Endometrial osteoid metaplasia.

editorial reviewedEndometrial osteoid metaplasia is a rare condition characterised by the presence of bone in the uterine cavity. The main symptoms are secondary infertility, cycle disorders or dysmenorrhea. The discovery can also be fortuitous. Ultrasound and diagnostic hysteroscopy are diagnostic tools while operative hysteroscopy provides treatment. In the vast majority of cases, it is discovered in the aftermath of pregnancy, especially after curettage or miscarriage. There are several theories as to its etiopathogenesis.La métaplasie ostéoïde est définie par la présence de tissu osseux au niveau de l’endomètre. Il s’agit d’une affection rare. Les principaux symptômes sont l’infertilité secondaire, des troubles du cycle ou de la dysménorrhée. La découverte peut également être fortuite. L’échographie et l’hystéroscopie diagnostique sont des outils de diagnostic tandis que l’hystéroscopie opératoire assure le traitement. Dans la grande majorité des cas, elle est découverte dans les suites d’une grossesse, surtout après un curetage ou une fausse-couche. Il existe plusieurs théories quant à son étiopathogénie

Unstable and stable regimes of polariton condensation

Modulational instabilities play a key role in a wide range of nonlinear optical phenomena, leading e.g. to the formation of spatial and temporal solitons, rogue waves and chaotic dynamics. Here we experimentally demonstrate the existence of a modulational instability in condensates of cavity polaritons, arising from the strong coupling of cavity photons with quantum well excitons. For this purpose we investigate the spatiotemporal coherence properties of polariton condensates in GaAs-based microcavities under continuous-wave pumping. The chaotic behavior of the instability results in a strongly reduced spatial and temporal coherence and a significantly inhomogeneous density. Additionally we show how the instability can be tamed by introducing a periodic potential so that condensation occurs into negative mass states, leading to largely improved coherence and homogeneity. These results pave the way to the exploration of long-range order in dissipative quantum fluids of light within a controlled platform.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figure

From publishers to self-publishing: disruptive effects in the book industry

This paper explores the structure of the book publishing industry post digitalisation, analysing the choices of the publishers and authors. The introduction of successful e-book readers has belatedly given digitalisation the characteristics of a disruptive technology by making self-publishing a serious option for authors. This has been supported by the entry of new types of intermediaries and the strengthening of others. These changes have reduced the general requirements for an author to get a book self-published. As a result, a larger share of the surplus from the book industry is likely to go to authors, explaining the significant increase in the supply of books. The potential oversupply of books has created a new problem by increasing competition and making consumer searches more difficult. We argue that digitalisation has shifted the potential for market failure from an inadequate supply of books to asymmetric information about quality. It remains to be seen whether the market will provide appropriate intermediaries to solve the asymmetric information problem

‘Medusa head ataxia’: the expanding spectrum of Purkinje cell antibodies in autoimmune cerebellar ataxia. Part 3: Anti-Yo/CDR2, anti-Nb/AP3B2, PCA-2, anti-Tr/DNER, other antibodies, diagnostic pitfalls, summary and outlook

Serological testing for anti-neural autoantibodies is important in patients presenting with idiopathic cerebellar ataxia, since these autoantibodies may indicate cancer, determine treatment and predict prognosis. While some of them target nuclear antigens present in all or most CNS neurons (e.g. anti-Hu, anti-Ri), others more specifically target antigens present in the cytoplasm or plasma membrane of Purkinje cells (PC). In this series of articles, we provide a detailed review of the clinical and paraclinical features, oncological, therapeutic and prognostic implications, pathogenetic relevance, and differential laboratory diagnosis of the 12 most common PC autoantibodies (often referred to as ‘Medusa head antibodies’ due to their characteristic somatodendritic binding pattern when tested by immunohistochemistry). To assist immunologists and neurologists in diagnosing these disorders, typical high-resolution immunohistochemical images of all 12 reactivities are presented, diagnostic pitfalls discussed and all currently available assays reviewed. Of note, most of these antibodies target antigens involved in the mGluR1/calcium pathway essential for PC function and survival. Many of the antigens also play a role in spinocerebellar ataxia. Part 1 focuses on anti-metabotropic glutamate receptor 1-, anti-Homer protein homolog 3-, anti-Sj/inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor- and anti-carbonic anhydrase-related protein VIII-associated autoimmune cerebellar ataxia (ACA); part 2 covers anti-protein kinase C gamma-, anti-glutamate receptor delta-2-, anti-Ca/RhoGTPase-activating protein 26- and anti-voltage-gated calcium channel-associated ACA; and part 3 reviews the current knowledge on anti-Tr/delta notch-like epidermal growth factor-related receptor-, anti-Nb/AP3B2-, anti-Yo/cerebellar degeneration-related protein 2- and Purkinje cell antibody 2-associated ACA, discusses differential diagnostic aspects and provides a summary and outlook

A constitutive law for magnetostrictive materials and its application to Terfenol-D single and polycrystals

This paper addresses a multiscale strategy for the prediction of anhysteretic magneto-elastic behavior and its application to the definition of a magneto-elastic constitutive law for Terfenol-D. The multiscale modeling is based on an energetic procedure at the single crystal scale. Localization and homogenization procedures are then applied to deduce the constitutive law of polycrystalline media from the behavior of the corresponding single crystal. The method is applied first to define the magneto-elastic behavior of single crystals, and the application to polycrystalline samples is then considered. Modeling results are compared to experimental data

Using architectural analysis to compare the shape of two hybrid tea rose genotypes

In the area of ornamental horticulture, it is necessary to compare individuals to assess the effect of an experimental treatment or to distinguish between two genotypes. This is especially true for the hybrid tea rose, a plant species widely used throughout the world as a garden rose and represented by a very large number of cultivars. Normally, this diversity is approached by a more or less Subjective analysis of the shape, with terms such as upright or spreading, and compact vs. laxly branched. Even when evaluated by a panel or experts, this approach quickly reaches its limits when it is necessary to objectively quantify the differences observed. The architectural analysis proposed here allows us to satisfy this objective. Two rose genotypes were studied: Rosa hybrida 'Radrazz' Knock-Out(R) (KO) and 'Meiratcan', Lovely Meilland(R) (LM). These two genotypes share both architectural similarities and differences. As for the similarities: (i) the axes ire of two highly differentiated types, long and short: (ii) the proportions of each type of axis vary from 100% of long axes for order 1, to 100% of short axes for the last branching order: and (iii) all of the flowering axes have a comparable profile, with the continuous development of their morphological components, from their base to their extremity. Despite these similarities, the two genotypes are very clearly differentiated. The number of orders and axes is greater for KO, whereas axis length and the number of metamers per axis are much greater for LM. The architectural analysis proposed here makes it possible to effectively quantify the major shape components of an ornamental plant like the rose. As a result, it provides a truly effective tool for objectively assessing plant shape. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved