bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Feasibility of preoperative tattooing of percutaneously biopsied axillary lymph node: an experimental pilot study
Authors: Sattar Abida K. , Ali Basim , Masroor Imrana , Afzal Shaista , Tariq Mohammad Usman , Idrees Romana , Uzzaman Maseeh , Khalid Wardah
Published: September 2020

Background

In the last three decades, axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) has been replaced by sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) in all clinically node-negative patients. However, when SLNB alone is performed in clinically node-positive patients who are rendered node-negative by neoadjuvant chemotherapy, the procedure has a high false-negative rate and other complementary procedures have been described to improve its reliability. Preoperative tattooing of the suspicious lymph node with India ink at the time of biopsy, in addition to sentinel lymph node biopsy, is a reasonable alternative. The objective of our study is to determine, in clinically node-positive patients, the feasibility of tattooing suspicious axillary lymph node at the time of percutaneous needle biopsy and its retrieval at the time of surgery.

Methods

A prospective experimental study will be conducted divided into two phases—phases I and II. In phase I, 10 patients committed to undergo upfront surgery (without neoadjuvant chemotherapy) will have a suspicious lymph node tattooed by injecting India ink at the time of core needle biopsy. All patients will undergo a SLNB, during which the axilla will be inspected to determine if the tattooed lymph node can be visualized. Routine microscopic examination will follow, and concordance between the sentinel and tattooed node will also be established. In phase II, the process will be repeated for 30 patients who undergo surgery after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The analysis will be performed in Stata version 12.

Discussion

There is a need to identify and test the techniques for the down-staged axilla in post-neoadjuvant chemotherapy patients, which are not only practical and limit the number of invasive procedures necessary but are representative of the new axillary status and help limit the extent of axillary surgery without negatively impacting outcomes. We propose that, for the patient undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy with a biopsy-proven disease in the axilla, this could be achieved by India ink which allows marking, identification, and retrieval of the biopsied lymph node. Retrieval of this previously biopsied lymph node along with sentinel nodes, if found to be representative of the status of the remainder of the axilla, could potentially eliminate the need for routine axillary lymph node dissection and thus limit morbidity.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03939598. Retrospectively registered on 7 May 2019.
Teaching undergraduate mathematics fully online: a review from the perspective of communities of practice
Authors: Trenholm Sven , Peschke Julie
Published: September 2020

The use of fully online (FO) mathematics teaching has been increasing worldwide. Despite claims and findings that mathematics is more challenging to teach FO than face-to-face (F2F), we know little about FO mathematics teaching.

In this paper, we address this gap by working to elucidate the differences between teaching in the FO and F2F modalities. We do this by examining FO and F2F teaching from the perspective of Communities of Practice (Wenger, Social learning systems and communities of practice, 2010) by comparing and contrasting current FO practices (or “ways of doing”) in thegeneralundergraduate education communitywithcurrent F2F practices in the undergraduatemathematicscommunity. We identify six key differences between the two paradigms, which we recast to spotlight areas for technological and pedagogical development.
Evaluation of suitable reference genes for normalization of quantitative real-time PCR analysis in rice plants under Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae--infection and melatonin supplementation
Authors: Chen Xian , Laborda Pedro , Dong Yan , Liu Fengquan
Published: September 2020

Exogenous melatonin (MT) was found to be an interesting tool for enhancing the resistance of rice to Xanthomonasoryzaepv. oryzae (Xoo)-caused bacterial blight (BB). However, the accurate comparison of the expression levels across samples was a challenging task. In this work, the stability of 10 common used housekeeping genes under Xoo-infection and MT supplementation in rice was analyzed using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), and algorithms geNorm, NormFinder and BestKeeper. Our results indicated that most reference genes remained stable in Xoo-infected rice plants, while a number of reference genes were affected by MT supplementation. Among all studied genes, the transcript levels of 18S(18S ribosomal RNA) and UBC (Ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E2) remained unaltered by Xoo infection, while UBC and UBQ5(Ubiquitin 5) were the most stable genes when examining simultaneous Xoo-infection and MT supplementation, demonstrating that UBC is a suitable reference gene for qRT-PCR data normalization in rice under Xoo-infection and MT supplementation.
Toward Optimization of Cancer Care in Sub-Saharan Africa: Development of National Comprehensive Cancer Network Harmonized Guidelines for Sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Mutebi Miriam , Adewole Isaac , Orem Jackson , Abdella Kunuz , Coker Olujimi , Kolawole Israel , Komen Ahmed , Munema Asafu , Ndlovu Ntokozo , O’Brien Meg , Koh Wui Jin , Carlson Robert ,   on behalf of the African Cancer Coalition
Published: September 2020

PURPOSE

Standard treatment guidelines improve patient outcomes, including disease-specific survival, in cancer care. The African Cancer Coalition was formed in 2016 to harmonize cancer treatment guidelines for sub-Saharan Africa.

METHODS

The African Cancer Coalition collaborated with the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) and the American Cancer Society to harmonize 46 cancer treatment guidelines for use in sub-Saharan Africa. Harmonization for each guideline was completed by a group of approximately 6-10 African cancer experts from a range of specialties and with representation across resource levels. Each working group was chaired by an African oncologist and included a member of the appropriate NCCN guidelines panel. Treatment recommendations from the parent guidelines were distinguished as options that are generally available and should be considered standard care in most of the region or as highly advanced options for which cost or other resources may limit widespread availability. Additional recommendations specific to sub-Saharan Africa were added.

RESULTS

The NCCN Harmonized Guidelines for sub-Saharan Africa, available for download on the NCCN website and mobile application, provide flexible recommendations appropriate for the range of resources seen in African cancer programs, from private comprehensive cancer centers to resource-constrained public hospitals. IBM (Armonk, NY) has developed a digital interface—the Cancer Guidelines Navigator—that allows oncologists to access the treatment recommendations for the first five guidelines through an interactive web-based application.

CONCLUSION

Harmonized guidelines that reflect the diversity of resource levels that characterize the current state of clinical care for cancer in Africa have the potential to fill a crucial gap in efforts to standardize and improve cancer care in Africa.
Effects of Oral Contraception and Lifestyle Modification on Incretins and TGF-ß Superfamily Hormones in PCOS
Authors: Shah Aesha , Dodson William C , Kris-Etherton Penny M , Kunselman Allen R , Stetter Christy M , Gnatuk Carol L , Estes Stephanie J , Allison Kelly C , Sarwer David B , Sluss Patrick M , Coutifaris Christos , Dokras Anuja , Legro Richard S
Published: September 2020

Objective

To examine the effects of common treatments for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) on a panel of hormones (reproductive/metabolic).

Design

Secondary analysis of blood from a randomized controlled trial of three 16-week preconception interventions designed to improve PCOS-related abnormalities: continuous oral contraceptive pills (OCPs, N = 34 subjects), intensive lifestyle modification (Lifestyle, N = 31), or a combination of both (Combined, N = 29).

Materials and Methods

Post-treatment levels of activin A and B, inhibin B, and follistatin (FST), as well as Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), insulin-like growth factor binding protein 2 (IGFBP-2), glucagon, glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) and 2, and oxyntomodulin were compared to baseline, and the change from baseline in these parameters were correlated with outcomes.

Results

Oral contraceptive pill use was associated with a significant suppression in activin A, inhibin A, and anti-mullerian hormone (AMH), but a significant increase in FST. IGF-1, IGFBP-2, glucagon, and GLP-2 levels were significantly decreased. Oxyntomodulin was profoundly suppressed by OCPs (ratio of geometric means: 0.09, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.05, 0.18, P < 0.001). None of the analytes were significantly affected by Lifestyle, whereas the effects of Combined were similar to OCPs alone, although attenuated. Oxyntomodulin was significantly positively associated with the change in total ovarian volume (rs = 0.27; 95% CI: 0.03, 0.48; P = 0.03) and insulin sensitivity index (rs = 0.48; 95% CI: 0.27, 0.64; P < 0.001), and it was inversely correlated with change in area under the curve (AUC) glucose [rs = -0.38; 95% CI: -0.57, -0.16; P = 0.001]. None of the hormonal changes were associated with live birth, only Activin A was associated with ovulation (risk ratio per 1 ng/mL increase in change in Activin A: 6.0 [2.2, 16.2]; P < 0.001).

Conclusions

In women with PCOS, OCPs (and not Lifestyle) affect a wide variety of reproductive/metabolic hormones, but their treatment response does not correlate with live birth.
Inappropriate Defibrillator Shocks During Cervical Medial Branch Radiofrequency Ablation: A Case Report
Authors: Goel Vasudha , Shankar Hariharan , Mulpuru Siva K. , Ramakrishna Harish
Published: September 2020

A 52-year-old woman with a history of cervical spondylosis, nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy, and complete heart block with implantation of a cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator (Inogen XR, Boston Scientific, Natick, MA) underwent bilateral fluoroscopy-guided radiofrequency ablation of the medial branch nerves at C4, C5, and C6 levels at an ambulatory surgery center. After completion of the seemingly routine procedure, several alerts, including 1 inappropriate shock, were received via Boston Scientific’s remote monitoring system. Tracings also showed that pacing inhibition occurred. When performing radiofrequency ablation in patients with a cardiac implantable electronic device, it is imperative to follow published best practice recommendations to minimize the risk of adverse events.
“You Cannot Oppress Those Who Do Not Exist”
Authors: Brock Maria , Edenborg Emil
Published: September 2020

Reports in April 2017 regarding a state-initiated wave of homophobic persecution in Chechnya attracted worldwide outrage. Numerous witnesses spoke of arrests, abuse, and murders of gay men in the republic. In response, a spokesman of Chechnya’s president, Ramzan Kadyrov, claimed that “you cannot … oppress those who simply do not exist.” In this article, with the antigay purge in Chechnya and in particular the denial of queer existence as their starting point, Brock and Edenborg examine more deeply processes of erasure and disclosure of queer populations in relation to state violence and projects of national belonging. They discuss (1) what the events in Chechnya tell us about visibility and invisibility as sites of queer liberation, in light of recent discussions in LGBT visibility politics; (2) what the episodes tell us about the epistemological value of queer visibility, given widespread media cynicism and disbelief in the authenticity of images as evidence; and (3) what role the (discursive and physical) elimination of queers plays in relation to spectacular performances of nationhood. Taken together, the authors’ findings contribute to a more multifaceted understanding of the workings of visibility and invisibility and their various, sometimes contradictory, functions in both political homophobia and queer liberation.
The cationic amino acid exporter Slc7a7 is induced and vital in zebrafish tissue macrophages with sustained efferocytic activity
Authors: Demy Doris Lou , Carrère Mireille , Noche Ramil , Tauzin Muriel , Le Bris Marion , Baek Chooyoung , Leshchiner Ignaty , Goessling Wolfram , Herbomel Philippe
Published: September 2020

Most tissues harbor a substantial population of resident macrophages. Here, we elucidate a functional link between the Slc7a7 cationic amino acid transporter and tissue macrophages. We identified a mutant zebrafish devoid of microglia due to a mutation in the slc7a7 gene. We found that in Slc7a7-deficient larvae, macrophages do enter the retina and brain to become microglia, but then die during the developmental wave of neuronal apoptosis, which triggers intense efferocytic work from them. A similar macrophage demise occurs in other tissues, at stages where macrophages have to engulf many cell corpses, whether due to developmental or experimentally triggered cell death. We found that Slc7a7 is the main cationic amino acid transporter expressed in macrophages of zebrafish larvae, and that its expression is induced in tissue macrophages within 1–2 h upon efferocytosis. Our data indicate that Slc7a7 is vital not only for microglia but also for any steadily efferocytic tissue macrophages, and that slc7a7 gene induction is one of the adaptive responses that allow them to cope with the catabolism of numerous dead cells without compromising their own viability.
Extreme diving in mammals: first estimates of behavioural aerobic dive limits in Cuvier's beaked whales
Authors: Quick Nicola J. , Cioffi William R. , Shearer Jeanne M. , Fahlman Andreas , Read Andrew J.
Published: September 2020

We analysed 3680 dives from 23 satellite-linked tags deployed on Cuvier's beaked whales to assess the relationship between long duration dives and inter-deep dive intervals and to estimate aerobic dive limit (ADL). The median duration of presumed foraging dives was 59 min and 5% of dives exceeded 77.7 min. We found no relationship between the longest 5% of dive durations and the following inter-deep dive interval nor any relationship with the ventilation period immediately prior to or following a long dive. We suggest that Cuvier's beaked whales have low metabolic rates, high oxygen storage capacities and a high acid-buffering capacity to deal with the by-products of both aerobic and anaerobic metabolism, which enables them to extend dive durations and exploit their bathypelagic foraging habitats.
Treatment outcomes after definitive radio(chemo)therapy for 17 lacrimal sac squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Song Xinmao , He Huanyu , Zhu Yi , Wang Shengzi , Wang Jie , Wang Weifang , Li Yi
Published: September 2020

Objectives:

Tumors of the lacrimal sac are rare and life-threatening. Because of their rarity, no extensive clinical data on their management and prognosis exist. We investigated the application of definitive radiation therapy and its outcome in patients with lacrimal sac squamous cell carcinoma (LSSCC).

Methods:

We retrospectively studied 17 patients with LSSCC at a single institution between 2003 and 2017. All the patients were treated with definitive radiotherapy, and 11 patients were delivered with cisplatin-based chemotherapy. The patients’ clinical records were reviewed for symptoms, pathological types, the volume and dosimetry of the tumors and their adjacent structures, radiation coverage of lymph node drainage areas, treatment outcomes, and complications from definitive radiotherapy.

Results:

Median follow-up was 38.9 months, and age at diagnosis was 48 years.The 2-year and 5-year overall survival, progression-free survival, locoregional control, and disease metastasis-free survival rates were 94.1 and 84.7%, 88.2 and 73.5%, 93.8%, 94.1, and 78.4%, respectively. A total dose of 6600–7000 cGy was prescribed to the tumor. Levels Ⅰb, Ⅶa, Ⅷ, and Ⅸ were covered with the clinical target volume regardless of lymph involvement. Acute Grade 3 radiation dermatitis occurred in seven patients (17.6%), but no acute Grade 4 or Grade 5 toxicity of any type occurred. Seven (41.2%, 7/17) of the treated eyes had moderated vision impairments; 17.6% (3/17) of patients developed cataracts, and glaucoma and radiation retinopathy were found in 5.9% (1/17) of patients.

Conclusions:

Definitive radiotherapy could be a treatment option for those who refuse surgery or have unresectable LSSCC.

Advances in knowledge:

Radiation alone is a treatment option for LSSCC.
Can a comparison of clinical and deep space irradiation scenarios shed light on the radiation response of the brain?
Authors: Limoli Charles
Published: September 2020

Not surprisingly, our knowledge of the impact of radiation on the brain has evolved considerably. Decades of work have struggled with identifying the critical cellular targets in the brain, the latency of functional change and understanding how irradiation alters the balance between excitatory and inhibitory circuits. Radiation-induced cell kill following clinical fractionation paradigms pointed to both stromal and parenchymal targets but also defined an exquisite sensitivity of neurogenic populations of newly born cells in the brain. It became more and more apparent too, that acute (days) events transpiring after exposure were poorly prognostic of the late (months-years) waves of radiation injury believed to underlie neurocognitive deficits. Much of these gaps in knowledge persisted as NASA became interested in how exposure to much different radiation types, doses and dose rates that characterize the space radiation environment might impair central nervous system functionality, with possibly negative implications for deep space travel. Now emerging evidence from researchers engaged in clinical, translational and environmental radiation sciences have begun to fill these gaps and have uncovered some surprising similarities in the response of the brain to seemingly disparate exposure scenarios. This article highlights many of the commonalities between the vastly different irradiation paradigms that distinguish clinical treatments from occupational exposures in deep space.
Characterization of flow cytometric immuno-phenotyping of acute myeloid leukemia with minimal differentiation and acute T-cell lymphoblastic leukemia: A retrospective cross-sectional study
Authors: Al-Saadi Enass Abdul Kareem Dagher , Abdulnabi Marwa Ali , Jaafar Faris Hanoon
Published: September 2020

Background: Acute leukemias (ALs) are a heterogeneous group of malignancies with various clinical, morphological, immunophenotypic, and molecular characteristics. Distinguishing between lymphoid and myeloid leukemia is often performed by flow cytometry. This study aimed to evaluate the immunophenotypic characterization and expression of immuno-markers in both acute myeloid leukemia (AML-M0) and acute T-cell lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL).

Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted in the Pathology Department/Teaching Laboratories/Medical City/Iraq and included all patients newly diagnosed with AL from 5 January to 10 December 2018. Immunophenotypic analysis was performed on bone marrow samples, freshly collected in EDTA tubes. Flow cytometry (Canto-2 BD) was used, with laser excitation of blue and red wavelengths. A panel of monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) was used for diagnosis, using a SSC/CD45 gating strategy.

Results: The study showed 41.6% of AML-M0 patients had no aberrant antigen expression, while 33.3%, 16.6%,  8.3%, and 8.3% had aberrant CD7, CD56, CD2, and CD19, respectively. In 16.6% of AML-M0 cases more than one aberrant antigen was expressed. With regard to T-ALL, 7.0% were pro-T type, 58.0% were pre-T, 13.0% were cortical, and 22.0% were mature-T type. In 55.5% of patients with T-ALL there was no aberrant antigen expression.

Conclusion: We concluded that most patients with AML-M0 have no aberrant antigen expression. In patients with T-ALL, the pre-T type is most common, according to the European Group for the Immunological Classification of Leukemias (EGIL) classification. Patients with T-ALL also generally lack aberrant antigen expression.
A protocol for a systematic review investigating the factors influencing the statistical planning, design, conduct, analysis and reporting of trials
Authors: Zaki Marina , Galligan Marie , O'Sullivan Lydia , Devane Declan , McAuliffe Eilish
Published: September 2020

Trials can be defined as prospective human research studies to test the effectiveness and safety of interventions, such as medications, surgeries, medical devices and other interventions for the management of patient care. Statistics is an important and powerful tool in trials. Inappropriately designed trials and/or inappropriate statistical analysis produce unreliable results, with limited clinical use. The aim of this systematic literature review is to identify, describe and synthesise factors contributing to or influencing the statistical planning, design, conduct, analysis and reporting of trials. This protocol will describe the methodological approach taken for the following: conducting a systematic and comprehensive search for relevant articles, applying eligibility criteria for the inclusion of such articles, extracting data and information, appraising the quality of the articles, and thematically synthesizing the data to illuminate the key factors influencing statistical aspects of trials.
Empowering Denver Public Schools to Optimize School Bus Operations
Authors: Chu Amanda , Keskinocak Pinar , Villarreal Monica C.
Published: September 2020

Denver Public Schools (DPS) serves roughly 90,000 K–12 students using a mixed bus fleet. Developing and reviewing bus-route assignments manually has been challenging and time consuming for DPS. During 2017–2018, DPS analysts reviewed and adjusted over 700 routes assigned to approximately 200 buses, considering time and capacity feasibility. We developed a decision support tool (DST) to generate feasible bus-route assignments and help inform DPS’s decisions. The DST employs optimization models to solve the bus-route assignment problem using distance data from Google Maps Application Programming Interface and various interroute reposition-time scenarios to account for the impact of potential traffic delays. The model incorporates multiple objectives related to minimizing cost, meeting demand, and maximizing “consistency”—that is, the difference between a newly created and previously implemented solution The solutions generated by the DST for the 2017–2018 school year utilized significantly fewer buses and lower reposition mileage compared with the DPS solution. Considering the convenience, efficiency, and flexibility of generating high-quality bus-route assignments using the DST, the DPS transportation team has used the DST in the route planning process since 2018.
When predictive analytics goes wrong: what can healthcare learn from Formula 1?
Authors: Shah Syed FH , Sheridan Zach
Published: September 2020

Predictive analytics refers to technology that uses patterns in large datasets to predict future events and inform decisions. This article considers the challenges of this technology and how these should be considered, before incorporating this technology into healthcare settings.
Mathematical Connection Process of Students with High Mathematics Ability in Solving PISA Problems
Authors: Baiduri Baiduri , Putri Octavina Rizky Utami , Alfani Ikrimatul
Published: September 2020

The aim of this study is to analyze and explain the mathematical connection process for students with a high mathematical ability to solve problems in terms of gender. Explorative descriptive research with a qualitative approach was used in this study. Data was collected through written tests and interviews conducted to a male and female student of class X Mathematics and Natural Sciences with high mathematical abilities. Data credibility is obtained through triangulation of methods and time. Furthermore, the data are analyzed with a flowchart which includes data reduction, data presentation, and conclusion drawing. The results showed that there were similarities and differences in the mathematical connection processes of male and female students. Similarities in the process of mathematical connections occur when making mathematical connections with other sciences and with everyday life in each of Polya's stages. In addition, the similarity of the connection process also occurs when connecting in mathematics during the re-checking stage. While the difference in the connection process in mathematics between male and female students is done at the stage of understanding the problem, solving strategies and implementing problem solving.
The development of a curriculum for the introduction to trade show buying
Authors: Lovett Marvin G. , Chi Yeong N. , Little Donna L.
Published: September 2020

This study addresses the need for the development (design, implementation, and evaluation) of an accurate and useful curriculum targeted at educating current and future businesspersons contemplating the procurement of merchandise or services through trade shows. In the field of business
education, the procurement of products to be sold is an important component of the marketing curriculum. One source for product procurement is trade shows. However, trade show buying has not been adequately addressed within current marketing curricula.
 Expert panels were utilised
to evaluate the curriculum as it was developed. One expert panel was made up of current trade show buyers; another panel was composed of trade show vendors; and another panel was composed of academic/business education experts related to marketing and continuing education. The curriculum was
evaluated by the expert panels for both accuracy and usefulness. The actual curriculum document was designed as a user-friendly quick reference guide for new and/or experienced trade show buying practitioners. Although this study largely addresses organisational buyers, they are also customers
and this study into their behaviour may also provide insights into customer buying behavior in general.
Threshold conditions of electric field enhancement and energy confinement in the low-index core of nanoscale waveguides
Authors: Wang Suoming , Zhu Yanying , Ma Wanli , Luo Sijie , Zhu Erkuang , Chen Shuqing
Published: September 2020

Threshold conditions to realize electric field enhancement and energy confinement in the low-refractive-index core of nanoscale waveguides are studied by solving the field function. When the incident lightwave meets the relation of special thresholds, we observe the enhanced electric field and a concentrated light energy in the core. The electric field enhancement and the confined light power are highly dependent on the light wavelength. When the core width is 30 nm, for a wavelength of 1.55 µm, we achieve a power confinement factor above 40%. As the basis for a growing number of potential applications, the threshold conditions discovered in this work will find significant applications in many fields, such as optical sensors and optical communication components.
Self-focusing in nodal semimetals
Authors: Zuber J. W. , Zhang C.
Published: September 2020

We analyze the Kerr index, associated critical power, and focal length for nodal semimetals in a Weyl, Dirac, and gapped semimetal phase. Our model produces a Kerr index of

10

−
15

−

10

−
20

m

2

/

W

in the micro-meter wavelength range. Novel dependence of the Kerr index, critical power, and focal length on temperature, chemical potential, bandgap, and node separation are readily obtained through our model and show that the tunability of the non-linear response of a nodal semimetal persists in its focusing phenomenon.
Optical solitons in a saturable nonlinear medium in the presence of an asymmetric complex potential
Authors: Moreira F. C. , Cavalcanti S. B.
Published: September 2020

We report on the existence of families of stable spatial solitons in a saturable nonlinear medium characterized by a refractive index with asymmetric distribution of gain and loss. The properties of the nonlinear modes bifurcating from the eigenvalue of the underlying linear problem are thoroughly investigated. The eigenvalue ranges in the power-eigenvalue diagrams for different gain/loss profiles are inspected. We find that the saturable nonlinearity severely restricts these ranges, as the eigenvalues tend to move quite fast to an asymptotic profile, as power increases. Numerical simulations of the wave equations are carried out and examples of the dynamics of the asymmetric solitons obtained exhibit a remarkable agreement with the analytic stability results.
Ultranarrow-bandwidth planar hot electron photodetector based on coupled dual Tamm plasmons
Authors: Liang Wenyue , Xiao Zheng , Xu Haitao , Deng Haidong , Li Hai , Chen Wanjun , Liu Zhaosu , Long Yongbing
Published: September 2020

Hot electron photodetectors based on a planar structure of metal-insulator /semiconductor-metal (MIM/MSM) have attracted much attention due to the easy and cheap fabrication process and the possibility of detecting light with energy lower than the semiconductor band gap. For this type of device, however, hot electron photocurrent is restricted by the trade-off between the light absorption and the internal quantum efficiency (IQE) since high absorption usually occurs within thick metals and the IQE in this case is usually low. The trade-off is circumvented in this paper by proposing a new type of hot electron photodetector based on planar MIM structure and coupled dual Tamm plasmons (TPs), which has a structure of one-dimensional photonic crystals (1DPCs)/Au/TiO2/Au/1DPCs. The coupled modes of the dual TPs at the two 1DPCs/Au interfaces can lead to a high absorption of 98% in a 5 nm-thick Au layer. As a result, the responsivity of the conventional device with two Schottky junctions in series configuration reaches a high value of 9.78 mA/W at the wavelength of 800 nm. To further improve the device performance, devices with four Schottky junctions in parallel configuration are proposed to circumvent the hot electrons loss at the interface of the Au layer and the first TiO2 layer of the 1DPCs. Correspondingly, the hot electrons photocurrent doubles and reaches a higher value of 21.87 mA/W. Moreover, the bandwidth of the responsivity is less than 0.4 nm, the narrowest one when compared with that for the hot electron photodetectors reported so far in the published papers.
Analysis on the electric field distribution in a relaxor ferroelectric KTN crystal near field-induced phase transition using optical deflection measurements
Authors: Chen Chang-Jiang , Chao Ju-Hung , Lee Yun Goo , Shang Annan , Liu Ruijia , Yin Stuart (Shizhuo) , Hoffman Robert C.
Published: September 2020

Spatially analyzing non-uniform distributions of electric phenomena such as electric field and permittivity in ferroelectric devices is very challenging. In this study, we apply an optical beam deflection method to map the non-uniform electric phenomena in relaxor ferroelectric potassium tantalate niobate (KTN) crystals. To adequately correlate the physical parameters and their spatial distributions in KTN crystals, a general model that describes the giant electro-optic response and associated beam deflection is derived. The proposed model is in good agreement with the experimental results and is envisioned to be useful for analyzing electric field-induced phenomena in non-linear dielectric materials and devices.
Photochemical response triggered by ultrashort laser Gaussian-Bessel beams in photo-thermo-refractive glass
Authors: Wang Xu , Zhang Guodong , Zhang Yunjie , Xie Xiaoping , Cheng Guanghua , Li Weinan
Published: September 2020

Photosensitivity in photo-thermo-refractive (PTR) glass can be triggered by UV and near-infrared fs laser irradiation. Here we focus on the nonlinear photochemical process triggered by ultrashort laser Gaussian-Bessel beams. The transmission and absorption spectra show that the primary difference between UV and fs laser exposure is the formation of color centers and kinetic process of silver nanoparticles growth. It is contributed to the nonlinear ionization of PTR glass matrix and thermal effects during interaction of glass matrix and ultrashort laser pulses. Transmission electron microscopy verifies the generation of nanoscale crystals in the irradiated region, and X-ray diffraction shows the existence of quartz crystal and NaF after laser irradiation and thermal treatment. Moreover, the dependence of photochemical reaction on laser parameters is investigated, as well as the tailoring of silver nanoparticles. On this basis, volume Bragg gratings with ultrashort laser Gaussian-Bessel beams are inscribed as an application which possess good diffraction characteristics.
2D optical wireless broadcasting system enabled by a liquid crystal on silicon and rotated-splitting-SLM algorithm
Authors: You Quan , Luo Ming , Xiao Xi , Yu Shaohua
Published: September 2020

In this paper, a 2D optical wireless broadcasting system with low path loss is proposed and experimentally demonstrated based on a commercial liquid crystal on silicon (LCoS) device and rotated-splitting-SLM algorithm. The low path loss is realized by our designed pair of fiber collimators with large beam waist, which can significantly reduce the coupling loss. By using the proposed system and algorithm, a 60-Gb/s PAM-4 signal is successfully broadcasted over 2-km standard single mode fiber and 14 m free space link with 16 dB path loss for up to four mobile users. The experimental results reveal that the LCoS based on the proposed rotated-splitting-SLM method can be used for multi-user broadcasting in the high-speed in-building dynamic networks.
Classification, identification, and growth stage estimation of microalgae based on transmission hyperspectral microscopic imaging and machine learning
Authors: Xu Zhanpeng , Jiang Yiming , Ji Jiali , Forsberg Erik , Li Yuanpeng , He Sailing
Published: September 2020

A transmission hyperspectral microscopic imager (THMI) that utilizes machine learning algorithms for hyperspectral detection of microalgae is presented. The THMI system has excellent performance with spatial and spectral resolutions of 4 µm and 3 nm, respectively. We performed hyperspectral imaging (HSI) of three species of microalgae to verify their absorption characteristics. Transmission spectra were analyzed using principal component analysis (PCA) and peak ratio algorithms for dimensionality reduction and feature extraction, and a support vector machine (SVM) model was used for classification. The average accuracy, sensitivity and specificity to distinguish one species from the other two species were found to be 94.4%, 94.4% and 97.2%, respectively. A species identification experiment for a group of mixed microalgae in solution demonstrates the usability of the classification method. Using a random forest (RF) model, the growth stage in a phaeocystis growth cycle cultivated under laboratory conditions was predicted with an accuracy of 98.1%, indicating the feasibility to evaluate the growth state of microalgae through their transmission spectra. Experimental results show that the THMI system has the capability for classification, identification and growth stage estimation of microalgae, with strong potential for in-situ marine environmental monitoring and early warning detection applications.
Online fringe pitch selection for defocusing a binary square pattern projection phase-shifting method
Authors: Hu Yang , Liu Zhen , Yang Dongze , Quan Chenggen
Published: September 2020

A three-dimensional (3D) shape measurement system using defocusing binary fringe projection can perform high-speed and flexible measurements. In this technology, determining the fringe pitch that matches the current projection’s defocus amount is of great significance for an accurate measurement. In this paper, we propose an online binary fringe pitch selection framework. First, by analyzing the fringe images captured by the camera, the defocus amount of projection can be obtained. Next, based on analysis of the harmonic error and camera noise, we establish a mathematical model of the normalized phase error. The fringe pitch that minimizes this normalized phase error is then selected as the optimal fringe pitch for subsequent measurements, which can also lead to more accuracy and robust measurement results. Compared with current methods, our method does not require offline defocus-distance calibration. However, it can achieve the same effect as the offline calibration method. It is also more flexible and efficient. Our experiments validate the effectiveness and practicability of the proposed method.
Information sufficient segmentation and signal-to-noise ratio in stochastic optical localization nanoscopy
Authors: Sun Yi
Published: September 2020

In stochastic optical localization nanoscopy, it is common practice that a localization algorithm segments the power-effective pixels, which are brighter than a threshold, and discards the rest of a data frame. In this scenario, we investigate the power-effective Fisher information and the power-effective signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) with respect to an index

ρ
<

1

, indicating that

ρ

fraction of the emitter power is utilized. The

ρ

-power effective Fisher information and the

ρ

-power effective SNR are derived for the Airy and Gaussian point spread functions (PSFs). It is shown that as

ρ

increases, the root mean square error of the Fisher information sharply drops to its lower bound, approximately

ρ
=

0.8

for both PSFs. This result suggests that the 80%-power effective data in the emitter localization are information sufficient, and the 80%-power effective SNR is appropriate to indicate the quality of a data frame in the presence of noise.
Automatic CEP locking and optimization for a Ti:Sa femtosecond oscillator
Authors: Loriot V.
Published: September 2020

This paper presents a software solution to automatically lock and optimize the carrier envelope phase (CEP) of a femtosecond titanium:sapphire (Ti:Sa) based oscillator following the standard optical arrangement. The solution also mitigates the usual limited-range actuator problem of the slow feedback loop. The principle is to control the relevant stabilization parameters with a single computer to mimic the manual action. After calibration of the piezoelectric actuator, four preliminary measurements are required to locate the CEP-locking point. Then, the algorithm optimizes the CEP performance. Only a few seconds are required to automatically lock and optimize the CEP.
Repositioning of plasmonic hotspots along the sidewalls of conical nanoholes: a numerical investigation
Authors: Alibeigloo Pooya , Ghorbanzadeh Mostafa , Moravvej-Farshi Mohammad Kazem
Published: September 2020

We investigate the plasmonic mode profiles along the depth of various vertical nanoholes to realize vertical nano-manipulation. Our numerical results show that by varying the incident wavelength, we can reposition the plasmonic hotspots along the sidewalls of the staircase and conical nanoholes without and with an oxide spacer. Using the Maxwell stress tensor and the three-dimensional finite difference time domain numerical method, we calculate the optical forces exerted on a polystyrene nanoparticle of 10-nm radius and the related potential energy along the sidewall, demonstrating the trapping sites corresponding to the plasmonic hotspots. Furthermore, the simulation results reveal that adding an oxide spacer of appropriate thickness adds a degree of freedom in controlling the position of the trapping site at the expense of a slight decrease in the trapping figure of merit. These results indicate that the proposed plasmonic conical nanoholes are potentially suitable for controlled vertical transportation of DNA strands.
Diseño, modelado 3D y optimización del comportamiento mecanoacústico de un nuevo tubo de ventilación transtimpánico
Authors: Vallejo-Valdezate Luis Ángel , Bragado Angélica , Hidalgo-Otamendi Antonio , Gil-Carcedo Elisa , Herrero-Calvo David , Fernandez-Cascón Sara
Published: September 2020

Introducción y Objetivos: En este trabajo mostramos un nuevo tubo de ventilación transtimpánico cuyo diseño pretende solventar los efectos indeseables aparecidos durante la inserción de tubos de ventilación actualmente comercializados; analizamos su comportamiento mecánico en un modelo 3D del oído a fin de optimizar su comportamiento acústico. Métodos: Para el diseño del tubo se empleó un software autoCAD; El comportamiento mecánico se analizó en un modelo computadorizado dinámico 3D del oído humano basado en el método de los elementos finitos (FEM). Resultados: El nuevo tubo de ventilación posee un tamaño y una masa significativamente menores a los actualmente disponibles en el mercado lo que provoca un menor interferencia en la vibración del sistema tímpano-osicular; su diseño facilita que permanezca insertado mientras las condiciones del paciente así lo aconsejen evitando su caída hacia la caja o su precoz extrusión. Conclusiones: Las ventajas teóricas biológicas y acústicas del nuevo tubo desarrollado (con menor masa y cuyo diseño evita las complicaciones de los actuales) puede abrir una nueva posibilidad de tratamiento de la otitis media seromucosa crónica.
Parálisis idiopática del nervio hipogloso. Descripción de un caso.
Authors: Gallego-Sánchez Yhovany , Vicente-Pascual Mikel , Vázquez-Justes Daniel , Andreu-Mencia Leandro
Published: September 2020

Introducción: La parálisis del nervio hipogloso es una mononeuropatía poco fre-cuente. Las etiologías más habituales son la tumoral, la traumática, la isquémica cere-bral y la iatrogénica, Descripción: Presentamos el caso de un paciente con neuropa-tía idiopática del nervio hipogloso, en el que por edad, la presencia de factores de riesgo vascular, la microangiopaía cerebral y la evolución nos lleva a discutir acerca de la posibilidad de que se trate de una mononeuropatía isquémica o diabética como etiología del déficit. Discusión: En estudios publicados de parálisis idiopáticas del nervio hipogloso la edad de presentación se sitúa entre los 20 y 45 años y tienen una evolución y recuperación favorable, atribuyéndole un mecanismo fisiopatológico similar al de la paralisis de Bell. En nuestro caso la exploración física y las pruebas complementarias realizadas no mostraron etiología del déficit, encontrándonos ante un nuevo caso de parálisis idiopática del nervio hipogloso. Sin embargo por la edad del paciente, la presencia de múltiples factores de riesgo vascular, la microangiopía cerebral y la persistencia de la sintomatología nos hace plantear la existencia de un mecanismo local, isquémico o diabético, como causa de la mononeuropatía presen-tada y pensar que nos podemos encontrar ante un mecanismo fisiopatológico similar al producido en otras mononeuropatías, como la del III o VI par craneal. Conclusión: Presentamos una parálisis del nervio hipogloso idiopática, que por las característi-cas de nuestro paciente nos hace pensar y discuti una posible etiología isquémica o diabética del déficit.
Carcinoma de paladar blando. Descripción de una serie de casos
Authors: Zabaleta-López Marta , Ramos-Casademont Laia , Gómez-Tomé Estrella , Diaz De Cerio Canduela Pedro , Ibáñez-Muñoz Cristina , Martínez-Torre María Inmaculada
Published: September 2020

Introducción y objetivo: Describir las características clínicas, anatómicas y el trata-miento quirúrgico, incluyendo las distintas opciones de reconstrucción de los tumo-res de paladar blando. Descripción: Estudio retrospectivo de 6 pacientes diagnosti-cados y tratados en el servicio de Otorrinolaringología del hospital San Pedro de Logroño entre los años 2018 y 2019. Discusión: Exponemos los resultados de nues-tros pacientes y realizamos una revisión de los tumores de orofaringe localizados en el paladar blando, los detalles anatómicos y técnicas quirúrgicas reconstructivas más utilizadas en el tratamiento quirúrgico de los tumores de paladar blando. Conclusio-nes: La prevalencia de los tumores de orofaringe ha aumentado en los últimos años a expensas de la infección por el virus del papiloma humano (VPH). Sin embargo, los carcinomas de paladar blando son mayoritariamente P16 negativos. Estos tumores son poco sintomáticos en fases iniciales y es necesario un alto índice de sospecha para evitar diagnósticos tardíos. El desarrollo de la cirugía transoral ha impulsado el tratamiento quirúrgico de los tumores de paladar blando y puede reducir la necesidad de tratamientos complementarios hasta en un 40% de los casos. La reconstrucción se hace necesaria en resecciones mayores del 50%.
Application Design for Registration of Civil Appeals with Intuitive District Courts
Authors: Ardiansyah Hafizd , Fatwanto Agung
Published: September 2020

In designing user interface that are intuitive or easy to understand, users have their own challenges where they must continue to develop so that users can easily use existing applications. There are many user interface designs that are less intuitive not only on the display design, but also on the text and the colors used. This paper aims to create an intuitive user interface design by interviewing potential users from the place where the application will be implemented. The method used is intuitive by means of a literature study approach, and interviews. The results of this research are user interface design and system flow design. With an intuitive display, it makes easier for users to use the application.
Alfons Maria Mucha i czechosłowackie banknoty
Authors: JÓŹWIAK Wojciech
Published: September 2020

Pierwsze banknoty nowopowstałego państwa czechosłowackiego zaprojektowane przez Alfonsa Muchę stały się dla tego wybitego secesyjnego artysty doskonałym środkiem przekazu, za pośrednictwem którego mógł, odwołując się zarówno do symboliki narodowej jak i ogólnosłowiańskiej, wpłynąć na utrwalenie tożsamości narodowej rodaków. Wyraźnie zakorzeniona w tradycji i historii słowiańszczyzny symbolika zaprojektowanych banknotów w oczywisty sposób nawiązywała do zainteresowań artystycznych projektanta wyrażonych dobitnie w cyklu Epopeja Słowiaństwa.