High energy in-band pumped erbium doped pulse fibre laser

We demonstrate an inband, core-pumped master oscillator power amplifier (MOPA) with a maximum pulse energy of 1.56 mJ at a repetition rate of 1.25 kHz, seeded by an actively Q-switched Erbium/Ytterbium-codoped fiber (EYDF) ring laser, producing 150 ns pulses at 1562.5 nm. To maximize energy extraction whilst minimizing signal saturation effects, a 40 µm Er3+-doped larger mode area (LMA) fiber was used as the gain medium. A 1535 nm single mode fiber laser was used for in-band pumping of the LMA fiber. The output beam quality (M2) was measured to be ~1.6. This is to the best of our knowledge is the highest reported pulse energy for a pulse fiber laser at 1.5 µm with M2~1.6

Changes in microarchitectural characteristics at the tibial epiphysis induced by collagen-induced rheumatoid arthritis over time

10.2147/CIA.S35202Clinical Interventions in Aging7373-38

Causality in real-time dynamic substructure testing

Causality, in the bond graph sense, is shown to provide a conceptual framework for the design of real-time dynamic substructure testing experiments. In particular, known stability problems with split-inertia substructured systems are reinterpreted as causality issues within the new conceptual framework. As an example, causality analysis is used to provide a practical solution to a split-inertia substructuring problem and the solution is experimentally verified

Amplification of 12 OAM states in an air-core EDF

We propose the amplification of 12 OAM modes in an air-core EDF using either core- or cladding- pumping at 980nm. Differential modal gains of only 0.25dB among all the 12-modes are achieved over the C-band

Multilocus phylogeny reveals <i>Gibsmithia hawaiiensis</i> (Dumontiaceae, Rhodophyta) to be a species complex from the Indo-Pacific, with the proposal of <i>G. eilatensis</i> sp. nov.

Gibsmithia hawaiiensis is a peculiar red alga characterized by furry gelatinous lobes arising from a cartilaginous stalk. The species has been recorded from tropical reef systems throughout the Indo-Pacific. A multilocus phylogeny (UPA, rbcL, COI-5P) of 36 specimens collected throughout the species distribution range, showed high genetic diversity at species level. Two major groups were identified, each consisting of multiple lineages. Genetic variability was low in the Hawaiian Islands and the northern Red Sea and high in the Western Indian Ocean and the Coral Triangle, where lineages overlap in distribution. Genetic distances suggest that G. hawaiiensis represents a complex of five cryptic species, with no difference observed in the external morphology corresponding to separate lineages. Anatomical and reproductive differences were observed at the microscopic level for the lineage from the Red Sea, which is here described as G. eilatensis sp. nov. The geographic range of the species complex is here expanded to include Madagascar, the Red Sea and the Indo-Malay region, and the generitype seems endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. Algal diversity on coral reef systems is discussed from a conservation perspective using G. hawaiiensis as an example

Modal gain control in a multimode erbium doped fiber amplifier incorporating ring doping

We theoretically demonstrate the performance of a step index multimode (two mode-group) erbium-doped fiber amplifier with a localized erbium doped ring distribution for Space Division Multiplexed (SDM) transmission

TRANSLATION AND VALIDATION OF THE HEALTHCARE TEAMWORK SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRE:STUDY DESIGN FOR THE MALAYSIAN CONTEXT

Cross-professional teamwork in healthcare is necessary to support integrated service delivery. However, cross-professional teamwork has not been given sufficient attention in developing country contexts. This paper presents a study design for translating and validating a teamwork survey questionnaire (TSQ) for the Malaysian context. The original TSQ was previously used in a developed country context. The tool will be translated into Malay which is the national language of Malaysia. Survey data will be subject to exploratory factor analysis to assess construct validity and Cronbach’s alpha test for reliability. The forward-backward translation approach of cross-cultural adaptation will be utilized. Two independent translators shall initially translate the questionnaire before reconciliation by the research team. The reconciled Malay version will then be back-translated into English. English translation will be contrasted against the original TSQ for further accuracy improvements in the Malay version. Face validation will be conducted with five academicians and five healthcare professionals to obtain feedback on necessary further adjustments. Upon finalizing the Malay version TSQ, interviews with service managers and senior healthcare professionals will be conducted to identify services with cross-professional teamwork at a designated hospital. A total of 150 respondents for survey validation will be recruited from identified services within the hospital. Different healthcare professionals having cross-communication and sharing patient care objectives will meet the criteria for a cross-professional team service. The validated Malay version TSQ could provide an invaluable tool for the assessment and improvement of cross-professional teamwork in the Malaysian healthcare context

Assessment of clinical trial protocols for pathology content using the SPIRIT-Path guidelines highlights areas for improvement

The SPIRIT (Standard Protocol Items: Recommendations for Interventional Trials) 2013 Statement provides evidence-based recommendations for the minimum content of clinical trial protocols. The Cellular Molecular Pathology Initiative, hosted by the UK National Cancer Research Institute, developed an extension, SPIRIT-Path, describing how to effectively incorporate pathology support into clinical trial protocols. The current study assessed the inclusion of SPIRIT-Path items in protocols of active clinical trials. Publicly available clinical trial protocols were identified for assessment against the new guidelines using a single UK hospital as the ‘test site’. One hundred and ninety interventional clinical trials were identified as receiving support from the pathology department. However, only 38 had publicly available full trial protocols (20%) and following application of the inclusion/exclusion criteria, 19 were assessed against the SPIRIT-Path guidelines. The reviewed clinical trial protocols showed some areas of compliance and highlighted other items that were inadequately described. The latter lacked information about the individuals responsible for the pathology content of the trial protocol, how pathology activities and roles were organised in the trial, where the laboratory work would be carried out, and the accreditation status of the laboratory. Only one trial had information specific to digital pathology, a technology certain to become more prevalent in the future. Adoption of the SPIRIT-Path checklist will facilitate comprehensive trial protocols that address all the key cellular and molecular pathology aspects of interventional clinical trials. This study highlights once again the lack of public availability of trial protocols. Full trial protocols should be available for scrutiny by the scientific community and the public who participate in the studies, increasing the transparency of clinical trial activity and improving quality

School-based prevention for adolescent Internet addiction: prevention is the key. A systematic literature review

Adolescents’ media use represents a normative need for information, communication, recreation and functionality, yet problematic Internet use has increased. Given the arguably alarming prevalence rates worldwide and the increasingly problematic use of gaming and social media, the need for an integration of prevention efforts appears to be timely. The aim of this systematic literature review is (i) to identify school-based prevention programmes or protocols for Internet Addiction targeting adolescents within the school context and to examine the programmes’ effectiveness, and (ii) to highlight strengths, limitations, and best practices to inform the design of new initiatives, by capitalizing on these studies’ recommendations. The findings of the reviewed studies to date presented mixed outcomes and are in need of further empirical evidence. The current review identified the following needs to be addressed in future designs to: (i) define the clinical status of Internet Addiction more precisely, (ii) use more current psychometrically robust assessment tools for the measurement of effectiveness (based on the most recent empirical developments), (iii) reconsider the main outcome of Internet time reduction as it appears to be problematic, (iv) build methodologically sound evidence-based prevention programmes, (v) focus on skill enhancement and the use of protective and harm-reducing factors, and (vi) include IA as one of the risk behaviours in multi-risk behaviour interventions. These appear to be crucial factors in addressing future research designs and the formulation of new prevention initiatives. Validated findings could then inform promising strategies for IA and gaming prevention in public policy and education

Learning through 'prosuming': Insights from media literacy programmes in Asia

10.1177/097172180801300205Science, Technology and Society132259-27