Polariton Localization and Dispersion Properties of Disordered Quantum Emitters in Multimode Microcavities.

Experiments have demonstrated that the strong light-matter coupling in polaritonic microcavities significantly enhances transport. Motivated by these experiments, we have solved the disordered multimode Tavis-Cummings model in the thermodynamic limit and used this solution to analyze its dispersion and localization properties. The solution implies that wave-vector-resolved spectroscopic quantities can be described by single-mode models, but spatially resolved quantities require the multimode solution.

Reduction of care-relevant risks to older patients during and after acute hospital care (ReduRisk) - study protocol of a cluster randomized efficacy trial in a stepped wedge design.

Background: Older patients are at an increased risk of hospitalization, negatively affecting their health and quality of life. Such patients also experience a lack of physical activity during their inpatient stay, as well as being at increased risk of delirium and inappropriate prescribing. These risk factors can accumulate, promoting a degree of morbidity and the development of cognitive impairment.

Dynamical Symmetries and Symmetry-Protected Selection Rules in Periodically Driven Quantum Systems.

In recent experiments, the light-matter interaction has reached the ultrastrong coupling limit, which can give rise to dynamical generalizations of spatial symmetries in periodically driven systems. Here, we present a unified framework of dynamical-symmetry-protected selection rules based on Floquet response theory. Within this framework, we study rotational, parity, particle-hole, chiral, and time-reversal symmetries and the resulting selection rules in spectroscopy, including symmetry-protected dark states (spDS), symmetry-protected dark bands, and symmetry-induced transparency.

Effects of a brief multimodal online intervention on the intention to conduct sun protective behaviours through targeting illness representations about skin cancer: a randomized controlled trial.

The incidence of skin cancer can be reduced by increasing sun protective behaviours. Based on the Common-Sense Model and the Intervention Mapping approach, a brief intervention targeting illness representations about skin cancer to increase the intention to conduct sun protective behaviours was developed and evaluated regarding its effectiveness. A randomized pre-post control group design with 509 healthy participants (69% women, mean age 39 years).

Discontinuities in Driven Spin-Boson Systems due to Coherent Destruction of Tunneling: Breakdown of the Floquet-Gibbs Distribution.

If an open quantum system is periodically driven with high frequency and the driving commutes with the system-bath coupling operator, it is known that the system approaches a Floquet-Gibbs state, a generalization of Gibbs states to periodically driven systems. Here, we investigate the stationary state of an ac-driven system when the driving and dissipation are noncommutative. Then, the resulting stationary state does not obey the Floquet-Gibbs distribution, and the system dynamics is determined by inelastic scattering processes of the driving field.

Zinc chelation decreases IFN-β-induced STAT1 upregulation and iNOS expression in RAW 264.7 macrophages.

One consequence of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced stimulation of macrophages is the release of Interferon (IFN)-β, and subsequently the activation of the JAK-STAT1 pathway, resulting in the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). Free intracellular zinc ions (Zn) have a profound impact as a second messenger in LPS-dependent gene expression. Previous work had indicated a Zn-dependent upregulation of STAT1 mRNA in response to LPS and IFN-β, potentially affecting STAT1-dependent downstream signaling upon pre-incubation with these agents.

Topologically Enforced Bifurcations in Superconducting Circuits.

The relationship of topological insulators and superconductors and the field of nonlinear dynamics is widely unexplored. To address this subject, we adopt the linear coupling geometry of the Su-Schrieffer-Heeger model, a paradigmatic example for a topological insulator, and render it nonlinearly in the context of superconducting circuits. As a consequence, the system exhibits topologically enforced bifurcations as a function of the topological control parameter, which finally gives rise to chaotic dynamics, separating phases that exhibit clear topological features.

Semiclassical bifurcations and topological phase transitions in a one-dimensional lattice of coupled Lipkin-Meshkov-Glick models.

In this work we study a one-dimensional lattice of Lipkin-Meshkov-Glick models with alternating couplings between nearest-neighbors sites, which resembles the Su-Schrieffer-Heeger model. Typical properties of the underlying models are present in our semiclassical-topological hybrid system, allowing us to investigate an interplay between semiclassical bifurcations at mean-field level and topological phases. Our results show that bifurcations of the energy landscape lead to diverse ordered quantum phases.

Topological Instabilities in ac-Driven Bosonic Systems.

Under nonequilibrium conditions, bosonic modes can become dynamically unstable with an exponentially growing occupation. On the other hand, topological band structures give rise to symmetry protected midgap states. In this Letter, we investigate the interplay of instability and topology.

Ethylmercury and Hg2+ induce the formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) by human neutrophil granulocytes.

Humans are exposed to different mercurial compounds from various sources, most frequently from dental fillings, preservatives in vaccines, or consumption of fish. Among other toxic effects, these substances interact with the immune system. In high doses, mercurials are immunosuppressive.

The biochemical effects of extracellular Zn(2+) and other metal ions are severely affected by their speciation in cell culture media.

Investigations of physiological and toxicological effects of metal ions are frequently based on in vitro cell culture systems, in which cells are incubated with these ions in specialized culture media, instead of their physiological environment. This allows for targeted examination on the cellular or even molecular level. However, it disregards one important aspect, the different metal ion speciation under these conditions.

PTEN-inhibition by zinc ions augments interleukin-2-mediated Akt phosphorylation.

Free zinc ions (Zn(2+)) participate in several signaling pathways. The aim of the present study was to investigate a potential involvement of Zn(2+) in the PI3K/Akt pathway of interleukin (IL)-2 signaling in T-cells. The IL-2 receptor triggers three major pathways, ERK1/2, JAK/STAT5, and PI3K/Akt.

ac-Driven quantum phase transition in the Lipkin-Meshkov-Glick model.

We establish a set of nonequilibrium quantum phase transitions in the Lipkin-Meshkov-Glick model under monochromatic modulation of the interparticle interaction. We show that the external driving induces a rich phase diagram that characterizes the multistability in the system. Interestingly, the number of stable configurations can be tuned by increasing the amplitude of the driving field.

Application of Zinpyr-1 for the investigation of zinc signals in Escherichia coli.

Changes of the pico- to nanomolar concentration of free intracellular Zn(2+) are part of the signal transduction in mammalian cells. These zinc signals regulate the enzymatic activity of target proteins such as protein tyrosine phosphatases. For Escherichia coli, previous studies have reported diverging concentrations from femto- to picomolar, raising the question if Zn(2+) could also have a function in bacterial signaling.

Zinc deficiency induces production of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β and TNFα in promyeloid cells via epigenetic and redox-dependent mechanisms.

The deprivation of zinc, caused by malnutrition or as a consequence of aging or disease, strongly affects immune cell functions, causing higher frequency of infections. Among other effects, an increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and proinflammatory cytokines has been observed in zinc-deficient patients, but the underlying mechanisms were unknown. The aim of the current study was to define mechanisms explaining the increase in proinflammatory cytokine production during zinc deficiency, focusing on the role of epigenetic and redox-mediated mechanisms.

Prevalidation study of the Syrian hamster embryo (SHE) cell transformation assay at pH 7.0 for assessment of carcinogenic potential of chemicals.

The European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods (ECVAM) has organised an interlaboratory prevalidation study on the Syrian hamster embryo (SHE) cell transformation assay (CTA) at pH 7.0 for the detection of rodent carcinogens. The SHE CTA at pH 7.

Prevalidation study of the Syrian hamster embryo (SHE) cell transformation assay at pH 6.7 for assessment of carcinogenic potential of chemicals.

The Syrian hamster embryo (SHE) cell transformation assay (CTA) is an important in vitro method that is highly predictive of rodent carcinogenicity. It is a key method for reducing animal usage for carcinogenicity prediction. The SHE assay has been used for many years primarily to investigate and identify potential rodent carcinogens thereby reducing the number of 2-year bioassays performed in rodents.

Mercuric ions inhibit mitogen-activated protein kinase dephosphorylation by inducing reactive oxygen species.

Mercury intoxication profoundly affects the immune system, in particular, signal transduction of immune cells. However, the mechanism of the interaction of mercury with cellular signaling pathways, such as mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPK), remains elusive. Therefore, the objective of this study is to investigate three potential ways in which Hg(2+) ions could inhibit MAPK dephosphorylation in the human T-cell line Jurkat: (1) by direct binding to phosphatases; (2) by releasing cellular zinc (Zn(2+)); and (3) by inducing reactive oxygen species (ROS).

Cadmium ions promote monocytic differentiation of human leukemia HL-60 cells treated with 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3.

Cadmium exposure has multiple effects on the immune system. These can be stimulating, leading to improved clearance of infections, or inhibiting, increasing susceptibility toward infectious agents. One in vivo observation in cadmium-exposed individuals is increased monocyte numbers.

Cadmium ions induce monocytic production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha by inhibiting mitogen activated protein kinase dephosphorylation.

Cadmium ions (Cd(2+)) are carcinogenic and have cytotoxic effects in a variety of organisms. In addition to its direct cytotoxicity, Cd(2+) acts as an immunomodulator at sub-toxic concentrations. Among other influences Cd(2+) can induce inflammation, but the molecular basis for this effect is not well investigated.

Comparison of the Ames II and traditional Ames test responses with respect to mutagenicity, strain specificities, need for metabolism and correlation with rodent carcinogenicity.

The Ames II Salmonella mutagenicity assay procedure was used to test 71 chemicals, and the results were compared with those from the traditional Ames Salmonella test using the NTP database as the reference. All Ames II tests were performed using a fluctuation procedure in microplate format, using TAMix for the detection of base pair substitutions and TA98 to detect frameshift mutations. There was 84% agreement between the two procedures in identifying mutagens and non-mutagens, which is equivalent to the intra- and interlaboratory reproducibility of 87% for the traditional test.

Effects of long-term zinc supplementation and deprivation on gene expression in human THP-1 mononuclear cells.

Zinc is an essential trace element that is critical for cellular function and structural integrity. It has an important regulatory role in the immune system, in particular in monocytes. To identify the diverse cellular targets and mechanisms of action of zinc in this cell type, we used microarray technology to assess the effects of zinc supplementation and depletion on global gene expression.

Zinc ions cause the thimerosal-induced signal of fluorescent calcium probes in lymphocytes.

Most fluorescent probes for the investigation of calcium signaling also detect zinc ions. Consequently, changes in the intracellular zinc concentration could be mistaken for calcium signals. Thimerosal (TMS) is used as a calcium-mobilizing agent and we analyzed the contribution of zinc ions to the signal observed with fluorescent calcium probes after TMS stimulation.

Zinc signals are essential for lipopolysaccharide-induced signal transduction in monocytes.

Cytosolic alterations of calcium ion concentrations are an integral part of signal transduction. Similar functions have been hypothesized for other metal ions, in particular zinc (Zn(2+)), but this still awaits experimental verification. Zn(2+) is important for multiple cellular functions, especially in the immune system.