Longitudinal association of prepubertal urinary phthalate metabolite concentrations with pubertal progression among a cohort of boys.

BACKGROUND: Epidemiological studies have reported associations of anti-androgenic phthalate metabolite concentrations with later onset of male puberty, but few have assessed associations with progression. OBJECTIVES: We examined the association of prepubertal urinary phthalate metabolite concentrations with trajectories of pubertal progression among Russian boys. METHODS: At enrollment (ages 8-9 years), medical history, dietary, and demographic information were collected. At entry and annually to age 19 years, physical examinations including testicular volume (TV) were performed and spot urines collected. Each boy's prepubertal urine samples were pooled, and 15 phthalate metabolites were quantified by isotope dilution LC-MS/MS at Moscow State University. Metabolites of anti-androgenic parent phthalates were included: butylbenzyl (BBzP), di-n-butyl (DnBP), diisobutyl (DiBP), di(2-ethylhexyl) (DEHP) and diisononyl (DiNP) phthalates. We calculated the molar sums of DEHP, DiNP, and all AAP metabolites. We used group-based trajectory models (GBTMs) to identify subgroups of boys who followed similar pubertal trajectories from ages 8-19 years based on annual TV. We used multinomial and ordinal regression models to evaluate whether prepubertal log-transformed phthalate metabolite concentrations were associated with slower or faster pubertal progression trajectories, adjusting for covariates. RESULTS: 304 boys contributed a total of 752 prepubertal urine samples (median 2, range: 1-6) for creation of individual pools. The median length of follow-up was 10.0 years; 79% of boys were followed beyond age 15. We identified three pubertal progression groups: slower (34%), moderate (43%), and faster (23%) progression. A standard deviation increase in urinary log-monobenzyl phthalate (MBzP) concentrations was associated with higher adjusted odds of being in the slow versus faster pubertal progression trajectory (aOR 1.47, 95% CI 1.06-2.04). None of the other phthalate metabolites were associated with pubertal progression. CONCLUSIONS: On average, boys with higher concentrations of prepubertal urinary MBzP had a slower tempo of pubertal progression, perhaps attributable to the disruption of androgen-dependent biological pathways.

Increased Frequencies of the ‒174G and ‒572C IL6 Alleles in Populations of Indigenous Peoples of Siberia Compared to Russians.

Abstract-The study of immune response and inflammation gene polymorphisms in a genogeographic context is relevant in the study of human populations. Here, in the indigenous populations of Siberia the frequencies of polymorphic variants ‒174G/C (rs1800795) and ‒572C/G (rs1800796) of the IL6 gene encoding the proinflammatory cytokine IL-6 were determined. For the first time, it was shown that the frequencies of the ‒174G and ‒572C alleles, which determine increased inflammatory response and are also associated with several diseases were statistically significantly higher in ethnic groups of Buryats, Teleuts, Yakuts, Dolgans and Tuvinians than in Russians living in Siberia. These values were in the intermediate position between those in the European and East-Asian groups. We hypothesize an adaptive role of these IL6 genetic variants in human settlement from Africa to the Eurasian continent. However, due to the departure from the traditional way of life and the increasing anthropogenic environmental pollution, the risk of diseases whose pathogenesis is based on inflammation in indigenous Siberian populations is likely increased.

[Increased Frequencies of the -174G and -572C IL6 Alleles in Populations of Indigenous Peoples of Siberia Compared to Russians].

The study of immune response and inflammation gene polymorphisms in a genogeographic context is relevant in the study of human populations. Here, in the indigenous populations of Siberia the frequencies of polymorphic variants -174G/C (rs1800795) and -572C/G (rs1800796) of the IL6 gene encoding the proinflammatory cytokine IL-6 were determined. For the first time, it was shown that the frequencies of the -174G and -572C alleles, which determine increased inflammatory response and are also associated with several diseases were statistically significantly higher in ethnic groups of Buryats, Teleuts, Yakuts, Dolgans and Tuvinians than in Russians living in Siberia. These values were in the intermediate position between those in the European and East-Asian groups. We hypothesize an adaptive role of these IL6 genetic variants in human settlement from Africa to the Eurasian continent. However, due to the departure from the traditional way of life and the increasing anthropogenic environmental pollution, the risk of diseases whose pathogenesis is based on inflammation in indigenous Siberian populations is likely increased.

Field-resolved THz-pump laser-probe measurements with CEP-unstable THz light sources.

Radiation sources with a stable carrier-envelope phase (CEP) are highly demanded tools for field-resolved studies of light-matter interaction, providing access both to the amplitude and phase information of dynamical processes. At the same time, many coherent light sources, including those with outstanding power and spectral characteristics lack CEP stability, and so far could not be used for this type of research. In this work, we present a method enabling linear and non-linear phase-resolved terahertz (THz) -pump laser-probe experiments with CEP-unstable THz sources. THz CEP information for each pulse is extracted using a specially designed electro-optical detection scheme. The method correlates the extracted CEP value for each pulse with the THz-induced response in the parallel pump-probe experiment to obtain an absolute phase-resolved response after proper sorting and averaging. As a proof-of-concept, we demonstrate experimentally field-resolved THz time-domain spectroscopy with sub-cycle temporal resolution using the pulsed radiation of a CEP-unstable infrared free-electron laser (IR-FEL) operating at 13 MHz repetition rate. In spite of the long history of IR-FELs and their unique operational characteristics, no successful realization of CEP-stable operation has been demonstrated yet. Being CEP-unstable, IR-FEL radiation has so far only been used in non-coherent measurements without phase resolution. The technique demonstrated here is robust, operates easily at high-repetition rates and for short THz pulses, and enables common sequential field-resolved time-domain experiments. The implementation of such a technique at IR-FEL user end-stations will facilitate a new class of linear and non-linear experiments for studying coherent light-driven phenomena with increased signal-to-noise ratio.

Terahertz-slicing - an all-optical synchronization for 4th generation light sources.

A conceptually new approach to synchronizing accelerator-based light sources and external laser systems is presented. The concept is based on utilizing a sufficiently intense accelerator-based single-cycle terahertz pulse to slice a thereby intrinsically synchronized femtosecond-level part of a longer picosecond laser pulse in an electro-optic crystal. A precise synchronization of the order of 10 fs is demonstrated, allowing for real-time lock-in amplifier signal demodulation. We demonstrate successful operation of the concept with three benchmark experiments using a 4th generation accelerator-based terahertz light source, i.e. (i) far-field terahertz time-domain spectroscopy, (ii) terahertz high harmonic generation spectroscopy, and (iii) terahertz scattering-type scanning near-field optical microscopy.

[Modern approaches to the rehabilitation of patients with chronic paraproctitis in the early postoperative period]. / Sovremennye podkhody k reabilitatsii bol'nykh khronicheskim paraproktitom v rannem posleoperatsionnom periode.

Along with the classical methods of surgical treatment of rectal fistulas, new minimally invasive technologies have appeared using video endoscopic support for processing the fistulous tract and closing the internal fistula opening, intrasphincter ligation of the fistulous tract LIFT, however, they do not exclude relapses in the late postoperative period. The FiLaC (Fistula Laser Closure) laser technology based on the use of a radial flexible laser light guide, which does not cause damage to the anal canal mucosa, pain in the postoperative period, rectal postoperative bleeding and strictures, is quite promising in the further development of outpatient minimally invasive surgery for anal fistulas. anal canal. However, even with this technique, complications and relapses were observed in 10-12% of cases, which dictates the need to develop not only a patient-oriented approach to the surgical treatment of patients with chronic paraproctitis, but also to develop postoperative rehabilitation programs in the early postoperative period. OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of complex rehabilitation programs used in the early postoperative period on the efficacy of the therapy in patients with pararectal fistulas. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 90 patients with chronic paraproctitis, (the average age was 43±3.4 years, the average duration of the disease was 5.1±1.5 years), who underwent a surgery using the modified FiLac technology. The patients were divided into 3 groups (30 patients in each group) depending on the rehabilitation method used during the postoperative period (2 days after the surgery): 1st group underwent a 4-component rehabilitation complex (intravenous ozone therapy, rectal laser therapy, recto-tibialmyostimulation of the pelvic floor muscles and biofeedback therapy); 2nd group underwent a 2-component rehabilitation complex (intravenous ozone therapy and rectal laser therapy); 3rd group has received a standard medical complex, which served as a background in 1st group and 2nd group. Therapeutic efficacy was assessed according to the assessment of pain syndrome (on the VAS scale), the results of anal sphincterometry (the Peritron 9600 device), the incidence of postoperative complications and relapses at different follow-up periods (up to 5 years). RESULTS: A comparative analysis of the nature of the course of the postoperative period, depending on the type of postoperative rehabilitation was carried out. In multiple comparisons using the parametric ANOVA method, it was found that there were statistically significant differences between the 1st group and the 3rd group in terms of pain intensity, duration of pain, the timing of wound healing, the frequency of complications, and the timing of return to work. The results in the 2nd group were slightly lower than in the 1st group, but they also differed significantly from the data of the 3rd group. During the analysis of the early and late p/o complications and relapses in patients with chronic paraproctitis after surgery the most significant were obtained from the 1st group (only 1 case of early p/o complications and relapse within 1 to 5 years), while in the 3rd group there were 2 (6.6%) cases of early p/o complications, 2 cases (6.6%) of relapses within a period of up to 1 year and 6 (20%) cases in the period from 1 to 5 years. In patients of the 2nd group, results close to the results of the 1st group were obtained: 2 (6.6%), 2 (6.6%) and 3 (9.9%) cases respectively. CONCLUSION: The use of expanded rehabilitation complexes among the patients with chronic paraproctitis in the early postoperative period after surgery, including intravenous ozone therapy, rectal laser therapy, recto-tibialmyostimulation and bifidobac therapy, made it possible to significantly improve therapeutic efficacy, which was confirmed by faster pain relief, fewer early and late p/o complications. The data obtained indicate the need for the use of rehabilitation programs in the early postoperative period for the treatment and prevention of complications after surgery.

[Modern surgical technologies in the treatment of patients with chronic paraproctitis]. / Sovremennye khirurgicheskie tekhnologii v lechenii bol'nykh khronicheskim paraproktitom.

The development of minimally invasive surgical technologies in the treatment of chronic paraproctitis is a promising young trend in coloproctology. Increasingly, in clinical practice, coloproctologists use laser technologies in the outpatient treatment of extra- and transsphincteric pararectal fistulas, in particular, laser technology FiLaC (Fistula Laser Closure). OBJECTIVE: Conducting a comparative retrospective and prospective cohort study of immediate and long-term results of treatment of complicated transsphincteric and extrasphincteric fistulas using the developed modified FiLaC technology with the «traditional¼ FiLaC technology, and standard excision of the fistulous tract with plasty of the internal fistula opening with a full-thickness flap of the rectal wall. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 270 patients with trans- and extrasphincter pararectal fistulas, which were divided into three groups. In group 1 (n=90) the traditional FiLaC technology was used for the treatment of fistulas, in group 2 (n=90) the modified FiLaC technology was used, providing for the opening of purulent streaks and laser coagulation (FiLaC) of the intrasphincter part of the fistula with a Biolitec laser, 12 W, 100 J/cm, in group 3 (n=90), excision of the fistula tract with plastic surgery of the internal fistula opening with a full-thickness flap of the rectal wall was used. RESULTS: The results of treatment in patients of the three groups were monitored for 19-36 months. after surgery (median 31 months). The analysis of the results showed that in group 2 (modified FiLaC technology) healing of fistulas occurred faster (7.3±0.5 weeks versus 12.6±0.7 weeks) compared to group 3 (excision of the fistula with plasty of the internal fistula opening). The indicators of sphincterometry in the long-term period in patients of the 2nd group were restored in relation to the initial ones, and in the th group 3 they were reduced compared to the initial values. Postoperative complications were most common in patients of group 3 (32.2%), and least often in patients of group 2 - 8.9%. At the same time, late postoperative complications were most common (24.4%) in patients of group 1. None of the patients in group 2 had late postoperative complications, while 11.1% of postoperative complications were recorded in group 3. In patients who underwent excision of the AC (group 3), relapses were most common: early - 15.6%, late - in 21.1%. The least frequent relapses were observed in patients who underwent modified FiLaC technology (Group 2): 6.7% - early relapses and 11.1% - late relapses. CONCLUSION: The use of the modified FiLaC technology in the treatment of trans- and extrasphincteric fistulas of the rectum made it possible to minimize postoperative complications, fully preserve the function of anal holding, and achieve healing of fistulas in 82.5% of cases with a median follow-up of 31 months.

[Regenerative effect of comprehensive physiotherapeutic programs in the early postoperative period in patients with chronic paraproctitis]. / Regenerativnyi effekt primeneniya kompleksnykh fizioterapevticheskikh programm v rannem posleoperatsionnom periode u bol'nykh khronicheskim paraproktitom.

The modern lifestyle is often associated with low physical activity and blood stasis in the pelvic organs, which leads to increased incidence of proctological diseases, and increasingly in people of young working age. Chronic paraproctitis is the third most common proctological disorder that requires surgical treatment. The disease occurs commonly in the age group of 30-50 years, predominantly in men, which determines its socio-economic significance. It indicates the urgent need for advanced comprehensive physiotherapeutic programs for early rehabilitation of patients after surgery for chronic paraproctitis, and the application of new diagnostic technologies for assessment of surgery effectiveness and postoperative changes to provide adequate and effective medical rehabilitation. One of the main goals in the early postoperative period is the acceleration of adequate scar formation and reduction of the postoperative wound healing time; therefore, it seems reasonable to assess regeneration processes using transrectal ultrasound examination and sonoelastography of the scar tissue, which have great potential for use in coloproctology. OBJECTIVE: To study the role of the medical rehabilitation program in the early postoperative period on the adequate scar formation and postoperative wound healing processes (by transrectal ultrasound investigation and scar tissue sonoelastography) as well as postoperative complications rate and long-term (up to 12 months) treatment outcomes in patients with chronic paraproctitis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 60 patients 20-69 years with chronic pararectal fistulas (ICD-10: K60.4). The patients were assigned into two groups. The control group consisted of 30 patients who received standard of care in the early postoperative period, including analgesics, local antibacterial ointments (Levomekol, etc.), and rectal suppositories (Relief Pro, etc.). The main group also consisted of 30 patients who received standard of care and a 5-day comprehensive physiotherapeutic program starting the second day after the surgery. Effectiveness was assessed by complex transrectal ultrasound investigation with color Doppler mapping, Doppler sonography, and sonoelastography at various post-surgery time points. RESULTS: The higher efficacy of the rehabilitation program, including intravenous ozone therapy, rectal laser therapy, recto-tibial myostimulation, and biofeedback therapy in the early postoperative period, versus the standard of care, was shown. CONCLUSION: The introduction of rehabilitation program including intravenous ozone therapy, rectal laser therapy, recto-tibial myostimulation, and biofeedback therapy in the early postoperative period significantly reduced the average postoperative wound healing time by accelerating the formation of an adequate scar (according to transrectal ultrasound investigation and scar tissue sonoelastography) and the incidence of postoperative complications and improved the long-term treatment outcomes (up to 12 months) in patients with chronic paraproctitis.

[Non-drug technologies in early rehabilitation of patients after hemorrhoidectomy]. / Nemedikamentoznye tekhnologii v rannei reabilitatsii bol'nykh posle gemorroidektomii.

Among all coloproctological diseases, hemorrhoids rank first among the reasons for visiting a proctologist. Its prevalence is 130-145 per 1.000 adults, and its proportion in the structure of colorectal diseases ranges from 34 to 41%. After hemorrhoidectomy, a long period of rehabilitation is necessary. There are long periods of incapacity for work (at least two weeks) and quite high complications rate, which generally leads to economic burden. Therefore, an urgent problem of current coloproctology and physiotherapy is the development of new approaches to medical rehabilitation of the patients after surgery for their fast recovery and prevention of complications. OBJECTIVE: To study effectiveness of comprehensive postoperative rehabilitation program including ozone therapy, laser therapy, recto-tibial myostimulation and biofeedback therapy in patients after hemorrhoidectomy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 90 patients 20-65 years of age (mean age 41.4±2.1years) with chronic stage III hemorrhoids with prominent external nodules (ICD-10 code: K64.2). All patients underwent Milligan-Morgan hemorrhoidectomy using an ultrasound scalpel by the same coloproctologist to exclude the influence of personality factors. The patients were assigned into two groups by random sampling. The main group consisted of 45 patients who received standard of care and the rehabilitation program, including intravenous ozone therapy, rectal laser therapy, recto-tibial myostimulation, and biofeedback therapy starting from the second day after the surgery. The control group consisted of 45 patients who received the same standard of care in the early postoperative period, including analgesics, local antibacterial ointments (Levomekol, etc.), and rectal suppositories (Relief Pro, etc.). RESULTS: In the early postoperative period, in the patients who received non-drug rehabilitation program, the pain was significantly less intensive, and it relieved faster after surgery, which indicated a strong analgesic effect of the rehabilitation program. Patients in the control group received analgesics (including narcotic drugs) for pain control in 68.9% of cases. Duration of postoperative incapacity for work in the main group patients was 12.9±2.4 days vs. 24.1±2.3 days in the control group patients (p<0.001). The analysis of the quality of life in the early and the late postoperative period by SF-36 scale showed a significant difference between the groups according to the physical health component and psychological component both in the early and in the late postoperative period (after six months), which indicates the higher quality of life in the main group patients. Assessment of the late period quality of life using the I. Yu. Alimzhanova and Yu.M. Sheptunov questionnaire showed good results in 43 (95.6%) patients of the main group. Only in 2 (4.4%) main group patients, anal stenosis was observed. Good results were shown in 38 (84.58%) control group patients. Seven patients had complications: cicatricial anal stenosis (5 [11.1%] patients) and pararectal fistulas (2 [4.4%] patients); in 3 (42.9%) of these 7 patients a persistent pain syndrome was developed. CONCLUSIONS: Introduction of the rehabilitation program in the early postoperative period after hemorrhoidectomy contributes to faster relief of pain and other signs and symptoms, a significant decrease of average postoperative wound healing time due to acceleration of adequate scar formation (according to ultrasound sonoelastography), improvement of life quality, reduction of hospital stay, a decrease of incapacity for work duration, and prevention of postoperative complications.

Efficient optical-to-terahertz conversion in large-area InGaAs photo-Dember emitters with increased indium content.

In this Letter, optical-to-terahertz (THz) conversion of 800 nm femtosecond laser pulses in large-area bias-free InGaAs emitters based on photo-Dember (PD) and lateral photo-Dember (LPD) effects is experimentally investigated. We use metamorphic buffers to grow sub-micrometer thick InxGa1-xAs layers with indium mole fractions x=0.37, 0.53, and 0.70 on a GaAs substrate. A strong enhancement of THz output energy with an increase of indium content is observed. On the surface of the sample providing the strongest emission (x=0.7), we have fabricated a 1.5cm2 area of asymmetrically shaped metallic grating for LPD emission. This LPD emitter allows achieving high conversion efficiency of 0.24⋅10-3 and a broad generation bandwidth of up to 6 THz. We also demonstrate that there is no significant difference in the conversion efficiency when operating at 1 and 200 kHz repetition rates. Our results show that large-area LPD emitters give a convenient, competitive way to generate intense high-repetition-rate THz pulses.

Differentiation of Central Slovenian and Moscow populations of Rana temporaria frogs using peptide biomarkers of temporins family.

Skin secretion represents the only means of defense for the majority of frog species. That phenomenon is based on the fact that the main components of the secretion are peptides demonstrating greatly varying types of bioactivity. They fulfill regulatory functions, fight microorganisms and may be even helpful against predators. These peptides are considered to be rather promising pharmaceuticals of future generation as according to the present knowledge microorganisms are unlikely to develop resistance to them. Mass spectrometry sequencing of these peptides is the most efficient first step of their study providing reliably their primary structures, i.e., amino acids sequence and S-S bond motif. Besides discovering new bioactive peptides, mass spectrometry appears to be an efficient tool of taxonomy studies, allowing for distinguishing not only between closely related species, but also between populations of the same species. Application of several tandem mass spectrometry tools (CID, HCD, ETD, EThcD) available with Orbitrap mass analyzer allowed us to obtain full sequence of about 60 peptides in the secretion of Slovenian population of brown ranid frog Rana temporaria. The problem of sequence inside C-terminal cycle formed by two Cys and differentiation of isomeric Leu and Ile residues was done in top-down mode without any derivatization steps. Besides general biomarkers of Rana temporaria species, Central Slovenian population of Rana temporaria demonstrates six novel temporins and one brevinin 1, which may be treated as biomarkers of that population.

Kama virus (KAMV) is an atypical representative of the seabird tick-borne flaviviruses.

According to modern classification, tick-borne flaviviruses have been divided into a mammalian tick-borne virus group and a seabird tick-borne virus group (STBVG). The STBVG includes the Tyuleniy virus, Meaban virus, Saumarez Reef virus, and the recently discovered Kama virus (KAMV). The latter was isolated from Ixodes lividus, an obligate parasitic tick of the sand martin (Riparia riparia), in 1989 in the central part of the Russian Plain. In 2014, based on molecular genetic analysis, it was shown that KAMV is a new virus belonging to STBVG, genus Flavivirus, fam. Flaviviridae. Very little is known about the Kama virus concerning its range, vectors, and reservoir hosts. GenBank contains a single sequence of the complete genome of this virus. In the present study, the complete genome sequences of two strains, isolated in 1983 in the Omsk region (Western Siberia) from gamasid mites in the nests of rooks (Corvus frugilegus), have been determined. Phylogenetic analyses of their genomes showed a close relationship both with each other (approx. 98.9% nucleotide identity) and with KAMV isolated in European Russia (approx. 98.4% nucleotide identity). The ecological features of KAMV that are due to the species of the vector (gamasid mites) and its hosts (colonial birds of the mainland of Eurasia) indicate that KAMV is an atypical representative STBVG.

Molecular variability and genetic structure of Omsk hemorrhagic fever virus, based on analysis of the complete genome sequences.

Omsk hemorrhagic fever virus (OHFV) is the etiological agent of Omsk hemorrhagic fever, a disease described in the 1940s in Western Siberia. However, until now, it has been represented in GenBank by just four complete genome sequences, which do not reflect the real genetic diversity of the virus in nature. In this study, we analyzed the molecular variability and genetic structure of OHFV based on 20 complete genome sequences, fifteen of which were obtained for the first time. All these sequences belong to virus strains isolated at different times from three regions of Western Siberia. The results suggest that the genetic diversity of OHFV is significantly wider than previously thought and is represented by at least three subtypes, rather than two. This broadens our understanding of the evolutionary history of OHFV. Also, it is argued that the OHFV reference strain Bogoluvovska (NC_005062) is actually a Kubrin strain and that either cross-contamination or a laboratory error was the cause of this.

Volt-per-Ångstrom terahertz fields from X-ray free-electron lasers.

The electron linear accelerators driving modern X-ray free-electron lasers can emit intense, tunable, quasi-monochromatic terahertz (THz) transients with peak electric fields of V Å-1 and peak magnetic fields in excess of 10 T when a purpose-built, compact, superconducting THz undulator is implemented. New research avenues such as X-ray movies of THz-driven mode-selective chemistry come into reach by making dual use of the ultra-short GeV electron bunches, possible by a rather minor extension of the infrastructure.

[The characteristics of actual curse of infectious endocarditis in cardiac surgery hospital].

The demographic and clinical data of 520 patients with infectious endocarditis treated in 2005-2017 was analyzed with the purpose to assess current trends in epidemiology and approaches to surgical correction of infectious endocarditis. The analysis established increasing of absolute number of patients with infectious endocarditis, their average age and number of female patients. The incidence of early prosthetic endocarditis and its hospital mortality decreased. The study determined increasing of number of emergency interventions, more frequent valve-preserving operations, increasing of number of interventions for perivascular lesions and more frequent application of bioprostheses.

Pulse- and field-resolved THz-diagnostics at 4 t h generation lightsources.

Multi-color pump-probe techniques utilizing modern accelerator-based 4th generation light sources such as X-ray free electron lasers or superradiant THz facilities have become important science drivers over the past 10 years. In this type of experiments the precise knowledge of the properties of the involved accelerator-based light pulses crucially determines the achievable sensitivity and temporal resolution. In this work we demonstrate and discuss the powerful role pulse- and field-resolved- detection of superradiant THz pulses can play for improving the precision of THz pump - femtosecond laser probe experiments at superradiant THz facilities in particular and at 4th generation light sources in general. The developed diagnostic scheme provides real-time information on the properties of individual pulses from multiple accelerator based THz sources and opens a robust way for sub femtosecond timing. Correlations between amplitude and phase of the pulses emitted from different superradiant THz sources furthermore provide insides into the properties of the driving electron bunches and is of general interest for the ultra-fast diagnostics at 4th generation light sources.

High resolution hard X-ray 3D mapping of a Macaca fascicularis eye: A feasibility study without contrast agents.

Several complementary methods able to visualize the internal structures of eyes are used in the clinical practice in the diagnosis of pathologies affecting a specific zone of the eye. Despite the significant technological progress, the visualization of the entire eyeball at micrometric resolution is yet an unsolved task both in clinical diagnostics and in laboratory research. With this respect, high resolution 3D images of the eyeball would be extremely useful, in the study of various pathologies of the retina, the lens, and of the optic nerve. In this work we combined the state-of-the-art of micro computed tomography technology with phase-contrast imaging, a recent highly sensitive technique well adapted to investigate soft tissues without the use of contrast agents; we applied the technique in the post-mortem analysis of monkey eyes, which share several similitudes with the human organ. We reported here vascular, nervous and anatomical details of monkey eyes imaged with a 3.1 × 3.1 × 3.1 µm3 voxel size as well as the first 3D visualisation of the entire globe of Macaca's fascicularis eye. Results have also been compared with, and validated by, histological analysis.

On-chip THz spectrometer for bunch compression fingerprinting at fourth-generation light sources.

The layout of an integrated millimetre-scale on-chip THz spectrometer is presented and its peformance demonstrated. The device is based on eight Schottky-diode detectors which are combined with narrowband THz antennas, thereby enabling the simultaneous detection of eight frequencies in the THz range on one chip. The size of the active detector area matches the focal spot size of superradiant THz radiation utilized in bunch compression monitors of modern linear electron accelerators. The 3 dB bandwidth of the on-chip Schottky-diode detectors is less than 10% of the center frequency and allows pulse-resolved detection at up to 5 GHz repetition rates. The performance of a first prototype device is demonstrated at a repetition rate of 100 kHz at the quasi-cw SRF linear accelerator ELBE operated with electron bunch charges between a few pC and 100 pC.

Towards femtosecond-level intrinsic laser synchronization at fourth generation light sources.

In this Letter, the proof of principle for a scheme providing intrinsic femtosecond-level synchronization between an external laser system and fourth generation light sources is presented. The scheme is applicable at any accelerator-based light source that is based on the generation of coherent radiation from ultrashort electron bunches such as superradiant terahertz (THz) facilities or X-FELs. It makes use of a superradiant THz pulse generated by the accelerator as an intrinsically synchronized gate signal for electro-optical slicing. We demonstrate that the scheme enables a reduction of the timing instability by more than 2 orders of magnitude. This demonstration experiment thereby proves that intrinsically synchronized time-resolved experiments utilizing laser and accelerator-based radiation pulses on few tens of femtosecond (fs) to few fs timescales are feasible.

Molecular features of Ixodes kazakstani: first results.

Ticks of the Ixodes ricinus group are important vectors of human pathogens in both Eurasia and North America; therefore, many studies have focused on their molecular systematics and evolutionary relationships. However, there are species that have not been characterized by molecular genetic methods so far. For the first time, we obtained nucleotide sequences of two nuclear and three mitochondrial genetic markers from four museum specimen of I. kazakstani Olenev et Sorokoumov, 1934, collected in Kyrgyzstan. The phylogenetic analysis showed that I. kazakstani undoubtedly belongs to the I. ricinus group but is not closely related to I. persulcatus, as was expected. Further studies of the genetic features of I. kazakstani, presumably an intermediate between Nearctic and Palearctic species, would elucidate the evolutionary relationships between tick species within the I. ricinus group.