A Far-Red Emitting Fluorescent Chemogenetic Reporter for In Vivo Molecular Imaging

Far-red emitting fluorescent labels are highly desirable for spectral multiplexing and deep tissue imaging. Here, we describe the generation of frFAST (far-red Fluorescence Activating and absorption Shifting Tag), a 14-kDa monomeric protein that forms a bright far-red fluorescent assembly with (4-hydroxy-3-methoxy-phenyl)allylidene rhodanine (HPAR-3OM). As HPAR-3OM is essentially non-fluorescent in solution and in cells, frFAST can be imaged with high contrast in presence of free HPAR-3OM, which allowed the rapid and efficient imaging of frFAST fusions in live cells, zebrafish embryo/larvae, and chicken embryos. Beyond enabling the genetic encoding of far-red fluorescence, frFAST allowed the design of a far-red chemogenetic reporter of protein–protein interactions, demonstrating its great potential for the design of innovative far-red emitting biosensors.     

Syntactic characterization of closure under connected limits

Summary We give a syntactic characterization of (finitary) theories whose categories of models are closed under the formation of connected limits (respectively the formation of pullbacks and substructures) in the category of all structures. They are also those theories whose consistent extensions by new atomic facts admit in each component an initial structure (respectively an initial term structure), and also thoseT for whichM(T) is locally finitely multi-presentable in a canonical way. We also show that these two properties of theories are nonuniform.     

A counter-example to the characterization of the discontinuous value function of control problems with reflectionUn contre-exemple à la caractérisation de la fonction-valeur discontinue d'un problème de contrôle réfléchi

We consider a finite horizon deterministic optimal control problem with reflection. The final cost is assumed to be merely a locally bounded function which leads to a discontinuous value function. We address the question of the characterization of the value function as the unique solution of an Hamilton–Jacobi equation with Neumann boundary conditions. We follow the discontinuous approach developed by Barles and Perthame for problems set in the whole space. We prove that the minimal and maximal discontinuous viscosity solutions of the associated Hamilton–Jacobi can be written in terms of value functions of control problems with reflection. Nethertheless, we construct a counter-example showing that the value function is not the unique solution of the equation. To cite this article: O. Ley, C. R. Acad. Sci. Paris, Ser. I 335 (2002) 469–473.     

Structures de Hodge mixtes et faisceaux réflexifs semistablesMixed Hodge structures and semistable reflexive sheaves

Let X be a smooth projective variety over an algebraically closed field of characteristic 0. We prove that the category of μ-semistable reflexive sheaves of slope μ equivariant for the action of some group on X is Abelian. The same claim for $\text{X=}\text{P}{}^2{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>C</mtext>}}$ and a stronger semistability condition gives us a geometric proof of the fact that the category of mixed Hodge structures is Abelian. To cite this article: O. Penacchio, C. R. Acad. Sci. Paris, Ser. I 335 (2002) 475–480.     

Constraint Programming and Operations Research: Comments from an Operations Researcher

This paper relates the author's personal experience with constraint programming and gives a personal assessment of the relationships between constraint programming and operations research.     

Dependence of the kinetics of the anionic polymerization of methyl methacrylate on the concentration in active centers

Studies on the anionic polymerization of methyl methacrylate in tetrahydrofuran and in the presence of sparteine have revealed a beneficial effect due to this additive, resulting in a decrease in the extent of termination. Better control of the definition of the polymers formed can thus be achieved in the presence of this additive. On the other hand, macromolecular engineering requires a range of active species concentrations lower than 10^?3 mol L^?1 and particularly the synthesis of polymers of high molar masses. For a better understanding of the mechanism of chain growth under such concentration conditions, the kinetics of polymerization have been investigated with a technique based on adiabatic calorimetry. Sparteine has been found to lack sufficient cation‐binding power to prevent the propagating enolate ion pairs from aggregating. The rate constant of propagation of nonaggregated species has been estimated, as well as the aggregation constant of equilibrium. For very low initiator concentrations, termination reactions have been shown to profoundly alter the control of the polymerization and to prevent a quantitative monomer conversion. Theoretical maximal conversions have been calculated from kinetic data and compare well with the experimental values. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 4964–4975, 2004