Search for Dark Matter Annihilation Signals in the H.E.S.S. Inner Galaxy Survey.

The central region of the Milky Way is one of the foremost locations to look for dark matter (DM) signatures. We report the first results on a search for DM particle annihilation signals using new observations from an unprecedented γ-ray survey of the Galactic Center (GC) region, i.e., the Inner Galaxy Survey, at very high energies (≳100 GeV) performed with the H.E.S.S. array of five ground-based Cherenkov telescopes. No significant γ-ray excess is found in the search region of the 2014-2020 dataset and a profile likelihood ratio analysis is carried out to set exclusion limits on the annihilation cross section ⟨σv⟩. Assuming Einasto and Navarro-Frenk-White (NFW) DM density profiles at the GC, these constraints are the strongest obtained so far in the TeV DM mass range. For the Einasto profile, the constraints reach ⟨σv⟩ values of 3.7×10^{-26} cm^{3} s^{-1} for 1.5 TeV DM mass in the W^{+}W^{-} annihilation channel, and 1.2×10^{-26} cm^{3} s^{-1} for 0.7 TeV DM mass in the τ^{+}τ^{-} annihilation channel. With the H.E.S.S. Inner Galaxy Survey, ground-based γ-ray observations thus probe ⟨σv⟩ values expected from thermal-relic annihilating TeV DM particles.

Time-resolved hadronic particle acceleration in the recurrent nova RS Ophiuchi.

Recurrent novae are repeating thermonuclear explosions in the outer layers of white dwarfs, due to the accretion of fresh material from a binary companion. The shock generated when ejected material slams into the companion star's wind can accelerate particles. We report very-high-energy (VHE; [Formula: see text]) gamma rays from the recurrent nova RS Ophiuchi, up to 1 month after its 2021 outburst, observed using the High Energy Stereoscopic System (H.E.S.S.). The temporal profile of VHE emission is similar to that of lower-energy giga-electron volt emission, indicating a common origin, with a 2-day delay in peak flux. These observations constrain models of time-dependent particle energization, favoring a hadronic emission scenario over the leptonic alternative. Shocks in dense winds provide favorable environments for efficient acceleration of cosmic rays to very high energies.

[Rejuvenate, it's as old as the hills ]. / Rajeunir, c'est vieux comme le monde .

Legends and myths regarding eternal youth exist since Antiquity. Prior to the 19th century those wishing to rejuvenate used baths or blood injections, searching to the Fountain of Youth or calling for an alchemist claiming to have found the Elixir of Youth. In the 19th century, Charles Edouard Brown Séquard (1819-1894), after the discovery of the function of the endocrinal glands and testicular secretions, inject himself with an extract from guinea pigs and dogs. He found himself rejuvenated! In the beginning of the 20th century, several surgeons transplanted human testicles coming from death row prisoners inmates or voluntary donors. The transplantation of monkey testicles by Serge Voronoff (1866-1951) had a important aftermath and more than 300 similar interventions took place. The simple ligation of the vas deferens (vasectomy) was recommended by Eugen Steinach (1866-1944). Sigmund Freud was one of the "beneficiaries". Steinach also advised the irradiation of the ovaries for female rejuvenation. In 1935, Alexis Carrel (1873-1944) and Charles Lindbergh (1902-1974) built a pump to feed and regenerate targeted organs. The discovery of pluripotent stem cells and senolytic molecules are building up new hopes on the matter.

[Pierre Mornard (1883-1929), unrecognized plastic surgeon]. / Pierre Mornard, (1883­1929), un plasticien méconnu.

Many operations of aesthetic surgery were described between 1920 and 1930. Several French surgeons are recognized as pioneers of the speciality. Pierre Mornard (1883-1929) published numerous articles of plastic and aesthetic surgery between 1925 and 1929 the date of his death. The articles were illustrated with drawings of surgery he had practiced. He described in 1929 the first abdominoplasty with umbilical transposition. Pierre Mornard can be considered a pioneer of aesthetic surgery.

[The history of pediatric plastic surgery]. / Histoire de la chirurgie plastique pédiatrique.

The history of pediatric plastic surgery is linked to that of paediatrics. Until the early 19th century, there was no children's hospital. Only some operations were performed before the discovery of anesthesia, aseptic and antisepsis: cleft lip repair, amputation for polydactyly. Many operations were described in the 19th century for cleft lip and palate repair, hypospadias, syndactylies. The first operation for protruding ears was performed in 1881. Pediatric plastic surgery is diversified in the 2nd half of the 20th century: cleft lip and palate, burns, craniofacial surgery, hand surgery become separate parts of the speciality.

[The history of facial paralysis]. / Histoire de la paralysie faciale.

Facial paralysis has been a recognized condition since Antiquity, and was mentionned by Hippocratus. In the 17th century, in 1687, the Dutch physician Stalpart Van der Wiel rendered a detailed observation. It was, however, Charles Bell who, in 1821, provided the description that specified the role of the facial nerve. Facial nerve surgery began at the end of the 19th century. Three different techniques were used successively: nerve anastomosis, (XI-VII Balance 1895, XII-VII, Korte 1903), myoplasties (Lexer 1908), and suspensions (Stein 1913). Bunnell successfully accomplished the first direct facial nerve repair in the temporal bone, in 1927, and in 1932 Balance and Duel experimented with nerve grafts. Thanks to progress in microsurgical techniques, the first faciofacial anastomosis was realized in 1970 (Smith, Scaramella), and an account of the first microneurovascular muscle transfer published in 1976 by Harii. Treatment of the eyelid paralysis was at the origin of numerous operations beginning in the 1960s; including palpebral spring (Morel Fatio 1962) silicone sling (Arion 1972), upperlid loading with gold plate (Illig 1968), magnets (Muhlbauer 1973) and transfacial nerve grafts (Anderl 1973). By the end of the 20th century, surgeons had at their disposal a wide range of valid techniques for facial nerve surgery, including modernized versions of older techniques.

[Louis Ombrédanne (1871-1956) pediatric and plastic surgeon]. / Louis Ombrédanne (1871-1956), chirurgien pédiatre et plasticien.

One of the fathers of pediatric surgery in France, Louis Ombrédanne (1871-1956) was a great plastic surgeon. During his residency he was initiated to plastic surgery by Charles Nélaton (1851-1911). Both wrote two books: "La rhinoplastie" and "Les autoplasties", taking stock of these techniques in the early 20th century. In 1906, he was the first to describe the pectoral muscle flap for immediate breast reconstruction after mastectomy. He used this flap in conjunction with an axillo thoracic flap. From 1908 to 1941, Louis Ombrédanne practised pediatric surgery, most of which was devoted in reconstruction of congenital and acquire anomalies. From 1924 to 1941, he was Professor of pediatric surgery at the hospital Enfants-Malades in Paris. In 1907, Louis Ombrédanne created a prototype of an ether inhaler as a safe anesthetic device. The device was successfully used for fifty years in Europe.

[Dupuytren's disease ­ the story of an eponym]. / Maladie de Dupuytren, histoire d'un e´ponyme.

December 5, 1831, baron Guillaume Dupuytren presents at the surgical clinics of the Hotel-Dieu of Paris a report upon "an entirely new subject, with a new theory and a new method of treatment for a disease generally regarded as incurable". The patient presented had a permanent contraction of the ring finger and adjacent fingers of both hands, which appeared spontaneously without any injury or previous illness. Dupuytren explains he had the opportunity to dissect the hand of a man who died after having had a contraction of the fingers for many years. He defines the cause of the contraction to be the palmar fascia. He describes the operative treatment: aponeurotomy by a transverse incision. "Probably many surgeons (Cline 1808, Astley Cooper 1822) were aware of the palmar aponeurosis producing this condition before Dupuytren's lecture". "Thoroughness of his demonstration, the brilliance of the presentation and the supremacy of his surgical authority combined to link permanently the name of Dupuytren with this hand deformity" (J. Hueston).

[Jacques Mathieu Delpech and School of Montpellier: 1st part Jacques Mathieu Delpech (1777-1832)]. / Jacques Mathieu Delpech et l'École de Montpellier: 1ère partie Jacques Mathieu Delpech (1777-1832).

Two surgeons have labeled, in France, the first period of the 19th century. The one is universally known, it is Dupuytren, the other one underestimated who can be nevertheless considered as his equal: Jacques Mathieu Delpech. From Toulouse, child of the Revolution, he taught the anatomy from the age of 14 years, became assistant chief warrant officer in the revolutionary armies, gave up competing with Dupuytren, and became Professor of Surgery in Montpellier in 1812. Delpech reintroduced the teaching of the Anatomy and the Surgery. Author of first forehead flap in France, he revolutionized the treatment of the clubfoot. He created an Institute of Orthomorphia where he made practice the gymnastics and the active reeducation. He was interested in the healing process and in the correction of the deformations of the body. He was murdered when he was 55 by one of his patients. He is the founder of the School of plastic surgery of Montpellier, which will compete in the 19th century with the school of Berlin of Dieffenbach.

[The Golden book of the French plastic surgery]. / Un livre d'or de la chirurgie plastique française.

Susruta, Tagliacozzi and Dieffenbach are considered to be the first plastic surgeons. Many French surgeons deserve to figure in the "Golden Book" of the specialty. From Pierre Franco to Paul Tessier, many famous or sometimes unknown surgeons introduced important innovations. In the XVIth century, Pierre Franco realized the first autoplasty of the face as well as the first suture of a cleft lift. This was modified by Mirault, three centuries later. Delpech created at Montpellier a real "school" dedicated to plastic surgery where there was an attempt to oppose a French technique to the success of surgeons from Berlin. Roux was the first (or the second according to Von Graefe) to succeed a cleft palate closure. The first Z plasty was performed by Denonvilliers and Morestin devoted many works to plastic surgery insisting on scar discretion. After World War II, the main cosmetic procedures were described and performed by French surgeons: Bourguet, Passot, Dartigues… Suzanne Noel was the first female plastic surgeon and the first to perform outpatient operations. After the creation of the French Society of Plastic surgery, Paul Tessier conceived the craniofacial surgery. An important step in cosmetic surgery was liposuction described by Y.G. Illouz. More recently, French teams performed the first allotransplantation of the face and of the upper limbs.

[Pioneers and martyrs: Delpech, Guinard, Pozzi]. / Pionniers et martyrs : Delpech, Guinard, Pozzi.

Jacques Mathieu Delpech, Aimé Guinard Samuel Pozzi, three famous surgeons of the 19th and early 20th century were murdered by patients. All three contributed to the history of plastic surgery. Delpech (1777-1832) carried out the first plastic surgery in France using a forehead flap to replace a loss of substance on the face, Guinard (1856-1911) did the first reduction mammaplasty. Pozzi (1846-1918) was probably the first to perform an operation of face lift on one of his patients but did not publish it. These three surgeons were killed by unbalanced patients they had operated of benign lesions.

[Jules Guérin (1801-1885) and wound pneumatic occlusion, a precursor of V.A.C.((R))]. / Jules Guérin (1801-1885) et l'occlusion pneumatique des plaies, un précurseur du V.A.C.((R))

Vacuum-Assisted Closure System((R)) (V.A.C.((R))), tested and introduced by MJ Moryk- was and LC Argenta in 1977, is a wide-spread procedure used for the treatment of defects and chronic wounds. In the middle of the 19th century, a French surgeon tried hopelessly to convince the medical authorities by that time of the interest of a similar method. In 1844, Jules Guérin (1801-1885) imagined a process and described the technique and the results in the prestigious Academy of Medicine and Sciences in Paris in 1866 and 1867. Jules Guérin proposed to treat chronic wounds and defects by what he called "pneumatic occlusion". He proposed an apparatus with three parts: a process dressing applied to be wound a rubber occlusive membrane linked to an empty bell with a manometer. Jules Guérin presented his method with the indications, severed times at the Academy of Medicine. Results were detailed on complex wounds or amputations strumps. He explained with detail the action of the pneumatic occlusion but without taking on to account the role microorganisms and the absence of hygiene in infections. Unfortunately for him, his presentations were contemporary to the works of Pasteur and Lister. All surgeons privileged the use of antiseptics on wounds. The works of Jules Guérin were forgotten.

[Allotransplantation, literature and movie]. / Allotransplantation, littérature et cinéma.

Writers and movie makers have always dreamed of creating a human being, changing completely a face or giving new hands. The legend of Saint Come and Saint Damien is the first example of miraculous allotransplantation. Mary Shelley's Frankenstein is considered as founder work of modern science fiction. In the 19th and 20th century, authors used the advances in medicine to imagine diabolic practitioners or brilliant surgeons to transplant entire faces or hands. Cinema uses special effects to show spectacular operations. The author presents examples of books and movies treating directly or indirectly with composite allotransplantations.

[The first "fillers", vaseline and paraffin. From miracle to disaster]. / Les premiers "fillers", vaseline et paraffine. Du miracle à la catastrophe.

In 1899, Robert Gersuny, an austrian surgeon from Vienna, injected a mineral oil (vaseline) to correct the absence of a testicle in a patient who was castrated for tuberculous epididymitis. The immediate success of the operation encouraged him to use vaseline as filler for soft tissue defects. The principle of the technique consisted in the injection of a product that becomes semi liquid by heating but it solidifies when it gets colder. It remains stable and inert in the human body. Eckstein used paraffin instead because the melting temperature is too high (65 degrees ) to soften after the injection. The technique provoked enthusiasm. It was used for the cure of palatal and urinary fistulae, hernia but mainly in cosmetic indications: filling of face wrinkles, cheeks, front and breast augmentation as well as the penis and especially nasal defects. Although serious complications were reported, it remained popular for the first 20 years of the 20th century. Unfortunately even with initial good results, secondary or late severe complications appeared due to the dispersion of paraffin. There was formation of nodules, the paraffinomas that were very difficult to remove. The sequelae of paraffin injections were observed for several years.

HESS observations of the galactic center region and their possible dark matter interpretation.

The detection of gamma rays from the source HESS J1745-290 in the Galactic Center (GC) region with the High Energy Spectroscopic System (HESS) array of Cherenkov telescopes in 2004 is presented. After subtraction of the diffuse gamma-ray emission from the GC ridge, the source is compatible with a point source with spatial extent less than 1.2;{'}(stat) (95% C.L.). The measured energy spectrum above 160 GeV is compatible with a power law with photon index of 2.25+/-0.04(stat)+/-0.10(syst) and no significant flux variation is detected. It is finally found that the bulk of the very high energy emission must have non-dark-matter origin.

Fast variability of tera-electron volt gamma rays from the radio galaxy M87.

The detection of fast variations of the tera-electron volt (TeV) (10(12) eV) gamma-ray flux, on time scales of days, from the nearby radio galaxy M87 is reported. These variations are about 10 times as fast as those observed in any other wave band and imply a very compact emission region with a dimension similar to the Schwarzschild radius of the central black hole. We thus can exclude several other sites and processes of the gamma-ray production. The observations confirm that TeV gamma rays are emitted by extragalactic sources other than blazars, where jets are not relativistically beamed toward the observer.

A low level of extragalactic background light as revealed by gamma-rays from blazars.

The diffuse extragalactic background light consists of the sum of the starlight emitted by galaxies through the history of the Universe, and it could also have an important contribution from the 'first stars', which may have formed before galaxy formation began. Direct measurements are difficult and not yet conclusive, owing to the large uncertainties caused by the bright foreground emission associated with zodiacal light. An alternative approach is to study the absorption features imprinted on the gamma-ray spectra of distant extragalactic objects by interactions of those photons with the background light photons. Here we report the discovery of gamma-ray emission from the blazars H 2356 - 309 and 1ES 1101 - 232, at redshifts z = 0.165 and z = 0.186, respectively. Their unexpectedly hard spectra provide an upper limit on the background light at optical/near-infrared wavelengths that appears to be very close to the lower limit given by the integrated light of resolved galaxies. The background flux at these wavelengths accordingly seems to be strongly dominated by the direct starlight from galaxies, thus excluding a large contribution from other sources-in particular from the first stars formed. This result also indicates that intergalactic space is more transparent to gamma-rays than previously thought.