Dynamics of non-equilibrium membrane bud formation

The dynamical response of a lipid membrane to a local perturbation of its molecular symmetry is investigated theoretically. A density asymmetry between the two membrane leaflets is predominantly released by in-plane lipid diffusion or membrane curvature, depending upon the spatial extent of the perturbation. It may result in the formation of non-equilibrium structures (buds), for which a dynamical size selection is observed. A preferred size in the micrometer range is predicted, as a signature of the crossover between membrane and solvent dominated dynamical membrane response.Comment: 7 pages 3 figure

Effets des anions minéraux sur la décomposition de l'ozone dans l'eau

L'influence des anions minéraux sur la décomposition de l'ozone est étudiée. Les expériences mettent en oeuvre les anions SO42-, PO43-, BO33-, SiO22-, NO3-, HCO3-+ CO32- à des concentrations identiques à celles habituellement rencontrées dans le domaine des eaux potables. Un plan d'expérience simple qui permet d'attribuer ou non une influence à chaque espèce minérale et de voir l'interaction éventuelle avec le pH est utilisé. Les manipulations sont réalisées sur un pilote de laboratoire conçu pour éliminer toutes traces de matières organiques.L'étude fait apparaître que seuls les carbonates et les bicarbonates ont une influence notable sur cette décomposition et que le pH interfère en jouant sur l'équilibre carbonates-bicarbonates. Ceci permet de vérifier l'équation théorique établie par YURTERI et GUROL (1988) en l'absence de matières organiques. L'ordre apparent de la réaction varie entre 1 et 2 : ordre 2 pour les teneurs en bicarbonates faibles (30 mg.l-1) et ordre 1 pour une teneur forte (300 mg.l-1) lorsque le pH basique déplace l'équilibre vers les carbonates. Pour 300 mg.l-1 et des pH neutres l'ordre de la réaction oscille entre 1,5 et 2. Pour un ordre 1, on peut calculer la constante d'initiation de la décomposition de l'oxydant par l'ion hydroxyle OH- (k = 80 l.mol-1 s-1).The influence of anionic mineral species on the decomposition of ozone in water was studied. The experiments involved the anions SO42-, PO43-, BO33-, SiO22-, NO3-, HCO3-+ CO32- at concentrations identical to those usually found in drinking water. The manipulations were carried out with a simple experimental procedure which allowed to determine whether or not the mineral species had an influence on this decomposition and to observe thereof the effect of the pH. A laboratory pilot made of glass and teflon, in order to eliminate any traces of organic compounds, was used.Results of this work prove that only the carbonates and bicarbonates have a notable influence on this decomposition and that the pH interferes by disrupting the bicarbonate-carbonate equilibrium. The theoretical equation established without organic compounds by YURTERI and GUROL (1988) is verified.The order of the reaction varies from 1 to 2. The order is 1 when the amount of bicarbonates is weak (30 mg/l). The order is 2 in the case of a 300 mg.l-1 concentration when the basic pH changes the equilibrium towards the carbonates. For 300 mg.l-1 concentrations and a neutral pH, the order of the reaction reaches values from 1,5 to 2. In the case of an order 1, the constant rate of the oxidant decomposition by hydroxyle ion OH¯ is calculated. Its value is 80 l.mol-1 s-1

Higher order effects in the 16O(d,p)17O^{16}O(d,p)^{17}O and 16O(d,n)17F^{16}O(d,n)^{17}F transfer reactions

Full Coupled Channels Calculations were performed for the $^{16}O(d,n)^{17}F$ and $^{16}O(d,p)^{17}O$ transfer reactions at several deuteron incident energies from $E_{lab}=2.29$ MeV up to 3.27 MeV. A strong polarization effect between the entrance channel and the transfer channels $^{16}O(d,n)^{17}F(1/2^{+},0.495)$ and $^{16}O(d,p)^{17}O(1/2^{+},0.87)$ was observed. This polarization effect had to be taken into account in order to obtain realistic spectroscopic factors from these reactions.Comment: 15 papes, 13 figures, accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.

Gating-by-tilt of mechanosensitive membrane channels

We propose an alternative mechanism for the gating of biological membrane channels in response to membrane tension that involves a change in the slope of the membrane near the channel. Under biological membrane tensions we show that the energy difference between the closed (tilted) and open (untilted) states can far exceed kBT and is comparable to what is available under simple ilational gating. Recent experiments demonstrate that membrane leaflet asymmetries (spontaneous curvature) can strong effect the gating of some channels. Such a phenomenon would be more easy to explain under gating-by-tilt, given its novel intrinsic sensitivity to such asymmetry.Comment: 10 pages, 2 figure

Micellization of Sliding Polymer Surfactants

Following up a recent paper on grafted sliding polymer layers (Macromolecules 2005, 38, 1434-1441), we investigated the influence of the sliding degree of freedom on the self-assembly of sliding polymeric surfactants that can be obtained by complexation of polymers with cyclodextrins. In contrast to the micelles of quenched block copolymer surfactants, the free energy of micelles of sliding surfactants can have two minima: the first corresponding to small micelles with symmetric arm lengths, and the second corresponding to large micelles with asymmetric arm lengths. The relative sizes and concentrations of small and large micelles in the solution depend on the molecular parameters of the system. The appearance of small micelles drastically reduces the kinetic barrier signifying the fast formation of equilibrium micelles.Comment: Submitted to Macromolecule

The Urothelial Cell Line UROtsa Transformed by Arsenite and Cadmium Display Basal Characteristics Associated with Muscle Invasive Urothelial Cancers

Muscle invasive urothelial carcinomas are divided into various molecular subtypes with basal and luminal subtypes being the prominent ones. The basal muscle-invasive urothelial carcinomas are generally more aggressive at presentation and significantly enriched with squamous features. Our laboratory has developed an in-vitro model of urothelial cancer by transforming the immortalized cell line UROtsa with arsenite (As3+) and cadmium (Cd2+). In this study, we characterized the tumors formed by these transformed cell lines as more basal-like based on their gene expression patterns with increased expression of KRT1, KRT5, KRT6, KRT14, KRT16, KRT17 and CD44. In addition, histological examination of these tumor transplants showed squamous features enriched in basal muscle invasive urothelial carcinomas. The expression of these genes increased in the transformed cell lines as well as in the urospheres, which are putative cancer initiating cells/stem cells derived from the cell lines. There was also increased expression of these genes in the urospheres derived from the parent UROtsa cell line. Thus, our data shows that the As3+ and Cd2+-transformed cell lines and their derived tumor transplants have gene expression profiles similar to the basal subtype of muscle invasive bladder carcinomas with tumors having enriched squamous features. The increased expression of basal markers in the urospheres suggests that stem cells may be involved in the development of squamous differentiation seen in some of the muscle invasive bladder carcinomas

BPS Configurations in Smectics

It is typical in smectic liquid crystals to describe elastic deformations with a linear theory when the elastic strain is small. We extend the recent, exact solution of Brener and Marchenko to more general one-dimensional deformations, including multiple edge dislocations by relying on the Bogomol'nyi, Prasad and Sommerfield (BPS) decomposition. We introduce an approximation for the deformation profile far from a spherical inclusion and find an enhanced attractive interaction at long distances due to the nonlinear elasticity.Comment: 4 pages, RevTeX, 2 figures, corrected typo

Toward Forecasting Volcanic Eruptions using Seismic Noise

During inter-eruption periods, magma pressurization yields subtle changes of the elastic properties of volcanic edifices. We use the reproducibility properties of the ambient seismic noise recorded on the Piton de la Fournaise volcano to measure relative seismic velocity variations of less than 0.1 % with a temporal resolution of one day. Our results show that five studied volcanic eruptions were preceded by clearly detectable seismic velocity decreases within the zone of magma injection. These precursors reflect the edifice dilatation induced by magma pressurization and can be useful indicators to improve the forecasting of volcanic eruptions.Comment: Supplementary information: http://www-lgit.obs.ujf-grenoble.fr/~fbrengui/brenguier_SI.pdf Supplementary video: http://www-lgit.obs.ujf-grenoble.fr/~fbrengui/brenguierMovieVolcano.av