The interaction of relativistically intense lasers with opaque targets represents a highly non-linear, multi-dimensional parameter space. This limits the utility of sequential 1D scanning of experimental parameters for the optimization of secondary radiation, although to-date this has been the accepted methodology due to low data acquisition rates. High repetition-rate (HRR) lasers augmented by machine learning present a valuable opportunity for efficient source optimization. Here, an automated, HRR-compatible system produced high-fidelity parameter scans, revealing the influence of laser intensity on target pre-heating and proton generation. A closed-loop Bayesian optimization of maximum proton energy, through control of the laser wavefront and target position, produced proton beams with equivalent maximum energy to manually optimized laser pulses but using only 60% of the laser energy. This demonstration of automated optimization of laser-driven proton beams is a crucial step towards deeper physical insight and the construction of future radiation sources.

We present the development and characterization of a high-stability, multi-material, multi-thickness tape-drive target for laser-driven acceleration at repetition rates of up to 100 Hz. The tape surface position was measured to be stable on the sub-micrometre scale, compatible with the high-numerical aperture focusing geometries required to achieve relativistic intensity interactions with the pulse energy available in current multi-Hz and near-future higher repetition-rate lasers ($>$kHz). Long-term drift was characterized at 100 Hz demonstrating suitability for operation over extended periods. The target was continuously operated at up to 5 Hz in a recent experiment for 70,000 shots without intervention by the experimental team, with the exception of tape replacement, producing the largest data-set of relativistically intense laser–solid foil measurements to date. This tape drive provides robust targetry for the generation and study of high-repetition-rate ion beams using next-generation high-power laser systems, also enabling wider applications of laser-driven proton sources.

A machine learning model was created to predict the electron spectrum generated by a GeV-class laser wakefield accelerator. The model was constructed from variational convolutional neural networks, which mapped the results of secondary laser and plasma diagnostics to the generated electron spectrum. An ensemble of trained networks was used to predict the electron spectrum and to provide an estimation of the uncertainty of that prediction. It is anticipated that this approach will be useful for inferring the electron spectrum prior to undergoing any process that can alter or destroy the beam. In addition, the model provides insight into the scaling of electron beam properties due to stochastic fluctuations in the laser energy and plasma electron density.

The case reports of two DSM III-R schizophrenic patients with a family history of bipolar disorder are presented. The two patients had a history of severe obstetric complications (OCs). These cases are discussed in the light of neurodevelopmental theories of schizophrenia and in the continuum view of psychosis.

The authors examined whether substance abusers have more maladaptive thinking patterns than controls. The Dysfunctional Attitude Scale (DAS) was administered to 38 substance abusers and 30 healthy age-matched controls. Nineteen substance abusers (50%) were depressed and 19 were non-depressed. Both depressed and non-depressed substance abusers had significantly higher DAS scores than controls. Depressed substance abusers had higher scores than non-depressed substance abusers. There was no correlation between age, sex, age of onset or the nature of the substance used and DAS scores in either group of patients. There was a trend for an elevation of DAS scores with chronicity of dependence among depressed substance abusers. The results support the hypothesis of the presence of maladaptive thinking patterns among substance abusers, and suggest a need for further exploration of their cognitive styles and of the use of cognitive therapy in the treatment of addiction.

Le deuil est défini comme la perte par décès d’une personne « significative » (objet d’un lien affectif fort). Évènement de vie mettant à l’épreuve les ressources adaptatives biopsychosociales, sa fréquence augmente avec l’allongement de la vie. Il s’agit le plus souvent d’une perte d’un conjoint, spécialement chez les personnes âgées. En France, environ 500 000 décès/an ; 5 millions de veuves et 500 000 veufs. D’autres situations, heureusement plus rares, mais sans doute plus traumatisantes correspondent à ce que l’on appelle les deuils traumatiques, lorsque le deuil est dû à une mort violente : suicide, homicide, accident. La personne décédée peut aussi être un enfant (deuil très difficile) ou les parents pour un jeune enfant (doublant le risque d’un état dépressif) ou bien encore la mort d’un adolescent (suicide ou accident)… Outre un état dépressif avéré immédiat, les deuils proprement psychiatriques correspondent à des épisodes cliniques caractérisés : anxiété pathologique, abus d’alcool et de médicaments, état confuso-délirant, PTSD, etc. Le problème majeur est représenté par l’état dépressif qui doit être traité d’emblée (sans attendre le 3e mois). Enfin, on connaît les situations paradoxales de deuil maniaque plus ou moins intense, le décès étant à l’origine d’une poussée libidinale et d’une excitation psychomotrice allant jusqu’à l’état maniaque complet (probablement révélateur d’un trouble bipolaire). Environ 20 % des deuils sont « compliqués » et devraient faire l’objet d’une prise en charge systématique.

Previous studies have shown that schizophrenic patients are more likely to be born in winter or early spring months than the general population. Data on 4,207 patients with a hospital diagnosis of schizophrenia were obtained from a mailed survey to public departments of adult psychiatry in metropolitan France. For each year from 1900 to 1965, the expected monthly number of schizophrenic births was calculated and any seasonal variation of live births in the general population was taken into account. Cumulative distributions of the observed and expected number of schizophrenic births were compared using a Kolmogorov-Smirnov type statistic. The seasonal distribution of schizophrenic births was significantly different from that of the general population (P < 0.01). An excess of schizophrenic births was found in the first half of the year, with a peak in April (+ 13%).

The association of eating disorders and bipolar disorders is less documented than the well-established association of eating disorders and unipolar depression. However, epidemiological studies have demonstrated an increased risk for bipolar disorders, especially bipolar II, in bulimic patients. We report the case of a patient displaying such a morbid association.

Visually impaired patients may experience complex visual hallucinations, a condition known as the Charles Bonnet syndrome (CBS). in the elderly, vitamin B12 deficiency has been implicated in various psychiatric conditions such as dementia, depression, delirium.

Here we report the case of 78 years old women with low vision due to bilateral glaucoma and unilateral cataract who was admitted in our psychogeriatric unit for complex and repetitive visual hallucinations (male characters, visions of her childhood), localized in external space that occurred acutely, inducing emotional distress and paranoia in response to the imagery. She had no past history of any psychiatric disorder. Psychiatric and physical exam, lab test, neuropsychological testing, EEG and brain CT scan ruled out visual hallucination due to dementia, epilepsy, delirium, psychosis. Therefore, criteria for CBS diagnosis were fulfilled.

Emotional distress was so intense that risperidone (1 mg/day) was started that permitted better insight within few days. Plasma vitamin B12 was low (< 44 pmol/L) unless normal red blood cell count. Supplementation with vitamin B12 (1mg/day) was started and plasma vitamin B12 increased within 1 month (198 pmol/L). in the same time, visual hallucinations disappeared and riperidone was stopped. Three month later, supplementation with vitamin B12 was stopped and visual hallucinations reappeared as plasma vitamin B12 was 87 pmol/L. Therefore, vitamin B12 alone (1 mg/day) was administered again and the CBS disappeared within 2 weeks.

To our knowledge, this is the first report of CBS associated with vitamin B12 deficiency successfully improved by vitamin B12 supplementation.

The isotopic and chemical signatures for ice-age and Holocene ice from Summit, Greenland, and Penny Ice Cap, Baffin Island, Canada, are compared. the usual pattern of low δ18O, high Ca2+ and high Cl– is presented in the Summit records, but Penny Ice Cap has lower than present Cl– in its ice-age ice. A simple extension of the Hansson model (Hansson, 1994) is developed and used to simulate these signatures. the low ice-age Cl– from Penny Ice Cap is explained by having the ice-age ice originating many thousands of km inland near the centre of the Laurentide ice sheet and much further from the marine sources. Summit’s flowlines all start close to the present site. the Penny Ice Cap early-Holocene δ18O’s had to be corrected to offset the Laurentide meltwater distortion. the analysis suggests that presently the Summit and Penny Ice Cap marine impurity originates about 500 km away, and that presently Penny Ice Cap receives a significant amount of local continental impurity.

We report a novel approach to the instantaneous photoinitiated synthesis of mixed anatase-rutile nanocrystalline TiO2 thin films with a three-dimensional nanostructure through pulsed white light irradiation of photosensitive Ti-organic precursor films. Pulsed photoinitiated pyrolysis accompanied by instantaneous self-assembly and crystallization occurred to form graphitic oxides-coated TiO2 nanograins. Subsequent pulsed light irradiation working as in situ pulsed photothermal treatment improved the crystalline quality of TiO2 film despite its low attenuation of light. The non-radiative recombination of photogenerated electrons and holes in TiO2 nanograins, coupled with inefficient heat dissipation due to low thermal conductivity, produces enough heat to provide the thermodynamic driving force for improving the crystalline quality. The graphitic oxides were reduced by pulsed photothermal treatment and can be completely removed by oxygen plasma cleaning. This photoinitiated nanofabrication technology opens a promising way for the low-cost and high-throughput manufacturing of nanostructured metal oxides as well as TiO2 nanocrystalline thin films.

A Holocene record of pollen deposition was obtained from an ice core drilled through the Agassiz Ice Cap. The pollen records long-range atmospheric transport to the ice cap. Pollen concentrations were highest in the early Holocene (∼15 grains/L), decreased in the mid-Holocene (∼6 grains/L), and increased in the late Holocene (∼9 grains/L). In the early Holocene, the higher concentration of tree pollen at a time when large parts of Canada were still ice-covered, and when forest was generally farther away, implies that atmospheric circulation was stronger than at present. Following deglaciation, as vegetation migrated north in central and eastern Canada, sources of pollen were closer to the Agassiz Ice Cap. However, the concentration of tree pollen decreased on the ice cap. This was followed by several relatively rapid changes after 3500 yr ago. Until ca. 3500 yr ago, the pollen concentration curves resembled the ice core δ18O and summer melt layer curves, both regarded as temperature proxies.