First test on Photonic Crystal Fiber potential for broadband interferometry

International audienceThe Photonic Crystal Fibers (PCFs) are microstructured waveguides currently developed in the frame of metrology, non-linear optics or coherent tomography. PCF studies are mainly focused on the improvement of dispersion property and wide spectral single-mode operating domain. Consequently, in the astronomical context, this kind of fiber is a good candidate to design a fiber linked version of stellar interferometer for aperture synthesis. In this paper, we study the potential of these fibers taking advantage of the wide spectral single-mode operation. We propose an experimental setup acting as a two-beam interferometer using PCFs to measure fringes contrasts at four different wavelengths (670nm, 980nm, 1328nm and 1543nm) corresponding to R, I, J and H astronomical bands with the same couple of PCFs. For this purpose, we implement for the first time a piezoelectric PCF optical path modulator

Genome-Wide Association Study in BRCA1 Mutation Carriers Identifies Novel Loci Associated with Breast and Ovarian Cancer Risk

BRCA1-associated breast and ovarian cancer risks can be modified by common genetic variants. To identify further cancer risk-modifying loci, we performed a multi-stage GWAS of 11,705 BRCA1 carriers (of whom 5,920 were diagnosed with breast and 1,839 were diagnosed with ovarian cancer), with a further replication in an additional sample of 2,646 BRCA1 carriers. We identified a novel breast cancer risk modifier locus at 1q32 for BRCA1 carriers (rs2290854, P = 2.7×10-8, HR = 1.14, 95% CI: 1.09-1.20). In addition, we identified two novel ovarian cancer risk modifier loci: 17q21.31 (rs17631303, P = 1.4×10-8, HR = 1.27, 95% CI: 1.17-1.38) and 4q32.3 (rs4691139, P = 3.4×10-8, HR = 1.20, 95% CI: 1.17-1.38). The 4q32.3 locus was not associated with ovarian cancer risk in the general population or BRCA2 carriers, suggesting a BRCA1-specific associat

Identification of Genomic Regions Associated with Phenotypic Variation between Dog Breeds using Selection Mapping

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Les douleurs dento-alvéolaires

International audienc

Skin surface nanoscale topography by light interferometry

International audienceThe skin is the first thing one perceives of a person. Unconsciously, its color, its radiance and its complexion give us a first impression of a person. This is why cosmetic care and makeup products are of great importance.But how to evaluate their activity?Many methods of in vivo measurements exist to evaluate its color or shine, but the evaluation of a product activity on skin surface is much more complicated.. The relief of the skin and even more its microrelief, are largely responsible for its optical properties and therefore the image it refers.Many products have a filling or a tensor effect, modifying the depth and width of the microfolds that compose the microrelief. It is consequently necessary to measure and characterize the skin surface before and after the application of a cosmetic product with great precision.More precise than 3D scanners, or the fringe projections in vivo, light interferometry allows making a topographical survey of the skin surface with an accuracy of a few tens of nanometers.The topography by light interferometry is developed by the Polytec company whose experience in measuring equipment is no longer to be proved.This technology used in particular in the control of mechanical parts of aeronautics, offers a lateral resolution of approximately 10 μm and a vertical resolution of less than 20 nm.Depending on the light interference reflected from the surface of the skin, this technology is sensitive to vibrations which avoids its in vivo use.To benefit from this technology usually reserved for the world of precision micromechanics, we have developed a support to put under tension a human living skin explant and to maintain it in survival ex vivo.This support specially designed and printed in 3D allows stretching the skin on a reservoir of culture medium while respecting a tension similar to the in vivo conditions.The tension of the skin was measured and verified by cutometry. This measurement can also be performed during the study which can last up to 10 days.The skin thus stretched can be topographed and treated by different products. So it will be very simple to measure the roughness of the surface of the skin, the depth of its folds or their width.We applied on the surface of the skin three products, two with smoothing and filling activity. We showed a decrease in the average depth of the cutaneous microfolds as well as a decrease of the roughness of the skin.If an immediate effect can be observed in a few minutes, the ex vivo character of this model also allows evaluating a biological activity which reinforces in depth this surface-visible effect.This new and original approach, coupling light interferometry technology and human living skin explant, offers all the precision and finesse necessary for an immediate evaluation of the activity of a product on skin surface proprieties and to investigate in parallel the cutaneous-linked biological effects

Heart rate variability in rats with chronic hypoxic pulmonary hypertension

International audienceThe precise role of pulmonary hypertension as a possible factor inducing a decrease in heart rate variability is poorly known. Spectral analysis of heart rate variability (HRV) was carried out in 21 Wistar rats before and after exposure to normoxia (N = 10) or to 3 weeks of hypobaric hypoxia inducing chronic pulmonary hypertension and right ventricular hypertrophy (N= 11). Continuous ECG was recorded in conscious animal at rest. Compared to the control group, rats exposed to hypoxia had a similar heart rate but a lower overall HRV (total power, 27.9 +/- 15.2 vs. 57.6 +/- 24.7 ms2, P < 0.01). Low frequency power (0.25-0.8 Hz) and high frequency power (0.8-3 Hz) were similar in both groups suggesting that HRV was decreased in the very low frequency power (0-0.25 Hz). The effects of atropine and propranolol on heart rate and HRV were similar in rats exposed or not to hypoxia. HRV is decreased in rats with hypoxic induced pulmonary hypertension, mainly in the very low frequency band, suggesting an increase in sympathetic activity. However, this decrease is moderate and the modulation of HRV with pharmacologic autonomic blockade remains similar to that of normal rats

Organization of projections from the spinal trigeminal subnucleus oralis to the spinal cord in the rat: A neuroanatomical substrate for reciprocal orofacial–cervical interactions

International audienceThe organization of efferent projections from the spinal trigeminal nucleus oralis (Sp5O) to the spinal cord in the rat was studied using the anterograde tracer Phaseolus vulgaris leucoagglutinin. Sp5O projections to the spinal cord are restricted to the cervical cord. No labeled terminal can be detected in the thoracic and lumbar cord. The organization of these projections happens to critically depend on the dorso-ventral location of the injection site. On the one hand, the dorsal part of the Sp5O projects to the medial part of the dorsal horn (laminae III-V) at the C1 level, on the ipsilateral side, and to the ventral horn, on both sides but mainly on the ipsilateral one. Ipsilateral labeled terminals are distributed throughout laminae VII to IX but tend to cluster around the dorso-medial motor nuclei, especially at C3-C5 levels. Within the contralateral ventral horn, label terminals are found particularly in the region of the ventro-medial motor nucleus. This projection extends as far caudally as C3 or C4 level. On the other hand, the ventral part of the Sp5O projects to the lateral part of the dorsal horn (laminae III-V) at the C1 level, on the ipsilateral side, and to the ventral horn, on both sides but mainly on the contralateral one. Contralateral labeled terminals are distributed within the region of the dorso- and ventro-medial motor nuclei at C1-C4 levels whereas they are restricted to the dorso-medial motor nucleus at C5-C8 levels. These findings suggest that Sp5O is involved in the coordination of neck movements and in the modulation of incoming sensory information at the cervical spinal cord