Dynamic control of cascaded four-wave mixing via re-configurable dispersion.

We integrate a spatial light modulator-based dispersion controller into a cascaded four-wave mixing (CFWM) system. By tuning the group delay dispersion (GDD) and fourth-order dispersion (FOD) terms, we control the CFWM phase matching and demonstrate an output bandwidth tuning of over 3.3×. At the maximum bandwidth, our system covers the telecommunications S-, C-, and L-bands (1466-1641 nm) with an average output power of 300 mW, which is contained in 52 individual lines spaced 374 GHz apart. This method represents a reconfigurable alternative to photonic crystal fibers for dispersion engineering and allows for the use of step-index fiber and customizable power spectral density (PSD) profiles.

Epidemiology of Renal Replacement Therapy for Critically Ill Patients across Seven Health Jurisdictions.

INTRODUCTION: Acute kidney injury (AKI) requiring treatment with renal replacement therapy (RRT) is a common complication after admission to an intensive care unit (ICU) and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. However, the prevalence of RRT use and the associated outcomes in critically patients across the globe are not well described. Therefore, we describe the epidemiology and outcomes of patients receiving RRT for AKI in ICUs across several large health system jurisdictions. METHODS: Retrospective cohort analysis using nationally representative and comparable databases from seven health jurisdictions in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, New Zealand, Scotland, and the USA between 2006 and 2023, depending on data availability of each dataset. Patients with a history of end-stage kidney disease receiving chronic RRT and patients with a history of renal transplant were excluded. RESULTS: A total of 4,104,480 patients in the ICU cohort and 3,520,516 patients in the mechanical ventilation cohort were included. Overall, 156,403 (3.8%) patients in the ICU cohort and 240,824 (6.8%) patients in the mechanical ventilation cohort were treated with RRT for AKI. In the ICU cohort, the proportion of patients treated with RRT was lowest in Australia and Brazil (3.3%) and highest in Scotland (9.2%). The in-hospital mortality for critically ill patients treated with RRT was almost fourfold higher (57.1%) than those not receiving RRT (16.8%). The mortality of patients treated with RRT varied across the health jurisdictions from 37 to 65%. CONCLUSION: The outcomes of patients who receive RRT in ICUs throughout the world vary widely. Our research suggests that differences in access to and provision of this therapy are contributing factors.