Analysis of dielectric circular cylinder light spot narrowing by whispering gallery modes and influence of material absorption

We present results of numerical analysis of the diffraction of a plane monochromatic TE-wave on an ideal homogeneous dielectric cylinder with several resonant wavelength scale radii. Two subsequent near-surface maxima of intensity (two focuses) generated at the cylinder output were found on the optical axis. The first subwavelength focus is formed by one of the whispering gallery mode lobes. Its intensity is 50 times the incident light intensity and its full width at the half maximum of the intensity is equal to 0.155 of the incident wavelength. The second focus is two times less in intensity. Its focal spot known as a photonic nanojet is stretched toward the optical axis. The second focus is formed at a distance about the wavelength from the cylinder surface. Its width is equal to 0.44 of the wavelength and its length is two wavelengths. The influence of material absorption on the light focusing is also examined by numerical simulation.This work was supported by the Federal Agency of Scientific Organizations (agreement No 007-ГЗ/Ч3363/26) and the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation (# SP-4375.2016.5), a RF Presidential grants for support of leading scientific schools (NSh-6307.2018.8) and young candidate of science (MK-9019.2016.2),and the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (##17-47-630420, 17-47-630417, 16-47-630483, 15-07-01174)

A model for emergency medicine education in post-conflict Liberia

AbstractThe specialty of emergency medicine (EM) remains largely underdeveloped in many parts of the world including Africa. Within West Africa the Liberian health care system was presented with incredible challenges in the immediate post conflict years. One significant challenge facing the country was the paucity of health care providers. In 2006, only 122 physicians were practising in Liberia (one for every 26,782 citizens), only 87 of them Liberian national physicians. The public health indicators in post conflict Liberia suffered as a result of the overburdened system. Many indicators placed Liberia as having the worst health survivability in the world. Significantly, morbidity and mortality associated with unaddressed emergent presentations remained high.This article describes a unique paradigm for addressing the deficit in human capacity for emergency health care in the Republic of Liberia. This system was designed and supported by a consortium of academic medical centres in the United States working in conjunction with a local non-governmental organisation, Health Education and Relief Through Teaching (HEARTT). Since 2007, the consortium has delivered virtually uninterrupted emergency medical care and medical education at the largest teaching hospital in Liberia. The Liberian programme objectives included supervising and directing emergency medical care, providing a model for curriculum development, building capacity for medical education, and improving systems-based EM practice. The collaboration of multiple academic institutions in bringing emergency medical services and academic EM teaching to a post-conflict setting remains a unique model for introducing the development of acute care in a developing country

Primary Graft Failure after Heart Transplantation

Primary graft failure (PGF) is a devastating complication that occurs in the immediate postoperative period following heart transplantation. It manifests as severe ventricular dysfunction of the donor graft and carries significant mortality and morbidity. In the last decade, advances in pharmacological treatment and mechanical circulatory support have improved the outlook for heart transplant recipients who develop this complication. Despite these advances in treatment, PGF is still the leading cause of death in the first 30 days after transplantation. In today's climate of significant organ shortages and growing waiting lists, transplant units worldwide have increasingly utilised “marginal donors” to try and bridge the gap between “supply and demand.” One of the costs of this strategy has been an increased incidence of PGF. As the threat of PGF increases, the challenges of predicting and preventing its occurrence, as well as the identification of more effective treatment modalities, are vital areas of active research and development

Faddeev Calculations of Proton-Deuteron Radiative Capture with Exchange Currents

pd capture processes at various energies have been analyzed based on solutions of 3N-Faddeev equations and using modern NN forces. The application of the Siegert theorem is compared to the explicit use of $\pi$- and $\rho$-like exchange currents connected to the AV18 NN interaction. Overall good agreement with cross sections and spin observables has been obtained but leaving room for improvement in some cases. Feasibility studies for 3NF's consistently included in the 3N continuum and the 3N bound state have been performed as well.Comment: Minor changes in notation, ps files for figure

Riociguat treatment in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension: Final safety data from the EXPERT registry

Objective: The soluble guanylate cyclase stimulator riociguat is approved for the treatment of adult patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and inoperable or persistent/recurrent chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) following Phase

Assessing the utility of ultrasound in Liberia

Sub-Saharan Africa has sparse imaging capacity, and data on ultrasound (US) use is limited. We collected prospective data on consecutive patients undergoing US to assess disease spectrum and US utility in Liberia. A total of 102 patients were prospectively enrolled. Average age was 33 years (0-84), 80% were female. US indications were: 53% Obstetrics/Gynecology (OB/GYN) (24% gynecologic, 17% second/third trimester, 12% first trimester), 14% hepatobiliary, 10% intraperitoneal/intrathoracic fluid, 8% cardiac, 5% focused assessment of sonography in trauma, and 4% renal. US changed management in 62% of cases. Greatest impact was in first trimester OB (86%), FAST (83%), ECHO (80%), and second/third trimester OB (77%). US changed management in 47% of right upper quadrant and 33% of gynecologic studies. Curvilinear probe addressed over 80% of need. The primary role for US in developing countries is in management of obstetrics, with a secondary role for traumatic and a-traumatic abdominal processes. Most needs can be met with the curvilinear probe. Training should begin with obstetrics and should be a primary focus for curriculum

Recommendations for Control of East African Sleeping Sickness in Uganda

East African sleeping sickness, caused by Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense, is prominent in Uganda and poses a serious public health challenge in the region. This publication attempts to provide key components for designing a strategy for a nationwide initiative to provide insecticide-treatment of the animal reservoir to control T. b. rhodesiense. The contents of this article will focus on insecticide-based vector control strategies, monitoring and evaluation framework, and knowledge gaps required for future initiatives

Characteristic changes to pulsatile and steady‐state load according to pulmonary hypertension classification

Abstract It is of increasing importance to understand and predict changes to the systemic and pulmonary circulations in pulmonary hypertension (PH). To do so, it is necessary to describe the circulation in complete quantitative terms. Characteristic impedance (Zc) expresses opposition of the circulation to pulsatile blood flow. Evaluation of systemic and pulmonary Zc relationships according to PH classification has not previously been described. Prospective study of 40 clinically indicated patients referred for CMR and RHC (56 ± 18 years; 70% females, eight mPAP ≤ 25 mmHg, 16 pre‐capillary [Pre‐cPH], eight combined pre‐ and post‐capillary [Cpc‐PH] and eight isolated left‐heart disease [Ipc‐PH]). CMR provided assessment of ascending aortic (Ao) and pulmonary arterial (PA) flow, and RHC, central Ao and PA pressure. Systemic and pulmonary Zc were expressed as the relationship of pressure to flow in the frequency domain. Baseline demographic characteristics were well‐matched across PH subclasses. In those with a mPAP ≤25mHg, systemic Zc and SVR were >2 times higher than pulmonary Zc and PVR. Only Pre‐cPH was associated with inverse pulsatile (systemic Zc 58 [45–69] vs pulmonary Zc 70 [58–85]), but not steady‐state (SVR 1101 [986–1752] vs. PVR 483 [409–557]) relationships. Patients with CpcPH and IpcPH had concordant pulsatile and steady‐state relationships (Graphical Abstract). Measurement of, and the relationship between, systemic and pulmonary Zc in patients according to PH sub‐classification has not previously been described. Systemic Zc was routinely higher than pulmonary Zc, except in patients with newly diagnosed Pre‐cPH, where inverse pulsatile but not steady‐state relationships were observed