Modeling Acute Changes in Bladder Wall Tension, Shape and Compliance During Filling

The bladder wall consists primarily of detrusor smooth muscle. Tension-sensitive nerves in the bladder wall are responsible for providing bladder fullness information that is interpreted as urgency. Bladder wall tension, and therefore nerve output, is a function of bladder volume, shape and material properties. Studies have shown that the bladder wall exhibits acutely regulated detrusor compliance. In addition, bladder shape throughout filling depends on intra-abdominal forces and material properties of the bladder wall, such as regulated detrusor compliance. This thesis focused on modeling the potential influence of acute changes in bladder compliance, shape and bladder wall tension during filling. Laplace’s Law was used to demonstrate how wall tension can vary significantly with geometry in a vessel with uniform internal pressure and constant volume. A finite deformation model of the bladder was previously used to show that wall tension can increase significantly during filling with relatively little pressure change. In this thesis, published experimental data were used to determine ranges for regulated detrusor compliance, and the finite deformation model was expanded to illustrate the potential effects of regulated ix detrusor compliance on filling pressure and wall tension. Also, a geometric model was used to demonstrate that constraining a perfectly spherical bladder to fill as an oblate sphere increases wall tension, and therefore should increase nerve output, for a given volume. In addition, a spheroidal model consisting of three orthogonal circular rings was developed to predict the increase in pressure and wall tension associated with deforming a spherical bladder into an oblate spheroid. Together, these models demonstrate that defects in regulated detrusor compliance and/or acute or chronic changes in bladder shape due to changes in compliance or intra-abdominal forces could contribute to changes in wall tension for a given volume that could lead to urgency

Case Fatality Rate of COVID-19: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Objective: The ongoing novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is the main cause of morbidity and mortality due to its contagious nature and absence of vaccine and treatment. Although there are considerable primary studies that reported extremely variable case fatality rate (CFR) of COVID-19, there is no review study that attempted to estimate CFR of COVID-19. The current systematic review and meta-analysis was aimed to estimate the pooled CFR of COVID-19. Methods: Electronic databases: PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus and Google Scholar were searched to retrieve the eligible primary studies that reported CFR of COVID-19. Keywords: ("COVID-19"OR "COVID-2019" OR "severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2"OR "severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2" OR "2019-nCoV" OR "SARS-CoV-2" OR "2019nCoV" OR (("Wuhan" AND ("coronavirus" OR "coronavirus")) AND (2019/12[PDAT] OR 2020[PDAT]))) AND ("mortality "OR "mortality" OR ("case" AND "fatality" AND "rate") OR "case fatality rate") were used as free text and MeSH term in searching process. Random-effects model used to estimate the CFR in this study. I2 statistic, Cochran’s Q test and T2 were used to assess the available heterogeneity between included studies. Results: The overall pooled CFR of COVID 19 was 10.0 %( 95% CI: 8.0-11.0); P<0.001; I2 = 99.7). The pooled CFR of COVID 19 in general population was 1.0% (95% CI: 1.0–3.0); P<0.001; I2 = 94.3), while in hospitalized patients was 13.0 % (95% CI: 9.0–17.0); P<0.001, I2 = 95.6). The pooled CFR in patients admitted in intensive care unit (ICU) was 37.0 % (95% CI: 24.0–51.0); P<0.001, I2 = 97.8) and in patients older than 50 years was 19.0 % (95% CI: 13.0–24.0); P<0.001; I2 = 99.8). Conclusion: The present review results highlighted the need of transparency in testing and reporting policies and denominators used in CFR estimation. It is also necessary reporting the cases age, sex and the comorbidity distribution of all patients which important in comparing the CFR among different segments of population

Nano-FTIR Spectroscopy of Intersubband Polaritons in Single Nanoantenna

We demonstrate observation of infrared (IR) intersubband (ISB) polaritons in an isolated subwavelength size nanoantenna using near-field Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy of the evanescent fields on the nanoantenna surface. The near-field approach enables detection of the distinctive polariton splitting of the nanoantenna resonance in the amplitude and phase spectra, as well as mapping of the ISB polariton dispersion. The nano-FTIR spectroscopy approach opens doors for investigations of light-matter interaction in the single subwavelength nanoantenna regime

Near-field probing of strong light-matter coupling in single IR antennae

Quantum well intersubband polaritons are traditionally studied in large scale systems, over many wavelengths in size. In this presentation, we demonstrate that it is possible to detect and investigate intersubband polaritons in a single subwavelength nanoantenna in the IR frequency range. We observe polariton formation using a scattering-type near-field microscope and nano-FTIR spectroscopy. We will discuss near-field spectroscopic signatures of plasmonic antennae with and without coupling to the intersubband transition in quantum wells located underneath the antenna. Evanescent field amplitude spectra recorded on the antenna surface show a mode anti-crossing behavior in the strong coupling case. We also observe a corresponding strong-coupling signature in the phase of the detected field. We anticipate that this near-field approach will enable explorations of strong and ultrastrong light-matter coupling in the single nanoantenna regime, including investigations of the elusive effect of ISB polariton condensation

The effect of psychosocial factors and patients’ perception of tuberculosis treatment non-adherence in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Background: Although there are several studies reported on factors affecting tuberculosis (TB) treatment non-adherence, there is information gap on psychosocial and patients’ perceptions aspects. Therefore, this study was aimed to investigate the effect of psychosocial factors and patients’ perceptions on TB treatment non-adherence in Ethiopia.Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted in Addis Ababa from May to December, 2014. Thirty one health facilities were randomly selected and 698 TB patients, who had been on treatment, were enrolled consecutively using patient registration number. Structured questionnaire was used to collect data on demographics, knowledge, psychological distress, alcohol use, tobacco smoking and six HBM domains. Treatment adherence level was the main outcome variable, and it measured using visual analog scale. Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 20 was used for data analysis.Results: Non-adherence level within last one month prior to the study was 19.5%. After controlling for all potential confounding variables, Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) status (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) = 1.79, 95% Confidence interval (CI) (1.09 -2.95)), alcohol use (AOR = 2.11, 95% CI (1.33-3.37)), economic status (AOR = 0.53, 95% CI (0.33-0.82)), perceived barriers (AOR = 1.21, 95% CI (1.10-1.47)) and psychological distress (AOR = 1.83, 95% CI (1.47-2.29)) were independently associated with TB treatment non-adherence.Conclusion: ART status, economic status, alcohol use, perceived barrier and psychological distress are the major areas that need to be targeted with health promotion intervention to enhance TB treatment adherence.Keywords: Treatment Non-adherence, Determinants of treatment non-adherence, Health Belief Model, Tuberculosi

The effects of improved sanitation on diarrheal prevalence, incidence, and duration in children under five in the SNNPR State, Ethiopia: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Diarrhea is one of the leading causes of death, killing 1.3 million in 2013 across the globe, of whom, 0.59 million were children under 5 years of age. Globally, about 1 billion people practice open defecation, and an estimated 2.4 billion people were living without improved sanitation facilities in 2015. Much of the previous research investigating the effect of improved sanitation has been based on observational studies. Recent studies have executed a cluster-randomized controlled trial to investigate the effect of improved sanitation. However, none of these recent studies achieved a sufficient level of latrine coverage. Without universal or at least a sufficient level of latrine coverage, a determination of the effect of improved latrines on the prevention of diarrheal disease is difficult. This cluster-randomized trial aims to explore the net effect of improved latrines on diarrheal prevalence and incidence in children under five and to investigate the effect on the diarrheal duration. METHOD/DESIGN: A phase-in and factorial design will be used for the study. The intervention for improving latrines will be implemented in an intervention arm during the first phase, and the comparable intervention will be performed in the control arm during the second phase. During the second phase, a water pipe will be connected to the gotts (villages) in the intervention arm. After the second phase is completed, the control group will undergo the intervention of receiving a water pipe connection. For diarrheal prevalence, five rounds of surveying will be conducted at the household level. The first four rounds will be carried out in the first phase to explore the effect of improved latrines, and the last one, in the second phase to examine the combined effects of improved water and sanitation. For documentation of diarrheal incidence and duration, the mother or caregiver will record the diarrheal episodes of her youngest child on the "Sanitation Calendar" every day. Of 212 gotts in the project area, 48 gotts were selected for the trial, and 1200 households with a child under 5 will be registered for the intervention or control arm. Informed consent from 1200 households will be obtained from the mother or caregiver in written form. DISCUSSION: To our knowledge, this is the second study to assess the effects of improved latrines on child diarrheal reduction through the application of Community-Led Total Sanitation. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Current Controlled Trials, ISRCTN82492848

Optical and Structural Properties of Ultra-thin Gold Films

Realizing laterally continuous ultra-thin gold films on transparent substrates is a challenge of significant technological importance. In the present work, formation of ultra-thin gold films on fused silica is studied, demonstrating how suppression of island formation and reduction of plasmonic absorption can be achieved by treating substrates with (3-mercaptopropyl) trimethoxysilane prior to deposition. Void-free fi lms with deposition thickness as low as 5.4 nm are realized and remain structurally stable at room temperature. Based on detailed structural analysis of the fi lms by specular and diffuse X-ray reflectivity measurements, it is shown that optical transmission properties of continuous ultra-thin films can be accounted for using the bulk dielectric function of gold. However, it is important to take into account the non-abrupt transition zone between the metal and the surrounding dielectrics, which extends through several lattice constants for the laterally continuous ultra-thin films (film thickness below 10 nm). This results in a significant reduction of optical transmission, as compared to the case of abrupt interfaces. These findings imply that the atomic-scale interface structure plays an important role when continuous ultra-thin films are considered, e.g., as semi-transparent electrical contacts, since optical transmission deviates significantly from the theoretical predictions for ideal films.Comment: appears in Advanced Optical Materials 201

Electronic Structure and Photochemistry of Molecular and Cluster Anions via Tandem Time-of-Flight Mass Spectroscopy and Photoelectron Imaging

Molecular and cluster anions have been investigated using a newly built tandem time-of-flight mass spectrometer combined with photoelectron imaging system. Solvation particularly hydration is shown not only to stabilize metastable anions such as CO₂⁻ in their ground state and impede autodetachment but also to alter the dynamics in the excited states. For instance, the 355 nm photoelectron image of mass-selected CO₂⁻(H₂O)(m) evolves from anisotropic to isotropic as m increases indicating excited state decay via electron autodetachment. Dissociation channels open at m=2 at 266 nm, resulting in O−(H₂O)m-k and CO₂⁻(H₂O)(m-k) products, the later becoming dominant as m increases. The photoelectron imaging of (CS₂)₂⁻ has revealed the coexistence of four electronic isomers: CS₂⁻•CS₂ [C(s)(₂A′)] and three covalent C₂S₄⁻ [C₂ᵥ(²B₁), D(2h)(²B(3g)), and D(2d)( ²A₁)] structures. Water-mediated intermolecular interactions have been shown to facilitate the formation of the global minimum C₂ᵥ(²B₁) structure rather than the less stable local minima C(s)(₂A′) and D(2d)(²A₁) structures that are favored in the dry source condition. In the (CS2)(n)⁻, n ≥ 3 and (CS₂)₂⁻ (H₂O)(m), m > 0 clusters, the population of the C₂ᵥ(²B₁) structure diminishes drastically due to more favorable solvent interactions with the CS2 − monomercore. Photoexcitation of the (CS₂)₂⁻ also results in the formation of CS₂⁻ and C₂S₂⁻ at 532 nm, and C₂S₂⁻, CS₂⁻, CS₃⁻, S₂⁻, and S⁻ at 355 and 266 nm. The relative yields of C₂S₂⁻ is significantly higher when (CS₂)₂⁻ is formed under wet source condition suggesting C₂ᵥ(²B₁) structure as the origin of C₂S₂⁻. An abrupt decrease in the relative yield of C₂S₂⁻ is observed upon adding CS₂ or H₂O to (CS₂)₂⁻. The CS₂⁻ based clusters are the likely origin of the S− photoproduct, while CS₃⁻ is formed through the secondary S⁻+CS₂ reaction. Novel anions (CS₂O₂⁻ and CS₃O⁻) are observed in the CS₂+O₂+e⁻ reaction. The photoelectron imaging and photodissociation results of these and other anionic products are presented. In addition, CS₂⁻•O₂ ion-neutral complex is formed depending on the conditions in the ion source. Despite the positive electron affinity of O₂, no clear signature of O₂⁻•CS₂ ion-neutral complex is seen in the photoelectron image. CO₃⁻ ion is also formed abundantly as a result of CS₂+CO₂+O₂+e⁻ reaction