Easy and effective method to produce functionalized particles for cellular uptake

In this contribution, a versatile approach for the synthesis of functionalized particles for drug delivery is presented, using two nonaggressive standardized procedures. The first procedure considered is the functionalization of an azido‐terminated α‐norbornenyl poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) macromonomer with an alkyne‐containing active molecule via the copper catalyzed azide alkyne cycloaddition, click type reaction. The functionalized macromonomer is then polymerized by Ring‐Opening Metathesis Polymerization (ROMP) in dispersion to form functionalized particles. The second procedure consists in synthesizing particles by ROMP in dispersed media of norbornene with azido‐terminated α‐norbornenyl PEO macromonomer. The ROMP was initiated by the first generation Grubbs catalyst. Such functionalized core‐shell particles have stealthy properties due to their PEO shell and can be viewed as universal nanocarriers on which any alkyne‐modified active molecule can be grafted by click chemistry. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2013     

Electronic structure of IPR and non-IPR endohedral metallofullerenes: Connecting orbital and topological rules

The electronic structure of endohedral metallofullerenes is rationalized by connecting the apparently independent orbital and topological rules that explain the stability of this family of fullerenes. The separation of the 12 pentagons of the fullerene, which is maximized in order to minimize the Coulomb repulsion, is found to be correlated with the orbital energies of the cage that accepts the electron transfer from the internal cluster. An explanation for the absence of non-IPR cages in large-size EMFs is also provided.     

Étude d'un modèle de fragmentation secondaire pour les brouillards de gouttelettes

In this Note, we first present a model for droplet secondary breakup, in liquid sprays. This model is based on the kinetic theory formalism and uses experimental correlations found in the literature (L.-P. Hsiang, G.M. Faeth, Int. J. Multiphase Flow 19 (5) (1993) 721–735; R. Maxey, J. Riley, Phys. Fluids 26 (4) (1983) 883–889; M. Pilch, C.A. Erdman, Int. J. Multiphase Flow 13 (6) (1987) 741–757) to determine the fragmentation rate and its outcome. We then conduct a mathematical study of the resulting kinetic equation. We prove, under some physically reasonable assumptions, an existence and uniqueness theorem and characterize the long-time behaviour of the solution. To cite this article: G. Dufour et al., C. R. Acad. Sci. Paris, Ser. I 336 (2003).     

Entropy minimization and spectral dissimilarity curve resolution technique applied to nuclear magnetic resonance data sets

The use of entropy minimization and spectral dissimilarity is applied to three nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) data sets. The data sets contain 2, 2, and 3 observables each. It was found that without any a priori information the sets of pure component spectra underlying the NMR spectroscopic observations could be extracted. These successful spectral resolutions suggest that a combined entropy minimization and spectral dissimilarity approach can be further developed for even larger NMR data sets containing a larger number of observables. Brief comparison to DECRA and PMF curve resolution results is also presented.     

The value of single-shot black-blood MR imaging for mapping of the coronary arteries: a comparison of four different orientations during breath-holding and free breathing

The value of ECG-gated single-shot black-blood MR imaging for rapid visualization of the origin and course of the coronary arteries was investigated. The study population included 28 patients with known or suspected cardiac disease. ECG-gated single-shot black-blood MR acquisitions were acquired in the transverse, coronal, sagittal and LAO orientations, during free breathing and breath-holding. The origin of the left coronary artery was most frequently visualized in the coronal and LAO orientations and the origin of the right coronary artery was most frequently visualized in the LAO orientation. Overall, no significant difference was found for the visualization of the coronary artery segments and the overall image quality among acquisitions during breath-holding and free breathing. ECG-gated single-shot black-blood MR imaging (HASTE) appears to be a time-efficient and robust method for mapping of the entire coronary artery tree, without the need for breath-holding. The LAO orientation provides the most consistent visualization of the origins and major coronary artery segments.     

Study of a fiber-optic LAN with a distributed controller

In this paper the performance of a fiber-optic LAN with spread spectrum multiplexing is discussed from the viewpoint of transmission parameters. Two architectures are considered. The first concerns a structure with cascade-connected Y-type fiber-optic couplers. The second concerns an architecture with cascade-connected active optoelectronic repeater-coupler (ORCA) devices.     

PEGylated Luminescent Gold Nanoclusters: Synthesis,Characterization, Bioconjugation,and Application to One‐ and Two‐Photon Cellular Imaging

Biocompatible, near‐infrared luminescent gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) are synthesized directly in water using poly(ethylene glycol)‐dithiolane ligands terminating in either a carboxyl, amine, azide, or methoxy group. The ≈1.5 nm diameter AuNCs fluoresce at ≈820 nm with quantum yields that range from 4–8%, depending on the terminal functional group present, and display average luminescence lifetimes approaching 1.5 μs. The two‐photon absorption (TPA) cross‐section and two‐photon excited fluorescence (TPEF) properties are also measured. Long‐term testing shows the poly(ethylene glycol) stabilized AuNCs maintain colloidal stability in a variety of media ranging from saline to tissue culture growth medium along with tolerating storage of up to 2 years. DNA and dye‐conjugation reactions confirm that the carboxyl, amine, and azide groups can be utilized on the AuNCs for carbodiimide, succinimidyl ester, and Cu^I‐assisted cycloaddition chemistry, respectively. High signal‐to‐noise one‐ and two‐photon cellular imaging is demonstrated. The AuNCs exhibit outstanding photophysical stability during continuous‐extended imaging. Concomitant cellular viability testing shows that the AuNCs also elicit minimal cytotoxicity. Further biological applications for these luminescent nanoclustered materials are discussed.     

Travelling wave mathematical analysis and efficient numerical resolution for a one-dimensional model of solid propellant combustion

We investigate a model of solid propellant combustion involving surface pyrolysis coupled to finite activation energy gas-phase combustion. Existence and uniqueness of a travelling wave solution are established by extending dynamical system tools classically used for premixed flames, dealing with the additional difficulty arising from the surface regression and pyrolysis. An efficient shooting method allows to solve the problem in phase space without resorting to space discretisation nor fixed-point Newton iterations. The results are compared to solutions from a CFD code developed at ONERA, assessing the efficiency and potential of the method, and the impact of the modelling assumptions is evaluated through parametric studies.     

Finite dimensional representations of the quantum analog of the enveloping algebra of a complex simple Lie algebra

Let be a complex simple Lie algebra. We show that whent is not a root of 1 all finite dimensional representations of the quantum analogU _t are completely reducible, and we classify the irreducible ones in terms of highest weights. In particular, they can be seen as deformations of the representations of the (classical)U .