Stable propagation of an ordered array of cracks during directional drying

We study the appearance and evolution of an array of parallel cracks in a thin slab of material that is directionally dried, and show that the cracks penetrate the material uniformly if the drying front is sufficiently sharp. We also show that cracks have a tendency to become evenly spaced during the penetration. The typical distance between cracks is mainly governed by the typical distance of the pattern at the surface, and it is not modified during the penetration. Our results agree with recent experimental work, and can be extended to three dimensions to describe the properties of columnar polygonal patterns observed in some geological formations.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures, to appear in PR

Co-expression of RON and MET is a prognostic indicator for patients with transitional-cell carcinoma of the bladder

Recepteur d'Origine Nantais (RON) is a distinct receptor tyrosine kinase in the c-met proto-oncogene family. We examined the mutational and expression patterns of RON in eight human uroepithelial cell lines. Biological effects of RON overexpression on cancer cells were investigated in vitro, and the prognostic significance of RON and/or c-met protein (MET) expression was analysed in a bladder cancer cohort (n=183). There was no evidence of mutation in the kinase domain of RON. Overexpression of RON using an inducible Tet-off system induced increased cell proliferation, motility, and antiapoptosis. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that RON was overexpressed in 60 cases (32.8%) of primary tumours, with 14 (23.3%) showing a high level of expression. Recepteur d'Origine Nantais expression was positively associated with histological grading, larger size, nonpapillary contour, and tumour stage (all P<0.01). In addition, MET was overexpressed in 82 cases (44.8%). Co-expressed RON and MET was significantly associated with decreased overall survival (P=0.005) or metastasis-free survival (P=0.01) in 35 cases (19.1%). Recepteur d'Origine Nantais-associated signalling may play an important role in the progression of human bladder cancer. Evaluation of RON and MET expression status may identify a subset of bladder-cancer patients who require more intensive treatment

Non-conventional sources of peptides presented by MHC class I

Effectiveness of immune surveillance of intracellular viruses and bacteria depends upon a functioning antigen presentation pathway that allows infected cells to reveal the presence of an intracellular pathogen. The antigen presentation pathway uses virtually all endogenous polypeptides as a source to produce antigenic peptides that are eventually chaperoned to the cell surface by MHC class I molecules. Intriguingly, MHC I molecules present peptides encoded not only in the primary open reading frames but also those encoded in alternate reading frames. Here, we review recent studies on the generation of cryptic pMHC I. We focus on the immunological significance of cryptic pMHC I, and the novel translational mechanisms that allow production of these antigenic peptides from unconventional sources

Les trois villes-sœurs de l'embouchure de la Bresle : Eu, Mers, le Tréport

Moreau J.-P., Ronsin-Coustillier Ch. Les trois villes-sœurs de l'embouchure de la Bresle : Eu, Mers, le Tréport . In: Études Normandes, 25e année, n°298, 1976. Dossier sur la région de la Bresle. pp. 11-24

Diaminoacid-aminoacid-polyamine based gemini surfactant compounds

Contains fulltext : 58579.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access)26 maart 200

Composition and nutritive value of whole maize plants fed fresh to sheep. II. Prediction of the in vivo organic matter digestibility

International audienc

Exenatide decreases liver fat content and epicardial adipose tissue in patients with obesity and type 2 diabetes: a prospective randomized clinical trial using magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy.

Aim To conduct a prospective randomized trial to investigate the effect of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analogues on ectopic fat stores. Methods A total of 44 obese subjects with type 2 diabetes uncontrolled on oral antidiabetic drugs were randomly assigned to receive exenatide or reference treatment according to French guidelines. Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT), myocardial triglyceride content (MTGC), hepatic triglyceride content (HTGC) and pancreatic triglyceride content (PTGC) were assessed 45min after a standardized meal with 3T magnetic resonance imaging and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy before and after 26weeks of treatment. Results The study population had a mean glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) level of 7.5±0.2% and a mean body mass index of 36.1±1.1 kg/m2. Ninety five percent had hepatic steatosis at baseline (HTGC≥5.6%). Exenatide and reference treatment led to a similar improvement in HbA1c (−0.7±0.3% vs. −0.7±0.4%; p=0.29), whereas significant weight loss was observed only in the exenatide group (−5.5±1.2 kg vs. −0.2±0.8 kg; p=0.001 for the difference between groups). Exenatide induced a significant reduction in EAT (−8.8±2.1%) and HTGC (−23.8±9.5%), compared with the reference treatment (EAT: −1.2±1.6%, p=0.003; HTGC: +12.5±9.6%, p=0.007). No significant difference was observed in other ectopic fat stores, PTGC or MTGC. In the group treated with exenatide, reductions in liver fat and EAT were not associated with homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance index, adiponectin, HbA1c or fructosamin change, but were significantly related to weight loss (r=0.47, p=0.03, and r=0.50, p=0.018, respectively). Conclusion Our data indicate that exenatide is an effective treatment to reduce liver fat content and epicardial fat in obese patients with type 2 diabetes, and these effects are mainly weight loss dependent.</p