High-Bandwidth Low-Cost High-Speed Optical Fiber Links using Organic Light Emitting Diodes

Record-high 200 Mbps transmission using an OLED with a 31 MHz 3 dB bandwidth using a 3-tap feedforward equaliser is achieved, demonstrating the potential of such devices for use in low-cost polymer optical fiber links.EPSRC Ultra Parallel Visible Light Communication Project (EP/K00042X/1) EPSRC Studentship 146672

Performance of wind-powered soil electroremediation process for the removal of 2,4-D from soil

In this work, it is studied a wind-powered electrokinetic soil flushing process for the removal of pesticides from soil. This approach aims to develop an eco-friendly electrochemical soil treatment technique and to face the in-situ treatment of polluted soils at remote locations. Herbicide 2,4 dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) is selected as a model pollutant for the soil treatment tests. The performance of the wind-powered process throughout a 15 days experiment is compared to the same remediation process powered by a conventional DC power supply. The wind-powered test covered many different wind conditions (from calm to near gale), being performed 20.7% under calm conditions and 17% under moderate or gentle breeze. According to the results obtained, the wind-powered soil treatment is feasible, obtaining a 53.9% removal of 2,4-D after 15 days treatment. Nevertheless, the remediation is more efficient if it is fed by a constant electric input (conventional DC power supply), reaching a 90.2% removal of 2,4-D with a much lower amount of charge supplied (49.2 A h kg−1 and 4.33 A h kg−1 for wind-powered and conventional) within the same operation time.In this work, it is studied a wind-powered electrokinetic soil flushing process for the removal of pesticides from soil. This approach aims to develop an eco-friendly electrochemical soil treatment technique and to face the in-situ treatment of polluted soils at remote locations. Herbicide 2,4 dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) is selected as a model pollutant for the soil treatment tests. The performance of the wind-powered process throughout a 15 days experiment is compared to the same remediation process powered by a conventional DC power supply. The wind-powered test covered many different wind conditions (from calm to near gale), being performed 20.7% under calm conditions and 17% under moderate or gentle breeze. According to the results obtained, the wind-powered soil treatment is feasible, obtaining a 53.9% removal of 2,4-D after 15 days treatment. Nevertheless, the remediation is more efficient if it is fed by a constant electric input (conventional DC power supply), reaching a 90.2% removal of 2,4-D with a much lower amount of charge supplied (49.2 A h kg−1 and 4.33 A h kg−1 for wind-powered and conventional) within the same operation time.En este trabajo se estudia un proceso electrocinético de lavado de suelo impulsado por viento para la eliminación de pesticidas del suelo. Este enfoque tiene como objetivo desarrollar una técnica de tratamiento electroquímico de suelos respetuosa con el medio ambiente y hacer frente al tratamiento in situ de suelos contaminados en lugares remotos. HerbicidaEl ácido 2,4 diclorofenoxiacético (2,4-D) se selecciona como contaminante modelo para las pruebas de tratamiento del suelo. El rendimiento del proceso impulsado por energía eólica a lo largo de un experimento de 15 días se compara con el mismo proceso de remediación alimentado por una fuente de alimentación de CC convencional. La prueba con energía eólica abarcó muchas condiciones de viento diferentes (desde calma hasta casi vendaval), realizándose un 20,7 % en condiciones de calma y un 17 % con brisa moderada o suave. De acuerdo con los resultados obtenidos, el tratamiento del suelo con energía eólica es factible, obteniendo una remoción de 2,4-D del 53,9% después de 15 días de tratamiento. Sin embargo, la remediación es más eficiente si es alimentada por una entrada eléctrica constante (fuente de alimentación DC convencional), alcanzando un 90,2% de remoción de 2,4-D con una cantidad de carga mucho menor (49,2 A h kg −1 y 4,33 Ah kg−1 para eólica y convencional) dentro del mismo tiempo de funcionamiento.En este trabajo se estudia un proceso electrocinético de lavado de suelo impulsado por viento para la eliminación de pesticidas del suelo. Este enfoque tiene como objetivo desarrollar una técnica de tratamiento electroquímico de suelos respetuosa con el medio ambiente y hacer frente al tratamiento in situ de suelos contaminados en lugares remotos. HerbicidaEl ácido 2,4 diclorofenoxiacético (2,4-D) se selecciona como contaminante modelo para las pruebas de tratamiento del suelo. El rendimiento del proceso impulsado por energía eólica a lo largo de un experimento de 15 días se compara con el mismo proceso de remediación alimentado por una fuente de alimentación de CC convencional. La prueba con energía eólica abarcó muchas condiciones de viento diferentes (desde calma hasta casi vendaval), realizándose un 20,7 % en condiciones de calma y un 17 % con brisa moderada o suave. De acuerdo con los resultados obtenidos, el tratamiento del suelo con energía eólica es factible, obteniendo una remoción de 2,4-D del 53,9% después de 15 días de tratamiento. Sin embargo, la remediación es más eficiente si es alimentada por una entrada eléctrica constante (fuente de alimentación DC convencional), alcanzando un 90,2% de remoción de 2,4-D con una cantidad de carga mucho menor (49,2 A h kg −1 y 4,33 Ah kg−1 para eólica y convencional) dentro del mismo tiempo de funcionamiento

Does training with amplitude modulated tones affect tone-vocoded speech perception?

Temporal-envelope cues are essential for successful speech perception. We asked here whether training on stimuli containing temporal-envelope cues without speech content can improve the perception of spectrally-degraded (vocoded) speech in which the temporal-envelope (but not the temporal fine structure) is mainly preserved. Two groups of listeners were trained on different amplitude-modulation (AM) based tasks, either AM detection or AM-rate discrimination (21 blocks of 60 trials during two days, 1260 trials; frequency range: 4Hz, 8Hz, and 16Hz), while an additional control group did not undertake any training. Consonant identification in vocoded vowel-consonant-vowel stimuli was tested before and after training on the AM tasks (or at an equivalent time interval for the control group). Following training, only the trained groups showed a significant improvement in the perception of vocoded speech, but the improvement did not significantly differ from that observed for controls. Thus, we do not find convincing evidence that this amount of training with temporal-envelope cues without speech content provide significant benefit for vocoded speech intelligibility. Alternative training regimens using vocoded speech along the linguistic hierarchy should be explored

Removal of algae from biological cultures: a challenge for electrocoagulation?

BACKGROUND In the search for novel technologies for the treatment of urban wastewater, combined anaerobic–algae membrane bioreactors have become a very interesting choice. Recovery of algae produced in these reactors has become the key point to obtain a good economic efficiency with this technology. In this work, electrocoagulation is studied as an alternative for the coarse removal of algae from a biological culture. RESULTS Results demonstrate that the electrochemical technology is a suitable technology for this purpose allowing the removal of more than 90% of the algae without modifying significantly the pH and with an operating cost below 0.04 € m−3. The same general trends are observed for applied current charge and current density supplied when aluminum or iron are used as electrodes although aluminum was much more efficient. CONCLUSIONS The dose of coagulant reagents required is very low, indicating that coagulant generated in the process is very efficiently used. The best results in terms of algae and turbidity removals are obtained operating at low current densities with aluminum electrodes. According to pH and z-potential values, insoluble metal hydroxide and anion M(OH)4− seems to be the primary coagulation species involved in the electrocoagulation process.ANTECEDENTES En la búsqueda de nuevas tecnologías para el tratamiento de aguas residuales urbanas, los biorreactores combinados anaerobios-membrana de algas se han convertido en una opción muy interesante. La recuperación de las algas producidas en estos reactores se ha convertido en el punto clave para obtener una buena eficiencia económica con esta tecnología. En este trabajo se estudia la electrocoagulación como alternativa para la remoción gruesa de algas de un cultivo biológico. RESULTADOS Los resultados demuestran que la tecnología electroquímica es una tecnología adecuada para este fin permitiendo eliminar más del 90% de las algas sin modificar significativamente el pH y con un coste operativo inferior a 0,04 € m −3 . Se observan las mismas tendencias generales para la carga de corriente aplicada y la densidad de corriente suministrada cuando se usan aluminio o hierro como electrodos, aunque el aluminio fue mucho más eficiente. CONCLUSIONES La dosis de reactivos coagulantes requerida es muy baja, lo que indica que el coagulante generado en el proceso se utiliza de manera muy eficiente. Los mejores resultados en términos de remoción de algas y turbidez se obtienen operando a bajas densidades de corriente con electrodos de aluminio. De acuerdo con los valores de pH y potencial z, el hidróxido de metal insoluble y el anión M(OH) 4− parecen ser las principales especies de coagulación involucradas en el proceso de electrocoagulación

Wide spectrum of NR5A1-related phenotypes in 46,XY and 46,XX individuals

Steroidogenic factor 1 (NR5A1, SF-1, Ad4BP) is a transcriptional regulator of genes involved in adrenal and gonadal development and function. Mutations in NR5A1 have been among the most frequently identified genetic causes of gonadal development disorders and are associated with a wide phenotypic spectrum. In 46,XY individuals, NR5A1-related phenotypes may range from disorders of sex development (DSD) to oligo/azoospermia, and in 46,XX individuals, from 46,XX ovotesticular and testicular DSD to primary ovarian insufficiency (POI). The most common 46,XY phenotype is atypical or female external genitalia with clitoromegaly, palpable gonads, and absence of Müllerian derivatives. Notably, an undervirilized external genitalia is frequently seen at birth, while spontaneous virilization may occur later, at puberty. In 46,XX individuals, NR5A1 mutations are a rare genetic cause of POI, manifesting as primary or secondary amenorrhea, infertility, hypoestrogenism, and elevated gonadotropin levels. Mothers and sisters of 46,XY DSD patients carrying heterozygous NR5A1 mutations may develop POI, and therefore require appropriate counseling. Moreover, the recurrent heterozygous p.Arg92Trp NR5A1 mutation is associated with variable degrees of testis development in 46,XX patients. A clear genotype-phenotype correlation is not seen in patients bearing NR5A1 mutations, suggesting that genetic modifiers, such as pathogenic variants in other testis/ovarian-determining genes, may contribute to the phenotypic expression. Here, we review the published literature on NR5A1-related disease, and discuss our findings at a single tertiary center in Brazil, including ten novel NR5A1 mutations identified in 46,XY DSD patients. The ever-expanding phenotypic range associated with NR5A1 variants in XY and XX individuals confirms its pivotal role in reproductive biology, and should alert clinicians to the possibility of NR5A1 defects in a variety of phenotypes presenting with gonadal dysfunction

The spatial distribution of leprosy in four villages in Bangladesh: An observational study

BACKGROUND: There is a higher case-detection rate for leprosy among spatially proximate contacts such as household members and neighbors. Spatial information regarding the clustering of leprosy can be used to improve intervention strategies. Identifying high-risk areas within villages around known cases can be helpful in finding new cases. METHODS: Using geographic information systems, we created digital maps of four villages in a highly endemic area in northwest Bangladesh. The villages were surveyed three times over four years. The spatial pattern of the compounds--a small group of houses--was analyzed, and we looked for spatial clusters of leprosy cases. RESULTS: The four villages had a total population of 4,123. There were 14 previously treated patients and we identified 19 new leprosy patients during the observation period. However, we found no spatial clusters with a probability significantly different from the null hypothesis of random occurrence. CONCLUSION: Spatial analysis at the microlevel of villages in highly endemic areas does not appear to be useful for identifying clusters of patients. The search for clustering should be extended to a higher aggregation level, such as the subdistrict or regional level. Additionally, in highly endemic areas, it appears to be more effective to target complete villages for contact tracing, rather than narrowly defined contact groups such as households

Severity of acute hepatitis and its outcome in patients with dengue fever in a tertiary care hospital Karachi, Pakistan (South Asia)

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Liver injury due to dengue viral infection is not uncommon. Acute liver injury is a severe complicating factor in dengue, predisposing to life-threatening hemorrhage, Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC) and encephalopathy. Therefore we sought to determine the frequency of hepatitis in dengue infection and to compare the outcome (length of stay, in hospital mortality, complications) between patients of Dengue who have mild/moderate (ALT 23-300 IU/L) v/s severe acute hepatitis (ALT > 300 IU/L).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A Cohort study of inpatients with dengue viral infection done at Aga Khan University Hospital Karachi. All patients (≥ 14 yrs age) admitted with diagnosis of Dengue Fever (DF), Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF) or Dengue Shock Syndrome (DSS) were included. Chi square test was used to compare categorical variables and fischer exact test where applicable. Survival analysis (Cox regression and log rank) for primary outcome was done. Student t test was used to compare continuous variables. A p value of less than or equal to 0.05 was taken as significant.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Six hundred and ninety nine patients were enrolled, including 87% (605) patients with DF and 13% (94) patients with DHF or DSS. Liver functions tests showed median ALT of 88.50 IU/L; IQR 43.25-188 IU/L, median AST of 174 IU/L; IQR 87-371.5 IU/L and median T.Bil of 0.8 mg/dl; IQR 0.6-1.3 mg/dl. Seventy one percent (496) had mild to moderate hepatitis and 15% (103) had severe hepatitis. Mean length of stay (LOS) in patients with mild/moderate hepatitis was 3.63 days v.s 4.3 days in those with severe hepatitis (P value 0.002). Overall mortality was 33.3% (n = 6) in mild/moderate hepatitis vs 66.7% (n = 12) in severe hepatitis group (p value < 0.001). Cox regression analysis also showed significantly higher mortality in severe hepatitis group (H.R (4.91; 95% CI 1.74-13.87 and P value 0.003) and in DHF/DSS (5.43; CI 1.86-15.84 and P value 0.002). There was a significant difference for the complications like Bleeding (P value < 0.001), Acute Renal failure (ARF) (P value 0.002), Acalculus cholecystitis (P value 0.04) and encephalopathy (P value 0.02) in mild/moderate and Severe hepatitis groups respectively.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Severe hepatitis (SGPT>300IU) in Dengue is associated with prolonged LOS, mortality, bleeding and RF.</p