Intermediate-Range Casimir-Polder Interaction Probed by High-Order Slow Atom Diffraction.

At nanometer separation, the dominant interaction between an atom and a material surface is the fluctuation-induced Casimir-Polder potential. We demonstrate that slow atoms crossing a silicon nitride transmission nanograting are a remarkably sensitive probe for that potential. A 15% difference between nonretarded (van der Waals) and retarded Casimir-Polder potentials is discernible at distances smaller than 51 nm.

Comparison of Current Methods for Signal Peptide Prediction in Phytoplasmas.

Although phytoplasma studies are still hampered by the lack of axenic cultivation methods, the availability of genome sequences allowed dramatic advances in the characterization of the virulence mechanisms deployed by phytoplasmas, and highlighted the detection of signal peptides as a crucial step to identify effectors secreted by phytoplasmas. However, various signal peptide prediction methods have been used to mine phytoplasma genomes, and no general evaluation of these methods is available so far for phytoplasma sequences. In this work, we compared the prediction performance of SignalP versions 3.

Flavescence Dorée Phytoplasma Has Multiple Genes that Are Differentially Expressed in Plants and Insects.

Flavescence dorée (FD) is a severe epidemic disease of grapevines caused by FD phytoplasma (FDP) transmitted by the leafhopper vector . The recent sequencing of the 647-kbp FDP genome highlighted an unusual number of genes encoding ATP-dependent zinc proteases FtsH, which have been linked to variations in the virulence of " Phytoplasma mali" strains. The aims of the present study were to predict the FtsH repertoire of FDP, to predict the functional domains and topologies of the encoded proteins in the phytoplasma membrane and to measure the expression profiles in different hosts.

Osteovox self-management concept study. Part 2: focus on the therapy.

: To evaluate the effect of a self-management program on a population with both painful temporomandibular disorder (TMD) and parafunctional behaviors.: One hundred-seven participants enrolled in a program called Osteovox Self-Management Concept (OSMC). The primary outcome measure was the overall relief (OR) based on four pain and three functional limitation parameters.

Osteovox self-management concept study. Part 1: Focus on the population.

: To analyze the prevalence of parafunctional behaviors in patients suffering from painful temporomandibular disorders (TMD) during the selection process of the study.: This multidisciplinary study was based on seven selection criteria, of which the two main ones were parafunctions and symptomatology. The main clinical outcomes were (1) the type of TMD, (2) psychological symptoms, and (3) otological symptoms.