The Electron Transport Through Strongly Coupled Double Quantum Dots : Effect of Spin Exchange Interaction

We introduce  model calculation for the electron transport through a system consists of two serially coupled quantum dots, embedded between two nonmagnetic leads (source and drain). In our treatment, the time independent Anderson-Newns Hamiltonian model is considered as a basis to study the system dynamics and then to derive spin-dependent analytical formula to calculate the occupation numbers of the quantum dots energy levels, the corresponding quantum dots energy levels and the molecular virtual energy levels, as a function of bias voltage. These relations are solved self-consistently, which are all employed to calculate the tunneling current considering the strong coupling regime. The differential conductance is calculated numerically by using finite differences method. And as the efficiency of electron transport through coupled quantum dots depends on the system parameters, the effective exchange energy is highlighted and studied in details and the role of this parameter in the tunneling current and the differential conductance calculations is presented. Our treatment is utilized to study the following The role of the spin exchange interaction in determining the type of  interaction (if it is attractive or repulsive) between the quantum dots...

Reproductive performance of native and imported dairy cows in the Tadla region (Morocco)

Parmi les performances de reproduction des vaches laitières dans la région du Tadla (Maroc) sur une période de 4 années, l’âge à la première insémination artificielle (IA) a été de 573,4 ± 35,6 jours et à l’âge au premier vêlage de 853,8 ± 103,5 jours, l’intervalle vêlage-1ère IA de 75,5 ± 35,6 jours. Celui-ci a été plus court chez les femelles importées que chez les natives. La race Montbéliarde a été inséminée plus tôt que la race Prim’Holstein. Le taux de réussite en 1ère IA a été de 53,2% avec de larges variations inter-annuelles et inter-élevages. Les Prim’holstein ont été mieux fécondées que les autres races. 18,2% des vaches ont nécessité 3 IA ou plus et l’indice coïtal a été de 1,8 ±1,3. La campagne, l’élevage et la race ont affecté significativement le taux de femelles ayant nécessité 3 IA ou plus. La race Prim’holstein française a manifesté un taux inférieur à celui de la race Prim’holstein canadienne. L’intervalle vêlage - insémination fécondante a été de 119,2 ± 83,8 jours. Ce paramètre a varié très significativement selon l’année, l’élevage, la race et le numéro de lactation. La race Montbéliarde a présenté undélai moyen de fécondation plus court que la race Prim’Holstein Canadienne

Cooperative Binding

Molecular binding is an interaction between molecules that results in a stable association between those molecules. Cooperative binding occurs if the number of binding sites of a macromolecule that are occupied by a specific type of ligand is a nonlinear function of this ligand’s concentration. This can be due, for instance, to an affinity for the ligand that depends on the amount of ligand bound. Cooperativity can be positive (supralinear) or negative (infralinear). Cooperative binding is most often observed in proteins, but nucleic acids can also exhibit cooperative binding, for instance of transcription factors. Cooperative binding has been shown to be the mechanism underlying a large range of biochemical and physiological processes

Wnt addiction of genetically defined cancers reversed by PORCN inhibition

Enhanced sensitivity to Wnts is an emerging hallmark of a subset of cancers, defined in part by mutations regulating the abundance of their receptors. Whether these mutations identify a clinical opportunity is an important question. Inhibition of Wnt secretion by blocking an essential post-translational modification, palmitoleation, provides a useful therapeutic intervention. We developed a novel potent, orally available PORCN inhibitor, ETC-1922159 (henceforth called ETC-159) that blocks the secretion and activity of all Wnts. ETC-159 is remarkably effective in treating RSPO-translocation bearing colorectal cancer (CRC) patient-derived xenografts. This is the first example of effective targeted therapy for this subset of CRC. Consistent with a central role of Wnt signaling in regulation of gene expression, inhibition of PORCN in RSPO3-translocated cancers causes a marked remodeling of the transcriptome, with loss of cell cycle, stem cell and proliferation genes, and an increase in differentiation markers. Inhibition of Wnt signaling by PORCN inhibition holds promise as differentiation therapy in genetically defined human cancers

Macrophage-derived Extracellular Vesicle packaged WNTs rescue intestinal stem cells 2 and enhance survival after radiation injury

WNT/β-catenin signalling is crucial for intestinal homoeostasis. The intestinal epithelium and stroma are the major source of WNT ligands but their origin and role in intestinal stem cell (ISC) and epithelial repair remains unknown. Macrophages are a major constituent of the intestinal stroma. Here, we analyse the role of macrophage-derived WNT in intestinal repair in mice by inhibiting their release using a macrophage-restricted ablation of Porcupine, a gene essential for WNT synthesis. Such Porcn-depleted mice have normal intestinal morphology but are hypersensitive to radiation injury in the intestine compared with wild-type (WT) littermates. Porcn-null mice are rescued from radiation lethality by treatment with WT but not Porcn-null bone marrow macrophage-conditioned medium (CM). Depletion of extracellular vesicles (EV) from the macrophage CM removes WNT function and its ability to rescue ISCs from radiation lethality. Therefore macrophage-derived EV-packaged WNTs are essential for regenerative response of intestine against radiation

Facteurs prédictifs de la réponse à la CERA chez les hémodialysés chroniques naïfs de traitement par agent stimulant l’érythropoïèse

la correction et la stabilité du taux d'hémoglobine est un objectif majeur du traitement de l'anémie chez les hémodialysés chroniques. Toutefois, la cible d'hémoglobine > 11g/dl fixée par les recommandations demeure difficile à atteindre dans notre contexte. Le but de cette étude est d'évaluer la réponse au traitement par CERA (continuous erythropoietin receptor activator) chez une population d'hémodialysés chroniques naïfs de tout traitement par agent stimulant de l'érythropoïèse et étudier les différents facteurs associés à une mauvaise réponse au traitement. Il s'agit une étude prospective mono centrique faite au sein d'une population d' hémodialysés chroniques. Ont été inclus les patients en hémodialyse depuis plus de 12 mois, naïfs de tout traitement par agent stimulant de l'érythropoïèse (ASE) et ayant un taux d'hémoglobine(Hb) < 10g/dl. L'administration régulière de la CERA et l'ajustement des doses ont été faits selon les recommandations. L'évaluation de la réponse, en fin de traitement, a porté sur l'atteinte ou non d'un taux d'hémoglobine cible > 11g/dl. Sur 87 patients en hémodialyse périodique, 22 (25,3%) sont naïfs de tout traitement par ASE. Il s'agit de 13 hommes et 9 femmes avec un âge moyen de 46 ± 19 ans et une ancienneté en hémodialyse de 67 ± 59 mois. Le taux initial d'hémoglobine est de 7,8 ± 1,3 g/dl. Au bout de 4 mois de traitement régulier par la CERA, le taux final d'Hb est de 10,9 ± 2,1g/dl et 63,6% des patients ont atteint la cible d'Hb > 11g/dl. La dose moyenne de CERA à la fin de l'étude est de 0,89 ± 0,35 µg/kg/15j. L'analyse des facteurs prédictifs montre que la réponse finale dépend du taux d'Hb initial (p=0,002).En effet, quand le taux d'Hb initial est > 8 g/dl, le taux de réponse est de 88% vs 46% lorsque le taux d'Hb < 8g/dl (p<0,05). L'anémie est une complication majeure chez les hémodialysés chroniques. La réponse au traitement dépend de la précocité de la prise en charge

Biofluid proteomics and biomarkers in traumatic brain injury

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an injury to the brain caused by an external mechanical force, affecting millions of people worldwide. The disease course and prognosis are often unpredictable, and it can be challenging to determine an early diagnosis in case of mild injury as well as to accurately phenotype the injury. There is currently no cure for TBI?drugs having failed repeatedly in clinical trials?but an intense effort has been put to identify effective neuroprotective treatment. The detection of novel biomarkers, to understand more of the disease mechanism, facilitates early diagnosis, predicts disease progression, and develops molecularly targeted therapies that would be of high clinical interest. Over the last decade, there has been an increasing effort and initiative toward finding TBI-specific biomarker candidates. One promising strategy has been to use state-ofthe- art neuroproteomics approaches to assess clinical biofluids and compare the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood proteome between TBI and control patients or between different subgroups of TBI. In this chapter, we summarize and discuss the status of biofluid proteomics in TBI, with a particular focus on the latest findings.Scopu