Plasmonic Nanocomposites Based on Silver Nanocube-Polymer Blends Displaying Nearly Perfect Absorption in the UV Region.

Plasmonic nanocomposites based on well-dispersed silver nanocubes in poly(vinylpyrrolidone) are presented that are solution-processed into layers of varying volume fractions of nanocubes. We show that the high-energy modes of the nanocubes are almost insensitive to plasmonic coupling within the nanocube assemblies, leading to a linear increase in light absorption in the UV region with the nanocube densities. Concerning the main dipolar resonance mode at 450 nm, it is strongly affected by the formation of these assemblies, leading to an increased absorption in the UV region as well as a large absorption band in the visible region.

Optical response of heterogeneous polymer layers containing silver nanostructures.

This work is focused on the study of the optical properties of silver nanostructures embedded in a polymer host matrix. The introduction of silver nanostructures in polymer thin films is assumed to result in layers having adaptable optical properties. Thin film layers with inclusions of differently shaped nanoparticles, such as nanospheres and nanoprisms, and of different sizes, are optically characterized.

Effects of short-chain fructooligosaccharides on faecal bifidobacteria and specific immune response in formula-fed term infants: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of an infant formula supplemented with short-chain fructooligosaccharides (scFOS) on faecal concentration of bifidobacteria. Sixty-one healthy formula-fed infants participated in this double-blind controlled trial and were randomized to receive either the scFOS-supplemented formula (4 g/L scFOS) or the placebo-supplemented formula (4 g/L maltodextrins) until the age of 4 mo. Stool samples were analyzed for bifidobacteria at enrolment and at the age of 2 and 3 mo and for antipoliovirus IgA at the age of 4 mo.

Evaluation of the potential genotoxic effects of rTMS on the rat brain and current density mapping.

Objective: The objectives of this work were: (i) to evaluate the relevance for clinical studies of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) investigations on rats, (ii) to investigate the occurrence of DNA damage in rat brain cells following rTMS under conditions similar to those used in clinical treatment of depression.

Methods: Rats were exposed to 2000 magnetic pulses at 100% of motor threshold (MT). Software, written to take detailed anatomical and conductivity data into account, was used to map current density in the rat brain.

Role of the efferent medial olivocochlear system in contralateral masking and binaural interactions: an electrophysiological study in guinea pigs.

Contralateral broadband noise (BBN) elevates ipsilateral auditory thresholds (central masking) and reduces the amplitude of ipsilateral brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEPs). Binaural interactions are complex psychophysical phenomena, but binaural interaction components are easily extracted from BAEPs to monaural versus binaural click stimulation. However, contralateral, or binaural, acoustical stimulation is known to activate simultaneously the crossed and uncrossed medial olivocochlear (MOC) efferent systems and decrease activity in both cochleas.

Fast, slow, and steady-state effects of contralateral acoustic activation of the medial olivocochlear efferent system in awake guinea pigs: action of gentamicin.

The function of the medial olivocochlear efferent system was observed in awake guinea pigs by recording, in the absence of ipsilateral external acoustic stimulation, the ensemble background activity (EBA) of the VIIIth nerve from an electrode chronically implanted on the round window of one ear. The EBA was measured by calculating the power value of the round window signal in the 0.5- to 2.

Derived evoked potentials for continuous tones using a hybrid electrical-acoustical stimulation.

Averaged VIIIth nerve and brainstem potentials are recorded in normal guinea pigs in response to electrical stimulation of the ear presented once without and once with a simultaneous masking continuous pure tone. The waveform difference yields a well synchronized 'derived signal' which is the response to the electrical stimulation of only the group of fibers masked by the pure tone. Study of very low frequency activation is a new possibility brought by this method which is efficient whatever the sound frequency.

40 Hz middle latency responses to low frequency tone pips in normally hearing adults.

Middle latency auditory evoked potentials can be rapidly obtained using a 40/second stimulous rate, taking advantage of response periodicity to accelerate the averaging procedure. This technique was used in 31 normally hearing adults for low frequency response evaluation. Tone pips at 250, 500, and 1000 Hz were employed.

Acoustically derived auditory nerve action potential evoked by electrical stimulation: an estimation of the waveform of single unit contribution.

An experimental study of the electrical stimulation of the guinea pig cochlea is made using an electrode on the round window for both stimulation and recording. The neural response is separated from the electrical artifact with a masking procedure combined with a low amplification, "statistical" averaging method [Charlet de Sauvage et al., Hear.

[Langer's type mesomelic dwarfism. Apropos of a case].

One case of Lnger's type mesomelic dwarfism is reported in a 7-day old newborn. Height retardation was severe and concerned essentially the middle segment of limbs. Cubituses and fibulae were hypoplastic.

Evolution of CM, SP and AP during etacrynic acid intoxication in the guinea pig.

During etacrynic acid intoxication in the guinea pig, patterns of click-evoked compound electrocochleographic responses are similar to those observed in Menière and retro-cochlear human pathologies. Using high frequency tone bursts, SP, CM and AP were studied after intracardiac injection of etacrynic acid. The evolution of SP precedes that of CM and AP.

Normal and pathological adaptation of compound viii nerve responses in the guinea pig.

Adaptation of VIII nerve compound action potentials in response to trains of broad frequency spectrum clicks and high frequency filtered clicks is studied at various intensities in normal guinea pig under normal conditions, while masking with white noise and under pathological conditions after ototoxic antibiotic treatment. The results are discussed with respect to the clinical electro-cochleographic adaptation studies in man and the so-called two populations of receptors and nerve fibres in the cochlea.