Broadband mid-IR frequency comb with CSP and AGS from a Er,Tm:Ho fiber laser

We report on the generation of a 2500 nm bandwidth frequency comb at 6.5 μm central wavelength based on critically phase-matched parametric down-conversion in the nonlinear crystal CdSiP 2 CdSiP2 (CSP), driven by a compact Er,Tm:Ho fiber laser. The generated ultra-broadband pulses show a transform-limited duration of 2.3 optical cycles and carry up to 150 pJ of energy at a 100 MHz pulse repetition rate. For comparison, the spectrum generated in AgGaS 2 AgGaS2 (AGS) spans from 6.2 to 7.4 μm at full-width at half-maximum (FWHM) with a pulse energy of 3 pJ. A full 3D nonlinear wave propagation code is used for optimization of the noncollinear angle, propagation direction, and crystal thickness.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Current state of quality of life and patient-reported outcomes research

The 5th EORTC Quality of Life in Cancer Clinical Trials Conference presented the current state of quality of life and other patient-reported outcomes (PROs) research from the perspectives of researchers, regulators, industry representatives, patients and patient advocates and health care professionals. A major theme was the assessment of the burden of cancer treatments, and this was discussed in terms of regulatory challenges in using PRO assessments in clinical trials, patients' experiences in cancer clinical trials, innovative methods and standardisation in cancer research, innovative methods across the disease sites or populations and cancer survivorship. Conferees demonstrated that PROs are becoming more accepted and major efforts are ongoing internationally to standardise PROs measurement, analysis and reporting in trials. Regulators are keen to collaborate with all stakeholders to ensure that the right questions are asked and the right answers are communicated. Improved technology and increased flexibility of measurement instruments are making PROs data more robust. Patients are being encouraged to be patient partners. International collaborations are essential, because this work cannot be accomplished on a national level

Genetic variants affecting cross-sectional lung function in adults show little or no effect on longitudinal lung function decline

Background: Genome-wide association studies have identified numerous genetic regions that influence cross-sectional lung function. Longitudinal decline in lung function also includes a heritable component but the genetic determinants have yet to be defined. Objectives: We aimed to determine whether regions associated with cross-sectional lung function were also associated with longitudinal decline and to seek novel variants which influence decline. Methods: We analysed genome-wide data from 4167 individuals from the Busselton Health Study cohort, who had undergone spirometry (12 695 observations across eight time points). A mixed model was fitted and weighted risk scores were calculated for the joint effect of 26 known regions on baseline and longitudinal changes in FEV1 and FEV1/FVC. Potential additional regions of interest were identified and followed up in two independent cohorts. Results: The 26 regions previously associated with cross-sectional lung function jointly showed a strong effect on baseline lung function (p=4.44×10−16 for FEV1/FVC) but no effect on longitudinal decline (p=0.160 for FEV1/FVC). This was replicated in an independent cohort. 39 additional regions of interest (48 variants) were identified; these associations were not replicated in two further cohorts. Conclusions: Previously identified genetic variants jointly have a strong effect on cross-sectional lung function in adults but little or no effect on the rate of decline of lung function. It is possible that they influence COPD risk through lung development. Although no genetic variants have yet been associated with lung function decline at stringent genome-wide significance, longitudinal change in lung function is heritable suggesting that there is scope for future discoveries

Predicting response to holistic breathlessness services: a pooled analysis of trial data

Background: Holistic breathlessness services have been developed for people with advanced disease and chronic breathlessness, leading to improved psychological aspects of breathlessness and health. The extent to which patient characteristics influence outcomes is unclear. Aim: To identify patient characteristics predicting outcomes of mastery and distress around breathlessness following holistic breathlessness services. Design: Secondary analysis of pooled individual patient data from three clinical trials. Our primary analysis assessed predictors of clinically important improvements in Chronic Respiratory Questionnaire mastery scores (+0.5 point), and our secondary analysis predictors of improvements in Numerical Rating Scale distress due to breathlessness (-1 point). Variables significantly related to improvement in univariate models were considered in separate backwards stepwise logistic regression models. Participants: The dataset comprised 259 participants (118 female; mean (standard deviation) age 69.2(10.6) years) with primary diagnoses of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (49.8%), cancer (34.7%) and interstitial lung disease (10.4%).Results: Controlling for age, sex, and trial, baseline mastery remained the only significant independent predictor of improvement in mastery (odds ratio 0.57, 95% confidence intervals 0.43 to 0.74; p <0001), and baseline distress remained the only significant predictor of improvement in distress (odds ratio 1.64; 95% confidence intervals 1.35 to 2.03; p<001). Baseline lung function, breathlessness severity, health status, mild anxiety and depression, and diagnosis did not predict outcomes. Conclusions: Outcomes of mastery and distress following holistic breathlessness services are influenced by baseline scores for these variables, and not by diagnosis, lung function, or health status. Stratifying patients by levels of mastery and/or distress appears appropriate for clinical trials and services

Broadband Dual-Comb Spectroscopy in the Spectral Fingerprint Region

Infrared spectroscopy in the spectral fingerprint region from 6-12 um accesses the largest molecular absorption cross-sections, permitting sensitive, quantitative and species-specific measurements. Here, we show how dual-comb spectroscopy--a form of high-speed Fourier-transform spectroscopy involving no moving parts and capable of very high resolutions--can be extended to the 6-8um wavelength band using femtosecond optical parametric oscillators (OPOs). By acquiring dual-comb interferograms faster than the mutual decoherence time of the OPO combs we implement line-shape-preserving averaging to obtain low-noise, high-fidelity spectra of H2O and CH4 at approximately 0.3 cm-1 resolutions from 1285-1585 cm-1

Development of an Optoelectronic Sensor for Detecting and Classifying Fruit Fly (Diptera:,Tephritidae) for Use in Real-Time Intelligent Traps.

Fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) cause losses to world fruit growing. For a fast and effective control of the pest, it is necessary to identify the species and their populations. Thus, we developed an infrared optoelectronic sensor using phototransistors to capture the signal of the partial occlusion of the infrared light caused by the beating of the fly wings. Laboratory experiments were conducted using the sensor to capture the wing beat signal of A. fraterculus and C. capitata. The captured signals were used to obtain the characteristics of the flies&rsquo; wing beats frequency and for a production of a dataset made available as one of the results of this work. For the passage detection, we developed the algorithm of detection of events of passage (PEDA) that uses the root mean square (RMS) value of a sliding window applied to the signal compared to a threshold value. We developed the algorithm of detection of events of passage (CAEC) that uses the techniques of autocorrelation and Fourier transform for the extraction of the characteristics of the wings&rsquo; beat signal. The results demonstrate that it is possible to use the sensor for the development of an intelligent trap with detection and classification in real time for A. fraterculus and C. capitata using the wing beat frequency obtained by the developed sensor

Curcumin-rich curry diet and pulmonary function in Asian older adults

10.1371/journal.pone.0051753PLoS ONE71