Multiscale theory of nonlinear wavepacket propagation in a planar optical waveguide

In this paper, the multiscale expansion formalism is applied for the first time, to our knowledge, in nonlinear planar optical waveguides. This formalism permits us to describe the linear and nonlinear propagation for both transverse electric and transverse magnetic modes. The modal field distributions and the nonlinear coefficient in the nonlinear Schrödinger equation are highlighted

Polarization switching in a planar optical waveguide

The multiscale expansion formalism is applied to the study of nonlinear planar optical waveguides. It allows us to describe the linear and nonlinear propagation for both transverse electric and transverse magnetic modes, and the interaction between them. An accurate computation of the nonlinear self- and cross-phase modulation coefficients allows one to give account of the polarization switching which has been observed experimentally

Comparing Traditional Body Mass Index and Joslin Diabetes Center’s Asian Body Mass Index in Predicting Self-Report Type 2 Diabetes.

This study examined the predictability of traditional Body Mass Index standards and the Joslin Diabetes Center’s recommended BMI standards for Asian Americans. A sample of 2973 adult Asian Americans aged 45 and older from the 2009 California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) was used. This sample consists of 12.25% of respondents with type 2 diabetes and 87.75% that had neither type 2 or any types of diabetes. Logistic regression was used to estimate the predictability of two the BMI standards and to test for the interaction effect of BMI standards and sex in predicting type 2 diabetes. The results revealed that both traditional and Joslin Diabetes Center’s recommended standards had similar predictability of types 2 diabetes. Both BMI standards of overweight and obesity had a greater association with type 2 diabetes for men than for women. That is, given a similar level of BMI, men tend to report a greater prevalence of type 2 diabetes than women. These findings support caution in changing BMI cut-offs for Asian Americans, and highlight the potential limitations of using BMI as a measure of risk for diabetes in this population

Preparation and Foliar Application of Oligochitosan - Nanosilica on the Enhancement of Soybean Seed Yield

Oligochitosan with weight average molecu-lar weight (Mw) of 5000 g/mol was prepared by gamma Co-60 radiation degradation of 4% chitosan solution containing 0.5% H2O2 at 21 kGy. Nanosilica with size of 10 – 30 nm was synthesized by calcination of acid treated rice husk at 700o C for 2 h. The mixture of 2% oligo-chitosan-2% nanosilica was prepared by dispersion of nanosilica in oligochitosan solution. Oligochitosan, nanosilica and their mixture were characterized by gel permeation chromatography (GPC), transmission electr-on microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDX), Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), and Furrier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Effect of foliar application of oli-gochitosan and oligochitosan-nanosilica on soybean seed yield was conducted in experimental field. Results indi-cated that soybean seed yield increased 10.5 and 17.0% for oligochitosan and oligochitosan-nanosilica, respect-tively for the control. Radiation degraded oligo-chitosan and its mixture with nanosilica can be potentially used for cultivation of soybean with enhanced seed yield

Pharmacist-Led Intervention to Enhance Medication Adherence in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome in Vietnam:A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Patient adherence to cardioprotective medications improves outcomes of acute coronary syndrome (ACS), but few adherence-enhancing interventions have been tested in low-income and middle-income countries. Objectives: We aimed to assess whether a pharmacist-led intervention enhances medication adherence in patients with ACS and reduces mortality and hospital readmission. Methods: We conducted a randomized controlled trial in Vietnam. Patients with ACS were recruited, randomized to the intervention or usual care prior to discharge, and followed 3 months after discharge. Intervention patients received educational and behavioral interventions by a pharmacist. Primary outcome was the proportion of adherent patients 1 month after discharge. Adherence was a combined measure of self-reported adherence (the 8-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale) and obtaining repeat prescriptions on time. Secondary outcomes were (1) the proportion of patients adherent to medication; (2) rates of mortality and hospital readmission; and (3) change in quality of life from baseline assessed with the European Quality of Life Questionnaire - 5 Dimensions - 3 Levels at 3 months after discharge. Logistic regression was used to analyze data. Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02787941). Results: Overall, 166 patients (87 control, 79 intervention) were included (mean age 61.2 years, 73% male). In the analysis excluding patients from the intervention group who did not receive the intervention and excluding all patients who withdrew, were lost to follow-up, died or were readmitted to hospital, a greater proportion of patients were adherent in the intervention compared with the control at 1 month (90.0% vs. 76.5%; adjusted OR = 2.77; 95% CI, 1.01-7.62) and at 3 months after discharge (90.2% vs. 77.0%; adjusted OR = 3.68; 95% CI, 1.14-11.88). There was no significant difference in median change of EQ-5D-3L index values between intervention and control [0.000 (0.000; 0.275) vs. 0.234 (0.000; 0.379); p = 0.081]. Rates of mortality, readmission, or both were 0.8, 10.3, or 11.1%, respectively; with no significant differences between the 2 groups. Conclusion: Pharmacist-led interventions increased patient adherence to medication regimens by over 13% in the first 3 months after ACS hospital discharge, but not quality of life, mortality and readmission. These results are promising but should be tested in other settings prior to broader dissemination

The management of tetanus in adults in an intensive care unit in Southern Vietnam

Background: Tetanus remains common in many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) yet the evidence base guiding management of this disease is extremely limited, particularly with respect to contemporary management options. Sharing knowledge about practice may facilitate improvement in outcomes elsewhere. Methods: We describe clinical interventions and outcomes of 180 adult patients ≥16 years-old with tetanus enrolled in prospective observational studies at a specialist infectious diseases hospital in Southern Vietnam. Patients were treated according to a holistic management protocol encompassing wound-care, antitoxin, antibiotics, symptom control, airway management, nutrition and de-escalation criteria. Results: Mortality rate in our cohort was 2.8%, with 90 (50%) patients requiring mechanical ventilation for a median 16 [IQR 12-24] days. Median [IQR] duration of ICU stay was 15 [8-23] days. Autonomic nervous system dysfunction occurred in 45 (25%) patients. Hospital acquired infections occurred in 77 (43%) of patients. Conclusion: We report favourable outcomes for patients with tetanus in a single centre LMIC ICU, treated according to a holistic protocol. Nevertheless, many patients required prolonged intensive care support and hospital acquired infections were common

Chemical composition, antimicrobial and larvicidal activities of essential oils of two Syzygium species from Vietnam

Abstract The present study is the first to investigate the chemical composition, antimicrobial and larvicidal activities of the essential oils from the leaves of Syzygium attopeuense (Gagnep.) Merr. & L.M.Perry and Syzygium tonkinense (Gagnep.) Merr. & L.M.Perry collected in Vietnam. The essential oils were extracted by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC and GC–MS. The study indicated the presence of a high percentage of sesquiterpenes in both investigated essential oils. The major components of S. attopeuense essential oil were bicyclogermacrene (24.26%), (E)-caryophyllene (11.72%), and (E)-β-ocimene (6.75%), whereas S. tonkinense essential oil was dominated by (E)-caryophyllene (80.80%). The antimicrobial activity of essential oils was evaluated by broth microdilution assay to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and median inhibitory concentration (IC50). Both essential oils exhibited remarkable inhibitory activity against all tested Gram-positive bacteria and yeast than Gram-negative bacteria. Among them, essential oils of S. attopeuense and S. tonkinense possessed the strongest activity against Enterococcus faecalis (MIC = 4.00 μg/mL; IC50 = 1.69 μg/mL) and Candida albicans (MIC = 16.00 μg/mL; IC50 = 8.67 μg/mL), respectively. Furthermore, the larvicidal activity of essential oils was tested using fourth-instar larvae of Aedes aegypti. Results from the larvicidal test revealed that both essential oils had an excellent inhibitory effect against A. aegypti larvae with LC50 values from 25.55 to 30.18 μg/mL and LC90 values from 33.00 to 39.01 μg/mL. Our findings demonstrate that the essential oil extracted from S. attopeuense and S. tonkinense are potential sources of natural antimicrobials and can act as inexpensive mosquito larvicidal agents