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Purpose Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive subtype of breast cancer. It is still unclear that the mechanisms by which long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) regulates tumorigenesis of TNBC. In this study, we explored the function and regulation of lncRNA in TNBC. Methods The differentially expressed and overlapped lncRNAs were obtained from two microarray datasets of breast cancer. The cancer genome atlas (TCGA) data was applied to validate the roles of top differentially expressed lncRNAs. The potential relationship among lncRNAs, miRNAs, and mRNAs and the effects of them on the TNBC tumorigenesis were further explored through multiple bioinformatic methods. Results Long intergenic non-protein coding RNA 1351 (LINC01351) was first discovered to play an oncogenic role in TNBC. The highly expressed LINC01351 was significantly related to aggressive subtypes, advanced stages and metastasis of breast cancer. The overexpressed LINC01351 was associated with adverse prognosis of patients with TNBC. LINC01351 was found to negatively regulate ELK4 which was involved in the transcriptional regulation in cancer. The high expression of ELK4 showed favorable prognosis of patients with basal-like 1 subtype and luminal androgen receptor subtype of TNBC. Conclusion The dysregulation of LINC01351 played an important role in triple-negative breast cancer. LINC01351 could be a poor prognostic marker and a potential target for patients with TNBC.

Measuring the quantumness of a system can be done with a variety of methods. In this article we compare different criteria, namely quantum discord, Bell inequality violation and non-separability, for systems placed in a Gaussian state. When the state is pure, these criteria are equivalent, while we find that they do not necessarily coincide when decoherence takes place. Finally, we prove that these criteria are essentially controlled by the semi-minor axis of the ellipse representing the state's Wigner function in phase space., Comment: 8 pages without appendix (total 19 pages), 5 figures. Matches published version in EPL

Purpose Combining bevacizumab with paclitaxel significantly improves progression-free survival (PFS) versus paclitaxel alone in HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer (MBC). Eribulin is active and tolerable in pretreated MBC. To assess whether eribulin may offer a more tolerable yet effective combination partner for bevacizumab, we evaluated a bevacizumab/eribulin combination regimen as first-line therapy for MBC. Methods In this single-arm phase II study, patients with histologically confirmed HER2-negative MBC and no prior chemotherapy for MBC received eribulin 1.23 mg/m2 on days 1 and 8 every 3 weeks for ≥6 cycles plus bevacizumab 15 mg/kg on day 1 every 3 weeks until disease progression. The primary endpoint was non-progression rate at 1 year. Secondary endpoints included objective response rate (ORR), PFS, and safety. Results The median age of the 61 treated female patients was 59 years, 16% had triple-negative MBC, 30% had ≥3 metastatic sites, and 71% had received prior (neo)adjuvant chemotherapy. Patients received a median of six eribulin and nine bevacizumab cycles. The non-progression rate at 1 year was 32% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 20–43%), ORR was 47% (95% CI: 34–60%), and median PFS was 8.3 months (95% CI: 7.0–9.6 months). The only grade ≥3 clinical adverse events in >5% of patients were hypertension (39%), neutropenia (26%), thrombosis (10%), and paresthesia/dysesthesia (7%). Conclusion First-line eribulin/bevacizumab combination therapy showed interesting activity in MBC with an acceptable safety profile, including a particularly low incidence of high-grade neuropathy., Highlights • A single-arm study evaluated first-line bevacizumab–eribulin for HER2-negative MBC. • The primary endpoint was non-progression rate at 1 year. • The 1-year non-progression rate was 32% (95% CI 20–43%); median PFS was 8.3 months. • Grade ≥3 clinical AEs in >10% comprised hypertension (39%) and neutropenia (26%). • Eribulin–bevacizumab showed interesting activity and acceptable safety in MBC.

To mimic the optical influence of disorder in condensed matter, the effect of uniform disorder on plasmonic resonances were investigated numerically and experimentally on aluminum (Al) nanoparticle arrays. Resorting to the analogue of a plasmonic periodic array to a crystal on the sharp optical spectrum and its anisotropy, the disorder in the transition from crystal to glass (with broadened spectrum and isotropy) is imitated by three kinds of Al plasmonic metasurfaces: varying the displacement, size and rotation of each Al nanoparticle in the periodic array. The random variation on the location or size of each Al nanodisk in the plasmonic crystal induces broadening and reduction of their plasmonic resonances without significantly shifting its wavelength. Moreover, by rotating each Al nanorod in the plasmonic crystal by a random angle, the polarization dependence of plasmonic resonances is progressively decreased by increasing the rotation disorder. Thanks to these three kinds of Al metasurfaces, an enlightened understanding of the random physics in the solid state and the influence of manufacturing deviation in nanophotonics is supported.

An optical antenna can convert a propagative optical radiation into a localized excitation, and reciprocally. Although optical antennas can be readily created using resonant nanoparticles (metallic or dielectric) as elementary building blocks, the realization of antennas sustaining multiple resonances over a broad range of frequencies remains a challenging task. Here, we use aluminum self-similar, fractal-like structures as broadband optical antennas. Using electron energy loss spectroscopy, we experimentally evidence that a single aluminum Cayley tree, a simple self-similar structure, sustains multiple plasmonic resonances. The spectral position of these resonances is scalable over a broad spectral range spanning two decades, from ultraviolet to mid-infrared. Such multi-resonant structures are highly desirable for applications ranging from non-linear optics to light harvesting and photodetection, as well as surface-enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy., Comment: Authors' version of the published paper. Supplementary information can be found at https://www.pnas.org/doi/suppl/10.1073/pnas.2116833119

Metallic nanostructures acting as optical nanoantennas can significantly enhance the photoluminescence (PL) of nearby emitters. Albeit luminescence enhancement factors of several orders of magnitude have been reported for quantum dots or molecules, in the case of bulk emitters the magnitude of the plasmonic enhancement is strongly hindered by the weak spatial overlap between the active medium and the electromagnetic modes of the nanoantenna. Here, we propose a solid-state ultraviolet emitter based on a thin film of zinc oxide (ZnO) coupled with an array of aluminum (Al) nanoparticles. The Al nanorod array is designed to sustain surface lattice resonances (SLRs) in the near ultraviolet, which are hybrid modes exhibiting a Fano-like lineshape with narrowed linewidth relatively to the non-hybridized plasmonic modes. By changing both the period of the array and the dimensions of the nanorods, the generated SLR is tuned either to the near band-edge (NBE) emission of ZnO or to the excitation wavelength. We experimentally demonstrate that NBE emission can be increased up to a factor of 3 compared to bare ZnO. The underlying PL enhancement mechanisms are experimentally investigated and compared with numerical simulations. We also demonstrate that SLRs are more efficient for the ZnO luminescence enhancement compared to localized surface plasmon resonances., 8 pages, 8 figures. This is the authors' peer-reviewed, accepted manuscript

Numerous applications of nanotechnologies rely on the wide availability of high-quality crystalline nanoparticles (NPs). Although the chemical synthesis of noble metal nanoparticles (gold and silver) is well mastered, pushing the optical response of metallic nanoparticles towards the ultraviolet requires other materials, such as aluminum. Although a few demonstrations of chemical synthesis of Al nanoparticles have been reported so far, an elaboration path allowing for a wide range of NP size that is compatible with mass production has yet to be demonstrated. In this article, we report on the production of spherical, size-controlled crystalline Al NPs starting from commercial Al foils and without the use of a catalyst. The proposed method combines sonochemistry with solvochemistry and is fully up-scalable. The obtained NPs have a 10-100 nm crystalline Al core surrounded by a thin alumina shell, allowing long-term stability in ethanol. Well-defined plasmonic resonances in the UV and visible ranges are experimentally evidenced on single nanoparticles., Author version of the published paper

Nous parcourons l’histoire de l’orientation a travers la contribution de quatre figures de l’Inetop : Henri Pieron, Hippolyte Luc, Antoine Leon et Maurice Reuchlin. L’Inetop s’est trouve des ses origines au centre d’enjeux scientifiques, educatifs et politiques et apparait comme le berceau de pratiques et de debats qui ont jalonne l’histoire de l’orientation et des questions educatives.

International audience; Thanks to their small sensing volume, nanosensors based on localized surface plasmon resonances (LSPR) allow the detection of minute amounts of analytes, down to the single-molecule limit. However, the detected analytes are often large molecules, such as proteins. The detection of small molecules remains largely unexplored. Here, we use a hybrid photonic–plasmonic nanosensor to detect a small target molecule (pyridine). The sensor’s design is based on a dielectric photonic microstructure acting as an antenna, which efficiently funnels light toward a plasmonic transducer and enhances the detection efficiency. This sensor exhibits a limit of detection as small as 10–14 mol L–1. Using a calibration procedure based on electrodynamical numerical simulations, we compute the number of detected molecules. This yields a limit of detection in mass of 4 zeptograms (1 zg = 10–21 g), a record value for plasmonic molecular sensors. Our system can hence be seen as an optical molecular weighing scale, enabling room temperature detection of mass at the zeptogram scale.

International audience; In this study, Cu2ZnxFe1-xSnS4 (CZFTS) (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) thin films were grown under vacuum evaporation on unheated glass substrates followed by sulfurization at 400 °C. The effects of sulfurization on the structural, morphological and optical properties were investigated for CZFTS material by varying Fe content. Crystal structure and phase of CZFTS thin films were analyzed by X-ray diffraction technique and Raman spectroscopy. In addition, the elemental composition and the stoichiometry of films were studied using energy dispersive spectroscopy. Surface morphology of samples was examined by scanning electron microscopy. Optical properties such as absorption coefficient, and gap energies were determined by the measurement of transmittance and reflectance in the spectral range 300–1800 nm. X-ray analysis indicates that all sulfurized CZFTS films present a polycrystalline nature and exhibit a preferential orientation along (112) plane. Cu2FeSnS4 (x = 0) and Cu2ZnSnS4 (x = 1) crystallize in stannite structure with I-42 m and kesterite structure with I-4 space group, respectively. Raman analysis and elemental composition confirm that only the Cu2ZnSnS4 (x = 1) and CZ0.75F0.25TS (x = 0.75) phases are present with good crystallinity. Transmittance and reflectance spectra revealed that the films are homogenous mostly for x = 0.75 and 1. Structural and optical parameters like crystallite size, absorption coefficient and band gaps were estimated for all the x values.

International audience; A single metallic nanodisk is the simplest plasmonic nanostructure, but it is robust enough to generate a Fano resonance in the forward and backward scattering spectra by the increment of nanodisk height in the symmetric and asymmetric dielectric environment. Thanks to the phase retardation effect, the non-uniform distribution of electric field along the height of aluminum (Al) nanodisk generates the out-of-plane higher-order modes, which interfere with the dipolar mode and subsequently result in the Fano-lineshape scattering spectra. Meanwhile, the symmetry-breaking effect by the dielectric substrate and the increment of refractive index of the symmetric dielectric environment further accelerate the phase retardation effect and contribute to the appearance of out-of-plane modes. The experimental results on the periodic Al nanodisk arrays with different heights confirm the retardation-induced higher modes in the asymmetric and symmetric environment. The appearance of higher modes and blueshifted main dips in the transmission spectra prove the dominant role of out-of-plane higher modes on the plasmonic resonances of the taller Al nanodisk.

International audience; The surface topography is known to play an important role on the near-and far-field optical properties of metallic nanoparticles. In particular, aluminum (Al) nanoparticles are commonly fabricated through evaporation techniques, therefore exhibiting elevated surface roughness additionally to their native oxide layer. In this study, the mode-dependent influence of surface roughness on the plasmonic properties sustained by Al nanodisks (NDs) is first numerically investigated using a realistic model taking into account the thin native oxide layer. Due to the symmetry-breaking induced by the supporting dielectric substrate to Al ND, it appears that the roughness affects differently the substrate-induced out-of-plane quadrupolar mode (below 300 nm) and the in-plane dipolar mode sustained by the Al ND. By increasing the top surface roughness of the Al ND, the substrate-induced quadrupolar mode is significantly damped especially in the ultraviolet regime, while the dipolar resonance is broadened and redshifted. The explanation of these effects relies in the decoherence and dissipation of the collective electronic oscillations as a result of the top surface roughness to the different near-field distribution of the out-of-plane quadrupolar mode and inplane dipolar mode. Moreover, the influences of the diameter of Al ND, dielectric substrate with different refractive index, and the oxidation of Al ND on these two modes are also investigated. Particularly, the quadrupolar mode disappears with surface roughness and oxidation, explaining why this mode is very weak and sometimes barely visible on evaporated Al nanostructures reported in the literature. Finally, these results are experimentally confirmed by characterizing the optical properties of periodic Al ND arrays. † Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See

Multi-core systems are now found in many electronic devices. But does current software design fully leverage their capabilities? The complexity of the hardware and software stacks in these platforms requires software optimization with end-to-end knowledge of the system. To optimize software performance, we must have accurate information about system behavior and time losses. Standard monitoring engines impose tradeoffs on profiling tools, making it impossible to reconcile all the expected requirements: accurate hardware views, fine-grain measurements, speed, and so on. Subsequently, new approaches have to be examined. In this article, we propose a non-intrusive, accurate tool chain, which can reveal and quantify slowdowns in low-level software mechanisms. Based on emulation, this tool chain extracts behavioral information (time, contention) through hardware side channels, without distorting the software execution flow. This tool consists of two parts. (1) An online acquisition part that dumps hardware platform signals. (2) An offline processing part that consolidates meaningful behavioral information from the dumped data. Using our tool chain, we studied and propose optimizations to MultiProcessor System on Chip (MPSoC) support in the Linux kernel, saving about 60% of the time required for the release phase of the GNU OpenMP synchronization barrier when running on a 64-core MPSoC.

The robustness of multi-field inflation to the physics of reheating is investigated. In order to carry out this study, reheating is described in detail by means of a formalism which tracks the evolution of scalar fields and perfect fluids in interaction (the inflatons and their decay products). This framework is then used to establish the general equations of motion of the background and perturbative quantities controlling the evolution of the system during reheating. Next, these equations are solved exactly by means of a new numerical code. Moreover, new analytical techniques, allowing us to interpret and approximate these solutions, are developed. As an illustration of a physical prediction that could be affected by the micro-physics of reheating, the amplitude of non-adiabatic perturbations in double inflation is considered. It is found that ignoring the fine-structure of reheating, as usually done in the standard approach, can lead to differences as big as $\sim 50\%$, while our semi-analytic estimates can reduce this error to $\sim 10\%$. We conclude that, in multi-field inflation, tracking the perturbations through the details of the reheating process is important and, to achieve good precision, requires the use of numerical calculations., 80 pages + appendices

International audience; Attempts to apply quantum collapse theories to Cosmology and cosmic inflation are reviewed. These attempts are motivated by the fact that the theory of cosmological perturbations of quantum-mechanical origin suffers from the single outcome problem, which is a modern incarnation of the quantum measurement problem, and that collapse models can provide a solution to these issues. Since inflationary predictions can be very accurately tested by cosmological data, this also leads to constraints on collapse models. These constraints are derived in the case of Continuous Spontaneous Localization (CSL) and are shown to be of unprecedented efficiency.

We compute the entanglement entropy, mutual information and quantum discord of the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) fluctuations in real space. To that end, we first show that measurements of these fluctuations at two distinct spatial locations can be described by a bipartite, continuous Gaussian system. This leads to explicit formulas for the mutual information and the quantum discord in terms of the Fourier-space power spectra of the curvature perturbation. We then find that quantum entanglement, that builds up in Fourier space between opposite wave momenta as an effect of quantum squeezing, is transferred to real space. In particular, both the mutual information and quantum discord, which decay as the fourth power of the distance between the two measurements in flat space time, asymptotes a constant in cosmological backgrounds. At the scales probed in the CMB however, they are highly suppressed, while they can reach order-one values at much smaller scales, where primordial black holes could have formed., Comment: companion of arXiv:2106.14575, 37 pages without appendices (total 46 pages), 7 figures, typos corrected in equations (A.8), (A.10), (A.13), (A.15)