Quantum Yield Calculations for Strongly Absorbing Chromophores

This article demonstrates that a commonly-made assumption in quantum yield calculations may produce errors of up to 25% in extreme cases and can be corrected by a simple modification to the analysis.Comment: 3 pages, 2 figures. Accepted by Journal of Fluorescenc

Mise en oeuvre expérimentale d’impacts basse vitesse sur matériau énergétique

Les matériaux énergétiques présentent un caractère sensible aux sollicitations mécaniques, chimiques ou thermiques « faibles », dont l’origine est probablement liée à un endommagement microstructural progressif du matériau. La butalite analysée dans le cadre de notre étude est un propergol composite, constitué de grains de perchlorate d’ammonium et d’une matrice polymérique de type PBHT. Pour décrire la réponse thermomécanique sous faible choc de ce matériau à l’échelle mésoscopique, nous réalisons des essais d’impacts basse vitesse à la tour de chute, sous différentes  configurations expérimentales, en couplant un enregistrement par caméra rapide à une analyse ante et post mortem de l’échantillon par microtomographie X..

Implementing Silicon Nanoribbon Field-Effect Transistors as Arrays for Multiple Ion Detection

Ionic gradients play a crucial role in the physiology of the human body, ranging from metabolism in cells to muscle contractions or brain activities. To monitor these ions, inexpensive, label-free chemical sensing devices are needed. Field-effect transistors (FETs) based on silicon (Si) nanowires or nanoribbons (NRs) have a great potential as future biochemical sensors as they allow for the integration in microscopic devices at low production costs. Integrating NRs in dense arrays on a single chip expands the field of applications to implantable electrodes or multifunctional chemical sensing platforms. Ideally, such a platform is capable of detecting numerous species in a complex analyte. Here, we demonstrate the basis for simultaneous sodium and fluoride ion detection with a single sensor chip consisting of arrays of gold-coated SiNR FETs. A microfluidic system with individual channels allows modifying the NR surfaces with self-assembled monolayers of two types of ion receptors sensitive to sodium and fluoride ions. The functionalization procedure results in a differential setup having active fluoride-and sodium-sensitive NRs together with bare gold control NRs on the same chip. Comparing functionalized NRs with control NRs allows the compensation of non-specific contributions from changes in the background electrolyte concentration and reveals the response to the targeted species

"Active surfaces" as Possible Functional Systems in Detection and Chemical (Bio) Reactivity

This article presents design strategies to demonstrate approaches to generate functionalized surfaces which have the potential for application in molecular systems; sensing and chemical reactivity applications are exemplified. Some applications are proven, while others are still under active investigation. Adaptation and extension of our strategies will lead to interfacing of different type of surfaces, specific interactions at a molecular level, and possible exchange of signals/cargoes between them. Optimization of the present approaches from each of five research groups within the NCCR will be directed towards expanding the types of functional surfaces and the properties that they exhibit

Cdc42 controls the dilation of the exocytotic fusion pore by regulating membrane tension.

Membrane fusion underlies multiple processes, including exocytosis of hormones and neurotransmitters. Membrane fusion starts with the formation of a narrow fusion pore. Radial expansion of this pore completes the process and allows fast release of secretory compounds, but this step remains poorly understood. Here we show that inhibiting the expression of the small GTPase Cdc42 or preventing its activation with a dominant negative Cdc42 construct in human neuroendocrine cells impaired the release process by compromising fusion pore enlargement. Consequently the mode of vesicle exocytosis was shifted from full-collapse fusion to kiss-and-run. Remarkably, Cdc42-knockdown cells showed reduced membrane tension, and the artificial increase of membrane tension restored fusion pore enlargement. Moreover, inhibiting the motor protein myosin II by blebbistatin decreased membrane tension, as well as fusion pore dilation. We conclude that membrane tension is the driving force for fusion pore dilation and that Cdc42 is a key regulator of this force.journal articleresearch support, non-u.s. gov't2014 Oct 152014 08 20importe

Rab27a and Rab27b control different steps of the exosome secretion pathway

Exosomes are secreted membrane vesicles that share structural and biochemical characteristics with intraluminal vesicles of multivesicular endosomes (MVEs). Exosomes could be involved in intercellular communication and in the pathogenesis of infectious and degenerative diseases. The molecular mechanisms of exosome biogenesis and secretion are, however, poorly understood. Using an RNA interference (RNAi) screen, we identified five Rab GTPases that promote exosome secretion in HeLa cells. Among these, Rab27a and Rab27b were found to function in MVE docking at the plasma membrane. The size of MVEs was strongly increased by Rab27a silencing, whereas MVEs were redistributed towards the perinuclear region upon Rab27b silencing. Thus, the two Rab27 isoforms have different roles in the exosomal pathway. In addition, silencing two known Rab27 effectors, Slp4 (also known as SYTL4, synaptotagmin-like 4) and Slac2b (also known as EXPH5, exophilin 5), inhibited exosome secretion and phenocopied silencing of Rab27a and Rab27b, respectively. Our results therefore strengthen the link between MVEs and exosomes, and introduce ways of manipulating exosome secretion in vivo

A finite-strain model for an explosive simulant

On propose un modèle de comportement isotherme en transformations finies pour l'équivalent inerte d'un explosif. Il décrit les processus dissipatifs correspondant à deux mécanismes différents dont l'un est plastique avec dilatance et l'autre est de type viscoélastique. Ce modèle est ensuite implanté dans le code EPIC-2 et utilisé pour simuler des expériences d'impact de plaques.An isothermal finite strain constitutive modelling for the mechanical behaviour of an explosive simulant is presented. It accounts for two different dissipative processes including dilatational plasticity and a complementary viscous mechanism (viscoelastic-like). This model is implemented into the EPIC-2 hydrocode and used to simulate plate impact experiments

Influence of shock induced polymorphic transition on penetration in steel

The effects of polymorphic transition for the impact of a 27NCD10 steel projectile on a 27NCD10 steel target at 1280 m/s is presented. Comparisons between results of 2D numerical calculations performed with and without polymorphic transition show the influence of this phenomenon on stress distribution and tension zones in the target and in the projectile. Good agreement between experimental and calculated flee surface velocity profiles is obtained with polymorphic transition and damage models taken into account.Les effets de la transformation polymorphique dans le cas de l'impact d'un projectile en acier 27NCD10 contre une cible en acier 27NCD10 à une vitesse d'impact de 1280 m/s sont présentés. Les comparaisons entre les résultats des simulations numériques 2D réalisées avec et sans modèle de transformation polymorphique montrent l'influence de ce phénomène sur la distribution des contraintes et sur la localisation des zones de tension. Un bon accord entre les diagrammes de vitesse de surface libre expérimentaux et calculés a été obtenu en considérant un modèle de transformation polymorphique associé à un modèle d'endommagement

Modelowanie uszkodzenia w granulowanych kompozytach lepkosprężystych przy pomocy podejścia wieloskalowego

The aim of this paper is to pursue, in the wake of the work by Nadot-Martin et al. (2003), a non-classical micromechanical study and scale transition for highly filled particulate composites with viscoelastic matrices. The present extension of a morphology-based approach due to Christoffersen (1983), carried forward to the viscoelastic small strain context by Nadot-Martin et al. (2003), consists here in introducing a supplementary mechanism, namely damage by grain/matrix debonding. Displacement discontinuities (microcracks) on grain/matrix interfaces are first incorporated in a compatible way within geometric and kinematic hypotheses regarding the grains-and-layers assembly of Christoffersen. Then, local field expressions as well as homogenized stresses are established and discussed for a given state of damage (i.e. for a given actual number of open and closed microcracks) and using the hypothesis of no sliding on closed crack lips. A comparison with the results obtained for the sound viscoelastic composite by Nadot-Martin et al. (2003) allows to quantify the damage influence on local and global levels. At last, the basic formulation of the model obtained by scale transition is completed by the second stage leading to a thermodynamically consistent formulation eliminating some superfluous damaged-induced strain-like variables related to open cracks. This second stage is presented here for a simplified system where delayed (viscoelastic) effects are (tentatively) neglected. It appears as a preliminary and crucial step for further generalization in viscoelasticity.Celem tej publikacji jest sformułowanie wieloskalowego modelu mikromechanicznego dla granulowanych kompozytów o wysokim stopniu upakowania inkluzji w osnowie lepkosprężystej. Przedstawiony model, będący rozwinięciem morfologicznego podejścia Christoffersena (1983) i Nadot-Martin i in. (2003) w zakresie małych odkształceń lepkosprężystych, polega na wprowadzeniu do analizy dodatkowego mechanizmu uszkodzenia - mikropękania na granicy inkluzji i osnowy. Mikroszczeliny na granicy inkluzji i osnowy uwzględniono w hipotezie geometrycznej i kinematycznej metody Christoffersena. Następnie, wyznaczono lokalne oraz uśrednione pola naprężenia dla zadanego stanu uszkodzenia (tzn. dla zadanej liczby otwartych i zamkniętych mikroszczelin przy pominięciu poślizgów na powierzchniach mikroszczelin zamkniętych). Porównanie z wynikami uzyskanymi przez Nadot-Martin i in. (2003) dla nieuszkodzonego kompozytu lepkosprężystego pozwoliło na określenie wpływu uszkodzenia na poziomie lokalnym i globalnym. Na koniec, podstawowy model wieloskalowy uzupełniono o drugą część sformułowania, która pozwoliła usunąć pewne nadmiarowe odkształcenia związane z mikroszczelinami otwartymi, czyniąc cały model termodynamicznie spójnym. Ta druga część modelu wieloskalowego jest przeprowadzona przy założeniu upraszczającym, polegającym na (tymczasowym) pominięciu efektów lepkosprężystych