Harmonizing Software Standards with a Semantic Model

The application of standards in the software development process supports interoperability between systems. Maintenance of standards must be guaranteed on the organisational and technical level. The use of semantic technologies can contribute to the standard maintenance process by providing a harmonizing bridge between standards of different knowledge domains and languages and by providing a single point of administration for standard domain concepts. This paper describes a case study of the creation of a semantic layer between software standards for water management systems in The Netherland

All-optical phase-regenerative multicasting of 40 Gbit/s DPSK signal in a degenerate phase sensitive amplifier

We demonstrate all-optical 1-to-5 differential phase-shift keyed (DPSK) wavelength multicasting at 40 Gbit/s using a degenerate four-wave mixing (FWM) based phase sensitive amplifier (PSA). Phase regenerative properties are reported with a sensitivity improvement of more that 10 dB

Saturation effects in degenerate phase sensitive fiber optic parametric amplifiers

We experimentally study saturation effects in degenerate phase sensitive amplifiers, revealing and explaining a gain regime suitable for all-optical signal processing functions such as phase regeneration

Plant growth responses to elevated atmospheric CO2 are increased by phosphorus sufficiency but not by arbuscular mycorrhizas

Capturing the full growth potential in crops under future elevated CO₂ (eCO₂) concentrations would be facilitated by improved understanding of eCO₂ effects on uptake and use of mineral nutrients. This study investigates interactions of eCO₂, soil phosphorus (P), and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis in Medicago truncatula and Brachypodium distachyon grown under the same conditions. The focus was on eCO₂ effects on vegetative growth, efficiency in acquisition and use of P, and expression of phosphate transporter (PT) genes. Growth responses to eCO₂ were positive at P sufficiency, but under low-P conditions they ranged from non-significant in M. truncatula to highly significant in B. distachyon Growth of M. truncatula was increased by AM at low P conditions at both CO₂ levels and eCO₂×AM interactions were sparse. Elevated CO₂ had small effects on P acquisition, but enhanced conversion of tissue P into biomass. Expression of PT genes was influenced by eCO₂, but effects were inconsistent across genes and species. The ability of eCO₂ to partly mitigate P limitation-induced growth reductions in B. distachyon was associated with enhanced P use efficiency, and requirements for P fertilizers may not increase in such species in future CO₂-rich climates.Iver Jakobsen, Sally E. Smith, F. Andrew Smith, Stephanie J. Watts-Williams, Signe S. Clausen and Mette Grønlun

All-optical phase and amplitude regeneration properties of a 40 Gbit/s DPSK black-box phase sensitive amplifier

We experimentally study the pure amplitude and phase regeneration capabilities of a blackbox degenerate four wave mixing (FWM) based bit-rate-flexible phase sensitive amplifier (PSA) for a 40 Gbit/s differential phase-shift keyed (DPSK) signal

HIV testing strategies outside of health care settings in the European Union (EU)/European Economic Area (EEA): a systematic review to inform European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control guidance

Objectives: In recent years, new technologies and new approaches to scale up HIV testing have emerged. The objective of this paper was to synthesize the body of recent evidence on strategies aimed at increasing the uptake and coverage of HIV testing outside of health care settings in the European Union (EU)/European Economic Area (EEA). Methods: Systematic searches to identify studies describing effective HIV testing interventions and barriers to testing were run in five databases (2010–2017) with no language restrictions; the grey literature was searched for similar unpublished studies (2014–2017). Study selection, data extraction and critical appraisal were performed by two independent reviewers following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Results: Eighty studies on HIV testing in non-health care settings were identified, the majority set in Northern Europe. Testing was implemented in 65 studies, with men who have sex with men the risk group most often targeted. Testing coverage and positivity/reactivity rates varied widely by setting and population group. However, testing in community and outreach settings was effective at reaching people who had never previously been tested and acceptability of HIV testing, particularly rapid testing, outside of health care settings was found to be high. Other interventions aimed to increase HIV testing identified were: campaigns (n = 8), communication technologies (n = 2), education (n = 3) and community networking (n = 1). Conclusions: This review has identified several strategies with potential to achieve high HIV testing coverage outside of health care settings. However, the geographical spread of studies was limited, and few intervention studies reported before and after data, making it difficult to evaluate the impact of interventions on test coverage

Boride Coating on Titanium Alloys as Biomaterial in Wear and Fretting Applications

The issue taken into account is the lifespan and potential toxicity of arthroprostheses with a focus on metal-polyethylene coupling. The gold standard for hip prostheses is a femoral component made of Ti6Al4V alloy, a head made of Co-Cr-Mo alloy and an insert made of UHMWPE while for knee prostheses the gold standard is a tibial component made of Co-Cr-Mo alloy, a femoral component made of Ti6Al4V and an insert made of UHMWPE. Open issues are wear of UHMWPE, toxicity of Co alloys and low fretting/wear resistance of Ti alloys. The aim of this research is to focus on the most biocompatible material (Ti6Al4V alloy) in order to improve its bio-tribological characteristics. A ceramic surface conversion by thermal treatment was used to obtain a borided coating on the titanium alloy surface in order to combine high hardness, good wettability and lubricant behavior of ceramics with good mechanical properties of Ti metal alloys. The coatings were characterized by means of optical microscope observation, FESEM analysis, XRD analysis, microindentation, scratch, friction and wear tests in order to identify the thermal treatment most suitable to obtain a coating with the required properties (thickness, hardness, roughness, wear resistance, friction coefficient and scratch resistance, surface lubrication ability in contact with human fluids) without significant modification of the microstructure of the substrate

The risks of adverse events with venlafaxine and mirtazapine versus 'active placebo', placebo, or no intervention for adults with major depressive disorder: a protocol for two separate systematic reviews with meta-analysis and Trial Sequential Analysis

BACKGROUND: Major depressive disorder causes a great burden on patients and societies. Venlafaxine and mirtazapine are commonly prescribed as second-line treatment for patients with major depressive disorder worldwide. Previous systematic reviews have concluded that venlafaxine and mirtazapine reduce depressive symptoms, but the effects seem small and may not be important to the average patient. Moreover, previous reviews have not systematically assessed the occurrence of adverse events. Therefore, we aim to investigate the risks of adverse events with venlafaxine or mirtazapine versus 'active placebo', placebo, or no intervention for adults with major depressive disorder in two separate systematic reviews. METHODS: This is a protocol for two systematic reviews with meta-analysis and Trial Sequential Analysis. The assessments of the effects of venlafaxine or mirtazapine will be reported in two separate reviews. The protocol is reported as recommended by Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis Protocols, risk of bias will be assessed with the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool version 2, clinical significance will be assessed using our eight-step procedure, and the certainty of the evidence will be assessed with the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach. We will search for published and unpublished trials in major medical databases and trial registers. Two review authors will independently screen the results from the literature searches, extract data, and assess risk of bias. We will include published or unpublished randomised clinical trial comparing venlafaxine or mirtazapine with 'active placebo', placebo, or no intervention for adults with major depressive disorder. The primary outcomes will be suicides or suicide attempts, serious adverse events, and non-serious adverse events. Exploratory outcomes will include depressive symptoms, quality of life, and individual adverse events. If feasible, we will assess the intervention effects using random-effects and fixed-effect meta-analyses. DISCUSSION: Venlafaxine and mirtazapine are frequently used as second-line treatment of major depressive disorder worldwide. There is a need for a thorough systematic review to provide the necessary background for weighing the benefits against the harms. This review will ultimately inform best practice in the treatment of major depressive disorder. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42022315395