Context. Sirius is the brightest star in the sky and a strong source of diffuse light for modern telescopes so that the immediate surroundings of the star are still poorly known. Aims. We study the close surroundings of the star (2 to 25′′) by means of adaptive optics and coronographic device in the near-infrared, using the ESO/ADONIS system. Methods. The resulting high contrast images in the J...

We introduce Claude Lévi Strauss’ canonical formula (CF), an attempt to rigorously formalise the general narrative structure of myth. This formula utilises the Klein group as its basis, but a recent work draws attention to its natural quaternion form, which opens up the possibility that it may require a quantum inspired interpretation. We present the CF in a form that can be understood by a non...

T cells from neuromyelitis optica (NMO) patients, which recognize the immunodominant epitope of aquaporin-4, exhibit Th17 polarization and cross-react with a homologous sequence of a Clostridium perfringens adenosine triphosphate-binding cassette transporter. Therefore, this commensal microbe might participate in NMO pathogenesis. We examined the gut microbiome by PhyloChip G3 from 16 NMO patie...

Frey (1975) subdivided the genus Eurycercus Baird, 1843 (Cladocera: Eurycercidae) into three subgenera: E. (Eurycercus) s.str., E. (Bullatifrons) Frey, 1975 and E. (Teretifrons) Frey, 1975. We conducted a revision of the subgenera Eurycercus (Eurycercus) and E. (Bullatifrons) in the Holarctic based on the morphology of parthenogenetic females and a phylogeny of cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (C...