Holographic Optical Elements and Application

Holographic optical element has a high diffraction efficiency and a narrow-band frequency characteristic, and it has a characteristic that is able to implement several features in a single flat device. It is widely applied in various fields. In this chapter, the principle and characteristics of the holographic optical elements are described in detail, and few typical holographic optical element-based applications, such as head-mounted display, lens array, and solar concentrator, are introduced. Finally, the futuristic research concepts for holographic optical element-based applications and contents are discussed

Non-motor symptoms in multiple system atrophy: A comparative study with Parkinson's disease and progressive supranuclear palsy

BackgroundNon-motor symptoms (NMS) are compulsory clinical features for the clinical diagnosis of multiple system atrophy (MSA), some of which precede motor symptoms onset. To date, few studies have systematically investigated NMS in MSA and the timing of presenting NMS as the disease progresses. Clinically, MSA is difficult to be differentiated from Parkinson's disease (PD) and progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), and the differences in NMS between MSA and PD/PSP remain unclear. The aim of this study was to compare the burden of NMS between MSA and PD/PSP and to delineate the timing of NMS presentation relative to the onset of motor symptoms in MSA.MethodsA total of 61, 87, and 30 patients with MSA, PD, and PSP, respectively, were enrolled in this study. NMS was systematically assessed in all patients using the NMS scale (NMSS), and the onset of NMS relative to the onset of motor symptoms in MSA was investigated.ResultsMSA group had higher total NMSS scores (82.15 ± 46.10) than the PD (36.14 ± 30.78) and PSP (50.30 ± 55.05) groups (p < 0.001 overall). The number distribution pattern of the NMS was significantly different among the three parkinsonian disorders (p < 0.001 overall). In total, 85.2% of patients with MSA had more than 10 NMS, which was significantly higher than PD (28.7%) and PSP (33.3%). The frequency and scores of many NMSS subdomains and symptoms were higher in MSA than in PD and PSP (all p < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that patients with fainting, lack of motivation, swallowing, and loss of sexual interest could be attributed to MSA rather than PD or PSP, while patients with loss of concentration and forgetfulness were characteristic features of PD or PSP rather than MSA. REM-sleep behavior disorder (RBD), constipation, problems having sex, and loss of sexual interest preceded the motor symptoms onset of MSA by 2.81 ± 4.51, 1.54 ± 6.32, 1.35 ± 4.70, and 0.45 ± 3.61 years, respectively.ConclusionThe NMS spectrum in MSA differs from that of PD and PSP. Patients with MSA have a higher NMS burden than patients with PD or PSP. RBD, constipation, problems having sex, and loss of sexual interest may become early diagnostic clinical markers of MSA

Dual Antiplatelet Therapy vs Alteplase for Patients With Minor Nondisabling Acute Ischemic Stroke

Importance Intravenous thrombolysis is increasingly used in patients with minor stroke, but its benefit in patients with minor nondisabling stroke is unknown. Objective To investigate whether dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) is noninferior to intravenous thrombolysis among patients with minor nondisabling acute ischemic stroke. Design, Setting, and Participants This multicenter, open-label, blinded end point, noninferiority randomized clinical trial included 760 patients with acute minor nondisabling stroke (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale [NIHSS] score ≤5, with ≤1 point on the NIHSS in several key single-item scores; scale range, 0-42). The trial was conducted at 38 hospitals in China from October 2018 through April 2022. The final follow-up was on July 18, 2022. Interventions Eligible patients were randomized within 4.5 hours of symptom onset to the DAPT group (n = 393), who received 300 mg of clopidogrel on the first day followed by 75 mg daily for 12 (±2) days, 100 mg of aspirin on the first day followed by 100 mg daily for 12 (±2) days, and guideline-based antiplatelet treatment until 90 days, or the alteplase group (n = 367), who received intravenous alteplase (0.9 mg/kg; maximum dose, 90 mg) followed by guideline-based antiplatelet treatment beginning 24 hours after receipt of alteplase. Main Outcomes and Measures The primary end point was excellent functional outcome, defined as a modified Rankin Scale score of 0 or 1 (range, 0-6), at 90 days. The noninferiority of DAPT to alteplase was defined on the basis of a lower boundary of the 1-sided 97.5% CI of the risk difference greater than or equal to −4.5% (noninferiority margin) based on a full analysis set, which included all randomized participants with at least 1 efficacy evaluation, regardless of treatment group. The 90-day end points were assessed in a blinded manner. A safety end point was symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage up to 90 days. Results Among 760 eligible randomized patients (median [IQR] age, 64 [57-71] years; 223 [31.0%] women; median [IQR] NIHSS score, 2 [1-3]), 719 (94.6%) completed the trial. At 90 days, 93.8% of patients (346/369) in the DAPT group and 91.4% (320/350) in the alteplase group had an excellent functional outcome (risk difference, 2.3% [95% CI, −1.5% to 6.2%]; crude relative risk, 1.38 [95% CI, 0.81-2.32]). The unadjusted lower limit of the 1-sided 97.5% CI was −1.5%, which is larger than the −4.5% noninferiority margin (P for noninferiority <.001). Symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage at 90 days occurred in 1 of 371 participants (0.3%) in the DAPT group and 3 of 351 (0.9%) in the alteplase group. Conclusions and Relevance Among patients with minor nondisabling acute ischemic stroke presenting within 4.5 hours of symptom onset, DAPT was noninferior to intravenous alteplase with regard to excellent functional outcome at 90 days. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT0366141

The Study On Competitiveness Of E-Recruitment Practices Of SMEs In Malaysia

This study is about electronic recruitment systems which improve the ability of human resource mangers to select and recruit workers more effectively in a shorter time and in a superior way that create a competitive advantage for the organization.This system is widely known as e-recruitment system

DNA Fragmentation Factor 45 (DFF45) Gene at 1p36.2 Is Homozygously Deleted and Encodes Variant Transcripts in Neuroblastoma Cell Line

Recently, loss of heterozygosity (LOH) studies suggest that more than two tumor suppressor genes lie on the short arm of chromosome 1 (1p) in neuroblastoma (NB). To identify candidate tumor suppressor genes in NB, we searched for homozygous deletions in 20 NB cell lines using a high-density STS map spanning chromosome 1p36, a common LOH region in NB. We found that the 45-kDa subunit of the DNA fragmentation factor (DFF45) gene was homozygously deleted in an NB cell line, NB-1. DFF45 is the chaperon of DFF40, and both molecules are necessary for caspase 3 to induce apoptosis. DFF35, a splicing variant of DFF45, is an inhibitor of DFF40. We examined 20 NB cell lines for expression and mutation of DFF45 gene by reverse transcription (RT)-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and RT-PCR-single-strand conformation polymorphism. Some novel variant transcripts of the DFF45 gene were found in NB cell lines, but not in normal adrenal gland and peripheral blood. These variants may not serve as chaperons of DFF40, but as inhibitors like DFF35, thus disrupting the balance between DFF45 and DFF40. No mutations of the DFF45 gene were found in any NB cell line, suggesting that the DFF45 is not a tumor suppressor gene for NB. However, homozygous deletion of the DFF45 gene in the NB-1 cell line may imply the presence of unknown tumor suppressor genes in this region

Is it enough to set national patient safety goals? An empirical evaluation in Taiwan

[[abstract]]Objective: In 2004, the Taiwan Department of Health set the national patient safety goals. To date, however, there has been no evaluation of these goals. This study aimed to develop a method to evaluate the status of the national patient safety goals in Taiwan. Design: A cross-sectional questionnaire surveys to measure achievements on Taiwan's national patient safety goals. This survey was also followed up with an onsite audit to ensure accuracy. Setting: All hospitals in Taiwan. Participants: A total of 361 hospitals in Taiwan respond to questionnaire survey and 80 randomly selected hospitals for onsite audit. Interventions: None. Main outcome measures: Average scores on achievements of the national patient safety goals. Results: Among the 516 hospitals to which the questionnaire was sent, 361 (70%) responded. A total of 80 hospitals were randomly selected according to geographic location and size for onsite audit. The results show that the longer the period of implementation, the higher the average scores on achievements of the goals. After stratified analysis by hospital size, the large hospitals were found to have a higher average score in every goal, especially in the new goals. Furthermore, in terms of the difference between self-report results and the onsite audit, the score in the self-report was higher than the score given by experts upon onsite audit; however, they were similar. Most items were approximately the same in the self-report score and the onsite judgment, and those that differed were merely either one rank higher or lower. Conclusion: The self-report questionnaire combined with an onsite audit appears to be a promising approach for measuring scores on achievements of the national patient safety goals. The Department of Health could conduct this program annually to evaluate the progress and propose coping strategies

A numerical model of electrical characteristics for the monolayer graphene field effect transistors

A numerical model of carrier saturation velocity and drain current for the monolayer graphene field effect transistors (GFETs) is proposed by considering the exponential distribution of potential fluctuations in disordered graphene system. The carrier saturation velocity of GFET is investigated by the two-region model, and it is found to be affected not only by the carrier density, but also by the graphene disorder. The numerical solutions of the carrier density and carrier saturation velocity in the disordered GFETs yield clear and physical-based results. The simulated results of the drain current model show good consistency with the reported experimental data