Beyond body maps: Information content of specific body parts is distributed across the somatosensory homunculus

The homunculus in primary somatosensory cortex (S1) is famous for its body part selectivity, but this dominant feature may eclipse other representational features, e.g., information content, also relevant for S1 organization. Using multivariate fMRI analysis, we ask whether body part information content can be identified in S1 beyond its primary region. Throughout S1, we identify significant representational dissimilarities between body parts but also subparts in distant non-primary regions (e.g., between the hand and the lips in the foot region and between different face parts in the foot region). Two movements performed by one body part (e.g., the hand) could also be dissociated well beyond its primary region (e.g., in the foot and face regions), even within Brodmann area 3b. Our results demonstrate that information content is more distributed across S1 than selectivity maps suggest. This finding reveals underlying information contents in S1 that could be harnessed for rehabilitation and brain-machine interfaces

The Effect of Doping on the Electrophysical Properties of Polycrystalline Diamond Films Deposited from an Abnormal Glow Discharge

The paper is focused on the study of the boron doping effect on the electrical characteristics, on the mechanism of charge carrier transfer, and on the energy spectrum of the localized defect states in the polycrystalline diamond films (PDF) deposited from an abnormal glow discharge. PDF doping enables to form the semiconductor layers of p-type conductivity, which have as good properties as those of PDF produced by the alternative methods. The doping reduces the degree of disorder in the film material brought by the growth defects, which determine the film electrical characteristics and electrotransfer mechanism. The PDF electrical characteristics and electrotransfer mechanism are determined by the defects of different nature, whose band gap energy levels have a continuous energy distribution. A p-type activation component is realized in the exchange of charge carriers between the valence band and shallow acceptor levels with the activation energy of 0.013-0.022 eV. Doping increases the effect of the hopping mechanism of the conductivity involving the localized states with a density of (1-6)•10{20} eV{-1}•cm{-3} distributed near the Fermi level, which is in the low half of the band gap

Potential barrier heights at metal on oxygen-terminated diamond interfaces

International audienceElectrical properties of metal-semiconductor (M/SC) and metal/oxide/SC structures built with Zr or ZrO_2 deposited on oxygen-terminated surfaces of (001)-oriented diamond films, comprising a stack of lightly p-doped diamond on a heavily doped layer itself homoepitaxially grown on a Ib substrate, are investigated experimentally and compared to different models. In Schottky barrier diodes, the interfacial oxide layer evidenced by high resolution transmission electron microscopy and electron energy losses spectroscopy before and after annealing, and barrier height inhomogeneities accounts for the measured electrical characteristics until flat bands are reached, in accordance with a model which generalizes that of R.T. Tung [Phys. Rev. B 45, 13509 (1992)] and permits to extract physically meaningful parameters of the three kinds of interface: (a) unannealed ones; (b) annealed at 350°C; (c) annealed at 450°C, with characteristic barrier heights of 2.2-2.5 V in case (a) while as low as 0.96 V in case (c). Possible models of potential barriers for several metals deposited on well defined oxygen-terminated diamond surfaces are discussed and compared to experimental data. It is concluded that interface dipoles of several kinds present at these compound interfaces and their chemical evolution due to annealing are the suitable ingredients able to account for the Mott-Schottky behavior when the effect of the metal work function is ignored, and to justify the reverted slope observed regarding metal work function, in contrast to the trend always reported for all other metal-semiconductor interfaces.Les propriétés électriques et structurales d'interfaces métal/diamant et métal/oxyde/diamant où le métal est le Zirconium et le semi-conducteur comporte un empilement de couches faiblement et fortement dopées au bore sur substrat Ib, sont étudiées expérimentalement et comparées à différents modèles. Dans le barrière de Schottky, une inter-couche d'oxyde d'environ 2 couches atomiques, mise en évidence par diverses techniques de microscopie électronique à transmission, est présente et ajoutée à la présence d'inhomogénéités de barrière de potentiel, est corrélée aux propriétés électriques simulées par un modèle qui généralise celui de R. T. Tung [Phys. Rev. B 45, 13509 (1992)] . Les paramètres physiquement caractéristiques des interfaces (a) non recuites, (b) recuite à 350°C et (c) recuite à 450°C peuvent ainsi être extraits, en particulier des hauteurs de barrière de 2.2-2.5 V dans le cas (a) et aussi basses que 0.96 V dans le cas (c). Les modèles possibles de fixation du niveau de Fermi aux interfaces métal/diamant sont examinés et confrontés aux données récemment publiées pour différents métaux sur la surface oxygénée du diamant. On conclue que les quantités physiques judicieuses sont l'affinité électronique du diamant, fonction de son état de surface, pour justifier l'allure générale conforme au modèle de Mott-Schottky et la force du dipole d'interface, dépendante des liaisons chimiques à l'interface, pour expliquer la pente de la variation de la barrière en fonction du travail de sortie du métal, qui est inversée par rapport à tous les autres semi-conducteurs

p53 status correlates with histopathological response in patients with soft tissue sarcomas treated using isolated limb perfusion with TNF-α and melphalan

Background: Recombinant tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) combined to melphalan is clinically administered through isolated limb perfusion (ILP) for regionally advanced soft tissue sarcomas of the limbs. In preclinical studies, wild-type p53 gene is involved in the regulation of cytotoxic action of TNF-α and loss of p53 function contributes to the resistance of tumour cells to TNF-α. The relationship between p53 status and response to TNF-α and melphalan in patients undergoing ILP is unknown. Patients and methods: We studied 110 cases of unresectable limbs sarcomas treated by ILP. Immunohistochemistry was carried out using DO7mAb, which reacts with an antigenic determinant from the N-terminal region of both the wild-type and mutant forms of the p53 protein, and PAb1620mAb, which reacts with the 1620 epitope characteristic of the wild-type native conformation of the p53 protein. The immunohistochemistry data were then correlated with various clinical parameters. Results: P53DO7 was found expressed at high levels in 28 patients, whereas PAb1620 was negative in 20. The tumours with poor histological response to ILP with TNF-α and melphalan showed significantly higher levels of p53-mutated protein. Conclusions: Our results might be a clue to a role of p53 protein status in TNF-α and melphalan response in clinical us

Relation for the nonequilibrium population of the interface states: effects on the bias dependence of the ideality factors

By an analysis of the exchange of carriers through a semiconductor junction, a general relationship for the nonequilibrium population of the interface states in Schottky barrier diodes has been derived. Based on this relationship, an analytical expression for the ideality factor valid in the whole range of applied bias has been given. This quantity exhibits two different behaviours depending on the value of the applied bias with respect to a critical voltage. This voltage, which depends on the properties of the interfacial layer, constitutes a new parameter to complete the characterization of these junctions. A simple interpretation of the different behaviours of the ideality factor has been given in terms of the nonequilibrium charging properties of interface states, which in turn explains why apparently different approaches have given rise to similar results. Finally, the relevance of our results has been considered on the determination of the density of interface states from nonideal current-voltage characteristics and in the evaluation of the effects of the interfacial layer thickness in metal-insulator-semiconductor tunnelling diodes

Lymphomatoid papulosis associated with mycosis fungoides. A clinicopathological and molecular study of 12 cases

The association of mycosis fungoides and a primary cutaneous CD30+ lymphoproliferative disorder has been reported and probably represents different clinical aspects of a unique T-cell monoclonal expansion. In this study, 12 patients (6 men and 6 women) presented with lymphomatoid papulosis and mycosis fungoides. A TCRgamma gene rearrangement study was performed by an automated high-resolution PCR fragment analysis method on skin biopsy specimens taken from the different clinical lesions in each patient. An indolent clinical course was observed in the majority of patients. T-cell clonality was identified in 7 of 12 lymphomatoid papulosis lesions (58%) and in 6 skin biopsies of plaque stage mycosis fungoides (50%). In each individual case, where T-cell clonality was detected, both mycosis fungoides and lymphomatoid papulosis specimens exhibited an identical peak pattern by automated high-resolution PCR fragment analysis, confirming a common clonal origin. Only one case showed a clonal TCRgamma rearrangement from the lymphomatoid papulosis lesion, which could not be demonstrated in the mycosis fungoides specimen. The demonstration of an identical clone seems to confirm that both disorders are different clinical manifestations of a unique T-cell monoclonal proliferation. Our results also seem to confirm that the association of mycosis fungoides with a primary cutaneous CD30+ lymphoproliferative disorder usually carries a favourable prognosis

MicroRNA expression profiling and DNA methylation signature for deregulated microRNA in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma

MicroRNAs usually regulate gene expression negatively, and aberrant expression has been involved in the development of several types of cancers. Microarray profiling of microRNA expression was performed to define a microRNA signature in a series of mycosis fungoides tumor stage (MFt, n=21) and CD30+ primary cutaneous anaplastic large cell lymphoma (CD30+ cALCL, n=11) samples in comparison with inflammatory dermatoses (ID, n=5). Supervised clustering confirmed a distinctive microRNA profile for cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) with respect to ID. A 40 microRNA signature was found in MFt including upregulated onco-microRNAs (miR-146a, miR-142-3p/5p, miR-21, miR-181a/b, and miR-155) and downregulated tumor-suppressor microRNAs (miR-200ab/429 cluster, miR-10b, miR-193b, miR-141/200c, and miR-23b/27b). Regarding CD30+ cALCL, 39 differentially expressed microRNAs were identified. Particularly, overexpression of miR-155, miR-21, or miR-142-3p/5p and downregulation of the miR-141/200c clusters were observed. DNA methylation in microRNA gene promoters, as expression regulatory mechanism for deregulated microRNAs, was analyzed using Infinium 450K array and approximately one-third of the differentially expressed microRNAs showed significant DNA methylation differences. Two different microRNA methylation signatures for MFt and CD30+ cALCL were found. Correlation analysis showed an inverse relationship for microRNA promoter methylation and microRNA expression. These results reveal a subgroup-specific epigenetically regulated microRNA signatures for MFt and CD30+ cALCL patients

Improved diagnostic accuracy of blood tests for severe fibrosis and cirrhosis in chronic hepatitis C

International audienc

Principles of environmentally-sustainable anaesthesia: a global consensus statement from the World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists

The Earth’s mean surface temperature is already approximately 1.1°C higher than pre-industrial levels. Exceeding a mean 1.5°C rise by 2050 will make global adaptation to the consequences of climate change less possible. To protect public health, anaesthesia providers need to reduce the contribution their practice makes to global warming. We convened a Working Group of 45 anaesthesia providers with a recognised interest in sustainability, and used a three-stage modified Delphi consensus process to agree on principles of environmentally sustainable anaesthesia that are achievable worldwide. The Working Group agreed on the following three important underlying statements: patient safety should not be compromised by sustainable anaesthetic practices; high-, middle- and low-income countries should support each other appropriately in delivering sustainable healthcare (including anaesthesia); and healthcare systems should be mandated to reduce their contribution to global warming. We set out seven fundamental principles to guide anaesthesia providers in the move to environmentally sustainable practice, including: choice of medications and equipment; minimising waste and overuse of resources; and addressing environmental sustainability in anaesthetists’ education, research, quality improvement and local healthcare leadership activities. These changes are achievable with minimal material resource and financial investment, and should undergo re-evaluation and updates as better evidence is published. This paper discusses each principle individually, and directs readers towards further important references

Oligonucleotide array-CGH identifies genomic subgroups and prognostic markers for tumor stage mycosis fungoides

Mycosis fungoide (MF) patients who develop tumors or extracutaneous involvement usually have a poor prognosis with no curative therapy available so far. In the present European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) multicenter study, the genomic profile of 41 skin biopsies from tumor stage MF (MFt) was analyzed using a high-resolution oligo-array comparative genomic hybridization platform. Seventy-six percent of cases showed genomic aberrations. The most common imbalances were gains of 7q33.3q35 followed by 17q21.1, 8q24.21, 9q34qter, and 10p14 and losses of 9p21.3 followed by 9q31.2, 17p13.1, 13q14.11, 6q21.3, 10p11.22, 16q23.2, and 16q24.3. Three specific chromosomal regions, 9p21.3, 8q24.21, and 10q26qter, were defined as prognostic markers showing a significant correlation with overall survival (OS) (P=0.042, 0.017, and 0.022, respectively). Moreover, we have established two MFt genomic subgroups distinguishing a stable group (0-5 DNA aberrations) and an unstable group (>5 DNA aberrations), showing that the genomic unstable group had a shorter OS (P=0.05). We therefore conclude that specific chromosomal abnormalities, such as gains of 8q24.21 (MYC) and losses of 9p21.3 (CDKN2A, CDKN2B, and MTAP) and 10q26qter (MGMT and EBF3) may have an important role in prognosis. In addition, we describe the MFt genomic instability profile, which, to our knowledge, has not been reported earlier