Search

Numerous optical phenomena and applications have been enabled by nanophotonic structures. Their current fabrication from high refractive index dielectrics, such as silicon or gallium phosphide, pose restricting fabrication challenges, while metals, relying on plasmons and thus exhibiting high ohmic losses, limit the achievable applications. Here, we present an emerging class of layered so-called van der Waals (vdW) crystals as a viable nanophotonics platform. We extract the dielectric response of 11 mechanically exfoliated thin-film (20-200 nm) van der Waals crystals, revealing high refractive indices up to n = 5, pronounced birefringence up to $\Delta$n = 3, sharp absorption resonances, and a range of transparency windows from ultraviolet to near-infrared. We then fabricate nanoantennas on SiO$_2$ and gold utilizing the compatibility of vdW thin films with a variety of substrates. We observe pronounced Mie resonances due to the high refractive index contrast on SiO$_2$ leading to a strong exciton-photon coupling regime as well as largely unexplored high-quality-factor, hybrid Mie-plasmon modes on gold. We demonstrate further vdW-material-specific degrees of freedom in fabrication by realizing nanoantennas from stacked twisted crystalline thin-films, enabling control of nonlinear optical properties, and post-fabrication nanostructure transfer, important for nano-optics with sensitive materials.

Objective To report the long-term (>1 year) outcome of MicroPulse transscleral diode cyclophotocoagulation (MP-TSCP) in dogs. Animals studied Client owned dogs that underwent MP-TSCP at a veterinary referral center. Procedure Retrospective study of 19 dogs treated with MP-TSCP. Dogs were evaluated at a median follow-up time of 30.5 months postoperatively. Reported outcomes were intraocular pressure (IOP), retention or loss of vision, number of medications, and additional procedures performed. Variables associated with time to treatment failure were evaluated. Results Data from 19 dogs (24 eyes) was available. Median laser settings employed were 140 s and 2200 mW at 31.3% duty cycle. Long-term postoperative IOP was lower than preoperative IOP values (14 mmHg (IQR = 22 mmHg, range: 4-52 mmHg) versus 30 mmHg (IQR = 31 mmHg, range: 8-62 mmHg), respectively). Laser settings >2000 mW were associated with a significantly longer time to reported failure. MP-TSCP was the sole therapy performed in 16/24 eyes resulting in long-term IOP control in 13/24 eyes and retention of vision in 6 of the 14 sighted eyes. Repeat MP-TSCP was performed in 10/24 eyes. Eight of 24 eyes required additional procedures with long-term IOP control in 4/8 eyes. Conclusions MicroPulse transscleral diode cyclophotocoagulation can be an effective treatment for refractory glaucoma in select cases. Higher laser settings increased time to reported failure, whereas age, glaucoma type, and preoperative IOP did not affect survival. MP-TSCP as sole therapy or coupled with additional glaucoma procedures controlled the IOP in 70% of cases.

An altered balance between metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their inhibitor tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) may influence the healing process of a minor amputation following a successful vein graft. To speed up this process, negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) and advanced moist wound dressing have been proposed. We determined the systemic and local release of MMP‐1, ‐2, ‐3, ‐9, TIMP‐1, and TIMP‐2 by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique and their influences in the healing process in 26 patients who underwent minor amputation after a successful revascularisation procedure. Twelve patients (group 1) were medicated with NPWT and 14 (group 2) with advanced moist wound dressing. Plasma samples were collected on the morning of surgery and thereafter at 1, 3, and 5 months; exudates were collected 3 days after surgery when amputation was performed and thereafter at 1, 3, and 5 months. Fifteen age‐matched healthy male volunteers served as controls. All wounds healed in 5 ± 0.5 months. Follow‐up plasma and local release of MMP‐1, ‐2, ‐3, and ‐9 were overall significantly lower when compared with the preoperative levels, while those of TIMP‐1 and ‐2 were significantly higher with no differences among the groups. Despite no differences in the healing process being observed among the two types of medications, at 1 month the local release of MMP‐2 and ‐9 was significantly lower (P = .013 and .047, respectively) and that of TIMP‐1 was significantly higher (P = .042) in group 1 as compared to group 2. A correct and aggressive local approach to the wound is able to promote the healing of the lesion stimulating the extracellular matrix turnover with local MMP/TIMP adequate balance and favouring the creation of granulation tissue. However, a successful restoration of an adequate blood flow remains the key point of a durable and rapid wound healing.

The aim of the present study was to investigate changes in glucose metabolism in male Wistar rats induced by the anesthetics isoflurane and ketamine combined with xylazine via 18 F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography. We analyzed the differential effects of the anesthetics on 18 F-fluorodeoxyglucose uptake and pharmacokinetics in 33 rats using quantification methods: (a) the standardized uptake value, (b) voxel-based analyses, and (c) kinetic analysis. Both anesthetics reduced glucose uptake in the entire brain. The voxel-based analyses detected smaller uptake reductions in the bilateral primary somatosensory system cortex and part of the limbic system in the ketamine-xylazine (KX) group and in the vestibular nucleus in the isoflurane group. Through kinetic analysis, we found that the volume of distribution and the membrane transport rate K1 were reduced in the KX group. Through various methods of 18 F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography quantification, the present study found that anesthesia with the ketamine-xylazine combination induced a global reduction of glucose metabolism compared with isoflurane; this reduction of metabolism was relatively lower in the primary somatosensory cortex and part of the limbic system. The volume of distribution of 18 F-fluorodeoxyglucose and its Glut1-mediated transport across the brain membranes (K1 ) were decreased in the KX group.

Background: Psoriasis (Ps) is a chronic systemic autoimmune disease associated with pruritus in 64–98% of patients. However, few modestly sized studies assess factors associated with psoriatic pruritus. Objective: To investigate factors associated with Ps pruritus intensity. Methods: Psoriasis patients 18years or older seen in one of 155 centres in Italy between September 2005 and 2009 were identified from the Italian PsoCare registry. Patients without cutaneous psoriasis and those with missed information on pruritus were excluded. Results: We identified 10802 patients, with a mean age 48.8±14.3years. Mild itch was present in 33.2% of patients, moderate in 34.4%, severe in 18.7% and very severe in 13.7%. Higher itch intensity was associated with female gender, lower educational attainment compared to university degree, pustular psoriasis, psoriasis on the head, face, palmoplantar areas, folds and genitalia, more severe disease, disease duration

Lasing from cells has recently been subject of thorough investigation because of the potential for sensitive and fast biosensing. Yet, lasing from individual cells has been studied in high-quality resonators, resulting in limited dependence of the lasing properties on the cellular microenvironment. Here, lasing is triggered by cells floating in a low quality factor resonator composed of a disposable poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) cell counting-slide, hence in absence of conventional high-reflectivity optical cavities. The exceptional spectral narrowing and the steep slope increase in the input–output energy diagram prove occurrence of laser action in presence of cells. The observed biolasing is an intrinsically dynamic signal, with large fluctuations in intensity and spectrum determined by the optical properties of the individual cell passing through the pump beam. Numerical simulations of the scattering efficiency rule out the possibility of optical feedback from either WGM (whispering gallery mode) or multiple scattering within the cell, and point to the enhanced directional scattering field as the crucial contribution of cells to the laser action. Finally, principal component analysis of lasing spectra measured from freely diffusing cells yields spectral fingerprints of cell populations, which allows discriminating cancer from healthy Rattus glial cells with high degree of confidence.

This research was funded by Vietnam National Foundation for Science and Technology Development (NAFOSTED) under grant number 103.03-2017.318 and the the EPSRC Standard Grant EP/T027258/1. The miniaturization of random lasers to the micrometer scale is challenging but fundamental for the integration of lasers with photonic integrated circuits and biological tissues. Herein, it is demonstrated that random lasers with a diameter from 30 to 160 μm can be achieved by using a simple emulsion process and selective chemical etching. These tiny random laser sources are made of either dye-doped polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) or bovine serum albumin (BSA) and they are in the form of microporous spheres with monodisperse pores of 1.28 μm in diameter. Clear lasing action is observed when the microporous spheres are optically excited with powers larger than the lasing threshold, which is 154 μJ mm−2 for a 75 μm diameter PVA microporous sphere. The lasing wavelength redshifts 10 nm when the PVA microsphere diameter increases from 34 to 160 μm. For BSA microspheres, the lasing threshold is around 55 μJ mm−2 for a 70 μm diameter sphere and 104 μJ mm−2 for a 35 μm diameter sphere. The simple fabrication process reported allows for detail studies of morphology and size, important for fundamental studies of light–matter interaction in complex media, and applications in photonic integrated circuits, photonic barcoding, and optical biosensing. Publisher PDF

Research summary: In family businesses, investment decisions often involve both socioemotional wealth and economic considerations. Focusing on new technology adoption, we argue that multiple dimensions of socioemotional wealth contribute to complex effects within different types of family firms—depending on the level of family control—as well as in contrast to non-family firms. Results based on cable TV operators from 1983 to 1987 confirm that family ownership correlates negatively with technology adoption, especially when family owners hold a minority rather than majority position. We also show contingencies based on performance improvements and competitive threats. Our arguments contribute new insights about the tensions between economic and socioemotional factors within minority family ownership that are absent from non-family firms and more pronounced than in majority family firms. Managerial summary: We find evidence of greater reluctance toward new technology adoption among firms with minority family influence than majority family influence. This suggests that goals related to socioemotional wealth only partly explain the cautious decision-making observed in family firms, with further caution arising from conflicting priorities between family and non-family owners. Recent performance improvements help offset the reluctance to adopt new technology, albeit to a lesser degree among firms with minority family ownership. High levels of competitive threats also offset the reduction in new technology adoption, and contrary to expectations, to a greater extent among minority family firms. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to describe breed, age, gender, and weight distribution of dogs affected with sudden acquired retinal degeneration (SARD) and to investigate whether SARD is more common in small breed dogs. Methods Medical records of dogs diagnosed with SARD confirmed by an electroretinogram were reviewed. Breed, age, gender, and weight were recorded when available. The same data were obtained for dogs with SARD described in the veterinary literature. Results Three hundred and two dogs were included from the ophthalmology practices and 193 dogs from the veterinary literature. Sixty breeds were present in the study. Mixed-breed dogs were the most common at 108 dogs (21.8%), followed by the Dachshund (68, 13.7%), Chinese Pug (44, 8.9%), Miniature Schnauzer (39, 7.9%), Maltese (23, 4.6%), Cocker Spaniel (22, 4.4%), Bichon Frise (18, 3.6%), Beagle (16, 3.2%), Brittany (15, 3.0%), and Pomeranian (10, 2.0%). Fifty other breeds were represented by 1–9 dogs each. The median age was 9 years (range = 10 months–16 years). The weight was known for 197 dogs. About 60.9% of dogs were less than 25 pounds, 31.5% were between 25 and 50 pounds, and 7.6% were greater than 50 pounds. Gender was recorded in 393 dogs: 217 female dogs and 176 male dogs. Conclusions As previously reported, SARD is most common in middle-aged to older dogs. Smaller dogs of less than 25 pounds appear overrepresented, while large/giant breed dogs of greater than 50 pounds are infrequently diagnosed. In this study, there was no statistical significance between female and male dogs.

Introduction: It has been suggested that creatine supplementation is safe and effective for treating idiopathic inflammatory myopathies, but no pediatric study has been conducted to date. The objective of this study was to examine the efficacy and safety of creatine supplementation in juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) patients. Methods: In this study, JDM patients received placebo or creatine supplementation (0.1 g/kg/day) in a randomized, crossover, double-blind design. Subjects were assessed at baseline and after 12 weeks. The primary outcome was muscle function. Secondary outcomes included body composition, aerobic conditioning, health-related quality of life, and muscle phosphocreatine (PCr) content. Safety was assessed by laboratory parameters and kidney function measurements. Results: Creatine supplementation did not affect muscle function, intramuscular PCr content, or any other secondary outcome. Kidney function was not affected, and no side effects were reported. Conclusions: Twelve weeks of creatine supplementation in JDM patients were well-tolerated and free of adverse effects, but treatment did not affect muscle function, intramuscular PCr, or any other parameter. Muscle Nerve, 2015

The variable VHH domains of camelid single chain antibodies have been useful in numerous biotechnology applications due to their simplicity, biophysical properties, and abilities to bind to their cognate antigens with high affinities and specificity. Their interactions with proteins have been well-studied, but considerably less work has been done to characterize their ability to bind haptens. A high-resolution structural study of three nanobodies (T4, T9, and T10) which have been shown to bind triclocarban (TCC, 3-(4-chlorophenyl)-1-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)urea) with near-nanomolar affinity shows that binding occurs in a tunnel largely formed by CDR1 rather than a surface or lateral binding mode seen in other nanobody-hapten interactions. Additional significant interactions are formed with a non-hypervariable loop, sometimes dubbed "CDR4". A comparison of apo and holo forms of T9 and T10 shows that the binding site undergoes little conformational change upon binding of TCC. Structures of three nanobody-TCC complexes demonstrated there was not a standard binding mode. T4 and T9 have a high degree of sequence identity and bind the hapten in a nearly identical manner, while the more divergent T10 binds TCC in a slightly displaced orientation with the urea moiety rotated approximately 180° along the long axis of the molecule. In addition to methotrexate, this is the second report of haptens binding in a tunnel formed by CDR1, suggesting that compounds with similar hydrophobicity and shape could be recognized by nanobodies in analogous fashion. Structure-guided mutations failed to improve binding affinity for T4 and T9 underscoring the high degree of natural optimization.