Theoretical study of the absorption spectra of the sodium dimer

Absorption of radiation from the sodium dimer molecular states correlating to Na(3s)-Na(3s) is investigated theoretically. Vibrational bound and continuum transitions from the singlet X Sigma-g+ state to the first excited singlet A Sigma-u+ and singlet B Pi-u states and from the triplet a Sigma-u+ state to the first excited triplet b Sigma-g+ and triplet c Pi-g states are studied quantum-mechanically. Theoretical and experimental data are used to characterize the molecular properties taking advantage of knowledge recently obtained from ab initio calculations, spectroscopy, and ultra-cold atom collision studies. The quantum-mechanical calculations are carried out for temperatures in the range from 500 to 3000 K and are compared with previous calculations and measurements where available.Comment: 19 pages, 8 figures, revtex, eps

Corrigendum to “Counting adolescents in: the development of an adolescent health indicator framework for population-based settings”

The authors were recently made aware of an oversight such that parts of the text in the Introduction and Methods sections, which describe shortcomings in the existing literature and the methods in this work to identify frameworks and indicators, were missing attribution to published work cited elsewhere in the manuscript. To clarify, we adjust the relevant sections to fully attribute the prior work in three areas, as described below. Underlined text is additional to the original: While both school- and community-based modalities can provide nationally representative data among eligible adolescents, several shortcomings in adolescent health measurement in LMICs were noted by the GAMA Advisory Group (Reference 13 as in the original paper). First, these measurements do not equally cover all adolescent subgroups, with evidence gaps being largest for males, younger adolescents aged 10–14 years, adolescents of diverse genders, ethnicities, and religions, as well as those out of school and migrants. Second, age-disaggregated data are often lacking—due in part to incomplete age coverage—limiting their use for program planning. Third, several aspects of adolescent health are inadequately covered including mental health, substance use, injury, sexual and reproductive health among unmarried adolescents, and positive aspects of adolescent health and well-being. Fourth, the definitions and assessment methods used across adolescent health indicator frameworks are inconsistent. For example, adolescent overweight and obesity—a major cause of non-communicable diseases and a public health risk for future and intergeneration health—is inconsistently captured across indicator frameworks and strikingly absent from the SDGs (Reference 13 as in the original paper). Additional shortcomings include, current adolescent health data systems often lack intersectoral coordination beyond health (e.g., with education, water and sanitation, and social protection systems) and suffer from irregularities in coverage and timing (Reference 6 as in the original paper). Broadly, these indicator frameworks and strategy documents captured disease burden, health risks, and prominent social determinants of health during adolescence. To be congruent with the existing global recommendations and guidelines (References 3–7 as in the original paper) and global measurement efforts (References 10 and 16 as in the original paper), the indicator framework documents had to meet three inclusion criteria, as laid out by the GAMA Advisory Group (Reference 14 as in the original paper): (1) provide recommendations about the measurement of adolescents' health and well-being; (2) include indicators for “adolescents” covering the adolescent age range (10–19 years) in the whole or part; and (3) be global or regional in scope. Using the GAMA's approach (Reference 13 as in the original paper), the recommendations of Lancet Adolescent Health Commission (Reference 6 as in the original paper), and several other guidelines (References 7, 9, 12, 17–19 as in the original paper), we selected adolescent health and well-being domains based on four key aspects of adolescents in LMICs: a) population trends; b) disease burden; c) drivers of health inequality; and d) opportunity for interventions

Counting adolescents in: the development of an adolescent health indicator framework for population-based settings

Changing realities in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) in terms of inequalities, urbanization, globalization, migration, and economic adversity shape adolescent development and health, as well as successful transitions between adolescence and young adulthood. It is estimated that 90% of adolescents live in LMICs in 2019, but inadequate data exist to inform evidence-based and concerted policies and programs tailored to address the distinctive developmental and health needs of adolescents. Population-based data surveillance such as Health and Demographic Surveillance Systems (HDSS) and school-based surveys provide access to a well-defined population and provide cost-effective opportunities to fill in data gaps about adolescent health and well-being by collecting population-representative longitudinal data. The Africa Research Implementation Science and Education (ARISE) Network, therefore, systematically developed adolescent health and well-being indicators and a questionnaire for measuring these indicators that can be used in population-based LMIC settings. We conducted a multistage collaborative and iterative process led by network members alongside consultation with health-domain and adolescent health experts globally. Seven key domains emerged from this process: socio-demographics, health awareness and behaviors; nutrition; mental health; sexual and reproductive health; substance use; and healthcare utilization. For each domain, we generated a clear definition; rationale for inclusion; sub-domain descriptions, and a set of questions for measurement. The ARISE Network will implement the questionnaire longitudinally (i.e., at two time-points one year apart) at ten sites in seven countries in sub-Saharan Africa and two countries in Asia. Integrating the questionnaire within established population-based data collection platforms such as HDSS and school settings can provide measured experiences of young people to inform policy and program planning and evaluation in LMICs and improve adolescent health and well-being

Genetically-controlled Vesicle-Associated Membrane Protein 1 expression may contribute to Alzheimer’s pathophysiology and susceptibility

Background Alzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder in which extracellular deposition of β-amyloid (Aβ) oligomers causes synaptic injury resulting in early memory loss, altered homeostasis, accumulation of hyperphosphorylated tau and cell death. Since proteins in the SNAP (Soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor Attachment Protein) REceptors (SNARE) complex are essential for neuronal Aβ release at pre-synaptic terminals, we hypothesized that genetically controlled SNARE expression could alter neuronal Aß release at the synapse and hence play an early role in Alzheimer’s pathophysiology. Results Here we report 5 polymorphisms in Vesicle-Associated Membrane Protein 1 (VAMP1), a gene encoding a member of the SNARE complex, associated with bidirectionally altered cerebellar VAMP1 transcript levels (all p < 0.05). At the functional level, we demonstrated that control of VAMP1 expression by heterogeneous knockdown in mice resulted in up to 74% reduction in neuronal Aβ exocytosis (p < 0.001). We performed a case-control association study of the 5 VAMP1 expression regulating polymorphisms in 4,667 Alzheimer’s disease patients and 6,175 controls to determine their contribution to Alzheimer’s disease risk. We found that polymorphisms associated with increased brain VAMP1 transcript levels conferred higher risk for Alzheimer’s disease than those associated with lower VAMP1 transcript levels (p = 0.03). Moreover, we also report a modest protective association for a common VAMP1 polymorphism with Alzheimer’s disease risk (OR = 0.88, p = 0.03). This polymorphism was associated with decreased VAMP1 transcript levels (p = 0.02) and was functionally active in a dual luciferase reporter gene assay (p < 0.01). Conclusions Genetically regulated VAMP1 expression in the brain may modify both Alzheimer’s disease risk and may contribute to Alzheimer’s pathophysiology

Mutation of Rubie, a Novel Long Non-Coding RNA Located Upstream of Bmp4, Causes Vestibular Malformation in Mice

Background: The vestibular apparatus of the vertebrate inner ear uses three fluid-filled semicircular canals to sense angular acceleration of the head. Malformation of these canals disrupts the sense of balance and frequently causes circling behavior in mice. The Epistatic circler (Ecl) is a complex mutant derived from wildtype SWR/J and C57L/J mice. Ecl circling has been shown to result from the epistatic interaction of an SWR-derived locus on chromosome 14 and a C57L-derived locus on chromosome 4, but the causative genes have not been previously identified. Methodology/Principal Findings: We developed a mouse chromosome substitution strain (CSS-14) that carries an SWR/J chromosome 14 on a C57BL/10J genetic background and, like Ecl, exhibits circling behavior due to lateral semicircular canal malformation. We utilized CSS-14 to identify the chromosome 14 Ecl gene by positional cloning. Our candidate interval is located upstream of bone morphogenetic protein 4 (Bmp4) and contains an inner ear-specific, long non-coding RNA that we have designated Rubie (RNA upstream of Bmp4 expressed in inner ear). Rubie is spliced and polyadenylated, and is expressed in developing semicircular canals. However, we discovered that the SWR/J allele of Rubie is disrupted by an intronic endogenous retrovirus that causes aberrant splicing and premature polyadenylation of the transcript. Rubie lies in the conserved gene desert upstream of Bmp4, within a region previously shown to be important for inner ear expression of Bmp4. We found that the expression patterns of Bmp4 and Rubie are nearly identical in developing inner ears