The decay of 4 min 158Tm

The decay of 4 min ¹⁵⁸Tm has been investigated with on-line mass-separated samples obtained from the Orsay ISOCELE separator. Measurements of γ-rays, conversion electron lines and γ-γ bi-dimensional coincidences were performed. About 180 transitions were ascribed to the decay and two thirds of them were placed in a decay scheme. The β-band and the γ-band were identified with bandheads situated at 806.40 and 820.13 keV respectively. In addition, a number of other vibrational bands (β-γ, β-β, K^π = 0^? and 1^?) are proposed. The decay properties of those bands are discussed in the framework of current nuclear models. The log ft values suggest a 2^? assignment for ¹⁵⁸Tm with the possible configuration (p404J↓-n521↑).     

Level structure of 123Cs observed from 123Ba decay and described using the IBFM and CQPC models

The decay of ¹²³Ba to ¹²³Cs has been studied with mass-separated sources. Singles spectra of γ-rays, X-rays and conversion electrons as well as γ - γ - t, γ - e ⁻ - t, and X - e ⁻ - t coincidences were recorded. A level scheme of ¹²³Cs has been constructed including 26 new excited states and 82 transitions. The existence of a I ^π = 11/2⁻, T _1/2 = 1.7 s isomer, bandhead of the h _11/2 band, is confirmed. Its excitation energy equals 156.3 keV. A new T _1/2 = 114 ns isomer has been established at 232 keV using the in-beam recoil catcher technique. It is assigned to the I ^π = 9/2⁺ bandhead of the gpg _9/2 band. Collective bands based on the 1/2⁺ ground state and first 3/2⁺ excited state are proposed. The level structure is described in the frame of the interacting boson-fermion and core-quasiparticle coupling models.     

Bit threshold optimization for multiphoton communication in lossy channels

We address M-ary communication channels based on entangled two-mode states of radiation in the presence of losses. In particular we focus on channels build by two-mode coherently-correlated (TMC) or twin-beam (TWB) states. Optimized bit discrimination thresholds, as well as the corresponding maximized mutual information, are explicitly evaluated as a function of beam intensities and loss parameters for binary and quaternary alphabets. The evolution of the two entangled support states in lossy channels is analyzed and the joint photon number distribution is evaluated, showing that the beam statistics (either sub-Poissonian for TMC or super-Poissonian for TWB) is not altered by channel losses. The effects of losses on the channel security is discussed. The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

Comparison of different liquid chromatography stationary phases in LC-HRMS metabolomics for the detection of recombinant growth hormone doping control

Growth hormone (GH) is a polypeptide suspected of being used in horse racing to speed up physical performances. Despite scientific advances in the recent years, the control of its administration remains difficult. In order to improve it, a metabolomics study through LC-high resolution mass spectrometry measurements was recently initiated to assess the metabolic perturbations caused by recombinant equine growth hormone administration. Few tens of ions not identified structurally were highlighted as compounds responsible for the modification of metabolic profiling observed in treated animals. This previous work was based on the use of Uptisphere Strategy NEC as the chromatographic column. In parallel, more and more metabolomics studies showed the interest of the use of new chromatographic supports such as hydrophilic interaction chromatography for the analysis of polar compounds. It is in this context that an investigation was conducted on Uptisphere HDO and Luna hydrophilic interaction chromatography stationary phases to generate and process urinary metabolomics fingerprints, which could allow to establish a comparison with Uptisphere Strategy NEC. The chromatographic column the most adapted for the detection of new biomarkers of GH administration has been used to set up a relevant statistical model based on the analysis of more than hundred biological samples.     

The role of metal ions in dopaminergic neuron degeneration in Parkinsonism and Parkinson’s disease

Abstract  

Parkinson’s disease is characterized by the selective degeneration of neuromelanin-containing dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra and locus coeruleus. Although the cause of this disease remains unknown, several transition metals, including manganese and copper, have been associated with the development of the atypical form of Parkinsonism, and iron accumulation has been associated with the development of Parkinson’s disease. Manganese³⁺ is a strong oxidizing agent, which oxidizes dopamine to aminochrome (dopaminochrome), the precursor of neuromelanin. Aminochrome formation in cell culture medium induces acute cell death in cells that uptake aminochrome, explaining the role of manganese in the development of atypical Parkinsonism. Copper accumulation in Wilson’s disease also induces Parkinsonism as one of the main symptoms, and an atypical Parkinsonism has also been observed in young copper miners. Interestingly, copper is able to complex with dopamine, which can be taken up by cells expressing the dopamine transporter, inducing caspase-independent cell death with formation of autophagic vacuoles. Iron is also able to form a complex with dopamine, the neurotoxic action of which also depends on the cellular expression of the dopamine transporter. The neurotoxicities of these transition metals to cells expressing the dopamine transporter all involve dopamine oxidation to quinones and require the inhibition of DT-diaphorase.     

Proteomic Studies of Syk-Interacting Proteins Using a Novel Amine-Specific Isotope Tag and GFP Nanotrap

Green fluorescent protein (GFP) and variants have become powerful tools to study protein localization, interactions, and dynamics. We present here a mass spectrometry-based proteomics strategy to examine protein–protein interactions using anti-GFP single-chain antibody V_HH in a combination with a novel stable isotopic labeling reagent, isotope tag on amino groups (iTAG). We demonstrate that the single-chain V_HH (GFP nanotrap) allows us to identify interacting partners of the Syk protein-tyrosine kinase bearing a GFP epitope tag with high efficiency and high specificity. Interacting proteins identified include CrkL, BLNK, α- and β-tubulin, Csk, RanBP5 and DJ-1. The iTAG reagents were prepared with simple procedures and characterized with high accuracy in the determination of peptides in model peptide mixtures and as well as in complex mixture. Applications of the iTAG method and GFP nanotrap to an analysis of the nucleocytoplasmic trafficking of Syk led to the identification of location-specific associations between Syk and multiple proteins. While the results reveal that the new quantitative proteomic strategy is generally applicable to integrate protein interaction data with subcellular localization, extra caution should be taken in evaluating the results obtained by such affinity purification strategies as many interactions appear to occur following cell lysis.     

Novel insights into nanopore deformation caused by capillary condensation

By means of in situ small-angle x-ray diffraction experiments and semi-grand-canonical ensemble Monte Carlo simulations we demonstrate that sorption and condensation of a fluid confined within nanopores is capable of deforming the pore walls. At low pressures the pore is widened due to a repulsive interaction caused by collisions of the fluid molecules with the walls. At capillary condensation the pores contract abruptly on account of attractive fluid-wall interactions whereas for larger pressures they expand again. These features cannot solely be accounted for by effects related to pore-wall curvature but have to be attributed to fluid-wall dispersion forces instead.