Homogenization and influence of fragmentation in a biological invasion model

In this paper, some properties of the minimal speeds of pulsating Fisher-KPP fronts in periodic environments are established. The limit of the speeds at the homogenization limit is proved rigorously. Near this limit, generically, the fronts move faster when the spatial period is enlarged, but the speeds vary only at the second order. The dependence of the speeds on habitat fragmentation is also analyzed in the case of the patch model.Comment: Dedicated to Professor Masayasu Mimura for his 65th birthda

Two-dimensional curved fronts in a periodic shear flow

International audienceThis paper is devoted to the study of travelling fronts of reaction-diffusion equations with periodic advection in the whole plane R 2. We are interested in curved fronts satisfying some " conical " conditions at infinity. We prove that there is a minimal speed c * such that curved fronts with speed c exist if and only if c ≥ c *. Moreover, we show that such curved fronts are decreasing in the direction of propagation, that is they are increasing in time. We also give some results about the asymptotic behaviors of the speed with respect to the advection, diffusion and reaction coefficients

Sources des informations démographiques sur le Présahara et le Sahara atlantique marocain

La population du Présahara et duSahara atlantique marocain a connu de profonds changements dans une période ne dépassant pas quelques décennies où elle est passée d’une société totalement rurale à une autre principalement urbaine. Ce passage était accompagné par une évolution graduelle des informations démographiques qui reflétaient ce changement initié par les autorités coloniales française et espagnoles. Ces sources d’informations s'amélioraient en termes de qualité et de quantité après l'indépendance. Cet article a pour objectif de retracer l’évolution de ces sources, la qualité des informations produites lors des périodes: précoloniale, coloniale et après l'indépendance.The population of pre-Sahara and the Moroccan Atlantic Sahara has undergone profound changes over a period not exceeding a few decades, and has been transformed from a totally rural society to a predominantly urban one. This passage was accompanied by a gradual evolution of demographic information that more or less clearly reflects these changes that were initiated by the French and the Spanish colonial authorities. These sources continued to improve in quantity and quality after the independence. This article aims to trace the evolution of different sources of demographic information by focusing on the nature of these sources, the quality and the extent of information produced during the pre-colonial, colonial and post-independence periods

Synthesis, spectroscopic and electrochemical properties of new covalent assemblies between TTF and various acceptors

Five new acceptor-π–TTF-π-acceptor (A–D–A) triads that contain pyridine, quinoline, nitrophenyl or nitrofuryl groups as acceptor unit have been synthesized by two-fold Wittig olefination reactions and their electrochemical behavior has been studied by cyclic voltammetry (CV). The intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) band in these molecules was characterized by UV–visible electronic absorption spectroscopy and these studies were completed by DFT calculations in the gas phase. These materials appear to be good candidates for the preparation of electroactive discrete metal complexes or coordination polymers as well as for the preparation of radical cations salts

OPA1 functions in mitochondria and dysfunctions in optic nerve

OPA1 is the major gene responsible for Dominant Optic Atrophy (DOA), a blinding disease that affects specifically the retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), which function consists in connecting the neuro-retina to the brain. OPA1 encodes an intra-mitochondrial dynamin, involved in inner membrane structures and ubiquitously expressed, raising the critical question of the origin of the disease pathophysiology. Here, we review the fundamental knowledge on OPA1 functions and regulations, highlighting their involvements in mitochondrial respiration, membrane dynamic and apoptosis. In light of these functions, we then describe the remarkable RGC mitochondrial network physiology and analyse data collected from animal models expressing OPA1 mutations. If, to date RGC mitochondria does not present any peculiarity at the molecular level, they represent possible targets of numerous assaults, like light, pressure, oxidative stress and energetic impairment, which jeopardize their function and survival, as observed in OPA1 mouse models. Although fascinating fields of investigation are still to be addressed on OPA1 functions and on DOA pathophysiology, we have reached a conspicuous state of knowledge with pertinent cell and animal models, from which therapeutic trials can be initiated and deeply evaluated

Mutational analysis of the RB1 gene in Moroccan patients with retinoblastoma

PURPOSE: Retinoblastoma (RB), the most common intraocular tumor occurring in infancy and early childhood, is most often related to mutations in the RB1 gene. In this study, we screened the RB1 germline mutations in 41 unrelated Moroccan patients with retinoblastoma, 25 heritable cases, and 16 sporadic unilateral cases. METHODS: After complete ophthalmic examinations were performed and consent obtained, DNA was extracted from peripheral blood, and screening of RB1 mutations was performed with PCR direct sequencing of the promoter and the 27 coding exons of the RB1 gene. RESULTS: We identified ten germline mutations in 10/41 (24.39%) unrelated patients, among which three had not been previously reported. The mutation detection rate was 40% (10/25) in the heritable cases and 0% (0/16) in the sporadic unilateral cases. Of these mutations, six were nonsense, and three were frameshifts, all associated with severe phenotypes resulting in bilateral and multifocal tumors. One splice site mutation was found in a familial case associated with a low expressivity phenotype resulting in unilateral and unifocal tumors. Moreover, eight intronic variants were identified, three of which were novel. CONCLUSIONS: This first report of RB1 gene screening in Moroccan patients with retinoblastoma shows a comparable mutational spectrum to those reported previously, which has evident importance for managing patients with retinoblastoma and their families

First Dark Matter Limits from a Large-Mass, Low-Background Superheated Droplet Detector

We report on the fabrication aspects and calibration of the first large active mass ($\sim15$ g) modules of SIMPLE, a search for particle dark matter using Superheated Droplet Detectors (SDDs). While still limited by the statistical uncertainty of the small data sample on hand, the first weeks of operation in the new underground laboratory of Rustrel-Pays d'Apt already provide a sensitivity to axially-coupled Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs) competitive with leading experiments, confirming SDDs as a convenient, low-cost alternative for WIMP detection.Comment: Final version, Phys. Rev. Lett. (in press