Synaptonemal complex behaviour in a bull homozygous for the 1;29 Robertsonian translocation

Analysis of synaptonemal complexes from a bull homozygous carrier for the 1;29 Robertsonian translocation showed the presence of 28 autosomal bivalent figures including one with subtelocentrically located kinetochores. No association with the sex vesicle was detected. In the X - Y bivalent, a pairing segment existed between the extremity of the X and Y chromosomes throughout pachytene. A gap separating that complex from the rest of the Y chromosome was apparent, regardless of the stain used. The results of this study confirm that there is no meiotic impairment when this homozygous translocation is present.L’examen de complexes synaptonématiques d’un taureau homozygote pour la translocation robertsonienne 1;29 a révélé la présence de 28 bivalents autosomiques dont1 montrant des kinétochores en position subterminale. Aucune association avec la vésicule sexuelle n’a été notée. Les extrémités des chromosomes X et Y sont restées appariées durant tout le stade pachytène. La séparation entre ce complexe et l’extrémité distale du chromosome Y a été régulièrement notée, quel que soit le colorant employé. Les résultats de cette étude confirment que la présence de cette translocation robertsonienne à l’état homozygote n’a pas d’effet négatif sur la méiose

Fluorescence-Guided Surgery and Fluorescence Laparoscopy for Gastrointestinal Cancers in Clinically-Relevant Mouse Models

There are many challenges that face surgeons when attempting curative resection for gastrointestinal cancers. The ability to properly delineate tumor margins for complete resection is of utmost importance in achieving cure and giving the patient the best chance of prolonged survival. Targeted tumor imaging techniques have gained significant interest in recent years to enable better identification of tumor lesions to improve diagnosis and treatment of cancer from preoperative staging modalities to optimizing the surgeon’s ability to visualize tumor margins at the initial operation. Using unique characteristics of the tumor to fluorescently label the tissue can delineate tumor margins from normal surrounding tissue, allowing improved precision of surgical resection. In this paper, different methods of fluorescently labeling native tumor are discussed as well as the development of fluorescence laparoscopy and the potential role for fluorescence-guided surgery in the treatment of gastrointestinal cancers

Near infra-red photoimmunotherapy with anti-CEA-IR700 results in extensive tumor lysis and a significant decrease in tumor burden in orthotopic mouse models of pancreatic cancer.

Photoimmunotherapy (PIT) of cancer utilizes tumor-specific monoclonal antibodies conjugated to a photosensitizer phthalocyanine dye IR700 which becomes cytotoxic upon irradiation with near infrared light. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy of PIT on human pancreatic cancer cells in vitro and in vivo in an orthotopic nude mouse model. The binding capacity of anti-CEA antibody to BxPC-3 human pancreatic cancer cells was determined by FACS analysis. An in vitro cytotoxicity assay was used to determine cell death following treatment with PIT. For in vivo determination of PIT efficacy, nude mice were orthotopically implanted with BxPC-3 pancreatic tumors expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP). After tumor engraftment, the mice were divided into two groups: (1) treatment with anti-CEA-IR700 + 690 nm laser and (2) treatment with 690 nm laser only. Anti-CEA-IR700 (100 μg) was administered to group (1) via tail vein injection 24 hours prior to therapy. Tumors were then surgically exposed and treated with phototherapy at an intensity of 150 mW/cm2 for 30 minutes. Whole body imaging was done subsequently for 5 weeks using an OV-100 small animal imaging system. Anti-CEA-IR700 antibody bound to the BxPC3 cells to a high degree as shown by FACS analysis. Anti-CEA-IR700 caused extensive cancer cell killing after light activation compared to control cells in cytotoxicity assays. In the orthotopic models of pancreatic cancer, the anti-CEA-IR700 group had significantly smaller tumors than the control after 5 weeks (p<0.001). There was no significant difference in the body weights of mice in the anti-CEA-IR700 and control groups indicating that PIT was well tolerated by the mice

Petrological Insights into Shifts in Eruptive Styles at Volcán Llaima (Chile)

Tephra and lava pairs from two summit eruptions (ad 2008 and 1957) and a flank fissure eruption (∼ ad 1850) are compared in terms of textures, phenocryst contents, and mineral zoning patterns to shed light on processes responsible for the shifts in eruption style during typical eruptive episodes at Volcán Llaima (Andean Southern Volcanic Zone, Chile). The mineralogy and whole-rock compositions of tephra and lavas are similar within eruptive episodes, suggesting a common magma reservoir for Strombolian paroxysms and lava effusion. The zoning profiles and textures of plagioclase record successive and discrete intrusions of volatile-rich mafic magma accompanied by mixing of these recharge magmas with the resident basaltic-andesitic crystal mushes that are commonly present at shallow levels in the Llaima system. Each recharge event destabilizes the plagioclase in equilibrium with the resident crystal mush melt and stabilizes relatively An-rich plagioclase, as is recorded by the numerous resorption zones. Lavas typically have ∼15-20 vol. % more phenocrysts than the tephra. Differences in plagioclase and olivine textures and zoning, combined with different phenocryst contents, indicate that a greater volume fraction of recharge magma is present in the explosively erupted magma than in subsequent effusively erupted magma. We propose that Strombolian paroxysms at Volcán Llaima are triggered by interactions with large volume fractions of recharge magma, which decrease the bulk viscosity and increase the volatile contents of the erupted magmas, leading to the conditions required for the fragmentation of basaltic-andesite. Lava effusion ensues from reduced interactions with the recharge magma, after it has partially degassed and crystallized, thereby impeding rapid ascent. This process could be operating at other steady-state basaltic volcanoes, wherein shallow reservoirs are periodically refilled by fresh, volatile-rich magma

Complementarity of ultrasound and fluorescence imaging in an orthotopic mouse model of pancreatic cancer

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Pancreatic cancer is a devastating disease characterized by dismal 5-year survival rates and limited treatment options. In an effort to provide useful models for preclinical evaluation of new experimental therapeutics, we and others have developed orthotopic mouse models of pancreatic cancer. The utility of these models for pre-clinical testing is dependent upon quantitative, noninvasive methods for monitoring <it>in vivo </it>tumor progression in real time. Toward this goal, we performed whole-body fluorescence imaging and ultrasound imaging to evaluate and to compare these noninvasive imaging modalities for assessing tumor burden and tumor progression in an orthotopic mouse model of pancreatic cancer.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The human pancreatic cancer cell line XPA-1, engineered for stable, high-level expression of red fluorescent protein (RFP), was implanted into the pancreas of nude mice using orthotopic implantation. The tumors were allowed to grow over a period of one to several weeks during which time the mice were imaged using both fluorescence imaging and ultrasound imaging to measure tumor burden and to monitor tumor growth.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Whole-body fluorescence imaging and ultrasound imaging both allowed for the visualization and measurement of orthotopic pancreatic tumor implants <it>in vivo</it>. The imaging sessions were well-tolerated by the mice and yielded data which correlated well in the quantitative assessment of tumor burden. Whole-body fluorescence and two-dimensional ultrasound imaging showed a strong correlation for measurement of tumor size over a range of tumor sizes (R²= 0.6627, P = 0.003 for an exposure time of 67 msec and R²= 0.6553, P = 0.003 for an exposure time of 120 msec).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our findings suggest a complementary role for fluorescence imaging and ultrasound imaging in assessing tumor burden and tumor progression in orthotopic mouse models of human cancer.</p

High quality factor copper inductors integrated in deep dry-etched quartz substrates

This paper reports on an inductor fabrication method capable to deliver high quality factor (Q) and high self-resonance frequency (SRF) devices using quartz insulating substrates and thick high-conductivity copper lines. Inductors are key devices in RF circuits that, when fabricated on traditional semiconductor substrates, suffer from poor RF performances due to thin metallization and substrate related losses. Many previous works revealed that RF performances are strongly dependent on the limited metallization thickness and on the conductivity of the substrate. In this paper we demonstrate a new fabrication process to improve the Q factor of spiral inductors by patterning thick high conductive metal layers directly in a dielectric substrate. Moreover, we develop and validate accurate equivalent circuit modeling and parameter extraction for the characterization of the fabricated device

Identification of chromosomes involved in a Robertsonian translocation in cattle

Summary- The chromosomes involved in the robertsonian translocation described after classical Giemsa staining by Darre et al. (1974), were determined using G(GTG), R(RBA) and C(CBG) banding techniques. The chromosomes in question were identified as chromosomes 9 and 23. cattle- chromosome- robertsonian translocation Résumé- Les chromosomes impliqués dans une translocation robertsonienne décrite, tout d’abord, en coloration conventionnelle par Darre et al. (1974) ont été déterminés à l’aide des techniques de marquage G(GTG), R(RBA) et C(CBG). sont le 9 et le 23. boeuf- chromosome- translocation robertsonienne Les chromosomes concerné

High quality factor copper inductors integrated in deep dry-etched quartz substrates

This paper reports on an inductor fabrication method capable to deliver high quality factor (Q) and high self-resonance frequency (SRF) devices using quartz insulating substrates and thick high-conductivity copper lines. Inductors are key devices in RF circuits that, when fabricated on traditional semiconductor substrates, suffer from poor RF performances due to thin metallization and substrate related losses. Many previous works revealed that RF performances are strongly dependent on the limited metallization thickness and on the conductivity of the substrate. In this paper we demonstrate a new fabrication process to improve the Q factor of spiral inductors by patterning thick high conductive metal layers directly in a dielectric substrate. Moreover, we develop and validate accurate equivalent circuit modeling and parameter extraction for the characterization of the fabricated device

Structure of the specific combining ability between two species of Eucalyptus. II. A clustering approach and a multiplicative model

International audienceThe Eucalyptus breeding program of URPPI (a partnership between CIRAD-Fore t, Centre National de la Recherche Forestie re du Congo, and Unite dÕAforestation Industrielle du Congo) consists of a re- ciprocal recurrent selection scheme developed in the Congo between the two species Eucalyptus urophylla and Eucalyptus grandis. Two approaches are proposed in order to model and predict the speciÞc combining ability (SCA) between these species. The clustering ap- proach uses a simultaneous clustering procedure of the two species based on SCA and reveals heterotic groups coherent with the geographical origins of E. urophylla genotypes. The second approach uses a multiplicative model to partition the SCA into three multiplicative terms explaining 95% of the interactio

EXAFS Debye-Waller factors issued from Car-Parrinello molecular dynamics: Application to the fit of oxaliplatin and derivatives

One of the main pitfalls in EXAFS fitting is correlation among parameters, which can lead to unreli- able fits. The use of theoretical Debye-Waller factors (DWs) is a promising way to reduce the number of fitted parameters. When working with molecular dynamics, it is not only possible to evaluate DWs from the statistical distributions issued from the trajectory but also to estimate the distribution an- harmonicity, and to compute simulated average EXAFS spectra that can be fitted as experimental ones, in order to assess the ability of EXAFS fitting to recover information on DWs, as well as other structural and spectroscopical parameters. The case studied is oxaliplatin, a third generation anticancer drug. The structural information and the simulated average spectra were derived from a Car-Parrinello molecular dynamics (CP-MD) trajectory of a compound closely related to oxaliplatin. We present the DWs issued from this simulation and their use, by taking their theoretical absolute values (no DW fitted) or their ratios (one DW fitted). In this second approach, the fit of oxaliplatin experimental spectra leads to DWs values very close to the theoretical ones. This shows that the CP-MD trajectory provides a good representation of the distance distributions for oxaliplatin. Trans- ferability of oxaliplatin DWs, for all relevant single and multiple scattering paths, to closely related compounds is proven for the case of bis(oxalato)platinum(II) and bis(ethylene diamine)platinum(II).Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación CTQ2011-25932Junta de Andalucía P06-FQM-0148