<div><p>Medium voltage vacuum interrupters are high-performance current interruption devices in the contemporary energy transition and electrification. The current interruption performance is directly correlated to the properties of their electrical contacts made of Cu-Cr alloys. Therefore, enhancing their performance to respond to the continuously increasing demand for higher current, higher power, and high voltage applications inherently requires the optimization of the microstructure of the Cu-Cr alloys to increase their electrical and thermal conductivity. Herein, we unveil the microstructural features governing the effective thermal conductivity of Cu-25Cr sintered composites, a subject of much less scientific attention than their electrical conductivity due to the complex microstructure-thermal conduction relationships. We coupled advanced 3D characterization techniques, namely X-ray computed tomography and atom probe tomography, with experimental and full-field numerical investigation of the effective thermal conductivity for three Cu-25Cr sintered composites having different final relative density (94, 96, and 98%). We demonstrate the synergistic effect of solid solution, interfacial thermal resistance, phase distribution on the effective thermal conductivity. Interfacial pores hinder the thermal conduction across phases. The effective thermal conductivity also decreases due to elements in solid-solution that diffused in the Cu matrix during sintering, along with interfacial thermal resistance across Cu/Cr phases. Using a full-field numerical approach, we unravel a microstructure heterogeneity-induced heat flux anisotropy contributing to the anisotropy in effective thermal conductivity.</p></div>

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Pour de nombreux endoparasitoïdes ichneumonides, le succès parasitaire dépend de leur association avec un polydnavirus symbiote. Les particules virales, produites exclusivement dans les ovaires, sont injectées dans la chenille du lépidoptère au moment de l’oviposition. L’expression des gènes viraux dans les tissus infectés induit des altérations importantes dans la croissance, le développement et la réponse immunitaire de l’hôte, ce qui permet le développement de la progéniture du parasitoïde. Les gènes vankyrines constituent une famille multigénique que l’on retrouve dans tous les génomes de polydnavirus séquençés jusqu’à présent. Ils codent pour des protéines homologues aux facteurs IkappaBs, inhibiteurs des facteurs de transcription Rel/NF-kB, dont le représentant le plus étudié chez les insectes est la protéine Cactus de Drosophila melanogaster. Les vankyrines possèdent un domaine ARD constitué de quatre répétitions de type ankyrines qui, chez les IkBs sont essentielles pour leur interaction avec les facteurs NF-kB. Mais contrairement aux IkB cellulaires, les vankyrines n'ont pas les domaines de régulation nécessaires à la dissociation du complexe NF-kB/IkB : elles formeraient donc un complexe irréversible avec les NF-kB, ce qui aurait pour conséquence d’empêcher les NF-kB de se fixer sur leurs sites kB et donc empêcherait l’expression de gènes impliqués dans la réponse immunitaire et/ou le développement de l’hôte parasité. Nous avons identifié neuf gènes vankyrines dans le génome du polydnavirus HdIV, présent chez Hyposoter didymator [Hyménoptère : Ichneumonidae], un endoparasitoïde larvaire de certaines noctuelles, appartenant notamment au genre Spodoptera spp. L’analyse spatio-temporelle des vankyrines de HdIV a mis en évidence l’expression largement prédominante de la vankyrine Hd27-vank1 au cours du parasitisme des larves de S. frugiperda par H. didymator. Pour tenter de comprendre le rôle de Hd27-vank1, nous avons produit un baculovirus recombinant exprimant la protéine virale. Nous avons alors mesuré les effets de l’expression de la protéine virale sur la viabilité des larves de S. frugiperda et des cellules Sf9 infectées avec le baculovirus recombinant. Nous présenterons les résultats obtenus au cours de ce congrès.

Stenoma decora Zeller, 1854 (Lepidoptera: Depressariidae), is considered a pest of the cacao tree, Theobroma cacao L. (Malvaceae), causing direct losses by damaging the fruits. In this study, we searched for parasitoids of Stenoma decora. Caterpillars were obtained from fruits and stems in commercial plantations of T. cacao in Mutuípe, Bahia, Brazil, and reared in laboratory. Here we describe the new species Neocardiochiles tropicalis sp. nov. (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) as a parasitoid of S. decora. Parasitised individuals can be readily identified, as the parasitoid kills the prepupa and produces a light-coloured silk cocoon in place of the host’s dark, sclerotised pupal exuviae. This is the first species of the Neocardiochiles recorded in Brazil, and the southernmost record for the genus so far. The presence of this parasitoid in a commercial crop area provides an important context for biological control, representing a new perspective for the management of S. decora.

Eldana saccharina est un lépidoptère foreur de la canne à sucre qui provoque une baisse qualitative et quantitative de la production de sucre et de biomasse dans de nombreux pays africains producteurs. La compagnie sucrière sénégalaise (CSS) travaille depuis plusieurs années sur ce problème et a déployé un système de surveillance des populations de ce ravageur tant dans les champs de canne par des systèmes de comptage des dégâts au niveau des tiges que par un suivi des adultes grâce à la mise en place de pièges lumineux fonctionnant à l'énergie solaire, fruit d'une collaboration étroite avec l'unité de recherches Agroécologie et Intensification Durables des Cultures Annuelles (AIDA) du CIRAD. Cet article fait le point sur ces méthodes de contrôle et propose des stratégies de protection agroécologique pour réduire les dégâts de cet insecte, en collaboration avec le CIRAD : réduction des doses d'azote appliquées dans les parcelles de canne, surveillance des systèmes pratiques et monitoring d'irrigation, évaluation des ennemis naturels du ravageur dans la zone et une meilleure gestion du drainage des zones basses, afin d'éviter les situations de stress hydrique des plants qui engendrent les infestations. En matière de piège lumineux, la CSS est actuellement en train de déployer une centaine de pièges lumineux supplémentaires sur son périmètre sucrier, afin d'augmenter les captures d'adultes d'E.saccharina et ainsi empêcher un accroissement des populations et des dégâts surtout en période de saison des pluies. D'autres solutions à moyen terme sont aussi proposées et discutées dans le contexte climatique sahélien de la CSS.

The genus Sciomesa Tams &amp; Bowden (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Noctuinae: Apameini: Sesamiina) is a predominantly Afrotropical group of stemborer moths whose convoluted taxonomic history needs to be clarified. In this study, a comprehensive examination of specimens in collections was carried out in a complementary manner with molecular analyses, resulting in the following changes: (i) 12 new Sciomesa species are described: S. lalokeli n. sp. and S. metiminko n. sp. from Ethiopia; S. elgonensis n. sp., S. nigra n. sp. and S. simillima n. sp. from Kenya; S. umvoti n. sp. from South Africa; S. iboya n. sp., S. lilomwi n. sp., S. makete n. sp., S. njombe n. sp. and S. tanganyika n. sp. from Tanzania; S. kalinzu n. sp. from Uganda; (ii) four species are reinstated as valid species: three of them, S. constantini Laporte stat. rev., S. etchecopari Laporte stat. rev. and S. mirifica Laporte stat. rev., were previously synonymized with S. mesophaea (Hampson) while S. congitae (Laporte) stat. rev. was previously synonymized with S. boulardi (Laporte); (iii) two species are synonymized: S. minuscula (Laporte) n. syn., which was previously synonymized with S. boulardi, is a synonym of S. congitae, and S. franciscae Laporte n. syn. is a synonym of S. mesophaea; (iv) one species, Sesamia punctipennis Krüger stat. rev., which was transferred to the Sciomesa genus, is removed from the genus Sciomesa and temporarily reinstated to the genus Sesamia Guenée pending a new combination. A supplemental description for 12 previously described species is also provided: S. boulardi, S. bua Moyal et al., S. constantini, S. etchecopari, S. excelsa (Laporte), S. gnosia Moyal et al., S. mesophaea, S. congitae, S. mirifica, S. renibifida Berio, S. scotochroa (Hampson) and S. venata Fletcher. Host-plant records are provided for 10 Sciomesa species, confirming a pattern of phylogenetic niche conservatism on Poales plants in the Cyperaceae family. Phylogenetic and molecular species delimitation analyses were carried out on a multimarker (four mitochondrial and two nuclear genes) molecular dataset encompassing 63 Sciomesa specimens, 24 species belonging to other genera of Sesamiina, and one representative of the sister subtribe Apameina. This sampling also includes the three Malagasy species (S. betschi Viette, S. janthina Viette and S. oberthueri Viette) whose status is debated. The resulting phylogenetic framework provides the most complete picture of the evolutionary relationships of the genus Sciomesa, and results of topological tests provide further support for removing S. betschi and S. janthina from the genus Sciomesa pending new combinations. The results of molecular species delimitation analyses also overwhelmingly support the species status of the Sciomesa species sampled, even for S. mesophaea, a species with a very wide range in the Afrotropics. These analyses also reveal the existence of up to three potential new species, whose status cannot be ascertained because the sequenced individuals were either extracted at a larval stage or correspond to specimens whose genitalia were not studied when their legs were collected.

Background: Emergent stenting in tandem occlusions and mechanical thrombectomy (MT) of acute ischemic stroke related to large vessel occlusion (LVO-AIS) with a large core are tested independently. We aim to assess the impact of reperfusion with MT in patients with LVO-AIS with a large core and a tandem occlusion and to compare the safety of reperfusion between large core with tandem and nontandem occlusions in current practice. Methods: We analyzed data of all consecutive patients included in the prospective Endovascular Treatment in Ischemic Stroke Registry in France between January 2015 and March 2023 who presented with a pretreatment ASPECTS (Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score) of 0–5 and angiographically proven tandem occlusion. The primary end point was a favorable outcome defined by a modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score of 0–3 at 90 days. Results: Among 262 included patients with a tandem occlusion and ASPECTS 0–5, 203 patients (77.5%) had a successful reperfusion (modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction grade 2b-3). Reperfused patients had a favorable shift in the overall mRS score distribution (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.57 [1.22–2.03]; P &lt; 0.001), higher rates of mRS score 0–3 (aOR, 7.03 [2.60–19.01]; P &lt; 0.001) and mRS score 0–2 at 90 days (aOR, 3.85 [1.39–10.68]; P = 0.009) compared with nonreperfused. There was a trend between the occurrence of successful reperfusion and a decreased rate of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (aOR, 0.5 [0.22–1.13]; P = 0.096). Similar safety outcomes were observed after large core reperfusion in tandem and nontandem occlusions. Conclusions: Successful reperfusion was associated with a higher rate of favorable outcome in large core LVO-AIS with a tandem occlusion, with a safety profile similar to nontandem occlusion.

Background: Although carotid web (CaW) is increasingly diagnosed as a cause of cryptogenic stroke, data are still limited to monocentric small sample cohort. To broaden knowledge on symptomatic CaW, CAROWEB registry has been recently implemented. Aims: In a large cohort of symptomatic CaW patients, we described epidemiologic characteristics, admission clinical and imaging features, and the current management including the secondary preventive strategy choice made in comprehensive French Stroke Units. Methods: CAROWEB is an ongoing French observational multicenter registry enrolling consecutive CaW patients diagnosed after an ipsilateral ischemic stroke (IS) or transient ischemic attack (TIA). Submitted cases were validated by two experienced neurologist and neuroradiologist. Clinical, imaging, and management features were collected for this study. Results: Between June 2019 and December 2021, 244 cases were submitted by 14 centers, 42 rejected, and 202 included (IS, 91.6%; TIA, 7.9%; retinal infarction, 0.5%; mean age, 50.8 ± 12.2 years; female, 62.9%; Caucasian, 47.5%; Afro-Caribbean, 20.3%). IS patients showed median (interquartile range (IQR)) admission National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score, 8 (2–15); intracranial artery occlusion, 71.8%; ipsilateral chronic cerebral infarction (CCI), 16.3%; and reperfusion treatment, 57.3%. CaW was not identified during the mechanical thrombectomy procedure in 30 of 85 (35.3%) patients. Secondary prevention was invasive in 55.6% (stenting, n = 80; surgery, n = 30). In multivariable analysis, the invasive therapeutic option was associated with ipsilateral CCI (odds ratio (OR): 4.24 (1.27–14.2), p = 0.019) and inversely associated with risk factors (OR: 0.47 (0.24–0.91), p = 0.025) and admission NIHSS score (OR: 0.93 (0.89–0.97), p = 0.001). Conclusion: CaW must be considered in all ethnic groups including Caucasians. Secondary prevention is heterogeneous in large French Stroke Centers. The absence of risk factors, milder severity strokes, and ipsilateral CCI were predictive variables of secondary invasive treatment. The high rate of invasive treatment suggests that medical treatment alone is deemed ineffective to avoid recurrence and emphasize the need of randomized trials.

Embryonal tumours with multilayered rosettes (ETMRs) are aggressive paediatric embryonal brain tumours with a universally poor prognosis1. Here we collected 193 primary ETMRs and 23 matched relapse samples to investigate the genomic landscape of this distinct tumour type. We found that patients with tumours in which the proposed driver C19MC2,3,4 was not amplified frequently had germline mutations in DICER1 or other microRNA-related aberrations such as somatic amplification of miR-17-92 (also known as MIR17HG). Whole-genome sequencing revealed that tumours had an overall low recurrence of single-nucleotide variants (SNVs), but showed prevalent genomic instability caused by widespread occurrence of R-loop structures. We show that R-loop-associated chromosomal instability can be induced by the loss of DICER1 function. Comparison of primary tumours and matched relapse samples showed a strong conservation of structural variants, but low conservation of SNVs. Moreover, many newly acquired SNVs are associated with a mutational signature related to cisplatin treatment. Finally, we show that targeting R-loops with topoisomerase and PARP inhibitors might be an effective treatment strategy for this deadly disease.

Wild silkmoths (Saturniidae) are large capital-breeding insects with non-feeding adults that have short lifespan entirely devoted to reproduction. They exhibit a dazzling diversity of sizes, forms, and life-histories inviting questions about the role that key traits may have played in spurring out species diversification and biogeographical movements in organisms with such extreme reproductive strategy. Yet, the absence of a robust phylogenetic framework based on comprehensive taxonomic sampling impedes our understanding of their evolutionary history. We analyzed 1,024 ultraconserved elements (UCEs) and their flanking regions to infer the relationships among 338 species of Saturniidae representing all subfamilies, tribes, and genera. We performed dating and historical biogeographic analyses to reconstruct their evolutionary history in space and time. Rather unexpectedly for a taxonomically well-known family such as Saturniidae, the alignment of taxonomic divisions and ranks with our phylogenetic results led us to propose substantial rearrangements of the family classification. Saturniids most likely originated in the Neotropics, shortly after the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction event (ca 64.0-52.0 Ma). Old World lineages stemmed from two independent colonization events during the Eocene, presumably through the Bering-Land-Bridge. Extant subfamilies showed limited mobility across biogeographical regions, except for Saturniinae, a subfamily now present on all continents but Antarctica. These results provide a framework for the integration of saturniid evolutionary history into further global studies of biodiversity and conservation, as well as for in-depth investigations of the spatial and temporal dynamics in all lineages and of the role that key innovations played in driving species diversification of these capital-breeding moths.