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Without neon, Las Vegas might still be a sleepy desert town in Nevada and Times Square merely another busy intersection in New York City. Transformed by the installation of these brightly colored signs, these destinations are now world-famous, representing the vibrant heart of popular culture. But for some, neon lighting represents the worst of commercialism. Energized by the conflicting love and hatred people have for neon, Flickering Light explores its technological and intellectual history, from the discovery of the noble gas in late nineteenth-century London to its fading popularity today. Christoph Ribbat follows writers, artists, and musicians-from cultural critic Theodor Adorno, British rock band the Verve, and artist Tracey Emin to Vladimir Nabokov, Langston Hughes, and American country singers-through the neon cities in Europe, America, and Asia, demonstrating how they turned these blinking lights and letters into metaphors of the modern era. He examines how gifted craftsmen carefully sculpted neon advertisements, introducing elegance to modern metropolises during neon's heyday between the wars followed by its subsequent popularity in Las Vegas during the 1950s and '60s. Ribbat ends with a melancholy discussion of neon's decline, describing how these glowing signs and installations came to be seen as dated and characteristic of run-down neighborhoods. From elaborate neon lighting displays to neglected diner signs with unlit letters, Flickering Light tells the engrossing story of how a glowing tube of gas took over the world-and faded almost as quickly as it arrived.

The laser pretreatment of seed is drawing pronounced attention from the scientific community for its positive impact in boosting germination, seedling , and growth of plants. In this study, the laser pretreatment of Adansonia digitata ( A . digitata ) seeds was evaluated. Eight laser treatments were conducted at different powers, 10, 20, 40, and 80 mW, with the two-time interval for each power at 2 and 4 min. The outcomes indicated that the most efficient irradiation was 10 mW/2 min which induces the highest germination rate and polyphenolic contents for seeds. Based on these results, the animal experimental design was processed to assess the hepatoprotective activity of A. digitata extracts obtained through the optimum laser preillumination to enhance the resistance of liver damage in mice. The total phenol and flavonoid contents and the antioxidant properties of the methanolic extracts were estimated in vitro. The CCl4 was used to induce hepatotoxicity in mice. The animals were divided into five groups. The sera of the treated animals were used for the determination of transaminases, and the liver homogenates were used for the determination of antioxidant status, and further liver tissues were subjected to verify the anti-apoptotic effect of A. digitata methanolic extract. The in vivo results showed that the methanolic extract exposed to laser treatment at 10 mW/2 min provided better hepatoprotective capacity than the other treatments. Administration of A. digitata extract not only offered a significant decrease in liver enzyme activity but also markedly improved the antioxidant status and reduced the apoptotic progression induced by CCl4 toxicity in liver tissue.

Charged particle beams induce various biological effects by creating high‐density ionization through the deposition of energy along the beam's trajectory. Charged particle beams composed of neon ions (20Ne10+) hold great potential for biomedical applications, but their physiological effects on living organs remain uncertain. In this study, we demonstrate that neon‐ion beams expedite the process of reoxygenation in tumor models. We simulated mouse SCCVII syngeneic tumors and exposed them to either X‐ray or neon‐ion beams. Through an in vivo radiobiological assay, we observed a reduction in the hypoxic fraction in tumors irradiated with 8.2 Gy of neon‐ion beams 30 h after irradiation compared to 6 h post‐irradiation. Conversely, no significant changes in hypoxia were observed in tumors irradiated with 8.2 Gy of X‐rays. To directly quantify hypoxia in the irradiated living tumors, we utilized dynamic contrast‐enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and diffusion‐weighted imaging. These combined MRI techniques revealed that the non‐hypoxic fraction in neon‐irradiated tumors was significantly higher than that in X‐irradiated tumors (69.53% vs. 47.67%). Simultaneously, the hypoxic fraction in neon‐ion‐irradiated tumors (2.77%) was lower than that in X‐irradiated tumors (4.27%) and non‐irradiated tumors (32.44%). These results support the notion that accelerated reoxygenation occurs more effectively with neon‐ion beam irradiation compared to X‐rays. These findings shed light on the physiological effects of neon‐ion beams on tumors and their microenvironment, emphasizing the therapeutic advantage of using neon‐ion charged particle beams to manipulate tumor reoxygenation. Quantitative non‐hypoxic (Splatoon) maps of the tumors tested. The Splatoon maps indicate accelerated tumor reoxygenation in the tumors irradiated with neon ions.

Understanding the drivers of community stability in times of increasing anthropogenic pressure is an urgent issue. Biodiversity is known to promote community stability, but studies of the biodiversity–stability relationship rarely consider the full complexity of biodiversity change. Furthermore, finding generalities that hold across taxonomic groups and spatial and temporal scales remains challenging because most investigations have narrow taxonomic, spatial, and temporal scopes. We used organismal data collected through the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) at sites across the contiguous United States to evaluate linkages between community stability and biodiversity change for four taxonomic groups: small mammals, ground beetles, fish, and freshwater macroinvertebrates. We defined community stability as constancy of aggregate species' abundance. We quantified change in biodiversity as (1) dissimilarity in community taxonomic and functional composition and species replacement and richness change components of that dissimilarity and (2) change in species' abundance distributions as captured by change in species rank, richness, and evenness. We found that community stability increased with species replacement and with contribution of species replacement to overall dissimilarity for all taxonomic groups, but declined with increasing change in species richness and evenness. This is consistent with the notion that temporal fluctuations in species abundance can help stabilize community properties. We also found that community stability was highest when change in community functional composition was either lower or higher than expected given reshuffling of each community's taxonomic composition. This suggests that long‐term community stability can result from fluctuations of functionally similar species in assemblages with high taxonomic reshuffling. On the contrary, the functional uniqueness of fluctuating species compensates for lower taxonomic reshuffling to drive stabilization of community properties. Our study provides an initial assessment of the relationship between community stability and biodiversity change and illustrates the utility of fine temporal resolution data collected across ecosystems and biomes to understand the general mechanisms underlying biodiversity–stability relationships.

One of the first artists to use light, specifically neon, as a form of sculpture, Keith Sonnier explored what sculpture is and could be. From his early pieces such as Rat Tail Exercise and the Ba-O-Ba series to his most recent neon-based series, this book explores the progression and influence of his oeuvre.

Track structures and resulting DNA damage in human cells have been simulated for hydrogen, helium, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen and neon ions with 0.25–256 MeV/u energy. The needed ion interaction cross sections have been scaled from those of hydrogen; Barkas scaling formula has been refined, extending its applicability down to about 10 keV/u, and validated against established stopping power data. Linear energy transfer (LET) has been scored from energy deposits in a cell nucleus; for very low-energy ions, it has been defined locally within thin slabs. The simulations show that protons and helium ions induce more DNA damage than heavier ions do at the same LET. With increasing LET, less DNA strand breaks are formed per unit dose, but due to their clustering the yields of double-strand breaks (DSB) increase, up to saturation around 300 keV/μm. Also individual DSB tend to cluster; DSB clusters peak around 500 keV/μm, while DSB multiplicities per cluster steadily increase with LET. Remarkably similar to patterns known from cell survival studies, LET-dependencies with pronounced maxima around 100–200 keV/μm occur on nanometre scale for sites that contain one or more DSB, and on micrometre scale for megabasepair-sized DNA fragments.

Why did you do this work?Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) aged 16–24 account for 20% UK of inpatient hospital admissions. As a group, they have high levels of unmet needs and report negative experiences of hospital stays.1 Since March 2023, NEON youth workers have undertaken holistic psychosocial assessments on AYAs aged 16–24 admitted as inpatients across our trust to identify their needs, offer support and signpost appropriate resources. While quantitative analyses have demonstrated that the service identifies unmet need,2 we wanted to evaluate the view of young people on this service.What did you do?In May 2024 we introduced a survey designed by the professionals involved with the NEON service. This was a 12-question online feedback form which was shared with all AYA seen by NEON youth workers between May-September 2024. The survey included questions with Likert scales, single option questions and free-text questions. related to their understanding and experience of the NEON service and asking for suggestions for improvement.The feedback form was shared by the youth workers at the end of the assessment via a scanned QR code. The form could be translated in any language and were anonymous. This data was collected as part of a service evaluation and quality improvement project.Data were analysed using Microsoft Excel. Categorical answers were summarised and expressed as percentages of the total completed questionnaires. Free text answers were grouped by theme.What did you find?In total, 88 responses were received. 88% AYAs understood the youth workers role and 95% had enough time to speak to them. 76% felt equally comfortable talking to youth workers as clinicians, while 18% felt more comfortable speaking to youth workers.79% of AYA found the NEON assessment mostly (26/88) or completely (44/88) useful, while 63% found the advice given extremely or very usefulImportantly, 60% of AYA reported being able to talk to the youth workers about matters that they couldn’t discuss with anyone else. 47% would have liked to see the youth workers again and 69% would recommend the service to others.The key theme that emerged from what AYA found useful about the NEON service was the ability to speak to someone and share things that no one had asked. The most common recommended service improvement was to widen the availability. Other feedback included to explicitly reassure about confidentiality and to ensure clear introductions of youth workers.What does it mean?These data highlight that the service provided by NEON youth workers is acceptable to most AYAs and that the project is mostly well received. It demonstrates that NEON can support young people who can feel more comfortable talking to youth workers than clinicians, and can benefit from the time and space to discuss their lives while in hospital. Following this survey, we have developed a strategy to review young people again when requested or deemed to be beneficial for them. Overall, the service feedback highlights the potential for such services across the NHS aiming to help support young people.ReferencesBeresford B, Stuttard L. Young adults as users of adult healthcare: experiences of young adults with complex or life-limiting conditions. Clin Med (Lond). 2014 Aug;14(4):404–8. doi: 10.7861/clinmedicine.14-4-404. PMID: 25099843; PMCID: PMC4952835.Ravishankar A, Ahmad K, Sengupta N, et al. 6294|Northwick and ealing outreach network (NEON) service evaluation: analysis of a youth worker outreach model for adolescent patients admitted to adult wards. Archives of Disease in Childhood 2024;109:A425.

Why did you do this work?Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) aged 16–24 account for 20% UK of inpatient hospital admissions. As a group, they have high levels of unmet needs and report negative experiences of hospital stays.1 Since March 2023, NEON youth workers have undertaken holistic psychosocial assessments on AYAs aged 16–24 admitted as inpatients across our trust to identify their needs, offer support and signpost appropriate resources. While quantitative analyses have demonstrated that the service identifies unmet need,2 we wanted to evaluate the view of young people on this service.What did you do?In May 2024 we introduced a survey designed by the professionals involved with the NEON service. This was a 12-question online feedback form which was shared with all AYA seen by NEON youth workers between May-September 2024. The survey included questions with Likert scales, single option questions and free-text questions. related to their understanding and experience of the NEON service and asking for suggestions for improvement.The feedback form was shared by the youth workers at the end of the assessment via a scanned QR code. The form could be translated in any language and were anonymous. This data was collected as part of a service evaluation and quality improvement project.Data were analysed using Microsoft Excel. Categorical answers were summarised and expressed as percentages of the total completed questionnaires. Free text answers were grouped by theme.What did you find?In total, 88 responses were received. 88% AYAs understood the youth workers role and 95% had enough time to speak to them. 76% felt equally comfortable talking to youth workers as clinicians, while 18% felt more comfortable speaking to youth workers.79% of AYA found the NEON assessment mostly (26/88) or completely (44/88) useful, while 63% found the advice given extremely or very usefulImportantly, 60% of AYA reported being able to talk to the youth workers about matters that they couldn’t discuss with anyone else. 47% would have liked to see the youth workers again and 69% would recommend the service to others.The key theme that emerged from what AYA found useful about the NEON service was the ability to speak to someone and share things that no one had asked. The most common recommended service improvement was to widen the availability. Other feedback included to explicitly reassure about confidentiality and to ensure clear introductions of youth workers.What does it mean?These data highlight that the service provided by NEON youth workers is acceptable to most AYAs and that the project is mostly well received. It demonstrates that NEON can support young people who can feel more comfortable talking to youth workers than clinicians, and can benefit from the time and space to discuss their lives while in hospital. Following this survey, we have developed a strategy to review young people again when requested or deemed to be beneficial for them. Overall, the service feedback highlights the potential for such services across the NHS aiming to help support young people.ReferencesBeresford B, Stuttard L. Young adults as users of adult healthcare: experiences of young adults with complex or life-limiting conditions. Clin Med (Lond). 2014 Aug;14(4):404–8. doi: 10.7861/clinmedicine.14-4-404. PMID: 25099843; PMCID: PMC4952835.Ravishankar A, Ahmad K, Sengupta N, et al. 6294|Northwick and ealing outreach network (NEON) service evaluation: analysis of a youth worker outreach model for adolescent patients admitted to adult wards. Archives of Disease in Childhood 2024;109:A425.