Laser-induced blurring of molecular structure information in high harmonic spectroscopy.

High harmonic spectroscopy gives access to molecular structure with Angström resolution. Such information is encoded in the destructive interferences occurring between the harmonic emissions from the different parts of the molecule. By solving the time-dependent Schrödinger equation, either numerically or with the molecular strong-field approximation, we show that the electron dynamics in the emission process generally results in a strong spectral smoothing of the interferences, blurring the structural information.

Different Time Scales in the Dissociation Dynamics of Core-Excited CF_{4} by Two Internal Clocks.

Fragmentation processes following C 1s→lowest unoccupied molecular orbital core excitations in CF_{4} have been analyzed on the ground of the angular distribution of the CF_{3}^{+} emitted fragments by means of Auger electron-photoion coincidences. Different time scales have been enlightened, which correspond to either ultrafast fragmentation, on the few-femtosecond scale, where the molecule has no time to rotate and the fragments are emitted according to the maintained orientation of the core-excited species, or dissociation after resonant Auger decay, where the molecule still keeps some memory of the excitation process before reassuming random orientation. Potential energy surfaces of the ground, core-excited, and final states have been calculated at the ab initio level, which show the dissociative nature of the neutral excited state, leading to ultrafast dissociation, as well as the also dissociative nature of some of the final ionic states reached after resonant Auger decay, yielding the same fragments on a much longer time scale.

Quantitative analysis of hepatic macro- and microvascular alterations during cirrhogenesis in the rat.

Cirrhosis represents the end-stage of any persistent chronically active liver disease. It is characterized by the complete replacement of normal liver tissue by fibrosis, regenerative nodules, and complete fibrotic vascularized septa. The resulting angioarchitectural distortion contributes to an increasing intrahepatic vascular resistance, impeding liver perfusion and leading to portal hypertension.

Combined effects of leaks, respiratory system properties and upper airway patency on the performance of home ventilators: a bench study.

Background: Combined effects of leaks, mechanical property of respiratory system and upper airway (UA) patency on patient-ventilator synchrony (PVA) and the level of clinically "tolerable" leaks are not well established in home ventilators.

Methods: We comparatively assessed on a bench model, the highest leak level tolerated without inducing significant asynchrony ("critical leak") in three home ventilators (Astral 150, Trilogy 100 and Vivo 60; noted as A150, T100 and V60 respectively) subjected to three simulated diseased respiratory conditions: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), obesity hypoventilation (OHS) and neuromuscular disorders (NMD), with both open and closed UA. Also, total leak values in the device reports were compared to the bench-measured values.

Two Novel Susceptibility Loci for Prostate Cancer in Men of African Ancestry.

Prostate cancer incidence is 1.6-fold higher in African Americans than in other populations. The risk factors that drive this disparity are unknown and potentially consist of social, environmental, and genetic influences.

Thermodynamic signatures of the field-induced states of graphite.

When a magnetic field confines the carriers of a Fermi sea to their lowest Landau level, electron-electron interactions are expected to play a significant role in determining the electronic ground state. Graphite is known to host a sequence of magnetic field-induced states driven by such interactions. Three decades after their discovery, thermodynamic signatures of these instabilities are still elusive.

Necdin shapes serotonergic development and SERT activity modulating breathing in a mouse model for Prader-Willi syndrome.

Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a genetic neurodevelopmental disorder that presents with hypotonia and respiratory distress in neonates. The -deficient mouse is the only model that reproduces the respiratory phenotype of PWS (central apnea and blunted response to respiratory challenges). Here, we report that deletion disturbs the migration of serotonin (5-HT) neuronal precursors, leading to altered global serotonergic neuroarchitecture and increased spontaneous firing of 5-HT neurons.

Cyanobacterial formation of intracellular Ca-carbonates in undersaturated solutions.

Cyanobacteria have long been thought to induce the formation of Ca-carbonates as secondary by-products of their metabolic activity, by shifting the chemical composition of their extracellular environment to conditions favoring mineral precipitation. Some cyanobacterial species forming Ca-carbonates intracellularly were recently discovered. However, the environmental conditions under which this intracellular biomineralization process can occur and the impact of cyanobacterial species forming Ca-carbonates intracellularly on extracellular carbonatogenesis are not known.

Topologically frustrated ionisation in a water-ammonia ice mixture.

Water and ammonia are considered major components of the interiors of the giant icy planets and their satellites, which has motivated their exploration under high P-T conditions. Exotic forms of these pure ices have been revealed at extreme (~megabar) pressures, notably symmetric, ionic, and superionic phases. Here we report on an extensive experimental and computational study of the high-pressure properties of the ammonia monohydrate compound forming from an equimolar mixture of water and ammonia.

Trace elements and arsenic speciation in tissues of tube dwelling polychaetes from hydrothermal vent ecosystems (East Pacific Rise): An ecological role as antipredatory strategy?

Hydrothermal vent systems are inhabited by dense benthic communities adapted to extreme conditions such as high temperature, hydrogen sulphide (HS) and elevated fluxes of metals. In the present work, a wide range of trace elements (Ag, Al, As, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se, V and Zn) were measured in tissues of three tube dwelling annelids, Alvinella pompejana, Alvinella caudata and Riftia pachyptila, which colonize distinct habitats of the East Pacific Rise (EPR) at 2500 m depth. Metals concentrations in alvinellids were often 2-4 orders of magnitude higher than those commonly found in marine organisms, while much lower values were observed in the vestimentiferan polychaete.

Do the ornamented osteoderms influence the heat conduction through the skin? A finite element analysis in Crocodylomorpha.

In order to assess the implication of the crocodylomorph ornamented osteoderms on the skin conduction during basking, we have performed three dimensional modeling and finite element analyses on a sample which includes both extant dry bones and well-preserved fossils tracing back to the Early Jurassic. In purpose to reveal the possible implication of the superficial ornamentation on the osteoderm heat conduction, we repeated the simulation on an equivalent set of smoothed 3D-modeled osteoderms. The comparison of the results evidenced that the presence of the apical sculpture has no significant impact on the osteoderm global conduction.

Multiple effects of a Gracilaria vermiculophylla invasion on estuarine mudflat functioning and diversity.

The invasive Japanese seaweed Gracilaria vermiculophylla has become established over the past several years in numerous European estuaries, from Portugal to Norway. In the Faou estuary (48.295°N-4.

HDAC6 inhibition reverses axonal transport defects in motor neurons derived from FUS-ALS patients.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rapidly progressive neurodegenerative disorder due to selective loss of motor neurons (MNs). Mutations in the fused in sarcoma (FUS) gene can cause both juvenile and late onset ALS. We generated and characterized induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from ALS patients with different FUS mutations, as well as from healthy controls.

Clinical, laboratory and molecular findings and long-term follow-up data in 96 French patients with PMM2-CDG (phosphomannomutase 2-congenital disorder of glycosylation) and review of the literature.

Background: Phosphomannomutase 2-congenital disorder of glycosylation (PMM2-CDG) is a multisystem inborn error of metabolism.

Objectives: To better characterise the natural history of PMM2-CDG.

Methods: Medical charts of 96 patients with PMM2-CDG (86 families, 41 males, 55 females) were retrospectively reviewed.

A New Series of Succinimido-ferrociphenols and Related Heterocyclic Species Induce Strong Antiproliferative Effects, Especially against Ovarian Cancer Cells Resistant to Cisplatin.

Ferrociphenols are known to display anticancer properties by original mechanisms dependent on redox properties and generation of active metabolites such as quinone methides. Recent studies have highlighted the positive impact of oxidative stress on chemosensitivity and prognosis of ovarian cancer patients. Ovarian adenocarcinomas are shown to be an excellent model for defining the impact of selected ferrociphenols as new therapeutic drugs for such cancers.

Gold nanoparticle-based localized surface plasmon immunosensor for staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA) detection.

We describe the engineering of stable gold nanoparticle (AuNP) bioconjugates for the detection of staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA) using localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR). Two types of AuNP bioconjugates were prepared by covalently attaching anti-SEA antibody (Ab) or SEA to AuNPs. This was achieved by reacting Traut's reagent with lysine residues of both proteins to generate thiol groups that bind to gold atoms on the AuNP surface.

Acute pancreatitis in immunocompromised patients: beware of varicella zoster virus primo-infection.

Varicella zoster virus (VZV) primo-infection can be severe in the elderly and in immunocompromised patients. Atypical presentations are not uncommon and may mislead the diagnosis and delay adequate treatment. Valacyclovir prophylaxis should be systematically proposed in immunocompromised patients.

Diel Rhythm Does Not Shape the Vertical Distribution of Bacterial and Archaeal 16S rRNA Transcript Diversity in Intertidal Sediments: a Mesocosm Study.

In intertidal sediments, circadian oscillations (i.e., tidal and diel rhythms) and/or depth may affect prokaryotic activity.

Facile One-Pot Synthesis of Ruthenium(II) Quaterpyridine-Based Photosensitizers for Photocatalyzed Hydrogen Production.

We present here the efficient microwave-assisted synthesis and photophysical study of a family of ruthenium(II) complexes of the general formula [Ru(bpy)(qpy)] (where bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine, qpy = 4,4':2',2″:4″,4‴-quaterpyridine, and x = 0, 1, 2 giving compounds 1 = [Ru(bpy)(qpy)], 2 = [Ru(bpy)(qpy)], and 3 = [Ru(qpy)]). Compared to the standard reference, [Ru(bpy)] (τ = 870 ns, Φ = 9.5%), the complexes display longer-lived excited state lifetimes at room temperature (τ: 1 = 1440 ns, 2 = 1640 ns, 3 = 1780 ns) and improved quantum yields (Φ: 1 = 14%, 2 = 19%, 3 = 23%).

Activity dependent feedback inhibition may maintain head direction signals in mouse presubiculum.

Orientation in space is represented in specialized brain circuits. Persistent head direction signals are transmitted from anterior thalamus to the presubiculum, but the identity of the presubicular target neurons, their connectivity and function in local microcircuits are unknown. Here, we examine how thalamic afferents recruit presubicular principal neurons and Martinotti interneurons, and the ensuing synaptic interactions between these cells.

Novel UBQLN2 mutations linked to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and atypical hereditary spastic paraplegia phenotype through defective HSP70-mediated proteolysis.

Mutations in UBQLN2 have been associated with rare cases of X-linked juvenile and adult forms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and ALS linked to frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Here, we report 1 known (c.1489C>T, p.

Large Diversity and Original Structures of Acyl-Homoserine Lactones in Strain MOLA 401, a Marine Bacterium.

Quorum sensing (QS) is a density-dependent mechanism allowing bacteria to synchronize their physiological activities, mediated by a wide range of signaling molecules including -acyl-homoserine lactones (AHLs). Production of AHL has been identified in various marine strains of Proteobacteria. However, the chemical diversity of these molecules still needs to be further explored.

Neighborhood deprivation and risk of head and neck cancer: A multilevel analysis from France.

Background: While it is known that cancer risk is related to area-level socioeconomic status, the extent to which these inequalities are explained by contextual effects is poorly documented especially for head and neck cancer.

Methods: A case-control study, ICARE, included 2415 head and neck cancer cases and 3555 controls recruited between 2001 and 2007 from 10 French regions retrieved from a general cancer registry. Individual socioeconomic status was assessed using marital status, highest educational level and occupational social class.