A systematic review of longitudinal risk and protective factors for loneliness in youth.

To effectively tackle loneliness in youth, prevention and intervention strategies should be based on solid evidence regarding risk and protective factors in this age group. This systematic literature review identifies and narratively synthesizes longitudinal studies of risk and protective factors for loneliness in children and adolescents aged below 25 years. A systematic literature search was conducted in October 2023 using PsycINFO and MEDLINE, resulting in n = 398 articles, with n = 105 articles meeting the inclusion criteria.

[Loneliness as health risk: a narrative review].

Loneliness is increasingly recognized as a significant health risk. This review provides an overview of current research on the impact of loneliness on mental and physical health. The findings indicate that loneliness is a significant risk factor of both mental and physical health.

Microsecond fast, battery powered, 100 kV modular pulse charger utilizing pulse transformers.

Multiple pulse charging modules were designed and tested for synchronous use in scaled experiments. The pulse chargers are each capable of charging a nanofarad-sized capacitive load to 100 kV in less than 10 µs. This is achieved by initially charging a microfarad-sized capacitor to a maximum of 3 kV, then, using a thyristor switch, discharging the capacitor into two transformers paralleled on the primary side.

An apparatus for probing multipactor in X-band waveguide components.

Rectangular waveguides are susceptible to avalanche-style breakdown via the multipactor phenomenon. The growth in secondary electron density produced via multipactor can damage and destroy RF components. A pulse-adjustable, hard-switched modulator powering an X-band magnetron was utilized to drive a modular experimental setup that enables testing different surface geometries and coatings.

Quality Assessment of Cryopreserved Human Biological Samples from the Biobank of Barretos Cancer Hospital.

Biobanks process, store, and supply biological materials for research. Preanalytical factors, especially storage time and temperature, must be controlled and standardized at all stages when handling biospecimen samples, especially because the literature reports highly contradictory optimal parameters. As large-sample studies are required to better understand the influence of time and temperature on cryopreserved samples' quality for genomic research, this study evaluated the integrity and quality of cryopreserved samples stored for up to 9 years at the biobank of Barretos Cancer Hospital, one of the largest biobanks in Latin America.

Apparatus for skidding sensitivity testing of energetic materials.

A remote-operated apparatus for testing the detonation sensitivity of energetic materials is detailed. Using an air ram and rotating disk, the normal force and transverse velocity of the impact plane are controlled independently, enabling the exploration of varying impact conditions over a wide parameter space. A microcontroller local to the apparatus is used to automate apparatus operation and ensure temporal alignment of the impacting ram head with the rotating disk.

The biobank of barretos cancer hospital: 14 years of experience in cancer research.

Despite the developments in cancer research over years, cancer is still one of the leading causes of death worldwide. In Brazil, the number of cancer cases for the several next years (2020-2022) is expected to increase up to 625,000. Thus, translational research has been vital to determine the potential risk, prognostic, and predictive biomarkers in cancer.

Identification of Cell-Free Circulating MicroRNAs for the Detection of Early Breast Cancer and Molecular Subtyping.

Early detection is crucial for achieving a reduction in breast cancer mortality. Analysis of circulating cell-free microRNAs present in the serum of cancer patients has emerged as a promising new noninvasive biomarker for early detection of tumors and for predicting their molecular classifications. The rationale for this study was to identify subtype-specific molecular profiles of cell-free microRNAs for early detection of breast cancer in serum.

Direct observation of electrons in microwave vacuum components.

Apparatus which is used to directly observe electrons in microwave vacuum components was designed and implemented into a WR-284 like waveguide operated at 2.85 GHz with up to approx. 1 MW power.

A software controllable modular RF signal generator with multichannel transmission capabilities.

A software controllable system which generates and transmits user defined RF signals is discussed. The system is implemented with multiple, modular transmitting channels that allow the user to easily replace parts such as amplifiers or antennas. Each channel is comprised of a data pattern generator (DPG), a digital to analog converter (DAC), a power amplifier, and a transmitting antenna.

Pulsed characterization of a UV LED for pulsed power applications on a silicon carbide photoconductive semiconductor switch.

The electrical and optical characteristics of a high-power UV light emitting diode (LED) (365 nm wavelength) were evaluated under pulsed operating conditions at current amplitudes several orders of magnitude beyond the LED's manufacturer specifications. Geared towards triggering of photoconductive semiconductor switches (PCSSs) for pulsed power applications, measurements were made over varying pulse widths (25 ns-100 μs), current (0 A-250 A), and repetition rates (single shot-5 MHz). The LED forward voltage was observed to increase linearly with increasing current (∼3.

Peering through the flames: imaging techniques for reacting aluminum powders.

Combusting metals burn at high temperatures and emit high-intensity radiation in the visible spectrum, which can oversaturate regular imaging sensors and obscure the field of view. Filtering the luminescence can result in limited information and hinder thorough combustion characterization. A method for "seeing through the flames" of a highly luminescent aluminum powder reaction is presented using copper vapor laser (CVL) illumination, synchronized with a high-speed camera.

Characteristics of a four element gyromagnetic nonlinear transmission line array high power microwave source.

In this paper, a solid-state four element array gyromagnetic nonlinear transmission line high power microwave system is presented as well as a detailed description of its subsystems and general output capabilities. This frequency agile S-band source is easily adjusted from 2-4 GHz by way of a DC driven biasing magnetic field and is capable of generating electric fields of 7.8 kV/m at 10 m correlating to 4.

Investigation of a stripline transmission line structure for gyromagnetic nonlinear transmission line high power microwave sources.

A stripline gyromagnetic nonlinear transmission line (NLTL) was constructed out of yttrium iron garnet ferrite and tested at charge voltages of 35 kV-55 kV with bias fields ranging from 10 kA/m to 20 kA/m. Typically, high power gyromagnetic NLTLs are constructed in a coaxial geometry. While this approach has many advantages, including a uniform transverse electromagnetic (TEM) mode, simple interconnection between components, and the ability to use oil or pressurized gas as an insulator, the coaxial implementation suffers from complexity of construction, especially when using a solid insulator.

Material selection of a ferrimagnetic loaded coaxial delay line for phasing gyromagnetic nonlinear transmission lines.

Implementing nonlinear transmission line (NLTL) technology in the design of a high power microwave source has the benefits of producing a comparatively small and lightweight solid-state system where the emission frequency is easily tuned. Usually, smaller in physical size, single NLTLs may produce significantly less power than its vacuum based counterparts. However, combining individual NLTL outputs electrically or in free-space is an attractive solution to achieve greater output power.

A high power microwave triggered RF opening switch.

A 4-port S-band waveguide structure was designed and fabricated such that a signal of any amplitude (less than 1 MW) can be switched from a normally closed state, <0.5 dB insertion loss (IL), to an open state >30 dB IL by initiating plasma in a gas cell situated at the junction of this waveguide and one propagating a megawatt level magnetron pulse. The 90/10 switching time is as low as 20 ns with a delay of ∼30 ns between the onset of the high power microwave pulse and the initial drop of the signal.

System for time-discretized vacuum ultraviolet spectroscopy of spark breakdown in air.

A system for time-discretized spectroscopic measurements of the vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) emission from spark discharges in the 60-160 nm range has been developed for the study of early plasma-forming phenomena. The system induces a spark discharge in an environment close to atmospheric conditions created using a high speed puff value, but is otherwise kept at high vacuum to allow for the propagation of VUV light. Using a vertical slit placed 1.

Semiempirical wide-range conductivity model with exploding wire verification.

Based on well-established physical relationships, a semiempirical set of equations dictating the electrical conductivity of dense, strongly coupled, partially ionized copper is presented. With the empirical coefficients, the model is tuned to experimental conductivity data obtained from exploding wire experiments [A. W.

Bias-field controlled phasing and power combination of gyromagnetic nonlinear transmission lines.

Gyromagnetic Nonlinear Transmission Lines (NLTLs) generate microwaves through the damped gyromagnetic precession of the magnetic moments in ferrimagnetic material, and are thus utilized as compact, solid-state, frequency agile, high power microwave (HPM) sources. The output frequency of a NLTL can be adjusted by control of the externally applied bias field and incident voltage pulse without physical alteration to the structure of the device. This property provides a frequency tuning capability not seen in many conventional e-beam based HPM sources.

The effect of a spot-on formulation containing polyunsaturated fatty acids and essential oils on dogs with atopic dermatitis.

Recent studies have shown that immunological aberrations and epidermal barrier defects could be important in the pathogenesis of canine atopic dermatitis (CAD) and that oral polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) might influence the epidermal barrier. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a spot-on formulation containing PUFAs and essential oils on pruritus and lesions caused by CAD. Forty-eight privately owned dogs of different breeds, ages and genders diagnosed with atopic dermatitis were included in a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, multicentre clinical trial.

All solid-state high power microwave source with high repetition frequency.

An all solid-state, megawatt-class high power microwave system featuring a silicon carbide (SiC) photoconductive semiconductor switch (PCSS) and a ferrimagnetic-based, coaxial nonlinear transmission line (NLTL) is presented. A 1.62 cm(2), 50 kV 4H-SiC PCSS is hard-switched to produce electrical pulses with 7 ns full width-half max (FWHM) pulse widths at 2 ns risetimes in single shot and burst-mode operation.

A compact 45 kV curve tracer with picoampere current measurement capability.

This paper discusses a compact high voltage curve tracer for high voltage semiconductor device characterization. The system sources up to 3 mA at up to 45 kV in dc conditions. It measures from 328 V to 60 kV with 15 V resolution and from 9.

Exploding-wire experiments and theory for metal conductivity evaluation in the sub-eV regime.

Copper and silver wires are subjected to pulsed high current densities producing high density metal plasma in the sub-eV regime with atmospheric air as a background gas. Numerical simulation via application of the one-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic partial differential equations solved simultaneously with the constraining circuit equations is presented. The simulations require accurate knowledge of the material equation of state (EOS) and transport properties; the LANL sesame database is applied for the EOS in all cases.

Design and testing of multi-standard waveguide couplers.

Most applications that use waveguides are designed for a single frequency or single band of frequency, and thus the waveguide dimensions are chosen for single mode operation. In special cases where multiple frequencies across multiple bands are needed (i.e.