Lyapunov Potential Description for Laser Dynamics

We describe the dynamical behavior of both class A and class B lasers in terms of a Lyapunov potential. For class A lasers we use the potential to analyze both deterministic and stochastic dynamics. In the stochastic case it is found that the phase of the electric field drifts with time in the steady state. For class B lasers, the potential obtained is valid in the absence of noise. In this case, a general expression relating the period of the relaxation oscillations to the potential is found. We have included in this expression the terms corresponding to the gain saturation and the mean value of the spontaneously emitted power, which were not considered previously. The validity of this expression is also discussed and a semi-empirical relation giving the period of the relaxation oscillations far from the stationary state is proposed and checked against numerical simulations.Comment: 13 pages (including 7 figures) LaTeX file. To appear in Phys Rev.A (June 1999

Imaging of THz waves in 2D photonic crystal structures embedded in a slab waveguide

We present space- and time-resolved simulations and measurements of single-cycle terahertz (THz) waves propagating through two-dimensional (2D) photonic crystal structures embedded in a slab waveguide. Specifically, we use a plane wave expansion technique to calculate the band structure and a time-dependent finite-element method to simulate the temporal evolution of the THz waves. Experimentally, we measure the space–time evolution of the THz waves through a coherent time-resolved imaging method. Three different structures are laser machined in LiNbO3 crystal slabs and analyzing the transmitted as well as the reflected THz waveforms allows determination of the bandgaps. Comparing the results with the calculated band diagrams and the time-dependent simulations shows that the experiments are consistent with 3D simulations, which include the slab waveguide geometry, the birefringence of the material, and a careful analysis of the excited modes within the band diagrams.Swiss National Science Foundation (project no. 200020-119934

Specificity of the Multi-Target Stool DNA Test for Colorectal Cancer Screening in Average-Risk 45–49 Year-Olds: A Cross-Sectional Study

High-specificity colorectal cancer screening is desirable to triage patients <50 years for colonoscopy; however, most endorsed colorectal cancer screening tests have not been rigorously evaluated in younger populations. This prospective cross-sectional study determined the specificity of the multitarget stool DNA (mt-sDNA) test in an average-risk screening population of 45 to 49 year-olds. Specificity was the primary outcome and was measured in participants without colorectal cancer or advanced precancerous lesions [APL– advanced adenomas (AA), and sessile serrated lesions ≥10 mm], and in the subgroup of participants with negative colonoscopic findings. APL sensitivity was a secondary outcome. The evaluable cohort included those who completed the study without protocol deviations and had a usable mt-sDNA test. Of 983 enrolled participants, 816 formed the evaluable cohort, with a mean age of 47.8 (SD, 1.5) years; 47.7% were women. No participants had colorectal cancer, 49 had APL, 253 had nonadvanced adenomas (NAA), and 514 had negative colonoscopic findings. mt-sDNA test specificity was 95.2% (95% CI, 93.4–96.6) in participants with NAA or negative findings [96.3% (confidence interval (CI), 94.3%–97.8%)] in those with negative findings, and did not differ by sex (P = 0.75) or race (P = 0.36) in participants with NAA or negative findings. Sensitivity for APL was 32.7% (CI, 19.9–47.5%), with most APL (83.7%) measuring 10–19 mm and none having high-grade dysplasia. The area under the ROC curve for discriminating between APL and lesser findings was 0.72 (CI, 0.64–0.81). mt-sDNA's high specificity would help minimize risk from unnecessary diagnostic procedures in this age group. This study shows that mt-sDNA has high specificity among average-risk 45 to 49-year olds, supporting its use as a noninvasive option for colorectal cancer screening

Structural and dynamic disorder, not ionic trapping, controls charge transport in highly doped conducting polymers

Doped organic semiconductors are critical to emerging device applications, including thermoelectrics, bioelectronics, and neuromorphic computing devices. It is commonly assumed that low conductivities in these materials result primarily from charge trapping by the Coulomb potentials of the dopant counter-ions. Here, we present a combined experimental and theoretical study rebutting this belief. Using a newly developed doping technique, we find the conductivity of several classes of high-mobility conjugated polymers to be strongly correlated with paracrystalline disorder but poorly correlated with ionic size, suggesting that Coulomb traps do not limit transport. A general model for interacting electrons in highly doped polymers is proposed and carefully parameterized against atomistic calculations, enabling the calculation of electrical conductivity within the framework of transient localisation theory. Theoretical calculations are in excellent agreement with experimental data, providing insights into the disordered-limited nature of charge transport and suggesting new strategies to further improve conductivities

Structural and dynamic disorder, not ionic trapping, controls charge transport in highly doped conducting polymers

Doped organic semiconductors are critical to emerging device applications, including thermoelectrics, bioelectronics, and neuromorphic computing devices. It is commonly assumed that low conductivities in these materials result primarily from charge trapping by the Coulomb potentials of the dopant counter-ions. Here, we present a combined experimental and theoretical study rebutting this belief. Using a newly developed doping technique, we find the conductivity of several classes of high-mobility conjugated polymers to be strongly correlated with paracrystalline disorder but poorly correlated with ionic size, suggesting that Coulomb traps do not limit transport. A general model for interacting electrons in highly doped polymers is proposed and carefully parameterized against atomistic calculations, enabling the calculation of electrical conductivity within the framework of transient localisation theory. Theoretical calculations are in excellent agreement with experimental data, providing insights into the disordered-limited nature of charge transport and suggesting new strategies to further improve conductivities

Compartments in medulloblastoma with extensive nodularity are connected through differentiation along the granular precursor lineage

\ua9 2024, The Author(s).Medulloblastomas with extensive nodularity are cerebellar tumors characterized by two distinct compartments and variable disease progression. The mechanisms governing the balance between proliferation and differentiation in MBEN remain poorly understood. Here, we employ a multi-modal single cell transcriptome analysis to dissect this process. In the internodular compartment, we identify proliferating cerebellar granular neuronal precursor-like malignant cells, along with stromal, vascular, and immune cells. In contrast, the nodular compartment comprises postmitotic, neuronally differentiated malignant cells. Both compartments are connected through an intermediate cell stage resembling actively migrating CGNPs. Notably, we also discover astrocytic-like malignant cells, found in proximity to migrating and differentiated cells at the transition zone between the two compartments. Our study sheds light on the spatial tissue organization and its link to the developmental trajectory, resulting in a more benign tumor phenotype. This integrative approach holds promise to explore intercompartmental interactions in other cancers with varying histology

Correction to: Compartments in medulloblastoma with extensive nodularity are connected through differentiation along the granular precursor lineage (Nature Communications, (2024), 15, 1, (269), 10.1038/s41467-023-44117-x)

\ua9 The Author(s) 2024.Correction to: Nature Communications https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-44117-x, published online 08 January 2024 In the Acknowledgements section, the following sentence ‘The development of spatial transcriptomics protocol was supported by the START-HD project within the HMLS Explorer program of the University of Heidelberg’ should have read ‘The development of spatial transcriptomics protocols was supported by the Baden- W\ufcrttemberg Stiftung (project MET-ID41-STARFISH) and by the HMLS Explorer program of the University of Heidelberg (project START-HD). The original article has been corrected