Super-Resolution Image Construction Using an Array Camera

An array camera assembles multiple images into a super-resolution image. The array camera collects images of a scene from both a monochrome and a color image sensor as well as depth information about the scene. Typically, small movements by a camera operator diminish the clarity of the recorded images for conventional cameras. The array camera, however, models the rotational and translational movement of the array camera and combines the depth information to construct a three-dimensional representation of the scene. Using the three-dimensional representation and the modeled movements of the array camera, the array camera assembles a super-resolution image from the lower resolution images recorded by each sensor

Experiences of Hospitalization for Suicide Ideation and Suicide Attempt in Gender Diverse Adults

Individuals who identify as Transgender/Gender Diverse (TGD) have elevated rates of suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs). No studies have determined the prevalence of hospitalization for STBs in TGD adults or whether this care is viewed as helpful. Understanding hospitalization experiences may determine potential new treatment targets and training initiatives integral to developing affirming care experiences for TGD individuals. This study sought to explore the lifetime prevalence of hospitalization for suicide ideation (SI) and suicide attempt (SA) for TGD individuals, determine how helpful TGD individuals find hospitalization, and investigate demographics, gender minority stressors, or provider/hospitalization characteristics that correlate with hospitalization helpfulness ratings. Data from the 2017 Trans Lifeline Mental Health Survey, an online survey of self-identified TGD individuals, were used. The final sample was comprised of N=3,718 individuals, n=1,003 (28.4%) of which had been hospitalized; n=328 (31.1%) had been hospitalized for SI and n=728 (68.9%) had been hospitalized for SA. Generally, SI and SA hospitalization was rated as unhelpful compared to neutral and helpful options. Univariate predictors of helpful SI hospitalization experience included age, trust in providers, and voluntary status of admission, while historical avoidance of mental health institutions led to less helpful experiences. In addition to the above, pride in TGD identity had a positive relationship with SA experience, while historical need to educate providers and avoidance of coming out to providers were inversely related to SA hospitalization experience. When entered into a multivariate analysis, increased trust in providers and voluntary hospitalization had a positive relationship with SI and SA hospitalization helpfulness. Additionally, the multivariate model for SA found increased pride in TGD identity had a positive relationship with hospitalization helpfulness. Limitations and future directions are discussed

Quadratic soliton collisions

The details of two soliton collision processes were investigated in detail in a 1 cm long periodically poled KTP crystal for the case when the solitons were excited by inputting only the fundamental beam. The effects on the collision outcomes of the distance of the collision into the sample, collision angle and phase mismatch were measured for different relative phases between the input beams. At small angles ( around 0.4(0)) fusion, repulsion and energy transfer processes were observed, while at the collision angles approaching 3.2(0) the two output soliton beams were essentially unaffected by the interaction. The phase mismatch was varied from 3.5 to - 1.5pi for the 0.4(0) collision angle case. The output soliton separation at p input phase difference showed strongly asymmetric behavior with phase mismatch. In general, the measurements indicate a decrease in the interaction strength with increasing phase mismatch. All collision processes were performed in the vicinity of a non-critical phase matching

Integrated optical source of polarization entangled photons at 1310 nm

We report the realization of a new polarization entangled photon-pair source based on a titanium-indiffused waveguide integrated on periodically poled lithium niobate pumped by a CW laser at $655 nm$. The paired photons are emitted at the telecom wavelength of $1310 nm$ within a bandwidth of $0.7 nm$. The quantum properties of the pairs are measured using a two-photon coalescence experiment showing a visibility of 85%. The evaluated source brightness, on the order of $10^5$ pairs $s^{-1} GHz^{-1} mW^{-1}$, associated with its compactness and reliability, demonstrates the source's high potential for long-distance quantum communication.Comment: There is a typing mistake in the previous version in the visibility equation. This mistake doesn't change the result

High-visibilty two-photon interference at a telecom wavelength using picosecond regime separated sources

We report on a two-photon interference experiment in a quantum relay configuration using two picosecond regime PPLN waveguide based sources emitting paired photons at 1550 nm. The results show that the picosecond regime associated with a guided-wave scheme should have important repercussions for quantum relay implementations in real conditions, essential for improving both the working distance and the efficiency of quantum cryptography and networking systems. In contrast to already reported regimes, namely femtosecond and CW, it allows achieving a 99% net visibility two-photon interference while maintaining a high effective photon pair rate using only standard telecom components and detectors.Comment: to appear in PRA as a rapid communicatio

Predictors of Successful Decannulation Using a Tracheostomy Retainer in Patients with Prolonged Weaning and Persisting Respiratory Failure

Background: For percutaneously tracheostomized patients with prolonged weaning and persisting respiratory failure, the adequate time point for safe decannulation and switch to noninvasive ventilation is an important clinical issue. Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the usefulness of a tracheostomy retainer (TR) and the predictors of successful decannulation. Methods: We studied 166 of 384 patients with prolonged weaning in whom a TR was inserted into a tracheostoma. Patients were analyzed with regard to successful decannulation and characterized by blood gas values, the duration of previous spontaneous breathing, Simplified Acute Physiology Score (SAPS) and laboratory parameters. Results: In 47 patients (28.3%) recannulation was necessary, mostly due to respiratory decompensation and aspiration. Overall, 80.6% of the patients could be liberated from a tracheostomy with the help of a TR. The need for recannulation was associated with a shorter duration of spontaneous breathing within the last 24/48 h (p < 0.01 each), lower arterial oxygen tension (p = 0.025), greater age (p = 0.025), and a higher creatinine level (p = 0.003) and SAPS (p < 0.001). The risk for recannulation was 9.5% when patients breathed spontaneously for 19-24 h within the 24 h prior to decannulation, but 75.0% when patients breathed for only 0-6 h without ventilatory support (p < 0.001). According to ROC analysis, the SAPS best predicted successful decannulation {[}AUC 0.725 (95% CI: 0.634-0.815), p < 0.001]. Recannulated patients had longer durations of intubation (p = 0.046), tracheostomy (p = 0.003) and hospital stay (p < 0.001). Conclusion: In percutaneously tracheostomized patients with prolonged weaning, the use of a TR seems to facilitate and improve the weaning process considerably. The duration of spontaneous breathing prior to decannulation, age and oxygenation describe the risk for recannulation in these patients. Copyright (c) 2012 S. Karger AG, Base

Analysis of Elliptically Polarized Maximally Entangled States for Bell Inequality Tests

When elliptically polarized maximally entangled states are considered, i.e., states having a non random phase factor between the two bipartite polarization components, the standard settings used for optimal violation of Bell inequalities are no longer adapted. One way to retrieve the maximal amount of violation is to compensate for this phase while keeping the standard Bell inequality analysis settings. We propose in this paper a general theoretical approach that allows determining and adjusting the phase of elliptically polarized maximally entangled states in order to optimize the violation of Bell inequalities. The formalism is also applied to several suggested experimental phase compensation schemes. In order to emphasize the simplicity and relevance of our approach, we also describe an experimental implementation using a standard Soleil-Babinet phase compensator. This device is employed to correct the phase that appears in the maximally entangled state generated from a type-II nonlinear photon-pair source after the photons are created and distributed over fiber channels.Comment: 8 page

The cost-effectiveness of early noninvasive ventilation for ALS patients

BACKGROUND: Optimal timing of noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) initiation in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is unknown, but NIPPV appears to benefit ALS patients who are symptomatic from pulmonary insufficiency. This has prompted research proposals of earlier NIPPV initiation in the ALS disease course in an attempt to further improve ALS patient quality of life and perhaps survival. We therefore used a cost-utility analysis to determine a priori what magnitude of health-related quality of life (HRQL) improvement early NIPPV initiation would need to achieve to be cost-effective in a future clinical trial. METHODS: Using a Markov decision analytic model we calculated the benefit in health-state utility that NIPPV initiated at ALS diagnosis must achieve to be cost-effective. The primary outcome was the percent utility gained through NIPPV in relation to two common willingness-to-pay thresholds: $50,000 and$100,000 per quality-adjusted life year (QALY). RESULTS: Our results indicate that if NIPPV begun at the time of diagnosis improves ALS patient HRQL as little as 13.5%, it would be a cost-effective treatment. Tolerance of NIPPV (assuming a 20% improvement in HRQL) would only need to exceed 18% in our model for treatment to remain cost-effective using a conservative willingness-to-pay threshold of $50,000 per QALY. CONCLUSION: If early use of NIPPV in ALS patients is shown to improve HRQL in future studies, it is likely to be a cost-effective treatment. Clinical trials of NIPPV begun at the time of ALS diagnosis are therefore warranted from a cost-effectiveness standpoint

The use of full-setting non-invasive ventilation in the home care of people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-motor neuron disease with end-stage respiratory muscle failure: a case series

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Little has been written about the use of non-invasive ventilation in the home care of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-motor neuron disease patients with end-stage respiratory muscle failure. Nocturnal use of non-invasive ventilation has been reported to improve daytime blood gases but continuous non-invasive ventilation dependence has not been studied in this regard. There continues to be great variation by country, economics, physician interest and experience, local concepts of palliation, hospice requirements, and resources available for home care. We report a case series of home-based amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-motor neuron disease patients who refused tracheostomy and advanced non-invasive ventilation to full-setting, while maintaining normal alveolar ventilation and oxygenation in the course of the disease. Since this topic has been presented in only one center in the United States and nowhere else, it is appropriate to demonstrate that this can be done in other countries as well.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>We present here the cases of three Caucasian patients (a 51-year-old Caucasian man, a 45-year-old Caucasian woman and a 57-year-old Caucasian woman) with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis who developed continuous non-invasive ventilation dependence for 15 to 27 months without major complications and were able to maintain normal CO₂and pulse oxyhemoglobin saturation despite a non-measurable vital capacity. All patients were wheelchair-dependent and receiving riluzole 50 mg twice a day. Patient one developed mild-to-moderate bulbar-innervated muscle weakness. He refused tracheostomy but accepted percutaneous gastrostomy. Patient two had two lung infections, acute bronchitis and pneumonia, which were treated with antibiotics and cough assistance at home. Patient three had three chest infections (bronchitis and pneumonias) and asthmatic episodes treated with antibiotics, bronchodilators and cough assistance at home. All patients had normal speech while receiving positive pressure; they died suddenly and with normal oxygen saturation.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Although warned that prognosis was poor as vital capacity diminished, our patients survived without invasive airway tubes and despite non-measurable vital capacity. No patient opted for tracheostomy. Our patients demonstrate the feasibility of resorting to full-setting non-invasive management to prolong survival, optimizing wellness and management at home, and the chance to die peacefully.</p