Vectorial characterization of Bloch surface wave via one-dimensional photonic-atomic structure

Use of hot atomic vapor as a new tool for tracing the complex nature of light has become a knowledge-based topic in recent years. In this paper, we examine the polarization ellipse of the Bloch surface wave (BSW) through the effect of a magnetic field on the coupling of these surface waves in BSW-hot atomic vapor cell. For this purpose, we fabricate a one-dimensional photonic crystal-based Bloch wave atom cell, where under different configurations of magnetic field, polarization ellipse of Bloch surface waves has been recorded experimentally. Our results indicate that by applying the magnetic field in different directions, Faraday and Voigt, the characteristics of electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT-like) of hybrid system change. We have used these changes to redefine the geometry of Voigt and Faraday for evanescent waves, as well as to measure the ratio of the components of the elliptical polarized electric field. These characterizations can open new insight into the miniaturized atomic field in high quality and low volumetric areas

Mineral lick use by a community of large herbivores in northern Iran

Natural mineral licks are ecologically valuable resources to meet the physiological needs of herbivores, particularly in temperate forests. Importantly, licking sites can harbor high anthropogenic risk for conservation‐dependent herbivores through higher chance of pathogen spillover from livestock and increased levels of poaching risks. However, to the best of our knowledge, there is no information on the mineral lick use in temperate forests of west Asia and the Caucasus where a few threatened deer species exist. We monitored four naturally occurring mineral licks in Central Alborz Protected Area, northern Iran during May–July 2019 using camera traps and analyzed the mineral content of the licking sites. A total of 53 independent mineral lick visits were obtained from only three species of herbivores, i.e., Caspian red deer (Cervus elaphus maral; n = 21), roe deer (Capreolus capreolus; n = 26), and wild pig (Sus scrofa; n = 6). The sex ratio of visiting Caspian red deer was highly skewed toward females (3M:18F), whereas it was more balanced in visiting roe deer (11M:15F). The species‐level distribution of visits corresponded to diurnal and cathemeral for Caspian red deer and for roe deer, respectively, without any evidence of different activity curves. There was a negative nonlinear relationship between the ambient temperature and the visitation rate. Our findings showed that mineral licks are important habitat features for these large herbivores and need to be included in spatial mapping and habitat protection measures

The image biomarker standardization initiative: Standardized convolutional filters for reproducible radiomics and enhanced clinical insights

Standardizing convolutional filters that enhance specific structures and patterns in medical imaging enables reproducible radiomics analyses, improving consistency and reliability for enhanced clinical insights. Filters are commonly used to enhance specific structures and patterns in images, such as vessels or peritumoral regions, to enable clinical insights beyond the visible image using radiomics. However, their lack of standardization restricts reproducibility and clinical translation of radiomics decision support tools. In this special report, teams of researchers who developed radiomics software participated in a three-phase study (September 2020 to December 2022) to establish a standardized set of filters. The first two phases focused on finding reference filtered images and reference feature values for commonly used convolutional filters: mean, Laplacian of Gaussian, Laws and Gabor kernels, separable and nonseparable wavelets (including decomposed forms), and Riesz transformations. In the first phase, 15 teams used digital phantoms to establish 33 reference filtered images of 36 filter configurations. In phase 2, 11 teams used a chest CT image to derive reference values for 323 of 396 features computed from filtered images using 22 filter and image processing configurations. Reference filtered images and feature values for Riesz transformations were not established. Reproducibility of standardized convolutional filters was validated on a public data set of multimodal imaging (CT, fluorodeoxyglucose PET, and T1-weighted MRI) in 51 patients with soft-tissue sarcoma. At validation, reproducibility of 486 features computed from filtered images using nine configurations × three imaging modalities was assessed using the lower bounds of 95% CIs of intraclass correlation coefficients. Out of 486 features, 458 were found to be reproducible across nine teams with lower bounds of 95% CIs of intraclass correlation coefficients greater than 0.75. In conclusion, eight filter types were standardized with reference filtered images and reference feature values for verifying and calibrating radiomics software packages. A web-based tool is available for compliance checking

Causes of discharge against medical advice in hospitals affiliated with mazandaran university of medical sciences, 2014

Background and purpose: Discharge against medical advice (AMA) has negative impacts on treatment outcomes and health care resources. Also, physicians and hospital administrators get involved in litigation. The aim of this study was to investigate the causes of AMA discharges in different wards and emergency departments in teaching and nonteaching hospitals affiliated with Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences. Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study was performed investigating the AMA leaves within 6 months in 2014. Data was obtained from the Department of Medical Records and the Office of Quality Improvement. Data was recorded in a questionnaire consisting of two parts. Part I included demographic information and Part II was about the reasons of discharge against medical advice. Data was aggregated by expert staff in Office of Quality Improvement. SPSS V.18 was applied for data analysis. Results: The prevalence of AMA leaves in emergency department and other wards in teaching hospitals affiliated with Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences was 3.81 and 4.38, respectively. These figures in nonteaching hospitals were 8.38 and 1.59, respectively. The most common causes of discharge against medical advice were partial recovery, lack of trust in service quality, feeling uncomfortable, and emotional reasons. Conclusion: To reduce the rate of AMA leaves and its consequences, health care staff should be supportive towards the patients and communicate effectively in order to build their confidence. © 2016, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved

Mineral lick use by a community of large herbivores in northern Iran

Natural mineral licks are ecologically valuable resources to meet the physiological needs of herbivores, particularly in temperate forests. Importantly, licking sites can harbour high anthropogenic risk for conservation-dependent herbivores through higher chance of pathogen spillover from livestock and increased levels of poaching risks. However, to the best of our knowledge, there is no information on the mineral lick use in temperate forests of west Asia and the Caucasus where a few threatened deer species exist. We monitored four naturally occurring mineral licks in Central Alborz Protected Area, northern Iran during May-July 2019 using camera traps and analysed the mineral content of the licking sites. A total of 53 independent mineral lick visits were obtained from only three species of herbivores, i.e., Caspian red deer (Cervus elaphus maral; n=21), roe deer (Capreolus capreolus; n=26) and wild pig (Sus scrofa; n=6). The sex ratio of visiting Caspian red deer was highly skewed towards females (3 M: 18 F) whereas it was more balanced in visiting roe deer (11 M: 15 F). The species-level distribution of visits corresponded to diurnal and cathemeral for Caspian red deer and for roe deer, respectively, without any evidence of different activity curves. There was a negative non-linear relationship between the ambient temperature and the visitation rate. Our findings showed that mineral licks are important habitat features for these large herbivores and need to be included in spatial mapping and habitat protection measures

Menstrual cycle and sex effects on sympathetic responses to acute chemoreflex stress

© 2015 the American Physiological Society. This study aimed to examine the effects of sex (males vs. females) and sex hormones (menstrual cycle phases in women) on sympathetic responsiveness to severe chemoreflex activation in young, healthy individuals. Muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) was measured at baseline and during rebreathing followed by a maximal end-inspiratory apnea. In women, baseline MSNA was greater in the midluteal (ML) than early-follicular (EF) phase of the menstrual cycle. Baseline MSNA burst incidence was greater in men than women, while burst frequency and total MSNA were similar between men and women only in the ML phase. Chemoreflex activation evoked graded increases in MSNA burst frequency, amplitude, and total activity in all participants. In women, this sympathoexcitation was greater in the EF than ML phase. The sympathoexcitatory response to chemoreflex stimulation of the EF phase in women was also greater than in men. Nonetheless, changes in total peripheral resistance were similar between sexes and menstrual cycle phases. This indicates that neurovascular transduction was attenuated during the EF phase during chemoreflex activation, thereby offsetting the exaggerated sympathoexcitation. Chemoreflex-induced increases in mean arterial pressure were similar across sexes and menstrual cycle phases. During acute chemoreflex stimulation, reduced neurovascular transduction could provide a mechanism by which apnea-associated morbidity might be attenuated in women relative to men