Contribution of cadherins to directional cell migration and histogenesis in Xenopus embryos

Perturbation of adhesion mediated by cadherins was achieved by over-expressing truncated forms of E- and EP-cadherins (in which the extracellular domain was deleted) in different blastomeres of stage 6 Xenopus laevis embryos. Injections of mRNA encoding truncated E- and EP-cadherins into A1A2 blastomeres resulted in inhibition of cell adhesion and, at later stages, in morphogenetic defects in the anterior neural tissues to which they mainly contribute. In addition, truncated EP-cadherin mRNA produced a duplication of the dorso-posterior axis in a significant number of cases. The expression of truncated E- and EP-cadherins in blastomeres involved in gastrulation and neural induction (B1B2 and C1), led to the duplication of the dorso-posterior axis as well as to defects in anterior structures. Morphogenetic defects obtained with truncated EP-cadherin were more severe than those induced with truncated E-cadherin. Cells derived from blastomeres injected with truncated EP-cadherin mRNA, dispersed more readily at the blastula and gastrula stages than the cells derived from the blastomeres expressing truncated E-cadherin. Presumptive mesodermal cells expressing truncated cadherins did not engage in coherent directional migration. The alteration of cadherin-mediated cell adhesion led directly to the perturbation of the convergent-extension movements during gastrulation as shown in the animal cap assays and indirectly to perturbation of neural induction. Although the cytoplasmic domains of type I cadherins share a high degree of sequence identity, the over-expression of their cytoplasmic domains induces a distinct pattern of perturbations, strongly suggesting that in vivo, each cadherin may transduce a specific adhesive signal. These graded perturbations may in part result from the relative ability of each cadherin cytoplasmic domain to titer the beta-catenin.     

Experimental study of the interaction range and association rate of surface-attached cadherin 11

We describe a method allowing quantitative determination of the interaction range and association rate of individual surface-attached molecules. Spherical beads (1.4 micro(m) radius) were coated with recombinant outer domains of the newly described classical type II cadherin 11, a cell adhesion molecule. Beads were driven along cadherin-coated surfaces with a hydrodynamic force of approximately 1 pN, i.e., much less than the mechanical strength of many ligand-receptor bonds. Spheres displayed periods of slow motion interspersed with arrests of various duration. Particle position was monitored with 50 Hz frequency and 0.025 micro(m) accuracy. Nearly 1 million positions were recorded and processed. Comparison between experimental and computer-simulated trajectories suggested that velocity fluctuations might be related quantitatively to Brownian motion perpendicular to the surface. The expected amplitude of this motion was of order of 100 nm. Theoretical analysis of the relationship between sphere acceleration and velocity allowed simultaneous determination of the wall shear rate and van der Waals attraction between spheres and surface. The Hamaker constant was estimated at 2.9 x 10(-23) J. The frequency of bond formation was then determined as a function of sphere velocity. Experimental data were consistent with the view that the rate of association between a pair of adhesion molecules was approximately 1.2 x 10(-3) s-1 and the interaction range was approximately 10 nm. It is concluded that the presented methodology allows sensitive measurement of sphere-to-surface interactions (with approximately 10 fN sensitivity) as well as the effective range and rate of bond formation between individual adhesion molecules.     

Misleading the Colorado potato beetle with an odor blend

Walking tracks of Colorado potato beetles,Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say, were recorded on a locomotion-compensator in response to wind, odors of host plantsSolanum tuberosum L. and nonhost plantsLycopersicon hirsutum f.glabratum C.H. Mull, and to mixtures of these plant species. Host-plant odor induced positive anemotactic responses in starved females, whereas odor of the nonhostL. hirsutum was neither repellent nor attractive. The attractiveness of host-plant odor, however, was neutralized in the odor blend of plant species. Masking the attractive host-plant odor will hinder the beetle's searching for host-plant patches, and this principle may be exploited in pest control by mixed cropping.The locomotion-compensator was constructed with financial support from the Foundation for Fundamental Biological Research (BION), which is subsidized by the Netherlands Organization for the Advancement of Pure Research (ZWO), grant 14-02-02. The first author was supported by a grant from the French Ministry of Industry and Research.     

Genetic analysis of geraniol metabolism during fermentation

Geraniol produced by grape is the main precursor of terpenols which play a key role in the floral aroma of white wines. We investigated the fate of geraniol during wine fermentation by Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The volatile compounds produced during fermentation of a medium enriched with geraniol were extracted by Stir-bar sorptive extraction and analysed by GC–MS. We were able to detect and quantify geranyl acetate but also citronellyl- and neryl-acetate. The presence of these compounds partly explains the disparition of geraniol. The amounts of terpenyl esters are strain dependant. We demonstrated both by gene overexpression and gene-deletion the involvement of ATF1 enzyme but not ATF2 in the acetylation of terpenols. The affinity of ATF1 enzyme for several terpenols and for isoamyl alcohol was compared. We also demonstrated that OYE2 is the enzyme involved in geraniol to citronellol reduction. Fermenting strain deleted from OYE2 gene produces far less citronellol than wild type strain. Moreover lab strain over-expressing OYE2 allows 87% geraniol to citronellol reduction in bioconversion experiment compared to about 50% conversion with control strain.     

Comprehensive study of the influence of total pressure on products yields in fluidized bed gasification of wood sawdust

Wood sawdust gasification experiments were performed in a steam fluidized bed at 800 °C between 2 and 10 bar. An evolution of gas yields with time was measured during the tests, and especially an increase of hydrogen and carbon dioxide yields. This test duration effect was ascribed to char build-up in the bed. As tests proceed, the contribution of char steam gasification to gas yield increases, and the catalytic effect of char on hydrocarbons and tar conversion and on water-gas shift reaction is enhanced.As total pressure increases from 2 to 10 bar, hydrogen, carbon dioxide and methane yields increase by 16%, 53% and 38% respectively, whereas carbon monoxide yield decreases by 33%. The changes in gaseous yields with pressure can be partly explained by the influence of pressure on gas phase reactions (acceleration of water-gas shift kinetics and change in hydrocarbon reactions). The increase of methane yield with pressure is rather suggested to be linked to a change in secondary pyrolysis reactions scheme under high pressure.     

Impact of polarisation mode dispersion on 10 Gbit/s terrestrialsystems over non-dispersion-shifted fibre

Depending on the launched state of polarisation 10 Gbit/s system impairments are investigated experimentally in the presence of chromatic dispersion and variable differential group delay caused by polarisation mode dispersion. In addition an actual fibre cable, not an optical simulator was used to bring polarisation mode dispersion     

252 km repeaterless 10 Gb/s transmission demonstration

Using a practical erbium-doped fiber postamplifier, a dual-stage optical preamplifier, a lithium niobate Mach-Zehnder external modulator and a dispersion-shifted line fiber, IM/DD repeaterless transmission over 252 km at 10 Gb/s with a wavelength-independent receiver sensitivity in the 1530-1565-nm range is achieved     

Plasma sex steroid and gonadotropin levels in control and silastic vaginal medroxyprogesterone acetate-impregnated ring cycles

The concentrations of sex steroid hormones in plasma were determined daily in 14 young adult women, during both a control cycle and a treatment cycle. During the latter a Silastic ring into which 100 or 200 mg of medroxyprogesterone acetate (Provera) had been incorporated was worn intravaginally. During the treatment cycles, plasma levels of estradiol, progesterone, and 17-hydroxyprogesterone remained within the range observed during the early follicular phase. Testosterone and androstenedione levels did not show any cyclic variation during the treatment cycle; however, the mean levels were decreased by about 25% compared with the over-all plasma levels of the control cycle, whereas dehydroepiandrosterone levels were decreased by about 15%. It is concluded that these Provera-containing Silastic intravaginal rings inhibit ovulation and decrease androgen secretion by the ovaries significantly.     

Gammadensimetry: A method to determine drying and carbonation profiles in concrete

The aim of this paper is to describe a new and efficient method to determine drying and carbonation profiles in concrete by gammadensimetry. First, the paper focuses on density and density variation measurements. A direct calculation of porosity and moisture saturation rate is proposed. Then, the uncertainties of these measurements are assessed. The results obtained on several materials are finally analyzed and validated by comparison with classical test results. The porosity profiles agree with mercury intrusion porosimetry and carbonation results with depths obtained by pH-indicator spraying. Thus, it is shown that gammadensimetry enables to monitor the evolution of density according to depth and time. Moreover, the auscultation by gamma-ray makes it also possible to determine the water content during drying as well as the quantity of fixed carbon dioxide in concrete during the carbonation process.