bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Numerical solution for generalized nonlinear fractional integro-differential equations with linear functional arguments using Chebyshev series
Authors: Ali Khalid K. , Abd El Salam Mohamed A. , Mohamed Emad M. H. , Samet Bessem , Kumar Sunil , Osman M. S.
Published: September 2020

In the present work, a numerical technique for solving a general form of nonlinear fractional order integro-differential equations (GNFIDEs) with linear functional arguments using Chebyshev series is presented. The recommended equation with its linear functional argument produces a general form of delay, proportional delay, and advanced non-linear arbitrary order Fredholm–Volterra integro-differential equations. Spectral collocation method is extended to study this problem as a matrix discretization scheme, where the fractional derivatives are characterized in the Caputo sense. The collocation method transforms the given equation and conditions to an algebraic nonlinear system of equations with unknown Chebyshev coefficients. Additionally, we present a general form of the operational matrix for derivatives. The introduced operational matrix of derivatives includes arbitrary order derivatives and the operational matrix of ordinary derivative as a special case. To the best of authors’ knowledge, there is no other work discussing this point. Numerical test examples are given, and the achieved results show that the recommended method is very effective and convenient.
Heavy metal gradients from rural to urban lakes in central China
Authors: Xia Wentong , Wang Rui , Zhu Bin , Rudstam Lars G. , Liu Yinglong , Xu Yanxue , Xin Wei , Chen Yushun
Published: September 2020

Background

Limited information is available on heavy metal patterns in lakes under rapid watershed urbanization, especially considering a large spatial gradient with a long linear distance and great variations in topographic relief. To fill this gap, we studied concentrations of a series of heavy metals in both water and sediments from 20 lakes along a rural to urban gradient in central China, and we aimed to understand the effects of urban processes on heavy metal dynamics in lake ecosystems. Studied lakes were divided into five groups: A (rural reservoir group), B (rural commercial fishing group), C (urban park group), D (urban recreational fishing group), and E (urban commercial fishing group). An inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer (ICP-OES) and an inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometer (ICP-MS) were used to analyze the heavy metals in water and sediments.

Results

An increasing trend of most heavy metals in water from rural to urban lakes was observed. Concentrations of cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), arsenic (As), nickel (Ni), magnesium (Mn), iron (Fe), and aluminum (Al) in water were significantly lower in rural group A than those in other groups. Arsenic in sediments of rural group A was lower than those in other groups. No other heavy metal element in sediments was significantly different among groups. The enrichment factor analysis of selected heavy metals showed there were different degrees of enrichments of heavy metals in sediments. The potential ecological risk index showed a low level for heavy metals in sediments of all studied lakes.

Conclusions

Results indicated that urban processes could have an impact on heavy metals in lake water. The sources of heavy metals in sediments were more likely from anthropogenic activities. These results could enhance our understanding of metal dynamics in lake ecosystems under urbanization and could help prevent heavy metal pollutions and promote sustainable management of urban ecosystems.
Treatment adherence among patients with hypertension: findings from a cross-sectional study
Authors: Algabbani Fahad M. , Algabbani Aljoharah M.
Published: September 2020

Background

Hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, which is the leading cause of mortality globally. Patient’s adherence to treatment is a cornerstone factor in controlling hypertension and its complications. This study assesses hypertension patients’ adherence to treatment and its associated factors.

Methods

This cross-sectional study conducted in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The study targeted outpatients aged ≥18 years who were diagnosed with hypertension. Participants were recruited using a systemic sampling technique. The two main measurements were assessing adherence rate of antihypertensive medications using Morisky scale and identifying predictors of poor medication adherence among hypertensive patients including socio-economic and demographic data, health status, clinic visits, medication side effects, medications availability, and knowledge. Descriptive and logistic regression analyses were performed to assess factors associated with poor adherence.

Results

A total of 306 hypertensive outpatients participated in this study. 42.2% of participants were adherent to antihypertensive medications. Almost half of participants (49%) who reported having no comorbidities were adherent to antihypertensive medications compared to participants with one or more than one comorbidities 41, 39% respectively. The presence of comorbid conditions and being on multiple medications were significantly associated with medication adherence (P-values, respectively, < 0.004, < 0.009). Patients with good knowledge about the disease and its complications were seven times more likely to have good adherence to medication (P <  0.001).

Conclusions

Non-adherence to medications is prevalent among a proportion of hypertensive patients which urges continuous monitoring to medication adherence with special attention to at risks groups of patients. Patients with comorbidities and on multiple medications were at high risk of medication non-adherence. Patients’ knowledge on the disease was one of the main associated factors with non-adherence.
Glioma progression and recurrence involving maintenance and expansion strategies of glioma stem cells by organizing self-advantageous niche microenvironments
Authors: Taga Tetsuya , Tabu Kouichi
Published: September 2020

Due to the nature of enhanced resistance to conventional chemo/radiotherapies and metastasis, highly tumorigenic cancer stem cells (CSCs) have been proposed as a promising target for cancer eradication. To tackle the therapeutic difficulties of cancers involving CSCs, extensive research efforts have been directed toward understanding the extracellular microenvironments of CSCs, i.e., CSC niche, which plays important roles in CSC maintenance and expansion. Here we review recently identified mechanisms of maintenance and expansion of glioma CSCs (GSCs) leading to glioma progression and recurrence, with particular emphasis on the reports made by studies with a unique approach using polymer microarrays screening and with a unique viewpoint of necrotic particles. The polymer-based approach identified two groups of niche components, extracellular matrices (ECMs) and iron, and uncovered that co-expression of ECM-, iron-, and macrophage-related genes is predictive of glioma patients’ outcome. The study in view of a unique fraction of GSC-derived necrotic particles proposed that such particles develop GSC-supportive tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). Taken together, these studies provide new insights into the mechanisms underlying GSC-driven niche development, i.e., organization of the self-advantageous niche microenvironments for GSC maintenance and expansion leading to glioma progression and recurrence. A series of such studies can redefine the current concept of anti-GSC niche therapy that targets ligands/receptors supporting GSCs, and have potential to accelerate cancer therapy development.
Granulomatous inflammation in pulmonary pathology of 2019 novel coronavirus pneumonia: case report with a literature review
Authors: Usturalı Keskin Elif , Tastekin Ebru , Can Nuray , Usta İnci , Tuncbilek Nermin , Karabulut Derya , Kula Osman , Kırkızlar Onur
Published: September 2020

Background

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which started in Wuhan, China, in late December 2019, was declared a pandemic, infecting more than twelve million people worldwide. Few studies have reported the findings of lung biopsies in COVID-19. Here, granulomatous inflammation was reported for the first time in COVID-19 lung biopsy.

Case presentation

A 54-year-old woman presented to a primary care facility with fever, dry cough, and fatigue. Antibiotherapy was administered for 10 days with the diagnosis of upper respiratory tract infection. However, her condition did not improve and she was admitted to the hospital. In physical examination, crepitant rales were heard in both lungs. Anemia and thrombocytopenia were detected in laboratory tests and she was referred to the hematology clinic. Bone marrow aspiration and flow cytometry showed she had acute myeloid leukemia. Computed tomography-integrated positron emission tomography with a history of previous breast cancer revealed a heterogeneous mass-like lesion in the left lung. The primary malignancy could not be ruled out and tru-cut biopsy was performed. Tests for tuberculosis were negative. Throat swab sample was taken and a real-time polymerase chain reaction confirmed that she had COVID-19. Radiological findings were evaluated as the progression of COVID-19 pneumonia on computed tomography 6 days after biopsy. Alveolar damage, edema, vascular congestion, mild inflammatory infiltration, type-2 pneumocyte hyperplasia, interstitial fibrosis, early fibrotic changes, fibrinous, organized pneumonia pattern, noncaseating granulomatous inflammation, and desquamation in alveolar epithelial cells were noted in lung biopsy.

Conclusions

There were only a few case reports that described lung biopsy findings in COVID-19 at the time of manuscript preparation. This was the first case of noncaseating granulomatous inflammation described in a COVID-19 case.
Comparative study between double inversion recovery (DIR) and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) MRI sequences for detection of cerebral lesions in multiple sclerosis
Authors: Elkholy Shaima Fattouh , Sabet Marianne Abdallah , Mohammad Mohammad Edrees , Asaad Ramy Edward Ibrahim
Published: September 2020

Background

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a common chronic inflammatory demyelinating disorder more common in young adults. MS is characterized mainly with white matter (WM) affection; however, considerable gray matter (GM) involvement is also noted in many patients. MRI is used for diagnosis and follow up of the disease using different pulse sequences; FLAIR imaging provides the highest sensitivity in the detection of supratentorial, juxtacortical, and the periventricular lesions but is less sensitive in the posterior fossa. A double inversion recovery (DIR) pulse sequence was recently introduced to improve the visibility of GM lesions and especially cortical lesions. The aim of this study is to assess the role of DIR sequence in the detection of brain lesions in patients with MS compared to FLAIR sequence.

Results

DIR showed a significantly higher number of MS lesions in infratentorial region (2.9 ± 0.4 compared to 2.25 ± 0.3 in FLAIR) with a statistically significant difference (p = 0.002) and also in supratentorial periventricular regions (11.84 ± 8.07 in DIR and 11.31 ± 8.07 in FLAIR, p < 0.001). DIR imaging also demonstrated significantly more intracortical lesions (7.12 ± 1.2 compared to 1.4 ± 0.9 in FLAIR imaging) with a statistically significant difference (p < 0.001). On the other hand, corpus callosum lesions were significantly higher on FLAIR (0.84 ± 0.1) with respect to DIR imaging (0.68 ± 0.1) with a statistically significant difference in between (p = 0.025).

Conclusion

DIR is a powerful conventional MRI sequence for visualization of brain lesions in patients with MS and is superior to FLAIR sequence in detecting lesions in different locations, namely cortical, periventricular, and infratentorial regions; hence, DIR can be added to the MRI protocol of MS patients or even can replace FLAIR which would be of a good diagnostic value with only 80 s added to the scan time.
The pattern of allopurinol prescription in a university hospital practice
Authors: Saad Sahar Ahmed , Sabkar Maha Mahmoud
Published: September 2020

Background

Allopurinol as a drug is commonly used to treat gout and its complications. The aim usually is to lower the level of serum uric acid. Also, it was found to be prescribed in cases of asymptomatic hyperuricemia. However, this medication has serious side effects and some of these are fatal. So the aim of the current research work is to look at its use, whether properly indicated or not, in a university hospital.

Results

A total of 427 patients were included in this study. Only 3.7% (16) of the patients had the drug for significant hyperuricemia. Gout was confirmed in 40 (9.4%) patients.

Conclusion

It is clear that most patients received allopurinol without proper indications. The inappropriate use of allopurinol should be looked at to reduce the cost of medication and more importantly to avoid possible adverse effects.
Co-occurring mental disorder and substance use disorder in young people: aetiology, assessment and treatment
Authors: Otasowie John
Published: September 2020

Dual diagnosis is one of several terms used to identify individuals diagnosed with a co-occurring mental disorder and substance use disorder. The existence of a dual diagnosis in adolescents is often associated with functional impairment in various life domains, causing physical health problems, relational conflicts, educational/vocational underachievement and legal problems. Dual diagnosis is difficult to treat and can result in tremendous economic burden on healthcare, education and justice systems. It is essential for clinicians caring for young people to be knowledgeable about dual diagnosis to ensure that it is identified early and treated. This article aims to provide an overview of dual diagnosis, increase its awareness and promote a realistic treatment approach.
Long-Term Follow-Up of Ibrutinib Monotherapy in Symptomatic, Previously Treated Patients With Waldenström Macroglobulinemia
Authors: Treon Steven P. , Meid Kirsten , Gustine Joshua , Yang Guang , Xu Lian , Liu Xia , Patterson Christopher J. , Hunter Zachary R. , Branagan Andrew R. , Laubach Jacob P. , Ghobrial Irene M. , Palomba M. Lia , Advani Ranjana , Castillo Jorge J.
Published: September 2020

PURPOSE

We report the long-term findings and final analysis of a pivotal multicenter trial of ibrutinib monotherapy in previously treated patients with Waldenström macroglobulinemia (WM).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Sixty-three symptomatic patients with median prior therapies of two (range, one to nine therapies), of whom 40% were refractory to their previous therapy, received ibrutinib at 420 mg/d. Dose reduction was permitted for toxicity.

RESULTS

The median follow-up was 59 months, and overall and major response rates were 90.5% and 79.4%, respectively. At best response, median serum immunoglobulin M declined from 3,520 to 821 mg/dL, bone marrow disease involvement declined from 60% to 20%, and hemoglobin rose from 10.3 to 14.2 g/dL ( P < .001 for all comparisons). Responses were impacted by mutated (Mut) MYD88 and CXCR4 status. Patients with MYD88Mut, wild-type (WT) CXCR4 showed higher major (97.2% v 68.2%; P < .0001) and very good partial (47.2% v 9.1%; P < .01) response rates and a shorter time to major response (1.8 v 4.7 months; P = .02) versus patients with MYD88Mut CXCR4Mut. Conversely, four patients who had MYD88WT disease showed no major responses. The median 5-year progression-free survival (PFS) rate for all patients was not reached, and was 70% and 38% for those with MYD88Mut CXCR4WT and MYD88Mut CXCR4Mut WM, respectively ( P = .02). In patients with MYD88WT, the median PFS was 0.4 years ( P < .01 for three-way comparisons). The 5-year overall survival rate for all patients was 87%. Grade ≥ 3 adverse events in more than one patient at least possibly related included neutropenia (15.9%), thrombocytopenia (11.1%), and pneumonia (3.2%). Eight patients (12.7%) experienced atrial arrhythmia, and seven of the eight continued therapy with medical management.

CONCLUSION

Ibrutinib is highly active and produces long-term disease control in previously treated patients with WM. Treatment is tolerable. Response depth, time to major response, and PFS are impacted by MYD88 and CXCR4 mutation status.
Predictors of the Response to Dopaminergic Therapy in Patients With Prolactinoma
Authors: Hage Camille , Salvatori Roberto
Published: September 2020

Purpose

Withdrawal of dopamine agonist (DA) therapy in patients with prolactinoma who are controlled by a small dose of medication is recommended by several guidelines. So far, the likelihood of reaching withdrawal conditions based on baseline characteristics remains uncertain.

Methods

We retrospectively examined early clinical, radiological, or biochemical features that may predict the likelihood of reaching withdrawal conditions in prolactinoma patients. Data were obtained in a single academic medical center in the United States from patients seen between 2000 and 2018. Using multiple logistic regression, we compared patients who reached withdrawal conditions with those who did not.

Results

Of 213 patients, 78 (36.6%) reached withdrawal conditions after at least 2 years of DA treatment. Initial maximal tumor diameter was significantly smaller in those who reached withdrawal conditions than in those who did not. Percent prolactin change at the first check from initiation of DA therapy and parasellar invasiveness were predictors of reaching withdrawal conditions. With constant independent variables, there was a 7% increase in odds for reaching withdrawal conditions for every 1% decrease in percent prolactin change at first check after DA therapy start (P = 0.0000). Parasellar invasion decreased the odds of reaching withdrawal conditions by 84% (P = 0.0000).

Conclusions

DA remains a potential life-long treatment modality for most prolactinoma patients. Patients with parasellar invasiveness and low prolactin percent change from baseline to first prolactin check are more likely to require long-term treatment.
Comprehensive Risk Assessment of Morbidity in Pediatric Patients Undergoing Noncardiac Surgery: An Institutional Experience
Authors: Nasr Viviane G. , Valencia Eleonore , Staffa Steven J. , Faraoni David , DiNardo James A. , Berry Jay G. , Leahy Izabela , Ferrari Lynne
Published: September 2020

BACKGROUND:

Utilizing the intrinsic surgical risk (ISR) and the patient’s chronic and acute conditions, this study aims to develop and validate a comprehensive predictive model of perioperative morbidity in children undergoing noncardiac surgery.

METHODS:

Following institutional review board (IRB) approval at a tertiary care children’s hospital, data for all noncardiac surgical encounters for a derivation dataset from July 2017 to December 2018 including 16,724 cases and for a validation dataset from January 2019 to December 2019 including 9043 cases were collected retrospectively. The primary outcome was a composite morbidity score defined by unplanned transfer to an intensive care unit (ICU), acute respiratory failure requiring intubation, postoperative need for noninvasive or invasive positive pressure ventilation, or cardiac arrest. Internal model validation was performed using 1000 bootstrap resamples, and external validation was performed using the 2019 validation cohort.

RESULTS:

A total of 1519 surgical cases (9.1%) experienced the defined composite morbidity. Using multivariable logistic regression, the Risk Assessment of Morbidity in Pediatric Surgery (RAMPS) score was developed with very good predictive ability in the derivation cohort (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.805; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.795–0.816), very good internal validity using 1000 bootstrap resamples (bias-corrected Nagelkerke R
2 = 0.21 and Brier score = 0.07), and good external validity (AUC = 0.783; 95% CI, 0.770–0.797). The included variables are age <5 years, critically ill, chronic condition indicator (CCI) ≥3, significant CCI ≥2, and ISR quartile ≥3. The RAMPS score ranges from 0 to 10, with the risk of composite morbidity ranging from 1.8% to 42.7%.

CONCLUSIONS:

The RAMPS score provides the ability to identify a high-risk cohort of pediatric patients using a 5-component tool, and it demonstrated good internal and external validity and generalizability. It also provides an opportunity to improve perioperative planning with the intent of improving both individual-patient outcomes and the appropriate allocation of health care resources.
New insights into non-transcriptional regulation of mammalian core clock proteins
Authors: Crosby Priya , Partch Carrie L.
Published: September 2020

Mammalian circadian rhythms drive ∼24 h periodicity in a wide range of cellular processes, temporally coordinating physiology and behaviour within an organism, and synchronising this with the external day–night cycle. The canonical model for this timekeeping consists of a delayed negative-feedback loop, containing transcriptional activator complex CLOCK–BMAL1 (BMAL1 is also known as ARNTL) and repressors period 1, 2 and 3 (PER1, PER2 and PER3) and cryptochrome 1 and 2 (CRY1 and CRY2), along with a number of accessory factors. Although the broad strokes of this system are defined, the exact molecular mechanisms by which these proteins generate a self-sustained rhythm with such periodicity and fidelity remains a topic of much research. Recent studies have identified prominent roles for a number of crucial post-transcriptional, translational and, particularly, post-translational events within the mammalian circadian oscillator, providing an increasingly complex understanding of the activities and interactions of the core clock proteins. In this Review, we highlight such contemporary work on non-transcriptional events and set it within our current understanding of cellular circadian timekeeping.
APC/CCdh1 is required for the termination of chromosomal passenger complex activity upon mitotic exit
Authors: Tsunematsu Takaaki , Arakaki Rieko , Kawai Hidehiko , Ruppert Jan , Tsuneyama Koichi , Ishimaru Naozumi , Earnshaw William C. , Pagano Michele , Kudo Yasusei
Published: September 2020

During mitosis, the chromosomal passenger complex (CPC) ensures the faithful transmission of the genome. The CPC is composed of the enzymatic component Aurora B (AURKB) and the three regulatory and targeting components borealin, INCENP, and survivin (also known as BIRC5). Although the CPC is known to be involved in diverse mitotic events, it is still unclear how CPC function terminates after mitosis. Here we show that borealin is ubiquitylated by the anaphase promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C) and its cofactor Cdh1 (also known as FZR1) and is subsequently degraded in G1 phase. Cdh1 binds to regions within the N terminus of borealin that act as a non-canonical degron. Aurora B has also been shown previously to be degraded by the APC/CCdh1 from late mitosis to G1. Indeed, Cdh1 depletion sustains an Aurora B activity with stable levels of borealin and Aurora B throughout the cell cycle, and causes reduced efficiency of DNA replication after release from serum starvation. Notably, inhibition of Aurora B kinase activity improves the efficiency of DNA replication in Cdh1-depleted cells. We thus propose that APC/CCdh1 terminates CPC activity upon mitotic exit and thereby contributes to proper control of DNA replication.
Substantiation of the Role of Small and Medium Enterprises in the Innovative Development of the Country's Economy, Taking into Account Foreign Experience
Authors: Cerceil Yu.
Published: September 2020

The article describes the concept of small and medium-sized enterprises, considers the stages of legislative changes related to improving the level of development, including innovation, small and medium-sized enterprises. The analysis of foreign experience in the formation of state sources of financing activities SME.
Impactos da pandemia do COVID-19 e as possibilidades de atividades físicas e esportivas para pessoas com deficiência
Authors: Cardoso Vinícius Denardin , Nicoletti Lucas Portilho , Haiachi Marcelo de Castro
Published: September 2020

A pandemia do COVID-19 teve início no final de 2019 e rapidamente se espalhou pelo mundo. De repente, medidas de distanciamento e isolamento social, higienização sanitária e de forte impacto econômico eram a realidade do país e do mundo. As atividades físicas e esportivas foram impactadas e gradativamente acompanhando as restrições impostas em cada unidade da federação. As pessoas com algum tipo de deficiência, por fazer parte do grupo de risco de contágio do COVID-19, foram rigorosamente impactadas nas restrições de atividades físicas e esportivas. Dessa forma, esse ensaio teórico procura trazer breves reflexões sobre os principais impactos da COVID-19 nas atividades físicas e esportivas para pessoas com deficiência no Brasil, e também, descrever as alternativas e possibilidades de manutenção dessas atividades no país.
Online Business-to-Business Markets for Industrial Product Reuse: Evidence from an Operational Policy Change
Authors: Dhanorkar Suvrat , Donohue Karen , Linderman Kevin
Published: September 2020

Problem definition: We examine the importance of expert services in online materials and waste exchanges (OMWEs), which are online business-to-business markets for coordinating transactions of industrial surplus, by-products, and waste. Academic/practical relevance: OMWEs face unique challenges because of their product mix and market characteristics. Many OMWEs have traditionally relied on a combination of routine services (online aggregation, filtered search, etc.) and expert services (selective and spatial matching, contract facilitation, etc.). Although OMWEs employ varying levels of expert services, the ultimate value of expert services in promoting transactions is not fully understood. From a managerial perspective, our study provides insights into the importance of balancing routine and expert services, offering guidance on when expert services offer the most benefits. From an academic perspective, we expand on the type of product and market attributes that should be considered in tailoring OMWE designs. Methodology: We use transactional data from a unique OMWE setting (MNExchange.org), which consists of approximately 3,500 product listings from 700+ supplier firms, collected during 2001–2007. We use various econometric techniques (survival analysis, regression discontinuity, etc.) to examine the changes in performance, including transaction rates and time to market, attributable to an operational policy change that occurred in 2004. We further conduct a detailed examination of mechanisms, alternative explanations, and counterfactual analysis. Results: The results show that eliminating expert services in OMWEs can adversely affect transaction outcomes in OMWEs. In particular, the results show that OMWEs should consider their product mix and market characteristics when making decisions about the appropriate use of expert services. Managerial implications: The study provides insights for improving the potential of online reuse marketplaces in the circular economy. From a broader perspective, the paper contributes to the debate on the role of technology in sustainable development and technology substitution for human tasks.
Vascular endothelial function is improved after active mattress use
Authors: Baker Gary , Bloxham Saul , Laden Joe , Gush Rodney
Published: September 2020

Objective:

Active mattresses are used to prevent, treat and relieve pressure ulcers (PU) by intermittent contact pressure/relief. However, no studies have directly assessed the vascular endothelial response to long-term active mattress use. This study investigated the hypothesis that eight weeks use of an active mattress would lead to improvements in vascular endothelial function in healthy participants.

Methods:

Physiological parameters of baseline skin temperature (BskT), resting blood flow (RBF) and endothelial function as measured using post-occlusive reactive hyperaemia (PORH), were assessed at baseline (week 0); following eight weeks of sleeping on an active mattress, and after an eight week washout period (at week 16).

Results:

We recruited 10 healthy participants (four male, age 52.7±8.5 years, six female age 51.8±17.5 years). Following active mattress use RBF, PORH and BskT at the hallux pulp increased by 336%, 197% and 3.5°C, respectively. Mean values increased from 24.3±38.3 perfusion units to 106.0±100.3 perfusion units (p=0.021) and from 13,456±10,225 to 40,252±23,995 perfusion units x seconds (p=0.003) and from 22.9±2.5°C to 26.4±1.9°C (p<0.001), respectively.

Conclusion:

Active mattress use for eight weeks leads to significant improvements in RBF, PORH, and BskT. These results suggest that active mattress use can improve endothelial function. Future research is required to explore the potential of active mattress use in the treatment and management of diseases and conditions that would benefit from an improved endothelial function.
Pressure ulcer prevention using an alternating-pressure mattress overlay: the MATCARP project
Authors: Meaume Sylvie , Marty Marc
Published: September 2020

Objective:

The primary objective was to assess the incidence of pressure ulcer (PU) in patients at high risk of PU and lying between 15–20 hours per day on an alternating-pressure mattress overlay (APMO). Secondary objectives were the patient's satisfaction with the comfort of the APMO, patient acceptance of its sound level, and the care team's assessment of its use and the moisture level.

Method:

This prospective observational study was conducted in three rehabilitation centres and two nursing homes between June 2016 and March 2017. To be included, patients should not have PU at baseline and present a high risk of PU (Braden score between 10–15). The primary endpoint was the percentage of patients in whom a PU developed over a 35-day period.

Results:

A total of 83 patients were included in the study. Neurological disease was responsible for the reduced mobility of 44 (53.7%) patients, 10 patients (12.0%) dropped out (one patient for a serious adverse event (femoral neck fracture) considered not to be related to the APMO, four patients for adverse events, two of which were considered to be related to APMO and five for other reasons, including, in one case, discomfort with the APMO. These patients were considered in the analysis. Over the study period, 1.2% (1/83) (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.03 to 6.53) of patients developed a PU. Patient satisfaction with the comfort of the APMO, patient acceptance of its sound level, and the care team's assessment of its use were considered satisfying for most patients.

Conclusion:

Based on the findings of this study of a low incidence of PU in participating patients, the use of an AMPO is recommended in high-risk patients lying for between 15–20 hours a day.
The subepidermal moisture scanner: the technology explained
Authors: Gefen Amit , Ross Graham
Published: September 2020

The objective of this article is to explain the biophysical principles underlying the design of the subepidermal moisture (SEM) scanner, commercially known as the ‘SEM scanner’. We also describe the mode of operation of the SEM scanner in monitoring tissue health and detecting subtle abnormal changes in tissue physiology in patients and anatomical sites at a risk of a pressure ulcer (PU: also known as a pressure injury). The technology of the SEM scanner was approved last year for sales in the US by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The SEM scanner detects changes in fluid contents of human skin and subdermal tissues, to a tissue depth of several millimetres, by measuring ‘capacitance’, an electrical property of the locally examined tissue site to store electric charge. The capacitance of tissues, called ‘biocapacitance’, is strongly affected by the amount of fluid (water) in the tissue. When the first cells die in a forming PU, inflammatory signalling causes the permeability of blood vessel walls to increase and oedema to develop. Simply, the scanner detects the early appearance of oedema, which is called ‘micro-oedema.’ Calculation of a ‘SEM-delta’ value, which compares biocapacitance measurements, acquired across several tissue sites, some of which are healthy and others where the PU may evolve, eliminates potential effects of systemic changes in tissue fluid contents and provides a consistent quantitative measure of the tissue health conditions at the monitored anatomical site. Here, we describe SEM scanner technology, how it operates and has been laboratory tested (in computer simulations, in silico) before commercial launch. We explain why targeting the physical biomarker of oedema leads to the documented success of the SEM scanner in the multiple published clinical trials, proving its ability to early detect PUs that form under intact skin.
The impact of precarious employment on the health and wellbeing of UK immigrants: a systematic review
Authors: Muoka Michael Obinna , Lhussier Monique
Published: September 2020

This article synthesises evidence on the experiences of immigrants in the United Kingdom who are engaged in precarious employment and explores the effects of precarious employment on their health and wellbeing. This study reveals that migrants in precarious employment often experience negative health outcomes including injury, anxiety and depression. Stress response theories and risk factors associated with occupational injury help explain how employment specific factors influence health. The study shows that immigrant-related factors like pre-migration experience and concerns around social exclusion mediate precarious employment’s effect on health.
Standardizing sum-of-segments axial length using refractive index models
Authors: Cooke David L. , Cooke Timothy L. , Suheimat Marwan , Atchison David A.
Published: September 2020

Optical biometry uses interferometry to measure the axial length (AL) of the eye. Traditionally, one-variable regression formulas have converted the optical path length measured by a biometer to a geometric AL. An alternate calculation of axial length sums the individual segments of the eye (sum-of-segments AL). This calculation has been shown to improve predictions of some intraocular lens power formulas when used in place of traditional axial length. Sum-of-segments ALs are determined from 13 refractive index models. As measured in 1695 eyes, these yield different ocular axial lengths. A path to standardization from these models is presented.
Intersubband Polaritonics in Dielectric Metasurfaces
Authors: Sarma Raktim , Nookala Nishant , Reilly Kevin , Liu Sheng , de Ceglia Domenico , Goldflam Michael , Carletti Luca , Campione Salvatore , Klem John , Sinclair Michael B. , Belkin Mikhail A. , Brener Igal
Published: September 2020

We experimentally demonstrate a metasurface that supports tailorable polaritons arising from strong coupling between Mie modes of dielectric nanoresonators and intersubband transitions of semiconductor quantum wells that are embedded inside the resonator.
Ultrafast Charge and Spin Dynamics in Ferromagnets
Authors: Gessner Julia Anthea , Siegrist Florian , Ossiander Marcus , Denker Christian , Chang Yi-Ping , Schröder Malte C. , Guggenmos Alexander , Cui Yang , Walowski Jakob , Martens Ulrike , Dewhurst John Kay , Kleineberg Ulf , MUnzenberg Markus , Sharma Sangeeta , Schultze Martin
Published: September 2020

With our experiment we demonstrate all-optical control of magnetization in a ferromagnet with an unprecedented sub-femtosecond time resolution. The reported results open the doors to a new generation of spintronic devices with petahertz clock-rates.
A Simple Low-latency Real-time Certifiable Quantum Random Number Generator
Authors: Zhang Y. , Lo H. , Ikuta T. , Honjo T. , Takesue H. , Munro W. J.
Published: September 2020

We demonstrate a simple scheme for generating certifiable quantum random numbers considering the imperfections in quantum devices employed. Particularly, we show low-latency real-time randomness generation from measurements on photonic time-bin states. Every 0.12s, we certify enough entropy against a quantum adversary to generate a block of 8192 random bits with a certified error bounded by 10-20. It can be run continuously and is thus well suited as a quantum randomness beacon.
Nonreciprocal radiative heat transfer between two planar bodies
Authors: Fan Lingling , Guo Yu , Papadakis Georgia T. , Zhao Bo , Zhao Zhexin , Buddhiraju Siddharth , Orenstein Meir , Fan Shanhui
Published: September 2020

We analyze nonreciprocal radiative heat transfer in two-body planar systems, identify unique nonreciprocal effects and introduce a general constraint from the second law of thermodynamics and reciprocity. Our findings are demonstrated numerically with magneto-optical materials.
Broadband Mid-Infrared Resonances in Aligned Carbon Nanotube Films
Authors: Roberts John Andris , Ho Po-Hsun , Yu Shang-Jie , Schoeche Stefan , Luo Yue , Wilson William L. , Falk Abram L. , Fan Jonathan A.
Published: September 2020

We show that nanophotonic resonators made from self-assembled aligned carbon nanotubes support multiple resonant modes in the mid-infrared resulting in broadband extinction from 2.5-t0pm. We study these modes using far-field spectroscopy, simulations, and near-field imaging.
Free-electrons radiation in a photonic time crystal
Authors: Dikopoltsev Alex , Sharabi Yonatan , Tsesses Shai , Kaminer Ido , Segev Mordechai
Published: September 2020

We present novel radiation emission by free electrons moving in a spatiotemporally modulated medium, which in specific cases acts as a photonic time crystal. We obseive two regimes of radiation, subluminal and superluminal.
Measured Polarization Components of Nonlinear Thomson Scattering
Authors: Peatross J. , Atkinson N. , Hodge D. , Pratt B. , Romero M. , Schulzke C. , Ware M.
Published: September 2020

We measure fundamental, second, and third harmonics of nonlinear Thomson scattering emitted by free electrons out the side of a laser focus with 1018 W/cnf. The redshifted photons show distinct spatial patterns when resolved by polarization.
Reconstructing Bloch Wavefunctions in GaAs through High-Order Sideband Polarimetry
Authors: O’Hara Seamus (James) , Costello Joe , Wu Qile , Valovcin Darren , Pfeiffer Loren , Kira Mackillo , Sherwin Mark S.
Published: September 2020

Comparing the polarimetry of the high-order sidebands emitted by bulk GaAs with theory, we can extract the Luttinger parameters, from which Bloch wavefunctions and Berry curvature of the valence band can be calculated.
Extremely Efficient Light-Exciton Interaction in a Monolayer WS2 van der Waals Heterostructure Cavity
Authors: Epstein Itai , Terrés Bernat , Chaves André J. , Pusapati Varun-Varma , Rhodes Daniel A. , Frank Bettina , Zimmermann Valentin , Qin Ying , Watanabe Kenji , Taniguchi Takashi , Giessen Harald , Tongay Sefaattin , Hone James C. , Peres Nuno M. R. , Koppens Frank H. L.
Published: September 2020

Excitons in monolayer transition-metal-dichalcogenides dominate their optical response, however, the achieved light-exciton interaction strength have been far below unity, and a complete picture of its underlying physics and fundamental limits has not been provided. Using a van der Waals heterostructure cavity, we demonstrate near-unity excitonic absorption, together with efficient emission at ultra-low excitation powers. We find that the interplay between the radiative, non-radiative and dephasing decay rates plays a crucial role in this interaction, and unveil a universal absorption law for excitons in 2D systems.
Hyperspectral absorption of semiconductor monolayer crystals
Authors: Wen Q. , Lu X. , Wu Y. , Wang P. , Laleyan D. , Bayerl D. , Kioupakis E. , Mi Z. , Kira M.
Published: September 2020

One-dimensional semiconductor monolayer crystals are optimized to deliver a nearly perfect absorption over a broad spectral range by combining two complementary design schemes.
Superconducting Nanowire Single Photon Detector RiseTime Analysis
Authors: Marvinney Claire E. , Lerner Brian E. , Feldman Matthew A. , Pai Yun-Yi , Dumitrescu Eugene F. , Puretzky Alexander A. , Miller Aaron J. , Lawrie Benjamin J.
Published: September 2020

We explore the limits of spatial, spectral, and photon-number resolution in superconducting nanowire single photon detectors by characterizing the rising edge of a readout pulse with a low-noise high-bandwidth readout circuit.
Penetration Depth Engineering in Plasmonic Metafilms for Enhanced Reflection and Confinement
Authors: Zhao Nathan , Williamson Ian A. D. , Zhao Zhexin , Boutami Salim , Fan Shanhui
Published: September 2020

We introduce a metafilm consisting of regions of metal and dielectric, which has a much smaller penetration depth than that of a corresponding metal film, leading to enhanced device performance in lightweight ultrahigh reflectivity reflectors and increased packing density of subwavelength waveguides.
Chalcogenide-based Photonic Quasicrystals for Novel Phase Matching
Authors: Gao Jiannan , Walasik Wiktor , Shalaev Mikhail , Frantz Jesse , Myers Jason D. , Bekele Robel Y. , Sanghera Jasbinder S. , Litchinitser Natalia M.
Published: September 2020

We design and realize chalcogenide-based photonic quasicrystals enabling simultaneous phase matching of an arbitrary number of nonlinear optical processes in a single engineered nanostructure.
Bimodal Directional Laser
Authors: Ding Lei , Schumer Alexander , Leshin Jason , Alahmadi Yousef , Ul-Hassan Absar , Galmiche G. Lopez , Likamwa Patrick , Rotter Stefan , Christodoulides Demetrios N. , Khajavikhan Mercedeh
Published: September 2020

We demonstrate dynamical encirclement of an exceptional point in a laser cavity. By continuously varying the detuning and coupling between a pair of PT-symmetric waveguides, the mode morphs into a different eigenmode as it emerges from opposing facets.
Low-loss Zero-Index Metamaterials with Bound State in the Continuum
Authors: Tang Haoning , DeVault Clayton , Camayd-Muftoz Phil , Jia Danchen , Liu Yeuyan , Du Fan , Mello Olivia , Li Yang , Mazur Eric
Published: September 2020

We have realized a silicon Dirac-cone zero-index metamaterial which incorporates a bound state in the continuum at the near-infrared degenerate triple point. Here, radiative losses are strongly suppressed by the ~5000 Q-factor of the metasurface.
Precision measurement of optical fiber delays with a quantum frequency comb
Authors: Seshadri Suparna , Imany Poolad , Lingaraju Navin , Leaird Daniel E. , Weiner Andrew M.
Published: September 2020

We propose a scheme to measure the time delay between two optical paths using frequency-bin entangled biphotons and show picosecond-scale features by mixing several frequency bins using electro-optic phase modulation.
Optimizing the strong coupling of excitons in 2D materials and surface plasmon lattice resonances
Authors: Blechman Yael , Tsesses Shai , Feinberg Gilad , Hayat Alex , Bartal Guy
Published: September 2020

We shrdy strong coupling (SC) in a system of plasmonic nanohole arrays and transition- metal dichalcogenide material (WS2). Using FDTD simulations and a genetic algorithm, we design several array geometries to obtain large Rabi splitting at room-temperature.
Long Range Energy Transfer in Self-Assembled Stacks of Semiconducting Nanoplatelets
Authors: Liu Jiawen , Guillemeney Lilian , Choux Arnaud , Maître Agnès , Abécassis Benjamin , Coolen Laurent
Published: September 2020

To study FRET-mediated photo-physics in self-assembled CdSe nanoplatelets, we imaged their energy migration by micro-photoluminescence and found an energy transfer over 500-nm, from which a homo-FRET rate of (1.8ps)-1 is estimated by a diffusion model.
Ultra-thin Near-infrared Camera via Single Flat lens for Wide-angle Imaging
Authors: Banerji Sourangsu , Meem Monjurul , Majumder Apratim , Guevara Fernando Vasquez , Rodriguez Berardi Sensale , Menon Rajesh
Published: September 2020

By utilizing a single multi-level diffractive lens coupled along with a conventional monochrome image sensor, we demonstrate a ~1mm thick near-infrared camera with a Field Of View up to 50° and on-axis focusing efficiency > 90%.
Lens Aberration Correction Using Large Scale Metasurfaces
Authors: Sawant Rajath , Andren Daniel , Kall Mikael , Verre Ruggero , Genevet Patrice
Published: September 2020

Hybrid refractive-metasurface devices, with nondispersive refraction in the visible, have been experimentally demonstrated. Here, relying on Pancharatnam Berry phase gradient metasurfaces, we propose a centimeter scale metasurface for correction of chromatic and spherical aberration of a lens.
Chiral and Spatially Tailored Quasi-Bound States in the Continuum
Authors: Overvig Adam C. , Malek Stephanie C. , Yu Nanfang , Alu Andrea
Published: September 2020

We show that two-layer photonic crystal slabs with chiral perturbations yield Fano resonances with controllable amplitude and phase, and demonstrate devices with spatially tailored dark modes that anomalously reflect light with controllable diffraction efficiency.
Experimental Verification of Vortex Generation through Spin-Orbit Coupling in Epsilon-Near-Zero films
Authors: Saripalli R. K. , Chaitanya N.A. , Ghosh Anirban , Sharma Varun , De Leon Israel , Samanta G.K.
Published: September 2020

We experimentally demonstrate the spin-orbit interaction of light in Indium Tin Oxide film when illuminated with circularly-polarized light of wavelength close to the epsilon- near-zero region where the real part of its permittivity vanishes.
Measurement-free Kerr-based cubic phase gate with Gaussian operations
Authors: Yanagimoto Ryotatsu , Onodera Tatsuhiro , Ng Edwin , Wright Logan G. , McMahon Peter L. , Mabuchi Hideo
Published: September 2020

We propose a measurement-free construction of a cubic phase gate based on a Kerr nonlinearity and Gaussian transformations. Experimental feasibility is discussed for pulsed nanophotonic waveguides where quantum states are encoded into quantum solitons.
Entanglement TUning via Biphoton Beating
Authors: Riazi Arash , Chen Changjia , Zhu Eric Y. , Gladyshev A. V. , Kazansky P. G. , Sipe J. E. , Qian Li
Published: September 2020

We generate biphotons with degree of polarisation entanglement that varies over a concurrence range 0.12 < C < 0.97, depending on the frequency of biphotons. Our interferometric scheme offers a convenient means towards the generation of arbitrary biphoton states.
Enhanced SHG due to hybridized plasmons in Au nanotrimer structures
Authors: Sugita Atsushi , Nakatsuka Yohsei , Ono Atsushi , Inami Wataru , Kawata Yoshimasa
Published: September 2020

Largely enhanced SHG signals were obtained from dolmen-type Au nanotrimers. SHG conversions due to hybridized plasmon mode with quadrupolar feature was one magnitude higher than that due to normal dipolar mode localized in individual nanoparticles.
Low-Energy Optical Pulse Detection Using Biased Plasmonic Nanoantennas
Authors: Turchetti M. , Yang Y. , Bionta M. R. , Ritzkowsky F. , Flatté M. E. , Berggren K. K. , Keathley P. D.
Published: September 2020

We report on compact, ultrafast, broadly tunable photodetectors exploiting cold-field electron tunneling from nanoantenna surfaces. We experimentally verify exponential sensitivity enhancement under a DC bias and examine the potential for sensing low-energy optical pulses.
Large thermal tuning of polymer-embedded silicon nitride nanobeam cavity
Authors: Chen Yueyang , Whitehead James , Ryou Albert , Zheng Jiajiu , Xu Peipeng , Fryett Taylor , Majumdar Arka
Published: September 2020

We experimentally demonstrate a thermally tunable polymer-embedded silicon nitride nanobeam cavity with a tuning efficiency of 44 pm/°C and 0.13 nm/mW in the near-visible wavelength range. The demonstrated resonator paves the path for the future development of low-power reconfigurable silicon nitride integrated photonics platform.
Metamaterial-Enabled Distributed Feedback Lasing without a Diffraction Grating
Authors: Tennant Bryce A. , Ara Riffat , Atwiri Abdulaziz , Agrawal Govind P. , Litchinitser Natalia M. , Maywar Drew N.
Published: September 2020

We analyze distributed-feedback lasing due to a negative-index metamaterial waveguide evanescently coupled to an active positive-index waveguide. Single-mode oper-ation is predicted by tailoring the wavenumber difference to avoid mode degeneracy.