No FeS layer in Mercury? Evidence from Ti/Al measured by MESSENGER

In this study we investigate the likeliness of the existence of an iron sulfide layer (FeS matte) at the core-mantle boundary (CMB) of Mercury by comparing new chemical surface data obtained by the X-ray Spectrometer onboard the MESSENGER spacecraft with geochemical models supported by high-pressure experiments under reducing conditions. We present a new data set consisting of 233 Ti/Si measurements, which combined with Al/Si data show that Mercury's surface has a slightly subchondritic Ti/Al ratio of 0.035 ± 0.008. Multiphase equilibria experiments show that at the conditions of Mercury's core formation, Ti is chalcophile but not siderophile, making Ti a useful tracer of sulfide melt formation. We parameterize and use our partitioning data in a model to calculate the relative depletion of Ti in the bulk silicate fraction of Mercury as a function of a putative FeS layer thickness. By comparing the model results and surface elemental data we show that Mercury most likely does not have a FeS layer, and in case it would have one, it would only be a few kilometers thick (<13km). We also show that Mercury's metallic Fe(Si) core cannot contain more than ∼1.5 wt.% sulfur and that the formation of this core under reducing conditions is responsible for the slightly subchondritic Ti/Al ratio of Mercury's surface. © 2020 Elsevier B.V

Oocyte-somatic cells interactions, lessons from evolution

BACKGROUND: Despite the known importance of somatic cells for oocyte developmental competence acquisition, the overall mechanisms underlying the acquisition of full developmental competence are far from being understood, especially in non-mammalian species. The present work aimed at identifying key molecular signals from somatic origin that would be shared by vertebrates. RESULTS: Using a parallel transcriptomic analysis in 4 vertebrate species - a teleost fish, an amphibian, and two mammals - at similar key steps of developmental competence acquisition, we identified a large number of species-specific differentially expressed genes and a surprisingly high number of orthologous genes exhibiting similar expression profiles in the 3 tetrapods and in the 4 vertebrates. Among the evolutionary conserved players participating in developmental competence acquisition are genes involved in key processes such as cellular energy metabolism, cell-to-cell communications, and meiosis control. In addition, we report many novel molecular actors from somatic origin that have never been studied in the vertebrate ovary. Interestingly, a significant number of these new players actively participate in Drosophila oogenesis. CONCLUSIONS: Our study provides a comprehensive overview of evolutionary-conserved mechanisms from somatic origin participating in oocyte developmental competence acquisition in 4 vertebrates. Together our results indicate that despite major differences in ovarian follicular structure, some of the key players from somatic origin involved in oocyte developmental competence acquisition would be shared, not only by vertebrates, but also by metazoans. The conservation of these mechanisms during vertebrate evolution further emphasizes the important contribution of the somatic compartment to oocyte quality and paves the way for future investigations aiming at better understanding what makes a good egg

Spectrum and Inoculum Size Effect of a Rapid Antigen Detection Test for Group A Streptococcus in Children with Pharyngitis

BACKGROUND: The stability of the accuracy of a diagnostic test is critical to whether clinicians can rely on its result. We aimed to assess whether the performance of a rapid antigen detection test (RADT) for group A streptococcus (GAS) is affected by the clinical spectrum and/or bacterial inoculum size. METHODS: Throat swabs were collected from 785 children with pharyngitis in an office-based, prospective, multicenter study (2009-2010). We analysed the effect of clinical spectrum (i.e., the McIsaac score and its components) and inoculum size (light or heavy GAS growth) on the accuracy (sensitivity, specificity, likelihood ratios and predictive values) of a RADT, with laboratory throat culture as the reference test. We also evaluated the accuracy of a McIsaac-score-based decision rule. RESULTS: GAS prevalence was 36% (95CI: 33%-40%). The inoculum was heavy for 85% of cases (81%-89%). We found a significant spectrum effect on sensitivity, specificity, likelihood ratios and positive predictive value (p<0.05) but not negative predictive value, which was stable at about 92%. RADT sensitivity was greater for children with heavy than light inoculum (95% vs. 40%, p<0.001). After stratification by inoculum size, the spectrum effect on RADT sensitivity was significant only in patients with light inoculum, on univariate and multivariate analysis. The McIsaac-score-based decision rule had 99% (97%-100%) sensitivity and 52% (48%-57%) specificity. CONCLUSIONS: Variations in RADT sensitivity only occur in patients with light inocula. Because the spectrum effect does not affect the negative predictive value of the test, clinicians who want to rule out GAS can rely on negative RADT results regardless of clinical features if they accept that about 10% of children with negative RADT results will have a positive throat culture. However, such a policy is more acceptable in populations with very low incidence of complications of GAS infection

Polymorphisms in the CYP 2D6 gene: Association with plasma concentrations of fluoxetine and paroxetine

peer reviewedMost antidepressants are metabolized by cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2D6, and it is well known that there may be significant interindividual variation in the capacity to metabolize xenobiotics. About 7 to 10% of whites are poor metabolisers (PM), and, on the contrary, about 5% are ultrarapid metabolizers (UM), inducing very different rates in the transformation of antidepressants extensively metabolized by CYP 2D6. CYP 2D6 polymorphism can be a potential risk factor for the development of side effects or a reason for the poor efficacy of the treatment. Various probe drugs may be used for phenotyping CYP 2D6, but genotyping is now available using leukocyte DNA and is independent of concomitant drug use. in this study, we used PCR-based methods for the identification of CYP 2D6 genotypes in 49 patients receiving standard doses of fluoxetine or paroxetine and found that plasma concentration of the antidepressant drugs was significantly correlated with genetic status. In one patient who displayed CYP 2D6 gene duplication (UM), paroxetine plasma concentration was extremely low. in PM fluoxetine-treated patients, drug plasma concentration was significantly higher than that seen in extensive metabolizers

Gene expression in bovine and mouse cumulus cells in relation with oocyte maturation

International audienc

Le trouble alimentaire pédiatrique

L’alimentation est une habileté développementale se construisant étape par étape depuis la vie embryonnaire jusqu’à l’âge adulte. Beaucoup d’enfants sont considérés par leurs parents comme de mauvais mangeurs. Ces plaintes concernent principalement les enfants d’âge préscolaire et représentent une part importante des consultations chez le pédiatre. Si la plupart de ces difficultés sont passagères, elles risquent toutefois de se pérenniser chez certains enfants pour devenir un trouble alimentaire pédiatrique. Des signes d’alerte doivent éveiller l’attention des pédiatres et autres professionnels de la petite enfance: des conséquences négatives sur la croissance et l’état de santé de l’enfant, des signes fonctionnels, sensoriels et comportementaux, une inquiétude parentale à propos du déroulement des repas, etc. L’évaluation et la prise en charge du trouble alimentaire pédiatrique relèvent d’une équipe interdisciplinaire, et une intervention précoce est recommandée, afin que le développement alimentaire du jeune enfant suive autant que possible son développement morpho-physiologique

Evidence of the Key Role of Metal-Molecule Bonding in Metal-Molecule-Metal Transport Experiments

International audienceThe transport properties of two oligothiophene derivatives, that differ only by the chemical group coupling to gold, are compared. It is shown that the role of the coupling group in the transport properties can be decoupled from that of the conjugated body of the molecules and that Se provides a better electronic coupling than S. These results are accounted for semi-quantitatively within the frame of the scattering theory of transport, using results from UPS experiments as inputs for the position in energy of the molecular orbitals with respect to the electrodes Fermi leve