Evolutionary and biomedical implications of sex differences in the primate brain transcriptome.

Data and code availability. RNA-seq data have been deposited in the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and are publicly available as of the date of publication. Accession numbers are listed in the key resources table. All code has been deposited in a publicly available GitHub Repository and an unchanging archive of this repository was created in Zenodo. Links to both repositories are listed in the key resources table Any additional information required to reanalyze the data reported in this paper is available from the lead contact upon request.This is the final version. Available from Cell Press via the DOI in this record. Humans exhibit sex differences in the prevalence of many neurodevelopmental disorders and neurodegenerative diseases. Here, we generated one of the largest multi-brain-region bulk transcriptional datasets for the rhesus macaque and characterized sex-biased gene expression patterns to investigate the translatability of this species for sex-biased neurological conditions. We identify patterns similar to those in humans, which are associated with overlapping regulatory mechanisms, biological processes, and genes implicated in sex-biased human disorders, including autism. We also show that sex-biased genes exhibit greater genetic variance for expression and more tissue-specific expression patterns, which may facilitate rapid evolution of sex-biased genes. Our findings provide insights into the biological mechanisms underlying sex-biased disease and support the rhesus macaque model for the translational study of these conditions.National Institutes of HealthNational Science FoundationNational Institute of Mental Healt

Social connections predict brain structure in a multidimensional free-ranging primate society

This is the final version. Available on open access from the American Association for the Advancement of Science via the DOI in this recordData and materials availability: All data, code, and materials used in this study are available on the Open Science Framework platform (osf.io). Link: https://osf.io/xfz3r/?view_only=66633a9490e649038330a98788a0cca3. Original brain tissue samples can be provided by the University of Pennsylvania pending scientific review and a completed material transfer agreement. Requests for brain tissues should be submitted to: [email protected] and survival in most primate species reflects management of both competitive and cooperative relationships. Here, we investigated the links between neuroanatomy and sociality in free-ranging rhesus macaques. In adults, the number of social partners predicted the volume of the mid-superior temporal sulcus and ventral-dysgranular insula, implicated in social decision-making and empathy, respectively. We found no link between brain structure and other key social variables such as social status or indirect connectedness in adults, nor between maternal social networks or status and dependent infant brain structure. Our findings demonstrate that the size of specific brain structures varies with the number of direct affiliative social connections and suggest that this relationship may arise during development. These results reinforce proposed links between social network size, biological success, and the expansion of specific brain circuits

Dimensional measurement of TiO2 particles in powder form by SAXS and SEM

International audienceDevelopments of nanomaterials had an important known evolution during the last thirty years fordifferent industrial sectors1. Titanium dioxide is one of the most produced and exploited nanomaterialsin the industry2. Indeed, TiO2 has various applications; it can be used as a white pigment for paint andfood products and is also used as a UV filter in sunscreen lotions. The characterization of TiO2nanoparticles, contained in consumer products remains a challenge because of their structure(polydispersity, polymorphism) and their environment which remains generally complex and requiresseveral characterizations techniques. Electron microscopies are the first recommended techniques forthe dimensional characterization of nanomaterials. In comparison with the results obtained by thescanning electron microscope (SEM), another technique, SAXS (Small Angle X-Ray Scattering), can beused for the indirect characterization of nanomaterials (simple or introduced into a complex matrix).The first step of this study is to compare the dimensional measurements of TiO2 nanoparticles in powderform with two different techniques: SEM (direct method) and SAXS (indirect method) and with twodifferent measurands, an equivalent area diameter for SEM and specific surface area for SAXS. Thesecond part should be to avoid the sampling preparation steps with in situ dimensional measurement

Cinétique et mécanisme de croissance de nanoparticules d'or suivis par UV SAXS and XANES

Les applications des nanoparticules d'or demandent un contrôle précis de leurs caractéristiques morphologiques. L'obtention de ces nanoparticules peut s'effectuer en solution par la réduction d'une solution de sel d'or de type HAuCl4. Ces réactions peuvent être soit lentes (20 minutes) soit très rapides et parfois terminées en quelques dizaines de millisecondes. La nucléation et la croissance de ces objets nanométriques en solutions peuvent être suivies par différentes sondes sensibles à la distribution de taille et forme des objets ainsi qu'à la spéciation des atomes répartis entre solution et nanoparticules. Dans le cas des nanoparticules d'or, le couplage des spectroscopies UV et d'absorption X avec la diffusion aux petits angles des rayons X permet de comprendre les mécanismes intervenants lors de la réduction du sel d'or initial par différents réducteurs, soit forts (borohydrure dans le toluène), doux (acide ascorbique dans une solution aqueuse de CTABr), ou semi doux (acide ascorbique en excès dans l'eau). La forme et la taille des nanoparticules obtenues dépendent fortement des concentrations de réactifs et de pH. Différents cas sont discutés dans cet article. L'intérêt et l'efficacité du couplage de ces mesures cinétiques expérimentales avec un modèle de croissance numérique est également discuté

Compréhension des mécanismes synergiques pour l'extraction d'Uranium des minerais phosphoriques

International audienceExploités à l'origine pour la production d'acide phosphorique et de divers engrais, les minerais à basse teneur tels que les phosphates naturels sont reconsidérés avec intérêt par les acteurs du nucléaire pour l'extraction de l'uranium par procédé liquide-liquide. Dans une démarche d'optimisation des procédés existants, il est nécessaire de comprendre les mécanismes qui déterminent l'extraction de l'uranium. Dans ce contexte, notre étude s'appuie sur le système HDEHP/TOPO, développé dans les années 60 [1], qui présente la particularité d'être basé sur un mélange de molécules synergiques dont les mécanismes sont encore mal compris. Les approches moléculaires et supra moléculaires sont exploitées afin d'apporter des éléments de compréhension sur ces mécanismes. Une étude précédente a montré que les propriétés d'extraction synergiques de ce système pouvaient être liées à des états d'agrégation thermodynamiquement favorables [2]. L'agrégation étant modifiée par la présence d'ions, il est nécessaire d'évaluer si les propriétés d'agrégation synergiques sont intrinsèques au système extractant ou modulées par les ions extraits. Dans cette étude, l'agrégation du système HDEHP/TOPO sans ions extraits a été étudiée en couplant des approches expérimentales et théoriques. [1] F.J.Hurst et al., Ind. and Eng

Correlation between baseline 18F-FDG PET/CT features and pathological complete response after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in early triple negative breast cancer

International audienceAim of the studyTo evaluate correlation between metabolic and textural parameters on baseline 18F-FDG PET/CT and pathological response after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in non-metastatic triple negative breast cancer (TNBC).MethodsAll consecutive non-metastatic TNBC women treated by neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by breast surgery who underwent 18F-FDG PET/CT examination at diagnosis between 2012 and 2018 were retrospectively included. Metabolic parameters (SUVmax, SUVmean, SUVpeak, MTV, TLG) of the primary tumour and lymph nodes, and textural features (entropy, homogeneity, SRE, LRE, LGZE, HGZE) of the primary tumour were collected. Pathological response was defined according to Sataloff classification.ResultsSeventy-four patients were enrolled. In univariate analysis, metabolic and textural features of the primary breast lesion or metabolic parameters of regional lymph nodes were not predictive of pathological complete response after neoadjuvant chemotherapy.ConclusionMetabolic and textural features of baseline PET/CT do not seem to predict pathological response after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in non-metastatic triple negative breast cancer

Growth and Overgrowth of Concentrated Gold Nanorods: Time Resolved SAXS and XANES

The growth of gold nanorods has been followed by small angle X-ray scattering and X-ray absorption. The synthesis is performed at high concentration of 3.5 mM in gold using in situ generation of seeds. It is shown that the growth occurs at constant number density of nanoparticles after the initial nucleation of seeds and that the final step of reduction of Au­(I) to Au(0) occurs only at the surface of the growing nanorods. Anisotropy is acquired during the growth with a ratio of longitudinal to basal growth rates measured at 12. The final aspect ratio is only limited by the available amount of material and the experiment of overgrowth was allowed to reach a final aspect ratio of 5 instead of the initial 3.6

PET Pronostic Biomarkers Exploratory Analyses About Initial FDG-PET In Patients With Anal Carcinoma

International audienceIntroduction: In anal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), pre-treatment prognostic factors able to identify more accurately patients with high risk of recurrence who may benefit from optimized treatment are lacking. There are increasing evidences that FDG PET examinations are useful in anal SCC management. Our objective was to explore, by two different analyses, the value of pre-treatment quantitative imaging to predict progression-free survival (PFS) in anal SCC patients. Subjects & Methods: We conducted a retrospective study on FDG PET examinations for 81 consecutive anal SCC patients at initial staging. Along with clinical variables (age, sex, T-stage, N-stage, HIV and human papilloma virus infections) collection, tumor and lymph nodes (LN) FDG metrics (SUVmax, TLG, MTV) were measured using 7 3D-thresholding methods on PET images: 3 with fixed SUVmax threshold (T35%, T41% and T50%) and 4 adaptative methods [M11, M22, M33, M44]. Each semi-quantitative PET variable is associated with 26 events free survival as a residual disease, local recurrence, distant metastasis or deaths at 0.10 threshold in univariate analysis. A multivariate analysis was conducted with an AIC criterion based Cox model. Evidence ratio (ER) was calculated for each model when PET variable remained significant after adjustment. Due to a small sized cohort with few events compared to the information to be processed, 2 analyses were conducted according to 4 quartiles and median FDG quantitative parameters respectively. Results: Six (7.5%), 18 (22.2%), 39 (48.1%) and 18 (22.2%) patients had respectively disease of stage I to IV. Median follow up was 3.3y (2.5-5y). As clinical data, male sex was the uniquely prognostic biomarker (HR: 3.32; CI: 1.38-8.02; p=0.007) of progression free survival (PFS) on univariate analysis. Out of the 57 tumor image intensity features, only 27 were predictive of PFS (0.0032<p<0.0395). The four-quartile multivariate analysis ordered total MTVtumor+LN, TLGLN, MTVtumor with higher ER (1.0 to 4.8) for T35%, T41%, M2 and M4 methods whereas median multivariate analysis exhibited higher ER (1.0 to 5.2) for T35%, T41% and M1 MTVtumor respectively. Conclusion: Whatever how quantitative FDG PET data analysis was conducted (quartile or median) “TLGLN, total MTV or MTVtumor” seemed to be the best pronostic variables to assess PFS in this anal SCC population. An external cohort is warranted to ascertain these results in terms of defined variables and divisions. 1. Vauclin et al. doi:10.1088/0031-9155/54/22/010. 2. Black et al. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys,2004. 3. Nestlé et al. EJNMMI,2007. 4. Tylski et al. doi:10.2967/jnumed.109.066241

Synergism in a HDEHP/TOPO Liquid−Liquid Extraction System: An Intrinsic Ligands Property?

International audienceAmong the proposed mechanisms to predict and understand synergism in solvent extraction, the possibility of a preorganization of the mixture of extractant molecules has never been considered. Whether involving synergistic aggregation as for solubilization enhancement with reverse micelles or favored molecular interaction between the extractant molecules, evaluation of this hypothesis requires characterization of the aggregates formed by the extractant molecules at different scales. We investigate here the HDEHP/ TOPO couple of extractant with methods ranging from vibrational spectroscopy and ESI-MS spectrometry to vapor pressure osmometry and neutron and X-ray scattering to cover both molecular and supramolecular scales. These experimental methods are subjected to DFT calculations and molecular dynamics calculations, allowing a rationalization of the results through the different scales. Performed in the absence of any cation, this original study allows a decorrelation of the mechanisms at the origin of synergy: it appears that no clear preorganization of the extractants can explain the synergy and therefore that the synergistic aggregation observed in the presence of cations is rather due to the chelation mechanisms than to intrinsic properties of the extractant molecules