Attosecond screening dynamics mediated by electron-localization

Transition metals with their densely confined and strongly coupled valence electrons are key constituents of many materials with unconventional properties, such as high-Tc superconductors, Mott insulators and transition-metal dichalcogenides. Strong electron interaction offers a fast and efficient lever to manipulate their properties with light, creating promising potential for next-generation electronics. However, the underlying dynamics is a fast and intricate interplay of polarization and screening effects, which is poorly understood. It is hidden below the femtosecond timescale of electronic thermalization, which follows the light-induced excitation. Here, we investigate the many-body electron dynamics in transition metals before thermalization sets in. We combine the sensitivity of intra-shell transitions to screening effects with attosecond time resolution to uncover the interplay of photo-absorption and screening. First-principles time-dependent calculations allow us to assign our experimental observations to ultrafast electronic localization on d-orbitals. The latter modifies the whole electronic structure as well as the collective dynamic response of the system on a timescale much faster than the light-field cycle. Our results demonstrate a possibility for steering the electronic properties of solids prior to electron thermalization, suggesting that the ultimate speed of electronic phase transitions is limited only by the duration of the controlling laser pulse. Furthermore, external control of the local electronic density serves as a fine tool for testing state-of-the art models of electron-electron interactions. We anticipate our study to facilitate further investigations of electronic phase transitions, laser-metal interactions and photo-absorption in correlated electron systems on its natural timescale

Control over imidazoquinoline immune stimulation by pH-degradable poly(norbornene) nanogels

The reactivation of the innate immune system by toll-like receptor (TLR) agonists holds promise for anticancer immunotherapy. Severe side effects caused by unspecific and systemic activation of the immune system upon intravenous injection prevent the use of small-molecule TLR agonists for such purposes. However, a covalent attachment of small-molecule imidazoquinoline (IMDQ) TLR7/8 agonists to pH-degradable polymeric nanogels could be shown to drastically reduce the systemic inflammation but retain the activity to tumoral tissues and their draining lymph nodes. Here, we introduce the synthesis of poly(norbornene)-based, acid-degradable nanogels for the covalent ligation of IMDQs. While the intact nanogels trigger sufficient TLR7/8 receptor stimulation, their degraded version of soluble, IMDQ-conjugated poly(norbornene) chains hardly activates TLR7/8. This renders their clinical safety profile, as degradation products are obtained, which would not only circumvent nanoparticle accumulation in the body but also provide nonactive, polymer-bound IMDQ species. Their immunologically silent behavior guarantees both spatial and temporal control over immune activity and, thus, holds promise for improved clinical applications

Alternative activation of macrophages by filarial nematodes is MyD88-independent

AbstractAlternative macrophage activation is largely defined by IL-4Rα stimulation but the contribution of Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling to this phenotype is not currently known. We have investigated macrophage activation status under Th2 conditions in the absence of the core TLR adaptor molecule, MyD88. No impairment was observed in the ability of MyD88-deficient bone marrow derived macrophages to produce or express alternative activation markers, including arginase, RELM-α or Ym1, in response to IL-4 treatment in vitro. Further, we observed no difference in the ability of peritoneal exudate cells from nematode implanted wild type (WT) or MyD88-deficient mice to produce arginase or express the alternative activation markers RELM-α or Ym1. Therefore, MyD88 is not a fundamental requirement for Th2-driven macrophage alternative activation, either in vitro or in vivo

Arginase-1–Expressing Macrophages Suppress Th2 Cytokine–Driven Inflammation and Fibrosis

Macrophage-specific expression of Arginase-1 is commonly believed to promote inflammation, fibrosis, and wound healing by enhancing L-proline, polyamine, and Th2 cytokine production. Here, however, we show that macrophage-specific Arg1 functions as an inhibitor of inflammation and fibrosis following infection with the Th2-inducing pathogen Schistosoma mansoni. Although susceptibility to infection was not affected by the conditional deletion of Arg1 in macrophages, Arg1−/flox;LysMcre mice died at an accelerated rate. The mortality was not due to acute Th1/NOS2-mediated hepatotoxicity or endotoxemia. Instead, granulomatous inflammation, liver fibrosis, and portal hypertension increased in infected Arg1−/flox;LysMcre mice. Similar findings were obtained with Arg1flox/flox;Tie2cre mice, which delete Arg1 in all macrophage populations. Production of Th2 cytokines increased in the infected Arg1−/flox;LysMcre mice, and unlike alternatively activated wild-type macrophages, Arg1−/flox;LysMcre macrophages failed to inhibit T cell proliferation in vitro, providing an underlying mechanism for the exacerbated Th2 pathology. The suppressive activity of Arg1-expressing macrophages was independent of IL-10 and TGF-β1. However, when exogenous L-arginine was provided, T cell proliferation was restored, suggesting that Arg1-expressing macrophages deplete arginine, which is required to sustain CD4+ T cell responses. These data identify Arg1 as the essential suppressive mediator of alternatively activated macrophages (AAM) and demonstrate that Arg1-expressing macrophages function as suppressors rather than inducers of Th2-dependent inflammation and fibrosis

Moving towards a successful medical-psycho-pedagogical centre: Analytical study of management aspects

Introduction. Today, the concept of management has become increasingly complex. Many medical-social organisations now help to understand this complexity, enabling managers to support executives throughout their medical-social work. Aim. The aim of the present research is to explore the correlations between managerial aspects in medico-social organisations in order to understand their links and identify avenues for improvement to increase operational efficiency and quality of care. Methodology and research methods. The authors employed a quantitative approach, based on a correlational study rather than an experimental one. The sample consisted of 100 Medical-Psycho-Pedagogical Centres (CMPP) in the Ile-de-France region, France. To collect the information, the directors of these centres were invited to fill in the questionnaire sent by the Google Forms platform, via the e-mail addresses of each centre. The results were processed with IBM SPSS 29. Results and scientific novelty. The results showed that there were statistically significant correlations between the managerial criteria of a high and significant percentage. There was a very high level of significance between the aspects “Structure and team management” and “Patient data management” (98%), and between the aspects “Quality and safety of care” and “Structure and team management” (91%). As for “Inter-professional cooperation” and “Quality and safety of care” aspects, this was significant at 70%. Finally, the aspects “Accessibility and continuity of care”, and “Continuing education” correlate significantly at 85%. In sum, the findings demonstrate that, out of the 22 correlations that were computed, 20 relationships are significant (i.e. 90.90% of the relationships), attesting to the superior management structure of French centres. Practical significance. The contribution of the present study consists in identifying the dimensions of managerial aspects described in the review of management literature. Of course, the purpose of this work is not to justify one style or to privilege one style over another, but to contribute to the explanation of the reality of the management of health, social and medico-social establishments and to take them as a system to be followed in the management of CMPPs in Morocco.Введение. Сегодня понятие менеджмента становится все более сложным. Многие медико-социальные организации помогают понять эту сложность, позволяя менеджерам оказывать поддержку руководителям на протяжении всей их работы. Цель исследования – изучить корреляции между управленческими аспектами в медико-социальных организациях, чтобы понять их связи и определить пути улучшения для повышения операционной эффективности и качества медицинской помощи. Методология, методы и методики. Авторы использовали количественный подход, основанный на корреляционном исследовании, а не на экспериментальном. Выборка состояла из 100 медико-психолого-педагогических центров в регионе Иль-де-Франс, Франция. Для сбора информации директорам этих центров было предложено заполнить анкету, разосланную с помощью платформы Google Forms по электронным адресам каждого центра. Для обработки результатов использовалась программа IBM SPSS 29. Результаты и научная новизна. Результаты показали, что между управленческими критериями существует статистически значимая корреляция в высоком и значимом проценте. Очень высокий уровень значимости наблюдался между аспектами «Структура и управление командой» и «Управление данными о пациентах» (98 %), а также между аспектами «Качество и безопасность медицинской помощи» и «Структура и управление командой» (91 %). Что касается аспектов «Межпрофессиональне сотрудничество и качество» и «Безопасность медицинской помощи», то здесь значимость составила 70 %. Наконец, аспекты «Доступность и непрерывность медицинской помощи» и «Непрерывное образование» коррелируют между собой на 85 %. В целом, полученные результаты показывают, что из 22 вычисленных корреляций 20 взаимосвязей (т. е. 90,9 %) являются значимыми, что подтверждает отличную систему управления французских центров. Практическая значимость. Вклад настоящего исследования состоит в определении измерения управленческих аспектов, представленных в обзоре управленческой литературы. Конечно, основное значение этой работы заключается не в том, чтобы оправдать один стиль или отдать предпочтение одному стилю перед другим, а в том, чтобы внести свой вклад в объяснение реальности управления медицинскими, социальными и медико-социальными учреждениями и принять их как систему, которой следует следовать в управлении медико-психолого-педагогических центров в Марокко

A search for resonant production of ttˉt\bar{t} pairs in $4.8\ \rm{fb}^{-1}ofintegratedluminosityof of integrated luminosity of p\bar{p}collisionsat collisions at \sqrt{s}=1.96\ \rm{TeV}$

We search for resonant production of tt pairs in 4.8 fb^{-1} integrated luminosity of ppbar collision data at sqrt{s}=1.96 TeV in the lepton+jets decay channel, where one top quark decays leptonically and the other hadronically. A matrix element reconstruction technique is used; for each event a probability density function (pdf) of the ttbar candidate invariant mass is sampled. These pdfs are used to construct a likelihood function, whereby the cross section for resonant ttbar production is estimated, given a hypothetical resonance mass and width. The data indicate no evidence of resonant production of ttbar pairs. A benchmark model of leptophobic Z \rightarrow ttbar is excluded with m_{Z'} < 900 GeV at 95% confidence level.Comment: accepted for publication in Physical Review D Sep 21, 201