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The springtime atmosphere over the southeast Atlantic Ocean (SEA) is subjected to a consistent layer of biomass burning (BB) smoke from widespread fires on the African continent. An elevated humidity signal is coincident with this layer, consistently proportional to the amount of smoke present. The combined humidity and BB aerosol has potentially significant radiative and dynamic impacts. Here, we use aircraft-based observations from the NASA ORACLES (ObseRvations of Aerosols above CLouds and their intEractionS) deployments in conjunction with reanalyses to characterize covariations in humidity and BB smoke across the SEA. The observed plume–vapor relationship, and its agreement with the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) Reanalysis version 5 (ERA5) and Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) reanalysis, persists across all observations, although the magnitude of the relationship varies as the season progresses. Water vapor is well represented by the reanalyses, while CAMS tends to underestimate carbon monoxide especially under high BB. While CAMS aerosol optical depth (AOD) is generally overestimated relative to ORACLES AOD, the observations show a consistent relationship between carbon monoxide (CO) and aerosol extinction, demonstrating the utility of the CO tracer to understanding vertical aerosol distribution. We next use k-means clustering of the reanalyses to examine multi-year seasonal patterns and distributions. We identify canonical profile types of humidity and of CO, allowing us to characterize changes in vapor and BB atmospheric structures, and their impacts as they covary. While the humidity profiles show a range in both total water vapor concentration and in vertical structure, the CO profiles primarily vary in terms of maximum concentration, with similar vertical structures in each. The distribution of profile types varies spatiotemporally across the SEA region and through the season, ranging from largely one type in the northeast and southwest to more evenly distributed between multiple types where air masses meet in the middle of the SEA. These distributions follow patterns of transport from the humid, smoky source region (greatest influence in the northeast of the SEA) and the seasonal changes in both humidity and smoke (increasing and decreasing through the season, respectively). With this work, we establish a framework for a more complete analysis of the broader radiative and dynamical effects of humid aerosols over the SEA.

Digital twins of physical and human systems informed by real-time data are becoming ubiquitous across weather forecasting, disaster preparedness, and urban planning, but researchers lack the tools to run these models effectively and efficiently, limiting progress. One of the current challenges is to assimilate observations in highly non-linear dynamical systems, as the practical need is often to detect abrupt changes. We have developed a software platform to improve the use of real-time data in non-linear system representations where non-Gaussianity limits the applicability of data assimilation algorithms such as the ensemble Kalman filter and variational methods. Particle-filter-based data assimilation algorithms have been implemented within a user-friendly open-source software platform in Julia – ParticleDA.jl. To ensure the applicability of the developed platform in realistic scenarios, emphasis has been placed on numerical efficiency and scalability on high-performance computing systems. Furthermore, the platform has been developed to be forward-model agnostic, ensuring that it is applicable to a wide range of modelling settings, for instance unstructured and non-uniform meshes in the spatial domain or even state spaces that are not spatially organized. Applications to tsunami and numerical weather prediction demonstrate the computational benefits and ease of using the high-level Julia interface with the package to perform filtering in a variety of complex models.

Abstract Nanophononic materials are characterized by a periodic nanostructuration, which may lead to coherent scattering of phonons, enabling interference and resulting in modified phonon dispersions. We have used the extreme ultraviolet transient grating technique to measure phonon frequencies and lifetimes in a low-roughness nanoporous phononic membrane of SiN at wavelengths between 50 and 100 nm, comparable to the nanostructure lengthscale. Surprisingly, phonon frequencies are only slightly modified upon nanostructuration, while phonon lifetime is strongly reduced. Finite element calculations indicate that this is due to coherent phonon interference, which becomes dominant for wavelengths between ~ half and twice the inter-pores distance. Despite this, vibrational energy transport is ensured through an energy flow among the coherent modes created by reflections. This interference of phonon echos from periodic interfaces is likely another aspect of the mutual coherence effects recently highlighted in amorphous and complex crystalline materials and, in this context, could be used to tailor transport properties of nanostructured materials.

IntroductionIn this study we assessed the contribution of psychopathology, including the two domains of negative symptoms (motivational deficit and expressive deficit), processing speed as an index of neurocognition, and emotion recognition, as an index of social cognition, to poor functional outcomes in people with schizophrenia.MethodsThe Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale was used to evaluate positive symptoms and disorganization and the Brief Negative Symptom Scale to assess negative symptoms. The Symbol Coding and the Trail Making Test A and B were used to rate processing speed and the Facial Emotion Identification Test to assess emotion recognition. Functional outcome was assessed with the Personal and Social Performance Scale (PSP). Regression analyses were performed to identify predictors of functional outcome. Mediation analyses was used to investigate whether social cognition and negative symptom domains fully or partially mediated the impact of processing speed on functional outcome.ResultsOne hundred and fifty subjects from 8 different European centers were recruited. Our data showed that the expressive deficit predicted global functioning and together with motivational deficit fully mediated the effects of neurocognition on it. Motivational deficit was a predictor of personal and social functioning and fully mediated neurocognitive impairment effects on the same outcome. Both motivational deficit and neurocognitive impairment predicted socially useful activities, and the emotion recognition domain of social cognition partially mediated the impact of neurocognitive deficits on this outcome.ConclusionsOur results indicate that pathways to functional outcomes are specific for different domains of real-life functioning and that negative symptoms and social cognition mediate the impact of neurocognitive deficits on different domains of functioning. Our results suggest that both negative symptoms and social cognition should be targeted by psychosocial interventions to enhance the functional impact of neurocognitive remediation.

Abstract Background The conceptualization of negative symptoms (NS) in schizophrenia is still controversial. Recent confirmatory factor-analytic studies suggested that the bi-dimensional model (motivational deficit [MAP] and expressive deficit [EXP]) may not capture the complexity of NS structure, which could be better defined by a five-factor (five NS domains) or a hierarchical model (five NS domains as first-order factors, and MAP and EXP, as second-order factors). A validation of these models is needed to define the structure of NS. To evaluate the validity and temporal stability of the five-factor or the hierarchical structure of the brief negative symptom scale (BNSS) in individuals with schizophrenia (SCZ), exploring associations between these models with cognition, social cognition, functional capacity, and functioning at baseline and at 4 years follow-up. Methods Clinical variables were assessed using state-of-the-art tools in 612 SCZ at two-time points. The validity of the five-factor and the hierarchical models was analyzed through structural equation models. Results The two models had both a good fit and showed a similar pattern of associations with external validators at the two-time points, with minor variations. The five-factor solution had a slightly better fit. The associations with external validators favored the five-factor structure. Conclusions Our findings suggest that both five-factor and hierarchical models provide a valid conceptualization of NS in relation to external variables and that five-factor solution provides the best balance between parsimony and granularity to summarize the BNSS structure. This finding has important implications for the study of pathophysiological mechanisms and the development of new treatments.

High entropy alloys are multi-element random alloys with a strong short range disorder. Here, the authors show that their heat carrying lattice waves, while strongly attenuated by the force-constant disorder, propagate until high energy.

Background The structure of negative symptoms of schizophrenia is still a matter of controversy. Although a two-dimensional model (comprising the expressive deficit dimension and the motivation and pleasure dimension) has gained a large consensus, it has been questioned by recent investigations. Aims To investigate the latent structure of negative symptoms and its stability over time in people with schizophrenia using network analysis. Method Negative symptoms were assessed in 612 people with schizophrenia using the Brief Negative Symptom Scale (BNSS) at baseline and at 4-year follow-up. A network invariance analysis was conducted to investigate changes in the network structure and strength of connections between the two time points. Results The network analysis carried out at baseline and follow-up, supported by community detection analysis, indicated that the BNSS's items aggregate to form four or five distinct domains (avolition/asociality, anhedonia, blunted affect and alogia). The network invariance test indicated that the network structure remained unchanged over time (network invariance test score 0.13; P = 0.169), although its overall strength decreased (6.28 at baseline, 5.79 at follow-up; global strength invariance test score 0.48; P = 0.016). Conclusions The results lend support to a four- or five-factor model of negative symptoms and indicate overall stability over time. These data have implications for the study of pathophysiological mechanisms and the development of targeted treatments for negative symptoms.

Introduction Negative symptoms (NS) represent a heterogeneous construct of schizophrenia, whose conceptualization is still to be clarified. In the last decade, the conceptualization model that has received the most support from the literature has described 2 NS domains: the expressive deficit (EXP), which includes blunted affect and alogia, and the motivational deficit (MAP), which includes avolition, asociality, and anhedonia. However, different confirmatory factor-analytic studies suggest that the bi-dimensional model may not capture the complexity of this construct, which could be better defined by a 5-factor model (5 individual negative symptoms) or a hierarchical model (5 individual negative symptoms as first-order factors, and the 2 domains, MAP and EXP domains, as second-order factors). However, to our knowledge, no study has investigated associations between negative symptom models with social cognition and functional capacity, which are largely documented to correlate with negative symptoms, nor the associations with external validators over time, looking at the potential stability of negative symptom models validity through the course of the illness. Objectives In the light of this observations, we investigated, the external validity of the five-factor model and the hierarchical model of the BNSS in subjects with schizophrenia, looking at associations with cognition, social cognition, functioning and functional capacity at baseline and at four years follow-up. Methods NS were assessed in 612 subjects with schizophrenia using the Brief Negative Symptom Scale at the baseline and after 4-year follow-up. State of the art assessment instruments were used to assess cognitive and functioning related variables. Structural equation models (SEM) that included the NS models and 4 external variables were used to our aim. Results According to recent multicenter studies, our results confirmed the validity of the 5-factor- and the hierarchical-model of negative symptoms. In particular, these 2 models proved to be equivalent in terms of fit to the data at baseline and follow-up. As regard to the relationship of the two BNSS models with external variables, we found that there was a similar pattern of associations at the two time points despite minor variations. Conclusions The five factor and the hierarchical models provide an optimal conceptualization of negative symptoms in relation to external variables. The similar pattern of associations with external variables of the two models at the two time points despite minor variations, suggests that the simple and widely used 5-factor solution provides the best balance between parsimony and granularity to summarize BNSS structure. This data is of important relevance with consequent implications in the study of pathophysiological mechanisms and the development of targeted treatments for NS. Disclosure of Interest None Declared

Introduction Network analysis has been used to explore the interplay between psychopathology and functioning in psychosis, but no study has used dedicated statistical techniques to focus on the bridge symptoms connecting these domains. Objectives The current study aims to estimate the network of depressive, negative, and positive symptoms, general psychopathology, and real-world functioning in people with first-episode schizophrenia or schizophreniform disorder, focusing on bridge nodes. Methods Baseline data from the OPTiMiSE trial were analysed. The sample included 446 participants (age 40.0±10.9 years, 70% males). The network was estimated with a Gaussian graphical model (GGM), using scores on individual items of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), the Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia (CDSS), and the Personal and Social Performance (PSP) scale. Stability, strength centrality, expected influence (EI), predictability, and bridge centrality statistics were computed. The top 20% scoring nodes on bridge strength were selected as bridge nodes. Results Nodes from different rating scales assessing similar psychopathological and functioning constructs tended to cluster together in the estimated network (Fig. 1). The most central nodes (EI) were Delusions, Emotional Withdrawal, Depression, and Depressed Mood. Bridge nodes included Depression, Conceptual Disorganisation, Active Social Avoidance, Delusions, Stereotyped Thinking, Poor Impulse Control, Guilty Feelings, Unusual Thought Content, and Hostility. Most of the bridge nodes belonged to the general psychopathology subscale of the PANSS. Depression (G6) was the bridge node with the highest value. Image: Conclusions The current study provides novel insights for understanding the complex phenotype of psychotic disorders and the mechanisms underlying the development and maintenance of comorbidity and functional impairment after psychosis onset. Disclosure of Interest None Declared

Introduction In patients with schizophrenia, numerous studies have shown a relationship between negative symptoms and cognitive deficits (both neurocognition and social cognition deficits) and a similar impact of these domains on different clinical features such as onset, course and prognostic relevance. However, this relationship is still today subject of scientific debate. Objectives The aim of the present study is to conduct a systematic review of the literature on data concerning the relationships between neurocognition and social cognition deficits and the two different domains of negative symptoms ̶ avolition-apathy and expressive deficit. Methods A systematic review of the literature was carried out following PRISMA guidelines and examining articles in English published in the last fifteen years (2007 - March 2022) using three different databases (Pubmed, Scopus and PsychINFO). The included studies involved subjects with one of the following diagnoses: high risk of psychosis, first episode of psychosis, or chronic schizophrenia. Other inclusion criteria of the reviewed studies included: evaluation of at least one neurocognitive or social cognition domain and at least one negative symptom using standardized scales; analysis of the relationship between at least one neurocognitive or social cognition domain and a negative symptom. Results Databases search produced 8497 results. After title and abstract screening, 395 articles were selected, of which 103 met inclusion criteria. The analysis of retrieved data is still ongoing. Preliminary evidence highlighted: a correlation between social cognition and negative symptoms, in particular with the “expressive deficit” domain; a positive correlation between the severity of negative symptoms and that of neurocognitive deficits (in particular with the “processing speed” domain); an association of verbal working memory deficits with alogia and anhedonia. Conclusions The study of the relationship between negative symptoms, neurocognitive deficits and social cognition could contribute to the understanding of the aetiology of psychotic disorders and therefore to the identification of therapies for the improvement of overall functioning and quality of life. The studies analysed so far show some interesting associations between cognition and negative symptoms, but the presence of often inconsistent results, partially attributable to the different conceptualizations of the various domains of negative symptoms adopted, hinders the generalization of the results. Disclosure of Interest None Declared

Introduction After coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection, many individuals reported neurological and psychiatric sequelae, including cognitive impairment, even several months after the acute infection. Objectives The present study aims to provide a critical overview of the literature on the relationships between post-acute COVID-19 infection and cognitive impairment, highlighting limitations and confounding factors. Methods A systematic search of articles published from January 1st, 2020, to July 1st, 2022 was performed in Pubmed/Medline. We followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Results Only studies using validated instruments for the assessment of cognitive impairment were included. Out of 5478 screened records, 72 studies met inclusion criteria. Time of patients’ assessment varied from 4 weeks to 12 months after the infection. The available evidence revealed the presence of impairment in executive functions, attention and memory in subjects recovered from COVID-19. However, several limitations of the literature reviewed should be highlighted: most studies were performed on small samples, not stratified by severity of disease and age, used a cross-sectional or a short-term longitudinal design, and provided a limited assessment of the different cognitive domains. Few studies investigated neurobiological correlates of cognitive deficits in individuals recovered from COVID-19. Conclusions Based on the literature reviewed, it is difficult, to date, to draw conclusions about the relationships between COVID-19 infection and cognitive impairment. Therefore, further studies with an adequate methodological design are needed in order to better understand these relationships, identify neurobiological correlates of COVID-related cognitive deficits and evaluate their course over time. Enhancing the knowledge on this topic could favor the development of effective therapeutic strategies for cognitive deficits in individuals recovered from COVID-19. Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

Introduction The neurobiological underpinnings of negative symptoms in schizophrenia remain unclear. Previous studies have revealed that in schizophrenia, the anticipatory component of the hedonic experience (anticipatory anhedonia, failure to anticipate reward or pleasurable experiences) is more markedly impaired than the consummatory aspect of pleasure (consummatory anhedonia, in the moment experience of pleasure during pleasurable situations). Several neuroimaging focused on reward prediction deficit have shown dysfunctions in the neuronal circuits that sustain these processes in patients, but findings have not been consistent. Objectives The current study aimed at investigating the impairment of reward anticipation in subjects with schizophrenia (SCZ) during the “Monetary Incentive Delay task” (MID task), employing the topographic analysis of event-related potentials (ERPs) with EEG recordings. Furthermore, the associations with negative symptoms and anticipatory and consummatory hedonic experience were investigated. Methods EEG data were recorded in thirty SCZ and twenty-three matched HC, during the MID task in which reward and loss cues (incentive cues of positive and negative value) of different magnitude, as well as neutral cues were presented. Anticipation and experience of pleasure were measured by the Temporal Experience of Pleasure Scale (TEPS), while negative symptom dimensions by the Schedule for the Deficit Syndrome (SDS). For the EEG data analysis, the topographic analysis of variance (TANOVA) that uses the global field power of difference maps was used to evaluate between-group differences in scalp topography. Correlation analyses between hedonic experience, negative symptoms and ERPs were performed. Results The TANOVA interaction effect (group x cue) was significant in the time window between 140.6 and 195.3 msec after cue presentation (p

Introduction Negative symptoms represent a fundamental aspect of schizophrenia: they have a substantial impact on patients’ real-life functioning and do not respond satisfactorily to currently available treatments. Therefore, a better understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying these symptoms could favor the development of new treatments. To date, the most validated pathophysiological hypothesis indicates an association between the Motivational domain (consisting of avolition, anhedonia and asociality) and alterations in the neuronal circuits involved in motivation. The Expressive Deficit domain (consisting of blunted affect and alogia) would be subtended by widespread alterations of cortical connectivity and associated with impaired neurocognition, social cognition, and the presence of neurological soft signs. Objectives The aim of the present study is to examine the neurobiological correlates of the two domains of negative symptoms, starting from the brain areas that have been most commonly found in the literature to be associated with negative symptoms. Methods Resting-state (rs) fMRI data were acquired in 62 subjects with schizophrenia (SZ) and 46 healthy controls (HC). The two negative symptom domains were assessed using the Brief Negative Symptom Scale. In addition, the following assessment tools were used: the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale for the assessment of positive symptoms and disorganization, the Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia for depression and the St. Hans Rating Scale for extrapyramidal symptoms. The study of the possible relationships between rs-brain activity and the negative symptoms domains was conducted through partial correlations, checking for possible confounding factors (positive, depressive, extrapyramidal symptoms and disorganization). Results The SZ, compared to the HC, showed higher rs-brain activity of the right inferior parietal lobule and of the right temporoparietal junction and lower rs-brain activity of the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, bilateral anterior dorsal cingulate cortex, bilateral ventral caudate and bilateral dorsal caudate. Furthermore, in the group of patients, the rs-brain activity of the left ventral caudate showed a moderate negative correlation with the Expressive deficit domain (r = -0.401; p = 0.003), but not with the Motivational domain. Conclusions The results of the present study, in line with the literature, demonstrated how the two domains of negative symptomatology are subtended by different pathophysiological mechanisms. Given the role played by the ventral caudate in neurocognitive processes, these results are in line with the hypothesis that Expressive deficit may have a common etiopathogenesis with cognitive deficits. A better understanding of the neurobiology of negative symptoms could foster the development of innovative treatment strategies targeting the two negative symptom domains. Disclosure of Interest None Declared

Introduction Although generally effective in ameliorating the core manifestations of schizophrenia, antipsychotics (APs) may lead to only suboptimal responses or may be associated with a variety of treatment-related adverse events which require additional treatment strategies. Under such clinical circumstances, switching APs represents a rational treatment option. Objectives The present study aimed to identify the variables that predict AP switch and to quantify the frequency of this phenomenon in people with schizophrenia in real-life. Methods A secondary analysis was conducted on the data collected at baseline and at a 4-year follow-up from a large sample of community-dwelling Italian people with schizophrenia. Demographic and clinical variables as well as information about AP treatment were recorded at two time points. Over the 4-year period, 34.9% of the 571 participants switched the AP; in particular, 8.4% of participants switched from first-generation APs (FGAs) to second-generation APs or vice versa, while 8.2% of them switched to clozapine. Results Logistic regression models showed that combination of APs at baseline was negatively associated with AP switch, while treatment with FGAs and the presence of extrapyramidal symptoms at baseline were associated with AP class switch. Conclusions Although the aim of the present study was not to assess predictors of clinical relapse in people with schizophrenia, we might speculate that switching APs represents a surrogate indicator of treatment failure in some patients and could lead into relapse, which is a costly aspect of schizophrenia management in both economic and human terms. The sooner such a negative outcome can be predicted and managed, the sooner the treatment can be optimized to avoid it. Disclosure of Interest None Declared

Introduction In recent years the increasing presence of refugees and asylum seekers displaced from their country of origin, determined significant social, economic, humanitarian and public health implications in host nations. Advancing the knowledge on factors contributing to these implications, could foster the implementation of new public-health plans for these population. As a matter of fact, to date, the rates of mental disorders in these population are uncertain due to the high variability of methods used in the studies on topic, and of risk and protective factors analyzed. The most replicated finding is the high prevalence of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and depression in refugees and asylum seekers as compared to the population of host countries. Objectives The aim of the present study was to investigate the needs for mental health prevention, care and rehabilitation of adult refugees and asylum seekers in Italy, performing a multidisciplinary evaluation of migrants who were guests in two refugees’ centers in Campania (Salerno and Avellino). Methods The Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) was assessed in 303 migrants, in order to evaluate the presence or not of a psychiatric diagnosis. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to investigate differences between migrants with a mental disorder vs migrants without a mental disorder in terms of cognitive functions, depressive and anxiety symptoms, traumatic events and pre-migration risk factors. Person’s correlation was performed to investigate relationships between the Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25 (HSCL-t25) psychopathological index with all the other above-mentioned variables. Logistic regression was used to evaluate factors associated to the presence of a current mental disorder. Results At least one mental disorder was found in 90 subjects (29.7% of the sample). Most prevalent diagnoses were major depressive disorder, lifetime panic disorder, PTSD, and generalized anxiety disorder. People with at least one psychiatric illness showed impaired global (F=6.62; p=.011) and social (F=8.22; p=.004) cognition, higher trauma levels (F=70.59; p

Introduction Negative symptoms (NS) represent an unmet need of treatment in schizophrenia (SCZ). As a result, these symptoms pose a significant burden on patients, their families, and the health care system. In the last decade, the conceptualization model that has received the most support from the literature has described 2 domains of NS: the expressive deficit (EXP), which includes blunted affect and alogia, and the motivational deficit (MAP), which includes avolition, asociality, and anhedonia. However, different confirmatory factor-analytic studies suggest that the bi-dimensional model may not capture the complexity of this construct, which could be better defined by the 5-factor model. To date no study exploiting innovative tools and state of the art assessment instruments has yet been conducted to evaluate the NS structure stability over time. Objectives The aim of this study was to investigate the stability of the latent structure of NS in subjects with SCZ. Methods NS were assessed in 612 subjects with SCZ using the Brief Negative Symptom Scale (BNSS) at the baseline and after 4-year follow-up. A network invariance analysis was conducted for the data collected longitudinally. Results Results showed that the BNSS’ items aggregated to form 5 distinct domains (avolition, asociality, blunted affect, alogia and anhedonia). The result of the network invariance test indicated that the network structure remained unchanged over time (network invariance test = 0.13; p = 0.169) while its overall strength decreased significantly (6.28 baseline, 5.79 at follow-up; global strength invariance test = 0.48; p = 0.016). Conclusions The results of this study show how the construct of NS can be better explained by the 5 individual negative symptoms and that this model is almost stable over time. Therefore the 2-dimensional model may be insufficient to describe the characteristics of NS. This data is of important relevance with consequent implications in the study of pathophysiological mechanisms and the development of targeted treatments for NS. Disclosure of Interest None Declared

The Giant Cell tumor (GCT) is a benign, locally aggressive lesion that cause bone destruction and shows a malignant potential. It is a relatively common skeletal tumor that is therefore typically seen in young adults. Few cases are described in literature of GCT in the immature skeleton, and the metatarsal is an unusual location for a primary bone GCT, especially in pediatric age. Therefore, there are very few data reported regarding the management protocol of GCT in metatarsal bones. We report a case about the use of no vascularized fibular graft for an original Y-shaped reconstruction of the metatarsal bone after Giant Cell Tumor resection in a 9 years-old patient, and performed a literature review about metatarsal bone reconstruction in skeletally immature patient.

The herbicide atrazine (ATR; 2-chloro-4-ethylamino-6-isopropylamino-s-triazine) is widely used to destroy grasses and broadleaf weeds in crops and some fruits. Studies in rodents have shown that acute, repeated or chronic exposure to ATR is associated with alterations in the nigrostriatal dopaminergic pathway, whereas its effects on GABAergic and glutamatergic pathways have only recently been reported. Sprague-Dawley male rats were exposed daily to 1 or 10 mg ATR/kg of BW for 13 months to evaluate the ATR effects on GABAergic and glutamatergic systems. At the end of the ATR treatment, the levels of mRNA of several genes involved in the production, vesiculation, reuptake, and receptors of GABA and Glu in the striatum (STR), nucleus accumbens (NAcc), prefrontal cortex (PFC), ventral midbrain (vMID) and hippocampus (HIPP) were evaluated by absolute qPCR. For the GABAergic genes, increased expression of GAD67 and Slc32a1 in STR and/or vMID in rats exposed to 1 and/or 10 mg ATR were detected. With regard to the expression of genes involved in the glutamatergic system, Slc17a6 and Grin1 in HIPP of rats exposed to 1 and/or 10 mg ATR, increased as was Gria1 in STR and PFC in the group exposed to 1 mg ATR. In the same fashion, Slc1a3 expression and MGLUR1 increased in STR of rats exposed to 1 and 10 mg ATR groups. The expression of the glutaminases gls (variants 1 and 2) was greater in STR, NAcc, HIPP, and PFC of rats exposed to 1 and/or 10 mg ATR. These findings show that the GABAergic and, especially glutamatergic systems are targets of ATR exposure.

The integration of pharmacotherapy with psychosocial interventions has an important role to play in the improvement of functional outcome of subjects with schizophrenia (SCZ), in all stages of the disorder. It is essential for the adequate management of unmet therapeutic needs, such as negative symptoms and cognitive dysfunctions which account for most of the functional impairment of subjects with SCZ and do not respond to available antipsychotics. Enhancing the knowledge on factors involved in the effectiveness of integrated treatment plans is an important step forward for SCZ care. This review aims to identify factors that might influence the impact of integrated treatments on functional outcome. Most studies on the impact of psychosocial treatments on functional outcome of subjects with SCZ did not control for the effect of prescribed antipsychotics or concomitant medications. However, several factors relevant to ongoing pharmacological treatment might influence the outcome of integrated therapy, with an impact on the adherence to treatment (e.g., therapeutic alliance and polypharmacotherapy) or on illness-related factors addressed by the psychosocial interventions (e.g., cognitive dysfunctions or motivational deficits). Indirect evidence suggests that treatment integration should consider the possible detrimental effects of different antipsychotics or concomitant medications on cognitive functions, as well as on secondary negative symptoms. Cognitive dysfunctions can interfere with participation to an integrated treatment plan and can be worsened by extrapyramidal or metabolic side effects of antipsychotics, or concomitant treatment with anticholinergics or benzodiazepines. Secondary negative symptoms, due to positive symptoms, sedation, extrapyramidal side effects or untreated depression, might cause early drop-out and poor adherence to treatment. Researchers and clinicians should examine all the above-mentioned factors and implement appropriate and personalized integrated treatments to improve the outcome of SCZ.

Abstract Background The chapter on mental disorders of the 11th revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) has been now finalized. Training of mental health professionals in the use of the chapter is taking place worldwide. Main body of the abstract Information is provided on the ICD-11 training courses taking place recently, including that co-organized by the Naples World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centre on Research and Training in Mental Health and the European Psychiatric Association; those which will be held in the next few months, such as the one co-organized by the World Psychiatric Association and the Global Mental Health Academy, to be held online from 8 to 29 November 2021; and the training course set up by the WHO Collaborating Centre on Mental Health at the Columbia University, in collaboration with the WHO Department of Mental Health and Substance Use, which can be accessed only by the members of the WHO Global Clinical Practice Network. Conclusion Psychiatrists of all countries of the world are encouraged to become familiar with the ICD-11 chapter on mental disorders, which will be adopted shortly by most countries worldwide.

BackgroundNegative symptoms are usually evaluated with scales based on observer ratings and up to now self-assessments have been overlooked. The aim of this paper was to validate the Self-evaluation of Negative Symptoms (SNS) in a large European sample coming from 12 countries. We wanted to demonstrate: (1) good convergent and divergent validities; (2) relationships between SNS scores and patients' functional outcome; (3) the capacity of the SNS compared to the Brief Negative Symptom Scale (BNSS) to detect negative symptoms; and (4) a five-domain construct in relation to the 5 consensus domains (social withdrawal, anhedonia, alogia, avolition, blunted affect) as the best latent structure of SNS.MethodsTwo hundred forty-five subjects with a DSM-IV diagnosis of schizophrenia completed the SNS, the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), the BNSS, the Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia (CDSS), and the Personal and Social Performance (PSP) scale. Spearman's Rho correlations, confirmatory factor analysis investigating 4 models of the latent structure of SNS and stepwise multiple regression were performed.ResultsSignificant positive correlations were observed between the total score of the SNS and the total scores of the PANSS negative subscale (r = 0.37; P < 0.0001) and the BNSS (r = 0.43; p < 0.0001). SNS scores did not correlate with the level of insight, parkinsonism, or the total score of the PANSS positive subscale. A positive correlation was found between SNS and CDSS (r = 0.35; p < 0.0001). Among the 5 SNS subscores, only avolition subscores entered the regression equation explaining a lower functional outcome. The 1-factor and 2-factor models provided poor fit, while the 5-factor model and the hierarchical model provided the best fit, with a small advantage of the 5-factor model. The frequency of each negative dimension was systematically higher using the BNSS and the SNS vs. the PANSS and was higher for alogia and avolition using SNS vs. BNSS.ConclusionIn a large European multicentric sample, this study demonstrated that the SNS has: (1) good psychometric properties with good convergent and divergent validities; (2) a five-factor latent structure; (3) an association with patients' functional outcome; and (4) the capacity to identify subjects with negative symptoms that is close to the BNSS and superior to the PANSS negative subscale.

Background: Negative symptoms represent a heterogeneous dimension with a strong impact on functioning of subjects with schizophrenia (SCZ). Five constructs are included in this dimension: anhedonia, asociality, avolition, blunted affect, and alogia. Factor analyses revealed that these symptoms cluster in two domains: experiential domain (avolition, asociality, and anhedonia) and the expressive deficit (alogia and blunted affect), that might be linked to different neurobiological alterations. Few studies investigated associations between N100, an electrophysiological index of early sensory processing, and negative symptoms, reporting controversial results. However, none of these studies investigated electrophysiological correlates of the two negative symptom domains.Objectives: The aim of our study was to evaluate, within the multicenter study of the Italian Network for Research on Psychoses, the relationships between N100 and negative symptom domains in SCZ.Methods: Auditory N100 was analyzed in 114 chronic stabilized SCZ and 63 healthy controls (HCs). Negative symptoms were assessed with the Brief Negative Symptom Scale (BNSS). Repeated measures ANOVA and correlation analyses were performed to evaluate differences between SCZ and HCs and association of N100 features with negative symptoms.Results: Our findings demonstrated a significant N100 amplitude reduction in SCZ compared with HCs. In SCZ, N100 amplitude for standard stimuli was associated with negative symptoms, in particular with the expressive deficit domain. Within the expressive deficit, blunted affect and alogia had the same pattern of correlation with N100.Conclusion: Our findings revealed an association between expressive deficit and N100, suggesting that these negative symptoms might be related to deficits in early auditory processing in SCZ.

Phononic materials structured at the macro- or nano-scale are at the forefront of materials research for controlling transport of sound and heat, respectively. Besides the structure length scale, the exact geometry has been found to be of relevance as well. In this work, we provide an extensive finite element investigation of the effect of the shape of periodically dispersed inclusions in a 2D matrix on propagation and attenuation of an acoustic wave packet. We show that, by significantly complexifying the shape from circular to fractal-like (dendrite shape), phonon scattering at wavelengths comparable with the inner structure of the inclusion is enhanced, leading to a strong attenuation that can be fitted by a compressed exponential function, while in the circular case, the diffusive regime is observed.

Background: Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is the most common monogenic cause of renal failure. For several decades, ADPKD was regarded as an adult-onset disease. In the past decade, it has become more widely appreciated that the disease course begins in childhood. However, evidence-based guidelines on how to manage and approach children diagnosed with or at risk of ADPKD are lacking. Also, scoring systems to stratify patients into risk categories have been established only for adults. Overall, there are insufficient data on the clinical course during childhood. We therefore initiated the global ADPedKD project to establish a large international pediatric ADPKD cohort for deep characterization. Methods: Global ADPedKD is an international multicenter observational study focusing on childhood-diagnosed ADPKD. This collaborative project is based on interoperable Web-based databases, comprising 7 regional and independent but uniformly organized chapters, namely Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, South America, and the United Kingdom. In the database, a detailed basic data questionnaire, including genetics, is used in combination with data entry from follow-up visits, to provide both retrospective and prospective longitudinal data on clinical, radiologic, and laboratory findings, as well as therapeutic interventions. Discussion: The global ADPedKD initiative aims to characterize in detail the most extensive international pediatric ADPKD cohort reported to date, providing evidence for the development of unified diagnostic, follow-up, and treatment recommendations regarding modifiable disease factors. Moreover, this registry will serve as a platform for the development of clinical and/or biochemical markers predicting the risk of early and progressive disease. Keywords: ADPKD, ADPedKD Registry, children, longitudinal

Abstract We investigate the QCD phase diagram for nonzero background magnetic fields using first-principles lattice simulations. At the physical point (in terms of quark masses), the thermodynamics of this system is controlled by two opposing effects: magnetic catalysis (enhancement of the quark condensate) at low temperature and inverse magnetic catalysis (reduction of the condensate) in the transition region. While the former is known to be robust and independent of the details of the interactions, inverse catalysis arises as a result of a delicate competition, effective only for light quarks. By performing simulations at different quark masses, we determine the pion mass above which inverse catalysis does not take place in the transition region anymore. Even for pions heavier than this limiting value — where the quark condensate undergoes magnetic catalysis — our results are consistent with the notion that the transition temperature is reduced by the magnetic field. These findings will be useful to guide low-energy models and effective theories of QCD.

Negative symptoms of schizophrenia remain a major therapeutic challenge. The progress in the conceptualization and assessment is not yet fully reflected by treatment research. Nevertheless, there is a growing evidence base regarding the effects of biological and psychosocial interventions on negative symptoms. The importance of the distinction between primary and secondary negative symptoms for treatment selection might seem evident, but the currently available evidence remains limited. Good clinical practice is recommended for the treatment of secondary negative symptoms. Antipsychotic treatment should be optimized to avoid secondary negative symptoms due to side effects and due to positive symptoms. For most available interventions, further evidence is needed to formulate sound recommendations for primary, persistent, or predominant negative symptoms.

AbstractBackgroundDuring the last decades, a renewed interest for negative symptoms (NS) was brought about by the increased awareness that they interfere severely with real-life functioning, particularly when they are primary and persistent.MethodsIn this guidance paper, we provide a systematic review of the evidence and elaborate several recommendations for the conceptualization and assessment of NS in clinical trials and practice.ResultsExpert consensus and systematic reviews have provided guidance for the optimal assessment of primary and persistent negative symptoms; second-generation rating scales, which provide a better assessment of the experiential domains, are available; however, NS are still poorly assessed both in research and clinical settings.This European Psychiatric Association (EPA) guidance recommends the use of persistent negative symptoms (PNS) construct in the context of clinical trials and highlights the need for further efforts to make the definition of PNS consistent across studies in order to exclude as much as possible secondary negative symptoms. We also encourage clinicians to use second-generation scales, at least to complement first-generation ones.The EPA guidance further recommends the evidence-based exclusion of several items included in first-generation scales from any NS summary or factor score to improve NS measurement in research and clinical settings. Self-rated instruments are suggested to further complement observer-rated scales in NS assessment.Several recommendations are provided for the identification of secondary negative symptoms in clinical settings.ConclusionsThe dissemination of this guidance paper may promote the development of national guidelines on negative symptom assessment and ultimately improve the care of people with schizophrenia.

Negative symptoms (NS) represent a heterogeneous dimension of schizophrenia (SCZ), associated with a poor functional outcome. A dysregulated dopamine (DA) system, including a reduced D1 receptor activation in the prefrontal cortex, DA hypoactivity in the caudate and alterations in D3 receptor activity, seems to contribute to the pathogenesis of NS. However, failure to take into account the NS heterogeneity has slowed down progress in research on their neurobiological correlates and discoveries of new effective treatments. A better neurobiological characterization of NS is needed, and this requires objective quantification of their features that can be applied in translational models, such as animal models and human inducible pluripotent stem cells (iPSC). In this review we summarize the evidence for dopaminergic alterations relevant to NS in translational animal models focusing on dysfunctional motivation, a core aspect of NS. Among others, experiments on mutant rodents with an overexpression of DA D2 or D3 receptors and the dopamine deficient mice are discussed. In the second part we summarize the findings from recent studies using iPSC to model the pathogenesis of SCZ. By retaining the genetic background of risk genetic variants, iPSC offer the possibility to study the effect of de novo mutations or inherited polymorphisms from subgroups of patients and their response to drugs, adding an important tool for personalized psychiatry. Given the key role of DA in NS, we focus on findings of iPSC-derived DA neurons. Since implementation of iPSC-derived neurons to study the neurobiology of SCZ is a relatively recent acquisition, the available data are limited. We highlight some methodological aspects of relevance in the interpretation of in vitro testing results, including limitations and strengths, offering a critical viewpoint for the implementation of future pharmacological studies aimed to the discovery and characterization of novel treatments for NS.

Aim. To describe a multidisciplinary treatment to correct a severe II class malocclusion with reduced both maxillary and mandibular transverse dimensions and dental crowding. Case Report. A 17-year-old young woman presented with an increased overjet complaining chiefly of forwardly placed upper front teeth and unpleasant smile aesthetics. The patient facially exhibited a gently convex profile, severe mentalis strain on lip closure, and dark buccal corridors. The intraoral assessment indicates Class II molar relationship bilaterally, mandibular and maxillary anterior crowding, and narrow shape of upper and lower arches. The cephalometric evaluation of the lateral radiograph of the skull evidences a skeletal Class II with a reduction of lower face height. Based upon the diagnostic records and consultation with the patient, surgically assisted expansion of both arches using bone-borne distractors, comprehensive orthodontic treatment, and combined jaw surgery was planned. Results. This approach permitted achieving most of the desired objectives in approximately 30 months. The follow-up records 30 months after treatment conclusion showed a stable occlusion. No complications were clinically and radiographically noticeable during the follow-up.

Background: The “Avolition-apathy” domain of the negative symptoms was found to include different symptoms by factor analytic studies on ratings derived by different scales. In particular, the relationship of anhedonia with this domain is controversial. Recently introduced negative symptom rating scales provide a better assessment of anhedonia, allowing the distinction of anticipatory and consummatory aspects, which might be related to different psychopathological dimensions. The study of associations with external validators, such as electrophysiological, brain imaging or cognitive indices, might shed further light on the status of anhedonia within the Avolition-apathy domain. Objectives: We used brain electrical microstates (MSs), which represent subsecond periods of quasi-stable scalp electrical field, associated with resting-state neural networks (and thus with global patterns of functional connectivity), to test whether the component symptoms of Avolition-apathy share the same correlates. Method: We analyzed multichannel resting EEGs in 142 individuals with schizophrenia (SCZ) and in 64 healthy controls (HC), recruited within the add-on EEG study of the Italian Network for Research on Psychoses. Relative time contribution, duration and occurrence of four MS classes (MS-A/-B/-C/−D) were calculated. Group differences on MS parameters (contribution and duration) and their associations with negative symptom domains (assessed using the Brief Negative Symptoms Scale) were investigated. Results: SCZ, in comparison to HC, showed increased contribution and duration of MS-C. The contribution of MS-A positively correlated with Avolition-apathy, but not with Expressive deficit. Within the Avolition-apathy domain, anticipatory anhedonia, avolition and asociality, but not consummatory anhedonia, showed the same correlations with MS-A contribution. Conclusion: Our findings support the existence of distinct electrophysiological correlates of Avolition-apathy with respect to Expressive deficit, and lend support to the hypothesis that only the anticipatory component of anhedonia shares the same pathophysiological underpinnings of the Avolition-apathy domain. Keywords: Schizophrenia, Avolition-apathy, Anhedonia, Resting-EEG, Brain electrical microstates

Neurocognitive deficits and negative symptoms (NS) have a pivotal role in subjects with schizophrenia (SCZ) due to their impact on patients’ functioning in everyday life and their influence on goal-directed behavior and decision-making. P3b is considered an optimal electrophysiological candidate biomarker of neurocognitive impairment for its association with the allocation of attentional resources to task-relevant stimuli, an important factor for efficient decision-making, as well as for motivation-related processes. Furthermore, associations between P3b deficits and NS have been reported. The current research aims to fill the lack of studies investigating, in the same subjects, the associations of P3b with multiple cognitive domains and the expressive and motivation-related domains of NS, evaluated with state-of-the-art instruments. One hundred and fourteen SCZ and 63 healthy controls (HCs) were included in the study. P3b amplitude was significantly reduced and P3b latency prolonged in SCZ as compared to HCs. In SCZ, a positive correlation was found between P3b latency and age and between P3b amplitude and the Attention-vigilance domain, while no significant correlations were found between P3b and the two NS domains. Our results indicate that the effortful allocation of attention to task-relevant stimuli, an important component of decision-making, is compromised in SCZ, independently of motivation deficits or other NS.

Phonon lifetime is a fundamental parameter of thermal transport however its determination is challenging. Using inelastic neutron scattering and the neutron resonant spin-echo technique, Lory et al. determine the acoustic phonon lifetime in a single crystal of clathrate Ba7.81Ge40.67Au5.33.

Introduction The ability to attribute emotional states, beliefs, and intentions to others has been termed Theory of Mind (ToM), mentalizing, and mind reading. The purpose of this study was to find an instrument to measure ToM in the Mexican population, that would yield similar results to those obtained in other cultures, and could discriminate between individuals. To achieve this objective, we replicated a study which compared two measures of ToM in a sample of English-speaking, neurologically intact adults. Methods A sample of young Mexican adults (n = 118) was evaluated on the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test (RMET) and a test that uses naturalistic narrative stimuli, the Short Story Task (SST), and on tests of general cognitive ability, executive functions, and empathy. Results We found a significant correlation between the ToM tests, and both tests correlated with verbal ability, general cognitive ability, and empathy, similar to what was seen in a previous study. Both tests discriminated between individuals and were challenging enough that we found no perfect scores. Conclusions These results show that both the RMET, which taps into emotion recognition and its categorization with language, and the SST, which relies on narrative fiction to test the ability to interpret mental states, show concurrent validity in a sample of neurologically intact young adults from a Latin-American culture; these tests may be useful in the clinical setting and for basic research into ToM.

The low and weakly temperature-varying lattice thermal conductivity, κ_{L}(T), in crystals with a complex unit cell such as type-I clathrates is assumed to originate from a reduced momentum and energy space available for propagative lattice vibrations, which is caused by the occurrence of low-energy optical phonon modes. In the context of ab initio self-consistent phonon (SCP) theory, it has been shown that the cubic and quartic anharmonic interactions result in a temperature-induced energy renormalization of these low-lying optical branches which contributes to the anomalous behavior of κ_{L}(T) in structurally ordered type-I clathrates [T. Tadano and S. Tsuneyuki, Phys. Rev. Lett. 120, 105901 (2018)PRLTAO0031-900710.1103/PhysRevLett.120.105901]. By means of inelastic neutron scattering, we provide evidence for this energy renormalization in temperature, which has been resolved for transversely and longitudinally polarized phonons in the single crystal type-I clathrate Ba_{7.81}Ge_{40.67}Au_{5.33}. By mapping the neutron intensity in the momentum space, we demonstrate the coherent character of the low-lying optical phonons. The overall phonon spectrum and dynamical structure factors are satisfactorily reproduced by ab initio harmonic calculations using density functional theory with the meta-GGA SCAN functional and a fully ordered structure. However, a polarization-dependent cutoff energy with opposing temperature shifts for longitudinal and transverse acoustic dispersions is experimentally observed which is not reproduced by the simulations. Anharmonicity affects the energies of the low-lying optical phonons in the transverse polarization, which compares quantitatively well with available results from SCP theory, whereas differences are observed for the longitudinal polarization.

Understanding planetary atmosphere-surface exchange and extra-terrestrial-surface formation processes within our Solar System is one of the fundamental goals of planetary science research. There has been a revolution in planetary surface observations over the last 15 years, especially in 3D imaging of surface shape. This has led to the ability to overlay image data and derived information from different epochs, back in time to the mid 1970s, to examine changes through time, such as the recent discovery of mass movement, tracking inter-year seasonal changes and looking for occurrences of fresh craters. Within the EU FP-7 iMars project, we have developed a fully automated multi-resolution DTM processing chain, called the Coregistration ASP-Gotcha Optimised (CASP-GO), based on the open source NASA Ames Stereo Pipeline (ASP) [Tao et al., this conference], which is being applied to the production of planetwide DTMs and ORIs (OrthoRectified Images) from CTX and HiRISE. Alongside the production of individual strip CTX & HiRISE DTMs & ORIs, DLR [Gwinner et al., 2015] have processed HRSC mosaics of ORIs and DTMs for complete areas in a consistent manner using photogrammetric bundle block adjustment techniques. A novel automated co-registration and orthorectification chain has been developed by [Sidiropoulos & Muller, this conference]. Using the HRSC map products (both mosaics and orbital strips) as a map-base it is being applied to many of the 400,000 level-1 EDR images taken by the 4 NASA orbital cameras. In particular, the NASA Viking Orbiter camera (VO), Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC), Context Camera (CTX) as well as the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) back to 1976. A webGIS has been developed [van Gasselt et al., this conference] for displaying this time sequence of imagery and will be demonstrated showing an example from one of the HRSC quadrangle map-sheets. Automated quality control [Sidiropoulos & Muller, 2015] techniques are applied to screen for suitable images and these are extended to detect temporal changes in features on the surface such as mass movements, streaks, spiders, impact craters, CO2 geysers and Swiss Cheese terrain. For result verification these data mining techniques are then being employed within a citizen science project within the Zooniverse family. Examples of data mining and its verification will be presented.

Glass aging is one of unsolved problems during glass processing and annealing, partly due to the lack of the mechanistic understanding on microscales. Here, the authors show how local stresses and their evolution affect structural relaxation at an atomic level in a metallic glass system.

Chalcogenide semiconductors and semimetals are a fertile class of efficient thermoelectric materials, which, in most cases, exhibit very low lattice thermal conductivity κ_{ph} despite lacking a complex crystal structure such as the tetragonal binary compound InTe. Our measurements of κ_{ph}(T) in single-crystalline InTe along the c axis show that κ_{ph} exhibits a smooth temperature dependence upon cooling to about 50 K, the temperature below which a strong rise typical for dielectric compounds is observed. Using a combination of first-principles calculations, inelastic neutron scattering (INS), and low-temperature specific heat and transport properties measurements on single-crystalline InTe, we show that the phonon spectrum exhibits well-defined acoustic modes, the energy dispersions of which are constrained to low energies due to distributions of dispersionless, optical modes, which are responsible for a broad double peak structure in the low-temperature specific heat. The latter are assigned to the dynamics of In^{+} cations in tunnels formed by edge-sharing (In^{3+}Te_{4}^{2−})^{−} tetrahedra chains, the atomic thermal displacement parameters of which, probed as a function of temperature by means of single-crystal x-ray diffraction, suggest the existence of a complex energy potential. Indeed, the In^{+}-weighted optical modes are not observed by INS, which is ascribed to the anharmonic broadening of their energy profiles. While the low κ_{ph} value of 1.2Wm^{−1}K^{−1} at 300 K originates from the limited energy range available for acoustic phonons, we show that the underlying mechanism is specific to InTe and argue that it is likely related to the presence of local disorder induced by the In^{+} site occupancy.

This paper presents a robotic capture concept that was developed as part of the e.deorbit study by ESA. The defective and tumbling satellite ENVISAT was chosen as a potential target to be captured, stabilized, and subsequently de-orbited in a controlled manner. A robotic capture concept was developed that is based on a chaser satellite equipped with a seven degrees-of-freedom dexterous robotic manipulator, holding a dedicated linear two-bracket gripper. The satellite is also equipped with a clamping mechanism for achieving a stiff fixation with the grasped target, following their combined satellite-stack de-tumbling and prior to the execution of the de-orbit maneuver. Driving elements of the robotic design, operations and control are described and analyzed. These include pre and post-capture operations, the task-specific kinematics of the manipulator, the intrinsic mechanical arm flexibility and its effect on the arm's positioning accuracy, visual tracking, as well as the interaction between the manipulator controller and that of the chaser satellite. The kinematics analysis yielded robust reachability of the grasp point. The effects of intrinsic arm flexibility turned out to be noticeable but also effectively scalable through robot joint speed adaption throughout the maneuvers. During most of the critical robot arm operations, the internal robot joint torques are shown to be within the design limits. These limits are only reached for a limiting scenario of tumbling motion of ENVISAT, consisting of an initial pure spin of 5 deg/s about its unstable intermediate axis of inertia. The computer vision performance was found to be satisfactory with respect to positioning accuracy requirements. Further developments are necessary and are being pursued to meet the stringent mission-related robustness requirements. Overall, the analyses conducted in this study showed that the capture and de-orbiting of ENVISAT using the proposed robotic concept is feasible with respect to relevant mission requirements and for most of the operational scenarios considered. Future work aims at developing a combined chaser-robot system controller. This will include a visual servo to minimize the positioning errors during the contact phases of the mission (grasping and clamping). Further validation of the visual tracking in orbital lighting conditions will be pursued.

A comparison between a traditional ploughing and a spading (performed at different travelling and rotor speeds) was carried out in a paddy field, for evaluating both technical and agronomic parameters (working time, power required, fuel consumption, pulling force, efficiency of crop residues incorporation, etc.). The ploughing showed an effective tillage capacity 51% higher than the faster spading, and a reduction ranging between 20.8 and 44.1% of fuel consumption per surface unit. On the contrary, the spading machine requested no or minimum pulling force, making possible its use even in critical conditions, as for example on wet soil. On the other hand, the spading machine shows clear advantages under the agronomic point of view: in fact it does not create the typical compact layer at the bottom of the working depth, which reduces the root penetration and does not allow the capillary circulation of the solution into the soil. Indeed, in the paddy field the creation of a compact layer is able to reduce the water consumption, so it is not considered a problem to be solved. In any case, the spading machine better managed the crop residues, because they were mixed along the completely tilled layer.

This study examines the morphological properties of freshly emitted and atmospherically aged aerosols from biomass burning. The impacts of particle morphology assumptions on hygroscopic predictions are examined. Chamber experiments were conducted at the University of California, Riverside, Center for Environmental Research and Technology (CE-CERT) atmospheric processes lab using two biomass fuel sources: manzanita and chamise. Morphological data was obtained through the use of an aerosol particle mass analyzer (APM), scanning mobility particle sizer (SMPS) system and transmission electron microscope (TEM). Data from these instruments was used to calculate both a dynamic shape factor and a fractal-like dimension for the biomass burning emissions. This data was then used with κ-Köhler theory to adjust the calculated hygroscopicity for experimentally determined morphological characteristics of the aerosol. Laboratory measurement of biomass burning aerosol from two chaparral fuels show that particles are nonspherical with dynamic shape factors greater than 1.15 for aerosol sizes relevant to cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) activation. Accounting for particle morphology can shift the hygroscopicity parameter by 0.15 or more. To our knowledge, this work provides the first laboratory chamber measurements of morphological characteristics for biomass burning cloud condensation nuclei and provides experimental particle shape evidence to support the variation in reported hygroscopicities of the complex aerosol.

Variability in pH is a common occurrence in many aquatic environments, due to physical, chemical and biological processes. In coastal waters, lagoons, estuaries and inland waters, pH can change very rapidly (within seconds or hours) in addition to daily and seasonal changes. At the same time, progressive ocean acidification caused by anthropogenic CO2 emissions is superimposed on these spatial and temporal pH changes. Photosynthetic organisms are therefore unavoidably subject to significant pH variations at the cell surface. Whether this will affect their response to long-term ocean acidification is still unknown, nor is it known whether the short-term sensitivity to pH change is affected by the pCO2 to which the cells are acclimated. We posed the latter open question as our experimental hypothesis: Does acclimation to seawater acidification affect the response of phytoplankton to acute pH variations? The diatom Skeletonema costatum, commonly found in coastal and estuarine waters where short-term acute changes in pH frequently occur, was selected to test the hypothesis. Diatoms were grown at both 390 (pH 8.2, low CO2; LC) and 1000 (pH 7.9, high CO2; HC) µatm CO2 for at least 20 generations, and photosynthetic responses to short-term and acute changes in pH (between 8.2 and 7.6) were investigated. The effective quantum yield of LC-grown cells decreased by ca. 70% only when exposed to pH 7.6; this was not observed when exposed to pH 7.9 or 8.2. HC-grown cells did not show significant responses in any pH treatment. Non-photochemical quenching showed opposite trends. In general, our results indicate that while LC-grown cells are rather sensitive to acidification, HC-grown cells are relatively unresponsive in terms of photochemical performance.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) shows a very bad prognosis, even in early stages of disease. Metronomic chemotherapy refers to the minimum biologically effective dose of a chemotherapy agent given as a continuous dosing regimen with no prolonged drug-free breaks that leads to antitumor activity. In the present article, we review preclinical and clinical data of metronomic administration of chemotherapy agents with or without biological agents in TNBC cell lines and patients, contextually reporting data from the VICTOR-2 study in the subgroup of patients with TNBC, in order to stimulate new ideas for the design of clinical trials in this subset of patients.

In this paper, we report a comparative study of fiber optic sensors for applications of relative humidity (RH) monitoring in high-radiation environments. In particular, we present investigations carried out since 2011 by our multidisciplinary research group, in collaboration with the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) in Geneva. Our research has been first focused on the development of polyimide-coated fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors, and recently, it has been extended to nanoscale metal oxide-coated long-period gratings (LPGs). Experimental tests in the [0-70] %RH range at different temperatures, before and after γ-ionizing radiation exposures, have been carried out to assess the sensors' performances in conditions required in experiments running at CERN. The advantages and disadvantages of the two proposed technologies are discussed in this paper in light of their possible application in high-energy physics environments. In particular, reported results suggest that LPG-based sensors can be preferred in some applications (particularly in presence of very low humidity levels) mainly because they are able to provide very high RH sensitivity (up to 1.4 nm/% RH), which is up to three orders of magnitude higher than that exhibited by FBG-based hygrometers. On the other side, compared with FBGs, LPGs are more difficult to multiplex due to limitations in terms of available bandwidth.

The design, fabrication, and tests of the new generation of superconducting magnets for the High Luminosity upgrade of the Large Hadron Collider (HL-LHC) require the support of an adequate sensing technology able to assure the integrity of the strain-sensitive and brittle superconducting cables through the whole service life of the magnet: assembly up to 150 MPa, cool down to 1.9 K, and powering up to about 16 kA. A precise temperature monitoring is also needed, in order to guarantee the safe working condition of the superconducting cables in the power transmission lines (SC-Link) designed to feed the magnet over long distance. Fiber Bragg Grating-based temperature and strain monitoring systems have been implemented in the first SC-Link prototype and in two subscale dipole magnets and tested in the cryogenic test facility at CERN, at 30 K, 77 K, and 1.9 K.

Heavy metals such as mercury (Hg) pose a significant health hazard through bioaccumulation and biomagnification. By penetrating cell membranes, heavy metal ions may lead to pathological conditions. Here we examined the responses of Ammonia parkinsoniana, a benthic foraminiferan, to different concentrations of Hg in the artificial sea water. Confocal images of untreated and treated specimens using fluorescent probes (Nile Red and Acridine Orange) provided an opportunity for visualizing the intracellular lipid accumulation and acidic compartment regulation. With increased Hg over time, we observed an increased number of lipid droplets, which may have acted as a detoxifying organelle where Hg is sequestered and biologically inactivated. Further, Hg seems to promote the proliferation of lysosomes both in terms of number and dimension that, at the highest level of Hg, resulted in cell death. We report, for the first time, the presence of Hg within the foraminiferal cell: at the basal part of pores, in the organic linings of the foramen/septa, and as cytoplasmic accumulations.

Two different routes, namely solvent aided dispersion and direct mixing, were employed to disperse Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (MWNTs) into a mono-component epoxy system used as matrix for advanced composites. In the first route, MWCNTs were diluted in three different solvents (acetone, sodium dodecyl sulfate and ethanol) and then mixed with the matrix by tip sonication. In the second case, carbonaceous nanoparticles were added directly into the hosting system and dispersion was carried out by using three different techniques (mechanical stirring, magnetic agitation and tip sonication). The effects of the solvents and agitation energy were investigated by optical microscopy at micron level, in order assess the more efficient dispersion procedure for the considered epoxy system. It was demonstrated that parameters associated with direct mixing rather than solvent solubility govern MWCNT dispersion. Optical analysis of the nanocomposite morphology evidenced a very low density of MWCNTs micron sized aggregates in the case of direct mixed tip sonicated samples if compared to those obtained by solution aided dispersion. In addition, nanocomposites obtained by sonication showed the lowest density of MWCNTs micron sized aggregates, also when compared with mechanically and magnetically stirred system. Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA) and Thermo-Mechanical Analysis (TMA) results confirm the final result that among the considered direct mixing techniques, the direct tip sonication represents the most efficient route for MWCNT dispersion. Moreover, the mixing temperature of the hosting matrix system represents a fundamental feature in enhancing the MWCNT de-bundling and dispersion. Small X-ray Scattering analysis revealed that a nanosized structure of nanotubes is formed in the case of the tip sonicated samples that is heuristically correlated with both the maximum enhancement of mechanical modulus and the maximum reduction of thermal expansion coefficients.