832 research outputs found
Sub-nanosecond delay of light in (Cd,Zn)Te crystal
We study excitonic polariton relaxation and propagation in bulk CdZnTe using
time- resolved photoluminescence and time-of-flight techniques. Propagation of
picosecond optical pulses through 0.745 mm thick crystal results in time delays
up to 350 ps, depending on the photon energy. Optical pulses with 150 fs
duration become strongly stretched. The spectral dependence of group velocity
is consistent with the dispersion of the lower excitonic polariton branch. The
lifetimes of excitonic polariton in the upper and lower branches are 1.5 and 3
ns, respectively.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure
Remote optical addressing of single nano-objects
We present a scheme for remotely addressing single nano-objects by means of
near-field optical microscopy that makes only use of one of the most
fundamental properties of electromagnetic radiation: its polarization. A medium
containing optically active nano-objects is covered with a thin metallic film
presenting sub-wavelength holes. When the optical tip is positioned some
distance away from a hole, surface plasmons in the metal coating are generated
which, by turning the polarization plane of the excitation light, transfer the
excitation towards a chosen hole and induce emission from the underlying
nano-objects. The method, easily applicable to other systems, is demonstrated
for single quantum dots (QDs) at low temperature. It may become a valuable tool
for future optical applications in the nanoworld
Optical Study of GaAs quantum dots embedded into AlGaAs nanowires
We report on the photoluminescence characterization of GaAs quantum dots
embedded into AlGaAs nano-wires. Time integrated and time resolved
photoluminescence measurements from both an array and a single quantum
dot/nano-wire are reported. The influence of the diameter sizes distribution is
evidenced in the optical spectroscopy data together with the presence of
various crystalline phases in the AlGaAs nanowires.Comment: 5 page, 5 figure
Electronic structure of wurtzite and zinc-blende AlN
The electronic structure of AlN in wurtzite and zinc-blende phases is studied
experimentally and theoretically. By using x-ray emission spectroscopy, the Al
3p, Al 3s and N 2p spectral densities are obtained. The corresponding local and
partial theoretical densities of states (DOS), as well as the total DOS and the
band structure, are calculated by using the full potential linearized augmented
plane wave method, within the framework of the density functional theory. There
is a relatively good agreement between the experimental spectra and the
theoretical DOS, showing a large hybridization of the valence states all along
the valence band. The discrepancies between the experimental and theoretical
DOS, appearing towards the high binding energies, are ascribed to an
underestimation of the valence band width in the calculations. Differences
between the wurtzite and zinc-blende phases are small and reflect the slight
variations between the atomic arrangements of both phases
The effect of CFTR modulators on structural lung disease in cystic fibrosis
Background: Newly developed quantitative chest computed tomography (CT) outcomes designed specifically to assess structural abnormalities related to cystic fibrosis (CF) lung disease are now available. CFTR modulators potentially can reduce some structural lung abnormalities. We aimed to investigate the effect of CFTR modulators on structural lung disease progression using different quantitative CT analysis methods specific for people with CF (PwCF). Methods: PwCF with a gating mutation (Ivacaftor) or two Phe508del alleles (lumacaftor-ivacaftor) provided clinical data and underwent chest CT scans. Chest CTs were performed before and after initiation of CFTR modulator treatment. Structural lung abnormalities on CT were assessed using the Perth Rotterdam Annotated Grid Morphometric Analysis for CF (PRAGMA-CF), airway-artery dimensions (AA), and CF-CT methods. Lung disease progression (0–3 years) in exposed and matched unexposed subjects was compared using analysis of covariance. To investigate the effect of treatment in early lung disease, subgroup analyses were performed on data of children and adolescents aged <18 years. Results: We included 16 modulator exposed PwCF and 25 unexposed PwCF. Median (range) age at the baseline visit was 12.55 (4.25–36.49) years and 8.34 (3.47–38.29) years, respectively. The change in PRAGMA-CF %Airway disease (-2.88 (−4.46, −1.30), p = 0.001) and %Bronchiectasis extent (-2.07 (−3.13, −1.02), p < 0.001) improved in exposed PwCF compared to unexposed. Subgroup analysis of paediatric data showed that only PRAGMA-CF %Bronchiectasis (-0.88 (−1.70, −0.07), p = 0.035) improved in exposed PwCF compared to unexposed. Conclusion: In this preliminary real-life retrospective study CFTR modulators improve several quantitative CT outcomes. A follow-up study with a large cohort and standardization of CT scanning is needed to confirm our findings.</p
Imogolite nanotubes: a 2D x-ray scattering study of films of oriented samples
International audienceInorganic nanotubes represent an emerging class of nanobuilding blocks. Among them, imogolites are alumino-silicate or alumino-germanate nanotubes with well controlled diameter and helicity. As such, they constitute a model platform for the study of molecular interactions and confinement at the nanoscale, complementing the one constituted by carbon nanotubes. We focus here on double-walled alumino-germanate nanotubes, discovered very recently [1]. They are formed of two concentric tubes (figure inset), with respective internal diameters of 1.6 and 3.1nm and up to 1 micron in length [2]. We report the first experimental study, using wide angle x-ray scattering, performed on films of oriented nanotubes (figure). Structural changes of the nanotubes and behavior of the confined water under heating are investigated in-situ. The study of oriented samples gives new information that is not available with powder diffraction. Above all, the contribution to the scattering signal of internal and external tubes can be separated as well as the translational/rotational correlations. The use of wide image plate detectors allows one to access large area of the reciprocal space in a single image. Simulations of the two-dimensionnal scattering diagrams will be presented. A key question, the correlation between internal and external tube, which is of great interest for understanding friction properties at the nanoscale, will be discussed
Hematopoietic upstream stimulating factor 1 deficiency is associated with increased atherosclerosis susceptibility in LDL receptor knockout mice
Total body upstream stimulatory factor 1 (USF1) deficiency in mice is associated with brown adipose tissue activation and a marked protection against the development of obesity and atherosclerotic lesions. Functional expression of USF1 has also been detected in monocytes and monocyte-derived macrophages. In the current study we therefore tested whether selective hematopoietic USF1 deficiency can also beneficially impact the development of atherosclerosis. For this purpose, LDL receptor knockout mice were transplanted with bone marrow from USF1 knockout mice or their wild-type littermate controls and subsequently fed a Western-type diet for 20 weeks to stimulate atherosclerotic lesion development. Strikingly, absence of USF1 function in bone marrow-derived cells was associated with exacerbated blood leukocyte (+ 100%; P < 0.01) and peritoneal leukocyte (+ 50%; P < 0.05) lipid loading and an increased atherosclerosis susceptibility (+ 31%; P < 0.05). These effects could be attributed to aggravated hyperlipidemia, i.e. higher plasma free cholesterol (+ 33%; P < 0.001) and cholesteryl esters (+ 39%; P < 0.001), and the development of hepatosteatosis. In conclusion, we have shown that hematopoietic USF1 deficiency is associated with an increased atherosclerosis susceptibility in LDL receptor knockout mice. These findings argue against a contribution of macrophage-specific USF1 deficiency to the previously described beneficial effect of total body USF1 deficiency on atherosclerosis susceptibility in mice.Peer reviewe
Functional Polymorphisms Associated with Disease-Free Survival in Resected Carcinoma of the Esophagus
Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine whether clinical outcome after surgical resection of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) or esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) could be predicted by functional polymorphisms in different proto-oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes. Experimental De
Response to Biologic Drugs in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Antidrug Antibodies
Importance: There are conflicting data on the association of antidrug antibodies with response to biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Objective: To analyze the association of antidrug antibodies with response to treatment for RA. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cohort study analyzed data from the ABI-RA (Anti-Biopharmaceutical Immunization: Prediction and Analysis of Clinical Relevance to Minimize the Risk of Immunization in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients) multicentric, open, prospective study of patients with RA from 27 recruiting centers in 4 European countries (France, Italy, the Netherlands, and the UK). Eligible patients were 18 years or older, had RA diagnosis, and were initiating a new bDMARD. Recruitment spanned from March 3, 2014, to June 21, 2016. The study was completed in June 2018, and data were analyzed in June 2022. Exposures: Patients were treated with a new bDMARD: adalimumab, infliximab (grouped as anti-tumor necrosis factor [TNF] monoclonal antibodies [mAbs]), etanercept, tocilizumab, and rituximab according to the choice of the treating physician. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was the association of antidrug antibody positivity with EULAR (European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology; formerly, European League Against Rheumatism) response to treatment at month 12 assessed through univariate logistic regression. The secondary end points were the EULAR response at month 6 and at visits from month 6 to months 15 to 18 using generalized estimating equation models. Detection of antidrug antibody serum levels was performed at months 1, 3, 6, 12, and 15 to 18 using electrochemiluminescence (Meso Scale Discovery) and drug concentration for anti-TNF mAbs, and etanercept in the serum was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: Of the 254 patients recruited, 230 (mean [SD] age, 54.3 [13.7] years; 177 females [77.0%]) were analyzed. At month 12, antidrug antibody positivity was 38.2% in patients who were treated with anti-TNF mAbs, 6.1% with etanercept, 50.0% with rituximab, and 20.0% with tocilizumab. There was an inverse association between antidrug antibody positivity (odds ratio [OR], 0.19; 95% CI, 0.09-0.38; P <.001) directed against all biologic drugs and EULAR response at month 12. Analyzing all the visits starting at month 6 using generalized estimating equation models confirmed the inverse association between antidrug antibody positivity and EULAR response (OR, 0.35; 95% CI, 0.18-0.65; P <.001). A similar association was found for tocilizumab alone (OR, 0.18; 95% CI, 0.04-0.83; P =.03). In the multivariable analysis, antidrug antibodies, body mass index, and rheumatoid factor were independently inversely associated with response to treatment. There was a significantly higher drug concentration of anti-TNF mAbs in patients with antidrug antibody-negative vs antidrug antibody-positive status (mean difference, -9.6 [95% CI, -12.4 to -6.9] mg/L; P < 001). Drug concentrations of etanercept (mean difference, 0.70 [95% CI, 0.2-1.2] mg/L; P =.005) and adalimumab (mean difference, 1.8 [95% CI, 0.4-3.2] mg/L; P =.01) were lower in nonresponders vs responders. Methotrexate comedication at baseline was inversely associated with antidrug antibodies (OR, 0.50; 95% CI, 0.25-1.00; P =.05). Conclusions and Relevance: Results of this prospective cohort study suggest an association between antidrug antibodies and nonresponse to bDMARDs in patients with RA. Monitoring antidrug antibodies could be considered in the treatment of these patients, particularly nonresponders to biologic RA drugs
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