Optical spectroscopy of rare-earth ions doped KY(WO4)2 thin films

KY(WO4)2 thin films doped with Dy3+, Tb3+, Yb3+, were grown onto KY(WO4)2 substrates using liquid-phase epitaxy. Spectroscopic investigations of the grown layers were performed. Obtained results were compared with spectra given for bulk crystals. Upconversion experiments after direct Yb3+ excitation in Dy3+-Yb3+ and Tb3+-Yb3+ codoped layers will be also presented

Low-temperature flux growth of sulfates, molybdates, and tungstates of Ca, Sr, and Ba and investigation of doping with Mn 6 +

The growth of undoped and Mn6+-doped molybdates and tungstates of alkali-earth metals and BaSO4 has been investigated. Single crystals were grown by the flux method within the temperature range of 600-475°C, using the ternary NaCl-KCl-CsCl solvent. Sizes of undoped crystals increase within the series tungstates<molybdates<sulfate and, depending on the cation, within the series Ca2+≈Sr2+<Ba2+. The Mn6+ ion tends to be reduced to Mn5+/Mn4+ with time in the chloride solution, but can be partly stabilized by the addition of alkali-metal carbonates or hydroxides. The incorporation of Mn6+ is governed by the coordination of the MnO4 2- tetrahedron in the crystal. No significant doping was found for Ca and Sr compounds and only small amounts of Mn6+ were incorporated into BaMoO4 and BaWO4. Crystals with orthorhombic space group Pnma such as BaSO4 exhibit significantly higher doping levels. The Mn6+ distribution in each crystal varies due to manganese reduction with growth time. Temperature-, time-, and concentration-dependent spectroscopy of BaSO4:Mn6+ was performe

Optical spectroscopic study of Al₂O₃:Ti³⁺ under hydrostatic pressure

This work investigates the effect of hydrostatic pressure on the excitation, emission and lifetime of Ti3+-doped Al2O3 in the 0–110 kbar range. The application of pressure induces band shifts that are correlated with the corresponding local structural changes undergone by the TiO6 complex. The increase of the Stokes-shift and the reduction of the Jahn–Teller (JT) splittings under pressure are analysed in terms of a simple model based on linear electron–phonon couplings to the a1g and the JT eg vibrational modes

Assessing the potential of the dart model to discrete return lidar simulation—application to fuel type mapping

Fuel type is one of the key factors for analyzing the potential of fire ignition and propaga-tion in agricultural and forest environments. The increase of three-dimensional datasets provided by active sensors, such as LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging), has improved the classification of fuel types through empirical modelling. Empirical methods are site and sensor specific while Radiative Transfer Models (RTM) approaches provide broader universality. The aim of this work is to analyze the suitability of Discrete Anisotropic Radiative Transfer (DART) model to replicate low density small-footprint Airborne Laser Scanning (ALS) measurements and subsequent fuel type classification. Field data measured in 104 plots are used as ground truth to simulate LiDAR response based on the sensor and flight characteristics of low-density ALS data captured by the Spanish National Plan for Aerial Orthophotography (PNOA) in two different dates (2011 and 2016). The accuracy assessment of the DART simulations is performed using Spearman rank correlation coefficients between the simulated metrics and the ALS-PNOA ones. The results show that 32% of the computed metrics overpassed a correlation value of 0.80 between simulated and ALS-PNOA metrics in 2011 and 28% in 2016. The highest correlations were related to high height percentiles, canopy variability metrics as for example standard deviation and Rumple diversity index, reaching correlation values over 0.94. Two metric selection approaches and Support Vector Machine classification method with variants were compared to classify fuel types. The best-fitted classification model, trained with the DART simulated sample and validated with ALS-PNOA data, was obtained using Support Vector Machine method with radial kernel. The overall accuracy of the classification after validation was 88% and 91% for the 2011 and 2016 years, respectively. The use of DART demonstrates its value for simulating generalizable 3D data for fuel type classification providing relevant information for forest managers in fire prevention and extinction

High-resolution melting assay for genotyping variants of the CYP2C19 enzyme and predicting voriconazole effectiveness

Voriconazole is a triazole antifungal agent recommended as primary treatment for invasive aspergillosis, as well as some other mold infections. However, it presents some pharmacokinetic singularities that lead to a great variability intra- and interindividually, nonlinear pharmacokinetics, and a narrow therapeutic range. Most experts have recommended tracing the levels of voriconazole in patients when receiving treatment. This azole is metabolized through the hepatic enzyme complex cytochrome P450 (CYPP450), with the isoenzyme CYP2C19 being principally involved. Allelic variations (polymorphisms) of the gene that encodes this enzyme are known to contribute to variability in voriconazole exposure. Three different allelic variants, CYP2C19*17, CYP2C19*2, and CYP2C19*3, could explain most of the phenotypes related to the voriconazole metabolism and some of its pharmacokinetic singularities. We designed a rapid molecular method based on high-resolution melting to characterize these polymorphisms in a total of 142 samples, avoiding sequencing. Three PCRs were designed with similar cycling conditions to run simultaneously. The results showed that our method represents a fast, accurate, and inexpensive means to study these variants related to voriconazole metabolism. In clinical practice, this could offer a useful tool to individually optimize therapy and reduce expenses in patients with fungal infections.National Institute of Health Carlos III (AES13PI13/01817Research Project MPY 1367/13). L.B.-M. has a contract supported by theMinisterio de Ciencia e Innovación, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, cofinanced by the EuropeanDevelopment Regional Fund (EDRF) “A Way to Achieve Europe” and the SpanishNetwork for the Research in Infectious Diseases (REIPI; RD12/0015/0015). B.M.-R. is astudent in the Master’s Program entitled “Microbiología Aplicada a la Salud Pública eInvestigación en Enfermedades Infecciosas,” Alcalá de Henares University, Madrid,Spain. A.C. and C.C. were supported by the Northern Portugal Regional OperationalProgram (NORTE 2020) under the Portugal 2020 Partnership Agreement through theEuropean Regional Development Fund (FEDER; NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000013) and theFundação Para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT; IF/00735/2014 [A.C.] and SFRH/BPD/96176/2013 [C.C.])

Valoración funcional tras tratamiento neurointensivo pediátrico. Nueva escala de estado funcional (FSS)

Introducción: La salud funcional, parámetro adecuado de morbilidad, debería constituir un estándar pronóstico de las unidades de cuidados intensivos pediátricos (UCIP), siendo fundamental el desarrollo de escalas para su valoración. Las categorías de estado global y cerebral pediátrico (CEGP-CECP) se han empleado clásicamente en estudios pediátricos; el desarrollo de la nueva Escala de estado funcional (FSS) busca mejorar la objetividad. El objetivo del trabajo es comprobar si la escala FSS es un instrumento válido frente a la clásica CEGP-CECP, y si, incluso, posee mejores cualidades evaluadoras de la funcionalidad neurológica. Pacientes y método: Estudio retrospectivo descriptivo de los 266 niños con enfermedad neurológica ingresados en la UCIP durante 3 años (2012-2014). Se valora su salud funcional al alta y tras un año del ingreso en UCIP, según las categorías CEGP-CECP y la nueva FSS, comparando ambas escalas mediante análisis de correlación (Rho de Spearman). Resultados: La comparación de varianzas de FSSglobal en cada intervalo de CEGP muestra buena correlación para todas las comparaciones (p < 0, 001), excepto en la categoría «5 = coma-vegetativo». La dispersión de FSSglobal aumenta a medida que lo hace la categoría CEGP. La correlación es similar en la versión neurológica de ambas escalas. Discusión: La nueva escala FSS parece ser un método útil para evaluar salud funcional en nuestro medio, tras su comparación con las clásicas categorías CEGP-CECP. La dispersión de los valores de la escala FSS indica falta de precisión del sistema CEGP-CECP, comparado con la nueva escala FSS, más desglosada y objetiva

Spectral correlations in a random distributed feedback fibre laser

Random distributed feedback fibre lasers belong to the class of random lasers, where the feedback is provided by amplified Rayleigh scattering on sub-micron refractive index inhomogenities randomly distributed over the fibre length. Despite the elastic nature of Rayleigh scattering, the feedback mechanism has been insofar deemed incoherent, which corresponds to the commonly observed smooth generation spectra. Here, using a real-time spectral measurement technique based on a scanning Fabry-Pérot interferometer, we observe long-living narrowband components in the random fibre laser's spectrum. Statistical analysis of the ∼104 single-scan spectra reveals a preferential interspacing for the components and their anticorrelation in intensities. Furthermore, using mutual information analysis, we confirm the existence of nonlinear correlations between different parts of the random fibre laser spectra. The existence of such narrowband spectral components, together with their observed correlations, establishes a long-missing parallel between the fields of random fibre lasers and conventional random lasers

Nut production in Bertholletia excelsa across a logged forest mosaic: implications for multiple forest use

Although many examples of multiple-use forest management may be found in tropical smallholder systems, few studies provide empirical support for the integration of selective timber harvesting with non-timber forest product (NTFP) extraction. Brazil nut (Bertholletia excelsa, Lecythidaceae) is one of the world’s most economically-important NTFP species extracted almost entirely from natural forests across the Amazon Basin. An obligate out-crosser, Brazil nut flowers are pollinated by large-bodied bees, a process resulting in a hard round fruit that takes up to 14 months to mature. As many smallholders turn to the financial security provided by timber, Brazil nut fruits are increasingly being harvested in logged forests. We tested the influence of tree and stand-level covariates (distance to nearest cut stump and local logging intensity) on total nut production at the individual tree level in five recently logged Brazil nut concessions covering about 4000 ha of forest in Madre de Dios, Peru. Our field team accompanied Brazil nut harvesters during the traditional harvest period (January-April 2012 and January-April 2013) in order to collect data on fruit production. Three hundred and ninety-nine (approximately 80%) of the 499 trees included in this study were at least 100 m from the nearest cut stump, suggesting that concessionaires avoid logging near adult Brazil nut trees. Yet even for those trees on the edge of logging gaps, distance to nearest cut stump and local logging intensity did not have a statistically significant influence on Brazil nut production at the applied logging intensities (typically 1–2 timber trees removed per ha). In one concession where at least 4 trees ha-1 were removed, however, the logging intensity covariate resulted in a marginally significant (0.09) P value, highlighting a potential risk for a drop in nut production at higher intensities. While we do not suggest that logging activities should be completely avoided in Brazil nut rich forests, when a buffer zone cannot be observed, low logging intensities should be implemented. The sustainability of this integrated management system will ultimately depend on a complex series of socioeconomic and ecological interactions. Yet we submit that our study provides an important initial step in understanding the compatibility of timber harvesting with a high value NTFP, potentially allowing for diversification of forest use strategies in Amazonian Perù

Oral Anticoagulation and Risk of Symptomatic Hemorrhagic Transformation in Stroke Patients Treated With Mechanical Thrombectomy: Data From the Nordictus Registry

Introduction: We aimed to evaluate if prior oral anticoagulation (OAC) and its type determines a greater risk of symptomatic hemorrhagic transformation in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) subjected to mechanical thrombectomy. Materials and Methods: Consecutive patients with AIS included in the prospective reperfusion registry NORDICTUS, a network of tertiary stroke centers in Northern Spain, from January 2017 to December 2019 were included. Prior use of oral anticoagulants, baseline variables, and international normalized ratio (INR) on admission were recorded. Symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH) was the primary outcome measure. Secondary outcome was the relation between INR and sICH, and we evaluated mortality and functional outcome at 3 months by modified Rankin scale. We compared patients with and without previous OAC and also considered the type of oral anticoagulants. Results: About 1.455 AIS patients were included, of whom 274 (19%) were on OAC, 193 (70%) on vitamin K antagonists (VKA), and 81 (30%) on direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs). Anticoagulated patients were older and had more comorbidities. Eighty-one (5.6%) developed sICH, which was more frequent in the VKA group, but not in DOAC group. OAC with VKA emerged as a predictor of sICH in a multivariate regression model (OR, 1.89 [95% CI, 1.01–3.51], p = 0.04) and was not related to INR level on admission. Prior VKA use was not associated with worse outcome in the multivariate regression model nor with mortality at 3 months. Conclusions: OAC with VKA, but not with DOACs, was an independent predictor of sICH after mechanical thrombectomy. This excess risk was associated neither with INR value by the time thrombectomy was performed, nor with a worse functional outcome or mortality at 3 months