Strong-field quantum control in the extreme ultraviolet domain using pulse shaping.

Tailored light-matter interactions in the strong coupling regime enable the manipulation and control of quantum systems with up to unit efficiency, with applications ranging from quantum information to photochemistry. Although strong light-matter interactions are readily induced at the valence electron level using long-wavelength radiation, comparable phenomena have been only recently observed with short wavelengths, accessing highly excited multi-electron and inner-shell electron states. However, the quantum control of strong-field processes at short wavelengths has not been possible, so far, because of the lack of pulse-shaping technologies in the extreme ultraviolet (XUV) and X-ray domain.

Circular dichroism in multiphoton ionization of resonantly excited helium ions near channel closing.

The circular dichroism (CD) of photoelectrons generated by near-infrared (NIR) laser pulses using multiphoton ionization of excited He ions in the 3p(m= +1) state is investigated. The ions were prepared by circularly polarized extreme ultraviolet (XUV) pulses. For circularly polarized NIR pulses co- and counter-rotating relative to the polarization of the XUV pulse, a complex variation of the CD is observed as a result of intensity- and polarization-dependent Freeman resonances, with and without additional dichroic AC-Stark shifts.

Hypokalaemic myopathy associated with iatrogenic hypercorticism in a cat.

Case Summary: A 12-year-old castrated male domestic shorthair cat was referred for investigation of lethargy, hindlimb weakness with plantigrade stance and ventroflexion of the neck. The cat was fed a balanced diet and had received methylprednisolone acetate at a dose of 20 mg intramuscularly every 6 months for 6 years. On blood work, severe hypokalaemia and marked elevation of muscle enzymes were noticeable.

Pre-Pandemic Predictivity of Anxious-Depressive Symptoms in Post-Surgical Traumatic Distress in Hysterectomy for Benign Disease and COVID-19 Outbreak: A Case-Control Study.

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic led to several needed containment measures that conditioned the onset of depressive, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress symptoms in the population. These symptoms, especially if not diagnosed and treated, can also occur in patients undergoing medical care or surgery, with a high impact on people's lives and causing low adherence to treatment. The study evaluates whether the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) worsened the onset of post-surgical distress and symptoms of anxiety and depression in a population undergoing hysterectomy for benign disease during the pandemic era, comparing it with a population with the same characteristics but recruited before COVID-19.

Generation of entanglement using a short-wavelength seeded free-electron laser.

Quantum entanglement between the degrees of freedom encountered in the classical world is challenging to observe due to the surrounding environment. To elucidate this issue, we investigate the entanglement generated over ultrafast timescales in a bipartite quantum system comprising two massive particles: a free-moving photoelectron, which expands to a mesoscopic length scale, and a light-dressed atomic ion, which represents a hybrid state of light and matter. Although the photoelectron spectra are measured classically, the entanglement allows us to reveal information about the dressed-state dynamics of the ion and the femtosecond extreme ultraviolet pulses delivered by a seeded free-electron laser.

Wave packet dynamics and control in excited states of molecular nitrogen.

Wave packet interferometry with vacuum ultraviolet light has been used to probe a complex region of the electronic spectrum of molecular nitrogen, N2. Wave packets of Rydberg and valence states were excited by using double pulses of vacuum ultraviolet (VUV), free-electron-laser (FEL) light. These wave packets were composed of contributions from multiple electronic states with a moderate principal quantum number (n ∼ 4-9) and a range of vibrational and rotational quantum numbers.

Ultrafast electronic relaxation pathways of the molecular photoswitch quadricyclane.

The light-induced ultrafast switching between molecular isomers norbornadiene and quadricyclane can reversibly store and release a substantial amount of chemical energy. Prior work observed signatures of ultrafast molecular dynamics in both isomers upon ultraviolet excitation but could not follow the electronic relaxation all the way back to the ground state experimentally. Here we study the electronic relaxation of quadricyclane after exciting in the ultraviolet (201 nanometres) using time-resolved gas-phase extreme ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy combined with non-adiabatic molecular dynamics simulations.

Visible-Light-Mediated Divergent and Regioselective Vicinal Difunctionalization of Styrenes with Arylazo Sulfones.

Activated by visible light, arylazo sulfones can serve as multifaceted reactants and are employed in diazenylation, sulfonylation, and arylation reactions under (photo)catalyst-free conditions. Such versatile reactivity enabled us to develop an operationally simple, regioselective, and tunable difunctionalization of styrenes with arylazo sulfones to produce α-sulfonyl arylhydrazones and 1,2-alkoxyarylated products in moderate to excellent yields. Furthermore, such difunctionalized products have been exploited as key building blocks for the synthesis of various heterocycles.

Correlation between IPSET-t risk at diagnosis and subsequent hemorrhage in patients with essential thrombocythemia; a single institution experience.

Essential thrombocythemia (ET) is a myeloproliferative neoplasm characterized by an increased risk of thrombotic and hemorrhagic events, that represent the leading causes of mortality and morbidity. Currently, while thrombotic risk is assessed through the IPSET-t and r-IPSET scores, there is no specific prognostic tool used to predict hemorrhagic risk in ET. The aim of the study was to define incidence and risk factors connected to hemorrhagic events by retrospectively analyzing 308 ET patients diagnosed between 1996 and 2022 at the Division of Hematology of Udine and treated according to the current international guidelines.

Renal amyloid-A amyloidosis in cats: Characterization of proteinuria and biomarker discovery, and associations with kidney histology.

Background: Amyloid A (AA) amyloidosis is a protein misfolding disease arising from serum amyloid A (SAA). Systemic AA amyloidosis recently was shown to have a high prevalence in shelter cats in Italy and was associated with azotemia and proteinuria.

Objectives: Investigate urine protein profiles and diagnostic biomarkers in cats with renal AA amyloidosis.

Histological evaluation of the distribution of systemic AA-amyloidosis in nine domestic shorthair cats.

Amyloidosis is a group of protein-misfolding disorders characterized by the accumulation of amyloid in organs, both in humans and animals. AA-amyloidosis is considered a reactive type of amyloidosis and in humans is characterized by the deposition of AA-amyloid fibrils in one or more organs. In domestic shorthair cats, AA-amyloidosis was recently reported to be frequent in shelters.

The Impact of Covid-19 Pandemic on Mental Health Services: A Comparison Between First Psychiatric Consultations Before and After the Pandemic.

Objective: A high rate of onset or exacerbation of several mental disorders has been observed during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the risk contributing to mental distress during the pandemic remains unclear. The study aims to evaluate the risk of the onset of mental disorders by comparing the number of requests for the first psychiatric consultation before and after the COVID-19 pandemic at the psychiatric outpatient services of Varese, a small town in Northern Italy.

Femtosecond Polarization Shaping of Free-Electron Laser Pulses.

We demonstrate the generation of extreme-ultraviolet (XUV) free-electron laser (FEL) pulses with time-dependent polarization. To achieve polarization modulation on a femtosecond timescale, we combine two mutually delayed counterrotating circularly polarized subpulses from two cross-polarized undulators. The polarization profile of the pulses is probed by angle-resolved photoemission and above-threshold ionization of helium; the results agree with solutions of the time-dependent Schrödinger equation.

Pre-pandemic burnout and its changes during the COVID-19 outbreak as predictors of mental health of healthcare workers: A lesson to be learned.

The aim of this study was to identify how previously existing burnout and its changes during the pandemic contributed to PTSD symptoms and psychological distress in a cohort of 388 healthcare workers (HCWs). Each HCW was surveyed in Sep 2019 (before COVID-19) and again in Dec 2020-Jan 2021 (during the pandemic) to assess burnout (MBI); and in the second wave only to assess PTSD (PCL-5-SF), psychological distress (GHQ-12) and resilience (CD-RISC-10). Changes in emotional exhaustion (EE) and depersonalisation (DEP) were stronger in HCWs with lower EE and DEP baseline values.

Maximizing rehabilitation outcomes in geriatric hip fracture patients: the impact of surgical variables.

Background And Aim: Hip fracture is a major traumatic event with high mortality and disability rate. Its management in the acute setting and in the rehabilitation process is highly debated. This study evaluates the possible determinants of hip fracture rehabilitation outcome, among which surgical intervention type, weight-bearing status and hospitalization length Methods: The data of 738 hip fracture patients, who completed rehabilitation process in our centre, were collected and patients' functional abilities at the time of admission and discharge were analysed.

The North Italian innovative project for common psychiatric disorders: Evaluating the output of a treatment model of an outpatient clinic for anxiety and depression.

Depressive disorders were considered the first causes of disability worldwide as early as 2018. The outpatient clinic for anxiety and depression at the University Hospital of Varese represents a service that fully responds to the growing number of requests. Approximately 1,350 medical records have been opened from 2010 to December 2021.

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Platelet Activation and Alzheimer's Disease: A Possible Connection.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus DM (T2DM) is associated with a 70% increased risk for dementia, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). Insulin resistance has been proposed to play a pivotal role in both T2DM and AD and the concept of "brain insulin resistance" has been suggested as an interpretation to the growing literature regarding cognitive impairment and T2DM. Subjects with T2DM present an abnormal platelet reactivity that together with insulin resistance, hyperglycaemia and dyslipidaemia effect the vascular wall by a series of events including endothelial dysfunction, oxidative stress and low-grade inflammation.

Efficacy of short-term psychodynamic psychotherapy (STPP) in depressive disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Depression is one of the leading diseases globally. It can severely interfere with daily and occupational functioning of people affected. Both pharmacological interventions and psychotherapy are used for adult depression.