Resonant Self-Diffraction of Femtosecond Extreme Ultraviolet Pulses in Cobalt

Self-diffraction is a non-collinear four-wave mixing technique well-known inoptics. We explore self-diffraction in the extreme ultraviolet (EUV) range,taking advantage of intense femtosecond EUV pulses produced by a free electronlaser. Two pulses are crossed in a thin cobalt film and their interferenceresults in a spatially periodic electronic excitation. The diffraction of oneof the same pulses by the associated refractive index modulation is measured asa function of the EUV wavelength. A sharp peak in the self-diffractionefficiency is observed at the M$_{2,3}$ absorption edge of cobalt at 59 eV anda fine structure is found above the edge. The results are compared with atheoretical model assuming that the excitation results in an increase of theelectronic temperature. EUV self-diffraction offers a potentially usefulspectroscopy tool and will be instrumental in studying coherent effects in theEUV range.

Critical dynamics of three-dimensional $Z_N$ gauge models and the inverted XY universality class

We investigate the critical relaxational dynamics of the three-dimensional(3D) lattice $Z_N$ gauge models with $N=6$ and $N=8$, whose equilibriumcritical behavior at their topological transitions belongs to the inverted XY(IXY) universality class (this is also the universality class of the continuoustransitions of the 3D lattice U(1) gauge Higgs models with a one-componentcomplex scalar field), which is connected to the standard XY universality classby a nonlocal duality relation of the partition functions. Specifically, weconsider the purely relaxational dynamics realized by a locally reversibleMetropolis dynamics, as commonly used in Monte Carlo simulations. To determinethe corresponding dynamic exponent $z$, we focus on the out-of-equilibriumcritical relaxational flows arising from instantaneous quenches to the criticalpoint, which are analyzed within an out-of-equilibrium finite-size scalingframework. We obtain the estimate $z=2.59(3)$. A numerical analysis of theequilibrium critical dynamics give consistent, but less accurate, results. Thisdynamic exponent is expected to characterize the critical slowing down of thepurely relaxational dynamics of all topological transitions that belong to the3D IXY universality class. We note that this result implies that the criticalrelaxational dynamics of the 3D IXY universality class is slower than that ofthe standard 3D XY universality class, whose relaxational dynamic exponent$z\approx 2.02$ is significantly smaller, although they share the samelength-scale critical exponent $\nu\approx 0.6717$.

The Polarisation Sky Survey of the Universe's Magnetism (POSSUM): Science Goals and Survey Description

The Australian SKA Pathfinder (ASKAP) offers powerful new capabilities forstudying the polarised and magnetised Universe at radio wavelengths. In thispaper, we introduce the Polarisation Sky Survey of the Universe's Magnetism(POSSUM), a groundbreaking survey with three primary objectives: (1) to createa comprehensive Faraday rotation measure (RM) grid of up to one million compactextragalactic sources across the southern ~50 per cent of the sky (20,630deg$^2$); (2) to map the intrinsic polarisation and RM properties of a widerange of discrete extragalactic and Galactic objects over the same area; and(3) to contribute interferometric data with excellent surface brightnesssensitivity, which can be combined with single-dish data to study the diffuseGalactic interstellar medium. Observations for the full POSSUM survey commencedin May 2023 and are expected to conclude by mid-2028. POSSUM will achieve an RMgrid density of around 30-50 RMs per square degree with a median measurementuncertainty of ~1 rad m$^{-2}$. The survey operates primarily over a frequencyrange of 800-1088 MHz, with an angular resolution of 20'' and a typical RMSsensitivity in Stokes $Q$ or $U$ of 18 $\mu$Jy beam$^{-1}$. Additionally, thesurvey will be supplemented by similar observations covering 1296-1440 MHz over38 per cent of the sky. POSSUM will enable the discovery and detailedinvestigation of magnetised phenomena in a wide range of cosmic environments,as well as the interplay between these components. This paper reviews thecurrent science case developed by the POSSUM Collaboration and provides anoverview of POSSUM's observations, data processing, outputs, and itscomplementarity with other radio and multi-wavelength surveys, including futurework with the SKA. [Abstract abridged]

Live Birth After Oocyte Donation In Vitro Fertilization Cycles in Women With Endometriosis

Endometrioid ovarian carcinoma landscape: pathological and molecular characterization

Endometrioid ovarian cancers (EOvC) are usually managed as serous tumors. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive molecular investigation to uncover the distinct biological characteristics of EOvC. This retrospective multicenter study involved patients from three European centers. We collected clinical data and formalin‐fixed paraffin‐embedded (FFPE) samples for analysis at the DNA level using panel‐based next‐generation sequencing and array‐comparative genomic hybridization. Additionally, we examined mRNA expression using NanoString nCounter® and protein expression through tissue microarray. We compared EOvC with other ovarian subtypes and uterine endometrioid tumors. Furthermore, we assessed the impact of molecular alterations on patient outcomes, including progression‐free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Preliminary analysis of clinical data from 668 patients, including 86 (12.9%) EOvC, revealed more favorable prognosis for EOvC compared with serous ovarian carcinoma (5‐year OS of 60% versus 45%; P  = 0.001) driven by diagnosis at an earlier stage. Immunohistochemistry and copy number alteration (CNA) profiles of 43 cases with clinical data and FFPE samples available indicated that EOvC protein expression and CNA profiles were more similar to endometrioid endometrial tumors than to serous ovarian carcinomas. EOvC exhibited specific alterations, such as lower rates of PTEN loss, mutations in DNA repair genes, and P53 abnormalities. Survival analysis showed that patients with tumors harboring loss of PTEN expression had worse outcomes (median PFS 19.6 months vs. not reached; P  = 0.034). Gene expression profile analysis confirmed that EOvC differed from serous tumors. However, comparison to other rare subtypes of ovarian cancer suggested that the EOvC transcriptomic profile was close to that of ovarian clear cell carcinoma. Downregulation of genes involved in the PI3K pathway and DNA methylation was observed in EOvC. In conclusion, EOvC represents a distinct biological entity and should be regarded as such in the development of specific clinical approaches.

Directing in Vitro Selection towards G‐quadruplex‐forming Aptamers to Inhibit HMGB1 Pathological Activity

Abstract In the search for novel, effective inhibitors of High‐Mobility Group Box1 (HMGB1)—a protein involved in various inflammatory and autoimmune diseases as well as in cancer—we herein discovered a set of anti‐HMGB1 G‐quadruplex(G4)‐forming aptamers by using an in vitro selection procedure applied to a doped library of guanine‐rich oligonucleotides. The selected DNA sequences were then studied in a pseudo‐physiological buffer mimicking the extracellular medium, where HMGB1 exerts its pathological activity, using spectroscopic, electrophoretic, and chromatographic techniques. All the oligonucleotides proved to fold into monomeric G4s and in some cases also dimeric species, stable at physiological temperature. Remarkably, the protein preferentially recognized the sequences forming dimeric parallel G4 structures, as evidenced by a properly designed chemiluminescent binding assay which also highlighted a good selectivity of these aptamers for HMGB1. Moreover, all aptamers showed anti‐HMGB1 activity, inhibiting protein‐induced cell migration. The acquired data allowed identifying L12 as the best anti‐HMGB1 aptamer, featured by high thermal and enzymatic stability, no toxicity at least up to 5 μM concentration on healthy cells, along with potent anti‐HMGB1 activity (IC 50 ca. 28 nM) and good binding affinity for the protein, thus indicating it as a very promising lead candidate for in vivo studies.

Organic Donor–Acceptor Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence Photocatalysts in the Photoinduced Dehalogenation of Aryl Halides

We report a family of donor‐acceptor thermally activated delayed fluorescent (TADF) compounds based on derivatives of DMAC‐TRZ , that are strongly photoreducing. Both E ox and thus E * ox could be tuned via substitution of the DMAC donor with a Hammett series of p ‐substituted phenyl moieties while E red remained effectively constant. These compounds were assessed in the photoinduced dehalogenation of aryl halides, and analogues bearing electron withdrawing groups were found to produce the highest yields. Substrates of up to E red =−2.72 V could be dehalogenated at low PC loading (1 mol %) and under air, conditions much milder than previously reported for this reaction. Spectroscopic and chemical studies demonstrate that all PCs, including literature reference PCs, photodegrade, and that it is these photodegradation products that are responsible for the reactivity.

Molecular Recognition in Mechanochemistry: Insights from Solid‐State NMR Spectroscopy

Abstract Molecular‐recognition events are highly relevant in biology and chemistry. In the present study, we investigated such processes in the solid state under mechanochemical conditions using the formation of racemic phases upon reacting enantiopure entities as example. As test systems, α ‐(trifluoromethyl)lactic acid (TFLA) and the amino acids serine and alanine were used. The effects of ball‐milling and resonant acoustic mixing (RAM) on the formation of racemic phases were probed by using solid‐state Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. In a mixer mill, a highly efficient and fast racemic phase formation occurred for both TFLA and the two amino acids. RAM led to the racemic phase for TFLA also, and this process was facilitated upon employing pre‐milled enantiopure entities. In contrast, under comparable conditions RAM did not result in the formation of racemic phases for serine and alanine.

Directing in Vitro Selection towards G‐quadruplex‐forming Aptamers to Inhibit HMGB1 Pathological Activity

Abstract In the search for novel, effective inhibitors of High‐Mobility Group Box1 (HMGB1)—a protein involved in various inflammatory and autoimmune diseases as well as in cancer—we herein discovered a set of anti‐HMGB1 G‐quadruplex(G4)‐forming aptamers by using an in vitro selection procedure applied to a doped library of guanine‐rich oligonucleotides. The selected DNA sequences were then studied in a pseudo‐physiological buffer mimicking the extracellular medium, where HMGB1 exerts its pathological activity, using spectroscopic, electrophoretic, and chromatographic techniques. All the oligonucleotides proved to fold into monomeric G4s and in some cases also dimeric species, stable at physiological temperature. Remarkably, the protein preferentially recognized the sequences forming dimeric parallel G4 structures, as evidenced by a properly designed chemiluminescent binding assay which also highlighted a good selectivity of these aptamers for HMGB1. Moreover, all aptamers showed anti‐HMGB1 activity, inhibiting protein‐induced cell migration. The acquired data allowed identifying L12 as the best anti‐HMGB1 aptamer, featured by high thermal and enzymatic stability, no toxicity at least up to 5 μM concentration on healthy cells, along with potent anti‐HMGB1 activity (IC 50 ca. 28 nM) and good binding affinity for the protein, thus indicating it as a very promising lead candidate for in vivo studies.

Organic Donor–Acceptor Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence Photocatalysts in the Photoinduced Dehalogenation of Aryl Halides

We report a family of donor‐acceptor thermally activated delayed fluorescent (TADF) compounds based on derivatives of DMAC‐TRZ , that are strongly photoreducing. Both E ox and thus E * ox could be tuned via substitution of the DMAC donor with a Hammett series of p ‐substituted phenyl moieties while E red remained effectively constant. These compounds were assessed in the photoinduced dehalogenation of aryl halides, and analogues bearing electron withdrawing groups were found to produce the highest yields. Substrates of up to E red =−2.72 V could be dehalogenated at low PC loading (1 mol %) and under air, conditions much milder than previously reported for this reaction. Spectroscopic and chemical studies demonstrate that all PCs, including literature reference PCs, photodegrade, and that it is these photodegradation products that are responsible for the reactivity.