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Abstract JEM-EUSO is an international program for the development of space-based Ultra-High Energy Cosmic Ray observatories. The program consists of a series of missions which are either under development or in the data analysis phase. All instruments are based on a wide-field-of-view telescope, which operates in the near-UV range, designed to detect the fluorescence light emitted by extensive air showers in the atmosphere. We describe the simulation software ESAF in the framework of the JEM-EUSO program and explain the physical assumptions used. We present here the implementation of the JEM-EUSO, POEMMA, K-EUSO, TUS, Mini-EUSO, EUSO-SPB1 and EUSO-TA configurations in ESAF. For the first time ESAF simulation outputs are compared with experimental data.

The principle of minimum Fisher information states that in the set of acceptable probability distributions characterizing the given system, it is best done by the one that minimizes the corresponding Fisher information. This principle can be applied to transaction processes, the dynamics of which can be interpreted as the market tendency to minimize the information revealed about itself. More information involves higher costs (information is physical). The starting point for our considerations is a description of the market derived from the assumption of minimum Fisher information for a strategy with a fixed financial risk. Strategies of this type that minimize Fisher information overlap with the well-known eigenstates of a the quantum harmonic oscillator. The analytical extension of this field of strategy to the complex vector space (traditional for quantum mechanics) suggests the study of the interference of the oscillator eigenstates in terms of their minimization of Fisher information. It is revealed that the minimum value of Fisher information of the superposition of the two strategies being the ground state and the second excited state of the oscillator, has Fisher information less than the ground state of the oscillator. Similarly, less information is obtained for the system of strategies (the oscillator eigenstates) randomized by the Gibbs distribution. We distinguish two different views on the description of Fisher information. One of them, the classical, is based on the value of Fisher information. The second, we call it transactional, expresses Fisher information from the perspective of the constant risk of market strategies. The orders of the market strategies derived from these two descriptions are different. From a market standpoint, minimizing Fisher information is equivalent to minimizing risk.

Background: The standard starting point for percutaneous sacroiliac screw insertion was initially determined at the intersection of the line posterior to the anterior superior iliac spine and the line continuing the anatomical axis of the femur. The technique was pioneered in patients lying prone in surgery, although it has been used with patients in the supine position. The optimal starting point for patients in both prone and supine positions remains uncertain., Objectives: This cadaveric study aimed to determine the best entry point for the percutaneous insertion of sacroiliac screws depending on the patient's positioning for surgery., Material and Methods: Kirschner wires (K-wires) were percutaneously inserted into the sacral body of 8th human cadavers. In addition to the so-called standard sacroiliac screw entry point (point A), points located consecutively 1 cm (point B) and 2 cm (point C) cranially from the point along the line, prolonging the femoral axis were also studied. The K-wires were inserted into the studied entry points on the right side in a supine position and on the left side of the same cadaver in a prone position. The placement of the K-wires was assessed using radiographic imaging and cadaver dissection., Results: An analysis of the K-wire placement in the supine position revealed incorrect positioning of 100% of the K-wires inserted at entry point A and 87% at entry point B. All the K-wires inserted in the supine position at entry point C were correctly placed. All K-wires inserted in the prone position were correctly positioned., Conclusions: All 3 studied entry points enabled the correct placement of orthopedic implants for prone position surgery. The best entry point for surgery performed in the supine position was located 2 cm cranially from the standard entry point, along the line prolonging the femoral axis.

In response to the ongoing quest for new, highly sensitive upconverting luminescent thermometers, this article introduces, for the first time, upconverting luminescent thermometers based on thermally induced structured phase transitions. As demonstrated, the transition from the low-temperature monoclinic to the high-temperature tetragonal structures of LiYO 2 :Yb 3+ ,Er 3+ induces multifaceted modification in the spectroscopic properties of the examined material, influencing the spectral positions of luminescence bands, energy gap values between thermally coupled energy levels, and the red-to-green emission intensities ratio. Moreover, as illustrated, both the color of the emitted light and the phase transition temperature (from 265 K, for LiYO 2 :Er 3+ , 1%Yb 3+ , to 180 K, for 10%Yb 3+ ), and consequently, the thermometric parameters of the luminescent thermometer can be modulated by the concentration of Yb 3+ sensitizer ions. Establishing a correlation between the phase transition temperature and the mismatch of ion radii between the host material and dopant ions allows for smooth adjustment of the thermometric performance of such a thermometer following specific application requirements. Three different thermometric approaches were investigated using thermally coupled levels ( S R = 1.8%/K at 180 K for 1%Yb 3+ ), green to red emission intensities ratio ( S R = 1.5%/K at 305 K for 2%Yb 3+ ), and single band ratiometric approach ( S R = 2.5%/K at 240 K for 10%Yb 3+ ). The thermally induced structural phase transition in LiYO 2 :Er 3+ ,Yb 3+ has enabled the development of multiple upconverting luminescent thermometers. This innovative approach opens avenues for advancing the field of luminescence thermometry, offering enhanced relative thermal sensitivity and adaptability for various applications.

Introduction: Oral pirfenidone reduces lung function decline and mortality in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Systemic exposure can have significant side effects, including nausea, rash, photosensitivity, weight loss and fatigue. Reduced doses may be suboptimal in slowing disease progression., Methods: This phase 1b, randomised, open-label, dose-response trial at 25 sites in six countries (Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR) registration number ACTRN12618001838202) assessed safety, tolerability and efficacy of inhaled pirfenidone (AP01) in IPF. Patients diagnosed within 5 years, with forced vital capacity (FVC) 40%-90% predicted, and intolerant, unwilling or ineligible for oral pirfenidone or nintedanib were randomly assigned 1:1 to nebulised AP01 50 mg once per day or 100 mg two times per day for up to 72 weeks., Results: We present results for week 24, the primary endpoint and week 48 for comparability with published trials of antifibrotics. Week 72 data will be reported as a separate analysis pooled with the ongoing open-label extension study. Ninety-one patients (50 mg once per day: n=46, 100 mg two times per day: n=45) were enrolled from May 2019 to April 2020. The most common treatment-related adverse events (frequency, % of patients) were all mild or moderate and included cough (14, 15.4%), rash (11, 12.1%), nausea (8, 8.8%), throat irritation (5, 5.5%), fatigue (4, 4.4%) and taste disorder, dizziness and dyspnoea (three each, 3.3%). Changes in FVC % predicted over 24 and 48 weeks, respectively, were -2.5 (95% CI -5.3 to 0.4, -88 mL) and -4.9 (-7.5 to -2.3,-188 mL) in the 50 mg once per day and 0.6 (-2.2 to 3.4, 10 mL) and -0.4 (-3.2 to 2.3, -34 mL) in the 100 mg two times per day group., Discussion: Side effects commonly associated with oral pirfenidone in other clinical trials were less frequent with AP01. Mean FVC % predicted remained stable in the 100 mg two times per day group. Further study of AP01 is warranted., Trial Registration Number: ACTRN12618001838202 Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry., Competing Interests: Competing interests: NC received a grant from Boehringer Ingelheim and consulting fees from Boehringer Ingelheim, Carrick, Redex, UCB, and Novartis; speaker fees and travel sponsorship from Boehringer Ingelheim and Roche; and payment for participation on data monitoring/advisory board from Boehringer Ingelheim. IG reports consulting fees from Amplia, Ad Alta and Accendatech; speaking fees from Boehringer Ingelheim; and payment for participation in a safety review committee from Accendatech. TJC reports receiving grants/contracts from Boehringer Ingelheim, Roche, Bristol Myers Squibb, Biogen, Galapagos and Avalyn Pharma; speaker’s honoraria from Boehringer Ingelheim and Roche; and payment for participation on data safety monitoring/advisory board from Boehringer Ingelheim, Roche, Bristol Myers Squibb and Promedior. EJ received honoraria for lectures from Boehringer Ingelheim, Roche, AstraZeneca, MDS and Chiesi; sponsored travel to meetings from Boehringer Ingelheim and Roche; and payment for participation in advisory boards from Boehringer Ingelheim, Roche, AstraZeneca, Novartis, MDS, Berlin-Chemie and Chiesi. MW reports payments to her institution from Boehringer Ingelheim, Roche, the Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development, the Dutch Lung Foundation, the Dutch Pulmonary Fibrosis Patient Association, the Thorax Foundation, ErasmusMC and Sarcoidoisis.nl. Consulting fees were paid to her institution by Boehringer Ingelheim, Roche, Galapagos, Bristol Myers Squibb, Galecto and Respivant; honoraria were paid to her institution by Boehringer Ingelheim, Roche and Novartis. MW received sponsored travel from Boehringer Ingelheim and Roche, and her institution received payment for her participation in data safety monitoring/advisory board from Savara and Galapagos. CG received consulting fees from Avalyn Pharma. GR reports receiving support from Avalyn Pharma for consulting and for chairing the Data Safety Monitoring Board during the conduct of the study; personal and consulting fees from Boehringer Ingelheim, Respivant and Roche; grants from the NIH; and consulting fees from Bellerophon Therapeutics, Biogen, Bristol Myers Squibb, Fibrogen, Nitto, Promedior, Respivant and Veracyte., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2023. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Background: Sarcoidosis may seriously hamper patients' quality of life despite fairly good prognosis., Objectives: To assess the relationship between the Big Five personality traits, chronotype and severity of fatigue symptoms, in the context of selected clinical variables and general mental health among patients with sarcoidosis., Methods: The study group comprised 60 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of sarcoidosis. They were asked to share relevant clinical data and complete a set of questionnaires: Fatigue Asessment Scale (FAS), General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28), the NEO Five Factor Inventory and Composite Scale of Morningness., Results: In linear regression analysis, FAS score was predicted by female sex, active sarcoidosis status, Morning Affect and Conscientiousness. In principal component analysis, FAS score and all GHQ-28 subscale scores (somatic symptoms, anxiety/insomnia, social dysfunction and depressive symptoms) formed a single component explaining 60% of variance. The factor loading for each variable exceeded 0.6., Conclusions: The psychological burden appeared to rise with the severity of the fatigue, regardless the inactive/active phase of sarcoidosis. The severity of fatigue may be linked to patient's poor morning affect. The profile of psychological burden presented by the patients may be associated with their personality and clinical presentation of sarcoidosis.

The near-infrared luminescence of Ca 6 Ba(PO 4 ) 4 O:Mn 5+ is demonstrated and explained. When excited into the broad and strong absorption band that spans the 500-1000 nm spectral range, this phosphor provides an ultranarrow (FWHM = 5 nm) emission centered at 1140 nm that originates from a spin-forbidden 1 E →  3 A 2 transition with a 37.5% internal quantum efficiency and an excited-state lifetime of about 350 μs. We derived the crystal field and Racah parameters and calculated the appropriate Tanabe-Sugano diagram for this phosphor. We found that 1 E emission quenches due to the thermally-assisted cross-over with the 3 T 2 state and that the relatively high Debye temperature of 783 K of Ca 6 Ba(PO 4 ) 4 O facilitates efficient emission. Since Ca 6 Ba(PO 4 ) 4 O also provides efficient yellow emission of the Eu 2+ dopant, we calculated and explained its electronic band structure, the partial and total density of states, effective Mulliken charges of all ions, elastic constants, Debye temperature, and vibrational spectra. Finally, we demonstrated the application of phosphor in a luminescence intensity ratio thermometry and obtained a relative sensitivity of 1.92%K -1 and a temperature resolution of 0.2 K in the range of physiological temperatures., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Background and Objective: Interstitial pneumonia with autoimmune features (IPAF) was defined in 2015 as a research statement of European Respiratory Society and American Thoracic Society. Connective tissue diseases (CTDs) manifest in the respiratory tract, the main manifestation being interstitial lung disease, which contributes to morbidity and mortality. This poses numerous clinical challenges and is a substantial burden on healthcare systems around the world. The objective of this narrative review was to provide readers with a comprehensive and extensive overview of such manifestations in the respiratory system, analysis of prevalence of specific manifestations in the lung and to characterize population of patients with IPAF., Methods: We reviewed the current state of knowledge on radiological findings in interstitial lung diseases in course of convective tissue diseases and IPAF, a narrative review of PubMed database using Advanced Search Builder was performed. The search was conducted from 15.07.2021 to 03.04.2022. A total of 655 articles in English were reviewed., Key Content and Findings: Similarities and differences between interstitial pneumonia in course of well-established CTDs and IPAF are discussed with special emphasis on required future research areas. Manifestations of CTDs in the respiratory system are overviewed, with the emphasis on interstitial lung disease, as despite clinical similarities of various connective tissue diseases, there is variability in their presentation in the respiratory system, radiological patterns and clinical outcomes. We would also like to draw readers' attention to clinical significance of interstitial lung abnormality both in the context of CTDs and lack of underlying autoimmune disorders., Conclusions: There is need for prospective cohort studies regarding the natural course of IPAF, its clinical stability and its manifestations in the respiratory system. Prospective studies are also required to evaluate diagnostic and prognostic factors of IPAF. Interstitial lung disease associated with CTDs (CTD-ILD) is a significant factor impacting clinical outcomes and patient prognosis, therefore its diagnostic work-up is best performed by an experienced multidisciplinary team and with use of procedures of high diagnostic yield.