The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of adult cerebral venous thrombosis.
A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted among all 19 hospitals located in 2 Dutch provinces ...serving 3.1 million people. Adult cerebral venous thrombosis cases diagnosed between January 1, 2008, and December 31, 2010, were identified using the Dutch financial coding system for hospital care and the International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision. Medical records of potential patients were hand searched to identify cerebral venous thrombosis cases. The Dutch National Bureau for Statistics provided population figures of the 2 provinces during 2008 to 2010.
Among 9270 potential cases, we identified 147 patients diagnosed with cerebral venous thrombosis. Of these, 53 patients did not meet the inclusion criteria; therefore, 94 patients were included in the analysis. The overall incidence was 1.32 per 100 000 person-years (95% CI, 1.06-1.61). Among women between the ages of 31 and 50 years, the incidence was 2.78 (95% CI, 1.98-3.82).
The incidence of cerebral venous thrombosis among adults is probably higher than previously believed.
We propose a plasmon induced tunable metasurface for multiband superabsorption and terahertz sensing. It consists of a graphene sheet that facilitates perfect absorption where the graphene pattern at ...the top layer creates an enhanced evanescent wave that facilitates the metasurface to work as a sensor. The modelling and numerical analysis are carried out using Finite Element Method (FEM) based software, CST microwave studio where a genetic algorithm (GA) is used to optimize the geometric parameters, and metasurface tunability is achieved via an external gate voltage on the graphene. By exploiting graphene’s tunable properties we demonstrate a multiband superabsorption spectra having a maximum absorption of 99.7% in a frequency range of 0.1–2.0 THz that also maintain unique optical performance over a wide incidence angle. Further results show how the superabsorber can be used as a sensor, where the resonance frequency shifts with the refractive index of the surrounding environment.
Display omitted
Self‐organized anodic titania (TiO2) nanotube arrays are an interesting model anode material for use in Li‐ion batteries owing to their excellent rate capability, their cycling stability and their ...enhanced safety compared to graphite. A composite material where carbothermally treated conductive TiO2 nanotubes are used as support for a thin silicon film has been shown to have the additional advantage of high lithium storage capacity. This article presents a detailed comparison of the structure, surface and bulk morphology of self‐organized conductive TiO2 nanotube arrays, with and without silicon coating, using a combination of X‐ray diffraction, X‐ray reflectivity, grazing‐incidence small‐angle X‐ray scattering (GISAXS) and time‐of‐flight grazing‐incidence small‐angle neutron scattering (TOF‐GISANS) techniques. X‐ray diffraction shows that the nanotubes crystallize in the anatase structure with a preferred (004) orientation. GISAXS and TOF‐GISANS are used to study the morphology of the nanotube arrays, delivering values for the inner nanotube radius and intertubular distances with high statistical relevance because of the large probed volume. The analyses reveal the distinct signatures of a prominent lateral correlation of the TiO2 nanotubes of ∼94 nm and a nanotube radius of ∼46 nm. The porosity averaged over the entire film using TOF‐GISANS is 46%. The inner nanotube radius is reduced to half (∼23 nm) through the silicon coating, but the prominent lateral structure is preserved. Such in‐depth morphological investigations over large sample volumes are useful towards development of more efficient battery electrode morphologies.
Background
Transcranial ultrasound imaging and therapy depend on the efficient transmission of acoustic energy through the skull. Multiple previous studies have concluded that a large incidence angle ...should be avoided during transcranial‐focused ultrasound therapy to ensure transmission through the skull. Alternatively, some other studies have shown that longitudinal‐to‐shear wave mode conversion might improve transmission through the skull when the incidence angle is increased above the critical angle (i.e., 25° to 30°).
Purpose
The effect of skull porosity on the transmission of ultrasound through the skull at varying incidence angles was investigated for the first time to elucidate why transmission through the skull at large angles of incidence is decreased in some cases but improved in other cases.
Methods
Transcranial ultrasound transmission at varying incidence angles (0°–50°) was investigated in phantoms and ex vivo skull samples with varying bone porosity (0% to 28.54% ± 3.36%) using both numerical and experimental methods. First, the elastic acoustic wave transmission through the skull was simulated using micro‐computed tomography data of ex vivo skull samples. The trans‐skull pressure was compared between skull segments having three levels of porosity, that is, low porosity (2.65% ± 0.03%), medium porosity (13.41% ± 0.12%), and high porosity (26.9%). Next, transmission through two 3D‐printed resin skull phantoms (compact vs. porous phantoms) was experimentally measured to test the effect of porous microstructure alone on ultrasound transmission through flat plates. Finally, the effect of skull porosity on ultrasound transmission was investigated experimentally by comparing transmission through two ex vivo human skull segments having similar thicknesses but different porosities (13.78% ± 2.05% vs. 28.54% ± 3.36%).
Results
Numerical simulations indicated that an increase in transmission pressure occurs at large incidence angles for skull segments having low porosities but not for those with high porosity. In experimental studies, a similar phenomenon was observed. Specifically, for the low porosity skull sample (13.78% ± 2.05%), the normalized pressure was 0.25 when the incidence angle increased to 35°. However, for the high porosity sample (28.54% ± 3.36%), the pressure was no more than 0.1 at large incidence angles.
Conclusions
These results indicate that the skull porosity has an evident effect on the transmission of ultrasound at large incidence angles. The wave mode conversion at large, oblique incidence angles could enhance the transmission of ultrasound through parts of the skull having lower porosity in the trabecular layer. However, for transcranial ultrasound therapy in the presence of highly porous trabecular bone, transmission at a normal incidence angle is preferable relative to oblique incidence angles due to the higher transmission efficiency.
Solar trees are three-dimensional engineered structures that mimic natural trees, with trunks, branches, and photovoltaic leaves, constituting a way of verticalizing solar plants. That is a trend ...emerging to replace the conventional horizontal system, enabling to generate more energy in a smaller area. However, in a solar tree, there are losses in light capture due to the shading that upper leaves cast over the lower ones. In this work, we propose the configurable Fibonacci Solar Tree design, which is inspired by natural trees and aims to minimize shading losses. In addition, we analyze the behavior of the configurable Fibonacci solar tree in relation to its constructive variables (i.e. height, leaf area, number of leaves, projection radius), and propose a methodology to obtain an equation for the average annual solar incidence as a function of them. For this, automation of the computational simulation process of the efficiency concerning the variables is carried out, obtaining a large volume of instances, which allows the interested party to decide on the best tree according to their criteria. The results are promising, with a Fibonacci solar tree showing solar irradiation 12.8% higher than the best model available in the literature to date.
Display omitted
•Novel configurable Fibonacci solar tree design minimizing shading losses.•The solar incidence of the Fibonacci solar tree depends on its constructive factors.•Methodology to obtain the solar incidence equation for the Fibonacci solar tree model.•Automating configurable Fibonacci solar tree instances and their massive simulation.•Chosen Fibonacci solar tree shows solar irradiation 12.8% higher than the Daisy model.
A simple sample‐changing robot for combinatorial studies using grazing‐incidence X‐ray scattering has been designed, built and commissioned. The robot can be conveniently loaded with up to 20 ...samples. Use of the robot cuts down significantly on the time needed to access and interlock the beamline hutch. The robot was successfully employed by user groups at the CHESS D1 station.
A simple sample‐changing robot has been designed and built for combinatorial studies using grazing‐incidence scattering.
This “Year in review” presents a selection of research themes and individual studies from the clinical osteoarthritis (OA) field (epidemiology and therapy) and includes noteworthy descriptive, ...analytical-observational, and intervention studies. The electronic database search for the review was conducted in Medline, Embase and medRxiv (15th April 2020 to 1st April 2021). Following study screening, the following OA-related themes emerged: COVID-19; disease burden; occupational risk; prediction models; cartilage loss and pain; stem cell treatments; novel pharmacotherapy trials; therapy for less well researched OA phenotypes; benefits and challenges of Individual Participant Data (IPD) meta-analyses; patient choice-balancing benefits and harms; OA and comorbidity; and inequalities in OA. Headline study findings included: a longitudinal cohort study demonstrating no evidence for a harmful effect of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in terms of COVID-19 related deaths; a Global Burden of Disease study reporting a 102% increase in crude incidence rate of OA in 2017 compared to 1990; a longitudinal study reporting cartilage thickness loss was associated with only a very small degree of worsening in pain over 2 years; an exploratory analysis of a non-OA randomised controlled trial (RCT) finding reduced risk of total joint replacement with an Interleukin -1β inhibitor (canakinumab); a significant relationship between cumulative disadvantage and clinical outcomes of pain and depression mediated by perceived discrimination in a secondary analysis from a RCT; worsening socioeconomic circumstances were associated with future arthritis diagnosis in an innovative natural experiment (with implications for unique research possibilities arising from the COVID-19 pandemic context).
To examine the relationship between household wealth and HIV incidence in rural Uganda over time from 1994 to 2018. In research conducted early in the epidemic, greater wealth (i.e. higher ...socioeconomic status, SES) was associated with higher HIV prevalence in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA); this relationship reversed in some settings in later years.
Analysis of associations over time in a population-based open cohort of persons 15-49 years from 17 survey-rounds in 28 continuously followed communities of the Rakai Community Cohort Study (RCCS).
The RCCS sample averaged 8622 individuals and 5387 households per round. Principal components analysis was used to create a nine-item asset-based measure of household wealth. Poisson regression with generalized estimating equation (GEE) and exchangeable correlation structure was used to estimate HIV incidence rate ratios (IRRs) by SES quartile, survey-round, sex, and age group.
From 1994 to 2018, SES rose considerably, and HIV incidence declined from 1.45 to 0.40 per 100 person-years (IRR = 0.39, 95% CI = 0.32--0.47, P < 0.001). HIV incidence was similar by SES category in the initial survey intervals (1994-1997); however, higher SES groups showed greater declines in HIV incidence over time. Multivariable analyses showed significant associations between HIV incidence and SES (IRR = 0.55 for highest compared with lowest quartile, 95% CI = 0.45--0.66, P < 0.001) controlling for time, sex, and age group.
Beyond the early years of the RCCS, higher SES was associated with lower HIV incidence and SES gradients widened over time. The poor, like other key populations, should be targeted for HIV prevention, including treatment as prevention.
ObjectivesTo provide the level and trends of prevalence, incidence and disability adjusted life years (DALYs) for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in 195 countries from 1990 to 2017 by age, sex, ...Socio-demographic Index (SDI; a composite of sociodemographic factors) and Healthcare Access and Quality (an indicator of health system performance) Index.MethodsData from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors study (GBD) 2017 were used. GBD 2017 modelled the burden of RA for 195 countries from 1990 to 2017, through a systematic analysis of mortality and morbidity data to estimate prevalence, incidence and DALYs. All estimates were presented as counts and age-standardised rates per 100 000 population, with uncertainty intervals (UIs).ResultsGlobally, the age-standardised point prevalence and annual incidence rates of RA were 246.6 (95% UI 222.4 to 270.8) and 14.9 (95% UI 13.3 to 16.4) in 2017, which increased by 7.4% (95% UI 5.3 to 9.4) and 8.2% (95% UI 5.9 to 10.5) from 1990, respectively. However, the age-standardised rate of RA DALYs per 100 000 population was 43.3 (95% UI 33.0 to 54.5) in 2017, which was a 3.6% (95% UI −9.7 to 0.3) decrease from the 1990 rate. The age-standardised prevalence and DALY rates increased with age and were higher in females; the rates peaked at 70–74 and 75–79 age groups for females and males, respectively. A non-linear association was found between age-standardised DALY rate and SDI. The global age-standardised DALY rate decreased from 1990 to 2012 but then increased and reached higher than expected levels in the following 5 years to 2017. The UK had the highest age-standardised prevalence rate (471.8 (95% UI 428.9 to 514.9)) and age-standardised incidence rate (27.5 (95% UI 24.7 to 30.0)) in 2017. Canada, Paraguay and Guatemala showed the largest increases in age-standardised prevalence rates (54.7% (95% UI 49.2 to 59.7), 41.8% (95% UI 35.0 to 48.6) and 37.0% (95% UI 30.9 to 43.9), respectively) and age-standardised incidence rates (48.2% (95% UI 41.5 to 55.1), 43.6% (95% UI 36.6 to 50.7) and 36.8% (95% UI 30.4 to 44.3), respectively) between 1990 and 2017.ConclusionsRA is a major global public health challenge. The age-standardised prevalence and incidence rates are increasing, especially in countries such as Canada, Paraguay and Guatemala. Early identification and treatment of RA is vital especially among females, in order to reduce the ongoing burden of this condition. The quality of health data needs to be improved for better monitoring of disease burden.
PDF
