Growth mechanisms of Ag and Cu nanodendrites via Galvanic replacement reactions

Dendritic silver and copper crystals were produced via Galvanic replacement reactions on zinc and aluminum plates, respectively. The growth orientations of these metals were determined using electron microscopy. The results showed that a fast crystal growth associated with a high concentration of metal cations led to kinetically controlled growth along the <112> axes of the cubic close-packed structures. However, a slow growth rate resulted in thermodynamically controlled growth along the [111] axis. The crystal growth was not found to rely upon the direct deposition of metal cations at crystallographic sites on crystal facets, but instead, hydrated metal cations deposited on the crystal surface to form an amorphous coating layer, followed by the reduction of metal cations and crystallization at the crystal/coating interface. Twin defects and stacking faults were often observed across the whole particle and commonly observed ?{422} diffraction spots were explained by stacking faults rather than by the possible presence of any superstructures. The present work offers evidences to claim that both the crystal growth rate and Coulomb interaction between negatively charged crystal surface and metal cations play an important role in the formation of metal dendrites in replacement reactions.     

A genome-wide scan identifies mutations in the gene encoding phosphodiesterase 11A4 (PDE11A) in individuals with adrenocortical hyperplasia

Phosphodiesterases (PDEs) regulate cyclic nucleotide levels. Increased cyclic AMP (cAMP) signaling has been associated with PRKAR1A or GNAS mutations and leads to adrenocortical tumors and Cushing syndrome. We investigated the genetic source of Cushing syndrome in individuals with adrenocortical hyperplasia that was not caused by known defects. We performed genome-wide SNP genotyping, including the adrenocortical tumor DNA. The region with the highest probability to harbor a susceptibility gene by loss of heterozygosity (LOH) and other analyses was 2q31-2q35. We identified mutations disrupting the expression of the PDE11A isoform-4 gene (PDE11A) in three kindreds. Tumor tissues showed 2q31-2q35 LOH, decreased protein expression and high cyclic nucleotide levels and cAMP-responsive element binding protein (CREB) phosphorylation. PDE11A codes for a dual-specificity PDE that is expressed in adrenal cortex and is partially inhibited by tadalafil and other PDE inhibitors; its germline inactivation is associated with adrenocortical hyperplasia, suggesting another means by which dysregulation of cAMP signaling causes endocrine tumors.     

Age des halos pléochroïques de la granodiorite de Lausitz

Summary By a quantitative study of pleochroic haloes in biotite, the haloe age of the Lausitz granodiorite, in comparison with the granite age of the Elba Isle, was estimated to 280±150 M.Y. The granodiorite is either caledonian or hercynian.

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Attachée à l'Institut Interuniversitaire des Sciences Nucléaires.     

Population structure, differential bias and genomic control in a large-scale, case-control association study

The main problems in drawing causal inferences from epidemiological case-control studies are confounding by unmeasured extraneous factors, selection bias and differential misclassification of exposure. In genetics the first of these, in the form of population structure, has dominated recent debate. Population structure explained part of the significant +11.2% inflation of test statistics we observed in an analysis of 6,322 nonsynonymous SNPs in 816 cases of type 1 diabetes and 877 population-based controls from Great Britain. The remainder of the inflation resulted from differential bias in genotype scoring between case and control DNA samples, which originated from two laboratories, causing false-positive associations. To avoid excluding SNPs and losing valuable information, we extended the genomic control method by applying a variable downweighting to each SNP.     

Apoptosis induced by vitamin A signaling is crucial for connecting the ureters to the bladder

Removal of toxic substances from the blood depends on patent connections between the kidney, ureters and bladder that are established when the ureter is transposed from its original insertion site in the male genital tract to the bladder. This transposition is thought to occur as the trigone forms from the common nephric duct and incorporates into the bladder. Here we re-examine this model in the context of normal and abnormal development. We show that the common nephric duct does not differentiate into the trigone but instead undergoes apoptosis, a crucial step for ureter transposition controlled by vitamin A-induced signals from the primitive bladder. Ureter abnormalities occur in 1-2% of the human population and can cause obstruction and end-stage renal disease. These studies provide an explanation for ureter defects underlying some forms of obstruction in humans and redefine the current model of ureter maturation.     

The genome sequence of the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe grisea

Magnaporthe grisea is the most destructive pathogen of rice worldwide and the principal model organism for elucidating the molecular basis of fungal disease of plants. Here, we report the draft sequence of the M. grisea genome. Analysis of the gene set provides an insight into the adaptations required by a fungus to cause disease. The genome encodes a large and diverse set of secreted proteins, including those defined by unusual carbohydrate-binding domains. This fungus also possesses an expanded family of G-protein-coupled receptors, several new virulence-associated genes and large suites of enzymes involved in secondary metabolism. Consistent with a role in fungal pathogenesis, the expression of several of these genes is upregulated during the early stages of infection-related development. The M. grisea genome has been subject to invasion and proliferation of active transposable elements, reflecting the clonal nature of this fungus imposed by widespread rice cultivation.     

Mesure des âges géologiques par les halos pléochroïques

Summary In this preliminary work, the possibility of dating crystalline rocks by pleochroic haloes has been studied.Halo-microphotometry has been combined with measurement of the alpha-activity of the inclusions by the photographic method.Standard thin sections of well dated granites have been used for calibration purposes. The reciprocity law is shown to be valid within the limit of error. The resolving power of this method depends essentially on the age ratio. Tertiary and primary rocks are easily separated.