Holographic planar lightwave circuit for on-chip spectroscopy

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Evaluation of multidetector CT Hounsfield unit measurements as a predictor of efficacy and complications in percutaneous vertebroplasty for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures

IntroductionMore than 30 years after the initial experience of Galibert and Deramond with percutaneous vertebroplasty, the procedure has gone through countless refinements and clinical evaluations. Predictors for the success and failure of the procedure in the literature vary and are focused on the duration of complaints, type of fracture, presence of edema on MRI scans, etc. We propose using a quantitative method based on a standard CT examination of the thoracic or lumbar spine to assess the risks and potential success of performing vertebroplasty.Materials and methodsThis is a single-center prospective observational study on 139 patients treated with percutaneous vertebroplasty (pVPL) for a single symptomatic osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF). We measured the levels of disability and pain preoperatively and again at the 3-, 6- and 12-month marks using the standardized VAS and ODI questionnaires. Every patient in the study was evaluated with postoperative multidetector CT (MDCT) to determine the presence, extent, and localization of vertebral cement leakage and to measure the adjacent vertebrae’s minimal and mean density in Hounsfield units (HUmin and HUmean, respectively).ResultsWe determined that a slight (r = −0.201) but statistically significant (p = 0.018) correlation existed between HU measurements taken from radiologically intact adjacent vertebrae and the procedure’s effect concerning the pain levels at the 3-month follow-up. This correlation failed to reach statistical significance at 12 months (p = 0.072). We found no statistically significant relationship between low vertebral cancellous bone density and cement leakage on postoperative scans (p = 0.6 for HUmin and p = 0.74 for HUmean).ConclusionWe have moderately strong data that show a negative correlation between the mean values of vertebral cancellous bone density in patients with OVCF and the effect of pVPL in reducing pain. Lower bone densities, measured this way, showed no increased risk of cement leakage

TRY plant trait database – enhanced coverage and open access

Plant traits - the morphological, anatomical, physiological, biochemical and phenological characteristics of plants - determine how plants respond to environmental factors, affect other trophic levels, and influence ecosystem properties and their benefits and detriments to people. Plant trait data thus represent the basis for a vast area of research spanning from evolutionary biology, community and functional ecology, to biodiversity conservation, ecosystem and landscape management, restoration, biogeography and earth system modelling. Since its foundation in 2007, the TRY database of plant traits has grown continuously. It now provides unprecedented data coverage under an open access data policy and is the main plant trait database used by the research community worldwide. Increasingly, the TRY database also supports new frontiers of trait‐based plant research, including the identification of data gaps and the subsequent mobilization or measurement of new data. To support this development, in this article we evaluate the extent of the trait data compiled in TRY and analyse emerging patterns of data coverage and representativeness. Best species coverage is achieved for categorical traits - almost complete coverage for ‘plant growth form’. However, most traits relevant for ecology and vegetation modelling are characterized by continuous intraspecific variation and trait–environmental relationships. These traits have to be measured on individual plants in their respective environment. Despite unprecedented data coverage, we observe a humbling lack of completeness and representativeness of these continuous traits in many aspects. We, therefore, conclude that reducing data gaps and biases in the TRY database remains a key challenge and requires a coordinated approach to data mobilization and trait measurements. This can only be achieved in collaboration with other initiatives

Traction control and diagnostics of electric and unmanned vehicles on roller stands

The authors of the article analyze the possibilities of correct diagnostics of unmanned and electric vehicles on modern power and inertia roller stands. The purpose of this work is to improve the quality of monitoring the technical condition of wheeled vehicles by providing highly informative and stable test modes of operation in the process of their diagnostics. To achieve this target, we have developed test methods for wheeled vehicles, the implementation of which it is proposed to use a hybrid designed stand allows to measure force and power to the drive wheels of the vehicle, and temporal and kinematic parameters of the process of its functioning. The study proved that, to ensure a highly stable and test modes of operation of wheeled vehicles in the process of control of technical condition and diagnosis, you should use hybrid stands

Draft guidelines for military and intelligence gathering activities in the EEZ and their means and manner of implementation and enforcement

Specific voluntary guidelines are proposed for military and intelligence gathering activities in the EEZ. Views on the guidelines range from strong reservations regarding any restrictions on these activities to support for some restrictions. There is general support for the effort to promote mutual understanding and agreement on the rights and obligations of the maritime powers which do not want any rules and coastal States that want some predictability and protection against intimidation. The challenge is to find a practical way of handling these issues. Suggestions are provided regarding requisite specific assurances and the process for implementing and enforcing any such guidelines. State consent and State practice will play a significant role in this process.EEZ Guidelines for military and intelligence gathering activities Means and manner of implementation and enforcement

Endoscopic Diagnosis of Intramural Hematoma in The Colon sigmoideum In a Child With High Titer Inhibitory Hemophilia A

Lower gastrointestinal bleeding is a rare condition in childhood pathology. The incidence of this disorder in the general population of Bulgarian children is unknown