queens were produced by a minority of colonies. In these lineage pairs, colonies headed by inter-lineage queens failed to grow sufficiently to produce reproductive individuals which may account for the reproductive isolation between co-occurring lineages in three lineage pairs. In conclusion, the results of this thesis show that genetic caste determination is costly but widespread in Pogonomyrmex harvester ants. Reproductive isolation among the lineages and between the lineages and the parental species as well as frequency-dependent founding success for co-occurring lineages may contribute to the persistence of this extraordinary system. Résumé La division du travail entre individus reproducteurs (les reines) et individus non-reproducteurs (ouvrières) représente la caractéristique principale des sociétés d'insectes et est à la base de leur succès écologique. Des modèles de sélection de parentèle prédisent que les différences phénotypiques entre reines et ouvrières devraient provenir d'effets environnementaux plutôt que de différences génétiques. Malgré ce fait, des effets génétiques sur la différentiation entre reines et ouvrières ont été montrés dans deux populations de fourmis moissonneuses du genre Pogonomyrmex. Chacune des deux populations est composée de deux lignées génétiquement distinctes. Les reines de chaque lignée s'accouplent en général avec des mâles de leur propre lignée ainsi qu'avec des mâles de l'autre lignée et produisent deux types d'oeufs, ceux qui sont fécondés par les mâles de leur propre lignée qui se développent en nouvelles reines et ceux qui sont fécondés par les mâles de l'autre lignée qui se développent en ouvrières. Il a été suggéré que les lignées sont elles-mêmes des hybrides entre les deux espèces P. barbatus et P. rugosus. Dans ces deux espèces, les reines et ouvrières ne sont pas génétiquement distinctes. Dans une première série d'expériences, nous avons testé si la détermination de la caste femelle (le développement en reine ou en ouvrière) est génétiquement rigide et si elle est associée à des coûts en terme de capacité à allouer de façon optimale les ressources pour la production de reines et d'ouvrières. Pour cela nous avons accouplé des reines de deux lignées avec un seul mâle. Les reines accouplées avec un mâle de l'autre lignée ont élevé de nouvelles ouvrières avec succès alors que les reines accouplées avec un mâle de leur propre lignée ont presque toujours échoué à produire des ouvrières. Ceci montre que les individus de lignée pure ont perdu la capacité de se développer en ouvrière. Deuxièmement, nous avons analysé la descendance de reines qui se sont accouplées naturellement. Durant le stade de fondation de la colonie, où seules des ouvrières sont élevées, les reines accouplées naturellement ont pondu une grande proportion d'oeufs de lignée pure mais la majorité de ces derniers ne se sont pas développés. En conséquence, le nombre de descendants produits par des colonies fondatrices diminuait linéairement avec la proportion des oeufs de lignée pure pondus par la reine en accord avec l'hypothèse que les reines s'accouplent au hasard avec les deux types de mâles et utilisent leur sperme aléatoirement. Dans l'ensemble; ces résultats prédisent un succès de fondation fréquence-dépendant pour les deux lignées, car les reines de la lignée la plus fréquente produiront .plus d'oeufs de lignée pure et leurs colonies auront moins de succès lors de la fondation de colonies par rapport aux colonies de la lignée la moins fréquente. Pour décrire la distribution des-populations caractérisées par une détermination génétique des castes par rapport aux populations caractérisées par une détermination environnementale des castes, nous avons génotypé des reines et des ouvrières qui ont été collectées lors d'une analyse de populations supplémentaires. La détermination génétique des castes associée à des croisements entre lignées est fréquente et largement répartie dans l'aire étudiée. Nous avons identifié quatre lignées supplémentaires, ayant une détermination génétique des castes, pour un total de huit lignées. Ces huit lignées forment quatre paires de lignées et on ne trouve jamais deux lignées de paires différentes, dans une population. Trois des quatre paires de lignées s'avèrent avoir une origine commune alors que leur relation avec la quatrième paire de lignées n'a pas pu être résolue. L'analyse génétique de populations supplémentaires a également révélé qu'en plus d'être génétiquement isolées les unes des autres, les huit lignées sont génétiquement distinctes de P. rugosus et P. barbatus même si les colonies d'une paire de lignées se trouvent en sympatrie avec l'une ou l'autre des espèces parentales. Ceci relève la question des mécanismes impliqués dans l'isolation reproductive entre les lignées et les espèces parentales ainsi qu'entre les deux lignées d'une paire. En étudiant un site où une paire de lignées se trouve en sympatrie avec P. rugosus, nous avons identifié deux mécanismes pré-zygotiques (des différences dans le timing du vol nuptial entre P. rugosus et les lignées et des accouplements assortis) ainsi qu'un mécanisme post-zygotique (un niveau élevé de non-viabilité des hybrides). En combinaison, ces mécanismes peuvent largement expliquer l'isolement reproductif entre les lignées et leurs espèces parentales. Les mécanismes contribuant à l'isolement reproductif entre les deux lignées d'une paire variaient entre paires de lignées. Dans une paire, les individus de génotype inter-lignée se trouvent uniquement dans la caste stérile des ouvrières, suggérant qu'il n'y a pas d'opportunité pour avoir du flux de gènes entre les deux lignées ce cette paire. Dans chacune des trois autres paires de lignées des nouvelles reines de génotype inter-lignée sont produites par une minorité de colonies. Par contre, les colonies avec une reine mère de génotype inter-lignée ne se développent pas suffisamment pour produire des individus reproducteurs. Ceci peut donc expliquer pourquoi il n'y a pas de flux de gènes entre les deux lignées de trois paires. En conclusion, les résultats de cette thèse montrent que la détermination génétique de la caste est coûteuse mais très répandue chez les fourmis. moissonneuses du genre Pogonomyrmex. L'isolement reproductif des lignées entre elles et avec les espèces parentales, ainsi qu'un succès de fondation fréquence-dépendant contribuent à la persistance de ce système extraordinaire.

Acute Damage to the Posterior Limb of the Internal Capsule on Diffusion Tensor Tractography as an Early Imaging Predictor of Motor Outcome after Stroke

Background and Purpose Early prediction of motor outcome is of interest in stroke management. We aimed to determine whether lesion location at DTT is predictive of motor outcome after acute stroke and whether this information improves the predictive accuracy of the clinical scores. Methods We evaluated 60 consecutive patients within 12 hours of MCA stroke onset. We used DTT to evaluate CST involvement in the MC and PMC, CS, CR, and PLIC and in combinations of these regions at admission, at day 3, and at day 30. Severity of limb weakness was assessed using the m-NIHSS (5a, 5b, 6a, 6b). We calculated volumes of infarct and FA values in the CST of the pons. Results Acute damage to the PLIC was the best predictor associated with poor motor outcome, axonal damage, and clinical severity at admission (P&.001). There was no significant correlation between acute infarct volume and motor outcome at day 90 (P=.176, r=0.485). The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of acute CST involvement at the level of the PLIC for 4 motor outcome at day 90 were 73.7%, 100%, 100%, and 89.1%, respectively. In the acute stage, DTT predicted motor outcome at day 90 better than the clinical scores (R2=75.50, F=80.09, P&.001). Conclusions In the acute setting, DTT is promising for stroke mapping to predict motor outcome. Acute CST damage at the level of the PLIC is a significant predictor of unfavorable motor outcome.

Obstetric analgesia and anesthesia in Switzerland in 2007

Introduction: The last twenty years has witnessed important changes in the field of obstetric analgesia and anesthesia. In 2007, we conducted a survey to obtain information regarding the clinical practice of obstetric anesthesia in our country. The main objective was to ascertain whether recent developments in obstetric anesthesia had been adequately implemented into current clinical practice. Methodology: A confidential questionnaire was sent to 391 identified wiss obstetric anesthetists. The questionnaire included 58 questions on 5 main topics: activity and organization of the obstetric unit, practice of labor analgesia, practice of anesthesia for caesarean section, prevention of aspiration syndrome, and pain treatment after cesarean section. Results: The response rate was 80% (311/391). 66% of the surveyed anesthetists worked in intermediate size obstetric units (500-1500 deliveries per year). An anesthetist was on site 24/24 hours in only 53% of the obstetric units. Epidural labor analgesia with low dose local anesthetics combined with opioids was used by 87% but only 30% used patient controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA). Spinal anesthesia was the first choice for elective and urgent cesarean section for 95% of the responders. Adequate prevention of aspiration syndrome was prescribed by 78%. After cesarean section, a multimodal analgesic regimen was prescribed by 74%. Conclusion: When comparing these results with those of the two previous Swiss surveys [1, 2], it clearly appears that Swiss obstetric anesthetists have progressively adapted their practice to current clinical recommendations. But this survey also revealed some insufficiencies: 1. Of the public health system: a. Insufficient number of obstetric anesthetists on site 24 hours/24. b. Lack of budget in some hospitals to purchase PCEA pumps. 2. Of individual medical practice: a. Frequent excessive dosage of hyperbaric bupivacaine during spinal anesthesia for cesarean section. b. Frequent use of cristalloid preload before spinal anesthesia for cesarean section. c. Frequent systematic use of opioids when inducing general anesthesia for cesarean section. d. Fentanyl as the first choice opioid during induction of general anesthesia for severe preeclampsia. In the future, wider and more systematic information campaigns by the mean of the Swiss Association of Obstetric Anesthesia (SAOA) should be able to correct these points.

Clinical characteristics and outcome of patients admitted to a medico- surgical ICU requiring non invasive ventilation (NIV) for hypercapnic respiratory failure

Introduction Because it decreases intubation rate and mortality, NIV has become first-line treatment in case of hypercapnic acute respiratory failure (HARF). Whether this approach is equally successful for all categories of HARF patients is however debated. We assessed if any clinical characteristics of HARF patients were associated with NIV intensity, success, and outcome, in order to identify prognostic factors. Methods Retrospective analysis of the clinical database (clinical information system and MDSi) of patients consecutively admitted to our medico-surgical ICU, presenting with HARF (defined as PaCO2 > 50 mmHg), and receiving NIV between May 2008 and December 2010. Demographic data, medical diagnoses (including documented chronic lung disease), reason for ICU hospitalization, recent surgical interventions, SAPS II and McCabe scores were extracted from the database. Total duration of NIV and the need for tracheal intubation during the 5 days following the first hypercapnia documentation, as well as ICU, hospital and one year mortality were recorded. Results are reported as median [IQR]. Comparisons were carried out with Chi2 or Kruskal-Wallis tests, p<0.05 (*). Results Two hundred and twenty patients were included. NIV successful patients received 16 [9-31] hours of NIV for up to 5 days. Fifty patients (22.7%) were intubated 11 [2-34] hours after HARF occurence, after having receiving 10 [5-21] hours of NIV. Intubation was correlated with increased ICU (18% vs. 6%, p<0.05) and hospital (42% vs. 31%, p>0.05) mortality. SAPS II score was related to increasing ICU (51 [29-74] vs. 23 [12-41]%, p<0.05), hospital (37% [20-59] vs 20% [12-37], p<0.05) and one year mortality (35% vs 20%, p<0.05). Surgical patients were less frequent among hospital fatalities (28.8% vs. 46.3%, p<0.05, RR 0.8 [0-6-0.9]). Nineteen patients (8.6%) died in the ICU, 73 (33.2%) during their hospital stay and 108 (49.1%) were dead one year after HARF. Conclusion The practice to start NIV in all suitable patients suffering from HARF is appropriate. NIV can safely and appropriately be used in patients suffering from HARF from an origin different from COPD exacerbation. Beside usual predictors of severity such as severity score (SAPS II) appear to be associated with increased mortality. Although ICU mortality was low in our patients, hospital and one year mortality were substantial. Surgical patients, although undergoing a similar ICU course, had a better hospital and one year outcome.

The BRAIN TRIAL: a randomised, placebo controlled trial of a Bradykinin B2 receptor antagonist (Anatibant) in patients with traumatic brain injury

BACKGROUND Cerebral oedema is associated with significant neurological damage in patients with traumatic brain injury. Bradykinin is an inflammatory mediator that may contribute to cerebral oedema by increasing the permeability of the blood-brain barrier. We evaluated the safety and effectiveness of the non-peptide bradykinin B2 receptor antagonist Anatibant in the treatment of patients with traumatic brain injury. During the course of the trial, funding was withdrawn by the sponsor. METHODS Adults with traumatic brain injury and a Glasgow Coma Scale score of 12 or less, who had a CT scan showing an intracranial abnormality consistent with trauma, and were within eight hours of their injury were randomly allocated to low, medium or high dose Anatibant or to placebo. Outcomes were Serious Adverse Events (SAE), mortality 15 days following injury and in-hospital morbidity assessed by the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), the Disability Rating Scale (DRS) and a modified version of the Oxford Handicap Scale (HIREOS). RESULTS 228 patients out of a planned sample size of 400 patients were randomised. The risk of experiencing one or more SAEs was 26.4% (43/163) in the combined Anatibant treated group, compared to 19.3% (11/57) in the placebo group (relative risk = 1.37; 95% CI 0.76 to 2.46). All cause mortality in the Anatibant treated group was 19% and in the placebo group 15.8% (relative risk 1.20, 95% CI 0.61 to 2.36). The mean GCS at discharge was 12.48 in the Anatibant treated group and 13.0 in the placebo group. Mean DRS was 11.18 Anatibant versus 9.73 placebo, and mean HIREOS was 3.94 Anatibant versus 3.54 placebo. The differences between the mean levels for GCS, DRS and HIREOS in the Anatibant and placebo groups, when adjusted for baseline GCS, showed a non-significant trend for worse outcomes in all three measures. CONCLUSION This trial did not reach the planned sample size of 400 patients and consequently, the study power to detect an increase in the risk of serious adverse events was reduced. This trial provides no reliable evidence of benefit or harm and a larger trial would be needed to establish safety and effectiveness. TRIAL REGISTRATION This study is registered as an International Standard Randomised Controlled Trial, number ISRCTN23625128.

Performance de l'estimation du poids foetal par echographie pour les foetus < or = 2000 g et les macrosomes (> or = 4000 g) [Performance of ultrasound estimation of fetal weight in fetuses weighing < or = 2000 g and more than 4000 g].

Decreasing perinatal morbidity and mortality is one of the main goals of obstetrics. Prognosis of preterm births depends on gestational age and birthweight. Multidisciplinary management is discussed with the parents according to these two parameters. In other circumstances, a suspected macrosomy will influence the management of the last weeks of pregnancy. Induction of labor or Cesarean delivery will be considered to avoid shoulder dystocia, brachial plexus injury or perinatal asphyxia. Birthweight needs to be estimated with accuracy, and this article describes the efficiency of various ultrasound weight estimation formulae for small and large fetuses.

Assessing the viability of power-supply systems: a tentative protocol

This Technical Report presents a tentative protocol used to assess the viability of powersupply systems. The viability of power-supply systems can be assessed by looking at the production factors (e.g. paid labor, power capacity, fossil-fuels) – needed for the system to operate and maintain itself – in relation to the internal constraints set by the energetic metabolism of societies. In fact, by using this protocol it becomes possible to link assessments of technical coefficients performed at the level of the power-supply systems with assessments of benchmark values performed at the societal level throughout the relevant different sectors. In particular, the example provided here in the case of France for the year 2009 makes it possible to see that in fact nuclear energy is not viable in terms of labor requirements (both direct and indirect inputs) as well as in terms of requirements of power capacity, especially when including reprocessing operations.