Dynamic binding of driven interfaces in coupled ultrathin ferromagnetic layers

We demonstrate experimentally dynamic interface binding in a system consisting of two coupled ferromagnetic layers. While domain walls in each layer have different velocity-field responses, for two broad ranges of the driving field, H, walls in the two layers are bound and move at a common velocity. The bound states have their own velocity-field response and arise when the isolated wall velocities in each layer are close, a condition which always occurs as H->0. Several features of the bound states are reproduced using a one dimensional model, illustrating their general nature.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, to be published in Physical Review Letter

Specific binding of radiolabeled Cry1Fa insecticidal protein from Bacillus thuringiensis to midgut sites in lepidopteran species

Cry1Fa insecticidal protein was successfully radiolabeled with 125I-Na. Specific binding to brush border membrane vesicles was shown for the lepidopteran species Ostrinia nubilalis, Spodoptera frugiperda, Spodoptera exigua, Helicoverpa armigera, Heliothis virescens, and Plutella xylostella. Homologous competition assays were performed to obtain equilibrium binding parameters (Kd [dissociation constant] and Rt [concentration of binding sites]) for these six insect species

Are zona pellucida genes involved in recurrent oocyte lysis observed during in vitro fertilization?

PURPOSE: Complete oocyte lysis in in vitro fertilization (IVF) is a rare event, but one against which we remain helpless. The recurrence of this phenomenon in some women in each of their IVF attempts, regardless of treatment, together with the results of animal experiments led us to investigate the possible involvement of the genes encoding for the glycoproteins constituting the zona pellucida (ZP). PATIENTS & METHODS: Over the last ten years, during which we treated over 500 women each year, three women suffered recurrent oocyte lysis during their IVF attempts in our Centre for Reproductive Biology. For each of these three cases, we sequenced the four genes and promoter sequences encoding the glycoproteins of the ZP. The sequence variations likely to cause a change in protein expression or structure, were investigated in a control group of 35 women who underwent IVF without oocyte lysis and with normal rates of fertilization. RESULTS & CONCLUSION: We found no mutations in the ZP genes sequenced. Only some polymorphisms present in the control group and in the general population were detected, excluding their specific involvement in the phenotype observed. Thus, although we suspected that complete oocyte lysis was due to a genetic cause, it did not seem possible to directly incriminate the genes encoding the proteins of the ZP in the observed phenotype. Further study of the genes involved in the processing and organization of ZP glycoproteins may allow elucidation of the mechanism underlying recurrent oocyte lysis during in vitro fertilization

Adipocyte cholesterol balance in obesity.

Adipose tissue is specialized in the storage of energy in the form of triacylglycerol. Within the fat cell, triacylglycerols are found in a well-defined structural compartment called the lipid droplet, which occupies the vast majority of the fat cell volume. However, many other lipids are present in the lipid droplet. These include sterols, carotenoids, cholecalciferol and lipophilic toxic pollutants of the environment such as dioxins and tocopherols. The topic of this article is the role of fat cell cholesterol in adipose tissue physiology and its potential implication in pathological states such as obesity

On the Stellar Kinematics and Mass of the Virgo Ultra-Diffuse Galaxy VCC 1287

Here, we present a kinematical analysis of the Virgo cluster ultra-diffuse galaxy (UDG) VCC 1287 based on data taken with the Keck Cosmic Web Imager (KCWI). We confirm VCC 1287's association both with the Virgo cluster and its globular cluster (GC) system, measuring a recessional velocity of $1116 \pm 2\ \mathrm{km\ s^{-1}}$. We measure a stellar velocity dispersion ($19 \pm 6\ \mathrm{km\ s^{-1}}$) and infer both a dynamical mass ($1.11^{+0.81}_{-0.81} \times 10^{9} \ \mathrm{M_{\odot}}$) and mass to light ratio ($13^{+11}_{-11}$) within the half light radius (4.4 kpc). This places VCC 1287 slightly above the well established relation for normal galaxies, with a higher mass to light ratio for its dynamical mass than normal galaxies. We use our dynamical mass, and an estimate of GC system richness, to place VCC 1287 on the GC number -- dynamical mass relation, finding good agreement with a sample of normal galaxies. Based on a total halo mass derived from GC counts, we then infer that VCC 1287 likely resides in a cored or low concentration dark matter halo. Based on the comparison of our measurements to predictions from simulations, we find that strong stellar feedback and/or tidal effects are plausibly the dominant mechanisms in the formation of VCC 1287. Finally, we compare our measurement of the dynamical mass with those for other UDGs. These dynamical mass estimates suggest relatively massive halos and a failed galaxy origin for at least some UDGs.Comment: 13 pages, 10 figures with an additional 5 pages and 5 figures in appendices. Accepted for publication in MNRAS. v2: with small updates from publication formatting and a minor plotting fix for Fig. 1

Stress minimization for lattice structures. Part I: Micro-structure design

This work is partially supported by the SOFIA project, funded by Bpifrance (Banque Publique d’Investissement). This work has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No 833092.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Pivotal Role of Adenosine Neurotransmission in Restless Legs Syndrome

The symptomatology of Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) includes periodic leg movements during sleep (PLMS), dysesthesias, and hyperarousal. Alterations in the dopaminergic system, a presynaptic hyperdopaminergic state, seem to be involved in PLMS, while alterations in glutamatergic neurotransmission, a presynaptic hyperglutamatergic state, seem to be involved in hyperarousal and also PLMS. Brain iron deficiency (BID) is well-recognized as a main initial pathophysiological mechanism of RLS. BID in rodents have provided a pathogenetic model of RLS that recapitulates the biochemical alterations of the dopaminergic system of RLS, although without PLMS-like motor abnormalities. On the other hand, BID in rodents reproduces the circadian sleep architecture of RLS, indicating the model could provide clues for the hyperglutamatergic state in RLS. We recently showed that BID in rodents is associated with changes in adenosinergic transmission, with downregulation of adenosine A1 receptors (A1R) as the most sensitive biochemical finding. It was hypothesized that A1R downregulation leads to hypersensitive striatal glutamatergic terminals and facilitation of striatal dopamine release. Hypersensitivity of striatal glutamatergic terminals was demonstrated by an optogenetic-microdialysis approach in the rodent with BID, indicating that it could represent a main pathogenetic factor that leads to PLMS in RLS. In fact, the dopaminergic agonists pramipexole and ropinirole and the α2δ ligand gabapentin, used in the initial symptomatic treatment of RLS, completely counteracted optogenetically-induced glutamate release from both normal and BID-induced hypersensitive corticostriatal glutamatergic terminals. It is a main tenet of this essay that, in RLS, a single alteration in the adenosinergic system, downregulation of A1R, disrupts the adenosine-dopamine-glutamate balance uniquely controlled by adenosine and dopamine receptor heteromers in the striatum and also the A1R-mediated inhibitory control of glutamatergic neurotransmission in the cortex and other non-striatal brain areas, which altogether determine both PLMS and hyperarousal. Since A1R agonists would be associated with severe cardiovascular effects, it was hypothesized that inhibitors of nucleoside equilibrative transporters, such as dipyridamole, by increasing the tonic A1R activation mediated by endogenous adenosine, could represent a new alternative therapeutic strategy for RLS. In fact, preliminary clinical data indicate that dipyridamole can significantly improve the symptomatology of RLS

Bridging the gap in the mass-size relation of compact galaxies with MaNGA

We present the analysis of the full MaNGA DR17 sample to characterize its population of compact galaxies. We focus on galaxies that fill the stellar mass (M$_{\star}$) gap between compact elliptical galaxies (cEs; $8 \lesssim \log \left(M_{\star} / M_{\odot} \right) \lesssim 10$) and compact massive galaxies (CMGs; $10 \lesssim \log \left(M_{\star} / M_{\odot} \right)$). We study their stellar populations and kinematics to reveal how their properties depend on stellar mass. We select compact galaxies in the MaNGA DR17 sample according to their effective radius ($R_e$) and stellar mass. 37 galaxies fulfill our selection criteria in the bridging region between cEs and CMGs. We derive their kinematics and stellar population parameters from the stacked spectra at 1~$R_e$ using a full spectral fitting routine. We then classify the selected compact galaxies in three main groups based on their stellar population properties. One of the groups shows characteristics compatible with relic galaxies, i.e. galaxies that have remained mostly unchanged since their early formation epoch ($z \sim 2$). Another group shows more extended and continuous star formation histories (SFHs). The third group shows a low star-forming rate at initial times, which increases at around $\sim4$ Gyr. We compare the derived properties of the selected galaxies with those of previously studied compact galaxies at different mass ranges. The selected galaxies successfully fill the mass gap between cEs and CMGs. Their properties are compatible with the assumption that the scaling relations of compact galaxies at different mass ranges are related, although galaxies in the first group are clear outliers in the fundamental plane, suggesting different formation mechanisms for this relic population.Comment: 16 pages, 14 figures, 2 table