Self-organization, pattern formation, cavity solitons, and rogue waves in singly resonant optical parametric oscillators

The spatiotemporal dynamics of singly resonant optical parametric oscillators with external seeding displays hexagonal, roll, and honeycomb patterns, optical turbulence, rogue waves, and cavity solitons. We derive appropriate mean-field equations with a sinc2 nonlinearity and demonstrate that off-resonance seeding is necessary and responsible for the formation of complex spatial structures via self-organization. We compare this model with those derived close to the threshold of signal generation and find that back-conversion of signal and idler photons is responsible for multiple regions of spatiotemporal self-organization when increasing the power of the pump field

Limestone cliff - face and cave use by wild ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta) in southwestern Madagascar

Ring - tailed lemurs live in a range of habitats in southwestern Madagascar. To date, much of the knowledge of ring - tailed lemur ecology, biology and behavior come from riverine gallery forests sites. Recent years have seen an expansion of comprehensive research on this resilient species, including areas of limestone spiny forest along Madagascar’s southwestern coast. This work is documenting newly discovered behaviors by this species. The regular use of cliff - faces and embedded crevices and caves by ring - tailed lemurs in southwestern Madagascar are reported here. Cave use by several anthropoid primates has been explained as a thermoregulatory behavior. It is suggested that cliff - face and cave use by these ring-tailed lemurs serves several purposes, including resource acquisition, thermoregulation, and as an anti - predator avoidance strategy in the absence of suitable large sleeping trees. Observations indicate that the limestone boundaries of the Mahafaly Plateau and their associated xerophytic scrub forests warrant further conservation attention, given the presence of behavioral variation and increasing threats to this endangered primate species

Differential phosphorylation of c-Jun and JunD in response to the epidermal growth factor is determined by the structure of MAPK targeting sequences

MAPK phosphorylation of various substrates is mediated by the presence of docking sites, including the D domain and the DEF motif. Depending on the number and sequences of these domains, substrates are phosphorylated by specific subsets of MAPKs. For example, a D domain targets JNK to c-Jun, whereas a DEF motif is required for ERK phosphorylation of c-Fos. JunD, in contrast, contains both D and DEF domains. Here we show that these motifs mediate JunD phosphorylation in response to either ERK or JNK activation. An intact D domain is required for phosphorylation and activation of JunD by both subtypes of MAPK. The DEF motif acts together with the D domain to elicit efficient phosphorylation of JunD in response to the epidermal growth factor (EGF) but has no function on JunD phosphorylation and activation by JNK signaling. Furthermore, we show that conversion of a c-Jun sequence to a canonical DEF domain, as it is present in JunD, elicits c-Jun activation in response to EGF. Our results suggest that evolution of a particular modular system of MAPK targeting sequences has determined a differential response of JunD and c-Jun to ERK activation

Factors Associated to the Onset of Mental Illness Among Hospitalized Migrants to Italy: A Chart Review

Migration is a complex phenomenon and mental illness among immigrants remains a major matter of concern in Italy and worldwide. 243 medical and pharmacy records of patients admitted to University of Foggia hospital between 2004 and 2018 were retrospectively screened and included in the study. Socio-demographic data and clinical characteristics of inpatients were compared in those with and without first-episode of mental illness (FEMI). Subjects (140 men, 103 women; aged 34.4 ± 10.2 years) represented 6.66 ± 3.73% of all hospitalizations in 15 years. Nearly half of them (48.5%) had emigrated from other European countries. 30.8% were diagnosed with a DSM-IV TR unspecified psychosis. 103 patients (42.3%) were in first-lifetime episodes of mental illness. Factors significantly associated with FEMI were: younger age, sex (men), immigrating from Africa, poor language proficiency, lower amount of prescribed psychotropics. Mental health among immigrants is of major concern in Italy. Our findings report on factors possibly associated to the onset of mental illness among immigrant psychiatric inpatients

Combined microbiological test to assess changes in an organic matrix used to avoid agricultural soil contamination, exposed to an insecticide

Combined microbiological test (Biolog Ecoplate, denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and Real Time PCR (qPCR)) were developed to evaluate the impact of repeated diazinon (DZN) applications at high concentration (40 mg kg-1) on microbial communities in a microcosm simulating the organic matrix (straw (50%): peat (25%): soil (25%) vv-1) of an pesticide biopurification system (PBS). Moreover, pesticide dissipation was also evaluated. After three successive exposition of DZN, dissipation efficiency was high; achieved 87%, 93% and 96% after each application, respectively showing a clear accelerated dissipation of this pesticide in the organic matrix. The results obtained with Biolog Ecoplate showed that community level physiological profiles were no affected by the addition of DZN. On the other hand, molecular assays (DGGE and QPCR) demonstrated that the microbial structure (bacteria and fungi) remained relatively stable over time with high DZN doses compared to control. Therefore, the results of the present study, clearly, demonstrate the high dissipation capacity of this biomixture and highlight the microbiological robustness of this biological system.Fil: Tortella, G. R.. Universidad de la Frontera. Nucleo Cientifico y Tecnologico En Recursos Naturales (bioren-ufro). Departamento de Ciencias Quimicas y Recursos Naturales; ChileFil: Salgado, E.. Universidad de la Frontera. Nucleo Cientifico y Tecnológico En Recursos Naturales; ChileFil: Cuozzo, Sergio Antonio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Tucumán. Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos (i); ArgentinaFil: Mella Herrera, R. A.. Universidad de la Frontera. Nucleo Cientifico y Tecnológico En Recursos Naturales; ChileFil: Parra, L.. Universidad de la Frontera. Núcleo Científico y Tecnológico en Recursos Naturales; ChileFil: Diez, M. C.. Universidad de la Frontera. Nucleo Cientifico y Tecnológico En Recursos Naturales; ChileFil: Rubilar, O.. Universidad de la Frontera. Nucleo Cientifico y Tecnológico En Recursos Naturales; Chil

Inhibition of C5aR1 as a promising approach to treat taxane-induced neuropathy

: Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a common side effect of several antitumor agents resulting in progressive and often irreversible damage of peripheral nerves. In addition to their known anticancer effects, taxanes, including paclitaxel, can also induce peripheral neuropathy by activating microglia and astrocytes, which release pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 1-beta (IL-1β), and chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 (CCL-2). All these events contribute to the maintenance of neuropathic or inflammatory response. Complement component 5a (C5a)/C5a receptor 1 (C5aR1) signaling was very recently shown to play a crucial role in paclitaxel-induced peripheral neuropathy. Our recent findings highlighted that taxanes have the previously unreported property of binding and activating C5aR1, and that C5aR1 inhibition by DF3966A is effective in preventing paclitaxel-induced peripheral neuropathy (PIPN) in animal models. Here, we investigated if C5aR1 inhibition maintains efficacy in reducing PIPN in a therapeutic setting. Furthermore, we characterized the role of C5aR1 activation by paclitaxel and the CIPN-associated activation of nod-like receptor (NLR) family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome. Our results clearly show that administration of the C5aR1 inhibitor strongly reduced cold and mechanical allodynia in mice when given both during the onset of PIPN and when neuropathy is well established. C5aR1 activation by paclitaxel was found to be a key event in the induction of inflammatory factors in spinal cord, such as TNF-α, ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 (Iba-1), and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). In addition, C5aR1 inhibition significantly mitigated paclitaxel-induced inflammation and inflammasome activation by reducing IL-1β and NLRP3 expression at both sciatic and dorsal root ganglia level, confirming the involvement of inflammasome in PIPN. Moreover, paclitaxel-induced upregulation of C5aR1 was significantly reduced by DF3966A treatment in central nervous system. Lastly, the antinociceptive effect of C5aR1 inhibition was confirmed in an in vitro model of sensory neurons in which we focused on receptor channels usually activated upon neuropathy. In conclusion, C5aR1 inhibition is proposed as a therapeutic option with the potential to exert long-term protective effect on PIPN-associated neuropathic pain and inflammation

Oral sodium butyrate supplementation ameliorates paclitaxel-induced behavioral and intestinal dysfunction

Paclitaxel (PTX) is one of the most broadly used chemotherapeutic agents for the treatment of several tumor types including ovarian, breast, and non-small cell lung cancer. However, its use is limited by debilitating side effects, involving both gastrointestinal and behavioral dysfunctions. Due to growing evidence showing a link between impaired gut function and chemotherapy-associated behavioral changes, the aim of this study was to identify a novel therapeutic approach to manage PTX-induced gut and brain comorbidities. Mice were pre-treated with sodium butyrate (BuNa) for 30 days before receiving PTX. After 14 days, mice underwent to behavioral analysis and biochemical investigations of gut barrier integrity and microbiota composition. Paired evaluations of gut functions revealed that the treatment with BuNa restored PTX-induced altered gut barrier integrity, microbiota composition and food intake suggesting a gut-to-brain communication. The treatment with BuNa also ameliorated depressive- and anxiety-like behaviors induced by PTX in mice, and these effects were associated with neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory outcomes. These results propose that diet supplementation with this safe postbiotic might be considered when managing PTX-induced central side effects during cancer therapy

Reemergence of missing Shapiro steps in the presence of in-plane magnetic field

In the presence of a 4$\pi$-periodic contribution to the current phase relation, for example in topological Josephson junctions, odd Shapiro steps are expected to be missing. While missing odd Shapiro steps have been observed in several material systems and interpreted in the context of topological superconductivity, they have also been observed in topologically trivial junctions. Here, we study the evolution of such trivial missing odd Shapiro steps in Al-InAs junctions in the presence of an in-plane magnetic field $B^{\theta}$. We find that the odd steps reappear at a crossover $B^{\theta}$ value, exhibiting an in-plane field angle anisotropy that depends on spin-orbit coupling effects. We interpret this behavior by theoretically analyzing the Andreev bound state spectrum and the transitions induced by the non-adiabatic dynamics of the junction. Our results highlight the complex phenomenology of missing Shapiro steps and the underlying current phase relations in planar Josephson junctions designed to realize Majorana states

Redescription of Lemuricola (Madoxyuris) bauchoti (Nematoda, Oxyuridae) from Lemur catta in Madagascar

Lemuricola (Madoxyuris) bauchoti Chabaud, Brygoo et Petter, 1965 is redescribed from material collected from the ring-tailed lemur, Lemur catta, from the Beza Mahafaly Special Reserve in Madagascar using the scanning electron microscope. This is a new host record and the first oxyurid reported from the ring-tailed lemur. Previously, records of each species of the subgenus Madoxyuris have been restricted to a single host species, but the close relationship between these nematodes and their Strepsirrhini hosts will only be proven when additional records fill in the gaps in their distribution.Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectore