Large enhancement of the sub-barrier fusion probability for a halo nucleus

The fusion-fission cross sections of the He-4 + U-238 and He-6 + U-238 systems have been measured, at Louvain-la-Neuve, for energies around and below the Coulomb barrier, using an array of Si detectors surrounding a UF4 target. The data taken with 4He are in good agreement with previous data and with the coupled channel fusion calculation performed with ECIS. The He-6 data show a regular trend with a large enhancement below the barrier which is attributed to the halo structure of the He-6 nucleus

A preliminary analysis of the phonological system of the western pahari language of Kvar

Oppgaven er resultatet av et feltarbeid jeg gjorde i Himalaya. Oppgaven handler om et liten Pahari (fjell) språk som brukes i Himachal Pradesh i Nord-India. Pahari språk er lite kjente, og bortsett fra Nepalesisk er disse språkene svært lite beskrevne. Dette er den første beskrivelse av dette språkets lydsystemet. En kort ordliste er inkludert på slutten av oppgaven

Tau protein aggregation in Alzheimer's disease: An attractive target for the development of novel therapeutic agents

International audienceAlzheimer's Disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative brain disorder in which many biological dysfunctions are involved. Among them, two main types of lesions were discovered and widely studied: the amyloid plaques and the neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs). These two lesions are caused by the dysfunction and the accumulation of two proteins which are, respectively, the beta-amyloid peptide and the tau protein. The process that leads these two proteins to aggregate is complex and is the subject of current studies. After a brief description of the aggregation mechanisms, we will provide an overview of new therapeutic agents targeting the different dysfunctions and toxic species found during aggregatio

Nutrient Requirements during Pregnancy and Lactation

A woman’s nutritional status during pregnancy and breastfeeding is not only critical for her health, but also for that of future generations. Nutritional requirements during pregnancy differ considerably from those of non-pregnant women. Thus, a personalized approach to nutritional advice is recommended. Currently, some countries recommend routine supplementation for all pregnant women, while others recommend supplements only when necessary. Maternal physiological adaptations, as well as nutritional requirements during pregnancy and lactation, will be reviewed in the literature examining the impacts of dietary changes. All of these data have been studied deeply to facilitate a discussion on dietary supplement use and the recommended doses of nutrients during pregnancy and lactation. The aim of this review is to evaluate the knowledge in the scientific literature on the current recommendations for the intake of the most common micronutrients and omega-3 fatty acids during pregnancy and lactation in the United States, Canada, and Europe. Taking into account these considerations, we examine minerals, vitamins, and omega-3 fatty acid requirements. Finally, we conclude by discussing the potential benefits of each form of supplementation

Noncellular screening for the discovery of protein–protein interaction modulators

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MR22388, a novel anti-cancer agent with a strong FLT-3 ITD kinase affinity.

International audienceThis work describes the study of the mechanism of action and spectrum of activity of MR22388, a novel anti-cancer agent belonging to the tripentone series. MR22388 is highly cytotoxic (within the nanomolar range) against numerous cancer cell lines and studies of its cytotoxicity mechanisms show that it is a weak inhibitor of the polymerization of tubulin and that it induces apoptosis via the MAP kinase pathways. Further MR22388 is a very strong inhibitor of several kinases including the tyrosine kinase FLT3-ITD. FLT3-ITD is a mutated form of the tyrosine kinase receptor (RTK) FLT3, resulting in the constitutive activation of the kinase, occurring in about 25% of normal karyotypes' Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) and is linked to a bad prognosis. Consecutively, MR22388 appears as a novel promising anticancer lead agent especially for AML therapy

MR22388, a novel anti-cancer agent with a strong FLT-3 ITD kinase affinity

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β-Strand Mimicry: Exploring Oligothienylpyridine Foldamers

International audienceProtein–protein interactions (PPIs) are involved in many cellular processes; consequently, the discovery of small molecules as modulators of PPIs has become an important challenge in medicinal chemistry. Structural mimetics of α‐helices, β‐turns or β‐strands could maintain or restore biological functions and should possess biological activity. At this time, the most challenging classes of PPIs are those mediated by β‐sheet interactions, which are implicated in a number of diseases. Only a few β‐strand mimics have been published to date. This study presents an evaluation of oligothienylpyridyl scaffolds in view of their ability for β‐strand mimicry. In this study, theoretical ring twist angle predictions for these scaffolds have been validated by X‐ray diffraction and molecular dynamics simulations with NMR constraints. Careful choice of substituent and heavy‐atom positions in the foldamer units opens the way to produce reasonably coplanar compounds mimicking β‐strand side‐chain distributio

Spatial and temporal variations in creep rate along the El Pilar fault at the Caribbean-South American plate boundary (Venezuela), from InSAR

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