105 research outputs found
Effects of electromagnetic waves on the electrical properties of contacts between grains
A DC electrical current is injected through a chain of metallic beads. The
electrical resistances of each bead-bead contacts are measured. At low current,
the distribution of these resistances is large and log-normal. At high enough
current, the resistance distribution becomes sharp and Gaussian due to the
creation of microweldings between some beads. The action of nearby
electromagnetic waves (sparks) on the electrical conductivity of the chain is
also studied. The spark effect is to lower the resistance values of the more
resistive contacts, the best conductive ones remaining unaffected by the spark
production. The spark is able to induce through the chain a current enough to
create microweldings between some beads. This explains why the electrical
resistance of a granular medium is so sensitive to the electromagnetic waves
produced in its vicinity.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figure
Characterization of Metal Aggregates by Scanning Microscopy: Particle Sizes and Space Distribution in Intermetallic Particles
Various metal aggregates prepared using ionizing radiation were studied by microscopy techniques. A metal deposit onto a carbon felt obtained from solutions containing Pt and Ru was shown to consist of nanometric particles containing both metals. Another study deals with a subnanometric silver aggregate. The nuclearity of the aggregate was studied by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). Additional information from pulse radiolysis experiments allowed the determination of the Ag73+ stoichiometry.
The third material consisted of Ag/Pd submicron powders (70/30 or 75/25% w/w) used in electronics, and made of spherical bimetallic grains; X-ray diffraction showed segregation. The spatial distribution of each metal was obtained by combining space-resolved X-ray microanalysis in the transmission electron microscope, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and secondary ion mass spectrometry. Each grain was shown to be core/rind structured (core: pure Ag; rind: 10-15 nm thick 11% Ag/89% Pd w/w alloy)
Some aspects of electrical conduction in granular systems of various dimensions
We report on measurements of the electrical conductivity in both a 2D
triangular lattice of metallic beads and in a chain of beads. The
voltage/current characteristics are qualitatively similar in both experiments.
At low applied current, the voltage is found to increase logarithmically in a
good agreement with a model of widely distributed resistances in series. At
high enough current, the voltage saturates due to the local welding of
microcontacts between beads. The frequency dependence of the saturation voltage
gives an estimate of the size of these welded microcontacts. The DC value of
the saturation voltage (~ 0.4 V per contact) gives an indirect measure of the
number of welded contact carrying the current within the 2D lattice. Also, a
new measurement technique provides a map of the current paths within the 2D
lattice of beads. For an isotropic compression of the 2D granular medium, the
current paths are localized in few discrete linear paths. This
quasi-onedimensional nature of the electrical conductivity thus explains the
similarity between the characteristics in the 1D and 2D systems.Comment: To be published in The European Physical Journal
Expert opinion on pituitary complications in immunotherapy
Hypophysitis is a frequent toxic endocrine side-effect of immunotherapy. Prevalence is higher with anti-CTLA-4 antibodies (4-20%) or in association with PD-1 inhibitors (8%). Diagnosis is presumptive, based on poorly specific clinical symptoms (usually, headache and asthenia) and/or hyponatremia and/or at least one pituitary deficit and/or abnormal imaging. Visual disorder or polyuropolydipsic syndrome are exceptional. In decreasing order of frequency, deficits are thyrotropic (86-100%), gonadotropic (85-100%) or corticotropic (50-73%); somatotropin deficit or abnormal prolactin level are rarer. Pituitary MRI in acute phase shows variable moderate increase in pituitary volume, ruling out differential diagnoses, especially pituitary metastasis. Treatment of corticotropin deficiency requires systematic emergency replacement therapy, with the usual modalities, while treatment of other deficits depends on clinical status and progression. Thyrotropin and gonadotropin deficits usually recover, but corticotropin deficiency persists over the long term, requiring education and specialized endocrinologic follow-up. Onset of hypophysitis does not contraindicate continuation of immunotherapy and does not usually require high dose synthetic glucocorticoids
Elaboration of a Novel Design Pirani Pressure Sensor for High Dynamic Range Operation and Fast Response Time
AbstractWe report a novel design for realizing Pirani sensor with a working range from a 1kPa up to pressure over than atmospheric one. The sensor is specifically designed to achieve high sensitivity, fast response time and high robustness. The proof of concept is composed of four metallic resistors interconnected to form a Wheatstone bridge. Two of them act simultaneously as the heating and sensing elements and the two others are used as a temperature reference. The heating element consists of a metallic wire of platinum Pt (3μm width, 1mm length) maintained on each lateral side by periodic silicon oxide SiO2 micro-bridges. The sensor design, fabrication technologies, electrical characterizations and voltage-pressure responses are described and shown. A future perspective is given, which describe the extension of this concept to elastic wave transduction of pressure using a combination of heater element and thin plate elastic waveguide
Low-cost liquid medium for in vitro cultivation of Leishmania parasites in low-income countries
Background: Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (CL) induced by Leishmania aethiopica
has two clinical manifestations: ulcerating, self-healing CL and
non-ulcerating, non-healing CL. The grossly disfiguring multiple nodules
on the face and exterior surface of limbs during non-ulcerative CL are
sometimes misdiagnosed as other skin infections. Thus the need for
definitive and prompt laboratory diagnosis will be required. Identifying
Leishmania parasite by culture method is considered as a definitive
method for initiation of treatment and as an effective component of
leishmaniasis control methods. Recently the involvement of Fas (CD95)
and Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) Related Apoptosis Inducing Ligand (TRAIL)
induced apoptotic pathways were proposed to be involved in tissue
destruction and ulceration during L. major induced CL.
Aims: 1) to develop an alternative culture media that could minimize the
cost for culturing Leishmania from patient lesions.
2) to investigate if the expression of FasL and TRAIL differs in
ulcerating and non- ulcerative CL.
Methods: GALF-1 media was formulated in our lab and compared to RPMI 1640
medium and conventional Locke s semi solid media (LSSM) which is one of
the modifications of Novy-MacNeal-Nicolle (NNN) culture media.
Amastigotes transformation, cryopreservation, recovery of parasites, cost
and mass cultivation were analysed. Expression of Fas ligand (FasL),
TRAIL and apoptosis were assessed by immunohistology in human skin
biopsies from L. aethiopica induced ulcerative or non-ulcerative CL. FasL
and TRAIL blocking experiments were performed in a murine model of CL.
Results and discussion: GALF-1 is cheap and its ingredients available in
a low income country such as Ethiopia. GALF-1 was able to transform
amastigotes from Ethiopian patients samples and could be used to
cultivate promastigotes in large quantities. Cost analysis showed 80% to
95 % decreased costs as compared to conventional media. Promastigotes
cultured with GALF-1 could be cryopreserved in liquid nitrogen with
comparable re-culture potential to conventional media. Affordability of
diagnostic assays is a key issue for resource poor countries and the
possibility to cut the cost of the efficient culture method for diagnosis
through the use of inexpensive local formulated reagents could improve
the diagnosis of leishmaniasis in low income endemic countries.
More FasL expressing cells were detected in dermis of ulcerative CL as
compared to non-ulcerative CL and controls. TRAIL expression was higher
in ulcerative CL as compared to non-ulcerative CL and controls in both
epidermis and dermis. Increased dermal expression of FasL and TRAIL was
associated with ulcer formation during CL. This correlated with an
inhibition of the ulcerative process in a murine CL model during FasL and
TRAIL neutralisation.The mechanisms of the involvement of FasL and TRAIL
in ulceration was not elucidated and putative reason(s) for the
difference in dysregulation of apoptosis are discussed
Recombinant forms of Leishmania amazonensis excreted/secreted promastigote surface antigen (PSA) induce protective immune responses in dogs
International audiencePreventive vaccination is a highly promising strategy for interrupting leishmaniasis transmission that can, additionally, contribute to elimination. A vaccine formulation based on naturally excreted secreted (ES) antigens was prepared from L. infantum promastigote culture supernatant. This vaccine achieved successful results in Phase III trials and was licensed and marketed as CaniLeish. We recently showed that newly identified ES promastigote surface antigen (PSA), from both viable promastigotes and axenically-grown amastigotes, represented the major constituent and the highly immunogenic antigen of L. infantum and L. amazonensis ES products. We report here that three immunizations with either the recombi-nant ES LaPSA-38S (rPSA) or its carboxy terminal part LaPSA-12S (Cter-rPSA), combined with QA-21 as adjuvant, confer high levels of protection in naive L. infantum-infected Beagle dogs, as checked by bone marrow parasite absence in respectively 78.8% and 80% of vaccinated dogs at 6 months post-challenge. The parasite burden in infected vaccinated dogs was significantly reduced compared to placebo group, as measured by q-PCR. Moreover, our results reveal humoral and cellular immune response clear-cut differences between vaccinated and control dogs. An early increase in specific IgG2 antibodies was observed in rPSA/QA-21-and Cter-rPSA/QA-21-immunized dogs only. They were found functionally active in vitro and were highly correlated with vaccine protection. In vaccinated protected dogs, IFN-γ and NO productions, as well as anti-leishmanial macrophage activity, were increased. These data strongly suggest that ES PSA or its carboxy-terminal part, in recom-binant forms, induce protection in a canine model of zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis by inducing a Th1-dominant immune response and an appropriate specific antibody response. These data suggest that they could be considered as important active components in vaccine candidates
French Endocrine Society Guidance on endocrine side-effects of immunotherapy
The management of cancer patients has changed due to the considerably more frequent use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICPI). However, the use of ICPI has a risk of side-effects, particularly endocrine toxicity. Since the indications for ICPI are constantly expanding due to their efficacy, it is important that endocrinologists and oncologists know how to look for this type of toxicity and how to treat it when it arises. In view of this, the French Endocrine Society initiated the formulation of a consensus document on ICPI-related endocrine toxicity. In this paper, we will introduce data on the general pathophysiology of endocrine toxicity, we will then outline expert opinion focusing primarily on methods for screening, management and monitoring for endocrine side-effects in patients treated by ICPI. We will then look in turn at endocrinopathies that are induced by ICPI including dysthyroidism, hypophysitis, primary adrenal insufficiency and fulminant diabetes. In each chapter, expert opinion will be given on the diagnosis, management and monitoring for each complication. These expert opinions will also discuss the methodology for categorizing these side-effects in oncology using \u27Common terminology criteria for adverse events\u27 (CTCAE) and the difficulties in applying this to endocrine side-effects in the case of these anti-cancer therapies. This is shown in particular by certain recommendations that are used for other side-effects (high-dose corticosteroids, contra-indicated in ICPI for example), and that cannot be considered as appropriate in the management of endocrine toxicity, as it usually does not require ICPI withdrawal or high dose glucocorticoid intake
In Vitro Evaluation of a Soluble Leishmania Promastigote Surface Antigen as a Potential Vaccine Candidate against Human Leishmaniasis
International audiencePSA (Promastigote Surface Antigen) belongs to a family of membrane-bound and secreted proteins present in severalLeishmania (L.) species. PSA is recognized by human Th1 cells and provides a high degree of protection in vaccinated mice.We evaluated humoral and cellular immune responses induced by a L. amazonensis PSA protein (LaPSA-38S) produced in aL. tarentolae expression system. This was done in individuals cured of cutaneous leishmaniasis due to L. major (CCLm) or L.braziliensis (CCLb) or visceral leishmaniasis due to L. donovani (CVLd) and in healthy individuals. Healthy individuals weresubdivided into immune (HHR-Lm and HHR-Li: Healthy High Responders living in an endemic area for L. major or L. infantuminfection) or non immune/naive individuals (HLR: Healthy Low Responders), depending on whether they produce high orlow levels of IFN-c in response to Leishmania soluble antigen. Low levels of total IgG antibodies to LaPSA-38S were detectedin sera from the studied groups. Interestingly, LaPSA-38S induced specific and significant levels of IFN-c, granzyme B and IL-10 in CCLm, HHR-Lm and HHR-Li groups, with HHR-Li group producing TNF-a in more. No significant cytokine response wasobserved in individuals immune to L. braziliensis or L. donovani infection. Phenotypic analysis showed a significant increasein CD4+ T cells producing IFN-c after LaPSA-38S stimulation, in CCLm. A high positive correlation was observed between thepercentage of IFN-c-producing CD4+ T cells and the released IFN-c. We showed that the LaPSA-38S protein was able toinduce a mixed Th1 and Th2/Treg cytokine response in individuals with immunity to L. major or L. infantum infectionindicating that it may be exploited as a vaccine candidate. We also showed, to our knowledge for the first time, the capacityof Leishmania PSA protein to induce granzyme B production in humans with immunity to L. major and L. infantum infectio
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