Design and testing of a multi-electrode apodized acousto-optic filter for arbitrary polarized light.

We present an original acousto-optic tunable filter that is able to filter visible light from 400 to 650 nm and is designed to interact simultaneously with two polarizations. The filter shows an adjustable optical bandwidth and apodization capabilities. These features make it suitable for practical spectroscopic applications. Experimental validation is also presented.

The first head-tailed virus, MFTV1, infecting hyperthermophilic methanogenic deep-sea archaea.

Deep-sea hydrothermal vents are inhabited by complex communities of microbes and their viruses. Despite the importance of viruses in controlling the diversity, adaptation and evolution of their microbial hosts, to date, only eight bacterial and two archaeal viruses isolated from abyssal ecosystems have been described. Thus, our efforts focused on gaining new insights into viruses associated with deep-sea autotrophic archaea. Here, we provide the first evidence of an infection of hyperthermophilic methanogenic archaea by a head-tailed virus, Methanocaldococcus fervens tailed virus 1 (MFTV1). MFTV1 has an isometric head of 50 nm in diameter and a 150 nm-long non-contractile tail. Virions are released continuously without causing a sudden drop in host growth. MFTV1 infects Methanocaldococcus species and is the first hyperthermophilic head-tailed virus described thus far. The viral genome is a double-stranded linear DNA of 31 kb. Interestingly, our results suggest potential strategies adopted by the plasmid pMEFER01, carried by M. fervens, to spread horizontally in hyperthermophilic methanogens. The data presented here open a new window of understanding on how the abyssal mobilome interacts with hyperthermophilic marine archaea.

Characterization of acoustic material at oblique incidence using a spherical microphone array.

This paper proposes two distinct methods for estimating the surface impedance Zs of acoustic materials using a spherical microphone array. The first method is based on the spherical ambisonic representation of sound fields to estimate the normal particle velocity and the sound pressure at the surface of the material. The second method uses an optimization process, where the measured sound pressure field is constrained to match a theoretical model. These two methods are compared to two existing methods: the equivalent source approach and the two-microphone measurement technique. The results show a clear advantage of the microphone array methods compared to the classical two-microphone method. The measurements show an accurate reconstruction of surface impedance and absorption coefficient between 120 and 5000 Hz for various sound incidences but also show edge effect perturbations due to the limited size of the tested samples. In addition, two criteria are proposed, one estimating the noise floor level allowing the optimization of the measurement results, the other evaluating the area of accurate impedance reconstruction on the surface of the material.

Study of the spectral bandwidth of a double-pass acousto-optic system [Invited].

Acousto-optic tunable filters are known as efficient instruments for spectral and spatial filtering of light. In this paper, we analyze the bandwidth dependence of a double-pass filter. The interaction geometry chosen allows the simultaneous diffraction of the ordinary and the extraordinary optical modes by a single ultrasonic frequency. We present the main parameters of a custom device (design, optical range, driving frequency) and experimental results concerning the angular deviation of the beams including the effect of optical birefringence. The spectral resolution and the side lobes' significance are discussed. Spectral bandwidth of such a system is analyzed.

Wavelength characterization of an acousto-optic notch filter for unpolarized near-infrared light.

A cascaded system of two acousto-optical cells is proposed and experimentally demonstrated for optical notch rejection filtering in the spectral range from 1400 nm to 1600 nm. Two similar paratellurite acousto-optical devices for unpolarized light are used in a free-space gap of a fiber line. Compensation for birefringence in anisotropic paratellurite devices provides a diffraction regime that is insensitive to polarization of light. High extinction ratios up to 40 dB are measured.

Thermodesulfatator autotrophicus sp. nov., a thermophilic sulfate-reducing bacterium from the Indian Ocean.

A novel sulfate-reducing bacterium, strain S606T, was isolated from a sulfide sample collected at a depth of 2764 m from a deep-sea vent chimney wall in the Indian Ocean. Phylogenetic 16S rRNA gene sequence analyses placed strain S606T within the genus Thermodesulfatator, with highest sequence similarity of 98.2 % to Thermodesulfatator indicus DSM 15286T, followed by Thermodesulfatator atlanticus AT1325T (97.4 %). The average nucleotide identity (ANI) values between S606T and the two other type strains (T. indicus DSM 15286T and T. atlanticus AT1325T) were 79.2 % and 71.5 %, respectively. The digital DNA-DNA hybridization estimate values between S606T and these two type strains were 22.7±2.4 % and 18.1±2.3 %, respectively. Cells were Gram-stain-negative, anaerobic, motile rods (1-1.8×0.5-0.7 µm). The novel isolate grew at NaCl concentrations ranging from 1.5 to 4.5 % (optimum 2.5-3 %), from pH 5.5 to 8 (optimum 6.5-7.0) and at temperatures between 50 and 80 °C (optimum 65-70 °C). S606T grew chemolithoautotrophically in an H2/CO2 atmosphere (80 : 20, v/v; 200 kPa), used sulfate as a terminal electron acceptor, but not sulfur, sulfite nor thiosulfate. The predominant fatty acids were C16 : 0 (24.2 %), summed feature 8 (C18 : 1ω6c and/or C18 : 1ω7c, 26.3 %), C18 : 0 (22.2 %) and C18 : 1ω9c (9.2 %). The DNA G+C content of the chromosomal DNA was 43.1 mol%. The combined genotypic, chemotaxonomic and phenotypic traits show that S606T should be described as representing a novel species of the genus Thermodesulfatator, for which the name Thermodesulfatator autotrophicus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is S606T (=DSM 101864T=MCCC 1A01871T).

Simultaneous bandgaps in LiNbO3 phoxonic crystal slab.

We study simultaneous photonic and phononic crystal slabs created in Z-cut lithium niobate membranes. Bandgaps for guided waves are identified using the three-dimensional finite element method (FEM). Three lattices are considered: the square, the hexagonal, and the honeycomb lattices. We investigate the evolution of band gaps as a function of geometrical parameters such as hole radius and membrane thickness. We show the existence of dual photonic and phononic bandgaps in the triangular lattice for suitable geometrical parameters and specific modal symmetries for both the elastic and the electromagnetic fields.

The brittle star genome illuminates the genetic basis of animal appendage regeneration.

Species within nearly all extant animal lineages are capable of regenerating body parts. However, it remains unclear whether the gene expression programme controlling regeneration is evolutionarily conserved. Brittle stars are a species-rich class of echinoderms with outstanding regenerative abilities, but investigations into the genetic bases of regeneration in this group have been hindered by the limited genomic resources. Here we report a chromosome-scale genome assembly for the brittle star Amphiura filiformis. We show that the brittle star genome is the most rearranged among echinoderms sequenced so far, featuring a reorganized Hox cluster reminiscent of the rearrangements observed in sea urchins. In addition, we performed an extensive profiling of gene expression during brittle star adult arm regeneration and identified sequential waves of gene expression governing wound healing, proliferation and differentiation. We conducted comparative transcriptomic analyses with other invertebrate and vertebrate models for appendage regeneration and uncovered hundreds of genes with conserved expression dynamics, particularly during the proliferative phase of regeneration. Our findings emphasize the crucial importance of echinoderms to detect long-range expression conservation between vertebrates and classical invertebrate regeneration model systems.

Acousto-optic wide band optical low-frequency shifter.

A wide bandwidth tunable optical low-frequency shifter is presented in this work. It is based on two acousto-optic devices operating in tandem. The relevant parameters of the specific configurations of acousto-optic interactions in paratellurite material are detailed. Results from numerical computations leading to the practical design parameters are given. The low-frequency shifter has been experimentally tested at a visible wavelength λ0=514 nm and a high efficiency (>60%) has been measured. The tuning capability of the optical shifter covers a bandwidth Δf=26 MHz.

Polarization-independent imaging with an acousto-optic tandem system.

We propose a method for filtering convergent light beams with arbitrary polarization. For this purpose, a tandem of similar acousto-optic tunable filters was applied. Owing to the special mutual orientation of the cells, two coincident beams with ordinary and extraordinary polarizations were diffracted by the first crystal and the second crystal, respectively.

Cascaded acousto-optical system for modulation of unpolarized light.

A cascaded system of two acousto-optical cells is proposed for equalization of multichannel optical signal satisfying coarse wavelength-division multiplexing standard. Two similar acousto-optical modulators for unpolarized light on the basis of 10 degrees-cut paratellurite crystals were used in a free-space gap of a fiber line. The system controlled intensity of several optical carriers in the spectral range from 1200 to 1700 nm. The device was tested in a four-channel regime of operation in the range 1510-1570 nm. Overall optical insertion losses did not exceed -2 dB and less than 1 W electric power per channel was necessary for -20 dB intensity attenuation of the signal in a continuous operation mode. Compensation for birefringence in paratellurite provided diffraction regime that was insensitive to polarization of light. Interchannel crosstalk was less than -10 dB.

Acousto-optic tunable filter using double interaction for sidelobe reduction.

We present a bifrequency acousto-optic tunable filter (AOTF) for applications using polychromatic laser beams. The acousto-optic device is based on two successive anisotropic interactions in paratellurite: the first takes place with an acoustic shear wave tilted at 10 degrees from the [110] axis, while the latter is provided by the acoustic shear wave propagating collinear to the [110] axis. It is then demonstrated that the sidelobes of the impulse response to optical wavelengths of such a bifrequency AOTF are greatly reduced. General expressions of operating frequencies, spectral bandwidths, and acoustic powers are derived. Numerical computations have been drawn for paratellurite. The bifrequency AOTF has been tested using a multiline beam radiated by an argon laser. According to the spectral power distribution of this polychromatic laser beam, the most critical configurations of wavelength filtration have been considered. Experimental results confirm the theoretical predictions.

An abyssal mobilome: viruses, plasmids and vesicles from deep-sea hydrothermal vents.

Mobile genetic elements (MGEs) such as viruses, plasmids, vesicles, gene transfer agents (GTAs), transposons and transpovirions, which collectively represent the mobilome, interact with cellular organisms from all three domains of life, including those thriving in the most extreme environments. While efforts have been made to better understand deep-sea vent microbial ecology, our knowledge of the mobilome associated with prokaryotes inhabiting deep-sea hydrothermal vents remains limited. Here we focus on the abyssal mobilome by reviewing accumulating data on viruses, plasmids and vesicles associated with thermophilic and hyperthermophilic Bacteria and Archaea present in deep-sea hydrothermal vents.

Shape-changing hydrogel surfaces trigger rapid release of patterned tissue modules.

The formation and assembly of diverse tissue building blocks is considered a promising bottom-up approach for the construction of complex three-dimensional tissues. Patterned shape-changing materials were investigated as an innovative method to form and harvest free-standing tissue modules with preserved spatial organization and cell-cell connections. Arrays of micro-scale surface-attached hydrogels made of a thermoresponsive polymer were used as cell culture supports to fabricate tissue modules of defined geometric shape. Upon stimulation, these hydrogels swelled anisotropically, resulting in significant expansion of the culture surface and subsequent expulsion of the intact tissue modules. By varying the network crosslink density, the surface strain was modulated and a strain threshold for tissue module release was identified. This mechanical mechanism for rapid tissue module harvest was found to require inter- and intra-cellular tension. These results suggest that the cell-matrix adhesions are disrupted by the incompatibility of surface expansion with tissue module cohesion and stiffness, thus providing a novel method of forming and harvesting tissue building blocks by a mechanism independent of the thermal stimulus that induces the biomaterial shape change.

CPI-0004Na, a new doxorubicin prodrug, reduces growth of 3LL-H61 carcinoma lung metastases in C57BI/6 mice.

The ETAP concept (Extracellularly Tumor-Activated Prodrug) is a new approach developed to overcome the lack of selectivity and the side effects responsible for the limited efficacy of chemotherapeutic agents. CPI-0004Na, a doxorubicin (Dox) prototype prodrug of this type, is less toxic than free Dox and showed increased efficacy against subcutaneous human tumor xenografts. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of the prodrug vs Dox (given ip) at their maximal tolerated dose (MTD) for this administration schedule (129.3 micromol/kg and 12.93 micromol/kg, respectively) against experimentally induced 3LL-H61 carcinoma lung metastases in mice. Our results indicate that, Dox has no effect on the number of lung metastases while CPI-0004Na induces a 38.3% reduction on average. When considering the effect on the proportion of the lungs' surface covered by metastases, Dox induces a 39% reduction while the prodrug CPI-0004Na is about two fold more active with a 71% decrease.

Exploring cultivable Bacteria from the prokaryotic community associated with the carnivorous sponge Asbestopluma hypogea.

Combining culture-dependent and independent approaches, we investigated for the first time the cultivable fraction of the prokaryotic community associated with the carnivorous sponge Asbestopluma hypogea. The heterotrophic prokaryotes isolated from this tiny sponge were compared between specimens freshly collected from cave and maintained in aquarium. Overall, 67 isolates obtained in pure culture were phylogenetically affiliated to the bacterial phyla Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, and Firmicutes. This cultivable diversity was lower than the prokaryotic diversity obtained by previous pyrosequencing study and comparable to that of another Mediterranean demosponge, the filter-feeding Phorbas tenacior. Furthermore, using fluorescence in situ hybridization, we visualized bacterial and archaeal cells, confirming the presence of both prokaryotes in A. hypogea tissue. Approximately 16% of the bacterial isolates tested positive for chitinolytic activity, suggesting potential microbial involvement in the digestion processes of crustacean prey by this carnivorous sponge. Additionally, 6% and 16% of bacterial isolates revealed antimicrobial and antioxidant activities, respectively. One Streptomyces sp. S1CA strain was identified as a promising candidate for the production of antimicrobial and antioxidant secondary metabolites as well as chitinolytic enzymes. Implications in the context of the sponge biology and prey-feeding strategy are discussed.

Frequency and angular bandwidth of acousto-optic deflectors with ultrasonic walk-off.

In the paper, bandwidth parameters of acousto-optical deflectors (AODs) are analyzed from the point of view of acoustical anisotropy. Equations for bandwidth and central frequency of AOD are derived for arbitrary propagation direction of ultrasound in optically uniaxial crystals. The phenomenon of bandwidth shift due to phase mismatch at the central frequency is studied theoretically and verified experimentally.

First insights into the microbiome of a carnivorous sponge.

Using 454 pyrosequencing, we characterized for the first time the associated microbial community of the deep-sea carnivorous Demosponge Asbestopluma hypogea (Cladorhizidae). Targeting the 16S rRNA gene V3 and V6 hypervariable regions, we compared the diversity and composition of associated microbes of two individual sponges of A. hypogea freshly collected in the cave with surrounding seawater and with one sponge sample maintained 1 year in an aquarium after collection. With more than 22 961 high quality sequences from sponge samples, representing c. 800 operational taxonomic units per sponge sample at 97% sequence similarities, the phylogenetic affiliation of A. hypogea-associated microbes was assigned to 20 bacterial and two archaeal phyla, distributed into 45 classes and 95 orders. Several differences between the sponge and seawater microbes were observed, highlighting a specific and stable A. hypogea microbial community dominated by Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes and Thaumarchaeota phyla. A high relative abundance of ammonia-oxidizing archaea and a dominance of sulfate oxidizing/reducing bacteria were observed. Our findings shed lights on the potential roles of associated microbial community in the lifestyle of A. hypogea.

Induced cell proliferation in putative haematopoietic tissues of the sea star, Asterias rubens (L.).

The coelomic fluid of the echinoderm Asterias rubens possesses large populations of circulating coelomocytes. This study aimed to expand the knowledge about the haematopoietic sources of these cells. Injection of the immune-stimulating molecules lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and concanavalin A (ConA) resulted in an increase in coelomocytes. To investigate if these molecules induce cell proliferation in putative haematopoietic tissues (HPTs), short-term exposure of the substitute nucleotide 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) was conducted. Immunohistochemical analysis, using fluorescein-labelled antibodies to trace BrdU, showed pronounced cell division in the coelomic epithelium and axial organ. In the pyloric caeca, not considered as an HPT, proliferation was not detected. BrdU labelling of monolayers of cells obtained by collagenase treatment of coelomic epithelium, axial organ and Tiedemann body revealed induced cell proliferation in response to both LPS and ConA while proliferation of pyloric caeca and circulating coelomocytes remained sparse. By using confocal microscopy it was observed that both the morphology and functional behaviour of cells released from explants of coelomic epithelium showed high similarity to those of circulating phagocytes. It was concluded that the increased coelomocyte numbers observed in response to LPS and ConA were reflected in an induced cell proliferation in coelomic epithelium, axial organ and Tiedemann body, which reinforces the idea that these organs are HPTs and the sources of coelomocyte renewal.

Serotonin and nitric oxide interaction in the control of bioluminescence in northern krill, Meganyctiphanes norvegica (M. Sars).

The role of nitric oxide (NO) in the control of bioluminescence (light production) in the crustacean Meganyctiphanes norvegica (krill) was investigated using pharmacological and immunohistochemical methods. All nitrergic drugs tested failed to induce bioluminescence per se but modulated light production stimulated by 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT). NO donors [sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP)] injected in live specimens significantly reduced light production stimulated by 5-HT, whereas inhibition of the enzyme NO synthase (NOS) with l-NAME (N(G)-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester) resulted in an enhancement of the 5-HT response. The effects of NO do not seem to be mediated via production of cGMP as injections of a cGMP analogue (8-Bromoguanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate) gave inconclusive effects on the 5-HT-stimulated light response. Inhibition of cGMP production with ODQ (1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one) did not affect the light response. Moreover, a few individuals showed a considerably higher response to 5-HT in April and June compared with specimens collected in the autumn and winter. Furthermore, both NOS-like and 5-HT-like materials were detected by immunohistochemistry inside the light organs. NOS-like immunoreactivity was primarily observed in structures associated with vessels inside the light organs, whereas 5-HT-like material was abundant in nerve fibres throughout the whole light organ. The results suggest that NO has a modulatory role at several levels in the control of light production in M. norvegica and that NO and 5-HT interact in this regulation.