[Views of assistant professors on digital transformation in otorhinolaryngology education : Current status and perspectives in undergraduate and advanced training]

BACKGROUND

Digital transformation in curricular teaching in medicine comprises the use of digital teaching and learning formats as well as the transfer of digital skills for medical staff. Concepts of knowledge transfer and competency profiles also have to be adapted and transferred in advanced training due to necessary changes.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was an evaluation of the current state of digital transformation in otorhinolaryngology teaching in undergraduate and advanced training at otorhinolaryngology departments of university medical centers in Germany.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A questionnaire with nine questions on digital transformation was sent to the assistant professors of 37 national university ENT departments. The anonymous survey was conducted online via the online platform SurveyMonkey®.

RESULTS

Of the contacted assistant professors, 86.5% participated in the survey. Teaching sessions on digital skills for medical students are part of the curriculum in only 25% of ENT departments. Digital teaching formats are used by half of the departments in undergraduate training. Only 56.25% of the assistant professors receive support to realize the changes required by digital transformation. In 40.62% of departments, the issue of digital transformation is broached during advanced training, but only 28.12% use digital teaching methods to train junior doctors.

CONCLUSION

Aspects of digital transformation are implemented mainly in undergraduate education, partly driven by the COVID 19 pandemic. Overall, there is still considerable backlog in undergraduate and advanced training in ENT.

[Is the use of virtual reality in otorhinolaryngology teaching automatically positively rated by students? : A questionnaire-based evaluation among students]

BACKGROUND

Analogous to the situation in other disciplines, digital ENT teaching made significant progress during the pandemic. Most ENT clinics nationwide were able to offer a complete virtual teaching program in time. Innovative teaching methods were also used early on. This was recognized in student teaching evaluations. Due to the expansion of virtual reality (VR) in medical teaching, even greater satisfaction should be expected through improved teaching quality.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Surveys were performed with students (n = 180) of the ENT block internship in the summer semester of 2023. The aim of the evaluation was to determine the students' satisfaction with and subjective effectiveness of the newly implemented VR digital teaching method for teaching ear anatomy and coniotomy. A survey was also carried out among resident physicians.

RESULTS

The ENT teaching was perceived favorably by the students, with an average rating of 11.7 out of 15. The learning effectiveness and the value of VR in the ENT learning portfolio was evaluated varyingly by the students. The physicians' assessment was different, with a more positive perception.

CONCLUSION

Virtual reality represents an innovative component in the teaching portfolio of otolaryngology. This new teaching method is viewed and accepted as a future-oriented tool. Remarkably, the physicians involved voted consistently positively, while the students gave more critical assessments and pointed out limitations in the individual and subjective areas. These findings are in contrast to the further development of innovative teaching methods demanded by student interest groups.

Effects of empagliflozin on progression of chronic kidney disease: a prespecified secondary analysis from the empa-kidney trial

BACKGROUND

Sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors reduce progression of chronic kidney disease and the risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in a wide range of patients. However, their effects on kidney disease progression in some patients with chronic kidney disease are unclear because few clinical kidney outcomes occurred among such patients in the completed trials. In particular, some guidelines stratify their level of recommendation about who should be treated with SGLT2 inhibitors based on diabetes status and albuminuria. We aimed to assess the effects of empagliflozin on progression of chronic kidney disease both overall and among specific types of participants in the EMPA-KIDNEY trial.

METHODS

EMPA-KIDNEY, a randomised, controlled, phase 3 trial, was conducted at 241 centres in eight countries (Canada, China, Germany, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, the UK, and the USA), and included individuals aged 18 years or older with an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of 20 to less than 45 mL/min per 1·73 m2, or with an eGFR of 45 to less than 90 mL/min per 1·73 m2 with a urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (uACR) of 200 mg/g or higher. We explored the effects of 10 mg oral empagliflozin once daily versus placebo on the annualised rate of change in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR slope), a tertiary outcome. We studied the acute slope (from randomisation to 2 months) and chronic slope (from 2 months onwards) separately, using shared parameter models to estimate the latter. Analyses were done in all randomly assigned participants by intention to treat. EMPA-KIDNEY is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03594110.

FINDINGS

Between May 15, 2019, and April 16, 2021, 6609 participants were randomly assigned and then followed up for a median of 2·0 years (IQR 1·5-2·4). Prespecified subgroups of eGFR included 2282 (34·5%) participants with an eGFR of less than 30 mL/min per 1·73 m2, 2928 (44·3%) with an eGFR of 30 to less than 45 mL/min per 1·73 m2, and 1399 (21·2%) with an eGFR 45 mL/min per 1·73 m2 or higher. Prespecified subgroups of uACR included 1328 (20·1%) with a uACR of less than 30 mg/g, 1864 (28·2%) with a uACR of 30 to 300 mg/g, and 3417 (51·7%) with a uACR of more than 300 mg/g. Overall, allocation to empagliflozin caused an acute 2·12 mL/min per 1·73 m2 (95% CI 1·83-2·41) reduction in eGFR, equivalent to a 6% (5-6) dip in the first 2 months. After this, it halved the chronic slope from -2·75 to -1·37 mL/min per 1·73 m2 per year (relative difference 50%, 95% CI 42-58). The absolute and relative benefits of empagliflozin on the magnitude of the chronic slope varied significantly depending on diabetes status and baseline levels of eGFR and uACR. In particular, the absolute difference in chronic slopes was lower in patients with lower baseline uACR, but because this group progressed more slowly than those with higher uACR, this translated to a larger relative difference in chronic slopes in this group (86% [36-136] reduction in the chronic slope among those with baseline uACR <30 mg/g compared with a 29% [19-38] reduction for those with baseline uACR ≥2000 mg/g; ptrend<0·0001).

INTERPRETATION

Empagliflozin slowed the rate of progression of chronic kidney disease among all types of participant in the EMPA-KIDNEY trial, including those with little albuminuria. Albuminuria alone should not be used to determine whether to treat with an SGLT2 inhibitor.

FUNDING

Boehringer Ingelheim and Eli Lilly.

Impact of primary kidney disease on the effects of empagliflozin in patients with chronic kidney disease: secondary analyses of the EMPA-KIDNEY trial

BACKGROUND

The EMPA-KIDNEY trial showed that empagliflozin reduced the risk of the primary composite outcome of kidney disease progression or cardiovascular death in patients with chronic kidney disease mainly through slowing progression. We aimed to assess how effects of empagliflozin might differ by primary kidney disease across its broad population.

METHODS

EMPA-KIDNEY, a randomised, controlled, phase 3 trial, was conducted at 241 centres in eight countries (Canada, China, Germany, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, the UK, and the USA). Patients were eligible if their estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was 20 to less than 45 mL/min per 1·73 m2, or 45 to less than 90 mL/min per 1·73 m2 with a urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (uACR) of 200 mg/g or higher at screening. They were randomly assigned (1:1) to 10 mg oral empagliflozin once daily or matching placebo. Effects on kidney disease progression (defined as a sustained ≥40% eGFR decline from randomisation, end-stage kidney disease, a sustained eGFR below 10 mL/min per 1·73 m2, or death from kidney failure) were assessed using prespecified Cox models, and eGFR slope analyses used shared parameter models. Subgroup comparisons were performed by including relevant interaction terms in models. EMPA-KIDNEY is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03594110.

FINDINGS

Between May 15, 2019, and April 16, 2021, 6609 participants were randomly assigned and followed up for a median of 2·0 years (IQR 1·5-2·4). Prespecified subgroupings by primary kidney disease included 2057 (31·1%) participants with diabetic kidney disease, 1669 (25·3%) with glomerular disease, 1445 (21·9%) with hypertensive or renovascular disease, and 1438 (21·8%) with other or unknown causes. Kidney disease progression occurred in 384 (11·6%) of 3304 patients in the empagliflozin group and 504 (15·2%) of 3305 patients in the placebo group (hazard ratio 0·71 [95% CI 0·62-0·81]), with no evidence that the relative effect size varied significantly by primary kidney disease (pheterogeneity=0·62). The between-group difference in chronic eGFR slopes (ie, from 2 months to final follow-up) was 1·37 mL/min per 1·73 m2 per year (95% CI 1·16-1·59), representing a 50% (42-58) reduction in the rate of chronic eGFR decline. This relative effect of empagliflozin on chronic eGFR slope was similar in analyses by different primary kidney diseases, including in explorations by type of glomerular disease and diabetes (p values for heterogeneity all >0·1).

INTERPRETATION

In a broad range of patients with chronic kidney disease at risk of progression, including a wide range of non-diabetic causes of chronic kidney disease, empagliflozin reduced risk of kidney disease progression. Relative effect sizes were broadly similar irrespective of the cause of primary kidney disease, suggesting that SGLT2 inhibitors should be part of a standard of care to minimise risk of kidney failure in chronic kidney disease.

FUNDING

Boehringer Ingelheim, Eli Lilly, and UK Medical Research Council.

Monolithic high contrast grating on GaSb/AlAsSb based epitaxial structures for mid-infrared wavelength applications

We demonstrate monolithic high contrast gratings (MHCG) based on GaSb/AlAs_0.08Sb_0.92 epitaxial structures with sub-wavelength gratings enabling high reflection of unpolarized mid-infrared radiation at the wavelength range from 2.5 to 5 µm. We study the reflectivity wavelength dependence of MHCGs with ridge widths ranging from 220 to 984 nm and fixed 2.6 µm grating period and demonstrate that peak reflectivity of above 0.7 can be shifted from 3.0 to 4.3 µm for ridge widths from 220 to 984 nm, respectively. Maximum reflectivity of up to 0.9 at 4 µm can be achieved. The experiments are in good agreement with numerical simulations, confirming high process flexibility in terms of peak reflectivity and wavelength selection. MHCGs have hitherto been regarded as mirrors enabling high reflection of selected light polarization. With this work, we show that thoughtfully designed MHCG yields high reflectivity for both orthogonal polarizations simultaneously. Our experiment demonstrates that MHCGs are promising candidates to replace conventional mirrors like distributed Bragg reflectors to realize resonator based optical and optoelectronic devices such as resonant cavity enhanced light emitting diodes and resonant cavity enhanced photodetectors in the mid-infrared spectral region, for which epitaxial growth of distributed Bragg reflectors is challenging.

Development of a new critical size defect model in the paranasal sinus and first approach for defect reconstruction-An in vivo maxillary bone defect study in sheep

Fractures of the paranasal sinuses often require surgical intervention. Persisting bone defects lead to permanent visible deformities of the facial contours. Bone substitutes for reconstruction of defects with simultaneous induction of new bone formation are not commercially available for the paranasal sinus. New materials are urgently needed and have to be tested in their future area of application. For this purpose critical size defect models for the paranasal sinus have to be developed. A ≥2.4 cm large bilateral circular defect was created in the anterior wall of the maxillary sinus in six sheep via an extraoral approach. The defect was filled with two types of an osteoconductive titanium scaffold (empty scaffold vs. scaffold filled with a calcium phosphate bone cement paste) or covered with a titanium mesh either. Sheep were euthanized after four months. All animals performed well, no postoperative complications occured. Meshes and scaffolds were safely covered with soft tissue at the end of the study. The initial defect size of ≥2.4 cm only shrunk minimally during the investigation period confirming a critical size defect. No ingrowth of bone into any of the scaffolds was observed. The anterior wall of the maxillary sinus is a region with low complication rate for performing critical size defect experiments in sheep. We recommend this region for experiments with future scaffold materials whose intended use is not only limited to the paranasal sinus, as the defect is challenging even for bone graft substitutes with proven osteoconductivity. Graphical abstract.

A fully ingrowing implant for cranial reconstruction: Results in critical size defects in sheep using 3D-printed titanium scaffold

Current alloplastic materials such as PMMA, titanium or PEEK don't show relevant bone ingrowth into the implant when used for cranioplasty, ceramic implants have the drawback being brittle. New materials and implant designs are urgently needed being biocompatible, stable enough for cranioplasty and stimulating bone formation. In an in vivo critical size sheep model circular cranial defects (>2.4 cm) were covered with three different types of a 3D-printed porous titanium scaffolds with multidirectional, stochastically distributed architecture (uncoated scaffold, hydroxyapatite-coated scaffold, uncoated scaffold filled with a calcium phosphate bone cement paste containing β-TCP granules). An empty titanium mesh served as control. Among the different investigated setups the hydroxyapatite-coated scaffolds showed a surprisingly favourable performance. Push-out tests revealed a 2.9 fold higher force needed in the hydroxyapatite-coated scaffolds compared to the mesh group. Mean CT density at five different points inside the scaffold was 2385HU in the hydroxyapatite-coated group compared to 1978HU in the uncoated scaffold at nine months. Average lateral bone ingrowth after four months in the hydroxyapatite-coated scaffold group was up to the implant center, 12.1 mm on average, compared to 2.8 mm in the control group covered with mesh only. These properties make the investigated scaffold with multidirectional, stochastically distributed structure superior to all products currently on the market. The study gives a good idea of what future materials for cranioplasty might look like.

Antibody Screening Results for Anti-Nucleocapsid Antibodies Toward the Development of a Lateral Flow Assay to Detect SARS-CoV-2 Nucleocapsid Protein

The global COVID-19 pandemic has created an urgent demand for large numbers of inexpensive, accurate, rapid, point-of-care diagnostic tests. Analyte-based assays are suitably rapid and inexpensive and can be rapidly mass-produced, but for sufficiently accurate performance, they require highly optimized antibodies and assay conditions. We used an automated liquid handling system, customized to handle arrays of lateral flow (immuno)assays (LFAs) in a high-throughput screen, to identify anti-nucleocapsid antibodies that will perform optimally in an LFA. We tested 1021 anti-nucleocapsid antibody pairs as LFA capture and detection reagents with the goal of highlighting pairs that have the greatest affinity for the nucleocapsid protein of SARS-CoV-2 within the LFA format. In contrast to traditional antibody screening methods (e.g., ELISA, bio-layer interferometry), the method described here integrates real-time reaction kinetics with transport in, and immobilization directly onto, nitrocellulose. We have identified several candidate antibody pairs that are suitable for further development of an LFA for SARS-CoV-2.

Screening Antibodies Raised against the Spike Glycoprotein of SARS-CoV-2 to Support the Development of Rapid Antigen Assays

Severe acute respiratory coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a novel viral pathogen and therefore a challenge to accurately diagnose infection. Asymptomatic cases are common and so it is difficult to accurately identify infected cases to support surveillance and case detection. Diagnostic test developers are working to meet the global demand for accurate and rapid diagnostic tests to support disease management. However, the focus of many of these has been on molecular diagnostic tests, and more recently serologic tests, for use in primarily high-income countries. Low- and middle-income countries typically have very limited access to molecular diagnostic testing due to fewer resources. Serologic testing is an inappropriate surrogate as the early stages of infection are not detected and misdiagnosis will promote continued transmission. Detection of infection via direct antigen testing may allow for earlier diagnosis provided such a method is sensitive. Leading SARS-CoV-2 biomarkers include spike protein, nucleocapsid protein, envelope protein, and membrane protein. This research focuses on antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 spike protein due to the number of monoclonal antibodies that have been developed for therapeutic research but also have potential diagnostic value. In this study, we assessed the performance of antibodies to the spike glycoprotein, acquired from both commercial and private groups in multiplexed liquid immunoassays, with concurrent testing via a half-strip lateral flow assays (LFA) to indicate antibodies with potential in LFA development. These processes allow for the selection of pairs of high-affinity antispike antibodies that are suitable for liquid immunoassays and LFA, some of which with sensitivity into the low picogram range with the liquid immunoassay formats with no cross-reactivity to other coronavirus S antigens. Discrepancies in optimal ranking were observed with the top pairs used in the liquid and LFA formats. These findings can support the development of SARS-CoV-2 LFAs and diagnostic tools.

Screening Antibodies Raised against the Spike Glycoprotein of SARS-CoV-2 to Support the Development of Rapid Antigen Assays

Severe acute respiratory coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a novel viral pathogen and therefore a challenge to accurately diagnose infection. Asymptomatic cases are common and so it is difficult to accurately identify infected cases to support surveillance and case detection. Diagnostic test developers are working to meet the global demand for accurate and rapid diagnostic tests to support disease management. However, the focus of many of these has been on molecular diagnostic tests, and more recently serologic tests, for use in primarily high-income countries. Low- and middle-income countries typically have very limited access to molecular diagnostic testing due to fewer resources. Serologic testing is an inappropriate surrogate as the early stages of infection are not detected and misdiagnosis will promote continued transmission. Detection of infection via direct antigen testing may allow for earlier diagnosis provided such a method is sensitive. Leading SARS-CoV-2 biomarkers include spike protein, nucleocapsid protein, envelope protein, and membrane protein. This research focuses on antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 spike protein due to the number of monoclonal antibodies that have been developed for therapeutic research but also have potential diagnostic value. In this study, we assessed the performance of antibodies to the spike glycoprotein, acquired from both commercial and private groups in multiplexed liquid immunoassays, with concurrent testing via a half-strip lateral flow assays (LFA) to indicate antibodies with potential in LFA development. These processes allow for the selection of pairs of high-affinity antispike antibodies that are suitable for liquid immunoassays and LFA, some of which with sensitivity into the low picogram range with the liquid immunoassay formats with no cross-reactivity to other coronavirus S antigens. Discrepancies in optimal ranking were observed with the top pairs used in the liquid and LFA formats. These findings can support the development of SARS-CoV-2 LFAs and diagnostic tools.

Ultrashort pulse written fiber Bragg gratings as narrowband filters in multicore fibers

We present the inscription of narrow-linewidth fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) into different types of multicore fibers (MCFs) using ultrashort laser pulses and the phase mask technique, which can act as notch filters. Such filters are required, e.g., to suppress light emitted by hydroxyl in the Earth's upper atmosphere, which disturbs ground-based observation of extraterrestrial objects in the near infrared. However, the inscription into a commercially available seven-core fiber showed a quite large core-to-core deviation of the resonance wavelength of up to 0.45 nm. Two options are presented to overcome this: first, we present the photo-treatment of the FBGs to tune the resonance wavelength, which allows for sufficient resonance shifts. Second, adapted MCFs containing 12 cores, arranged on a circle, are fabricated. For this, two different fabrication procedures were investigated, namely, the mechanical drilling of the preform for a rod-in-tube version as well as a stack-and-draw approach. Both adapted MCFs yielded significant improvements with core-to-core wavelength variations of the FBGs of only about 0.18 nm and 0.11 nm, respectively, sufficient to fulfill the requirements for astronomical filter applications as discussed above.

["Online from tomorrow on please": comparison of digital framework conditions of curricular teaching at national university ENT clinics in times of COVID-19 : Digital teaching at national university ENT clinics]

Hintergrund

Die Corona-Krise beeinflusst nicht nur das professionelle Handeln, sondern auch die Lehre an den Universitäten. Schlagworte wie „E-Learning“ und „Digitalisierung“ suggerieren die Möglichkeit innovativer, ad hoc verfügbarer Lösungsansätze für die Lehre in der aktuellen COVID-19-Situation. Die aktuelle Umstellung auf digitale Lehre ist aber nicht primär durch eine didaktische Sinnhaftigkeit oder institutionelle Strategie, sondern durch äußere Notwendigkeit geprägt.

Ziel der Arbeit

Ziel der Arbeit war die Erfassung der Lehrsituation an nationalen Universitäts-HNO-Kliniken und akademischen Lehrkrankenhäusern zu Beginn des virtuellen Corona-Sommersemesters 2020.

Material und Methode

Ein eigens erstellter Fragebogen zur jeweiligen lokalen Situation, den örtlichen Rahmenbedingungen sowie zu bundesweiten Szenarien wurde an alle 39 nationalen Universitäts-HNO-Kliniken und 20 akademischen Lehrkrankenhäuser mit HNO-Hauptabteilung versandt.

Ergebnisse

Die ausgefüllten Fragebögen von 31 Universitätskliniken (UK) und 10 akademische Lehrkrankenhäuser (ALK) gingen in die Auswertung ein. Es zeigten sich offensichtliche Diskrepanzen zwischen verfügbaren Ressourcen und tatsächlich verfügbaren digitalisierten Lehrinhalten. Weitere Kritikpunkte offenbarten sich in Bezug auf die Kommunikation mit der Medizinischen Fakultät, die digitale Infrastruktur und insbesondere in der oftmals mangelnden Kollaboration mit den zentralen Supportstrukturen, wie Medien‑, Didaktik- und Rechenzentren.

Schlussfolgerung

Es gibt durchaus positive Beispiele für eine gelungene Überführung der Präsenzlehre in das ausschließlich virtuelle Sommersemester 2020 innerhalb der Universitäts-HNO-Kliniken. Mehrheitlich aber überwiegen kritische Einschätzungen der Lehrbeauftragten bzw. Ärztlichen Direktoren gegenüber der aktuellen Lehrsituation. Eine zeitkritische strategische Weiterentwicklung ist dringend erforderlich.

[Natural language processing in radiology : Neither trivial nor impossible]

BACKGROUND

The need for application expertise in natural language processing (NLP) is increasing in radiology. This way, in a complementary fashion to structured reporting using templates, the necessary database for quality assurance and continuous process optimization can be generated.

OBJECTIVE

Possibilities and challenges of the application of NLP from the radiology point of view are explained.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The requirements and expectations for NLP systems are identified and demonstrated using a case study.

RESULTS

For an effective use of this technology, NLP tasks for the interpretation of text using RadLex, an intuitive usage and feedback option as well as transparent quality of the NLP results are important.

DISCUSSION

Using suitable NLP systems, targeted information can be extracted from large amounts of free text with manageable manual effort and high quality.

Micro-fluorescence lifetime and spectral imaging of ytterbium doped laser materials

We present the application of a confocal fluorescence microscope to the analysis of Yb-doped solid-state laser materials, with examples of Yb-doped crystals, photonic crystal fibers and fiber preforms made with different manufacturing processes. Beside the fluorescence lifetime image itself, a microscopic spectral fluorescence emission analysis is presented and spatially resolved emission cross sections are obtained. Doping concentration and its distributions and other laser optical parameters are measured, which help to analyze manufacturing steps. Further properties like photodarkening and saturation are addressed.

Chemistry, mineralogy, and grain properties at Namib and High dunes, Bagnold dune field, Gale crater, Mars: A synthesis of Curiosity rover observations

The Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover performed coordinated measurements to examine the textures and compositions of aeolian sands in the active Bagnold dune field. The Bagnold sands are rounded to subrounded, very fine to medium sized (~45-500 μm) with ≥6 distinct grain colors. In contrast to sands examined by Curiosity in a dust-covered, inactive bedform called Rocknest and soils at other landing sites, Bagnold sands are darker, less red, better sorted, have fewer silt-sized or smaller grains, and show no evidence for cohesion. Nevertheless, Bagnold mineralogy and Rocknest mineralogy are similar with plagioclase, olivine, and pyroxenes in similar proportions comprising >90% of crystalline phases, along with a substantial amorphous component (35% ± 15%). Yet Bagnold and Rocknest bulk chemistry differ. Bagnold sands are Si enriched relative to other soils at Gale crater, and H₂O, S, and Cl are lower relative to all previously measured Martian soils and most Gale crater rocks. Mg, Ni, Fe, and Mn are enriched in the coarse-sieved fraction of Bagnold sands, corroborated by visible/near-infrared spectra that suggest enrichment of olivine. Collectively, patterns in major element chemistry and volatile release data indicate two distinctive volatile reservoirs in Martian soils: (1) amorphous components in the sand-sized fraction (represented by Bagnold) that are Si-enriched, hydroxylated alteration products and/or H₂O- or OH-bearing impact or volcanic glasses and (2) amorphous components in the fine fraction (<40 μm; represented by Rocknest and other bright soils) that are Fe, S, and Cl enriched with low Si and adsorbed and structural H₂O.

Chemistry, mineralogy, and grain properties at Namib and High dunes, Bagnold dune field, Gale crater, Mars: A synthesis of Curiosity rover observations

The Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover performed coordinated measurements to examine the textures and compositions of aeolian sands in the active Bagnold dune field. The Bagnold sands are rounded to subrounded, very fine to medium sized (~45-500 μm) with ≥6 distinct grain colors. In contrast to sands examined by Curiosity in a dust-covered, inactive bedform called Rocknest and soils at other landing sites, Bagnold sands are darker, less red, better sorted, have fewer silt-sized or smaller grains, and show no evidence for cohesion. Nevertheless, Bagnold mineralogy and Rocknest mineralogy are similar with plagioclase, olivine, and pyroxenes in similar proportions comprising >90% of crystalline phases, along with a substantial amorphous component (35% ± 15%). Yet Bagnold and Rocknest bulk chemistry differ. Bagnold sands are Si enriched relative to other soils at Gale crater, and H2O, S, and Cl are lower relative to all previously measured Martian soils and most Gale crater rocks. Mg, Ni, Fe, and Mn are enriched in the coarse-sieved fraction of Bagnold sands, corroborated by visible/near-infrared spectra that suggest enrichment of olivine. Collectively, patterns in major element chemistry and volatile release data indicate two distinctive volatile reservoirs in Martian soils: (1) amorphous components in the sand-sized fraction (represented by Bagnold) that are Si-enriched, hydroxylated alteration products and/or H2O- or OH-bearing impact or volcanic glasses and (2) amorphous components in the fine fraction (<40 μm; represented by Rocknest and other bright soils) that are Fe, S, and Cl enriched with low Si and adsorbed and structural H2O.

Single mode 4.3 kW output power from a diode-pumped Yb-doped fiber amplifier

We investigate the average power scaling of two diode-pumped Yb-doped fiber amplifiers emitting a diffraction-limited beam. The first fiber under investigation with a core diameter of 30 µm was able to amplify a 10 W narrow linewidth seed laser up to 2.8 kW average output power before the onset of transverse mode instabilities (TMI). A further power scaling was achieved using a second fiber with a smaller core size (23µm), which allowed for a narrow linewidth output power of 3.5 kW limited by stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS). We mitigated SBS using a spectral broadening mechanism, which allowed us to further increase the output power to 4.3 kW only limited by the available pump power. Up to this power level, a high slope efficiency of 90% with diffraction-limited beam quality and without any sign of TMI or stimulated Raman scattering for a spectral dynamic range of higher than -80 dB was obtained.

Narrow linewidth, single mode 3 kW average power from a directly diode pumped ytterbium-doped low NA fiber amplifier

We report on a newly designed and fabricated ytterbium-doped large mode area fiber with an extremely low NA (~0.04) and related systematic investigations on fiber parameters that crucially influence the mode instability threshold. The fiber is used to demonstrate a narrow linewidth, continuous wave, single mode fiber laser amplifier emitting a maximum output power of 3 kW at a wavelength of 1070 nm without reaching the mode-instability threshold. A high slope efficiency of 90 %, excellent beam quality, high temporal stability, and an ASE suppression of 70 dB could be reached with a signal linewidth of only 170 pm.

The ion microscope as a tool for quantitative measurements in the extreme ultraviolet

We demonstrate a tool for quantitative measurements in the extreme ultraviolet (EUV) spectral region measuring spatially resolved atomic ionization products at the focus of an EUV beam. The ionizing radiation is a comb of the 11(th)-15(th) harmonics of a Ti:Sapphire femtosecond laser beam produced in a Xenon gas jet. The spatial ion distribution at the focus of the harmonics is recorded using an ion microscope. Spatially resolved single- and two-photon ionization products of Argon and Helium are observed. From such ion distributions single- and two-photon generalized cross sections can be extracted by a self-calibrating method. The observation of spatially resolved two-EUV-photon ionization constitutes an initial step towards future single-shot temporal characterization of attosecond pulses.

Retrograde tibial nail: anatomical implantation and surgical feasibility study

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY The treatment of distal tibial fractures requires a stable fixation while minimizing the secondary trauma to the soft tissues by the surgical approach and implant. The experimental Retrograde Tibial Nail is currently investigated as a minimally invasive alternative to plating and antegrade nailing. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the surgical feasibility in a cadaver model for all distal tibial fracture types generally considered treatable by nailing. MATERIAL AND METHODS Five different fracture types (AO/OTA 43-A1/A2/A3 and 43-C1/C2) were created on separate cadaveric limbs. In simple fractures (AO/OTA 43-A1/A2/A3) primary nailing was performed. In intraarticular fractures (AO/OTA 43-C1/2) reduction of the articular block and lag screw fixation was performed before nailing. Intraoperative complications, quality of reduction, fluoroscopy duration and operative time were evaluated. RESULTS Retrograde intramedullary nailing is feasible in simple fracture types by closed manual reduction and percutaneous reduction forceps. Retrograde nailing is possible in fractures with simple intraarticular involvement after primary lag screw fixation. The duration of surgery averaged 51.8 minutes (range 40-62 min). No major complications occurred during nailing. CONCLUSIONS The minimally invasive retrograde nail combines a minimally invasive local osteosynthesis with the ability to adequately fix extraarticular and simple intraarticular distal tibial fractures. The results suggests that retrograde tibia nailing is a promising new concept for the treatment of distal tibia fractures. Key words: minimally invasive surgery, tibia, metaphyseal fractures, intramedullary nailing, retrograde nailing.

Intramedullary nailing after external fixation of the femur and tibia: a review of advantages and limits

PURPOSE AND METHODS

External fixation is a safe option for stabilisation of extremity lesions in the polytraumatised patient as well as in fractures with severe soft tissue damage. Nevertheless, long-term-complications are to be expected when external fixation is chosen as a definitive treatment. The purpose of this review article is twofold: primarily, to define the rationale of a procedural change from an external fixator to an intramedullary nail; secondarily, to assess the possible advantages and pitfalls of a single- or two-staged procedure.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

External fixation of the femur is recommended in multiply injured patients who are critically ill to avoid an additional inflammatory response caused by the surgical trauma of primary nailing. The conversion towards nailing must be done as soon as the clinical condition of the patient has been stabilised. Stable polytraumatised patients do not benefit from initial stabilisation with an external fixator and should immediately be treated with a definitive osteosynthesis. In tibial fractures, external fixation followed by intramedullary nailing is recommendable in fractures with severe soft tissue injuries. Conversion should be done as soon as the soft tissues allow before pin-tract infections occur and performed in a one-staged procedure.

Travel-acquired infections in Canada: CanTravNet 2011-2012

BACKGROUND

Important gaps remain in our knowledge of the infectious diseases people acquire while travelling and the impact of pathogens imported by Canadian travellers.

OBJECTIVE

To provide a surveillance update of illness in a cohort of returned Canadian travellers and new immigrants.

METHODS

Data on returning Canadian travellers and new immigrants presenting to a CanTravNet site between September 2011 and September 2012 were extracted and analyzed by destination, presenting symptoms, common and emerging infectious diseases and disease severity.

RESULTS

During the study period, 2283 travellers and immigrants presented to a CanTravNet site, 88% (N=2004) of whom were assigned a travel-related diagnosis. Top three destinations for non-immigrant travellers were India (N=132), Mexico (N=103) and Cuba (N=89). Fifty-one cases of malaria were imported by ill returned travellers during the study period, 60% (N=30) of which were Plasmodium falciparum infections. Individuals travelling to visit friends and relatives accounted for 83% of enteric fever cases (15/18) and 41% of malaria cases (21/51). The requirement for inpatient management was over-represented among those with malaria compared to those without malaria (25% versus 2.8%; p<0.0001) and those travelling to visit friends and relatives versus those travelling for other reasons (12.1% versus 2.4%; p<0.0001). Nine new cases of HIV were diagnosed among the cohort, as well as one case of acute hepatitis B. Emerging infections among travellers included hepatitis E virus (N=6), chikungunya fever (N=4) and cutaneous leishmaniasis (N=16). Common chief complaints included gastrointestinal (N=804), dermatologic (N=440) and fever (N=287). Common specific causes of chief complaint of fever in the cohort were malaria (N=47/51 total cases), dengue fever (14/18 total cases), enteric fever (14/17 total cases) and influenza and influenza-like illness (15/21 total cases). Animal bites were the tenth most common diagnosis among tourist travellers.

INTERPRETATION

Our analysis of surveillance data on ill returned Canadian travellers provides a recent update to the spectrum of imported illness among travelling Canadians. Preventable travel-acquired illnesses and injuries in the cohort include malaria, enteric fever, HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis A, influenza and animal bites. Strategies to improve uptake of preventive interventions such as malaria chemoprophylaxis, immunizations and arthropod/animal avoidance may be warranted.

The genetic rescue of two bottlenecked South Island robin populations using translocations of inbred donors

Populations forced through bottlenecks typically lose genetic variation and exhibit inbreeding depression. 'Genetic rescue' techniques that introduce individuals from outbred populations can be highly effective in reversing the deleterious effects of inbreeding, but have limited application for the majority of endangered species, which survive only in a few bottlenecked populations. We tested the effectiveness of using highly inbred populations as donors to rescue two isolated and bottlenecked populations of the South Island robin (Petroica australis). Reciprocal translocations significantly increased heterozygosity and allelic diversity. Increased genetic diversity was accompanied by increased juvenile survival and recruitment, sperm quality, and immunocompetence of hybrid individuals (crosses between the two populations) compared with inbred control individuals (crosses within each population). Our results confirm that the implementation of 'genetic rescue' using bottlenecked populations as donors provides a way of preserving endangered species and restoring their viability when outbred donor populations no longer exist.