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Background: Although dexmedetomidine (Dex) is known to reduce bispectral index (BIS) values and propofol dosage, there is little information regarding raw electroencephalography (EEG) changes related to Dex deepening of propofol general anesthesia (GA). This study investigated Dex effects on propofol GA via analysis of EEG changes.Methods: A study cohort of 21 surgical patients (age range, 20–60 years) categorized asASA (American Society ofAnesthesiologists) class I or II were enrolled. We used time-varying spectral and bicoherence methods to compare electroencephalogram signatures 5 min before versus 10 min after intravenous Dex injection under propofol GA. Means and medians are reported with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and inter-quartile ranges (IQRs), respectively.Results: Dex augmented the slow waves power and theta (θ) oscillation bicoherence peak from a mean (95% CI) of 22.1% (19.0, 25.2) to 25.2% (21.8, 28.6). Meanwhile, Dex reduced alpha (α) peak power and bicoherence from 3.5 dB (1.0, 6.0) and 41.5% (34.0, 49.0) to 1.7 dB (-0.6, 4.0) and 35.4% (29.0, 41.8), respectively, while diminishing the median frequency of α oscillation peak values and the mean frequency of α peaks in bicoherence spectra from 12.0 Hz (IQR: 11.2, 12.6) and 11.7 Hz (11.3, 12.2) to 11.1 Hz (IQR: 10.3, 11.8) Hz and 11.2 Hz (10.9, 11.6),respectively.Conclusions: Profound EEG changes support the supposition that Dex enhancespropofol-induced GA from a moderate to a deeper state. The present findings provide a theoretical basis and reference regarding protocols aimed at reducing anesthetic/sedative dosage while maintaining sufficient depth of GA.Clinical trial registration: ChiCTR, ChiCTR1900026955, Registered 27 October 2019, http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=44495

Background:The role of chronic use of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) in rheumatic disease (RD) patients during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic is still subject of discussion.Objectives:To compare the occurrence of COVID-19 and its outcomes between RD patients on HCQ use with individuals from the same household not taking the drug during community viral transmission in an observational prospective multicenter study in Brazil.Methods:Participants were enrolled and monitored through 24-week (From March 29th to Sep 30th, 2020) regularly scheduled phone calls performed by trained medical professionals. Epidemiological and demographic data, as well as RD disease activity status and current treatment data, specific information about COVID-19, hospitalization, need for intensive care, and death was recorded in both groups and stored in the Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap) database. COVID-19 was defined according to the Brazilian Ministry of Health (BMH) criteria. The statistical analysis was performed using IBM-SPSS v.20.0 software. Group comparisons were made using the Man-Whitney, Chi-Square and Fisher Exact Test, as well as multivariate regression models adjusted to confounders. Survival curves were performed using Kaplan-Meier analysis.Results:A total of 10,427 participants mean age (SD) of 44.04 (14.98) years were enrolled, including 6004 (57.6%) rheumatic disease patients, of whom 70.8% had systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), 6.7% rheumatoid arthritis (RA), 4% primary Sjögren’s syndrome (pSS), 1.8% mixed connective tissue disease (DMTC), 1% systemic sclerosis (SSc) and others (15.9), including overlap syndromes. In total, 1,132 (10.8%) participants fulfilled criteria for COVID-19, being 6.7% RD patients and 4.1% controls (p=0.002). A recent influenza vaccination had a protective role (p=65 years (OR=0.20; 95%CI 0.11-0.34) was negatively associated. Regarding RD, the risk factors associated with COVID-19 diagnosys were SLE (OR= 2.37; 95%CI 1.92-293), SSc (OR=2.25; 95%CI 1.05-4.83) and rituximab use (OR=1.92; 95%CI 1.13-3.26). In addition, age >=65 years (OR=5.47; 95%CI 1.7-19.4) and heart disease (OR=2.60; 95%CI 1.06-6.38) were associated with hospitalization. Seven female RD patients died, six with SLE and one with pSS, and the presence of two or more comorbidities were associated with higher mortality rate.Conclusion:Chronic HCQ use did not prevent COVID-19 in RD compared to their household cohabitants. Health care profession, presence of comorbidities LES, SSc and rituximab were identified as main risk factors for COVID-19 and aging and heart disease as higher risk for hospitalization. Our data suggest these outcomes could be considered to manage them in clinical practice.Table 1.Frequency and severity of COVID-19 in patients with rheumatic diseases on chronic use of hydroxychloroquine compared to their household controlsCOVID-19 outcomesTotal(%)GroupsPPatients(%)Controls (%)DiagnosisNo9256 (89.1)5300 (88.3)3956 (90.2)0.002Yes1132 (10.9)704 (11.7)428 (9.8)SeverityMild1059 (93.6)662 (94.0)397 (92.8)0.391Moderate52 (4.6)32 (4.5)20 (4.7)Severe21 (1.9)10 (1.4)11 (2.6)HCQ: hydroxychloroquine.Moderate and severe COVID-19 included the need for any of the following: hospitalization, intensive care, mechanical ventilation or death.Acknowledgements:To the Brazilian Society of Rheumatology for technical support and rapid nationwide mobilization.To all the 395 interviewers (medical students and physicians) who collaborated in the study and the participantsTo CNPq (Number 403442/2020-6)Disclosure of Interests:None declared

Full-color smart displays, which act both as a display and as a high-speed visible light communication (VLC) transmitter, can be realized by the integration of red-green-blue micron-sized light emitting diodes (micro-LEDs) onto a common platform. In this work, we report on the integration of aluminum gallium indium phosphide red micro-LEDs onto diamond and glass substrates by micro-transfer printing and their application in VLC. The device on-diamond exhibits high current density and bandwidth operation, enabled by diamond’s superior thermal properties. Employing an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing modulation scheme, error-free data rates of 2.6 Gbps and 5 Gbps are demonstrated for a single micro-LED printed on-glass and on-diamond, respectively. In a parallel configuration, a 2x1 micro-LED array achieves error-free data rates of 3 Gbps and 6.6 Gbps, on-glass and on-diamond, respectively.

Background:Patient characteristics, their treatment preferences and goals are important determinants of treatment success in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Objectives:SENSE study aimed at assessing the impact of inadequate response to disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs on disease outcomes, and analyze their attitude, their treatment and disease.Methods:Non-interventional, cross-sectional study conducted in 18 countries in Europe, Asia, and America. Adult RA patients with moderate/high disease activity were eligible. Patient satisfaction was assessed by Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medication, Version 1.4 (TSQM v1.4). Treatment adherence, patient preferences, and expectations were evaluated by visual analog scale. eHealth Literacy Scale was employed for evaluating DHL. Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire-Rheumatoid Arthritis, v2.0 (WPAI-RA) was used to assess workability and patient documentation for healthcare resource utilization (HRU).Results:1624 patients were included in this analysis; most were female (84.2%), middle-aged, and had a mean (standard deviation [SD]) disease duration of 10.5 (9.3) years. 11.9% of the patients had retired early and 6.0% were unemployed due to RA. Mean (SD) total WPAI-RA score was 55.1% (26.7). In the previous 3 months, the mean (SD) number of healthcare professional and emergency room visits were 2.2 (2.5) and 1.6 (1.3), respectively. Mean (SD) TSQM v1.4 global satisfaction subscore was 60.9 (20.9), with only 13.5% reporting good treatment satisfaction (TSQM global ≥80). The leading treatment expectations were ‘general improvement of arthritis’, ‘less joint pain’, and ‘lasting relief of RA symptoms,’ with mean (SD) scores of 5.7 (1.6–1.7) for each. 60.7% of patients preferred oral administration and 31.3% preferred not to use drug combinations for RA. Preferred time to effect was predominantly ‘up to one week’ (71.1%). Least frequently side effects rated ‘acceptable’ were ‘increased risk for malignancies’ (3.5%) and ‘increased risk for cardiovascular diseases’ (3.3%). Most patients (67.4%) had poor DHL. Good adherence (in 87.4% of patients) was significantly associated with lower levels of joint pain.Conclusion:Suboptimal disease control has a significant impact on satisfaction, workability, and HRU. Our results can support shared decision-making when setting RA treatment strategy.Disclosure of Interests: :Peter C. Taylor Grant/research support from: Celgene, Eli Lilly and Company, Galapagos, and Gilead, Consultant of: AbbVie, Biogen, Eli Lilly and Company, Fresenius, Galapagos, Gilead, GlaxoSmithKline, Janssen, Nordic Pharma, Pfizer Roche, and UCB, CODRINA ANCUTA Consultant of: AbbVie, Pfizer, Roche, Novartis, UCB, Ewopharma, Merck Sharpe and Dohme, and Eli Lilly, Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Pfizer, Roche, Novartis, UCB, Ewopharma, Merck Sharpe and Dohme, and Eli Lilly, Orsolya Nagy Shareholder of: AbbVie, Employee of: AbbVie, Maria DeLaVega: None declared, Andrey Gordeev Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Eli Lilly, Pfizer, Sanofi, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Merck Sharpe and Dohme, Roche, and UCB., Radka Jankova Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Eli Lilly, Pfizer, Sanofi, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Merck Sharpe and Dohme, Roche, and UCB, Umut Kalyoncu Consultant of: AbbVie, Amgen, Eli Lilly, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, and UCB., Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Amgen, Eli Lilly, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, and UCB., Ivan Lagunes-Galindo Shareholder of: AbbVie Inc., Employee of: AbbVie Inc., Jadranka Morovic-Vergles Speakers bureau: Abbvie., Roche, MSD, Eli Lilly, Pfizer, Mylan, Amgen, Fresenius Kabi, Mariana Peixoto GU e Silva de Souza Grant/research support from: AbbVie, UCB, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Pfizer, and GSK, Consultant of: AbbVie, Roche, UCB, Pfizer, and Jansen, Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Roche, UCB, Pfizer, and Jansen, Bernadette Rojkovich: None declared, Prodromos Sidiropoulos: None declared, Atsushi Kawakami: None declared

A detailed study of the pump-intensity dependent characteristics of an all-inorganic CsPbBr3-in-Cs4PbBr6 quantum dot (QD) color converter are reported. This is an attractive material to color convert UV/blue GaN optical pump sources for digital lighting applications, e.g. visible light communications (VLC). It demonstrates narrow spectral emission (522 nm peak emission and < 20 nm full-width-at-half-maximum), invariant with the pump power density (from 0 to 7.15 kW/cm2). The optical bandwidth increases, from 10 MHz at 300 µW/cm2, up to 22 MHz at 3 W/cm2, and 41 MHz at 7.15 kW/cm2. This acceleration of the emission is ascribed to both an increase of the radiative decay rate in the low-pump-density regime, and to the emergence of non-radiative pathways at higher pump density. The higher bandwidth at high-pump density enables a 30% increase in the data rate of a free space VLC link using this color converter.

Three-dimensional arrays of silicon transistors increase the density of bits. Solid-state qubits are much larger so could benefit even more from using the third dimension given that useful fault-tolerant quantum computing will require at least 100,000 physical qubits and perhaps one billion. Here we use laser writing to create 3D arrays of nitrogen-vacancy centre (NVC) qubits in diamond. This would allow 5 million qubits inside a commercially available 4.5x4.5x0.5 mm diamond based on five nuclear qubits per NVC and allowing (10μm)3 per NVC to leave room for our laser-written electrical control. The spin coherence times we measure are an order of magnitude longer than previous laser-written qubits and at least as long as non-laser-written NVC. As well as NVC quantum computing, quantum communication and nanoscale sensing could benefit from the same platform. Our approach could also be extended to other qubits in diamond and silicon carbide.

In this paper we describe the construction and fabrication of a VLC link that used novel micro-LEDs as a transmitter, and a planar fluorescent optical concentrator at the receiver. The link operates at 20Mbit/s and can transmit video streams between laptop computers.