ZikaPLAN: Zika Preparedness Latin American Network

The ongoing Zika virus (ZIKV) outbreak in Latin America, the Caribbean, and the Pacific Islands has underlined the need for a coordinated research network across the whole region that can respond rapidly to address the current knowledge gaps in Zika and enhance research preparedness beyond Zika. The European Union under its Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme awarded three research consortia to respond to this need. Here we present the ZikaPLAN (Zika Preparedness Latin American Network) consortium. ZikaPLAN combines the strengths of 25 partners in Latin America, North America, Africa, Asia, and various centers in Europe. We will conduct clinical studies to estimate the risk and further define the full spectrum and risk factors of congenital Zika virus syndrome (including neurodevelopmental milestones in the first 3 years of life), delineate neurological complications associated with ZIKV due to direct neuroinvasion and immune-mediated responses in older children and adults, and strengthen surveillance for birth defects and Guillain-Barré Syndrome. Laboratory-based research to unravel neurotropism and investigate the role of sexual transmission, determinants of severe disease, and viral fitness will underpin the clinical studies. Social messaging and engagement with affected communities, as well as development of wearable repellent technologies against Aedes mosquitoes will enhance the impact. Burden of disease studies, data-driven vector control, and vaccine modeling as well as risk assessments on geographic spread of ZIKV will form the foundation for evidence-informed policies. While addressing the research gaps around ZIKV, we will engage in capacity building in laboratory and clinical research, collaborate with existing and new networks to share knowledge, and work with international organizations to tackle regulatory and other bottlenecks and refine research priorities. In this way, we can leverage the ZIKV response toward building a long-term emerging infectious diseases response capacity in the region to address future challenges

Analytical fitting model for rough-surface BRDF

A physics-based model is developed for rough surface BRDF, taking into account angles of incidence and scattering, effective index, surface autocovariance, and correlation length. Shadowing is introduced on surface correlation length and reflectance. Separate terms are included for surface scatter, bulk scatter and retroreflection. Using the FindFit function in Mathematica, the functional form is fitted to BRDF measurements over a wide range of incident angles. The model has fourteen fitting parameters; once these are fixed, the model accurately describes scattering data over two orders of magnitude in BRDF without further adjustment. The resulting analytical model is convenient for numerical computations

Four-parameter model for polarization-resolved rough-surface BRDF

A modeling procedure is demonstrated, which allows representation of polarization-resolved BRDF data using only four parameters: the real and imaginary parts of an effective refractive index with an added parameter taking grazing incidence absorption into account and an angular-scattering parameter determined from the BRDF measurement of a chosen angle of incidence, preferably close to normal incidence. These parameters allow accurate predictions of s- and p-polarized BRDF for a painted rough surface, over three decades of variation in BRDF magnitude. To characterize any particular surface of interest, the measurements required to determine these four parameters are the directional hemispherical reflectance (DHR) for s- and p-polarized input radiation and the BRDF at a selected angle of incidence. The DHR data describes the angular and polarization dependence, as well as providing the overall normalization constraint. The resulting model conserves energy and fulfills the reciprocity criteria

DIRECT OBSERVATION OF A2ΠrA^{2}\Pi_{r} AND B2Σ+B^{2}\Sigma^{+} IN NaNe VIA LASER INDUCED FLUORESCENCE

This work is supported by the National Science Foundation Contract PHY-77-09155.Author Institution: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyThe Van der Waals molecule NaHe produced in a supersonic expansion has been studied with a single-mode dye laser. Excitation spectra of $A^{2} \Pi_{r} \leftarrow X^{2} \Sigma^{+}$ and $B^{2} \Sigma^{+} \leftarrow X^{2}\Sigma^{+}$ transitions were obtained by monitoring the total laser-induced fluorescence. The analysis of the spectra was performed using the classical, technique of combination differences, and the vibrational numbering of the $A^{2} \Pi_{r}$ state was determined from isotope shifts. The $v_{\Pi} = 3,4,5$, and 6 vibrational levels of the $A^{2} \Pi_{r}$ state have been observed. The spin orbit constant $A_{\Pi}$ varies from $12.109\, cm^{-1}, 11.968\,cm^{-1}$ for $v_{\Pi} = 2,3,4$ to $15,379 cm^{-1}$ for $v_{\Pi} = 6$. The lower vibrational levels are close to the theoretical Hund’s case ``a” value $11.464 cm^{-1}$ and are well described by a Hand’s case ``a” basic set. Higher vibrational levels tend to approach Hund’s case ``c” because of strong interaction with the $B^{2} \Sigma^{+}$ state. The observed $B^{2} \Sigma^{+}$ level is best described by a core ``c” basic set; however, it is not known if the single, observed $B^{2} \Sigma^{+}$ level is the lowest vibrational level. An upper limit on the repulsive part of the $B^{2} \Sigma^{+}$ potential can be obtained from the observed $\Lambda$ doubling of the $A \Pi_{1/2}, v_{\Pi} = 3,4$ levels. The long range analysis of the $A^{2}\Pi$ potential is complicated by the $A^{2}\Pi - B^{2} \Sigma^{+}$ interactions for high $v_{\Pi}$ levels. An extended analysis of higher $v_{\Pi}$ levels, where a Hund’s case ``c” basic set is applicable, is now in progress

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Group Intervention for Parents of Children with Disabilities (Navigator ACT) : An Open Feasibility Trial

Parents of children with autism spectrum disorder and other disabilities report high levels of distress, but systematically evaluated interventions are few. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of a novel, manualized Acceptance and Commitment Therapy group intervention (Navigator ACT) in a sample of 94 parents of children with disabilities. Feasibility was measured by treatment completion, credibility, and satisfaction, and preliminary outcomes by using self-rating scales administered at the baseline, post-intervention, and follow-up. The results imply the intervention is feasible in the context of Swedish outpatient habilitation services. A preliminary analysis of the outcome measures suggests that parents experienced significant improvements in well-being. The results indicate that the treatment is feasible and should be evaluated in a randomized controlled trial.peerReviewe

Infrared image scintillation: comparison of modeling and measurement

Atmospheric scintillation effects on point targets and small targets are studied in the middle-wave infrared (MWIR) band over a 2.5-km horizontal path. Expressions are presented for both exact numerical calculations and for a Gaussian-aperture approximation of scintillation that has an accurate analytic solution. Experimental results show that measurements of C-n(2) using a commercial NIR scintillometer allow the prediction of average scintillation levels in the MWIR when corrections are made for wavelength and dimensions of the source and receiver. The measured log-irradiance values are approximately lognormal, and are about a factor of 2 higher than would have been expected from theory. Our results are relevant for analysis of detection and false-alarm probabilities over long horizontal paths in the MWIR