Localized modes in two-dimensional octagonal-diamond lattices

Two-dimensional octagonal-diamond (OD) atomic lattices have been explored in recent times to study phenomena related to topological phase transitions induced by spin-orbit interaction and gauge fields [1], and magnetic phases and metal-insulator transitions with Hubbard interaction [2, 3]. It can lead to the appearance of nontrivial nearly flat band states with particular topological properties [4]. Here we study the octagonal-diamond photonic lattice formed of linearly coupled waveguides, proposed by [4] as a possible experimental realization of an artificial flat-band system. We investigated analytically and numerically the existence and stability of linear and nonlinear localized modes in a two-dimensional OD lattice. The primitive cell consists of four sites, linearly coupled with each other with the same coupling constant, including two diagonal couplings. The eigenvalue spectrum of the linear lattice consists of two flat bands and two dispersive bands [4]. The upper dispersive band intersects the upper flat band in the middle of the Brillouin zone, as well as the second flat band at the end of the Brillouin zone. In the linear case, there are two types of localized linear solutions, which are composed of eight sites each, having either monomer (+ - + - + - + -) or dimer (+ + - - + + - -) staggered phase structure [4]. In the presence of Kerr nonlinearity, both focusing and defocusing, compacton-like solutions [5] may exhibit instabilities due to intersections of the upper dispersive band and the flat bands. We also discuss the possibility of finding soliton solutions in the frequency gaps occurring between the flat bands and the isolated dispersive bands.VII International School and Conference on Photonics : PHOTONICA2019 : Abstracts of Tutorial, Keynote, Invited Lectures, Progress Reports and Contributed Papers; August 26-30; Belgrad

The Mexican axolotl's (Ambystoma mexicanum) early development and survival is affected by commercial grade malathion and dichlorvos organophosphorus pesticides

The wild population of the Mexican axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) is subject to a dramatic decline as a consequence of deteriorating conditions in its natural habitat, Xochimilco. The common use of organophosphorus pesticides (OPPs) in the region affects water quality and is partially responsible for the axolotl decline. This could be a consequence of the delicate nature of axolotls, which are struggling to survive under contaminated conditions at early stages of development. In this regard, we aimed to extend the knowledge of OPPs effect on the survival of axolotls in their early stage of development, within the context of detrimental environment conditions using commercial grade OPPs. Fertilized axolotl eggs were treated with malathion (MLT), dichlorvos (DDVP), and a depurated group in which the OPPs exposure was stopped earlier, as well as an untreated control group. Changes in hatching, survival, size, and morphology were monitored and analyzed in embryos and early larvae. Our results showed that MLT and DVPP accelerate egg hatching and mortality even after the early removal of OPPs from the medium. OPPs also caused a reduced size and morphological abnormalities. It is proposed that such abnormalities would jeopardize the survival of the wildlife axolotl. Our results suggest that OPPs can cause irreversible damage to the axolotl embryos, stopping their normal development, causing death and reducing their chances of survival in their natural environment

Repositioning of the global epicentre of non-optimal cholesterol

High blood cholesterol is typically considered a feature of wealthy western countries1,2. However, dietary and behavioural determinants of blood cholesterol are changing rapidly throughout the world3 and countries are using lipid-lowering medications at varying rates. These changes can have distinct effects on the levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and non-HDL cholesterol, which have different effects on human health4,5. However, the trends of HDL and non-HDL cholesterol levels over time have not been previously reported in a global analysis. Here we pooled 1,127 population-based studies that measured blood lipids in 102.6 million individuals aged 18 years and older to estimate trends from 1980 to 2018 in mean total, non-HDL and HDL cholesterol levels for 200 countries. Globally, there was little change in total or non-HDL cholesterol from 1980 to 2018. This was a net effect of increases in low- and middle-income countries, especially in east and southeast Asia, and decreases in high-income western countries, especially those in northwestern Europe, and in central and eastern Europe. As a result, countries with the highest level of non-HDL cholesterol—which is a marker of cardiovascular risk—changed from those in western Europe such as Belgium, Finland, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and Malta in 1980 to those in Asia and the Pacific, such as Tokelau, Malaysia, The Philippines and Thailand. In 2017, high non-HDL cholesterol was responsible for an estimated 3.9 million (95% credible interval 3.7 million–4.2 million) worldwide deaths, half of which occurred in east, southeast and south Asia. The global repositioning of lipid-related risk, with non-optimal cholesterol shifting from a distinct feature of high-income countries in northwestern Europe, north America and Australasia to one that affects countries in east and southeast Asia and Oceania should motivate the use of population-based policies and personal interventions to improve nutrition and enhance access to treatment throughout the world.</p

Repositioning of the global epicentre of non-optimal cholesterol

High blood cholesterol is typically considered a feature of wealthy western countries1,2. However, dietary and behavioural determinants of blood cholesterol are changing rapidly throughout the world3 and countries are using lipid-lowering medications at varying rates. These changes can have distinct effects on the levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and non-HDL cholesterol, which have different effects on human health4,5. However, the trends of HDL and non-HDL cholesterol levels over time have not been previously reported in a global analysis. Here we pooled 1,127 population-based studies that measured blood lipids in 102.6 million individuals aged 18 years and older to estimate trends from 1980 to 2018 in mean total, non-HDL and HDL cholesterol levels for 200 countries. Globally, there was little change in total or non-HDL cholesterol from 1980 to 2018. This was a net effect of increases in low- and middle-income countries, especially in east and southeast Asia, and decreases in high-income western countries, especially those in northwestern Europe, and in central and eastern Europe. As a result, countries with the highest level of non-HDL cholesterol�which is a marker of cardiovascular risk�changed from those in western Europe such as Belgium, Finland, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and Malta in 1980 to those in Asia and the Pacific, such as Tokelau, Malaysia, The Philippines and Thailand. In 2017, high non-HDL cholesterol was responsible for an estimated 3.9 million (95 credible interval 3.7 million�4.2 million) worldwide deaths, half of which occurred in east, southeast and south Asia. The global repositioning of lipid-related risk, with non-optimal cholesterol shifting from a distinct feature of high-income countries in northwestern Europe, north America and Australasia to one that affects countries in east and southeast Asia and Oceania should motivate the use of population-based policies and personal interventions to improve nutrition and enhance access to treatment throughout the world. © 2020, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited

Rising rural body-mass index is the main driver of the global obesity epidemic in adults

Body-mass index (BMI) has increased steadily in most countries in parallel with a rise in the proportion of the population who live in cities 1,2 . This has led to a widely reported view that urbanization is one of the most important drivers of the global rise in obesity 3�6 . Here we use 2,009 population-based studies, with measurements of height and weight in more than 112 million adults, to report national, regional and global trends in mean BMI segregated by place of residence (a rural or urban area) from 1985 to 2017. We show that, contrary to the dominant paradigm, more than 55 of the global rise in mean BMI from 1985 to 2017�and more than 80 in some low- and middle-income regions�was due to increases in BMI in rural areas. This large contribution stems from the fact that, with the exception of women in sub-Saharan Africa, BMI is increasing at the same rate or faster in rural areas than in cities in low- and middle-income regions. These trends have in turn resulted in a closing�and in some countries reversal�of the gap in BMI between urban and rural areas in low- and middle-income countries, especially for women. In high-income and industrialized countries, we noted a persistently higher rural BMI, especially for women. There is an urgent need for an integrated approach to rural nutrition that enhances financial and physical access to healthy foods, to avoid replacing the rural undernutrition disadvantage in poor countries with a more general malnutrition disadvantage that entails excessive consumption of low-quality calories. © 2019, The Author(s)

Hydrogen respiratory test: Pilot examinations for evaluation of the small intestinal colonization by normal microflora

Respiration hydrogen analyzer H2Rate has been used in pilot examinations of a group of students. This method for noninvasive diagnosis of small intestinal diseases promotes proper interpretation of the results. Free hydrogen level in the exhaled air increases as a result of lactulose (diagnostic agent) cleavage by enteric microflora within about 3 h. Based on the experimental data, the main groups with characteristic curves reflecting the time course of hydrogen concentrations have been distinguished. Excessive bacterial colonization of the intestine can correspond to emergence of characteristic peaks of hydrogen concentrations in the curve. Hydrogen concentrations in exhaled air can also be analyzed to evaluate the rate of the substrate propulsion in the middle compartment of the intestine. © 2013 Springer Science+Business Media New York

Compact localized modes in Dice lattice dressed by artificial flux

XI Conference of the Balkan Physical Union : BPU11; Aug 28 - Sep 1, 2022; BelgradeS07-OP Optics and Photonic

Hydrogen respiratory test: Pilot examinations for evaluation of the small intestinal colonization by normal microflora

Respiration hydrogen analyzer H2Rate has been used in pilot examinations of a group of students. This method for noninvasive diagnosis of small intestinal diseases promotes proper interpretation of the results. Free hydrogen level in the exhaled air increases as a result of lactulose (diagnostic agent) cleavage by enteric microflora within about 3 h. Based on the experimental data, the main groups with characteristic curves reflecting the time course of hydrogen concentrations have been distinguished. Excessive bacterial colonization of the intestine can correspond to emergence of characteristic peaks of hydrogen concentrations in the curve. Hydrogen concentrations in exhaled air can also be analyzed to evaluate the rate of the substrate propulsion in the middle compartment of the intestine. © 2013 Springer Science+Business Media New York