bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Borderline personality disorder and early psychosis: a narrative review
Authors: Biancalani Arianna , Pelizza Lorenzo , Menchetti Marco
Published: November 2023

Background

The purpose of the present review was to summarize the main literature contribution on the relationship between borderline personality disorder (BPD) and early psychosis. While retracing the historical path of the term “borderline”, specific attention was paid to psychotic and psychotic-like symptoms in BPD. Its relationship with At Risk Mental State was evaluated, as well.

Methods

This search was conducted on PUBMED/MEDLINE and PsycInfo, looking for “Borderline personality disorder, First Episode Psychosis, Early Psychosis, Ultra-High Risk AND/OR Clinical High Risk” for psychosis.

Results

Eight pertinent papers were identified on this topic. Their main findings were then discussed. The term “borderline” has undergone different changes in meaning and use, despite always referring to states considered on the fence between neurosis and psychosis. However, considering the history of psychopathology and its relationship with diagnostic manuals, little attention has been given to its psychotic features. Being those symptoms highly burdensome, this neglect has often led to misdiagnosis and under-treatment.

Conclusions

Psychotic symptoms in BPD can be severe and distressing. Nonetheless they can be easily neglected, and when found they challenge clinicians in defining a differential diagnosis to distinguish between BPD and Psychosis Spectrum Disorders. Given specific needs and interventions for these different conditions, a dimensional, rather than categorical, approach should be considered, as well as specific care pathways and monitoring should be advised.
Adolescent mental health in post-conflict communities: results from a cross-sectional survey in Northern Uganda
Authors: Wipfli Heather , Guy Kyra , Kim Abigail , Tumuhimbise Peninah , Odur Kenneth ,   Lira Youth Public Health Ambassadors, Susan Adiro , Stephen Adupa , Rebecca Akello , Nancy Alum , Fredrick Anyima , Emily Aoko , Monica Awello , Winnie Ejang , Barbara Acio , Winnie Akao , Recho Alum , Precious Angom Salume , Rachael Aol , Tabitha Awidi Fiona , Brenda Ejang , Judith Kia , Amongi Lalita Ruth , Moses Okello , Jasper Olem , Marrion Adongo , Monica Amono , Mirriam Awino , Denish Okello , Ocama Okello Geoffrey , Jimmy Obwona , Christine Akullu
Published: November 2023

Purpose

This study evaluated adolescents' mental health their knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about mental health conditions, and their access to critical mental health services in Lira District, northern Uganda. The political history of the region, the epicenter of the decades-long conflict between the Lord’s Resistance Army and the Ugandan government, makes for an interesting case study of the political and social determinants of mental health of those directly impacted by conflict, and on subsequent generations growing up in post-conflict communities.

Methods

This paper presents the results of a community-based participatory research study carried out by youth public health ambassadors in Lira District, Uganda. The study consisted of a mixed methods cross-sectional survey of households, schools, and healthcare facilities.

Results

The study found 66% of adolescents indicated poor well-being and possible symptoms of depression and 41% of adolescents reported at least 4 childhood trauma events. Over 35% reported feeling extremely sad and 60% reported feeling socially isolated during the COVID lockdowns that lasted from 2020 to 2021. Nearly half of the adolescents aged 14–17 surveyed (N = 306) believed that witchcraft caused mental health problems, while less than 20% believed that traumatic experiences could be a cause. Forty percent of respondents had no idea of where to seek mental health care, and few facilities had mental health services available.

Discussion

These findings illustrate the need to study the political and social determinants of mental health, especially on those directly impacted by armed conflict and for the generations growing up in post-conflict communities as they seek to rebuild.
DeepSA: a deep-learning driven predictor of compound synthesis accessibility
Authors: Wang Shihang , Wang Lin , Li Fenglei , Bai Fang
Published: November 2023

With the continuous development of artificial intelligence technology, more and more computational models for generating new molecules are being developed. However, we are often confronted with the question of whether these compounds are easy or difficult to synthesize, which refers to synthetic accessibility of compounds. In this study, a deep learning based computational model called DeepSA, was proposed to predict the synthesis accessibility of compounds, which provides a useful tool to choose molecules. DeepSA is a chemical language model that was developed by training on a dataset of 3,593,053 molecules using various natural language processing (NLP) algorithms, offering advantages over state-of-the-art methods and having a much higher area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC), i.e., 89.6%, in discriminating those molecules that are difficult to synthesize. This helps users select less expensive molecules for synthesis, reducing the time and cost required for drug discovery and development. Interestingly, a comparison of DeepSA with a Graph Attention-based method shows that using SMILES alone can also efficiently visualize and extract compound’s informative features. DeepSA is available online on the below web server (https://bailab.siais.shanghaitech.edu.cn/services/deepsa/) of our group, and the code is available athttps://github.com/Shihang-Wang-58/DeepSA.
Comparative analysis of genome-wide transcriptional responses to continuous heat stress in Pleurotus tuoliensis
Authors: Chen Long , Luo Ying , Li Jiazheng , Zhang Zhijun , Wu Di
Published: November 2023

Temperature plays an impactful role in mushroom cultivation. To obtain insights of transcriptomic response in macrofungi against heat stress, we performed RNA-seq analysis using Pleurotus tuoliensis mycelium cells that were treated under 32 °C and 36 °C for consecutive 96 h. By comparing the growth rate data, we found mycelium cells could maintain normal growth rate almost the same as control under 32 °C, yet halted the growths under 36 °C. In total, 2724 differential expressed genes were identified from the three pair-wise comparisons, which were classified to four clusters based on their expression patterns. We also performed gene set enrichment analysis using both GO and KEGG databases, and revealed 48, 113 and 105 enriched GO terms, and 1, 5, and 6 enriched KEGG pathways for three pair-wise comparisons accordingly. In addition, we identified 9 overlapping GO terms and 1 overlapping KEGG pathway shared by the three comparisons. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) involved in cell communication, amino acid metabolic process, intracellular signal transduction and small molecule biosynthesis were identified in two heat stress treatments despite of the stress intensity. However, the expression of two heat shock protein genes (HSP10 and HSP60) were induced by increasing temperature. Our findings also suggested the DEGs associated with cell cycle regulation had various expression patterns under two heat stress conditions possibly due to different functions. Furthermore, 11 DEGs related to ergosterol biosynthesis were identified with similar expression trends, indicating the ergosterol levels and cell membrane composition may have a tight connection to the acquisition of thermotolerance, which warrant further investigations for deeper understanding of molecular mechanisms in fungal stress responses.
An assessment of the move your way program among hispanic adults in Las Vegas, Nevada
Authors: Bungum Timothy J. , Pharr Jennifer R. , Coughenour Courtney A. , Gakh Maxim
Published: November 2023

Background

Physical activity (PA) is important because of its associated health benefits. However, many Americans remain inactive. The 2018 guidelines recognize that PA bouts of less than 10 min are beneficial. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion created the Move Your Way® (MYW) campaign to provide PA resources for communities and healthcare providers. This study aims to describe the reach of the MYW campaign, and assess whether having seen, heard, or read (SHR) about MYW, or having seen the MYW logo, was associated with PA knowledge, self-efficacy, and behavior among Hispanics residing in the Las Vegas, Nevada area. Methods: Hispanics, aged 18–74, were surveyed at community events (n = 481) or via an online survey (n = 123). Respondents were asked if they had SHR of MYW, were aware of 2018 PA recommendations, and to report their personal PA behavior, PA knowledge, PA intentions, and demographics. Results: Respondents (71% female) completed a 38-42-item survey. Approximately (12.4%) had SHR of the MYW campaign and 16.1% had seen the MYW logo. Only 3.4% and 15% identified, “150 minutes per week” and “75 minutes per week” as the 2018 guidelines for moderate physical activity (MPA) and vigorous physical activity (VPA), respectively. Those who had SHR of the MYW campaign were more likely to correctly identify 150 min per week as the MPA guideline and had greater confidence in overcoming selected PA barriers. Regression analysis showed that those who had seen the MYW logo were more likely to meet strength guidelines, and that those who had SHR of MYW or saw the logo were more likely to know the recommended minutes of MPA. Conclusions: Knowledge of the MYW program positively associates with some PA behaviors and PA correlates.
Fire frequency and severity mediate recruitment response of a threatened shrub following severe megafire
Authors: Le Breton Tom , Schweickle Laura , Dunne Craig , Lyons Mitchell , Ooi Mark
Published: November 2023

Background

Climate change is driving global fire regimes toward greater extremes, potentially threatening plant species that are adapted to historic fire regimes. Successful conservation of threatened plant species depends upon improving our understanding of how they respond to these changing fire regimes in fire prone regions. The 2019–2020 Australian megafires burnt at very high to extreme severity across an unprecedented extent and overlaid a complex history of prescribed burns and wildfires, providing an ideal foundation to study the consequences of multiple fire regime elements. We examined the recruitment response of Pomaderris bodalla, one of many threatened obligate-seeding shrub species growing in wet sclerophyll (mesic) forest in south-east Australia. We surveyed seedling recruitment at sites across a gradient of fire severity and frequency. Our aims were to (i) confirm in vitro results that suggest a positive relationship with fire severity; (ii) determine the species response to fire frequency and (iii) identify the nature of the effect of fire severity and fire frequency in combination.

Results

We found that recruitment had a positive response to fire severity, peaking at high severity sites as soil temperatures reached optimal levels for dormancy-break but declining, while still remaining positive, at moderate and extreme severity sites. The pattern of response matched in vitro studies, which had established that physically dormant P. bodalla seeds had minimal dormancy broken at low fire-related temperatures, peak dormancy broken at high fire-related temperatures and heat-induced mortality at extreme temperatures. Fire frequency had an overall negative effect on recruitment, with fewer recruits at more frequently burnt sites and this effect appeared to be additive with fire severity.

Conclusion

Our findings indicate that increased fire frequency poses an ongoing threat to P. bodalla and similar obligate-seeding shrub species. The hump-shaped relationship with fire severity suggests that future large-scale extreme fires will cause seed mortality-induced reduction in recruitment, with the potential to exacerbate the negative effects of high fire frequency. Informed management of threatened species requires detailed knowledge of species responses to multiple fire regime elements, and novel fire response traits like seed dormancy can provide beneficial insights for robust conservation strategies.
Can the Clinical Utility of iBreastExam, a Novel Device, Aid in Optimizing Breast Cancer Diagnosis? A Systematic Review
Authors: Bhimani Fardeen , Zhang Janice , Shah Lamisha , McEvoy Maureen , Gupta Anjuli , Pastoriza Jessica , Shihabi Areej , Feldman Sheldon
Published: November 2023

PURPOSE

A portable, cost-effective, easy-to-use, hand-held Intelligent Breast Exam (iBE), which is a wireless, radiation-free device, may be a valuable screening tool in resource-limited settings. While multiple studies evaluating the use of iBE have been conducted worldwide, there are no cumulative studies evaluating the iBE's performance. Therefore this review aims to determine the clinical utility and applicability of iBE compared with clinical breast examinations, ultrasound, and mammography and discuss its strengths and weaknesses when performing breast-cancer screening.

METHODS

A systematic review was performed following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Four electronic databases were searched: PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Google Scholar.

RESULTS

The review included 11 studies with a total sample size of 16,052 breasts. The mean age ranged from 42 to 58 years. The sensitivity and specificity of the iBE ranged from 34.3% to 86% and 59% to 94%, respectively. For malignant lesions, iBE demonstrated a moderate to higher diagnostic capacity ranging from 57% to 93% and could identify tumor sizes spanning from 0.5 cm to 9 cm.

CONCLUSION

Our findings underscore the potential clinical utility and applicability of iBE as a prescreening and triaging tool, which may aid in reducing the burden of patients undergoing diagnostic imaging in lower- and middle-income countries. Furthermore, iBE has shown to diagnose cancers as small as 0.5 cm, which can be a boon in early detection and reduce mortality rates. However, the encouraging results of this systematic review should be interpreted with caution because of the device’s low sensitivity and high false-positive rates.
Association of Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma Location With DNA Damage Response Status and Response to Platinum-Based Therapy
Authors: Micaily Ida , Blais Edik M. , Carhart Randi , Lam Sophia , Cohen Steven J. , Cannaday Shawna J. , Halverson David , Matrisian Lynn M. , DeArbeloa Patricia , Thach Dzung , Petricoin Emanuel , Pishvaian Michael J. , Lavu Harish , Yeo Charles J. , Mallick Atrayee Basu
Published: November 2023

PURPOSE

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma is an aggressive disease with poor clinical outcomes. Primary pancreatic tumors originating from the head of the pancreas (H) have different prognostic implications than tumors arising from the body and tail (BT). This is thought to be largely due to anatomic differences, as molecular underpinnings of survival have not been fully explored. We hypothesized that differences in the primary site of H and BT tumors might account for differential molecular outcomes and response to chemotherapy.

METHODS

Retrospective data from a single high-volume academic center were analyzed for hypothesis generation. A large-scale, real-world retrospective cohort of 2015 patients with next-generation sequencing (NGS) results were analyzed from a Real-World Evidence database. Progression-free survival (PFS) was evaluated from the initiation of first line of therapy for advanced disease until discontinuation because of progression. HR and P values were computed via Cox regression between first-line FOLFIRINOX and gemcitabine/nanoparticle albumin-bound (gem/nab) paclitaxel. Differences in frequencies of genomic alterations between H and BT were analyzed by Fisher's exact test.

RESULTS

Genomic alterations in the DNA damage response (DDR) pathway (such as BRCA1, BRCA2, and PALB2) were enriched (unadjusted P value = .00244) in BT tumors (21.7% of 618) relative to H tumors (15.6% of 942) where BRCA2 was a top contributor within this pathway. Median PFS in BT tumors on first-line FOLFIRINOX was longer than first line gem/nab-paclitaxel ( P = .006393); this difference was not identified in H tumors ( P = .5546).

CONCLUSION

DDR pathway alterations including BRCA1/ BRCA2/ PALB2 are known predictors of increased benefit from platinum-based chemotherapy. NGS testing for germline and somatic mutations remains important in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, especially in BT tumors where DDR pathway alterations may be more common than in H tumors.
Making Sustainability Concrete
Authors: Sims Christo , Sivakumar Akshita
Published: November 2023

“Sustainability” is an increasingly fashionable design criterion for celebrity corporate architects, their clients, and the governmental bodies that regulate urban development. Yet determining if and how a building is actually sustainable remains controversial, with different actors positing qualifications that are often at odds with each other. In this article, the authors explore how the ideal of sustainability is made concrete in contemporary corporate architecture, focusing on the design of one of Google's new corporate campuses in Silicon Valley that has been extensively touted and recognized as admirably green. The article draws attention to how various experts who participated in the design of Google's new campus rendered sustainability differently and argues that the temporal and social structure of the design process worked to compel coordination and compromises among these experts’ different renderings. Ultimately the authors advocate for problematizing the design process as a key site where political questions about sustainability in the built form get settled pragmatically.
Canine separation-related problems: part 3: identifying the emotional component
Authors: Hargrave Claire
Published: November 2023

Previous articles in this series have considered many of the factors that can initiate a dog's failure to cope during owner absence, as well as the range of resultant behaviours. Missing from the discussion is ‘the middleman’; before a behaviour can occur in response to a trigger stimulus, there needs to be an emotional response. Previously, consideration of separation-related problems focused on the emotion of anxiety. This article considers whether separation-related problems can involve alternative emotional networks and whether anxiety is a requirement for a separation-related problem. As the success of treatment programmes will rely on the accurate identification of causative factors, accurate identification of the emotions associated with an individual dog's separation-related problem will be essential to creating a plan for rehabilitation that is both likely to work and that falls within an owner's capacity to comply with advice.
The Development of manual for speech and language treatment for parents of children with cleft palate ages 0-3 years old
Authors:   Communication Disorders, Department of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai Province, Thailand, Jaiyong Pechcharat , Rattakorn Phuanjai ,   Communication Disorders, Department of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai Province, Thailand, Chinchai Supaporn ,   Communication Disorders, Department of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai Province, Thailand
Published: November 2023

Background: Cleft palate is a congenital disability affecting the palate’s structure and function, which may lead to delayed speech and language development and communication disorders. There is a shortage of speech therapists in Thailand. Therefore, developing a manual for speech and language treatment for the parents of children with a cleft palate would be an essential early intervention that parents could perform. Objectives: This research aimed to develop a speech and language treatment manual for parents of children with cleft palate ages 0-3 years old and evaluate the manual’s effectiveness, satisfaction, and feedback. Materials and methods: This research was divided into Phase 1, which involved developing a speech and language treatment manual for parents of children with cleft palate ages 0-3 years old and assessing its validity and reliability. Phase 2 tested the manual’s effectiveness by conducting a three-month of 16 participants, who were divided into two groups: A control group without the manual and an experimental group with the manual and phase 3 data analysis. Results: The content validity of the manual and satisfaction of the questionnaires were found to have a content validity index of 0.87 and 0.92, respectively. The total language and speech development scores before and after participating between groups found a statistically significant difference. After participating, the number of the experimental group who passed the 90th percentile of language development was higher than the control group. The language between the children and parents showed that the experimental group displayed more communication skills than the control group. Conclusion: The speech and language treatment manual for parents of children with cleft palate ages 0-3 years old could stimulate the language and speech development of the experimental group more effectively than the control group that did not receive the manual.
Remote communities, material entanglements and information and communications technologies as double agents
Authors: Horn Christine
Published: November 2023

Digital devices and Information and Communications Technology or ICT play a prominent role in most people’s everyday lives, as the often unconscious, mostly unacknowledged entanglements between people, devices and infrastructure shape contemporary lives and co-determine activities and their outcomes. Communications technologies are particularly agentic for people who live in rural and remote parts of the world because they often lack easy access to goods and services that are ubiquitous in more urbanized areas. At the same time, access to ICTs in these areas is often tenuous because the maintenance of ICT infrastructure is not always economically viable. This paper examines emerging techno-lifeworlds in remote villages in Malaysia and their social, economic and political context through a new materialist lens.  I argue that the entanglements with digital technologies and the resulting diffractions can result in increased agency for those involved. At the same time as this new materialist focus emphasizes the agentic role of devices and infrastructure, it allows for thinking through the power relationships that are implicated in the regional techno-politics and the economic and political interests that determine the material access to communications infrastructure.
Vitality and affirmative difference
Authors: Remme Devyn
Published: November 2023

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Anti-Japanese Sentiment and Action in Texas during World War II
Authors: Poff Ryan
Published: November 2023

Abstract: Relations between Texas's citizens of Japanese and European descent were largely peaceable before World War II (WWII), but the state's historical commitment to segregation and the racial ideology supporting it created a fertile ground for racialized propaganda appeals following Pearl Harbor. In the wake of the attack, the US federal government and the Texas state government cooperated in detaining Texas's Japanese-descended population and in destroying sites of cultural exchange between Japan and the United States. This study broadens the historical understanding of the WWII home front by examining the cultivation, function, and aftermath of the wartime anti-Japanese sentiment in Texas.
Mode locking of the p-Ge hot hole THz laser
Authors: Klaassen T. O. , Hovenier J.N. , Wenckebach W.Th. , Muravjov A.V. , Pavlov S.G. , Shastin V.N.
Published: November 2023

The operation of the p-Ge hot hole laser is based on the acceleration of holes in
E→ ⊥ B→ fields at T≤20 K1. The heavy holes (hh) are scattered by optical phonons - partially into the light hole band - whereas the light holes (lh) are accumulated on closed trajectories below the optical phonon energy. The resulting population inversion between the lh- and hh-band leads to emission in the 1.5- 4.2 THz range. An electric field ||
B→ causes an acceleration of the holes ||
B→, leading also to lh-optical phonon scattering, resulting in a decrease of the population inversion. Gain modulation at the roundtrip frequency (=772 MHz for the 49.5 mm long crystal used) and possible mode locking can thus be achieved by applying an rf electric field ||
B→ at half this frequency. Recently we reported on the first experimental observation of mode locked operation in the Voigt configuration (optical axis
⊥ E→, B→)2. Now we present results on optical output in two different wavelength regions, as studied with a Schottky diode detector and a 6 GHz bandwidth real-time oscilloscope.
Optimal Design of Low Order Diffractive Structures
Authors: Dobson David C. , Cox J. Allen
Published: November 2023

A low order diffractive structure has a period Λ of the same magnitude as the incident wavelength (λ),
Λ≈O(λ), and thus admits only a few
(O(1)) propagating orders. An important subclass is defined by Λ < λ, for which only zero order propagates, and includes antireflective (”moth-eye”) structures, form birefringent phase plates, wire grid polarizers, and resonant guided wave filters. An example lying in the broader class is represented by the outer zones of a fast
(f˜/1) Fresnel phase lens, where Λ ≈ 2λ.
Three-dimensional intensity distribution in the far zone of focused fields in systems with different Fresnel numbers
Authors: Li Yajun
Published: November 2023

Three-dimensional intensity distribution near the focus in systems with different Fresnel numbers has been investigated by Li and Wolf on the basis of the Huygens–Fresnel principle and Lommel analysis [J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 1, 801 (1984)JOAOD61084-752910.1364/JOSAA.1.000801]. Their computed results have been summarized into a group of isophotes of intensity distribution near the focus. In order to show the behavior of focused fields beyond the focal region, this study enlarges the research scope from intensity distribution near the focus to that in the half-space from the focal plane to infinity. To this end, a mapping transformation function is proposed that allows the plotting of isophotes within a finite area. Using this technique, both analytical and numerical expressions of far-zone behavior predicted by the Huygens–Fresnel principle for systems with different Fresnel numbers and the predictions of the Rayleigh diffraction integrals for systems with high relative aperture are obtained and compared with the predictions of Debye’s theory of focusing, which is found to be unable to describe the far-zone behavior correctly in most cases but is able to give an approximation to systems with high Fresnel numbers.
Analytic approximation for Jaynes-Cummings revivals
Authors: Carmichael Howard J.
Published: November 2023

Recent interest in the collapse and revival of Rabi oscillations in the Jaynes-Cummings model was stimulated by a paper in 1980 by Eberly et al.1 These authors presented an analytic expression for the inversion of a two-level atom interacting with a single mode of the radiation field taken to be initially in a coherent state. Their analytic expression agreed well with a numerical evaluation of the standard summation formula for the inversion. Since the publication of this analytic result various discussions of its proof have appeared. Existing versions of the proof all convert the summation formula into an integral and evaluate this integral using the method of stationary phase.2 This approach is mathematically intricate and leaves one with little physical intuition for the approximations that are made. I offer an alternative proof, which, in compact form, takes only a few lines. The proof is built up in a series of approximations based on an expansion of the troublesome square root
(n) in the Jaynes-Cummings summation formula in a Taylor series about the mean photon number:

n=n¯[1+12n−n¯n¯−18(n−n¯n¯)2+…].

The analytical expression of Eberly ef al. is recovered using standard sums and integrals and this Taylor expansion to second order.
Efficient photorefractive gain under a dc electric field
Authors: Liu Duncan T. H. , Cheng Li-Jen , Rau Mann-Fu , Wang Faa-Ching
Published: November 2023

Recent investigations have shown that photorefractive semiconductors have attractive features such as fast response times and operation at near-IR wavelengths for optical image processing applications. However, these advantages cannot be utilized fully unless efficient photorefractive effects in these can be demonstrated. Recently, by applying external electric fields to the crystals, the net photorefractive gain using compound semiconductors has been demonstrated for GaAs:Cr under a dc electric field with a moving grating and for lnP:Fe and undoped GaAs under a square-wave ac electric field. Here we report for the first time, we believe, the observation of net gain using undoped GaAs under a dc electric field only (i.e., without a moving grating) at 1.06 μm. In our experiments the pump and probe beam intensities were 8 and 0.13 mW/cm2, respectively. The crystals used were grown by the medium pressure LEC technique with As injection. The sample size was 10 × 6 × 5.4 mm along the
[110][1¯10], and [001] crystal orientations, respectively. The
[1¯10] sample surfaces were optically polished and anti-reflection coated. The electrodes (Znln) were vacuum deposited on the [001] crystal surfaces. The largest gain coefficient measured was 2.6 cm−1, while the absorption coefficient measured was 1.3 cm−1, indicating a large net gain.
Ultrahigh resolution spectroscopy of free radicals
Authors: Miller Terry A.
Published: November 2023

Rotationally resolved electronic spectra of moderately large free radicals such as CH3O, C2H5O, C5H5, and
C6 F6+ have been obtained by using a pulsed amplified tunable ring dye laser system. This system is capable of producing laser radiation of moderately high energy, 5–10 mJ/pulse throughout the visible spectral region, and may be doubled into the UV. The radicals are produced by excimer laser photolysis of suitable precursors in a supersonic free jet expansion. Spectra of radicals with internal temperatures in the range of ~0.5–20 K have been recorded. The analyses of these spectra to obtain information about the radicals' geometries and electronic structure are discussed.
Discounting the Illumination is more than lightness or color constancy
Authors: Thomas James P.
Published: November 2023

The luminance pattern presented to the eye is the product of the illumination and reflectance patterns; the spatial frequency spectrum of the luminance pattern is the convolution of the illumination and reflectance spectra. Because of the convolution, spatial frequency components of the illumination are commingled with those of the reflectance pattern, producing the potential for a variety of perceptual distortions or confusions. For example, the convolution might be expected to degrade spatial frequency discrimination, thus reducing the ability to distinguish different textures. Accurate perception requires some sort of deconvolution process which permits illumination components to be processed separately from reflectance components. One mechanism of deconvolution, which is often suggested, is an early logarithmic transform of the visual signal. Such a transform protects spatial frequency discrimination against certain kinds of multiplicative or windowing operation (such as those produced by patterns of illuminations falling on reflective surfaces) but not against others (such as the Gaussian truncation used in the laboratory). The likelihood of such a mechanism is evaluated by comparing the theoretical expectations to available data on spatial frequency discrimination.
Measurement of optical nonlinearities of transition metal poly-ynes
Authors: Guha Shekhar , Frazier C. C. , Chen W. P. , Cockerham M. P.
Published: November 2023

The transition metal poly-ynes, such as [Pt(PBu3)2C2C6H4C2]n, have been shown to have high nonlinear optical susceptibilities according to the results of four-wave-mixing studies.1 The fact that these materials also have low absorption in the visible (above 500 nm) and the near IR makes them interesting for many applications. Our direct measurement of two-photon absorption coefficients β of these materials gave high β values, ranging from 5 × 10–48 to 20 × 10–48 cm4s/ molecule/photon. Strong backscattering of light from solutions of the poly-ynes was also observed. Optical power-limiting studies, which employed nanosecond laser pulses, showed the solutions to be very efficient power limiters. The backscattering of light was the dominant mechanism contributing to the power limiting. The nonlinear refractive indices n2 of the poly-ynes were measured at 532 and 1064 nm by the external self-action method using picosecond radiation. The n2 values typically were more than 10 times that of CS2. The large n2 may be originating from a reorientational effect, arising from the long cylindrical structure of the molecules. Results of a study of the response time of the nonlinearity now in progress are reported.
Light-induced molecular reorientation in a free-standing smectic-C film
Authors: Karn A. J. , Shen Y. R.
Published: November 2023

Large optical nonlinearities from molecular reorientation are observed in freely suspended films of tilted layered smectic-C liquid crystals. Unlike the nematic case, smectic-C molecules are restricted to reorienting about the layer normal. The light interacts with the light-induced dipole, producing an optical torque on the molecules. Within the 100-molecular layer film, a region is reoriented, producing an elastic torque which balances the optical torque. As the linear light polarization angle is changed, the optical torque varies. Thermal effects are negligible, since the intensity is fixed. Above a threshold intensity, there are two stable configurations for the same polarization angle. The reorientation is found by measuring the phase shift of the central region with a weak probe beam. A simple torque-balance model explains all the observed behavior.
Bifurcations and chaos in pulse-train superradiance
Authors: Rosenberger A. T.
Published: November 2023

The superradiant response of a collection of three-level atoms to a train of pump pulses has been investigated numerically. It is assumed that the size of the system is small enough that propagation may be neglected and that the pump is resonant. The atoms are considered to be homogeneously broadened, and all relaxation rates are taken to be equal. The period of the pump pulse train is of the order of the atomic relaxation time, and the width of individual pulses is <4% of the period. Coherence remaining from previous pulses results in qualitative changes in the superradiant pulse train as the pump intensity is increased. Three cases of increasing complexity have been studied: square pump pulses, nondegenerate energy levels; mode-locked pulses, non-degenerate levels; and mode-locked pulses, degenerate levels. The sequence of behavior patterns is somewhat different for different cases. Features of the superradiant output common to the three cases are inversion of the electric field, alternation of positive and negative pulses, and recovery of pulses of one sign after more complicated behavior such as period-doubling, chaos, or intermittency. The effects of varying pump period or pulse shape are found to be less straightforward than that of varying pump intensity. The feasibility of experimental observation is discussed.
Laser-surface interaction near the damage threshold
Authors: Petzoldt S. , Elg A. P. , Reif J. , Matthias E.
Published: November 2023

The interaction between high-intensity laser pulses and surfaces generates acoustic pulses in ambient air, which can be monitored by deflection of a He–Ne laser beam. With this photoacoustic deflection technique, surface damage thresholds can be reliably determined. Moreover, the photoacoustic signals should bear information about the physical processes dominating the laser–surface interaction. With this goal in mind we applied the photoacoustic technique to various surfaces, ranging from metals to polished transparent materials. For 2–3-ns laser pulses and wavelengths between 510 and 560 nm, we find clear evidence for multiphoton absorption in the case of metals and rough surfaces of transparent materials. The accumulated energy of the absorbed photons corresponds to the work function or the band gap of the respective material, indicating that the primary excitation mechanism is hole creation by multiphoton ionization, followed by secondary processes which, of course, differ greatly for different materials. In contrast, polished surfaces of transparent materials show higher damage thresholds. For the most inert surfaces, e.g., CaF2 and MgF2, the respective integrated photoacoustic signals vary more dramatically with laser intensity, suggesting that in these cases dielectric breakdown is the dominant process.
Optical constants and electrical resistivity of LilnSe2
Authors: Smith Cecily , Lowe Calvin W.
Published: November 2023

The lithium containing I–III–VI chalcopyrites have long been theorized to have large nonlinear susceptibilities.1 Along with their larger band gaps, compared to the noble metal compounds, this makes them of potential use for optoelectronic devices which operate in the near IR to visible region of the spectrum. However, the difficulty of handling the alkali metals and the propensity of the chalcogens to form high-pressure gases at elevated temperatures have resulted in few studies of this class of compound. LilnSe2 has been successfully prepared by directional solidification.2 We have attempted to improve on the original growth by iodine transport. We will also report on a calculation of the dielectric function of LilnS2obtained from Kramers-Kronig analysis of the reflectivity measured between 0.5 and 5.0 eV. Last, we report variations of electrical resistivity and the dielectric function with the stoichiometry of the starting mixture.
New block structure for fabricating a fiber-optic half-coupler
Authors: Cheng Yuehua , Lin Weigan
Published: November 2023

Many in-line fiber-optic passive components have been fabricated on the basis of the polished fiber-optic half-coupler: fiber-optic couplers, filters, resonators, polarizers, and electrooptical switches. Apparently, how to obtain a high-quality fiber-optic half-coupler is an important subject. To improve the quality of polished surface on the fiber-optic half-coupler, we invented a new block structure.1
Deletions of singular U1 snRNA gene significantly interfere with transcription and 3’-end mRNA formation
Authors: Wang Mei , Liang An-Min , Zhou Zhen-Zhen , Pang Ting-Lin , Fan Yu-Jie , Xu Yong-Zhen
Published: November 2023

Small nuclear RNAs (snRNAs) are structural and functional cores of the spliceosome. In metazoan genomes, each snRNA has multiple copies/variants, up to hundreds in mammals. However, the expressions and functions of each copy/variant in one organism have not been systematically studied. Focus on U1 snRNA genes, we investigated all five copies in Drosophila melanogaster using two series of constructed strains. Analyses of transgenic flies that each have a U1 promoter-driven gfp revealed that U1:21D is the major and ubiquitously expressed copy, and the other four copies have specificities in developmental stages and tissues. Mutant strains that each have a precisely deleted copy of U1-gene exhibited various extents of defects in fly morphology or mobility, especially deletion of U1:82Eb. Interestingly, splicing was changed at limited levels in the deletion strains, while large amounts of differentially-expressed genes and alternative polyadenylation events were identified, showing preferences in the down-regulation of genes with 1–2 introns and selection of proximal sites for 3’-end polyadenylation. In vitro assays suggested that Drosophila U1 variants pulled down fewer SmD2 proteins compared to the canonical U1. This study demonstrates that all five U1-genes in Drosophila have physiological functions in development and play regulatory roles in transcription and 3’-end formation.
Detection of coinfection with Primate Erythroparvovirus 1 and arboviruses (DENV, CHIKV and ZIKV) in individuals with acute febrile illness in the state of Rio Grande do Norte in 2016
Authors: Morais Vanessa dos Santos , Reis Santana Lídia Maria , Bezerra João Felipe , Cruz Flavia Emmanuelle , Rocha de Souza Themis , Tahmasebi Roozbeh , Alves Raposo Rafael Augusto , Marcatti Roberta , Garcia Barbosa Erick Matheus , Hefford Philip Michael , Buccheri Renata , Cerdeira Sabino Ester , Charlys da Costa Antonio
Published: November 2023

Background

Arthropod-borne viruses, known as arboviruses, pose substantial risks to global public health. Dengue (DENV), Chikungunya (CHIKV) and Zika (ZIKV) viruses stand out as significant concerns in Brazil and worldwide. Their overlapping clinical manifestations make accurate diagnosis a challenge, underscoring the need for reliable laboratory support. This study employs a comprehensive molecular diagnostic approach to track viral infections in individuals with acute febrile illness, a period marked by widespread outbreaks of DENV, CHIKV and ZIKV.

Methods

Between January and August 2016, we received a total of 713 serum samples obtained from individuals with acute febrile illness, previously tested for DENV, CHIKV or ZIKV, with initial negative results, from LACEN-NATAL. Of the total 713 samples, 667 were from females (354 of them pregnant) and 46 from males. Molecular diagnosis was conducted using the Multiplex RT-qPCR technique for simultaneous detection of DENV, CHIKV and ZIKV. Additionally, we performed differential diagnosis by RT-qPCR for other viruses of the Flavivirus, Alphavirus Enterovirus genera and qPCR for Primate Erythroparvovirus 1 (B19V) species, in accordance with Ministry of Health guidelines.

Results

Among the 713 cases, 78.2% tested positive for viral infections, including 48% with CHIKV viremia, 0.6% with DENV and 0.1% with ZIKV. Arboviral coinfections totaled 2.4%, including DENV-CHIKV (1.7%) and CHIKV-ZIKV (0.7%). Moreover, 8% exhibited B19V viremia. Simultaneous infections were identified in 17.5%, encompassing B19V-CHIKV (17.1%), B19V-DENV (0.1%), and B19V-ZIKV (0.3%) Triple infections were observed in 1.3% of cases with B19V-DENV-CHIKV (1%) and B19V-CHIKV-ZIKV (0.3%).

Conclusion

Molecular testing demonstrated high efficacy in diagnosing prevalent arboviruses and detecting multiple coinfections. This approach helps to elucidate etiologies for symptomatic cases, especially during arbovirus outbreaks, and aids comprehensive surveillance. Our findings underscore the importance of monitoring co-circulating pathogens, such as B19V, with implications for clinical management, particularly in pregnant individuals. This study enhances our understanding of arbovirus epidemiology and reinforces the critical role of molecular diagnosis in disease surveillance and control.
How intramyocardial fat can alter the electric field distribution during Pulsed Field Ablation (PFA): Qualitative findings from computer modeling
Authors: Pérez Juan J. , González-Suárez Ana
Published: November 2023

Even though the preliminary experimental data suggests that cardiac Pulsed Field Ablation (PFA) could be superior to radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in terms of being able to ablate the viable myocardium separated from the catheter by collagen and fat, as yet there is no formal physical-based analysis that describes the process by which fat can affect the electric field distribution. Our objective was thus to determine the electrical impact of intramyocardial fat during PFA by means of computer modeling. Computer models were built considering a PFA 3.5-mm blunt-tip catheter in contact with a 7-mm ventricular wall (with and without a scar) and a 2-mm epicardial fat layer. High voltage was set to obtain delivered currents of 19, 22 and 25 A. An electric field value of 1000 V/cm was considered as the lethal threshold. We found that the presence of fibrotic tissue in the scar seems to have a similar impact on the electric field distribution and lesion size to that of healthy myocardium only. However, intramyocardial fat considerably alters the electrical field distribution and the resulting lesion shape. The electric field tends to peak in zones with fat, even away from the ablation electrode, so that ‘cold points’ (i.e. low electric fields) appear around the fat at the current entry and exit points, while ‘hot points’ (high electric fields) occur in the lateral areas of the fat zones. The results show that intramyocardial fat can alter the electric field distribution and lesion size during PFA due to its much lower electrical conductivity than that of myocardium and fibrotic tissue.
Identification and evaluation of probiotic potential of Bifidobacterium breve AHC3 isolated from chicken intestines and its effect on necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in newborn SD rats
Authors: Lin Xiaopei , Wu Changjun
Published: November 2023

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a severe intestinal disease of the newborn infants, associated with high morbidity and mortality. It has been reported that Bifidobacterium could protect the intestinal barrier function and reduce the risk of NEC. This study aimed to evaluate the probiotic potential of Bifidobacterium strains isolated from the chicken intestines and its effect on necrotizing enterocolitis in newborn SD rats. Out of 32 isolates, B. breve AHC3 not only exhibited excellent probiotic potential, including tolerance to artificial simulated gastric conditions, adhesion to HT-29 cells, antioxidant capacity and antibacterial activity, but also possessed reliable safety. Additionally, NEC model was established to further investigate the effect of B. breve AHC3 on necrotizing enterocolitis in newborn SD rats. It was illustrated that administration of B. breve AHC3 significantly not only reduced the incidence of NEC (from 81.25% to 34.38%) (P< 0.05), but also alleviated the severity of ileal injury (P< 0.05). Compared with NEC model, B. breve AHC3 could significantly decrease the level of proinflammatory factor TNF-α (P< 0.05) and increase the level of antiinflammatory factor IL-10 (P< 0.05) in the ileum of NEC rats. Through the intervention of B. breve AHC3, the gray value of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in intestinal tissue of NEC rats was significantly reduced (P< 0.05). It was indicated that B. breve AHC3 exhibited prominent probiotic potential and reliable safety. In the neonatal SD rat model of NEC, B. breve AHC3 had an available protective effect on the intestinal injury of NEC, which might be related to reducing the inflammatory reaction in the ileum and inhibiting the expression of iNOS in intestinal tissue cells. B. breve AHC3 could be used as a potential treatment for human NEC.