Switchable lasing in coupled multimode microcavities

We propose the new concept of a switchable multimode microlaser. As a generic, realistic model of a multimode microresonator a system of two coupled defects in a two-dimensional photonic crystal is considered. We demonstrate theoretically that lasing of the cavity into one selected resonator mode can be caused by injecting an appropriate optical pulse at the onset of laser action (injection seeding). Temporal mode-to-mode switching by re-seeding the cavity after a short cool-down period is demonstrated by direct numerical solution. A qualitative analytical explanation of the mode switching in terms of the laser bistability is presented.Comment: Accepted for publication in Physical Review Letters. Published, somewhat shortened versio

FGF23 and primary hyperparathyroidism: is there a link?

Introduction: Data regarding the role of fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) in primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) are scarce and discordant. Our study aimed to evaluate the prognostic impact of FGF23 upon the clinical and biochemical evolution of PHPT. Material and methods: Forty-two patients with ages between 30 and 80 years, diagnosed with PHPT caused by a sporadic, solitary parathyroid adenoma, and referred to surgery (minimally invasive parathyroidectomy) were prospectively included in the study. Serum levels of FGF23, PTH, 25(OH)D3, calcium (Ca), phosphate (P), total procollagen type 1 N-terminal propeptide, and C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen were determined at baseline (preoperatory), one day after surgery, and in 13 patients also prospectively at three, six, and 12 months. Bone mineral density (BMD) was also evaluated before surgery in all patients and 12 months after surgery in the 13followed up patients. Results: In the 42 PHPT patients with D hypovitaminosis (mean 25(OH)D3 levels of 16.2 ± 1.5 ng/mL), preoperatory serum FGF23 concentration was within the normal range (75.55 ± 3.39 pg/mL) and remained unchanged one day post operation (81.69 ± 4.67 pg/mL, p = non-significant). The 13 patients followed prospectively for up to 12 months after surgery also showed unmodified FGF23 levels (80.9 ± 11.03 pg/mL, p = non-significant), despite PTH and Ca normalisation and vitamin D replenishment. Preoperatory FGF23 negatively correlated with PTH (r = –0.37, p = 0.038), but not with 25(OH)D3, Ca, P, bone mass, or metabolism markers. Conclusions: In PHPT, correlations between FGF23 and PTH seem rather an epiphenomenon. Therefore, we think that FGF23 evaluation and dynamics are not informative regarding PHPT severity. (Endokrynol Pol 2020; 71 (4): 306–312

Fire hazard modulation by long-term dynamics in land cover and dominant forest type in eastern and central Europe

Wildfire occurrence is influenced by climate, vegetation and human activities. A key challenge for understanding the risk of fires is quantifying the mediating effect of vegetation on fire regimes. Here, we explore the relative importance of Holocene land cover, land use, dominant functional forest type, and climate dynamics on biomass burning in temperate and boreo-nemoral regions of central and eastern Europe over the past 12 kyr. We used an extensive data set of Holocene pollen and sedimentary charcoal records, in combination with climate simulations and statistical modelling. Biomass burning was highest during the early Holocene and lowest during the mid-Holocene in all three ecoregions (Atlantic, continental and boreo-nemoral) but was more spatially variable over the past 3–4 kyr. Although climate explained a significant variance in biomass burning during the early Holocene, tree cover was consistently the highest predictor of past biomass burning over the past 8 kyr. In temperate forests, biomass burning was high at ~ 45% tree cover and decreased to a minimum at between 60% and 70% tree cover. In needleleaf-dominated forests, biomass burning was highest at ~60 %–65%tree cover and steeply declined at > 65% tree cover. Biomass burning also increased when arable lands and grasslands reached ~15 %–20 %, although this relationship was variable depending on land use practice via ignition sources, fuel type and quantities. Higher tree cover reduced the amount of solar radiation reaching the forest floor and could provide moister, more wind-protected microclimates underneath canopies, thereby decreasing fuel flammability. Tree cover at which biomass burning increased appears to be driven by warmer and drier summer conditions during the early Holocene and by increasing human influence on land cover during the late Holocene. We suggest that longterm fire hazard may be effectively reduced through land cover management, given that land cover has controlled fire regimes under the dynamic climates of the Holocene

How warm? How wet? Hydroclimate reconstruction of the past 7500 years in northern Carpathians, Romania

As natural and anthropogenic ecosystems are dependent on the local water availability, understanding past changes in hydroclimate represents a priority in research concerning past climate variability. Here, we used testate amoebae (TA) and chironomid analysis on a radiocarbon dated complex of small pond and peat bog sediment profiles from an ombrotrophic bog (Taut Muced, northern Carpathians, Romania) to quantitatively determine major hydrological changes and July air temperature over the last 7500 years.Wet mire surface conditions with a pH between 23 and 4.5 were inferred for the periods 4500-2700 and 1300400 cal yr BP by the occurrence of Archerella flavum, Amphitrema wrightianum and Hyalosphenia papilio. Dry phases in mire surface conditions and a pH between 2.5 and 5 were inferred for 7550-4500, 2750-1300 and 0 cal yr BP-present by the dominance of Nebela militaris, Difflugia pulex and Phryganella acropodia. The quantitative reconstruction of mean July temperature based on the chironomid communities suggests low summer temperatures for the periods 6550-5600, 4500-3150 and 1550-600 cal yr BP, while periods of slightly higher summer temperatures were observed for 5600-4500,3150-1550 and 100 cal yr BP-present. There is a generally good agreement between drier phases of the peat surface conditions with higher July temperature, suggesting that temperature may have been a controlling factor for water table fluctuation.Our quantitative reconstructions, among the first for central eastern Europe, show a relatively good agreement with other palaeohydrological studies from central eastern Europe, but contrast with others estimates from north-west Europe. Another important aspect of our study is that it provides valuable information on changes in local hydrology and the potential effect of the mean summer temperature over these changes. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Risk factors for infections caused by carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales: an international matched case-control-control study (EURECA)

Cases were patients with complicated urinary tract infection (cUTI), complicated intraabdominal (cIAI), pneumonia or bacteraemia from other sources (BSI-OS) due to CRE; control groups were patients with infection caused by carbapenem-susceptible Enterobacterales (CSE), and by non-infected patients, respectively. Matching criteria included type of infection for CSE group, ward and duration of hospital admission. Conditional logistic regression was used to identify risk factors. Findings Overall, 235 CRE case patients, 235 CSE controls and 705 non-infected controls were included. The CRE infections were cUTI (133, 56.7%), pneumonia (44, 18.7%), cIAI and BSI-OS (29, 12.3% each). Carbapenemase genes were found in 228 isolates: OXA-48/like, 112 (47.6%), KPC, 84 (35.7%), and metallo-beta-lactamases, 44 (18.7%); 13 produced two. The risk factors for CRE infection in both type of controls were (adjusted OR for CSE controls; 95% CI; p value) previous colonisation/infection by CRE (6.94; 2.74-15.53; <0.001), urinary catheter (1.78; 1.03-3.07; 0.038) and exposure to broad spectrum antibiotics, as categorical (2.20; 1.25-3.88; 0.006) and time-dependent (1.04 per day; 1.00-1.07; 0.014); chronic renal failure (2.81; 1.40-5.64; 0.004) and admission from home (0.44; 0.23-0.85; 0.014) were significant only for CSE controls. Subgroup analyses provided similar results. Interpretation The main risk factors for CRE infections in hospitals with high incidence included previous coloni-zation, urinary catheter and exposure to broad spectrum antibiotics

Modelling human choices: MADeM and decision‑making

Research supported by FAPESP 2015/50122-0 and DFG-GRTK 1740/2. RP and AR are also part of the Research, Innovation and Dissemination Center for Neuromathematics FAPESP grant (2013/07699-0). RP is supported by a FAPESP scholarship (2013/25667-8). ACR is partially supported by a CNPq fellowship (grant 306251/2014-0)

Study On Instruments And Methodologies Used In The Analysis Of The Religious Phenomena Through Statistic Surveying Techniques

This article presents the content of a statistical research instrument(survey) which was used in a statistical survey focused on the religiousphenomena and the (inter)connections generated within social and economic processes. We considered a descriptive operational fashion for each item (item) included in the survey. Due to the limited space of this article, we haven’t presented all sections of the survey