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Lifetimes of first 4+ and 6+ states have been measured in neutron-rich isotopes of Zr, Mo, Ru and Pd using the recoil distance Doppler shift method at GANIL. The nuclei were produced through a fusion-fission reaction in inverse kinematics. The fission fragments were fully identified in the large-acceptance VAMOS spectrometer and γ-rays were detected in coincidence with the EXOGAM germanium array. Lifetimes of excited states in the range of 1–100 ps were measured with the Cologne plunger. Preliminary lifetime results are presented as well as a discussion on the evolution of the collectivity in this region.

The measurement of neutron-induced cross sections of short-lived nuclei is extremely difficult due to the radioactivity of the samples. The surrogate reaction method is an indirect way of determining cross sections for nuclear reactions that proceed through a compound nucleus. This method presents the advantage that the target material can be stable or less radioactive than the material required for a neutron-induced measurement. We have successfully used the surrogate reaction method to extract neutron-induced fission cross sections of various short-lived actinides. In this work, we investigate whether this technique can be used to determine neutron-induced capture cross sections in the rare-earth region.

The measurement of neutron-induced cross sections of short-lived nuclei is extremely difficult due to the radioactivity of the samples. The surrogate reaction method is an indirect way of determining cross sections for nuclear reactions that proceed through a compound nucleus. This method presents the advantage that the target material can be stable or less radioactive than the material required for a neutron-induced measurement. We have successfully used the surrogate reaction method to extract neutron-induced fission cross sections of various short-lived actinides. In this work, we investigate whether this technique can be used to determine neutron-induced capture cross sections in the rare-earth region.

The surrogate reaction method is an indirect way of determining cross sections for nuclear reactions that proceed through a compound nucleus. In this method, the compound nucleus is produced via an alternative (surrogate) reaction and its decay (by fission, gamma or neutron emission) is measured in coincidence with the outgoing appropriate charged particle. This technique has enabled neutron-induced cross sections to be extracted for nuclear reactions on short-lived nuclei that otherwise could not be measured. The CENBG collaboration has successfully applied this technique to determine the neutron-induced fission cross sections of several short-lived nuclei such as 233Pa, 242,243Cm and 241Am. These data are very important for the development of the Th/U cycle and for minor actinide transmutation. We currently investigate whether this powerful technique can also be used to determine the neutron-induced capture cross sections. For this purpose we will use the surrogate reaction 174Yb(3He,pγ)176Lu to infer the well known 175Lu(n,γ) cross section and compare the results with the directly measured neutron-induced data. The experimental set-up and the first results will be presented. We will also discuss our future plans to use the surrogate method for extracting actinides (n,γ) cross sections.

Determination of neutron-capture cross sections of short-lived nuclei is opening the way to understand and clarify the properties of many nuclei of interest for nuclear structure physics, nuclear astrophysics and particularly for transmutation of nuclear wastes. The surrogate approach is well-recognized as a potentially very useful method to extract neutron cross sections for low-energy compound-nuclear reactions and to overcome the difficulties related to the target radioactivity. In this work we will assess where we stand on these neutron-capture cross section measurements and how we can achieve the short-lived Minor Actinides nuclei involved in the nuclear fuel cycle. The CENBG collaboration applied the surrogate method to determine the neutron-capture cross section of 233Pa (T1/2 = 27 d). The 233Pa (n,γ) cross section is then deduced from the measured gamma decay probability of 234Pa compound nucleus formed via the surrogate 232Th(3He,p) reaction channel. The obtained cross section data, covering the neutron energy range 0.1 to 1 MeV, have been compared with the predictions of the Hauser-Feshbach statistical model. The importance of establishing benchmarks is stressed for the minor actinides region. However, the lack of desired targets led us to propose recently the 174Yb (3He,pγ) reaction as a surrogate reaction for the (n,γ) predetermined benchmark cross section of 175Lu. An overview of the experimental setup combining gamma ray detectors such as Ge and C6D6 in coincidence with light charged particles ΔE-E Telescopes will be presented and preliminary results will be discussed.

In this paper, we present a recent evolution of the analytical form of the Gogny force. The extension of the density-dependent term to a finite range is discussed and has led to the D2 Gogny force. A global refitting of the force has been done but preserving standard good properties of the Gogny force. Indeed the same fitting procedure with the same constraints and filters which have been used to obtain the D1-type parametrizations has been applied. The evolution of global properties (binding energies and nuclear radii) along the N = 8, 20, 28, 40 isotopic chains is discussed at the Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov approximation level. Results coming from systematic calculations based on 1385 nuclei are also presented. Axial symmetry has been assumed. A comparison with the results obtained using the D1S parametrization, which tends to show that the D2 and the D1S Gogny force display very similar axial deformation properties, is done. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, the scientific life of D. Gogny is recounted by several collaborators. His strong involvement in researches related to various fields of physics (such as nuclear, atomic and plasma physics as well as electromagnetism) appears clearly, as well as the progresses made in the understanding of fundamental physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present work, we have investigated an extension of the effective nucleon-nucleon Gogny interaction in which the zero-range density-dependent term has been replaced with a finite-range term. The parameters have been adjusted on both nuclear-matter properties and a few observables of stable nuclei. The traditional and unified fitting procedure of the Gogny force used in Bruyères-Ie-Châtel ensures common basic properties between the extended analytical form of the Gogny interaction, called D2, and the original one. In particular, symmetric infinite nuclear-matter and neutron-matter properties as well as pairing correlations have been investigated. A few static properties obtained in finite nuclei using the Hartree-Fock-Bogoiiubov approach and the D2 parametrization of the Gogny interaction are analyzed and compared to the results obtained with DI -type parametrizations and experiment when it is possible. The D2 parametrization makes it possible to reproduce nuclear structure properties with improved accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we propose a new description of nuclear spectroscopy based on the analysis of a rather complete set of observables, using the multiparticle-multihole configuration mixing and the D1S Gogny interaction. The application to the even-even sd-shell nuclei, for both ground and 0+2, 1+1, 2+1, 2+2, 3+1, 3+2, 4+1 excited states, clearly shows the pertinence of this approach. The standard deviation to experiment is ~500 keV for two-nucleon separation energies and ~400 keV for excitation energies. The calculated magnetic dipole moments and B(M1) transition probabilities are in a very good agreement with experiment. Concerning the spectroscopic quadrupole moments and B(E2) transition probabilities, the experimental trends are systematically reproduced. Only a lack of quadrupole collectivity appears. A solution to improve this expected defect is suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we report a few examples of excitation energies, magnetic and quadrupole moments as well as B(M1) and B(E2) transition probabilities calculated within the multiparticle-multihole (mp-mh) con- figuration mixing approach [N. Pillet, J.-F. Berger, E. Caurier, Phys. Rev. C78, 024305 (2008); N. Pillet et al., Phys. Rev. C85, 044315 (2012)], for sd-shell even-even nuclei with 10 = Z, N = 18. The D1S Gogny effective interaction has been used. Only low-lying positive parity states have been considered. A very satisfactory agreement is obtained with experiment for energies, magnetic moments and B(M1) transition probabilities. The calculated B(E2) transition probabilities between 2+1 and 0+1 states, 4+1 and 2+1 states reproduce the experimental trends along the isotonic and isotopic chains with the good order of magnitude [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A multiconfiguration microscopic method has been applied with the Gogny effective interaction to the calculation of low-lying positive-parity states in even-even 26,32Si isotopes. The aim of the study is to compare the results of this approach with those of a standard method of generator coordinate method (GCM) type and to get insight into the predictive power of multiconfiguration methods employed with effective nucleon-nucleon force tailored to mean-field calculations. It is found that the multiconfiguration approach leads to an excellent description of the low-lying spectroscopy of 26Si, 28Si, and 32Si, but gives a systematic energy shift in 30Si. A careful analysis of this phenomenon shows that this discrepancy originates from too large proton-neutron matrix elements supplied by the Gogny interaction at the level of the approximate resolution of the multiparticle-multihole configuration mixing method done in the present study. These proton-neutron matrix elements enter in the definition of both single-particle orbital energies and coupling matrix elements. Finally, a statistical analysis of highly excited configurations in 28Si is performed, revealing exponential convergence in agreement with previous work in the context of the shell model approach. This latter result provides strong arguments toward an implicit treatment of highly excited configurations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Applying a variational multiparticle-multihole mixing method whose purpose is to include correlations beyond mean field in an unified way without particle number and Pauli violations, we investigate ground state properties of 22O nucleus, in the case of pairing-type correlations. The same interaction is used for the mean field and the residual part of the hamiltonian, namely, the density-dependent D1S Gogny force. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Both transcription factors albumin site d-binding protein (DBP) and thyrotroph embryonic factor (TEF) are elements of the “cell-clock”. Their circadian accumulation in suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) and peripheral tissues such as liver, kidney and lung is thought to participate in controlling circadian regulation of downstream genes. TEF and DBP control elements have never been investigated in the insulin-secreting cells, but impairment of the circadian rhythm of the β-cells might be involved in the development of diabetic state as type 2 diabetics have lost daily temporal variations of insulin secretion.We investigated the expression pattern of TEF and DBP in insulin-secreting cells. TEF and DBP transcripts are expressed at extremely high levels in human pancreatic islets compared to other tissues, suggesting a potentially important circadian regulation of these cells. Both TEF and DPB accumulate in a circadian way in insulin-secreting cells after a serum shock known to restore circadian rhythms in cultured cells. In addition, the expression of islet-specific genes involved in glucose sensing (glucose transporter 2 (Glut2), glucokinase), insulin production (insulin) and secretion (migration inhibitory factor (MIF), somatostatin and syntaxin 1A) were modulated in the same daily rhythm as well. The circadian deregulation of these genes could therefore participate in the diabetic state development. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: The variational multiparticle-multihole configuration mixing approach to nuclei has been proposed about a decade ago. While the first applications followed rapidly, the implementation of the full formalism of this method has only been recently completed and applied in C. Robin, N. Pillet, D. Peña Arteaga, and J.-F. Berger, [Phys. Rev. C 93, 024302 (2016)] to 12C as a test-case. Purpose: The main objective of the present paper is to carry on the study that was initiated in that reference, in order to put the variational multiparticle-multihole configuration mixing method to more stringent tests. To that aim we perform a systematic study of even-even sd-shell nuclei. Method: The wave function of these nuclei is taken as a configuration mixing built on orbitals of the sd-shell, and both the mixing coefficients of the nuclear state and the single-particle wave functions are determined consistently from the same variational principle. As in the previous works, the calculations are done using the D1S Gogny force. Results: Various ground-state properties are analyzed. In particular, the correlation content and composition of the wave function as well as the single-particle orbitals and energies are examined. Binding energies and charge radii are also calculated and compared to experiment. The description of the first excited state is also examined and the corresponding transition densities are used as input for the calculation of reaction processes such as inelastic electron and proton scattering. Special attention is paid to the effect of the optimization of the single-particle states consistently with the correlations of the system. Conclusions: The variational multiparticle-multihole configuration mixing approach is systematically applied to the description of even-even sd-shell nuclei. Globally, the results are satisfying and encouraging. In particular, charge radii and excitation energies are nicely reproduced. However, the chosen valence-space truncation scheme precludes achieving maximum collectivity in the studied nuclei. Further refinement of the method and a better-suited interaction are necessary to remedy this situation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although self-consistent multiconfiguration methods have been used for decades to address the description of atomic and molecular many-body systems, only a few trials have been made in the context of nuclear structure. Purpose: This work aims at the development of such an approach to describe in a unified way various types of correlations in nuclei in a self-consistent manner where the mean-field is improved as correlations are introduced. The goal is to reconcile the usually set-apart shell-model and self-consistent mean-field methods. Method: This approach is referred to as "variational multiparticle-multihole configuration mixing method." It is based on a double variational principle which yields a set of two coupled equations that determine at the same time the expansion coefficients of the many-body wave function and the single-particle states. The solution of this problem is obtained by building a doubly iterative numerical algorithm. Results: The formalism is derived and discussed in a general context, starting from a three-body Hamiltonian. Links to existing many-body techniques such as the formalism of Green's functions are established. First applications are done using the two-body D1S Gogny effective force. The numerical procedure is tested on the 12C nucleus to study the convergence features of the algorithm in different contexts. Ground-state properties as well as single-particle quantities are analyzed, and the description of the first 2+ state is examined. Conclusions: The self-consistent multiparticle-multihole configuration mixing method is fully applied for the first time to the description of a test nucleus. This study makes it possible to validate our numerical algorithm and leads to encouraging results. To test the method further, we will realize in the second article of this series a systematic description of more nuclei and observables obtained by applying the newly developed numerical procedure with the same Gogny force. As raised in the present work, applications of the variational multiparticle-multihole configuration mixing method will, however, ultimately require the use of an extended and more constrained Gogny force. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A delayed, 76.5-keV transition has been observed in coincidence with 97Rb at the Lohengrin mass spectrometer via y-ray and conversion-electron spectroscopy. The multipolarity of the delayed transition was determined to be El and its measured half-life is 5.1(4) /xs. Comparisons with the results of Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov and quasiparticle-rotor model calculations allow a spin and parity of (1/2, 3/2)- to be assigned to this state. The isomer is likely to be one of the low-lying prolate-deformed 3/2- [312], or oblate-deformed 1/2- [321], 3/2- [321] quasiparticle excitations. A new decay branch of the (9/2+), 830.8-keV isomer of 97Sr has also been observed in the same experiment, allowing a spin of (5/2)+ to be assigned to the 522.5-keV state. This level is likely to have a high-seniority spherical configuration [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several protocols are proposed to build continuous energy surfaces of many-body quantum systems, regarding both energy and states. The standard variational principle is augmented with constraints on state overlap, ensuring arbitrary precision on continuity. As an illustration, the lowest energy and excited state paths relevant for the ^{240}Pu asymmetric fission are studied. The scission is clearly signed, with a neutron excess in the neck, the ultimate glue before its rupture. Our approach can potentially connect any couple of Hilbert space states, which opens up new horizons for various applications.

H6 family homeobox 1 (HMX1) regulates multiple aspects of craniofacial development, and mutations in HMX1 are linked to an ocular defect termed oculoauricular syndrome of Schorderet-Munier-Franceschetti (OAS) (MIM #612109). Recently, additional altered orofacial features have been reported, including short mandibular rami, asymmetry of the jaws, and altered premaxilla. We found that in two mutant zebrafish lines termed hmx1 mut10 and hmx1 mut150 , precocious mineralization of the proximal vertebrae occurred. Zebrafish hmx1 mut10 and hmx1 mut150 report mutations in the SD1 and HD domains, which are essential for dimerization and activity of hmx1 . In hmx1 mut10 , the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) antagonists chordin and noggin1 were downregulated, while bmp2b and bmp4 were highly expressed and specifically localized to the dorsal region prior to the initiation of the osteogenic process. The osteogenic promoters runx2b and spp1 were also upregulated. Supplementation with DMH1-an inhibitor of the BMP signaling pathway-at the specific stage in which bmp2b and bmp4 are highly expressed resulted in reduced vertebral mineralization, resembling the wildtype mineralization progress of the axial skeleton. These results point to a possible role of hmx1 as part of a complex gene network that inhibits bmp2b and bmp4 in the dorsal region, thus regulating early axial skeleton development.

Purpose: To report that variants in the gene for a large lamina basal component protein, COL6A6 (collagen type VI alpha 6 chain, Col6α6), linked to chromosome 3p22.1 causes retinitis pigmentosa (RP) in patients with autosomal dominant transmission (adRP)., Methods: A positional-cloning approach, whole exome sequencing, and modeling were used. The proband and several affected family members have been phenotyped and followed for over 12 years., Results: A heterozygous missense variant, c.509C>G (p. Ser170Cys) in exon 2 of COL6A6 (comprised of 36 exons and 2236 amino acids), was observed in a four- generation family and is likely to cause the adRP phenotype. It was identified in 10 affected members. All affected family members had a distinct phenotype: late-onset rod cone dystrophy, with good retained visual acuity, until their late 70s. Immunohistochemistry of human retina showed a dot-like signal at the base of the inner segments of photoreceptors and outer plexiform layer (OPL). The structural modeling of the N7 domain of Col6α6 suggests that the mutant might result in the abnormal cellular localization of collagen VI or malformation of collagen fibers resulting in the loss of its unique filament structure., Conclusions: COL6A6 is widely expressed in human tissues and evolutionary conserved. It is thought to interact with a range of extracellular matrix components. Our findings suggest that this form of RP has long-term useful central visual acuity and a mild progression, which are important considerations for patient counseling.

Retinoblastoma is the most common pediatric intraocular malignant tumor. While retinoblastoma initiation is triggered by the inactivation of both alleles of the retinoblastoma tumor suppressor gene ( RB1 ) in the developing retina, tumor progression requires additional epigenetic changes, retinoblastoma genomes being quite stable. Although the management of RB has recently improved, new therapeutic agents are necessary to improve the treatment of advanced forms of retinoblastoma. In this report, we analyzed the pro-death effect of piperlongumine (PL), a natural compound isolated from Piper longum L., on two human retinoblastoma cell lines, WERI-Rb and Y79. The effects of PL on cell proliferation, cell death and cell cycle were investigated. PL effectively inhibited cell growth, impacted the cell cycle by decreasing the level of cyclins and CDK1 and increasing CDKN1A and triggered a caspase-3 independant cell death process in which reactive oxygen species (ROS) production is a major player. Indeed, PL toxicity in retinoblastoma cell lines was inhibited by a ROS scavenger N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC) treatment. These findings suggest that PL reduces tumor growth and induces cell death by regulating the cell cycle., Competing Interests: CONFLICTS OF INTEREST The authors report no conflict of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper., (Copyright: © 2021 Allaman-Pillet and Schorderet.)

H6 family homeobox 1 (HMX1) regulates multiple aspects of craniofacial development as it is widely expressed in the eye, peripheral ganglia and branchial arches. Mutations in HMX1 are linked to an ocular defect termed Oculo-auricular syndrome of Schorderet-Munier-Franceschetti (MIM #612109). We identified UHRF1 as a target of HMX1 during development. UHRF1 and its partner proteins actively regulate chromatin modifications and cellular proliferation. Luciferase assays and in situ hybridization analyses showed that HMX1 exerts a transcriptional inhibitory effect on UHRF1 and a modification of its expression pattern. Overexpression of hmx1 in hsp70-hmx1 zebrafish increased uhrf1 expression in the cranial region, while mutations in the hmx1 dimerization domains reduced uhrf1 expression. Moreover, the expression level of uhrf1 and its partner dnmt1 was increased in the eye field in response to hmx1 overexpression. These results indicate that hmx1 regulates uhrf1 expression and, potentially through regulating the expression of factors involved in DNA methylation, contribute to the development of the craniofacial region of zebrafish., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

The lifetimes of the first excited 2^{+}, 4^{+}, and 6^{+} states in ^{98}Zr were measured with the recoil-distance Doppler shift method in an experiment performed at GANIL. Excited states in ^{98}Zr were populated using the fission reaction between a 6.2  MeV/u ^{238}U beam and a ^{9}Be target. The γ rays were detected with the EXOGAM array in correlation with the fission fragments identified by mass and atomic number in the VAMOS++ spectrometer. Our result shows a very small B(E2;2_{1}^{+}→0_{1}^{+}) value in ^{98}Zr, thereby confirming the very sudden onset of collectivity at N=60. The experimental results are compared to large-scale Monte Carlo shell model and beyond-mean-field calculations. The present results indicate the coexistence of two additional deformed shapes in this nucleus along with the spherical ground state.

Pre-mRNA splicing factors play a fundamental role in regulating transcript diversity both temporally and spatially. Genetic defects in several spliceosome components have been linked to a set of non-overlapping spliceosomopathy phenotypes in humans, among which skeletal developmental defects and non-syndromic retinitis pigmentosa (RP) are frequent findings. Here we report that defects in spliceosome-associated protein CWC27 are associated with a spectrum of disease phenotypes ranging from isolated RP to severe syndromic forms. By whole-exome sequencing, recessive protein-truncating mutations in CWC27 were found in seven unrelated families that show a range of clinical phenotypes, including retinal degeneration, brachydactyly, craniofacial abnormalities, short stature, and neurological defects. Remarkably, variable expressivity of the human phenotype can be recapitulated in Cwc27 mutant mouse models, with significant embryonic lethality and severe phenotypes in the complete knockout mice while mice with a partial loss-of-function allele mimic the isolated retinal degeneration phenotype. Our study describes a retinal dystrophy-related phenotype spectrum as well as its genetic etiology and highlights the complexity of the spliceosomal gene network., (Copyright © 2017 American Society of Human Genetics. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)