Integrated microfluidic-microoptical systems fabricated by dry etching of soda-lime glass

In the paper, the method of fabrication of monolithically integrated microfluidic-microoptics systems is presented. Soda-lime glass is used as a substrate material, in which the waveguiding optics is fabricated by means of an ion exchange process, whereas the microfluidic channel is manufactured using reactive ion etching technique. Basic optical characteristics of the device are also reported.     

Guanine oxidation by electron transfer: one- versus two-electron oxidation mechanism

The degeneracy of the guanine radical cation, which is formed in DNA by oxidation of guanine by electron transfer, was studied by a detailed analysis of the oxidation products of guanine on oligonucleotide duplexes and by labeling experiments. It was shown that imidazolone, the major product of guanine oxidation, is formed through a one-electron oxidation process and incorporates one oxygen atom from O2. The formation of 8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanine by a two-electron oxidation process was a minor pathway. The two-electron oxidation mechanism was also evidenced by the formation of a tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane adduct.     

Molecular basic data calculation for radiation transport in chromatin

Differential and integral electron impact ionisation cross sections were calculated using the binary-encounter-Bethe theoretical model for each core particle molecules: the four DNA bases, the backbone (sugar phosphate), and the 19 amino acids constituent of histone proteins. The binding energies and populations of molecular orbitals were computed using General Atomic Molecular Electronic Structure System. At present, there are neither experimental nor other theoretical results on amino acid electron impact ionisation cross sections. Regarding DNA bases and backbone, our results show good agreement with those published in journals.     

Modulation of the postprandial phase by beta-glucan in overweight subjects: effects on glucose and insulin kinetics

Decreasing the postprandial glucose response is potentially of major importance to public health when low-glycemic index or high-fibre content foods are associated with a decreased risk of diabetes. We investigated in overweight subjects the effect of adding beta-glucan (BG) to a polenta (Pol) meal on postprandial metabolism and glucose bioavailability using stable isotopes. In this single-blind, randomized, crossover trial, 12 subjects ate two meals containing Pol with (Pol + BG) or without (Pol) 5 g BG. Concentrations of glucose, insulin, C-peptide, nonesterified fatty acids, triacylglycerol, total and exogenous glucose kinetics were assessed for 6 h postprandially. The kinetics of total and exogenous glucose importantly differed between the meals, but not the quantity of total and exogenous glucose appearing in plasma. Less total and exogenous glucose appeared during the first 120 min after the Pol + BG meal; the phenomenon was then reversed (both p < 0.0001). After 120 min, glucose and insulin responses declined, but remained higher after the Pol + BG meal (p < 0.05) in parallel to the inhibition of lipolysis. The endogenous glucose production (EGP) was significantly more inhibited after the Pol + BG meal. The addition of BG slowed the appearance of glucose in plasma, resulting in longer-lasting insulin secretion which exerted a prolonged inhibition of EGP and lipolysis.     

Global sensitivity analysis for calculating the contribution of genetic parameters to the variance of crop model prediction

Dynamic models are often used to predict the effects of farmers’ practices on crop yield, crop quality, and environment. These models usually include many parameters that must be estimated from experimental data before practical use. Parameter estimation is a difficult problem especially when some of the parameters vary across genotypes. These genetic parameters may be estimated from plant breeding experiments but this is very costly and requires a lot of experimental work. Moreover, some of the genetic parameters may account for only a very small part of the output variance and, so, do not deserve an accurate determination. This paper shows how methods of global sensitivity analysis can be used to evaluate the contributions of the genetic parameters to the variance of model prediction. Two methods are applied to a complex crop model for estimating the sensitivity indices associated to 13 genetic parameters. The results show that only five genetic parameters have a significant effect on crop yield and grain quality.     

Large-scale purification and characterisation of pea globulins

Pea globulins, vicilin and legumin were isolated by chromatography on DEAE Sepharose and Ultrogel ACA 34. The procedure was carried out on a preparative scale and used to purify about 5 g of each globulin for a separation cycle. The purity of the vicilin and legumin was verified by immunoelectrophoretic and ultracentrifuge analysis.     

Analyse de la parole par les méthodes de modélisation paramétrique

This paper provides a survey of recent speech analysis techniques. After stressing the value of a precise and accurate analysis technique in most of speech processing applications, the basic parameter extraction methods are critically summarized. Attention is then focused on parametric modelling methods as applied to speech analysis. After a restatement of the linear prediction principles and associated fast algorithms, the three following topics are examined in some depth : ? global analysis methods on short time windows, with variable frequency resolution, and with additive noise; ? global analysis by multipulse techniques ; ? time evolving methods where a time varying parametric model is adjusted to model the transitions between quasistationnary periods; ? time adaptive sequential methods using fast (Kaiman, Cholesky…) algorithms along with a synchronous detection of temporal events.     

X‐ray Structures and Feasibility Assessment of CLK2 Inhibitors for Phelan–McDermid Syndrome

CLK2 inhibition has been proposed as a potential mechanism to improve autism and neuronal functions in Phelan–McDermid syndrome (PMDS). Herein, the discovery of a very potent indazole CLK inhibitor series and the CLK2 X‐ray structure of the most potent analogue are reported. This new indazole series was identified through a biochemical CLK2 Caliper assay screen with 30k compounds selected by an in silico approach. Novel high‐resolution X‐ray structures of all CLKs, including the first CLK4 X‐ray structure, bound to known CLK2 inhibitor tool compounds (e.g., TG003, CX‐4945), are also shown and yield insight into inhibitor selectivity in the CLK family. The efficacy of the new CLK2 inhibitors from the indazole series was demonstrated in the mouse brain slice assay, and potential safety concerns were investigated. Genotoxicity findings in the human lymphocyte micronucleus test (MNT) assay are shown by using two structurally different CLK inhibitors to reveal a major concern for pan‐CLK inhibition in PMDS.