Controlling behaviour of transparency and absorption in three-coupled multiple quantum wells via spontaneously generated coherence.

This article presents a coherent phenomenon called spontaneously generated coherence (SGC) under the regime of electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) in a three-coupled multiple quantum wells. We demonstrate that the presence of SGC in these quantum wells lead to intriguing modifications in the transparency window within the absorption spectrum. At the same time, modification of the dispersive nature is also demonstrated which enables the feasibility of the system in diverse applications based on light propagation. The absorption and dispersion responses are found to be varied by the individual strength of the first and second control fields in presence as well as in absence of SGC in the EIT regime. The positional shifting of the transparency window and simultaneous modifications in the dispersive profiles by tuning the control field detunings of both the first and second control fields are also revealed. Some absorption and dispersion contours are illustrated for getting better insights into the modifications of the optical responses via SGC. Finally, by manipulating the strength of the SGC parameter, we observe the changes in the respective position of the transparency window and dispersion curve. It is expected that the current investigations will pave novel ways for innovative applications in quantum communications, and fabrication of advanced photonic devices.

Electronic Health Record Prompt to Improve Lung Cancer Screening in Primary Care.

INTRODUCTION: Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. Combusted tobacco use, the primary risk factor, accounts for 90% of all lung cancers. Early detection of lung cancer improves survival, yet lung cancer screening rates are much lower than those of other cancer screening tests. Electronic health record (EHR) systems are an underutilized tool that could improve screening rates. METHODS: This study was conducted in the Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical Group, a university-affiliated network in New Brunswick, NJ. Two novel EHR workflow prompts were implemented on July 1, 2018. These prompts included fields to determine tobacco use and lung cancer screening eligibility and facilitated low-dose computed tomography ordering for eligible patients. The prompts were designed to improve tobacco use data entry, allowing for better lung cancer screening eligibility identification. Data were analyzed in 2022 retrospectively for the period July 1, 2017 to June 30, 2019. The analyses represented 48,704 total patient visits. RESULTS: The adjusted odds of patient record completeness to determine eligibility for low-dose computed tomography (AOR=1.19, 95% CI=1.15, 1.23), eligibility for low-dose computed tomography (AOR=1.59, 95% CI=1.38, 1.82), and whether low-dose computed tomography was ordered (AOR=1.04, 95% CI=1.01, 1.07) all significantly increased after the electronic medical record prompts were implemented. CONCLUSIONS: These findings show the utility and benefit of EHR prompts in primary care settings to increase identification for lung cancer screening eligibility as well as increased low-dose computed tomography ordering.

Stabilization of modulation instability by control field in semiconductor quantum wells.

This article explores the modulation instability of a continuous or quasi-continuous weak probe pulse in a three-level asymmetric double quantum wells under an electromagnetically induced transparency regime, controlled by a strong laser beam. The dynamics of modulation instability reveals that the instability gain as well as its bandwidth is greatly influenced by control field Rabi frequency. The probe pulse is found to be almost stable against modulation instability for higher values of control field Rabi frequency. The results of this investigation may potentially apply for oscillation free generation of supercontinuum in quantum well nanostructures.

Content Analysis of E-cigarette News Articles Amidst the 2019 Vaping-Associated Lung Injury (EVALI) Outbreak in the United States.

INTRODUCTION: News media can shape public perceptions about e-cigarettes, particularly in the context of ongoing uncertainty from the recent outbreak of e-cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury (EVALI). This study aimed to characterize news articles published about e-cigarettes in 2019, including before and during the EVALI outbreak. AIMS AND METHODS: Using 24 e-cigarette-related search terms, we gathered all articles published in leading print and online U.S. news sources in 2019 from databases (i.e., Factiva, Access World News) and archival web sites (i.e., www.newspapers.com). We conducted a content analysis of e-cigarette themes and statements, identifying differences in themes between articles that did and did not mention EVALI. RESULTS: Of the 1643 e-cigarette news articles published in 2019, 62% mentioned EVALI. Frequency of e-cigarette articles peaked in September (n = 532) at the height of the EVALI outbreak. Among all articles discussing e-cigarettes, the most prevalent main topics were policy/regulation (45%) and health effects (35%). Articles that mentioned EVALI frequently discussed youth e-cigarette use (40%) and JUUL (33%). Compared to non-EVALI articles, EVALI articles were more likely to discuss health effects (p < .001) but less likely to discuss policies/regulations, except for flavor bans (47% of EVALI articles vs. 39% of non-EVALI articles, p = .002). EVALI articles were also less likely to discuss e-cigarettes being less risky than cigarettes (p = .005). CONCLUSIONS: E-cigarette news coverage was prevalent in 2019, and patterns in frequency and content reflected major events (i.e., EVALI). In turn, news media can shape public perceptions, and even policy, about e-cigarettes and must continue to be monitored. IMPLICATIONS: E-cigarette news coverage in 2019 was high, driven in large part by news coverage of the EVALI outbreak. Indeed, the peak in e-cigarette news articles in September directly coincided with the peak in EVALI cases in the United States. Of note, articles that mentioned EVALI frequently discussed youth e-cigarette use, JUUL, and flavor bans, which may have triggered national and state-level policy responses, and likely influenced public perceptions (including misperceptions) regarding the harms of e-cigarettes.

Cigarette Relighting: A Series of Pilot Studies Investigating a Common Yet Understudied Smoking Behavior.

BACKGROUND: The act of extinguishing, saving, and later relighting unfinished cigarettes is a common yet understudied behavior that may have implications for tobacco treatment and health. METHODS: This paper presents four pilot studies investigating various aspects of this topic: (1) the prevalence of relighting among NJ and NY Quitline callers (n = 20,984); (2) the prevalence and correlates of relighting in two national surveys (n = 1008, n = 1018); (3) a within-subject (n = 16) laboratory experiment comparing cigarettes smoked per day and exhaled carbon monoxide when relighting and not relighting cigarettes; and (4) a national survey of tobacco treatment providers' (n = 150) perceptions of relighting. RESULTS: Relighting was found to be common (approximately 45% of smokers), and associated with lower socioeconomic status, heavier smoking and nicotine dependence, greater smoking-related concerns, as well as high levels of exhaled carbon monoxide. Providers noted the potential importance of relighting but reported that they do not regularly incorporate it into their assessment or tobacco treatment planning. CONCLUSIONS: These findings address a major research gap in the emerging research on this common behavior. Future research is needed to better understand the potential implications of relighting for policies and clinical practices related to tobacco cessation and health.

Prevalence and Correlates of Syringe Disposal Box Use in a Philadelphia Neighborhood with High Levels of Public Drug Injection.

Background: Philadelphia (Pennsylvania, USA) is facing an unprecedented public health crisis due to fentanyl use. To combat drug-related litter, the Philadelphia Department of Public Health installed 7 public syringe disposal boxes (SDB) in Kensington, the neighborhood most impacted by the opioid crisis and home to a syringe exchange. Methods: We used street- and business-intercepts to recruit residents (N=358) and business owners/staff (N=78) who completed a brief survey with two binary items measuring observing and using SDB. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess factors independently associated with SDB observance and use. Results: 78% (340/436) observed SDB and 34.1% (116/340) had ever used SDB among those who had seen them. Unstably housed persons had 4.3 times greater odds of observing SDB (Adjusted odds ratio [aOR= 4.29; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.56, 11.82) and had 2.5 times greater odds of using SDB (aOR = 2.51; 95% CI: 1.33, 4.74) as did people who use opioids (aOR = 2.61; 95% CI: 1.45, 4.72). Among individuals reporting opioid use who also saw SDB (n=123), those who were unstably housed were more likely to use SDB than those with stable housing (67.8% vs 45.3%, p=.012). Conclusion: These results suggest Kensington residents, especially those who are unstably housed, use SDB once they see them in the neighborhood.

Overdose Prevention Site Acceptability among Residents and Businesses Surrounding a Proposed Site in Philadelphia, USA.

Overdose prevention sites (OPS) are places where people use previously obtained drugs under the supervision of a health professional. They have been proposed in six United States (US) cities, including Philadelphia, to help reduce opioid-related overdose deaths and public injection. Philadelphia has the highest overdose rate among large cities in the US, which has led a local community-based organization to plan the implementation of OPS. Kensington, a neighborhood with the highest drug mortality overdose rates in the city, is a likely site for the proposed OPS. Given the dearth of research systematically assessing public opinion towards OPS prior to implementation, we enrolled 360 residents and 79 business owners/staff in the Kensington neighborhood in a cross-sectional acceptability study. Face-to-face surveys assessed participant characteristics, experiences with drug-related social problems, and OPS acceptability. Using descriptive statistics, we estimated factors associated with favorability towards opening an OPS in the Kensington neighborhood. Ninety percent of residents were in favor of an OPS opening in Kensington. Support was significantly higher among unstably housed individuals and persons who currently use opioids. In the business sample, 63% of owners/staff were in favor of opening an OPS in Kensington. A greater proportion of Asian/Pacific Islanders, Hispanic/Latinx respondents, and non-Hispanic/Latinx Black respondents were in favor of an OPS opening in Kensington compared with white respondents (p < 0.04). While details about implementation are still being considered, results indicate general acceptability among Kensington residents and businesses for an OPS, especially if it can deliver benefits that curb drug-related social problems. Should an OPS be implemented in Philadelphia, it would be important to monitor changes in drug-related social problems and acceptability post implementation.