Evaluating mortality using length-frequency data when growth parameters are poorly known

A method is presented through which the total mortality undergone by several fish stocks of the same species can be compared when growth parameters are poorly known or unknown. Whereas the estimate of Z obtained via the length-converted catch curve is highly sensitive to the input parameters K and L sub( infinity ), the ratio of Z estimates obtained for different stocks with the same combination of parameters is almost independent of these inputs, at least when the fit of the linear regression is good. The method is tested on simulated data and an application is presented using real data from the Lesser Antilles. It provides the possibility of qualitatively comparing several stocks in situations of scarce biological knowledge

Phase distortions of attosecond pulses produced by resonance-enhanced high harmonic generation

Resonant enhancement of high harmonic generation can be obtained in plasmas containing ions with strong radiative transitions resonant with harmonic orders. The mechanism for this enhancement is still debated. We perform the first temporal characterization of the attosecond emission from a tin plasma under near-resonant conditions for two different resonance detunings. We show that the resonance considerably changes the relative phase of neighbouring harmonics. For very small detunings, their phase locking may even be lost, evidencing strong phase distortions in the emission process and a modified attosecond structure. These features are well reproduced by our simulations, allowing their interpretation in terms of the phase of the recombination dipole moment

Attosecond emission from chromium plasma

International audienceWe present the first measurement of the attosecond emission generated from underdense plasma produced on a solid target. We generate high-order harmonics of a femtosecond Ti:sapphire laser focused in a weakly ionized underdense chromium plasma. Using the " Reconstruction of Attosecond Beating by Interference of Two-photon Transitions " (RABITT) technique, we show that the 11 th to the 19 th harmonic orders form in the time domain an attosecond pulse train with each pulse having 300 as duration, which is only 1.05 times the theoretical Fourier transform limit. Measurements reveal a very low positive group delay dispersion of 4200 as 2. Beside its fundamental interest, high-order harmonic generation in plasma plumes could thus provide an intense source of attosecond pulses for applications

Genomic and transcriptomic landscape of conjunctival melanoma.

Conjunctival melanoma (CJM) is a rare but potentially lethal and highly-recurrent cancer of the eye. Similar to cutaneous melanoma (CM), it originates from melanocytes. Unlike CM, however, CJM is relatively poorly characterized from a genomic point of view. To fill this knowledge gap and gain insight into the genomic nature of CJM, we performed whole-exome (WES) or whole-genome sequencing (WGS) of tumor-normal tissue pairs in 14 affected individuals, as well as RNA sequencing in a subset of 11 tumor tissues. Our results show that, similarly to CM, CJM is also characterized by a very high mutation load, composed of approximately 500 somatic mutations in exonic regions. This, as well as the presence of a UV light-induced mutational signature, are clear signs of the role of sunlight in CJM tumorigenesis. In addition, the genomic classification of CM proposed by TCGA seems to be well-applicable to CJM, with the presence of four typical subclasses defined on the basis of the most frequently mutated genes: BRAF, NF1, RAS, and triple wild-type. In line with these results, transcriptomic analyses revealed similarities with CM as well, namely the presence of a transcriptomic subtype enriched for immune genes and a subtype enriched for genes associated with keratins and epithelial functions. Finally, in seven tumors we detected somatic mutations in ACSS3, a possible new candidate oncogene. Transfected conjunctival melanoma cells overexpressing mutant ACSS3 showed higher proliferative activity, supporting the direct involvement of this gene in the tumorigenesis of CJM. Altogether, our results provide the first unbiased and complete genomic and transcriptomic classification of CJM

Repeated ovarian stimulation with corifollitropin alfa in patients in a GnRH antagonist protocol: no concern for immunogenicity

BACKGROUND One injection of corifollitropin alfa replaces the first seven daily FSH injections in controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) cycles. Repeated treatment with therapeutic proteins may cause immune responses or hypersensitivity reactions. We assessed the immunogenicity and safety of corifollitropin alfa treatment in up to three COS cycles. METHODS In this multicentre, phase III uncontrolled trial, patients (>60 kg) started treatment with one injection of 150 µg corifollitropin alfa on cycle Day 2 or 3 of menses and 0.25 mg ganielix on stimulation Day 5 or 6. Primary outcome measures were antibody formation against corifollitropin alfa (using highly sensitive radioimmunoprecipitation assay), hypersensitivity reactions, local tolerance and adverse events (AEs). RESULTS First, second and third COS cycles were started by 682, 375 and 198 patients, respectively. No clinically relevant immunogenicity or drug-related hypersensitivity was observed. For 192 patients undergoing their third cycle a post-treatment blood sample was negative in the anti-corifollitropin antibody assay, resulting in an upper limit of the one-sided 95% confidence interval (CI) of 1.5%. Most frequent AEs were procedural pain (17.7%, 95% CI: 14.9–20.8%), headache (9.1%, 95% CI: 7.0–11.5%) and pelvic pain (7.6%, 95% CI: 5.7–9.9%). Cumulative ongoing pregnancy rate after three cycles, including frozen-thawed embryo transfer cycles and spontaneous pregnancies, was 61% (95% CI: 56–65%) after censoring for patients who discontinued. CONCLUSIONS Treatment with corifollitropin alfa can safely and effectively initiate and sustain ovarian stimulation during the first 7 days of COS in normal responder patients undergoing up to three treatment cycles, without concerns of immunogenicity.Robert J. Norman, Fernando Zegers-Hochschild, Bruno S. Salle, Jolanda Elbers, Esther Heijnen, Maya Marintcheva-Petrova, and Bernadette Mannaerts for the Trust Investigator

An awkward fishing expedition

We report the case of a patient, among a group of five, in a small outbreak of histamine fish poisoning (HFP). The epidemic character of the ailment led us to the correct diagnosis. In this case, the diagnosis was also associated with a Kounis syndrome (KS). Literature concerning this subject is reviewed, reporting recent physiopathological data