Critical Design and Operating Parameters of Active Waveguide Bragg Gratings for Laser Performance.

Active waveguide Bragg gratings (AWBGs) are promising photonic structures that combine the very efficient reflective properties of a Bragg grating with the power amplification character of rare earths. This combination may lead to a potential monolithic laser under the proper conditions. However, the photonic response of these structures highly depends on the grating design and operating parameters, so modeling its response for their laser performance is a must.

Contesting Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome: How Narratives of Cannabis Shape Diagnosis Contestation and Treatment Resistance.

Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) is characterized by the onset of cyclic bouts of severe nausea and vomiting in chronic cannabis users. As the number of CHS diagnoses rises, it is important to understand how people experience the disease. Using a narrative framework, we explore how the symbolic meaning participants associated with cannabis shaped the way they experienced diagnosis and treatment of CHS.

Value contribution of etranacogene dezaparvovec gene therapy in moderately severe and severe haemophilia B through multi-criteria decision analysis.

Introduction: The value of gene therapies for haemophilia needs to be assessed holistically.

Aim: To determine the value of etranacogene dezaparvovec (ED) compared to current extended half-life (EHL) recombinant factors (rFIX), using multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA).

Method: MCDA EVIDEM methodology adapted to orphan drugs was used, with nine quantitative criteria and four contextual criteria.

Exploring Ethnobotany in the Catalan Linguistic Area: Traditional Plant-Based Knowledge for Addressing Gastrointestinal, Metabolic, and Nutritional Disorders.

Ethnobotanical research in the Catalan linguistic area (CLA) is crucial due to the persistence of traditional medicinal plant knowledge. Gastrointestinal, metabolic, and nutritional disorders are major global health issues requiring effective treatments. This study aimed to analyze plants used for these disorders in the CLA, compare the findings with phytotherapy literature, and examine correlations between plant use in humans and animals.

Nutritional Properties of Wild Edible Plants with Traditional Use in the Catalan Linguistic Area: A First Step for Their Relevance in Food Security.

Wild food plants (WFPs) are crucial for the subsistence of many human populations. While there are at least 7000 edible plant species in the world, only approximately 420 are considered food crops. WFPs are often studied from the phytochemical and pharmacological point of view, because they include available food components with nutraceutical value.

The value of the reflective discussion in decision-making using multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA): an example of determining the value contribution of tabelecleucel for the treatment of the Epstein Barr virus-positive post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease (EBV PTLD).

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the contribution of the reflective multidisciplinary discussion in determining the value contribution of innovative drugs through the multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA). This methodology considers all relevant criteria for healthcare decision-making in a global, transparent, and systematic manner and from the perspective of relevant stakeholders. The determination of value contribution of tabelecleucel for the treatment of Epstein-Barr virus-positive post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease (EBV PTLD) compared to salvage therapy was used as an example.

The Catalan initiative for the Earth BioGenome Project: contributing local data to global biodiversity genomics.

The Catalan Initiative for the Earth BioGenome Project (CBP) is an EBP-affiliated project network aimed at sequencing the genome of the >40 000 eukaryotic species estimated to live in the Catalan-speaking territories (Catalan Linguistic Area, CLA). These territories represent a biodiversity hotspot. While covering less than 1% of Europe, they are home to about one fourth of all known European eukaryotic species.

Advancing ethnobiology for the ecological transition and a more inclusive and just world: a comprehensive framework for the next 20 years.

This opinion piece, written by ethnobiologists from different parts of the world, emphasizes the importance of ethnobiology research in advancing contemporary biology, natural resource management, biodiversity conservation, sustainable development, and, especially, contributing to the ecological transition and more just and inclusive world. To achieve these goals, it is essential to develop research and collaborate with social groups that live in close relationship with nature in research activities, such as Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLC), as well as Afro-descendants and other Marginalized, Minority or Minoritized Communities (AMMC). Ethnobiology can identify and provide locally appropriate solutions to local problems, enabling sustainable resource management at the landscape level.

East meets west: using ethnobotany in ethnic urban markets of Barcelona metropolitan area (Catalonia) as a tool for biocultural exchange.

Background: Ethnobotanical studies in metropolitan areas and urban ethnic markets have grown considerably in recent years as large cities have demonstrated to be significantly rich in biocultural diversity and in driving its evolution, as human populations migrate from one region to another. Urban spaces also represent important places of rich multicultural and multilingual interaction and exchange, where ethnobotany can act as a bridge between research and action. The purpose of this study is to present a case study on how to use ethnobotany in multicultural urban settings by studying people-plant interactions and the larger implications and applications to promote biocultural learning in these areas.

Clinical, Microbiological and Treatment Characteristics of Severe Postoperative Respiratory Infections: An Observational Cohort Study.

Respiratory infections are frequent and life-threatening complications of surgery. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical, microbiological and treatment characteristics of severe postoperative pneumonia (POP) and tracheobronchitis (POT) in a large series of patients. This single-center, prospective observational cohort study included patients with POP or POT requiring intensive care unit admission in the past 10 years.

Traditional knowledge 10 min far from Barcelona: ethnobotanical study in the Llobregat river delta (Catalonia, NE Iberian Peninsula), a heavily anthropized agricultural area.

Background: The right floodplain at the Llobregat river delta (Catalonia, NE Iberian Peninsula) constitutes an agricultural periurban area adjacent to Barcelona, which has remained ethnobotanically unexplored until now. This area comprises a very heavily anthropized mosaic of soil uses-urban, industrial, natural, agricultural-including the Agricultural Park of Baix Llobregat. The main aim of this work has been to collect and analyze the ethnoflora of this area in order to fill a gap in the ethnobotanical knowledge in industrialized areas.

Eye-tracking in surgery: a systematic review.

Background: Surgery is constantly evolving with the assistance of rapidly developing novel technology. Eye-tracking devices provide opportunities to monitor the acquisition of surgical skills, gain insight into performance, and enhance surgical practice. The aim of this review was to consolidate the available evidence for the use of eye-tracking in the surgical disciplines.

Parallel anagenetic patterns in endemic species from three Macaronesian archipelagos.

Anagenetic speciation is an important mode of evolution in oceanic islands, yet relatively understudied compared to adaptive radiation. In the Macaronesian region, three closely related species of (i.e.

Unusual photophysics of geranic acid deep eutectic solvents.

The photophysics of natural deep eutectic solvents (NADESs) remains unexplored. Here, we report that a class of NADESs aggregates in water, enabling through-space interaction as evidenced by an unusual emission and redshifted UV absorption band. The NADESs enhanced fluorescence excitation and emission of fluorogenic proteins for improved bioimaging.

An Integrated Pump-Controlled Variable Coupler Fabricated by Ultrafast Laser Writing.

The design and fabrication of a integrated symmetric directional coupler dependent o the pumping power and operating at a 1534 nm wavelength is reported. The twin-core waveguide was inscribed into Er/Yb co-doped phosphate glass by a femtosecond laser direct writing technique. By optical pumping, the coupling ratio can be modulated due to the changes induced in the refractive index of the material.

Rapid Reduction of HbA1c and Early Worsening of Diabetic Retinopathy: A Real-world Population-Based Study in Subjects With Type 2 Diabetes.

Objective: Early worsening of diabetic retinopathy (EWDR) due to the rapid decrease of blood glucose levels is a concern in diabetes treatment. The aim of the current study is to evaluate whether this is an important issue in subjects with type 2 diabetes with mild or moderate nonproliferative DR (NPDR), who represent the vast majority of subjects with DR attended in primary care.

Research Design And Methods: This is a retrospective nested case-control study of subjects with type 2 diabetes and previous mild or moderate NPDR.

Phylogenomics and morphological evolution of the mega-diverse genus Artemisia (Asteraceae: Anthemideae): implications for its circumscription and infrageneric taxonomy.

Background And Aims: Artemisia is a mega-diverse genus consisting of ~400 species. Despite its medicinal importance and ecological significance, a well-resolved phylogeny for global Artemisia, a natural generic delimitation and infrageneric taxonomy remain missing, owing to the obstructions from limited taxon sampling and insufficient information on DNA markers. Its morphological characters, such as capitulum, life form and leaf, show marked variations and are widely used in its infrageneric taxonomy.

Propagation Losses Estimation in a Cationic-Network-Based Hydrogel Waveguide.

A method based on the photographic recording of the power distribution laterally diffused by cationic-network (CN) hydrogel waveguides is first checked against the well-established cut-back method and then used to determine the different contributions to optical power attenuation along the hydrogel-based waveguide. Absorption and scattering loss coefficients are determined for 450 nm, 532 nm and 633 nm excitation. The excellent optical loss values obtained (0.

Contribution to the Improvement of the Correlation Filter Method for Modal Analysis with a Spatial Light Modulator.

Modal decomposition of light is essential to study its propagation properties in waveguides and photonic devices. Modal analysis can be carried out by implementing a computer-generated hologram acting as a match filter in a spatial light modulator. In this work, a series of aspects to be taken into account in order to get the most out of this method are presented, aiming to provide useful operational procedures.

Assessment of Core Surgical Skills Using a Mixed Reality Headset - The MoTOR Study.

Introduction: Surgical skill assessment utilises direct observation and feedback by an expert which is potentially subjective, therefore obtaining objective data for hand and eye tracking is essential. Our aim was to evaluate a wearable mixed reality (MR) headset in these domains.

Methods: Participants with differing levels of surgical expertise [novice (N), intermediate (I) & expert (E)] performed 4 simulated surgical tasks; 2 general dexterity (tasks 1&2) and 2 surgical skills (tasks 3&4) wearing the MR headset capturing their hand and eye movements (median & range).

Novel Insights into the Nature of Intraspecific Genome Size Diversity in L.

has been used for millennia in traditional medicine for ritual purposes and for the production of food and fibres, thus, providing important and versatile services to humans. The species, which currently has a worldwide distribution, strikes out for displaying a huge morphological and chemical diversity. Differences in genome size have also been found, suggesting it could be a useful character to differentiate between accessions.

Gastrointestinal, metabolic, and nutritional disorders: A plant-based ethnoveterinary meta-analysis in the Catalan linguistic area.

Veterinary care is fundamental for animal wellbeing, and so is achieving a comprehensive understanding of traditional ethnoveterinary applications. However, little attention has been paid to it so far in industrialized countries, and in particular in Western Europe. In this context, the present work aims to make a contribution to this issue in the Catalan linguistic area, focusing on the study of plants used, at a popular level, to treat and deal with gastrointestinal, metabolic, and nutritional disorders, which are among the most important issues that affect animals.

Genome Size Variation Assessment in L. Landraces in Ibiza and Formentera (Balearic Islands).

Plant genome size has many applications in different biological fields including ecology and plant breeding. The 2C value for L. has not been widely studied; furthermore, to date, no data from local landraces in the Pityusic Islands (the two smaller inhabited Balearic Islands, Ibiza, and Formentera) have been reported.

Cancer and Traditional Plant Knowledge, an Interesting Field to Explore: Data from the Catalan Linguistic Area.

Cancer is the second cause of death in the world and is foreseen to be responsible for about 16 million deaths in 2040. Approximately, 60% of the drugs used to treat cancer are of natural origin. Besides the extensive use of some of these drugs in therapies, such as those derived from the genus , a significant number of plants have revealed themselves as useful against cancer in recent years.