State detection using coherent Raman repumping and two-color Raman transfers

We demonstrate state detection based on coherent Raman repumping and a two-color Raman state transfer. The Raman coupling during detection selectively eliminates unwanted dark states in the fluorescence cycle without compromising the immunity of the desired dark state to off-resonant scattering. We demonstrate this technique using $^{137}\mathrm{Ba}^+$ where a combination of Raman coupling and optical pumping leaves the $D_{3/2}$ $\ket{F"=3,m_F"=3}$ metastable state optically dark and immune to off-resonant scattering. All other states are strongly coupled to the upper $P_{1/2}$ levels. We achieve a single shot state-detection efficiency of $89.6(3)$ in a $1\mathrm{ms}$ integration time, limited almost entirely by technical imperfections. Shelving to the $\ket{F"=3,m_F"=3}$ state before detection is performed via a two-color Raman transfer with a fidelity of $1.00(3)$

“Maniac” and “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend”: A Novel Adaptation of Two TV Series for Classroom Undergraduate Psychiatry Education in an Age of COVID-19 Social Distancing

Aim: Psychiatry has traditionally been taught bedside. Multiple ethical and logistics issues preclude use of certain patient groups, and in the current COVID-19 pandemic, there is the additional obstacle of not being able to access bedside patients. There is utility in using new media, e.g., television and movies, in psychiatry education. Methods: “Maniac” and “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend”, both available on Netflix, were used in an undergraduate psychiatry module to illustrate clinical lessons regarding schizophrenia and borderline personality disorder respectively. Results: “Maniac” was helpful in illustrating subtle changes in affect, occupational and social dysfunction, and showcasing disrupted family dynamics and distress from experiencing hallucinations and delusions. “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” was instructional in crystallising psychopathology of borderline personality disorder and providing more nuanced, less cross-sectional views of psychiatric illness. Conclusions: Even though television and movies will and should not replace face-to-face bedside teaching as a primary mode of education, they are an adjunct to stimulate discussion and observe psychopathologies that are ethically difficult to capture. Both of them can be used judiciously in the current COVID-19 pandemic as bedside teaching substitutes

“Maniac” and “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend”: A Novel Adaptation of Two TV Series for Classroom Undergraduate Psychiatry Education in an Age of COVID-19 Social Distancing

Aim: Psychiatry has traditionally been taught bedside. Multiple ethical and logistics issues preclude use of certain patient groups, and in the current COVID-19 pandemic, there is the additional obstacle of not being able to access bedside patients. There is utility in using new media, e.g., television and movies, in psychiatry education. Methods: “Maniac” and “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend”, both available on Netflix, were used in an undergraduate psychiatry module to illustrate clinical lessons regarding schizophrenia and borderline personality disorder respectively. Results: “Maniac” was helpful in illustrating subtle changes in affect, occupational and social dysfunction, and showcasing disrupted family dynamics and distress from experiencing hallucinations and delusions. “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” was instructional in crystallising psychopathology of borderline personality disorder and providing more nuanced, less cross-sectional views of psychiatric illness. Conclusions: Even though television and movies will and should not replace face-to-face bedside teaching as a primary mode of education, they are an adjunct to stimulate discussion and observe psychopathologies that are ethically difficult to capture. Both of them can be used judiciously in the current COVID-19 pandemic as bedside teaching substitutes

Dietary microencapsulated organic acids blend enhances growth, phosphorus utilization, immune response, hepatopancreatic integrity and resistance against Vibrio harveyi in white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei

Research on the effects of organic acid supplementations to the diets of aquacultured animals is receiving increasing global attention as a growth promoter and prophylactic against bacterial pathogens. Three separate experiments were conducted on Pacific white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei, when fed diets supplemented with different levels of a microencapsulated organic acids blend (OAB) at 0% (control), 1%, 2%, or 4%. The first experiment was performed to examine the growth performance, phenoloxidase (PO) activity, total presumptive Vibrio spp. colony forming units (CFU) in the hepatopancreas and histology of the hepatopancreas of the post larvae (PL 36) shrimp (initial weight 0.123 ± 0.010 g) fed these diets after 50 days. Results showed shrimp fed the 2% OAB diet had significantly higher (P 0.05). In the second experiment, dry matter and phosphorus digestibility was measured and results showed the 2% OAB diet led to significantly better digestibility than the control treatment. For the third experiment, the resistance of the shrimp to Vibrio harveyi was investigated over 10 days and subsequent effects to PO activity and hepatopancreatic histopathology determined. Results demonstrated that the 1% and 2% OAB diets led to significantly higher survival than those fed the control or 4% OAB diet. PO activity was significantly higher for shrimp fed the OAB supplemented diets as well showing less hepatopancreatic damage. These findings indicate that the OAB used can substantially improve productivity and resistance to pathogenic bacteria and may be a viable alternative to the use of antibiotics in the shrimp industry. This is the first study showing the hepatopancreatic protective properties of dietary organic acids against vibriosis in shrimp

Calcific Aortic Stenosis A Disease of the Valve and the Myocardium

Although aortic stenosis is a common condition associated with major morbidity, mortality, and health economic costs, there are currently no medical interventions capable of delaying or halting its progression. Re-evaluation of the underlying pathophysiology is therefore required so that novel therapeutic strategies can be developed. Aortic stenosis is characterized by progressive aortic valve narrowing and secondary left ventricular hypertrophy. Both processes are important because in combination they drive the development of symptoms and adverse events that characterize the latter stages of the disease. In this review, the authors examine the pathophysiology of aortic stenosis with respect to both the valve and the myocardium. In particular, the authors focus on the role of inflammation, fibrosis, and calcification in progressive valve narrowing and then examine the development of left ventricular hypertrophy, its subsequent decompensation, and the transition to heart failure. Finally the authors discuss potential therapeutic strategies on the basis of similarities aortic stenosis shares with other pathological conditions

Design of Field Experiments for Adaptive Sampling of the Ocean with Autonomous Vehicles

Due to the highly non-linear and dynamical nature of oceanic phenomena, the predictive capability of various ocean models depends on the availability of operational data. A practical method to improve the accuracy of the ocean forecast is to use a data assimilation methodology to combine in-situ measured and remotely acquired data with numerical forecast models of the physical environment. Autonomous surface and underwater vehicles with various sensors are economic and efficient tools for exploring and sampling the ocean for data assimilation; however there is an energy limitation to such vehicles, and thus effective resource allocation for adaptive sampling is required to optimize the efficiency of exploration. In this paper, we use physical oceanography forecasts of the coastal zone of Singapore for the design of a set of field experiments to acquire useful data for model calibration and data assimilation. The design process of our experiments relied on the oceanography forecast including the current speed, its gradient, and vorticity in a given region of interest for which permits for field experiments could be obtained and for time intervals that correspond to strong tidal currents. Based on these maps, resources available to our experimental team, including Autonomous Surface Craft (ASC) are allocated so as to capture the oceanic features that result from jets and vortices behind bluff bodies (e.g., islands) in the tidal current. Results are summarized from this resource allocation process and field experiments conducted in January 2009.Singapore. National Research Foundatio

Effects of dietary probiotics on the growth and feeding efficiency of red hybrid tilapia, Oreochromis sp., and subsequent resistance to Streptococcus agalactiae

An eight-week trial was performed to evaluate three commercial/prototype probiotics supplemented in red hybrid tilapia, Oreochromis sp. diets. Triplicate groups of tilapia were measured for growth performance, feeding efficiencies, and whole-body composition. After the feeding trial, duplicate groups of tilapia were assessed for their resistance to Streptococcus agalactiae over 23 days. Six diets were supplemented with 0.1% or 0.3% PB1 consisting of Bacillus subtilis, 0.1% or 0.3% PB2 consisting of B. licheniformis or 0.1% MPB consisting of Bacillus sp. and Pediococcus sp. Probiotics had no effect (p > 0.05) on growth or feeding efficiencies, although whole-body crude protein was significantly higher in the PB1 0.3% treatment. Tilapia in the probiotic treatments had a higher resistance to S. agalactiae and, with the exception of the PB2 0.1% diet, were all significantly higher than the control treatment. Although the tested probiotics were not growth promoters, dietary B. subtilis was the most effective prophylactic against pathogenic bacteria

The Balance between Plasmacytoid DC versus Conventional DC Determines Pulmonary Immunity to Virus Infections

Background: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infects nearly all infants by age 2 and is a leading cause of broncialitis. RSV may employ several mechanisms to induce immune dysregulation, including dentritic cell (DC) modulation during the immune response to RSV. Methods and Findings: Expansion of cDC and pDC by Flt3L treatment promoted an anti-viral response with reduced pathophysiology characterized by decreased airway hyperreactivity, reduced Th2 cytokines, increased Th1 cytokines, and a reduction in airway inflammation and mucus overexpression. These protective aspects of DC expansion could be completely reversed by depleting pDCs during the RSV infections. Expansion of DCs by Flt3L treatment enhanced in CD8+ T cell responses, which was reversed by depletion of pDC. Conclusions: These results indicate that a balance between cDC and pDC in the lung and its lymph nodes is crucial for the outcome of a pulmonary infection. Increased pDC numbers induced by Flt3L treatment have a protective impact on the nature of the overall immune environment