Electrophysiology Model for a Human Heart with Ischemic Scar and Realistic Purkinje Network

The role of Purkinje fibres in the onset of arrhythmias is controversial and computer simulations may shed light on possible arrhythmic mechanisms involving the Purkinje fibres. However, few computational modelling studies currently include a detailed Purkinje network as part of the model. We present a coupled Purkinje-myocardium electrophysiology model that includes an explicit model for the ischemic scar plus a detailed Purkinje network, and compare simulated activation times to those obtained by electro-anatomical mapping in vivo during sinus rhythm pacing. The results illustrate the importance of using sufficiently dense Purkinje networks in patient-specific studies to capture correctly the myocardial early activation that may be influenced by surviving Purkinje fibres in the infarct region

Recent progress in subwavelength grating metamaterial engineered silicon photonic devices.

In this talk we present our recent advances in SWG metamaterial engineering. We will show a 1D-optical phased array composed of 112 evanescent-coupled surface emitting antennas with a length of 1.5 mm and fed by a compact distributed Bragg deflector. The measurements demonstrate a wavelength-steerable collimated beam with a far-field angular divergence of 1.8o × 0.2o. Experimental results of a bricked SWG 2×2 MMI coupler are also shown, achieving polarization agnostic performance in the 1500nm to 1560nm wavelength range. Both devices were fabricated on a standard 220-nm SOI platform using a single full-etch step process, with a minimum feature size of 80 nm, and thus compatible with immersion deep-UV lithography.This work was supported by the High Throughput and Secure Networks Challenge Program at the National Research Council of Canada (HTSN-209, 175363-HTSN 210); Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (PID2019-106747RB-I00); Ministerio de Universidades (FPU19/02408, FPU20/03487); Junta de Andalucía (P18-RT-1453); FEDER Andalucía (UMA20-FEDERJA-158); Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Bricked and evanescently-coupled topologies: expanding the portfolio of subwavelength metamaterial silicon photonic devices

We present two novel topologies of subwavelength grating (SWG) waveguides: the bricked-SWG and the evanescently-coupled-SWG. The bricked topology enables accurate control of waveguide anisotropy while maintaining the index and dispersion engineering advantage intrinsic to SWG waveguides. The evanescently-coupled-SWG allows unprecedented control of the strength of the modal perturbation in waveguide Bragg gratings and nanophotonic antennas. Both topologies leverage a Manhattan-like pattern, with pixel sizes compatible with deep-uv lithography. Our recent results will be discussed, focusing on polarization-independent multimode interference couplers for the O and C bands and a millimeter-long narrow-beam steerable optical antenna array with angular divergence of only 1.8º×0.2º.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Development and validation of an ultra?performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry method for rapid quantification of free amino acids in human urine

An ultra-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-qTOFMS)method using hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography was developed and validated for simultaneous quantification of 18 free amino acids in urine with a total acquisition time including the column re-equilibration of less than 18 min per sample. This method involves simple sample preparation steps which consisted of 15 times dilution with acetonitrile to give a final composition of 25 % aqueous and 75 % acetonitrile without the need of any derivatization. The dynamic range for our calibration curve is approximately two orders of magnitude (120-fold from the lowest calibration curve point) with good linearity (r2 ? 0.995 for all amino acids). Good separation of all amino acids as well as good intra- and inter-day accuracy (<15 %) and precision (<15 %) were observed using three quality control samples at a concentration of low, medium and high range of the calibration curve. The limits of detection (LOD) and lower limit of quantification of our method were ranging from approximately 1–300 nM and 0.01–0.5 µM, respectively. The stability of amino acids in the prepared urine samples was found to be stable for 72 h at 4 °C, after one freeze thaw cycle and for up to 4 weeks at ?80 °C. We have applied this method to quantify the content of 18 free amino acids in 646 urine samples from a dietary intervention study. We were able to quantify all 18 free amino acids in these urine samples, if they were present at a level above the LOD. We found our method to be reproducible (accuracy and precision were typically <10 % for QCL, QCM and QCH) and the relatively high sample throughput nature of this method potentially makes it a suitable alternative for the analysis of urine samples in clinical setting

A global experiment on motivating social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic

Finding communication strategies that effectively motivate social distancing continues to be a global public health priority during the COVID-19 pandemic. This cross-country, preregistered experiment (n = 25,718 from 89 countries) tested hypotheses concerning generalizable positive and negative outcomes of social distancing messages that promoted personal agency and reflective choices (i.e., an autonomy-supportive message) or were restrictive and shaming (i.e., a controlling message) compared with no message at all. Results partially supported experimental hypotheses in that the controlling message increased controlled motivation (a poorly internalized form of motivation relying on shame, guilt, and fear of social consequences) relative to no message. On the other hand, the autonomy-supportive message lowered feelings of defiance compared with the controlling message, but the controlling message did not differ from receiving no message at all. Unexpectedly, messages did not influence autonomous motivation (a highly internalized form of motivation relying on one’s core values) or behavioral intentions. Results supported hypothesized associations between people’s existing autonomous and controlled motivations and self-reported behavioral intentions to engage in social distancing. Controlled motivation was associated with more defiance and less long-term behavioral intention to engage in social distancing, whereas autonomous motivation was associated with less defiance and more short- and long-term intentions to social distance. Overall, this work highlights the potential harm of using shaming and pressuring language in public health communication, with implications for the current and future global health challenges

A global experiment on motivating social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic

Finding communication strategies that effectively motivate social distancing continues to be a global public health priority during the COVID-19 pandemic. This cross-country, preregistered experiment (n = 25,718 from 89 countries) tested hypotheses concerning generalizable positive and negative outcomes of social distancing messages that promoted personal agency and reflective choices (i.e., an autonomy-supportive message) or were restrictive and shaming (i.e. a controlling message) compared to no message at all. Results partially supported experimental hypotheses in that the controlling message increased controlled motivation (a poorly-internalized form of motivation relying on shame, guilt, and fear of social consequences) relative to no message. On the other hand, the autonomy-supportive message lowered feelings of defiance compared to the controlling message, but the controlling message did not differ from receiving no message at all. Unexpectedly, messages did not influence autonomous motivation (a highly-internalized form of motivation relying on one’s core values) or behavioral intentions. Results supported hypothesized associations between people’s existing autonomous and controlled motivations and self-reported behavioral intentions to engage in social distancing: Controlled motivation was associated with more defiance and less long-term behavioral intentions to engage in social distancing, whereas autonomous motivation was associated with less defiance and more short- and long-term intentions to social distance. Overall, this work highlights the potential harm of using shaming and pressuring language in public health communication, with implications for the current and future global health challenges

A global experiment on motivating social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic

Significance Communicating in ways that motivate engagement in social distancing remains a critical global public health priority during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study tested motivational qualities of messages about social distancing (those that promoted choice and agency vs. those that were forceful and shaming) in 25,718 people in 89 countries. The autonomy-supportive message decreased feelings of defying social distancing recommendations relative to the controlling message, and the controlling message increased controlled motivation, a less effective form of motivation, relative to no message. Message type did not impact intentions to socially distance, but people’s existing motivations were related to intentions. Findings were generalizable across a geographically diverse sample and may inform public health communication strategies in this and future global health emergencies. Abstract Finding communication strategies that effectively motivate social distancing continues to be a global public health priority during the COVID-19 pandemic. This cross-country, preregistered experiment (n = 25,718 from 89 countries) tested hypotheses concerning generalizable positive and negative outcomes of social distancing messages that promoted personal agency and reflective choices (i.e., an autonomy-supportive message) or were restrictive and shaming (i.e., a controlling message) compared with no message at all. Results partially supported experimental hypotheses in that the controlling message increased controlled motivation (a poorly internalized form of motivation relying on shame, guilt, and fear of social consequences) relative to no message. On the other hand, the autonomy-supportive message lowered feelings of defiance compared with the controlling message, but the controlling message did not differ from receiving no message at all. Unexpectedly, messages did not influence autonomous motivation (a highly internalized form of motivation relying on one’s core values) or behavioral intentions. Results supported hypothesized associations between people’s existing autonomous and controlled motivations and self-reported behavioral intentions to engage in social distancing. Controlled motivation was associated with more defiance and less long-term behavioral intention to engage in social distancing, whereas autonomous motivation was associated with less defiance and more short- and long-term intentions to social distance. Overall, this work highlights the potential harm of using shaming and pressuring language in public health communication, with implications for the current and future global health challenges

Pre to Intraoperative Data Fusion Framework for Multimodal Characterization of Myocardial Scar Tissue

Merging multimodal information about myocardial scar tissue can help electrophysiologists to find the most appropriate target during catheter ablation of ventricular arrhythmias. A framework is presented to analyze and combine information from delayed enhancement magnetic resonance imaging (DE-MRI) and electro-anatomical mapping data. Using this information, electrical, mechanical, and image-based characterization of the myocardium are performed. The presented framework allows the left ventricle to be segmented by DE-MRI and the scar to be characterized prior to the intervention based on image information. It allows the electro-anatomical maps obtained during the intervention from a navigation system to be merged together with the anatomy and scar information extracted from DE-MRI. It also allows for the estimation of endocardial motion and deformation to assess cardiac mechanics. Therefore, electrical, mechanical, and image-based characterization of the myocardium can be performed. The feasibility of this approach was demonstrated on three patients with ventricular tachycardia associated to ischemic cardiomyopathy by integrating images from DE-MRI and electro-anatomical maps data in a common framework for intraoperative myocardial tissue characterization. The proposed framework has the potential to guide and monitor delivery of radio frequency ablation of ventricular tachycardia. It is also helpful for research purposes, facilitating the study of the relationship between electrical and mechanical properties of the tissue, as well as with tissue viability from DE-MRI

Narrowband Bragg filters based on subwavelength grating waveguides for silicon photonic sensing

Subwavelength grating (SWG) waveguides have been shown to provide enhanced light-matter interaction resulting in superior sensitivity in integrated photonics sensors. Narrowband integrated optical filters can be made by combining SWG waveguides with evanescently coupled Bragg gratings. In this paper, we assess the sensing capabilities of this novel filtering component with rigorous electromagnetic simulations. Our design is optimized for an operating wavelength of 1310 nm to benefit from lower water absorption and achieve narrower bandwidths than at the conventional wavelength of 1550 nm. Results show that the sensor achieves a sensitivity of 507 nm/RIU and a quality factor of 4.9 × 104, over a large dynamic range circumventing the free spectral range limit of conventional devices. Furthermore, the intrinsic limit of detection, 5.1 × 10-5 RIU constitutes a 10-fold enhancement compared to state-of-the-art resonant waveguide sensors.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (PID2019-106747RB-I00, TEC2016-80718-R); Junta de Andalucía (P18-RT-1453, P18-RT-793, UMA18- FEDERJA-219); Universidad de Málaga; Grantová Agentura České Republiky (19-00062S).Ye