Unexpected and delayed fragmentation dynamics of the organometallic ferrocene induced by ion-collision

We have investigated the fragmentation dynamics of the organometallic ferrocene molecule after interaction with multiply charged ions using multicoincidence mass spectrometry and quantum chemistry calculations. We observed unexpected fragmentation dynamics of the two-body breakup channels from ferrocene dications revealing a charge screening effect from the iron atom and delayed fragmentation dynamics. These observations are rationalized through the population of a specific long-lived excited state, where one positive charge is located on each cyclopentadienyl ring.

Resonant Inner-Shell Photofragmentation of Adamantane (C10H16)

Adamantane, the smallest diamondoid molecule with a symmetrical cage, contains two distinct carbon sites, CH and CH2. The ionization/excitation of the molecule leads to the cage opening and strong structural reorganization. While theoretical predictions suggest that the carbon site CH primarily causes the cage opening, the role of the other CH2 site remains unclear. In this study, we used advanced experimental Auger electron-ion coincidence techniques and theoretical calculations to investigate the fragmentation dynamics of adamantane after resonant inner-shell photoexcitation. Our results demonstrate that some fragmentation channels exhibit site-sensitivity of the initial core-hole location, indicating that different carbon site excitations could lead to unique cage opening mechanisms.

A study of the valence photoelectron spectrum of uracil and mixed water-uracil clusters

The valence ionization of uracil and mixed water-uracil clusters has been studied experimentally and by ab initio calculations. In both measurements, the spectrum onset shows a red shift with respect to the uracil molecule, with the mixed cluster characterized by peculiar features unexplained by the sum of independent contributions of the water or uracil aggregation. To interpret and assign all the contributions, we performed a series of multi-level calculations, starting from an exploration of several cluster structures using automated conformer-search algorithms based on a tight-binding approach. Ionization energies have been assessed on smaller clusters via a comparison between accurate wavefunction-based approaches and cost-effective DFT-based simulations, the latter of which were applied to clusters up to 12 uracil and 36 water molecules. The results confirm that (i) the bottom-up approach based on a multilevel method [Mattioli et al. Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 23, 1859 (2021)] to the structure of neutral clusters of unknown experimental composition converges to precise structure-property relationships and (ii) the coexistence of pure and mixed clusters in the water-uracil samples. A natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis performed on a subset of clusters highlighted the special role of H-bonds in the formation of the aggregates. The NBO analysis yields second-order perturbative energy between the H-bond donor and acceptor orbitals correlated with the calculated ionization energies. This sheds light on the role of the oxygen lone-pairs of the uracil CO group in the formation of strong H-bonds, with a stronger directionality in mixed clusters, giving a quantitative explanation for the formation of core-shell structures.

Peptide Bond Formation in the Protonated Serine Dimer Following Vacuum UV Photon-Induced Excitation

Possible routes for intra-cluster bond formation (ICBF) in protonated serine dimers have been studied. We found no evidence of ICBF following low energy collision-induced dissociation (in correspondence with previous works), however, we do observe clear evidence for ICBF following photon absorption in the 4.6-14 eV range. Moreover, the comparison of photon-induced dissociation measurements of the protonated serine dimer to those of a protonated serine dipeptide provides evidence that ICBF, in this case, involves peptide bond formation (PBF). The experimental results are supported by ab initio molecular dynamics and exploration of several excited state potential energy surfaces, unraveling a pathway for PBF following photon absorption. The combination of experiments and theory provides insight into the PBF mechanisms in clusters of amino acids, and reveals the importance of electronic excited states reached upon UV/VUV light excitation.

Controlling the diversity of ion-induced fragmentation pathways by N-methylation of amino acids

We present a combined experimental and theoretical study of the fragmentation of singly and doubly N-methylated glycine (sarcosine and N,N-dimethyl glycine, respectively) induced by low-energy (keV) O⁶⁺ ions. Multicoincidence mass spectrometry techniques and quantum chemistry simulations (ab initio molecular dynamics and density functional theory) allow us to characterise different fragmentation pathways as well as the associated mechanisms. We focus on the fragmentation of doubly ionised species, for which coincidence measurements provide unambiguous information on the origin of the various charged fragments. We have found that single N-methylation leads to a larger variety of fragmentation channels than in no methylation of glycine, while double N-methylation effectively closes many of these fragmentation channels, including some of those appearing in pristine glycine. Importantly, the closure of fragmentation channels in the latter case does not imply a protective effect by the methyl group.

Coincidence study of core-ionized adamantane: Site-sensitivity within a carbon cage?

We investigate the fragmentation dynamics of adamantane dications produced after core-ionization at the carbon edge followed by Auger decay. The combination of high-resolution electron spectroscopy, energy-resolved electron-ion multi-coincidence spectroscopy and...

Timing of charge migration in betaine by impact of fast atomic ions

The way molecules break after ion bombardment is intimately related to the early electron dynamics generated in the system, in particular, charge (or electron) migration. We exploit the natural positive-negative charge splitting in the zwitterionic molecule betaine to selectively induce double electron removal from its negatively charged side by impact of fast O6+ ions. The loss of two electrons in this localized region of the molecular skeleton triggers a competition between direct Coulomb explosion and charge migration that is examined to obtain temporal information from ion-ion coincident measurements and nonadiabatic molecular dynamics calculations. We find a charge migration time, from one end of the molecule to the other, of approximately 20 to 40 femtoseconds. This migration time is longer than that observed in molecules irradiated by ultrashort light pulses and is the consequence of charge migration being driven by adiabatic nuclear dynamics in the ground state of the molecular dication.

Water-biomolecule clusters studied by photoemission spectroscopy and multilevel atomistic simulations: hydration or solvation?

The properties of mixed water-uracil nanoaggregates have been probed by core electron-photoemission measurements to investigate supramolecular assembly in the gas phase driven by weak interactions. The interpretation of the measurements has been assisted by multilevel atomistic simulations, based on semi-empirical tight-binding and DFT-based methods. Our protocol established a positive-feedback loop between experimental and computational techniques, which has enabled a sound and detailed atomistic description of such complex heterogeneous molecular aggregates. Among biomolecules, uracil offers interesting and generalized skeletal features; its structure encompasses an alternation of hydrophilic H-bond donor and acceptor sites and hydrophobic moieties, typical in biomolecular systems, that induces a supramolecular core-shell-like organization of the mixed clusters with a water core and an uracil shell. This structure is far from typical models of both solid-state hydration, with water molecules in defined positions, or liquid solvation, where disconnected uracil molecules are completely surrounded by water.

A general approach to study molecular fragmentation and energy redistribution after an ionizing event

We propose to combine quantum chemical calculations, statistical mechanical methods, and photoionization and particle collision experiments to unravel the redistribution of internal energy of the furan cation and its dissociation pathways. This approach successfully reproduces the relative intensity of the different fragments as a function of the internal energy of the system in photoelectron-photoion coincidence experiments and the different mass spectra obtained when ions ranging from Ar+ to Xe25+ or electrons are used in collision experiments. It provides deep insights into the redistribution of the internal energy in the ionized molecule and its influence on the dissociation pathways and resulting charged fragments. The present pilot study demonstrates the efficiency of a statistical exchange of excitation energy among various degrees of freedom of the molecule and proves that the proposed approach is mature to be extended to more complex systems.

Polypeptide formation in clusters of β-alanine amino acids by single ion impact

The formation of peptide bonds by energetic processing of amino acids is an important step towards the formation of biologically relevant molecules. As amino acids are present in space, scenarios have been developed to identify the roots of life on Earth, either by processes occurring in outer space or on Earth itself. We study the formation of peptide bonds in single collisions of low-energy He2+ ions (α-particles) with loosely bound clusters of β-alanine molecules at impact energies typical for solar wind. Experimental fragmentation mass spectra produced by collisions are compared with results of molecular dynamics simulations and an exhaustive exploration of potential energy surfaces. We show that peptide bonds are efficiently formed by water molecule emission, leading to the formation of up to tetrapeptide. The present results show that a plausible route to polypeptides formation in space is the collision of energetic ions with small clusters of amino acids.

Vibrationally Mediated Stabilization of Electrons in Nonpolar Matter

We explore solvation of electrons in nonpolar matter, here represented by butadiene clusters. Isolated butadiene supports only the existence of transient anions (resonances). Two-dimensional electron energy loss spectroscopy shows that the resonances lead to an efficient vibrational excitation of butadiene, which can result into the almost complete loss of energy of the interacting electron. Cluster-beam experiments show that molecular clusters of butadiene form stable anions, however only at sizes of more than 9 molecular units. We have calculated the distribution of electron affinities of clusters using classical and path integral molecular dynamics simulations. There is almost a continuous transition from the resonant to the bound anions with an increase in cluster size. The comparison of the classical and quantum dynamics reveals that the electron binding is strongly supported by molecular vibrations, brought about by nuclear zero-point motion and thermal agitation. We also inspected the structure of the solvated electron, finding it well localized.

Interaction of hydantoin with solar wind minority ions: O6+ and He2

The laboratory study of prebiotic molecules interacting with solar wind ions is important to understand their role in the emergence of life in the complex context of the astrochemistry of circumstellar environments. In this work, we present the first study of the interaction of hydantoin (C₃N₂O₂H₄, 100 a.m.u.) with solar wind minority multi-charged ions: O⁶⁺ at 30 keV and He²⁺ at 8 keV. The fragmentation mass spectra as well as correlation maps resulting from the interaction are presented and discussed in this paper. Prompt and delayed dissociations from metastable states of the ionized molecule have been observed and the corresponding lifetimes measured. Experimental results are completed by quantum Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations for energies, structures and dynamics (Internal Reaction Coordinates and Dynamic Reaction Coordinates) of the molecule for its different reachable charge states and the major observed fragmentation pathways. These calculations show that the molecule can only support two charges before spontaneously dissociating in agreement with the experimental observations. Calculations also demonstrate that hydantoin's ring opens after double ionization of the molecule which may enhance its reactivity in the background of biological molecule formation in a cirmcumstellar environment. For the major experimentally observed fragmentations (like 44 a.m.u./56 a.m.u. dissociation), Internal Reaction Coordinate (IRC) calculations were performed pointing out for example the important role of hydrogen transfer in the fragmentation processes.

An electrostatic in-line charge-state purification system for multicharged ions in the kiloelectronvolt energy range

The performance of a newly built omega type electrostatic analyzer designed to act as an in-line charge-state purification system for ions in the kiloelectronvolt energy range is reported. The analyzer consists of a set of four consecutive electrostatic 140° concentric cylindrical electrodes enclosed by Matsuda electrodes. This setup was recently tested and validated using O⁵⁺, Ar⁹⁺, and Xe²⁰⁺ ion beams at an energy of 14 qkeV at the ARIBE facility. A resolving power of 10.5 and a transmission of 100% of the desired charge state are measured allowing a good purification of incoming ion beams with charge states up to 10+ and a fairly good purification for charge states at least up to 20+. In comparison with other in-line solutions such as the Wien filter, our system has the advantage of being purely electrostatic and therefore lacking common drawbacks as, for example, hysteresis.

Data science, artificial intelligence, and machine learning: Opportunities for laboratory medicine and the value of positive regulation

Artificial intelligence (AI) and data science are rapidly developing in healthcare, as is their translation into laboratory medicine. Our review article presents an overview of the data science domain while discussing the reasons for its emergence. We also present several perspectives of its applications in clinical laboratories, along with potential ethical challenges related to AI and data science.

Ion collision-induced chemistry in pure and mixed loosely bound clusters of coronene and C60 molecules

Ionization, fragmentation and molecular growth have been studied in collisions of 22.5 keV He2+- or 3 keV Ar+-projectiles with pure loosely bound clusters of coronene (C24H12) molecules or with loosely bound mixed C60-C24H12 clusters by using mass spectrometry. The heavier and slower Ar+ projectiles induce prompt knockout-fragmentation - C- and/or H-losses - from individual molecules and highly efficient secondary molecular growth reactions before the clusters disintegrate on picosecond timescales. The lighter and faster He2+ projectiles have a higher charge and the main reactions are then ionization by ions that are not penetrating the clusters. This leads mostly to cluster fragmentation without molecular growth. However, here penetrating collisions may also lead to molecular growth but to a much smaller extent than with 3 keV Ar+. Here we present fragmentation and molecular growth mass distributions with 1 mass unit resolution, which reveals that the same numbers of C- and H-atoms often participate in the formation and breaking of covalent bonds inside the clusters. We find that masses close to those with integer numbers of intact coronene molecules, or with integer numbers of both intact coronene and C60 molecules, are formed where often one or several H-atoms are missing or have been added on. We also find that super-hydrogenated coronene is formed inside the clusters.

A tandem mass spectrometer for crossed-beam irradiation of mass-selected molecular systems by keV atomic ions

In the present paper, we describe a new home-built crossed-beam apparatus devoted to ion-induced ionization and fragmentation of isolated biologically relevant molecular systems. The biomolecular ions are produced by an electrospray ionization source, mass-over-charge selected, accumulated in a 3D ion trap, and then guided to the extraction region of an orthogonal time-of-flight mass spectrometer. Here, the target molecular ions interact with a keV atomic ion beam produced by an electron cyclotron resonance ion source. Cationic products from the collision are detected on a position sensitive detector and analyzed by time-of-flight mass spectrometry. A detailed description of the operation of the setup is given, and early results from irradiation of a protonated pentapeptide (leucine-enkephalin) by a 7 keV He⁺ ion beam are presented as a proof-of-principle.

Hübner's tarsomarginal grafts in eyelid reconstruction: 94 cases

BACKGROUND

Preserving the integrity of the eyelid margin in eyelid reconstruction remains a challenge for plastic surgeons. In 1976, Hübner described a technique to repair full-thickness eyelid defects using a tarsomarginal graft covered with a local flap. This simple technique addresses both functional and aesthetic requirements of eyelid reconstruction by using tissue from the contralateral eyelid. The aim of this study was to determine the appropriate role of this uncommon technique in eyelid reconstruction.

METHOD

In total, 94 tarsomarginal grafts were performed on 70 patients. Eight surgeons participated in this study. Data were retrospectively collected from patients' charts and all information regarding surgical indications, histology, defect size and topography, operative time, immediate result, and potential complications were recorded.

RESULTS

Only one of the patients suffered total necrosis. Partial wound dehiscence occurred in one case and partial necrosis occurred in 6 cases. No major sequelae were observed in the donor eyelids. In 100% of cases, eyelid margin integrity was otherwise preserved. Four patients required revision surgery for insufficient malignancy resection and 13 patients for long-term eyelid ectropion or scar retraction.

CONCLUSION

This simple and reliable technique ensured the closure of full-thickness eyelid defects covering up to 3/4 of the eyelid length. The procedure should be more widely used as it guarantees high-quality eyelid reconstruction.

Insights into the dissociative ionization of glycine by PEPICO experiments

The fragmentation of glycine (NH₂CH₂COOH) has been studied by photoelectron–photoion coincidence, PEPICO, experiments at 60 eV photon energy.

Ion-induced molecular growth in clusters of small hydrocarbon chains

We report on studies of collisions between 3 keV Ar⁺ projectile ions and neutral targets of isolated 1,3-butadiene (C₄H₆) molecules and cold, loosely bound clusters of these molecules. We identify molecular growth processes within the molecular clusters that appears to be driven by knockout processes and that could result in the formation of (aromatic) ring structures. These types of reactions are not unique to specific projectile ions and target molecules, but will occur whenever atoms or ions with suitable masses and kinetic energies collide with aggregates of matter, such as carbonaceous grains in the interstellar medium or aerosol nanoparticles in the atmosphere.

[Light sources usable by the plastic surgeon in the absence of photographic studio]

Medical photography is an important part of the medical file and is widely used in medical communication, especially in our discipline. His practice has to be the most standardized and reproducible as possible, which distinguishes it from artistic photography. Photography fix the light reflecting from a subject, so surgeon have to control of the light source in any environment. In the absence of dedicated studio, using external cobra or ring flashes with special diffusers allow the surgeon to have light sources adapted to the different conditions encountered in daily practice.

Multiple electron capture from isolated protein poly-anions in collision with slow highly charged ions

Multiply charged ions very efficiently capture several electrons from trapped mass/charge selected protein poly-anions, producing dominantly charge-reduced proteins and small neutral losses.

Production of doubly-charged highly reactive species from the long-chain amino acid GABA initiated by Ar9+ionization

We present a combined experimental and theoretical study of the fragmentation of multiply-charged γ-aminobutyric acid molecules (GABA^z+,z= 2, 3) in the gas phase.

Fragmentation of pure and hydrated clusters of 5Br-uracil by low energy carbon ions: observation of hydrated fragments

The fragmentation of the isolated 5-bromouracil (5BrU) molecule and pure and nano-hydrated 5BrU clusters induced by low energy ¹²C⁴⁺ ions has been studied.

Determination of Energy-Transfer Distributions in Ionizing Ion-Molecule Collisions

The ionization and fragmentation of the nucleoside thymidine in the gas phase has been investigated by combining ion collision with state-selected photoionization experiments and quantum chemistry calculations. The comparison between the mass spectra measured in both types of experiments allows us to accurately determine the distribution of the energy deposited in the ionized molecule as a result of the collision. The relation of two experimental techniques and theory shows a strong correlation between the excited states of the ionized molecule with the computed dissociation pathways, as well as with charge localization or delocalization.

Rapid onset of squamous cell carcinoma in a thin skin graft donor site

BACKGROUND

Squamous cell carcinomas are malignant tumours of epithelial origin that can appear on sites subjected to chronic inflammation after a period of several years. The rapid development of squamous cell carcinoma at the donor site for a thin skin graft is a rare and poorly understood situation.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We report the case of a patient undergoing thin skin grafting to cover the area of removal of a vertex squamous cell carcinoma and in whom squamous cell carcinoma appeared at the donor site within 9 weeks.

DISCUSSION

In our case, we ruled out intraoperative contamination because two sets of surgical instruments were used. Given the number of cases reported in the literature, a chance event seems unlikely. The hypothesis of an acute inflammatory process caused by scarring of the thin skin graft site appears to us the most convincing. Development of cancer at the graft donor site may thus be added to the list of complications of thin skin grafting.

The role of the environment in the ion induced fragmentation of uracil

The fragmentation of uracil molecules and pure and nano-hydrated uracil clusters by ¹²C⁴⁺ ion impact is investigated.

N-Acetylglycine Cation Tautomerization Enabled by the Peptide Bond

We present a combined experimental and theoretical study of the ionization of N-acetylglycine molecules by 48 keV O(6+) ions. We focus on the single ionization channel of this interaction. In addition to the prompt fragmentation of the N-acetylglycine cation, we also observe the formation of metastable parent ions with lifetimes in the microsecond range. On the basis of density functional theory calculations, we assign these metastable ions to the diol tautomer of N-acetylglycine. In comparison with the simple amino acids, the tautomerization rate is higher because of the presence of the peptide bond. The study of a simple biologically relevant molecule containing a peptide bond allows us to demonstrate how increasing the complexity of the structure influences the behavior of the ionized molecule.

Site- and state-selected photofragmentation of 2Br-pyrimidine

The fragmentation of the 2Br-pyrimidine molecule following direct valence photoionization or inner shell excitation has been studied by electron-ion coincidence experiments. 2Br-pyrimidine has been chosen as a model for the class of pyrimidinic building blocks of three nucleic acids and several radiosensitizers. It is known that the site- and state-localization of energy deposition, typical of inner shell excitation, results in the enhancement of the total ion yield as well as in changes in the relative intensity of the different fragmentation channels. Here we address the question of the origin of this selective fragmentation by using electron-ion coincidence techniques. The results show that the fragmentation is strongly selective in the final singly charged ion state, independently of the process that leads to the population of that state, and the dominant fragmentation patterns correlate with the nearest appearance potential.

Formation of H2 from internally heated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: excitation energy dependence

We have investigated the effectiveness of molecular hydrogen (H2) formation from Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) which are internally heated by collisions with keV ions. The present and earlier experimental results are analyzed in view of molecular structure calculations and a simple collision model. We estimate that H2 formation becomes important for internal PAH temperatures exceeding about 2200 K, regardless of the PAH size and the excitation agent. This suggests that keV ions may effectively induce such reactions, while they are unlikely due to, e.g., absorption of single photons with energies below the Lyman limit. The present analysis also suggests that H2 emission is correlated with multi-fragmentation processes, which means that the [PAH-2H](+) peak intensities in the mass spectra may not be used for estimating H2-formation rates.

Molecular Growth Inside of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Clusters Induced by Ion Collisions

The present work combines experimental and theoretical studies of the collision between keV ion projectiles and clusters of pyrene, one of the simplest polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Intracluster growth processes induced by ion collisions lead to the formation of a wide range of new molecules with masses larger than that of the pyrene molecule. The efficiency of these processes is found to strongly depend on the mass and velocity of the incoming projectile. Classical molecular dynamics simulations of the entire collision process-from the ion impact (nuclear scattering) to the formation of new molecular species-reproduce the essential features of the measured molecular growth process and also yield estimates of the related absolute cross sections. More elaborate density functional tight binding calculations yield the same growth products as the classical simulations. The present results could be relevant to understand the physical chemistry of the PAH-rich upper atmosphere of Saturn's moon Titan.

Absolute fragmentation cross sections in atom-molecule collisions: scaling laws for non-statistical fragmentation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon molecules

We present scaling laws for absolute cross sections for non-statistical fragmentation in collisions between Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH/PAH(+)) and hydrogen or helium atoms with kinetic energies ranging from 50 eV to 10 keV. Further, we calculate the total fragmentation cross sections (including statistical fragmentation) for 110 eV PAH/PAH(+) + He collisions, and show that they compare well with experimental results. We demonstrate that non-statistical fragmentation becomes dominant for large PAHs and that it yields highly reactive fragments forming strong covalent bonds with atoms (H and N) and molecules (C6H5). Thus nonstatistical fragmentation may be an effective initial step in the formation of, e.g., Polycyclic Aromatic Nitrogen Heterocycles (PANHs). This relates to recent discussions on the evolution of PAHNs in space and the reactivities of defect graphene structures.

Unusual hydroxyl migration in the fragmentation of β-alanine dication in the gas phase

Experimental and theoretical investigations show that hydroxyl migration leads to unexpected fragmentation dynamics of β-alanine dication in the gas phase.

[Endothelial function: role, assessment and limits]

For several years, detecting and preventing cardiovascular diseases have become a major issue. Different methods have been developed to evaluate endothelial function. Endothelial dysfunction is one of the first steps leading to atherosclerosis. This review presents an insight into endothelial function, the interests of its assessment and methods for studying endothelial function. To date, the vascular endothelium must be considered as a specific organ with its own functions that contribute to the homeostasis of the cardiovascular system. Endothelial dysfunction typically corresponds to a decrease of nitric oxide NO bioavailability. Biological or physico-chemical methods may be used to assess dysfunction. Biological methods allow measuring NO metabolites and pro-inflammatory and vasoconstrictor mediators released by the endothelium. The physico-chemical methods include intra-coronary injections, plethysmography, flow-mediated dilation (FMD), digital plethysmography and optical techniques using laser (laser Doppler single-point, laser Doppler imager, laser speckle contrast imaging) that can be coupled with provocation tests (iontophoresis, microdialysis, post-ischemic hyperemia, local heating). The principle of each technique and its use in clinical practice are discussed. Studying endothelial dysfunction is a particularly promising field because of new drugs being developed. Nevertheless, assessment methodology still needs further development to enable reliable, non-invasive, reproducible, and inexpensive ways to analyze endothelial dysfunction.

[Endothelial function: role, assessment and limits]

For several years, detecting and preventing cardiovascular diseases have become a major issue. Different methods have been developed to evaluate endothelial function. Endothelial dysfunction is one of the first steps leading to atherosclerosis. This review presents an insight into endothelial function, the interests of its assessment and methods for studying endothelial function. To date, the vascular endothelium must be considered as a specific organ with its own functions that contribute to the homeostasis of the cardiovascular system. Endothelial dysfunction typically corresponds to a decrease of nitric oxide NO bioavailability. Biological or physico-chemical methods may be used to assess dysfunction. Biological methods allow measuring NO metabolites and pro-inflammatory and vasoconstrictor mediators released by the endothelium. The physico-chemical methods include intra-coronary injections, plethysmography, flow-mediated dilation (FMD), digital plethysmography and optical techniques using laser (laser Doppler single-point, laser Doppler imager, laser speckle contrast imaging) that can be coupled with provocation tests (iontophoresis, microdialysis, post-ischemic hyperemia, local heating). The principle of each technique and its use in clinical practice are discussed. Studying endothelial dysfunction is a particularly promising field because of new drugs being developed. Nevertheless, assessment methodology still needs further development to enable reliable, non-invasive, reproducible, and inexpensive ways to analyze endothelial dysfunction.

[Aesthetic reconstructive surgery of the lip]

Lip reconstruction can be performed with numerous surgical techniques. The aim was here to present these usual techniques and to focus on the details that can be used to obtain the most favourable results. The goal of this surgery, that represents a compromise between function and aesthetic, has to be kept in mind to prevent mistakes that decrease the quality of the result.

[Cheek reconstruction]

We describe the different cheek reconstruction techniques with primary emphasis on the superficial layers. In addition to the clinical context, location and size of the lesion will be taken into account to choose the best method that will optimize the functional and aesthetic results while minimizing potential sequelae. Main evaluation criteria include absence of natural orifice deformation, scar location, skin cover quality and respect of volumes.

[Forehead and temple aesthetic reconstruction]

The purpose of this article is to address the techniques of reconstruction of the forehead and the temple trying to add an "aesthetic" dimension, as the fourth dimension introduced by Burget for the reconstructive surgery of the nose. Achieve "aesthetic" reconstruction is to have constant attention to details. This is how to choose the right indication depending on the age and the etiology of the defect. This is to place incisions to perfection. And it is to be humble and open oneself to criticism, always seeking to improve the quality of its results.

[Eyebrow reconstruction]

The eyebrow is an essential anatomical area, from a social point of view, so its reconstruction, in case of skin defect, must be as meticulous as possible, with the less residual sequela. Capillary density extremely varies from one person to another and the different methods of restoration of this area should absolutely take this into consideration. We are going to review the various techniques of reconstruction, according to the sex and the surface to cover.

Formations of dumbbell C118 and C119 inside clusters of C60 molecules by collision with α particles

We report highly selective covalent bond modifications in collisions between keV alpha particles and van der Waals clusters of C(60) fullerenes. Surprisingly, C(119)(+) and C(118)(+) are the dominant molecular fusion products. We use molecular dynamics simulations to show that C(59)(+) and C(58)(+) ions--effectively produced in prompt knockout processes with He(2+)--react rapidly with C(60) to form dumbbell C(119)(+) and C(118)(+). Ion impact on molecular clusters in general is expected to lead to efficient secondary reactions of interest for astrophysics. These reactions are different from those induced by photons.