Quasi-bound states in the continuum with high Q-factors in metasurfaces of lower-index dielectrics supported by metallic substrates

High-Q quasi-BIC can be obtained in metasurfaces which are made of lower-index dielectrics and supported by metallic substrates.

Belgian population norms for the EQ-5D-5L, 2018

Purpose Health-related quality of life outcomes are increasingly used to monitor population health and health inequalities and to assess the (cost-) effectiveness of health interventions. The EQ-5D-5L has been included in the Belgian Health Interview Survey, providing a new source of population-based self-perceived health status information. This study aims to estimate Belgian population norms for the EQ-5D-5L by sex, age, and region and to analyze its association with educational attainment. Methods The BHIS 2018 provided EQ-5D-5L data for a nationally representative sample of the Belgian population. The dimension scores and index values were analyzed using logistic and linear regressions, respectively, accounting for the survey design. Results More than half of respondents reported problems of pain/discomfort, while over a quarter reported problems of anxiety/depression. The average index value was 0.84. Women reported more problems on all dimensions, but particularly on anxiety/depression and pain/discomfort, resulting in significantly lower index values. Problems with mobility, self-care, and usual activities showed a sharp increase after the age of 80 years. Consequently, index values decreased significantly by age. Lower education was associated with a higher prevalence of problems for all dimensions except anxiety/depression and with a significantly lower index value. Conclusion This paper presents the first nationally representative Belgian population norms using the EQ-5D-5L. Inclusion of the EQ-5D in future surveys will allow monitoring over time of self-reported health, disease burden, and health inequalities.

Impact of power and contact force in ablation-index guided radiofrequency lesions in an in vitro model

Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: Public Institution(s). Main funding source(s): Electrophisiology Section of the Spanish Society of Cardiology Introduction. Lesion Size Index (LSI) and Ablation Index (AI) are markers of lesion quality that incorporate power, contact force (CF), and time in a weighted formula to estimate lesion size. Although accurate predicting lesion depth in-vitro, their precision in lesion size estimation has not been well established for certain power and CF settings. Purpose. We conducted an experimental ex-vivo study to analyse the effect of power and CF in size and morphology of ablation lesions in a porcine heart model. Methods. 24 sets of 10 perpendicular epicardial radiofrequency applications were performed with two commercially available catheters (TactiCath, Sensor Enabled; and SmartTouch) on porcine left ventricle submerged in 37ºC saline, combining different power (25, 30, 35, 40, 50 and 60W) and CF (10 and 20g) settings, and aiming at a lower (LSI/AI of 5/400) or higher (LSI/AI of 6/550) index. After each application, lesions were cross-sectioned and measured. Results. 480 lesions were performed. For a given target index and CF, significant differences in lesion volume and depth with different power settings were observed with both catheters. Regarding lesion volume, statistically significant differences were observed with all CF and LSI targets with TactiCath, except for 10 g and LSI 5 (10 g and LSI 5, p = 0.4134; 10 g and LSI 6, p < 0.0001; 20 g and LSI 5, p < 0.0001; 20 g and LSI 6, p < 0.0001). The same occurred for SmartTouch, showing statistically significant differences with all CF and AI targets, except for 20 g and AI 550 (10 g and AI 400, p = 0.0001; 10 g and AI 550, p < 0.0001; 20 g and AI 400, p < 0.0001; 20 g and AI 550, p = 0.001). Similar differences could be found in lesion depth with each catheter. Globally, lesions performed with 50 and 60W were significantly smaller and shallower than those performed with 35 or 40W (figure). Regarding CF, catheters behaved differently: lesions performed with 10g were smaller and shallower than those performed with 20g with Tacticath, while being bigger and deeper with SmartTouch. In a side-by-side comparison, lesions performed with TactiCath were smaller and shallower than those performed with SmartTouch when applying a lower CF of 10g, both when targeting a lower index objective (volume: 41.8 ± 54.3mm3 vs 158.3 ± 33.2mm3, p < 0.0001; depth: 2 ± 1.7mm vs 4.6 ± 0.5mm, p < 0.0001) or a higher index objective (volume: 103.1 ± 56.5mm3 vs 280 ± 54mm3, p < 0.0001; depth: 4 ± 1.1mm vs 5.8 ± 0.5mm, p < 0.0001). However, lesions with TactiCath were bigger and deeper when applying a higher CF of 20g aiming at a lower index objective (volume: 123.8 ± 39.9mm3 vs 89.7 ± 29.4mm3, p < 0.0001; depth: 4 ± 0.8mm3 vs 3.6 ± 0.5mm, p < 0.0001). No statistically significant difference was observed when applying a higher CF of 20g aiming at a higher index objective. Conclusions. Size and morphology of index-guided radiofrequency lesions varied significantly with different power and CF settings, highlighting the importance of achieving a good CF in any ablation procedure. Abstract Figure. Box-plot of lesion volume

Health-related quality of life 1–3 years post-myocardial infarction: its impact on prognosis

ObjectiveTo assess associations of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) with patient profile, resource use, cardiovascular (CV) events and mortality in stable patients post-myocardial infarction (MI).MethodsThe global, prospective, observational TIGRIS Study enrolled 9126 patients 1–3 years post-MI. HRQoL was assessed at enrolment and 6-month intervals using the patient-reported EuroQol-5 dimension (EQ-5D) questionnaire, with scores anchored at 0 (worst possible) and 1 (perfect health). Resource use, CV events and mortality were recorded during 2-years’ follow-up. Regression models estimated the associations of index score at enrolment with patient characteristics, resource use, CV events and mortality over 2-years’ follow-up.ResultsAmong 8978 patients who completed the EQ-5D questionnaire, 52% reported ‘some’ or ‘severe’ problems on one or more health dimensions. Factors associated with a lower index score were: female sex, older age, obesity, smoking, higher heart rate, less formal education, presence of comorbidity (eg, angina, stroke), emergency room visit in the previous 6 months and non-ST-elevation MI as the index event. Compared with an index score of 1 at enrolment, a lower index score was associated with higher risk of all-cause death, with an adjusted rate ratio of 3.09 (95% CI 2.20 to 4.31), and of a CV event, with a rate ratio of 2.31 (95% CI 1.76 to 3.03). Patients with lower index score at enrolment had almost two times as many hospitalisations over 2-years’ follow-up.ConclusionsClinicians managing patients post-acute coronary syndrome should recognise that a poorer HRQoL is clearly linked to risk of hospitalisations, major CV events and death.Trial registration numberClinicalTrials.gov Registry (NCT01866904) (https://clinicaltrials.gov).

Performance of insecticides in control of Diatraea saccharalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) in sugarcane

ABSTRACT The population of the caterpillar Diatraea saccharalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) has increased in the crop of sugarcane in recent years. Although the control of this insect is traditionally carried out through biological control, the use of phytosanitary products has still been necessary. Therefore, the goal of this work was to evaluate the performance of different insecticides in sugarcane borer control, as well as the effect on productivity and total recoverable sugar (TRS). The experiment was conducted in a randomized experimental delineation of blocks, with six treatments and four blocks. Treatments consisted of five insecticides and one control group (without application of insecticide). For calculating the D. saccharalis infestation index, monthly samplings were performed every 30 days, for 12 months. After this period, the final D. saccharalis infestation index was evaluated and calculated for each treatment. In order to compare productivity among procedures, four central lines were collected from each plot. Thus, the samples were weighed for the productivity calculation (TCH) and sent to the laboratory for the total recoverable sugar (TRS) analysis. The chloranthraniliprole (350) insecticide provided a lower index of sugarcane borer infestation, in addition to greater productivity when compared to the other insecticides. There was no significant difference in the parameter of total recoverable sugar (TRS) among treatments.

The effect of cold storage, time and the population of Pseudomonas species on milk lipolysis

The aim of this study was to evaluate the lipolytic index (LI) of Pseudomonas fluorescens and Pseudomonas putida (2, 5, 6 log CFU/mL) in milk during 96 h by the Lipo R method. The strains were isolated from refrigerated raw milk (30 °C, 48 h), and species were confirmed by PCR, inoculated in reconstituted whole milk, and stored at 2 °C, 4 °C, and 8 °C. The storage time (ST) and temperature were associated with LI of P. putida. The interaction among lipolysis, temperature, and ST occurs even with a low population of P. putida and these variables combined together contributed to about 77% of the free fatty acids (FFA) in milk. The ST, temperature, and population of P. fluorescens showed a significant effect on its LI, and the variables contributed to about 43% of FFA. LI was about 224% higher in milk with P. fluorescens than with P. putida. The reduc-tion in ST and milk temperature resulted in a decrease in lipid lysis and a lower index of FFA by P. putida and P. fluorescens, with P. fluorescens showing a higher lipolytic capacity.