Atmospheric drying and soil drying: Differential effects on grass community composition.

Global surface temperatures are projected to increase in the future; this will modify regional precipitation regimes and increase global atmospheric drying. Despite many drought studies examining the consequences of reduced precipitation, there are few experimental studies exploring plant responses to atmospheric drying via relative humidity and vapor pressure deficit (VPD). We examined eight native California perennial grass species grown in pots in a greenhouse in Los Angeles, California for 34 weeks. All pots were well-watered for 21 weeks, at which point we reduced watering to zero and recorded daily growth and dormancy for 3 weeks. We used this information to better understand the drought tolerance of our species in a larger soil drying × atmospheric drying experiment. In this larger experiment, we grew all eight species together in outdoor mesocosms and measured changes in community composition after 4 years of growth. Soil drying in our small pot experiment mirrored compositional shifts in the larger experiment. Namely, our most drought-tolerant species in our pot experiment was Poa secunda, due to a summer dormancy strategy. Similarly, the grass community shifted toward P. secunda in the driest soils as P. secunda was mostly unaffected by either soil drying or atmospheric drying. We found that some species responded strongly to soil drying (Elymus glaucus, Festuca idahoensis, and Hordeum b. californicum), while others responded strongly to atmospheric drying (Bromus carinatus and Stipa cernua). As result, community composition shifted in different and interacting ways in response to soil drying, atmospheric drying, and their combination. Further study of community responses to increasing atmospheric aridity is an essential next step to predicting the future consequences of climate change.

Effects of Laser Bandwidth in Direct-Drive High-Performance DT-Layered Implosions on the OMEGA Laser.

In direct-drive inertial confinement fusion, the laser bandwidth reduces the laser imprinting seed of hydrodynamic instabilities. The impact of varying bandwidth on the performance of direct-drive DT-layered implosions was studied in targets with different hydrodynamic stability properties. The stability was controlled by changing the shell adiabat from (α_{F}≃5) (more stable) to (α_{F}≃3.5) (less stable). These experiments show that the performance of lower adiabat implosions improves considerably as the bandwidth is raised indicating that further bandwidth increases, beyond the current capabilities of OMEGA, would be greatly beneficial. These results suggest that the future generation of ultra-broadband lasers could enable achieving high convergence and possibly high gains in direct drive ICF.

Factors associated with food insecurity among older homeless adults: results from the HOPE HOME study.

BACKGROUND: The US homeless population is aging. Older adults and those living in poverty are at a high risk of food insecurity. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of baseline data from a population-based study of 350 homeless adults aged ≥50. We assessed food security and receipt of food assistance. We used multivariable logistic regression to examine factors associated with very low food security. RESULTS: The majority of the cohort was male and African American. Over half (55.4%) met criteria for food insecurity, 24.3% reported very low food security. Half (51.7%) reported receiving monetary food assistance. In the multivariable model, those who were primarily sheltered in the prior 6 months, (multi-institution users [AOR = 0.44, 95% CI: 0.22-0.86]) had less than half the odds of very low food security compared with those who were unsheltered. Depressive symptoms (AOR = 3.01, 1.69-5.38), oral pain (AOR = 2.15, 1.24-3.74) and cognitive impairment (AOR = 2.21, 1.12-4.35) were associated with increased odds of very low food security. CONCLUSIONS: Older homeless adults experience a high prevalence of food insecurity. To alleviate food insecurity in this population, targeted interventions must address specific risk groups.

The United Kingdom Primary Immune Deficiency (UKPID) registry 2012 to 2017.

This is the second report of the United Kingdom Primary Immunodeficiency (UKPID) registry. The registry will be a decade old in 2018 and, as of August 2017, had recruited 4758 patients encompassing 97% of immunology centres within the United Kingdom. This represents a doubling of recruitment into the registry since we reported on 2229 patients included in our first report of 2013. Minimum PID prevalence in the United Kingdom is currently 5·90/100 000 and an average incidence of PID between 1980 and 2000 of 7·6 cases per 100 000 UK live births. Data are presented on the frequency of diseases recorded, disease prevalence, diagnostic delay and treatment modality, including haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and gene therapy. The registry provides valuable information to clinicians, researchers, service commissioners and industry alike on PID within the United Kingdom, which may not otherwise be available without the existence of a well-established registry.

Physical, Psychological, Social, and Existential Symptoms in Older Homeless-Experienced Adults: An Observational Study of the Hope Home Cohort.

BACKGROUND: The homeless population in the United States is aging. Aging-associated comorbidities are associated with increased symptoms. OBJECTIVE: To describe the prevalence of symptoms among older homeless-experienced adults, analyze factors associated with moderate-high physical symptom burden, and identify symptom clusters. DESIGN: Cross-sectional analysis within longitudinal cohort study. PARTICIPANTS: Using population-based sampling from shelters, meal programs, encampments, and a recycling center in Oakland, CA, we recruited homeless adults aged ≥ 50 for a longitudinal cohort. This study includes participants who participated in the 18-month follow-up visit. MAIN MEASURES: We assessed physical symptoms using the Patient Health Questionnaire-15 (PHQ-15); psychological symptoms using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), Primary Care PTSD Screen (PC-PTSD), and psychiatric section of the Addiction Severity Index (ASI); loneliness using the Three-Item Loneliness Scale; and regret using a six-item regret scale. KEY RESULTS: Two hundred eighty-three participants (75.6% men and 82.3% African-Americans) completed symptoms interviews. Over a third (34.0%) had moderate-high physical symptom burden. The most prevalent physical symptoms were joint pain, fatigue, back pain, and sleep trouble. Over half (57.6%) had psychological symptoms; 39.6% exhibited loneliness and 26.5% had high regret. In a multivariate model, being a woman (AOR 2.54, 95% CI 1.28-5.03), childhood abuse (AOR 1.88, 95% CI 1.00-3.50), cannabis use (AOR 2.59, 95% CI 1.38-4.89), multimorbidity (AOR 2.50, 95% CI 1.36-4.58), anxiety (AOR 4.30, 95% CI 2.24-8.26), hallucinations (AOR 3.77, 95% CI 1.36-10.43), and loneliness (AOR 2.32, 95% CI 1.26-4.28) were associated with moderate-high physical symptom burden. We identified four symptom clusters: minimal overall (n = 129), moderate overall (n = 68), high physical and high psychological (n = 67), and high physical and low psychological (n = 17). CONCLUSIONS: Older homeless-experienced adults exhibit a high prevalence of symptoms across multiple dimensions. To reduce suffering, clinicians should recognize the interaction between symptoms and address multiple symptom dimensions.

Metal-free, direct conversion of α-amino acids into α-keto γ-amino esters for the synthesis of α,γ-peptides.

An efficient, metal-free synthesis of unusual α-keto γ-amino esters from α-amino acids is achieved by a radical scission-oxidation-addition of silyloxy acrylates procedure, where no purification of the reaction intermediates is needed. This protocol can be applied to the selective modification of the C-terminal position in peptides to give α,γ-hybrids.

Clinical and laboratory correlates of lung disease and cancer in adults with idiopathic hypogammaglobulinaemia.

Idiopathic hypogammaglobulinaemia, including common variable immune deficiency (CVID), has a heterogeneous clinical phenotype. This study used data from the national UK Primary Immune Deficiency (UKPID) registry to examine factors associated with adverse outcomes, particularly lung damage and malignancy. A total of 801 adults labelled with idiopathic hypogammaglobulinaemia and CVID aged 18-96 years from 10 UK cities were recruited using the UKPID registry database. Clinical and laboratory data (leucocyte numbers and serum immunoglobulin concentrations) were collated and analysed using uni- and multivariate statistics. Low serum immunoglobulin (Ig)G pre-immunoglobulin replacement therapy was the key factor associated with lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) and history of LRTI was the main factor associated with bronchiectasis. History of overt LRTI was also associated with a significantly shorter delay in diagnosis and commencing immunoglobulin replacement therapy [5 (range 1-13 years) versus 9 (range 2-24) years]. Patients with bronchiectasis started immunoglobulin replacement therapy significantly later than those without this complication [7 (range 2-22) years versus 5 (range 1-13) years]. Patients with a history of LRTI had higher serum IgG concentrations on therapy and were twice as likely to be on prophylactic antibiotics. Ensuring prompt commencement of immunoglobulin therapy in patients with idiopathic hypogammaglobulinaemia is likely to help prevent LRTI and subsequent bronchiectasis. Cancer was the only factor associated with mortality. Overt cancer, both haematological and non-haematological, was associated with significantly lower absolute CD8(+) T cell but not natural killer (NK) cell numbers, raising the question as to what extent immune senescence, particularly of CD8(+) T cells, might contribute to the increased risk of cancers as individuals age.

Reactive oxygen species production, induced by atmospheric modification, alter conidial quality of Beauveria bassiana.

AIM: The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and conidial infectivity in Beauveria bassiana. METHODS AND RESULTS: Beauveria bassiana Bb 882.5 was cultured in solid-state culture (SSC) using rice under three oxygen conditions (21%, or pulses at 16 and 26%). Hydrophobicity was determined using exclusion phase assay. Bioassays with larvae or adults of Tenebrio molitor allowed the measurements of infectivity parameters. A fluorometric method was used for ROS quantification (superoxide and total peroxides). NADPH oxidase (NOX) activity was determined by specific inhibition. Conidial hydrophobicity decreased by O2 pulses. Mortality of larvae was only achieved with conidia harvested from cultures under 21% O2 ; whereas for adult insects, the infectivity parameters deteriorated in conidia obtained after pulses at 16 and 26% O2 . At day 7, ROS production increased after 16 and 26% O2 treatments. NOX activity induced ROS production at early stages of the culture. CONCLUSION: Modification of atmospheric oxygen increases ROS production, reducing conidial quality and infectivity. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This is the first study in which conidial infectivity and ROS production in B. bassiana has been related, enhancing the knowledge of the effect of O2 pulses in B. bassiana.

Low ficolin-2 levels in common variable immunodeficiency patients with bronchiectasis.

Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) encompasses a heterogeneous group of antibody deficiencies characterized by susceptibility to recurrent infections and sequelae, including bronchiectasis. We investigated the relevance of the lectin complement pathway in CVID patients by analysing ficolin-2 and ficolin-3 serum levels and genotyping single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the FCN2 and FCN3 genes. Our results show that ficolin-2 levels in CVID patients are significantly lower (P < 0.0001) than in controls. The lowest ficolin-2 levels are found in CVID patients with bronchiectasis (P = 0.0004) and autoimmunity (P = 0.04). Although serum levels of ficolin-3 were similar in CVID patients and controls, CVID patients with bronchiectasis again showed lower levels when compared to controls (P = 0.0001). Analysis of single nucleotide polymorphisms in the FCN2 gene confirmed known influences on ficolin-2 serum levels, but did not support a genetic basis for the observed ficolin-2 deficiency in CVID. We found that CVID patients with bronchiectasis have very low levels of ficolin-2. The reason for the deficiency of ficolin-2 in CVID and any possible causal relationship is currently unknown. However, as bronchiectasis is a very important factor for morbidity and mortality in CVID, ficolin-2 could also serve as biomarker for monitoring disease complications such as bronchiectasis.

The development of an instrument to measure global dimensions of maternal care in rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta).

One of the strongest predictors of healthy child development is the quality of maternal care. Although many measures of observation and self-report exist in humans to assess global aspects of maternal care, such qualitative measures are lacking in nonhuman primates. In this study, we developed an instrument to measure global aspects of maternal care in rhesus monkeys, with the goal of complementing the individual behavioral data collected using a well-established rhesus macaque ethogram during the first months postpartum. The 22 items of the instrument were adapted from human maternal sensitivity assessments and a maternal Q-sort instrument already published for macaques. The 22 items formed four dimensions with high levels of internal reliability that represented major constructs of maternal care: (1) Sensitivity/Responsivity, (2) Protectiveness, (3) Permissiveness, and (4) Irritability. These dimensions yielded high construct validity when correlated with mother-infant frequency and duration behavior that was collected from focal observations across the first 3 postnatal months. In addition, comparisons of two groups of mothers (Maltreating vs. Competent mothers) showed significant differences across the dimensions suggesting that this instrument has strong concurrent validity, even after controlling for focal observation variables that have been previously shown to significantly differentiate these groups. Our findings suggest that this Instrument of Macaque Maternal Care has the potential to capture global aspects of the mother-infant relationship that complement individual behaviors collected through focal observations.

An individually fitted physical barrier device as a tool to restrict the birds' spatial access: can their use alter behavioral responses?

Social interactions have been extensively studied in poultry in a variety of environmental situations. Many studies allow full social contacts between birds, but there are others in which the interactions are tested through barriers (wire mesh or glass). Thus a situation where, according to their needs, some birds can get access to physical contact with conspecifics while others cannot, would be useful to expand the testing options for social interaction studies. We developed an individual physical barrier device (IPB) that is fitted on the birds to delimit their ambulation areas by preventing them from passing across metal mesh boundaries that IPB free counterparts can easily overcome. The prototypes showing greater efficacy consisted of a small metal bar placed in the bird's back perpendicular to the sagittal plane that slightly exceeds body width, held with a harness fitted by 2 elastic fabric bands around the wings' base. To be useful, the IPB should allow natural movements and not affect the expression of behaviors (non-invasive). This study assessed whether the IPB may alter adult Japanese quail behavioral responses using 4 classical test situations: Open-Field, Runway, Time Budget in Home Box, and Mating Interactions. Open-field ambulatory behaviors were affected 1 h, but not 7 d, after IPB was fitted, suggesting that 7 d (or less) are required to habituate to the device. After that time period, IPB fitted birds showed no differences in any of the behaviors registered in the other 3 tests situations when compared to non IPB fitted birds. Findings suggest that after habituation, the IPB does not affect main behaviors in adult quail. Its application could be expanded if an IPB device is also found suitable for other poultry species.

Evaluation of an extended-release formulation of ceftiofur crystalline-free acid in koi (Cyprinus carpio).

The use of an extended release ceftiofur crystalline-free acid formulation (CCFA, Excede For Swine(®) , Pfizer Animal Health) in koi was evaluated after administration of single intramuscular (i.m.) or intracoelomic (i.c.) doses. Twenty koi were divided randomly into a control group and four treatment groups (20 mg/kg i.m., 60 mg/kg i.m., 30 mg/kg i.c., and 60 mg/kg i.c.). Serum ceftiofur-free acid equivalents (CFAE) concentrations were quantified. The pharmacokinetic data were analyzed using a nonlinear mixed-effects approach. Following a CCFA injection of 60 mg/kg i.m., time durations that serum CFAE concentrations were above the target concentration of 4 µg/mL ranged from 0.4 to 2.5 weeks in 3 of 4 fish, while serum CFAE concentrations remained below 4 µg/mL for lower doses evaluated. Substantial inter-individual variations and intra-individual fluctuations of CFAE concentrations were observed for all treatment groups. Histological findings following euthanasia included aseptic granulomatous reactions, but no systemic adverse effects were detected. Given the unpredictable time vs. CFAE concentration profiles for treated koi, the authors would not recommend this product for therapeutic use in koi at this time. Further research would be necessary to correlate serum and tissue concentrations and to better establish MIC data for Aeromonas spp. isolated from naturally infected koi.

The United Kingdom Primary Immune Deficiency (UKPID) Registry: report of the first 4 years' activity 2008-2012.

This report summarizes the establishment of the first national online registry of primary immune deficency in the United Kingdom, the United Kingdom Primary Immunodeficiency (UKPID Registry). This UKPID Registry is based on the European Society for Immune Deficiency (ESID) registry platform, hosted on servers at the Royal Free site of University College, London. It is accessible to users through the website of the United Kingdom Primary Immunodeficiency Network (www.ukpin.org.uk). Twenty-seven centres in the United Kingdom are actively contributing data, with an additional nine centres completing their ethical and governance approvals to participate. This indicates that 36 of 38 (95%) of recognized centres in the United Kingdom have engaged with this project. To date, 2229 patients have been enrolled, with a notable increasing rate of recruitment in the past 12 months. Data are presented on the range of diagnoses recorded, estimated minimum disease prevalence, geographical distribution of patients across the United Kingdom, age at presentation, diagnostic delay, treatment modalities used and evidence of their monitoring and effectiveness.

Workload of on-call emergency room neurologists in a Spanish tertiary care centre. A one-year prospective study.

INTRODUCTION: Population ageing, the rising demand for healthcare, and the establishment of acute stroke treatment programs have given rise to increases in the number and complexity of neurological emergency cases. Nevertheless, many centres in Spain still lack on-call emergency neurologists. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study to describe the role of on-call neurologists at Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, a tertiary care centre in Madrid, Spain. Sociodemographic characteristics, most common pathologies, diagnostic tests, and destination of the patients attended were recorded daily using a computer database. Results were compared with the general care data from the emergency department. RESULTS: The team attended 3234 patients (3.48% of the emergency department total). The mean number of patients seen per day was 11.15. The most frequent pathologies were stroke (34%), epilepsy (16%) and headache (8%). The mean stay in the emergency department was 7.17 hours. Hospital admission rate was 40% (7.38% of emergency hospital admissions). The main destinations for admitted patients were the stroke unit (39.5%) and the neurology department (33%). Endovascular or thrombolytic therapies were performed on 76 occasions. Doctors attended 70% of the patients during on-call hours. CONCLUSIONS: Emergency neurological care is varied, complex, and frequently necessary. Neurological cases account for a sizeable percentage of both patient visits to the emergency room and the total number of emergency admissions. The current data confirm that on-call neurologists available on a 24-hour basis are needed in emergency departments.

Social interaction of juvenile Japanese quail classified by their permanence in proximity to a high or low density of conspecifics.

One challenge faced by ethologists in poultry welfare is helping birds to form functionally successful groups over time through the expression of appropriate behaviors. Searching for phenotypic variability, we developed in Japanese quail a density-related permanence (DRP) test that enables us to classify young birds (while in groups) according to their individual permanence in boxes containing a high or low density of confined conspecifics (HD or LD, respectively). This study addressed the question of whether contrasting DRP quail behavior may reflect underlying differences in social responses. Birds were classified at 11 d of age in an apparatus consisting of 2 boxes interconnected by a central region delimited by sliding doors. Each box contained at its distal end either 12 or 3 conspecifics confined behind a glass (high or low density, respectively). The doors were closed 9 times every 1 h, and positioning of 36 experimental birds was registered. If birds were found in the box containing high density, low density, or in the central region, they received a 1, -1, or a 0 score, respectively. Birds with final summed scores of ≥3 or ≤-3 were categorized as HD or LD, respectively. Same category groups (HD or LD) were evaluated in their home box (undisturbed) and in a resident/intruder test when 38 d old. A higher proportion of LD than HD groups (5/6 vs. 1/6, respectively) showed at least one aggressive pecking event during a 1-h trial. The LD groups also showed a higher number of aggressive pecking events than HP groups. When an unfamiliar intruder (either HD or LD) was incorporated during 5 min in the HD or LD box, LD resident quail showed shorter latencies and a higher number of aggressive pecking events toward the intruder bird than their HD counterparts. The early individual permanence in the DRP test could be considered a consequence of a different adaptability strategy for group living. This novel test could be relevant for selection programs aiming to obtain birds better suited for rearing in high-density conditions.

Behavioral responses to short-term transport in male and female Greater Rheas (Rhea americana) reared in captivity.

Animal transport is an indispensable practice in species that need to be moved for management or commercial purposes. However, transport may have negative effects on individuals' welfare. The aims of the present work were to determine if the behavioral responses of adult Greater Rheas (Rhea americana) bred in captivity are sensitive to short-term transport and if males and females differ in their posttransport behavioral activity and recovery. Eight males and 8 females were placed in individual pens and allowed 6 d to habituate (d 1 to 6) before transport procedure. On the transport day (d 7), half of the birds (4 males and 4 females) were randomly assigned to a transport group that was captured and handled to be placed into the crates, exposed to a 30-min transport stressor, and immediately returned to their pens. Four transports with 1 different male and female each time were performed. The other half remained undisturbed and were used as controls. Behavior of all individuals was video-recorded during habituation days, after transport on d 7, and on the 2 following days (d 8 and 9) to evaluate pre- and posttransport behavioral activity for 2 h per day. No significant behavioral changes were observed during the last 2 d of the habituation period (d 5 and 6), suggesting that Greater Rheas were adapted to the housing conditions before transport. After transportation, several behaviors were affected: transported males and females showed null resting, transported females also showed reduced preening and increased vigilance (P < 0.05), whereas transported males showed increased drinking (P < 0.05) compared with their respective control groups. The results suggest that behavioral responses of captive-bred Greater Rheas are sensitive to short-term transport (which includes handling) and that males and females differ in their posttransport behavioral activity, recovering their overall basal levels on the third day posttransportation.

The insemination status and social context influences quail laying and social behavior: A novel experimental set up.

Japanese quails in wild life live in small groups with females being even solitary during the laying period. Although it is a poultry species widely used for egg production, information regarding laying behavior motivations or influencing variables is scarce. Our study focuses on evaluating along 7 d the quail laying behavior in a novel environmental set up. This set up allows the female to choose between remaining separated from a conspecific in one side of the apparatus or to voluntarily enter their space (box-mate side) and interact with it. We evaluated whether the female insemination status prior to enter the environmental set up, and the presence of a female or a male partner in the box-mate side can influence their laying and social behavior. Thus, 4 experimental groups were established. Females spent a higher (P < 0.05) percentage of time in the box-mate side than in their separated sector in all groups. In 3 of the 4 experimental groups (non-inseminated females interacting with a female or a male box-mate, and inseminated females interacting with a male box-mate) females also laid a greater percentage (≥65%, P < 0.05, in all cases) of eggs in the box-mate sector than in their separated sector. However, the group of inseminated females that interacted with a female box-mate shifted their egg distribution and laid equally between both sides of the apparatus. Aggressive social interactions were reduced (P < 0.05) throughout the testing days but this was depending upon the female insemination status and the sex of their box-mate. Findings suggest that females can change their laying side choice when they are inseminated but depending on the sex identity of their box-mate partners. Thus, providing quail female breeders with the option of laying their eggs in separated enclosures from conspecifics could be key to favor their well-being.

Association of obesity, diabetes, and hypertension with arsenic in drinking water in the Comarca Lagunera province (north-central Mexico).

Chronic endemic regional hydroarsenicism (CERHA) is a global issue that affects over 200 million people exposed to arsenic (As) in drinking water. This includes 1.75 million individuals residing in La Comarca Lagunera, a region in north-central Mexico. Arsenic levels in this region typically exceeds the WHO guideline of 10 µg L-1. Biochemical alterations related to the human As metabolism may increase the risk of overweight and obesity (O&O), type 2 diabetes (T2D), and hypertension (AHT). In our study, we investigated the role of As in drinking water as a risk factor for these metabolic diseases. We focused on populations with historically moderate (San Pedro) and low (Lerdo) drinking water As levels and people with no historical evidence of As water contamination. The exposure assessment to As was based on measurements of the drinking water (medians 67.2, 21.0, 4.3 µg L-1) and urinary As concentrations in women (9.4, 5.3, 0.8 µg L-1) and men (18.1, 4.8, 1.0 µg L-1). A significant correlation between As in drinking water and urine evidenced the As exposure in the population (R2 = 0.72). Adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals evidenced higher chances of being diagnosed with T2D (1.7, 1.2-2.0) and AHT (1.8, 1.7-1.9) in individuals living in San Pedro than those in Lerdo. Still, there was no significant association with obesity. Individuals living in CERHA towns were found to have a higher risk of obesity (1.3-1.9), T2D (1.5 to 3.3), and AHT (1.4 to 2.4) compared to those residing in non-CERHA towns. Finally, obesity is more probable in women [inverse of OR and 95%CI 0.4 (0.2-0.7)] compared to men, while men is more likely to be diagnosed with T2D [OR = 2.0 (1.4-2.3)] and AHT [OR = 2.0 (1.5-2.3)] than women, independently of the municipality.

Quantum-correlated two-photon transitions to excitons in semiconductor quantum wells.

The dependence of the excitonic two-photon absorption on the quantum correlations (entanglement) of exciting biphotons by a semiconductor quantum well is studied. We show that entangled photon absorption can display very unusual features depending on space-time-polarization biphoton parameters and absorber density of states for both bound exciton states as well as for unbound electron-hole pairs. We report on the connection between biphoton entanglement, as quantified by the Schmidt number, and absorption by a semiconductor quantum well. Comparison between frequency-anti-correlated, unentangled and frequency-correlated biphoton absorption is addressed. We found that exciton oscillator strengths are highly increased when photons arrive almost simultaneously in an entangled state. Two-photon-absorption becomes a highly sensitive probe of photon quantum correlations when narrow semiconductor quantum wells are used as two-photon absorbers.

The developmental consequences of early adverse care on infant macaques: A cross-fostering study.

Early life adversity/stress (ELA/ELS), particularly adverse caregiving experiences such as child maltreatment (MALT), is a main risk factor for psychopathology, including psychiatric disorders such as anxiety, depression, ADHD, and substance abuse. Yet how these alterations unfold during development and the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood, as it is difficult to prospectively and longitudinally study early developmental phases in humans, and nearly impossible to disentangle postnatal caregiving effects from heritable traits. This study examined the specific effects of "nurture" (maternal care) versus "nature" (heritable, biological maternal factors) on nonhuman primate infant socioemotional, stress neuroendocrine, and physical development. For this we used a translational and naturalistic macaque model of infant maltreatment by the mother with randomized assignment at birth to either mothers with a history of maltreating their infants (MALT group, n = 22) or to competent mothers (Control group, n = 20). Over the first 6 months of life (roughly equivalent to 2 years in humans), we examined the development of the mother-infant relationship, as well as infants' social behavior and emotional reactivity. In parallel, we assessed hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis function longitudinally, using measures of hair cortisol accumulation, and basal morning plasma cortisol. We identified broad impairments in maternal care exhibited by MALT foster mothers, beyond maltreatment (physical abuse, rejection) events, suggesting that MALT foster mothers provide an overall lower quality of care to their infants compared to Controls. MALT infants exhibited alterations in their initiations and breaks of proximity towards their mothers, as well as heightened emotional reactivity in comparison to Controls. Most striking are the HPA axis findings, with MALT infants showing higher levels of plasma cortisol across the first 6 postnatal months as well as higher hair cortisol accumulation from birth through month 6 (a signature of chronic stress) than Controls. No caregiving effects were detected on physical growth, which ruled out confounding effects of maternal nutrition, metabolism, etc. Taken together, these results suggest that the developmental trajectory of MALT and Control infants is different, marked by heightened levels of emotional reactivity, increased HPA activity and alterations in mother-infant interactions in MALT animals. These findings appear to be due to specific effects of postnatal maternal care, and not to biological/ behavioral traits inherited from the mother, or due to prenatal programming caused by prenatal stress, as the cross-fostering design controlled for these potential factors. However, we also detected a couple of interesting biological effects suggesting heritable transmission of some phenotypes. The prolonged HPA axis activation during the first 6 postnatal months of life is expected to have long-term consequences for brain, physiological, and behavioral development in MALT offspring.