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Neeltje van den Berg,1,2 Sabina Ulbricht,2,3 Thea Schwaneberg,1,2 Kerstin Weitmann,1,2 Franziska Weymar,1–3 Stefan Groß,2,4 Marcus Dörr,2,4 Wolfgang Hoffmann1,2 1Institute for Community Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, 2German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Greifswald, 3Institute of Social Medicine and Prevention, University Medicine Greifswald, 4Department of Internal Medicine B, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany Background: Physical activity (PA) can be assessed by accelerometer monitors. However, a high adherence to wearing this device is essential to obtain valid data. In this study, the influence of different wearing schemes and additional supportive phone calls (SPCs) on adherence was examined. Methods: A randomized study with four groups was conducted in the context of a health examination program among participants aged 40–75 years without a history of cardiovascular diseases. Participants were recruited in different settings (general medical practices, job center, and health insurance). The participants were asked to wear an accelerometer for 7 consecutive days according to the wearing scheme “day and night” or “day only” and received or did not receive SPCs. Full adherence was defined as a total wearing time of 98 hours (between 8 am and 10 pm during 7 days). A generalized linear model was used to calculate the difference between the maximum possible and the observed adherence. Results: Adherence could be assessed for 249 participants (mean age: 56.40 years; standard deviation [SD] 9.83, 40% males). The mean wearing time was 84.04 hours (SD 20.75). Participants with the wearing scheme day and night were significantly more adherent than participants with the wearing scheme day only (incidence rate ratio [IRR] 0.63; P=0.005). SPCs had no additional effect on adherence (IRR 0.80; P=0.168). Conclusion: To assess PA, the wearing scheme day and night provides the best possible adherence in this group of participants. Further studies are necessary to examine adherence and the effects of additional SPCs in other samples or settings. Keywords: accelerometry, physical activity assessment, health promotion

Since the discovery that tightly focused femtosecond laser pulses can induce a highly localised and permanent refractive index modification in a large number of transparent dielectrics, the technique of ultrafast laser inscription has received great attention from a wide range of applications. In particular, the capability to create three-dimensional optical waveguide circuits has opened up new opportunities for integrated photonics that would not have been possible with traditional planar fabrication techniques because it enables full access to the many degrees of freedom in a photon. This paper reviews the basic techniques and technological challenges of 3D integrated photonics fabricated using ultrafast laser inscription as well as reviews the most recent progress in the fields of astrophotonics, optical communication, quantum photonics, emulation of quantum systems, optofluidics and sensing.

A novel method for coherent Doppler wind lidars (DWLs) calibration is shown in this work. Concurrent measurements of a ground based aerosol lidar operating at 532 nm and an airborne DWL at 2 μm are used in combination with sun photometer measurements for the retrieval of backscatter and extinction profiles. The presented method was successfully applied to the measurements obtained during the Saharan Aerosol Long-range Transport and Aerosol-Cloud-Interaction Experiment (SALTRACE: http://www.pa.op.dlr.de/saltrace), which aimed to characterize the Saharan dust long range transport between Africa and the Caribbean.

Detailed studies of intense light – material interactions has led to new insights into fs laser induced refractive index change in a range of glass types. This body of knowledge enables the development of advanced processing methodologies, resulting in novel planar and 3D guided wave devices. We will review the chemistry and morphology associated with fs laser induced refractive index change in multi-component glasses such as ZBLAN, phosphates and silicates, and discuss how these material changes inform our research programs developing a range of active and passive lightwave systems.

The aim of this study was to investigate a tailor‐made metal precursor and its chemical properties to tune the properties of supported metal nanoparticles (NPs) and their catalytic performance when used as Diesel Oxidation Catalyst (DOC). The formation of extremely small Pt NPs from a new halide‐free Pt complex was investigated, namely bis(oxalato)platinate, H2[Pt(C2O4)2]. The size evolution of the supported NPs, from the formation upon the Pt precursor decomposition on γ‐alumina to the sintering of the NPs at high temperatures, was followed by thermogravimetric analysis coupled with mass spectrometry (TG‐MS) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform (DRIFT) spectroscopy. A correlation between the NPs' size of the catalyst and the performance for the CO, C3H6, C3H8 and NO oxidation reactions pointed out a retained activity during test cycles, showing low sensitivity to the test conditions applied (i. e., temperature and gas composition). The overall catalytic performance was better in the fresh catalysts compared to the reference catalyst prepared from platinum nitrate, Pt(NO3)4. In particular, the different dispersion of the Pt NPs over the support obtained from the two precursors was identified as the reason for the different catalytic performance, retaining small NPs size after the tests cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: As drug‐related epidemics have expanded from cities to rural areas, syringe service programs (SSPs) and other harm reduction programs have been slow to follow. The recent implementation of SSPs in rural areas demands attention to program fidelity based on core components of SSP success. Methods: Semistructured interviews conducted with clients and staff at 5 SSPs in 5 counties within 2 Central Appalachian health districts. Interviews covered fidelity of SSP implementation to 6 core components: (1) meet needs for harm reduction supplies; (2) education and counseling for sexual, injection, and overdose risks; (3) cooperation between SSPs and local law enforcement; (4) provide other health and social services; (5) ensure low threshold access to services; and (6) promote dignity, the impact of poor fidelity on vulnerability to drug‐related harms, and the risk environment's influence on program fidelity. We applied thematic methods to analyze the data. Findings: Rural SSPs were mostly faithful to the 6 core components. Deviations from core components can be attributed to certain characteristics of the local rural risk environment outlined in the risk environment model, including geographic remoteness, lack of resources and underdeveloped infrastructure, and stigma against people who inject drugs (PWID) Conclusions: As drug‐related epidemics continue to expand outside cities, scaling up SSPs to serve rural PWID is essential. Future research should explore whether the risk environment features identified also influence SSP fidelity in other rural areas and develop and test strategies to strengthen core components in these vulnerable areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The femtosecond laser direct write technique was used to fabricate mid-infrared compatible waveguide couplers into Suprasil 3001, a fused silica glass with an OH content of as low as ≤1 ppm. Smooth positive step-index change multi-scan waveguides were produced with a high index contrast of 1 × 10−2, measured directly using quadriwave lateral shearing interferometry. Waveguides were annealed at 400 °C for 15 h and found to be highly stable, with only <5% reduction in positive index change. Brillouin microscopy and cathodoluminescence are introduced as novel tools that complement Raman mapping and electron microscopy for the investigation of the laser-induced structural changes within the glass matrix, and it was found that although a uniform step index profile is observed across the entire guiding region, different physical mechanisms underpin the index change in the upper and lower sections of the waveguide cross-section, respectively. Waveguides were optimized for mode-matching with optical fibers for the 3.2 μm wavelength range, and evanescent four-port directional couplers with coupling ratios ranging from 5:95 to 50:50 were designed and fabricated. This demonstration opens the door to the development of fully integrated and temperature-stable hybrid chip/fiber systems for the important mid-infrared spectral range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]