Maturity Assessment of the Health Information System Using Stages of Continuous Improvement Methodology: Results From Serbia.

Introduction: Since the health information system (HIS) in public health care services in Serbia was introduced in 2009, it has gradually expanded. However, it is unclear how well the HIS components have developed and the whole system's stage of maturity.

Method: In June-September 2021, a maturity assessment of the Serbian HIS was conducted for the first time using the HIS Stages of Continuous Improvement (SOCI) toolkit.

Correction: Savović et al. Power Flow in Multimode Graded-Index Microstructured Polymer Optical Fibers. 2023, , 1474.

The authors wish to make three changes to their published paper [...

Power Flow in Multimode Graded-Index Microstructured Polymer Optical Fibers.

We investigate mode coupling in a multimode graded-index microstructured polymer optical fiber (GI mPOF) with a solid core by solving the time-independent power flow equation (TI PFE). Using launch beams with various radial offsets, it is possible to calculate for such an optical fiber the transients of the modal power distribution, the length at which an equilibrium mode distribution (EMD) is reached, and the length for establishing a steady-state distribution (SSD). In contrast to the conventional GI POF, the GI mPOF explored in this study achieves the EMD at a shorter length .

Transmission performance of multimode W-type microstructured polymer optical fibers.

By solving the time-independent power flow equation (TI PFE), we study mode coupling in a multimode W-type microstructured polymer optical fiber (mPOF) with a solid-core. The multimode W-type mPOF is created by modifying the cladding layer and reducing the core of a multimode singly clad (SC) mPOF. For such optical fiber, the angular power distributions, the length L at which an equilibrium mode distribution (EMD) is achieved, and the length z for establishing a steady state distribution (SSD) are determined for various arrangements of the inner cladding's air-holes and different launch excitations.

Calculation of Bandwidth of Multimode Step-Index Polymer Photonic Crystal Fibers.

By solving the time-dependent power flow equation, we present a novel approach for evaluating the bandwidth in a multimode step-index polymer photonic crystal fiber (SI PPCF) with a solid core. The bandwidth of such fiber is determined for various layouts of air holes and widths of Gaussian launch beam distribution. We found that the lower the NA of SI PPCF, the larger the bandwidth.

Evaluation of the Chemotherapy Drug Response Using Organotypic Cultures of Osteosarcoma Tumours from Mice Models and Canine Patients.

Improvements in the clinical outcome of osteosarcoma have plateaued in recent decades with poor translation between preclinical testing and clinical efficacy. Organotypic cultures retain key features of patient tumours, such as a myriad of cell types organized within an extracellular matrix, thereby presenting a more realistic and personalised screening of chemotherapeutic agents ex vivo. To test this concept for the first time in osteosarcoma, murine and canine osteosarcoma organotypic models were maintained for up to 21 days and in-depth analysis identified proportions of immune and stromal cells present at levels comparable to that reported in vivo in the literature.

Dalbavancin for the Treatment of Osteomyelitis in Adult Patients: A Randomized Clinical Trial of Efficacy and Safety.

Background: Osteomyelitis is a challenging infection that can involve 4-6 weeks of intravenous (IV) antibiotics. Dalbavancin, approved for acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections, has potent activity against gram-positive pathogens. This study assessed the efficacy and safety of dalbavancin as a 2-dose regimen for osteomyelitis.

Frequency response and bandwidth in low-numerical-aperture step-index plastic optical fibers.

By experimental measurement and from a numerical solution to the time-dependent power flow equation, the frequency response, bandwidth, mode coupling, and mode-dependent attenuation are determined for a low-numerical-aperture (NA) plastic optical fiber. Frequency response and bandwidth are specified as a function of fiber length. Numerical results are verified against experimental measurements.

EUS or percutaneously guided intratumoral TNFerade biologic with 5-fluorouracil and radiotherapy for first-line treatment of locally advanced pancreatic cancer: a phase I/II study.

Background: TNFeradeBiologic (AdGVEGR.TNF.11D) is a replication-deficient adenoviral vector that expresses tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) under the control of the Egr-1 promoter, which is inducible by chemotherapy and radiation.

Modeling of the loss and mode coupling due to an irregular core-cladding interface in step-index plastic optical fibers.

The core-cladding boundary in step-index plastic optical fibers is imperfect. Surface irregularities locked in during the manufacturing process couple the guided modes by reflecting them in directions that deviate unpredictably from the expected directions. This causes an additional loss as the multiple reflections from surface elements with directions randomized around the nominal for the cylinder transfer the power to the radiation modes that are carried away from the core into the cladding.