Influence des collisions nucléaires sur la linéarite des détecteurs à semiconducteurs

On a déterminé le défaut de hauteur d'impulsion dans les diodes à barrière de surface bombardées par des ions He+, N+ et Ne + d'énergies comprises entre 30 et 150 keV. L'influence des collisions nucléaires et de la canalisation des ions est plus spécialement analysée

Spectromètres Ge(Li) 0 absorption totale

On a réalisé divers spectromètres Ge(Li) à absorption totale constitués par deux diodes fonctionnant en coïncidence-somme, ainsi qu'un détecteur puits de 52 cm3

Randomized trial of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in oropharyngeal carcinoma

The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of neoadjuvant chemotherapy on the survival of patients with oropharyngeal cancer. Patients with a squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx for whom curative radiotherapy or surgery was considered feasible were entered in a multicentric randomized trial comparing neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by loco-regional treatment to the same loco-regional treatment without chemotherapy. The loco-regional treatment consisted either of surgery plus radiotherapy or of radiotherapy alone. Three cycles of chemotherapy consisting of Cisplatin (100 mg/m2) on day 1 followed by a 24-hour i.v. infusion of fluorouracil (1000 mg/m2/day) for 5 days were delivered every 21 days. 2–3 weeks after the end of chemotherapy, local treatment was performed. The trial was conducted by the Groupe d'Etude des Tumeurs de la Tête Et du Cou (GETTEC). A total of 318 patients were enrolled in the study between 1986 and 1992. Overall survival was significantly better (P = 0.03) in the neoadjuvant chemotherapy group than in the control group, with a median survival of 5.1 years versus 3.3 years in the no chemotherapy group. The effect of neoadjuvant chemotherapy on event-free survival was smaller and of borderline significance (P = 0.11). Stratification of the results on the type of local treatment, surgery plus radiotherapy or radiotherapy alone, did not reveal any heterogeneity in the effect of chemotherapy. © 2000 Cancer Research Campaign http://www.bjcancer.co

Binding of the chemokine CXCL12α to its natural extracellular matrix ligand heparan sulfate enables myoblast adhesion and facilitates cell motility

The chemokine CXCL12α is a potent chemoattractant that guides the migration of muscle precursor cells (myoblasts) during myogenesis and muscle regeneration. To study how the molecular presentation of chemokines influences myoblast adhesion and motility, we designed multifunctional biomimetic surfaces as a tuneable signalling platform that enabled the response of myoblasts to selected extracellular cues to be studied in a well-defined environment. Using this platform, we demonstrate that CXCL12α, when presented by its natural extracellular matrix ligand heparan sulfate (HS), enables the adhesion and spreading of myoblasts and facilitates their active migration. In contrast, myoblasts also adhered and spread on CXCL12α that was quasi-irreversibly surface-bound in the absence of HS, but were essentially immotile. Moreover, co-presentation of the cyclic RGD peptide as integrin ligand along with HS-bound CXCL12α led to enhanced spreading and motility, in a way that indicates cooperation between CXCR4 (the CXCL12α receptor) and integrins (the RGD receptors). Our findings reveal the critical role of HS in CXCL12α induced myoblast adhesion and migration. The biomimetic surfaces developed here hold promise for mechanistic studies of cellular responses to different presentations of biomolecules. They may be broadly applicable for dissecting the signalling pathways underlying receptor cross-talks, and thus may guide the development of novel biomaterials that promote highly specific cellular responses

Intended Consequences Statement in Conservation Science and Practice

As the biodiversity crisis accelerates, the stakes are higher for threatened plants and animals. Rebuilding the health of our planet will require addressing underlying threats at many scales, including habitat loss and climate change. Conservation interventions such as habitat protection, management, restoration, predator control, trans location, genetic rescue, and biological control have the potential to help threatened or endangered species avert extinction. These existing, well-tested methods can be complemented and augmented by more frequent and faster adoption of new technologies, such as powerful new genetic tools. In addition, synthetic biology might offer solutions to currently intractable conservation problems. We believe that conservation needs to be bold and clear-eyed in this moment of great urgency

Réalisation et étude des propriétés de détecteurs de particules lourdes à barrière de surface

Gold-silicon surface barrier counters for heavy particles have been built. The method of construction is described and the influence of a number of factors which could change the properties of the detector is studied. Full width at half maximum (FWHM) of 210Po alpha rays has been obtained below 30 keV for a sensitive area of 7 mm2. The principal characteristics are given : reverse current, resolution, linearity, radiation damage induced by alpha particles...On a réalisé des détecteurs de particules lourdes à barrière de surface Au-Si. La méthode de fabrication est décrite et l'influence d'un certain nombre de facteurs susceptibles de modifier les propriétés du détecteur est étudiée. On a obtenu une largeur à mi-hauteur de la raie alpha de 210Po inférieure à 30 keV pour une aire utile de l'ordre de 7 mm 2. On donne les principales caractéristiques : courant inverse, résolution, vieillissement, modifications entraînées par une forte irradiation alpha..