Electrodynamic coupling of electric dipole emitters to a fluctuating mode density within a nano-cavity

We investigate the impact of rotational diffusion on the electrodynamic coupling of fluorescent dye molecules (oscillating electric dipoles) to a tunable planar metallic nanocavity. Fast rotational diffusion of the molecules leads to a rapidly fluctuating mode density of the electromagnetic field along the molecules' dipole axis, which significantly changes their coupling to the field as compared to the opposite limit of fixed dipole orientation. We derive a theoretical treatment of the problem and present experimental results for rhodamine 6G molecules in cavities filled with low and high viscosity liquids. The derived theory and presented experimental method is a powerful tool for determining absolute quantum yield values of fluorescence.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, accepted by Physical Review Letter

Macroenzyme creatine kinase (CK) type 2 in HIV-infected patients is significantly associated with TDF and consists of ubiquitous mitochondrial CK.

International audienceOBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence and origin of macroenzyme creatine kinase type 2 (Macro CK2) in HIV-1-infected patients on antiretroviral treatment. DESIGN: CK, CK-MB activity and protein weight, electrophoretic behaviour, glomerular filtration rate (GFR), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), bone alkaline phosphatase (AP), beta2-microglobulin serum levels and proteinuria were analysed in 468 HIV-infected outpatients. Sera with detectable Macro CK2 were further analysed using immunoblotting. RESULTS: CK-MB isoenzyme activity and mass concentration revealed the presence of Macro CK2 in 32/408 (7.8%) outpatients. Tenofovir DF (TDF) treatment was a prominent common feature in these patients. Prospective examination of sera from 41 patients collected prior to and during TDF exposure showed Macro CK2 in 20/41 (48%) TDF-treated patients and in 0/19 control sera from patients with TDF-free regimens. Macro CK2 was not present prior to TDF exposure. Patients with Macro CK2 showed a significant elevation of serum beta2-microglobulin levels. GFR, AST/ALT ratio, bone AP and proteinuria remained unchanged. Electrophoresis and immunoblotting demonstrated that the Macro CK2 in TDF-treated patients consisted of the ubiquitous (uMtCK) and not the sarcomeric type (sMtCK) of mitochondrial CK (MtCK). CONCLUSIONS: Macro CK2 consisting of uMtCK is associated with the use of TDF-containing regimens. Whether the appearance of uMtCK in these patients reflects mitochondrial damage remains to be clarified

Genome sequence of the ubiquitous hydrocarbon-degrading marine bacterium Alcanivorax borkumensis

Schneiker-Bekel S, dos Santos VAPM, Bartels D, et al. Genome sequence of the ubiquitous hydrocarbon-degrading marine bacterium Alcanivorax borkumensis. Nature Biotechnology. 2006;24(8):997-1004