Discussion on: Sivakumar, V., Glynn, D., Cairns, P. & Black, J.A. (2009). A new method of measuring plastic limit of fine materials. Géotechnique 59, No. 10, 813-823. by Brendan C. O'Kelly

NA

WASP-38b: a transiting exoplanet in an eccentric, 6.87d period orbit

Aims: We report the discovery of WASP-38b, a long period transiting planet in an eccentric 6.871815 day orbit. The transit epoch is 2 455 335.92050 ± 0.00074 (HJD) and the transit duration is 4.663 h. Methods: WASP-38b's discovery was enabled due to an upgrade to the SuperWASP-North cameras. We performed a spectral analysis of the host star HD 146389/BD+10 2980 that yielded Teff = 6150 ± 80 K, log g = 4.3 ± 0.1, v sin i = 8.6 ± 0.4 km s-1, M_* = 1.16 ± 0.04 M? and R_* = 1.33 ± 0.03 R?, consistent with a dwarf of spectral type F8. Assuming a main-sequence mass-radius relation for the star, we fitted simultaneously the radial velocity variations and the transit light curves to estimate the orbital and planetary parameters. Results: The planet has a mass of 2.69 ± 0.06 MJup and a radius of 1.09 ± 0.03 RJup giving a density, ?p = 2.1 ± 0.1 ?J. The high precision of the eccentricity e = 0.0314 ± 0.0044 is due to the relative transit timing from the light curves and the RV shape. The planet equilibrium temperature is estimated at 1292 ± 33 K. WASP-38b is the longest period planet found by SuperWASP-North and with a bright host star (V = 9.4 mag), is a good candidate for followup atmospheric studies. Photometry and RV data are only available in electronic form at the CDS via anonymous ftp to cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or via http://cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr/viz-bin/qcat?J/A+A/525/A54

The AGE inhibitor pyridoxamine inhibits development of retinopathy in experimental diabetes

We examined the ability of pyridoxamine (PM), an inhibitor of formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and lipoxidation end products (ALEs), to protect against diabetes-induced retinal vascular lesions. The effects of PM were compared with the antioxidants vitamin E (VE) and R-alpha-lipoic acid (LA) in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Animals were given either PM (1 g/l drinking water), VE (2,000 IU/kg diet), or LA (0.05%/kg diet). After 29 weeks of diabetes, retinas were examined for pathogenic changes, alterations in extracellular matrix (ECM) gene expression, and accumulation of the immunoreactive AGE/ALE N-epsilon-(carboxymethyl)lysine (CML). Acellular capillaries were increased more than threefold, accompanied by significant upregulation of laminin immunoreactivity in the retinal microvasculature. Diabetes also increased mRNA expression for fibronectin (2-fold), collagen IV (1.6-fold), and laminin beta chain (2.6-fold) in untreated diabetic rats compared with nondiabetic rats. PM treatment protected against capillary drop-out and limited laminin protein upregulation and ECM mRNA expression and the increase in CML in the retinal vasculature. VE and LA failed to protect against retinal capillary closure and had inconsistent effects on diabetes-related upregulation of ECM mRNAs. These results indicate that the AGE/ALE inhibitor PM protected against a range of pathological changes in the diabetic retina and may be useful for treating diabetic retinopathy.

Dependence of the kinetics of liquid-phase photocatalyzed reactions on oxygen concentration and light intensity

The initial kinetics of the oxidation of 4-chlorophenol, 4-CP, photocatalyzed by titania films and aqueous dispersions were studied as a function of oxygen partial pressure, P-O2, and incident light intensity, I. The reaction conditions were such that the kinetics were independent of [4-CP] but strongly dependent on PO2-a situation that allowed investigation of the less-often studied kinetics of oxygen reduction. The observed kinetics fit a pseudo-steady-state model in which the oxygen is Langmuir-adsorbed on the titania photocatalyst particles before being reduced by photogenerated electrons. The maximum rate of photocatalysis depends directly on I-beta, where, beta = 1 for films and 0.7 for dispersions of titania, indicating that the kinetics are dominated by the surface reactions of the photogenerated electrons and holes for the films and by direct recombination for the powder dispersions. Using the pseudo-first-order model, for both titania films and dispersions, the apparent Langmuir adsorption constant, K-LH, derived from a Langmuir-Hinshelwood analysis of the kinetics, appears to be largely independent of incident light intensity, unlike KLH for 4-CP Consequently, similar values are obtained for the Langmuir adsorption constant, K-ads, extracted from a pseudosteady-state analysis of the kinetics for oxygen on TiO2 dispersions and films in aqueous solution (i.e., ca. 0.0265 +/- 0.005 kPa(-1)), and for both films and dispersions, oxygen appears to be weakly adsorbed on TiO2 compared with 4-CP, at a rate that would take many minutes to reach equilibrium. The value of Kads for oxygen on titania particles dispersed in solution is ca. 4.7 times lower than that reported for the dark Langmuir adsorption isotherm; possible causes for this difference are discussed. (c) 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Optical source model for the 23.2-23.6 nm radiation from the multielement germanium soft X-ray laser

Distributions of source intensity in two dimensions (designated the source model), averaged over a single laser pulse, based on experimental measurements of spatial coherence, are considered for radiation from the unresolved 23.2/23.6 nm spectral lines from the germanium collisional X-ray laser. The model derives from measurements of the visibility of Young slit interference fringes determined by a method based on the Wiener-Khinchin theorem. Output from amplifiers comprising three and four target elements have similar coherence properties in directions within the horizontal plane corresponding to strong plasma refraction effects and fitting the coherence data shows source dimensions (FWHM) are similar to 26 mu m (horizontal), significantly smaller than expected by direct imaging, and similar to 125 mu m (vertical: equivalent to the height of the driver excitation). (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

SATURATED AND NEAR DIFFRACTION-LIMITED ASE OUTPUT AT 23.6 NM

Amplification of spontaneous emission at 23.6 nm has been studied in a Ge plasma heated by a 1 TW, 1.06 mum wavelength, laser pulse. The exponent of the axial gain reached 21 in a geometry with Fresnel number less-than-or-equal-to 1. Two plasma columns were produced by irradiation of slab targets up to a combined length of 3.6 cm. A narrow band XUV mirror allowed double pass amplification. Saturation of ASE output at 23.6 nm was observed as a change from exponential to linear growth of the output with plasma length. Further evidence of the effect was provided by a decline in the ratio of the output at 23.6 nm to that at 23.2 nm from approximately 1.6: 1 to approximately 0.5: 1, the latter being the theoretically predicted value for saturated operation. The onset of saturation at gL almost-equal-to 15 is consistent with model calculations. The beam divergence was about 8x diffraction limited with a brightness estimated at almost-equal-to 10(14) W/cm2/ster.

Structural and magnetic properties of Ni1-xZnxFe2O4 (x=0, 0.5 and 1) nanopowders prepared by sol-gel method

A series of nanostructured Ni-Zn ferrites Ni1-xZnxFe2O4 (x=0, 0.5 and 1) with a grain size from 24 to 65 nm have been prepared with a sol-gel method. The effect of composition and sintering temperature on morphology, magnetic properties, Curie temperature, specific heating rate at 295 kHz and hysteresis loss have been studied. The highest coercivity of 50 and 40 Oe, were obtained for NiFe2O4 and Ni0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 samples with the grain size of 35 and 29 nm, respectively. The coercivity of Ni and Ni-Zn mixed ferrites decreased with temperature. The Bloch exponent was 1.5 for all samples. As the grain size increased, the Curie temperature of NiFe2O4 increased from 849 to 859 K. The highest saturation magnetization of 70 emu/g at 298 K and the highest specific heating rate of 1.6 K/s under radiofrequency heating at 295 kHz were observed over NiFe2O4 calcined at 1073 K. Both the magnitude of the hysteresis loss and the temperature dependence of the loss are influenced by the sintering temperature and composition.

Toluene dioxygenase-catalysed oxidation route to angular cis-monohydrodiols and other bioproducts from bacterial metabolism of 1,2-dihydrobenzocyclobutene and derivatives

A mutant strain (UV4) of the soil bacterium Pseudomonas putida, containing toluene dioxygenase, has been used in the metabolic oxidation of 1,2-dihydrobenzocyclobutene 12 dagger and the related substrates 1,2-dihydrobenzocyclobuten-1-ol 13 and biphenylene 33. Stable angular cis-monohydrodiol metabolites (1R,2S)-bicyclo[4.2.0]octa-3,5-diene-1,2 7, (1S,2S,8S)-bicyclo[4.2.0]octa-3,5-diene-1,2,8-triol 8 and biphenylene-cis-1,8b-diol 9, isolated from each of these substrates, have been structurally and stereochemically assigned. The structure, enantiopurity and absolute configuration of the other cis-diol metabolites, (2R,3S)-bicyclo[4.2.0]octa-1(6),4-diene-2,3-diol 14 and cis-1,2-dihydroxy-1,2-dihydrobenzocyclobutene 16, and the benzylic oxidation bioproducts, 1,2-dihydrobenzocyclobuten-1-ol 13, 1,2-dihydrobenzocyclobuten-1-one 15 and 2-hydroxy-1,2-dihydrobenzocyclobuten-1-one 17, obtained from 1,2-dihydrobenzocyclobutene and 1,2-dihydrobenzocyclobuten-1-ol, have been determined with the aid of chiral stationary-phase HPLC, NMR and CD spectroscopy, and stereochemical correlation. X-Ray crystallographic methods have been used in the determination of absolute configuration of the di-camphanates 27 (from diol 7) and 32 (from diol 9), and the di-MTPA ester 29 (from diol 14) of the corresponding cis-diol metabolites. The metabolic sequence involved in the formation of bioproducts derived from 1,2-dihydrobenzocyclobutene 12 has been investigated.

Visual disability, visual function, and myopia among rural chinese secondary school children: the Xichang Pediatric Refractive Error Study (X-PRES)--report 1.

PURPOSE: To evaluate visual acuity, visual function, and prevalence of refractive error among Chinese secondary-school children in a cross-sectional school-based study. METHODS: Uncorrected, presenting, and best corrected visual acuity, cycloplegic autorefraction with refinement, and self-reported visual function were assessed in a random, cluster sample of rural secondary school students in Xichang, China. RESULTS: Among the 1892 subjects (97.3% of the consenting children, 84.7% of the total sample), mean age was 14.7 +/- 0.8 years, 51.2% were female, and 26.4% were wearing glasses. The proportion of children with uncorrected, presenting, and corrected visual disability (< or = 6/12 in the better eye) was 41.2%, 19.3%, and 0.5%, respectively. Myopia < -0.5, < -2.0, and < -6.0 D in both eyes was present in 62.3%, 31.1%, and 1.9% of the subjects, respectively. Among the children with visual disability when tested without correction, 98.7% was due to refractive error, while only 53.8% (414/770) of these children had appropriate correction. The girls had significantly (P < 0.001) more presenting visual disability and myopia < -2.0 D than did the boys. More myopic refractive error was associated with worse self-reported visual function (ANOVA trend test, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Visual disability in this population was common, highly correctable, and frequently uncorrected. The impact of refractive error on self-reported visual function was significant. Strategies and studies to understand and remove barriers to spectacle wear are needed.

Visual morbidity due to inaccurate spectacles among school children in rural China: the See Well to Learn Well Project, report 1.

PURPOSE: Inadequately corrected refractive error is the leading cause of visual disability among children in China; inaccurate spectacles are a potential cause. The prevalence and visual impact of spectacle inaccuracy were studied among rural, secondary-school children, to determine the optimal timing for updating of refraction. METHODS: A random sample of children from years 1 and 2 in all junior and senior high schools in Fuyang Township, Guangdong Province, underwent ocular examination. All children who reported wearing glasses received cycloplegic refraction, vision assessment, and measurement of current spectacles. RESULTS: Among 3226 examined children, 733 (22.7%) reported owning spectacles. Refractive error and spectacle power were assessed for 588 (80.2%) children. They had a mean age of 15.0 +/- 1.6 years; 70.2% were girls, 83.3% had more than -1.5 D of myopia, and 17.9% had presenting vision < or = 6/12 in the better eye. The glasses of 48.8% of children were inaccurate by > or = 1 D; inaccuracy was > or = 2 D in 17.7%. Children with inaccurate glasses (> or = 1 D) had presenting vision in the better eye significantly (P < 0.001) worse than that of children with accurate glasses, and 30.3% had presenting acuity < or = 6/12. In multivariate models, younger age (P = 0.004), more myopic refractive error (P < 0.001), and having glasses > or = 1 year old (P = 0.04) were associated with inaccurate spectacles. DISCUSSION: Inaccurate spectacles are common and are associated with significant visual impairment among children in rural China. Reducing outdated glasses could lessen the visual burden, although refractive services may have to be offered on an annual basis for optimal benefit.

Calcium, vitamin D, casein and whey protein intakes and periodontitis among Danish adults

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether intakes of Ca, vitamin D, casein and whey are associated with periodontitis and to investigate the possibility of interactions between them. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. An Internet-based, 267-item FFQ was used to assess dietary intake. Intakes of casein (32.0 g/d), whey proteins (9.6 g/d) and vitamin D (5.8 mug/d) were classified as within v. above the 50th percentile. Ca intake was classified as within v. below age-specific recommendations. Severe periodontitis was defined as having >/=2 inter-proximal sites with clinical attachment loss >/=6 mm (not on the same tooth) and >/=1 inter-proximal site with pocket depth >/=5 mm. Since vitamin D influences Ca absorption, models were stratified by lower and higher (<5.8 v. >/=5.8 microg/d) vitamin D intake. SETTING: Danish Health Examination Survey (DANHES) 2007-2008. SUBJECTS: Adult participants (n 3287) in the oral health study of DANHES 2007-2008. RESULTS: Intakes of Ca within recommendations (OR=0.76; 95 % CI 0.58, 0.99), whey >/=9.6 g/d (OR=0.75; 95 % CI 0.58, 0.97) and casein >/=32 g/d (OR=0.75 95 % CI 0.58, 0.97) were associated with lower likelihood of severe periodontitis after adjustment for age, gender, education, smoking, sucrose intake, alcohol consumption, number of teeth, daily brushing, regular visits to the dentist and chronic illness, irrespective of vitamin D intake levels. Intake of vitamin D alone was not associated severe with periodontitis. CONCLUSIONS: Intakes of Ca, casein and whey protein were inversely associated with periodontitis. Consumption of foods rich in Ca, casein and whey (e.g. dairy foods) should be promoted, as they may contribute to the prevention of periodontitis. Further longitudinal studies are required to confirm these associations.

La Renaissance musicale : revue hebdomadaire de critique, d'esthétique et d'histoire / directeur-gérant : Edmond Hippeau

Etat de collection : A1, n° 1 (6 mars 1881)-a3, n° 42 (20 oct. 1883)

Recueil de modèles de correspondance, anonyme et sans titre, contenant des formules d'épîtres à adresser aux dignitaires de l'empire, des lettres que s'envoient les grands personnages, des lettres échangées entre parents et amis, des lettres d'amitié et de bonne relation, de condoléance, de recommandation, des formules d'actes.

Parmi ces pièces, l'on remarque la lettre que le sultan Mourad IV écrivit au roi de Perse (folio 49) ; on trouve, aux feuillets 1-6, la première page du traité sur la correspondance diplomatique de Okčizade Mohammed Efendi, et quelques lettres officielles, tirées d'un Insha, dans une écriture divani cursive.