Very high energy gamma rays from the direction of Sagittarius A*.

We report the detection of a point-like source of very high energy (VHE) -rays coincident within 1' of Sgr A *, obtained with the HESS array of Cherenkov telescopes. The -rays exhibit a power-law energy spectrum with a spectral index of and a flux above the 165 GeV threshold of m -2 s -1. The measured flux and spectrum differ substantially from recent results reported in particular by the CANGAROO collaboration

Meta-analysis of SHANK Mutations in Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Gradient of Severity in Cognitive Impairments.

International audienceSHANK genes code for scaffold proteins located at the post-synaptic density of glutamatergic synapses. In neurons, SHANK2 and SHANK3 have a positive effect on the induction and maturation of dendritic spines, whereas SHANK1 induces the enlargement of spine heads. Mutations in SHANK genes have been associated with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), but their prevalence and clinical relevance remain to be determined. Here, we performed a new screen and a meta-analysis of SHANK copy-number and coding-sequence variants in ASD. Copy-number variants were analyzed in 5,657 patients and 19,163 controls, coding-sequence variants were ascertained in 760 to 2,147 patients and 492 to 1,090 controls (depending on the gene), and, individuals carrying de novo or truncating SHANK mutations underwent an extensive clinical investigation. Copy-number variants and truncating mutations in SHANK genes were present in ∼1% of patients with ASD: mutations in SHANK1 were rare (0.04%) and present in males with normal IQ and autism; mutations in SHANK2 were present in 0.17% of patients with ASD and mild intellectual disability; mutations in SHANK3 were present in 0.69% of patients with ASD and up to 2.12% of the cases with moderate to profound intellectual disability. In summary, mutations of the SHANK genes were detected in the whole spectrum of autism with a gradient of severity in cognitive impairment. Given the rare frequency of SHANK1 and SHANK2 deleterious mutations, the clinical relevance of these genes remains to be ascertained. In contrast, the frequency and the penetrance of SHANK3 mutations in individuals with ASD and intellectual disability-more than 1 in 50-warrant its consideration for mutation screening in clinical practice

H.E.S.S. observations of PKS 2155-304

The high-frequency peaked BL Lac PKS 2155-304 at redshift z = 0.117 has been detected with high significance (∼45σ) at energies greater than 160 GeV, using the H.E.S.S. stereoscopic array of imaging air-Cherenkov telescopes in Namibia. A strong signal is found in each of the data sets corresponding to the dark periods of July and October, 2002, and June-September, 2003. The observed flux of VHE gamma rays shows variability on time scales of months, days, and hours. The monthly-averaged integral flux above 300 GeV varies between 10% and 60% of the flux observed from the Crab Nebula. Energy spectra are measured for these individual periods of data taking and are characterized by a steep power law with a time-averaged photon index of Γ = 3.32 ± 0.06. An improved x2 per degree of freedom is found when either a power law with an exponential cutoff energy or a broken power law are fit to the time-averaged energy spectrum. However, the significance of the improvement is marginal (∼2σ). The suggested presence of features in the energy spectrum may be intrinsic to the emission from the blazar, or an indication of absorption of TeV gamma rays by the extragalactic infrared background light.F. Aharonian, A. G. Akhperjanian, K.-M. Aye, A. R. Bazer-Bachi, M. Beilicke, W. Benbow, D. Berge, P. Berghaus, K. Bernlöhr, O. Bolz, C. Boisson, C. Borgmeier, F. Breitling, A. M. Brown, J. Bussons Gordo, P. M. Chadwick, V. R. Chitnis, L.-M. Chounet, R. Cornils, L. Costamante, B. Degrange, A. Djannati-Ataï, L.O'C. Drury, T. Ergin, P. Espigat, F. Feinstein, P. Fleury, G. Fontaine, S. Funk, Y. A. Gallant, B. Giebels, S. Gillessen, P. Goret, J. Guy, C. Hadjichristidis, M. Hauser, G. Heinzelmann, G. Henri, G. Hermann, J. A. Hinton, W. Hofmann, M. Holleran, D. Horns, O. C. de Jager, I. Jung, B. Khélifi, Nu. Komin, A. Konopelko, I. J. Latham, R. Le Gallou, M. Lemoine, A. Lemière, N. Leroy, T. Lohse, A. Marcowith, C. Masterson, T. J. L. McComb, M. de Naurois, S. J. Nolan, A. Noutsos, K. J. Orford, J. L. Osborne, M. Ouchrif, M. Panter, G. Pelletier, S. Pita, M. Pohl, G. Pühlhofer, M. Punch, B. C. Raubenheimer, M. Raue, J. Raux, S. M. Rayner, I. Redondo, A. Reimer, O. Reimer, J. Ripken, M. Rivoal, L. Rob, L. Rolland, G. Rowell, V. Sahakian, L. Saugé, S. Schlenker, R. Schlickeiser, C. Schuster, U. Schwanke, M. Siewert, H. Sol, R. Steenkamp, C. Stegmann, J.-P. Tavernet, C. G. Théoret, M. Tluczykont, D. J. van der Walt, G. Vasileiadis, P. Vincent, B. Visser, H. J. Völk and S. J. Wagne

Synthesis of 4-O-Methylcedrusin. Selective Protection of Catechols with Diphenyl Carbonate

4-O-Methylcedrusin, a minor component in ‘sangre de drago’, has been synthesized using a strategy of successive protection and deprotection reactions under very mild conditions. The key step of this synthesis is a selective protection of a catechol group as a cyclic carbonate in the presence of an isolated phenol group

Un établissement rural du Ier siècle avant J.-C. à Fleury-sur-Orne (Calvados)

The passage of the southern section of the Caen agglomeration ring road has brought about the discovery of a group of quadrilateral enclosures, the foundation of which, before our era, isn't dated. On the site, several kilns and rubbish dumps can be associated La Tène IIIc to the Tiberian period. The rubbish dumps in the top layers of the ditch have provided us with a considerable amount of pottery associating Terra-Nigra with indigenous vases. The iron and bronze artefacts illustrate l'instnunentum domesticum of the inhabitants right at the beginning of the romanization of the Caen plain. At the bottom of the ditches, artefacts indigenous, which in the light of current regional knowledge, do not allow us to presume an occupation earlier than La Tène IIIc. Some kilns have an approach ditch dug into the upper layers of ditches in the process of being abandoned. This fact credits the continuity of occupation on from the foundation of the ditches System until beginning of our era. However, taking into account the very partial exploration of the structures within the roadwork limits, questions concerning the life span of the site, and the importance of its functional mutations remain unanswered. The rescue digs have revealed 3 900 animal remains, the half of which have been identified. These remains have been modified by natural processes both before and after being buried, and large adult domesticated mammals are well represented ; the artefacts from only one pit, in a very good state of conservation, distinguish themselves due to a high proportion of small animal bones. This provides us with quite a different picture of the food waste that constitutes the main part of the dumps. In addition to the waste, an uncut horse carcass and some whole skulls bear witness to practices similar to those observed in certain Iron Age sanctuaries.Le passage du périphérique sud de l'agglomération caennaise a révélé un ensemble d'enclos quadrilatéraux dont la fondation, antérieure à notre ère, n'est pas datée. Sur ce même site, plusieurs fours et dépotoirs concernent une phase entre La Tène IIIc et la période tibérienne. Des dépotoirs marquant les niveaux supérieurs des fossés ont livré un important lot céramique associant de la Terra-Nigra à des vases indigènes. Le mobilier en fer et en bronze illustre Y instrumentant domesticum des habitants au tout début de la romanisation de la plaine de Caen. Au fond des fossés, le mobilier indigène ne permet pas, en l'état actuel des connaissances régionales, d'assurer une implantation antérieure à La Tène IIIc. Certains fours ont une fosse d'accès installée dans le niveau supérieur des fossés en cours d'abandon. Ce fait accréditerait la continuité de l'occupation depuis la fondation du réseau de fossés jusqu'au début de notre ère. La problématique de la durée d'activité de l'établissement et de l'importance de ses mutations fonctionnelles reste entière compte tenu de l'exploration partielle des structures dans les limites de l'emprise routière. Les fouilles ont livré 3 900 restes animaux, dont la moitié ont été déterminés. Ces restes ont subi de nombreuses altérations, avant et après l'enfouissement, et ceux des grands mammifères domestiques adultes y sont bien représentés ; seul le matériel d'une fosse (f1, secteur C), très bien conservé, se distingue par une forte proportion d'os de petits animaux et nous offre une image assez différente des déchets alimentaires qui constituent l'essentiel des dépôts. En plus de ces déchets, une carcasse de cheval non découpé et des crânes entiers témoignent de pratiques analogues à celles observées dans certains sanctuaires gaulois.San Juan Guy, Méniel Patrice, Alduc-Lebagousse Armelle, Pilet-Lemière Jacqueline, Jahier Ivan. Un établissement rural du Ier siècle avant J.-C. à Fleury-sur-Orne (Calvados). In: Revue archéologique de l'ouest, tome 11, 1994. pp. 131-164

Bifunctional Derivative of p,p'-Dichlorochalcone. Part II. Synthesis of a Novel Compound 2-[2-Carboxymethylthio-2-(4-chlorophenyl)ethyl]-2-(4-chlorophenyl)-4-thiazolidinone

The synthesis of 2-[2-carboxymethylthio-2-(4-chlorophenyl) ethyl]-2-(4-chlorophenyl) - 4-thiazolidinone (1) from p, p'- dichlorochalcone using thioglycollic acid in the presence of ammonium carbonate is described. Structural assignment and stereochemistry are discussed

Novel biosurfactants with biocontrol activity and low ecotoxicity.

International audienc