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Open porous Pickering poly(high internal phase emulsion) composites were prepared by ring opening metathesis polymerization of surface modified TiO2 nanoparticle stabilized dicyclopentadiene (DCPD) high internal phase emulsions. Oxidation of the double bonds in the polyDCPD chains of the resulting materials was prevented using antioxidants. Oxidation dependent variation of mechanical properties was demonstrated by applying compression tests to the resulting composite materials periodically. Periodical measurements revealed significantly reduced brittleness in the case of antioxidant containing polyHIPE composites. Furthermore, it was determined that the initial compression moduli and the compressive strengths of the resulting materials were significantly improved by using antioxidants as compared to antioxidant free samples. Moreover, increasing nanoparticle amount was found to have a beneficial effect with the presence of antioxidants. The relationship between the compression modulus with nanoparticle loading and different types of antioxidants was revealed by developing model regression equations and graphs. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019, 136, 46913. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breast cancer is a hormone-dependent cancer. Hormonal exposure begins in the intrauterine period and continues in later years of life. 2D:4D ratio is accepted as an indicator of this exposure. The aim of this study was to investigate whether there is a difference in 2D:4D ratio between pathological subgroups of breast cancer and healthy control group. In this study, 204 participants, 154 breast cancer patients and 50 healthy control volunteers with similar age distribution, were included. Both hands of all participants were scanned using a digital scanner. The second and fourth finger lengths were measured using a digital measuring ruler with an accuracy of 0.05 mm. The 2D:4D ratio was calculated as the length of the second finger divided by the length of the fourth finger. A total of 204 patients (55 triple negative, 52 luminal B, 33 luminal A, 14 HER2-overexpessing and 50 healthy control volunteers) were subjected to finger scanning. There was no statistically significant difference in mean age between the groups. The right hand 2D:4D ratio was significantly lower in the Luminal A group compared to the other groups (p < 0.048). Although prenatal hormonal exposure is accepted as a risk factor for breast cancer, no study has evaluated patients in pathological subgroups. The 2D:4D ratio may be associated with breast cancer especially in the luminal A group in which hormone receptors are strongly positive and which has a better prognosis compared to the other groups., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a subpopulation of cancer cells that are believed to be responsible for tumor initiation, progression, metastasis, and resistance to conventional therapies. Oleuropein as a natural compound found in olive leaves and olive oil, has potential therapeutic effects in cancer treatment, particularly in targeting CSCs. It induces apoptosis in CSCs while sparing normal cells, inhibit proliferation, migration, and invasion, and suppress the self-renewal ability of CSCs. Additionally, oleuropein has shown synergistic effects with conventional chemotherapy drugs, enhancing their efficacy against CSCs., Objectives: This study aims to selectively target therapeutically resistant cancer stem cells (CSCs) within a heterogeneous tumor population by utilizing oleuropein (OLE) encapsulated in methacrylated alginate (OLE-mALG) within an in vivo-like microenvironment., Purpose: This study aims to target therapeutically resistant cancer stem cells (CSCs) with oleuropein (OLE) encapsulated in the methacrylated alginate (OLE-mALG) in a heterogeneous tumor population with an in vivo-like microenvironment., Methods: Co-culture of CSCs with non-tumorogenic MCF-12 A cells was performed, the 3D breast cancer model was supported with methocel/matrigel/collagen-I, and vascularization was ensured with human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). Then, OLE-loaded methacrylated alginate microparticles (mALG) were formed by dual crosslinking in the presence of both ionic and visible light obtained with a droplet based microfluidic system. The characterization and effectiveness of the produced OLE-mALG were evaluated by the FTIR, swelling/degradation/release analysis. Before producing OLE loaded mALG microparticles, a preliminary study was carried out to determine the effective dose of OLE for cells and the duration of OLE action on MCF-7, CSCs and MCF-12 A. Subsequently, CSC viability (WST-1), apoptosis (Bcl-2, Bax, caspase-3, caspase-9), stemness (OCT3/4, NANOG, SOX2), EMT profile (E-cadherin, Vimentin, Slug) and proliferation (SURVIVIN, p21, CYCLIN D1) after OLE-mALG treatment were all evaluated in the 3D model., Results: OLE was encapsulated in mALG with an efficiency of 90.49% and released 73% within 7 h. OLE-mALG induced apoptosis through the decrease in anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 and an increase in pro-apoptotic Bax, caspase-3, and caspase-9 protein levels. While Vimentin and Slug protein levels decreased after 200 µg/mL OLE-mALG treatment to 3D breast cancer culture, E-cadherin levels increased. OLE-mALG treatment to CSC co-culture led to a decrease in proliferation by triggering p21/SURVIVIN expressions, and also resulted in an increase in stemness genes (OCT3/4/NANOG/SOX2)., Conclusion: 200 µg/mL OLE-loaded mALG microparticles suppressed epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition by suppressing Vimentin and Slug protein levels, and increased E-cadherin levels in the 3D breast cancer model we created with CSCs, MCF-12 A and HUVECs. This complex system may allow the use of personalized cells for rapid drug screening in preclinical studies compared to animal experiments. OLE-mALG showed apoptotic and metastasis suppressive properties in cancer cells and it was concluded that it can be used in combination with or alternatively with chemotherapeutic agents to target breast cancer stem cells., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Objective: This cross-sectional online questionnaire-based study evaluated the knowledge, awareness, and behaviors of dentists and senior dental students regarding oral cancer (OC)., Materials and Methods: This study included 168 dentists and senior dental students who had completed all theoretical educations and clinical practices. An online survey was administered to all participants to assess their awareness of the risk factors for OC, clinical knowledge, and behaviors. The participants' demographic characteristics and knowledge of OC were analyzed., Results: Of the participants, 48.8% were female and 51.2% were male. Their mean age was 27.04 ± 5.56 years (range: 21-51). In addition, 59.5% were dentists, and 40.5% were senior dental students. The dentists' mean time since graduation was 6.38 ± 5.64 years (range: 1-27). Routine oral mucosa examination for OC was significantly more frequent among the dentists than the senior dental students (p < 0.05). Among all participants, 33% of dentists and 51.5% of senior dental students had poor knowledge of OC-related or possibly predisposing factors. Routine evaluation of OC-related and predisposing risk factors, including human papillomavirus infection, smoking, alcohol use, trauma-related non-healing oral lesions caused by long-term incompatible prostheses, and poor oral hygiene, was significantly more frequent among the dentists than the senior dental students (p < 0.05)., Conclusion: Educating dental students about a more comprehensive oral examination and early diagnosis of OC would help overcome the current lack of adequate knowledge and attitudes in OC prevention and early detection. A core curriculum compatible with the global standards on OC should be provided to dental students., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Cancer therapy-related cardiac dysfunction (CTRCD) is still a serious problem. Existing risk scores are insufficient for risk classification, especially in low and medium-risk patients. This study aims to evaluate if arterial stiffness (AS) measurement, which is associated with most of the known risk factors, can be a useful parameter for predicting subsequent CTRCD in patients with breast cancer (BC). Patients with BC were included in the study. All patients' AS parameters such as pulse wave velocity (PWV), augmentation index (AIx), augmentation pressure (AP), and echocardiographic parameters were obtained before treatment. During treatment, echocardiographic follow-up with routine parameters and left ventricle global longitudinal strain (LVGLS) were measured. Patients were evaluated on whether CTRCD occurred or not. A total of 67 patients were analyzed. The mean age of the study population was 54.9 ± 11 years. Baseline characteristics were similar except for age. No CTRCD diagnosis was obtained according to left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF) reduction, but 18 patients (26.8%) developed CTRCD regarding the decline in LVGLS. Left ventricle hypertrophy and diastolic dysfunction were more frequent in patients with CTRCD (p = 0.016 and p = 0.015, respectively). PWV, AIx, and AP as AS parameters were significantly higher in patients with CTRCD, but Alx@75 were not (p = 0.005, p = 0.034, p = 0.008, p = 0.077, respectively). A positive correlation between PWV and a decreased percent in LVGS (R = 0.607, p < 0.001) was observed. ROC curve analyses revealed an AUC of 0.747 (p = 0.02, 95% CI 0.632-0.832) for PWV. A PWV value of 9.2 m/s predicted CTRCD with 94% sensitivity and 73% specificity. AS measurement may be useful for predicting CTRCD in patients with low to medium-risk BC., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

In this study, a recently reported Ti-based metallic glass (MG), without any toxic element, but with a significant amount of metalloid (Si-Ge-B, 18 atom %) and minor soft element (Sn, 2 atom %), was produced in ribbon form using conventional single-roller melt-spinning. The produced Ti 60 Zr 20 Si 8 Ge 7 B 3 Sn 2 ribbons were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction to confirm their amorphous structure, and their corrosion properties were further investigated by open-circuit potential and cyclic polarization tests. The ribbon's surface was functionalized by tannic acid, a natural plant-based polyphenol, to enhance its performance in terms of corrosion prevention and antimicrobial efficacy. These properties can potentially be exploited in the premucosal parts of dental implants (abutments). The Folin and Ciocalteu test was used for the quantification of tannic acid (TA) grafted on the ribbon surface and of its redox activity. Fluorescent microscopy and ζ-potential measurements were used to confirm the presence of TA on the surfaces of the ribbons. The cytocompatibility evaluation (indirect and direct) of TA-functionalized Ti 60 Zr 20 Si 8 Ge 7 B 3 Sn 2 MG ribbons toward primary human gingival fibroblast demonstrated that no significant differences in cell viability were detected between the functionalized and as-produced (control) MG ribbons. Finally, the antibacterial investigation of TA-functionalized samples against Staphylococcus aureus demonstrated the specimens' antimicrobial properties, shown by scanning electron microscopy images after 24 h, presenting a few single colonies remaining on their surfaces. The thickness of bacterial aggregations (biofilm-like) that were formed on the surface of the as-produced samples reduced from 3.5 to 1.5 μm.

Objective: Oral anticoagulant therapy is the cornerstone of atrial fibrillation management to prevent stroke and systemic embolism. However, there is limited real-world information regarding stroke and systemic embolism prevention strategies in patients with atrial fibrillation. The aim of the ROTA study is to obtain the real-world data of anticoagulant treatment patterns in patients with atrial fibrillation., Methods: The ROTA study is a prospective, multicenter, and observational study that included 2597 patients with atrial fibrillation. The study population was recruited from 41 cardiology outpatient clinics between January 2021 and May 2021., Results: The median age of the study population was 72 years (range: 22-98 years) and 57.4% were female. The median CHA2DS2-VASc and HAS-BLED scores were 4 (range: 0-9) and 1 (range: 0-6), respectively. Vitamin K antagonists and direct oral anticoagulants were used in 15.9% and 79.4% of patients, respectively. The mean time in therapeutic range was 52.9% for patients receiving vitamin K antagonists, and 76% of those patients had an inadequate time in therapeutic range with <70%. The most common prescribed direct oral anticoagulants were rivaroxaban (38.1%), apixaban (25.5%), and edoxaban (11.2%). The rate of overuse of vitamin K antagonists and direct oral anticoagulants was high (76.1%) in patients with low stroke risk, and more than one-fourth of patients on direct oral anticoagulant therapy were receiving a reduced dose of direct oral anticoagulants. Among patients who were on direct oral anticoagulant treatment, patients with apixaban treatment were older, had higher CHA2DS2-VASc and HAS-BLED scores, and had lower creatinine clearance than the patients receiving other direct oral anticoagulants., Conclusions: The ROTA study provides important real-world information about anticoagulant treatment patterns in patients with atrial fibrillation.time in therapeutic range with <70%.

Objectives: This study aimed to explore sleep quality in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and to reveal the clinical parameters that predict sleep quality and depression in AS., Methods: This study included 100 AS patients and 100 age/sex-matched healthy individuals. The AS activity was assessed by Bath AS Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), AS Disease Activity Score (ASDAS-ESR, ASDAS-CRP), and Visual Analog Scale (VAS). The functional status was assessed by the Bath AS Functional Index (BASFI). AS Quality of Life Questionnaire was administered for the assessment of the disease-related quality of life. Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index for sleep assessment and Beck Depression Inventory for psychological assessment were administered to all participants., Results: Sleep problems and depressive symptoms were significantly higher in AS patients compared to healthy individuals. All of the AS clinical parameters were significantly higher in AS patients with poor sleep quality than in AS patients with good sleep quality. In the correlation analysis, it was determined that poor sleep quality, depressive symptoms and low quality of life were strongly correlated with each other and AS clinical parameters. The most effective predictor for sleep problems was higher BASDAI scores, followed by higher BASFI, VAS, ASDAS-ESH scores, and younger age. Higher BASFI and VAS scores were predictors for depressive symptoms., Conclusion: The findings indicate that poor sleep, depressive symptoms and low quality of life may negatively affect the AS clinic, and therefore sleep quality and depression should not be ignored in the examinations of AS patients.

Objectives: Black cumin is widely used as a spice and as a traditional treatment. The active ingredient in black cumin seeds is thymoquinone. Thymoquinone has shown anticancer effects in some cancers. We planned to investigate its anticancer effect on pancreatic cancer cell lines., Methods: Thymoquinone chemical component in various doses was prepared and inoculated on pancreatic cancer cell culture, healthy mesenchymal stem cells, and peripheral blood mononuclear cell culture. IC50 values were calculated by absorbance data and measuring cell viability by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide staining of cells incubated with thymoquinone at 24, 48, and 72 h., Results: There was dose-related cytotoxicity. Maximal cytotoxicity was observed at 24 h and 100 μM thymoquinone concentrations in pancreatic cancer cell culture and mesenchymal stem cells. Any concentration of thymoquinone was not cytotoxic to peripheral blood mononuclear cell. Thymoquinone even caused proliferation at a concentration of 6.25 μM., Conclusions: Since the cytotoxic concentration of thymoquinone on pancreatic cancer cell culture and mesenchymal stem cells is the same, it is not appropriate to use thymoquinone to achieve cytotoxicity in pancreatic cancer. However, since thymoquinone provides proliferation in peripheral blood mononuclear cell at a noncytotoxic dose, it may have an immune activator effect. Therefore, in vivo studies are needed to investigate the effect of thymoquinone on the immune system.

Regorafenib is a multikinase inhibitor. It is used for metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) treatment. It has a mild effect. Regorafenib outcomes, and side effects may vary across patients. This study was aimed to evaluate the factors that affect regorafenib outcomes in mCRC patients. We conducted a single-center and retrospective study. Fifty-six patients were included. All patients had received regorafenib for mCRC. Some clinical and pathological factors and the effects of these factors on overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and disease control rates (DCR) were analyzed. Concomitant amlodipine intake with regorafenib improved OS [14.26 vs. 6.97 months; 95% confidence interval, 4.04-20.84; P = 0.031] and DCR at 12th week (90% vs. 46%; P = 0.012). Hepatic metastasis was found as the poorest prognostic factor in both univariate and multivariate analyses. Patients who received chemotherapy after regorafenib had better OS. Good performance status was the strongest indicator of better OS. Patients taking amlodipine for arterial hypertension at the same time with regorafenib had numerically better OS and PFS and statistically better DCR. Amlodipine itself already has anticancer effects, and it has additive anticancer effects with regorafenib. The presence of hepatic metastases was found to be the most important prognostic factor for OS. There were not any predictive factors of side effects to regorafenib., (Copyright © 2022 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Holography is a vital tool used in various applications from microscopy, solar energy, imaging, display to information encryption. Generation of a holographic image and reconstruction of object/hologram information from a holographic image using the current algorithms are time-consuming processes. Versatile, fast in the meantime, accurate methodologies are required to compute holograms performing color imaging at multiple observation planes and reconstruct object/sample information from a holographic image for widely accommodating optical holograms. Here, we focus on design of optical holograms for generation of holographic images at multiple observation planes and colors via a deep learning model, the CHoloNet. The CHoloNet produces optical holograms which show multitasking performance as multiplexing color holographic image planes by tuning holographic structures. Furthermore, our deep learning model retrieves an object/hologram information from an intensity holographic image without requiring phase and amplitude information from the intensity image. We show that reconstructed objects/holograms show excellent agreement with the ground-truth images. The CHoloNet does not need iteratively reconstruction of object/hologram information while conventional object/hologram recovery methods rely on multiple holographic images at various observation planes along with the iterative algorithms. We openly share the fast and efficient framework that we develop in order to contribute to the design and implementation of optical holograms, and we believe that the CHoloNet based object/hologram reconstruction and generation of holographic images will speed up wide-area implementation of optical holography in microscopy, data encryption, and communication technologies., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Spectral splitters, as well as solar concentrators, are commonly designed and optimized using numerical methods. Here, we present an experimental method to spectrally split and concentrate broadband light (420-875 nm) via wavefront shaping. We manage to spatially control white light using a phase-only spatial light modulator. As a result, we are able to split and concentrate three frequency bands, namely red (560-875 nm), green (425-620 nm), and blue (420-535 nm), to two target spots with a total enhancement factor of 715%. Despite the significant overlap between the color channels, we obtain spectral splitting ratios as 52%, 57%, and 66% for red, green, and blue channels, respectively. We show that a higher number of adjustable superpixels ensures higher spectral splitting and concentration. We provide the methods to convert an optimized phase pattern into a diffractive optical element that can be fabricated at large scale and low cost. The experimental method that we introduce, for the first time, enables the optimization and design of SpliCons, which is [Formula: see text] times faster compared to the computational methods.

Spectral splitting of the sunlight using diffractive optical elements (DOEs) is an effective method to increase the efficiency of solar panels. Here, we design phase-only DOEs by using an iterative optimization algorithm to spectrally split and simultaneously concentrate solar spectrum. In our calculations, we take material dispersion into account as well as the normalized blackbody spectrum of the sunlight. The algorithm consists of the local search optimization and is strengthened with an outperforming logic operation called MEAN optimization. Using the MEAN optimization algorithm, we demonstrate spectral splitting of a dichromatic light source at 700 nm and 1100 nm with spectral splitting efficiencies of 92% and 94%, respectively. In this manuscript, we introduce an effective bandwidth approach, which reduces the computational time of DOEs from 89 days to 8 days, while preserving the spectral splitting efficiency. Using our effective bandwidth method, we manage to spectrally split light into two separate bands between 400 nm - 700 nm and 701 nm - 1100 nm, with splitting efficiencies of 56% and 63%, respectively. Our outperforming and effective bandwidth design approach can be applied to DOE designs in color holography, spectroscopy, and imaging applications.

Introduction: Albuminuria is an early marker of kidney disease and reduction of albuminuria translates into a decreased occurrence of cardiovascular and renal outcomes., Aims: To evaluate the changes in the prevalence of albuminuria in diabetic hypertensive patients treated with several combinations of renin-angiotensin aldosterone system with calcium channel blockers., Methods: We analysed data from 668 unselected patients from the PAIT survey (mean age 60.4 ± 10.2 years, prevalence of males 38%), with and without albuminuria, maintained for 6 months with the previous treatment with amlodipine-valsartan, amlodipine perindopril, lercanidipine-enalapril, verapamil-trandolapril, nitrendipine-enalapril and felodipine-ramipril Albuminuria was assessed, as urinary albumin-creatinine ratio, using a Multistic-Clinitek device analyzer. Microalbuminuria was defined as a loss of 3.4-33.9 mg albumin/mmol creatinine (30-300 mg/g) and macroalbuminuria as a loss of > 33.9 mg albumin/mmol creatinine (> 300 mg/g). Blood pressure was measured with a validated digital device., Results: At baseline, albuminuria was present in 310 subjects (46.4%) (microalbuminuria in 263 (84.8%), macroalbuminuria in 15.2%), and normoalbuminuria in 53.6% 358. After 6 months, the prevalence of subjects with albuminuria was significantly lowered (p < 0.01) by 23.5% (microalbuminuria - 23.9%, p < 0.01 and macroalbuminuria - 21.3%). The prevalence of subjects with microalbuminuria was reduced with all treatments: amlodipine-valsartan - 15.6%, amlodipine-perindopril - 11.8%, lercanidipine-enalapril - 41.3% and verapamil-trandolapril - 19.2%. Data with nitrendipine-enalapril and felodipine-ramipril were not analyzed, due to the low number of patients. The frequency of patients with normoalbuminuria was significantly higher (p < 0.01) with lercanidipine-enalapril compared with any other treatment. Blood pressure was significantly (p < 0.01) reduced, with a similar effect between treatments., Conclusions: The treatments decrease the prevalence of subjects with albuminuria, showing a significant difference among the different drug combinations, favoring the use of new dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers, such as lercanidipine, combined with RAAS inhibitors, to control albuminuria in diabetic hypertensive patients.

Resonant cavities with high quality factor and small mode volume provide crucial enhancement of light-matter interactions in nanophotonic devices that transport and process classical and quantum information. The production of functional circuits containing many such cavities remains a major challenge, as inevitable imperfections in the fabrication detune the cavities, which strongly affects functionality such as transmission. In photonic crystal waveguides, intrinsic disorder gives rise to high- Q localized resonances through Anderson localization; however their location and resonance frequencies are completely random, which hampers functionality. We present an adaptive holographic method to gain reversible control on these randomly localized modes by locally modifying the refractive index. We show that our method can dynamically form or break highly transmitting necklace states, which is an essential step toward photonic-crystal-based quantum networks and signal processing circuits, as well as slow light applications and fundamental physics., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest.

Background: The goals of tracheostomy scar revision are filling of the depressed area, providing easy sliding of skin over the trachea. There are various techniques described to correct this situation. In this article, a modification of split sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscle flap used in the correction of posttracheostomy defects is described., Methods: Thirteen patients who had depressed scars after tracheostomy are included in this study. The mean patient age was 44 years (range, 27-56 years). All patients who suffered from tracheal tug, dysphagia, and bad appearance are included in the study. The area with the depressed scar is de-epithelialized after incising around the depression. Bilateral SCM muscles are split in the coronal plane toward superior half of the muscle while leaving the posterior part of the muscle attached to the bone. After elevation, both SCM muscle flaps are overlapped in the midline., Results: The mean follow-up period of the patients was 11 months (range, 5-20 months). Tracheal tug and dysphagia complaints were resolved in all patients. The depressed area due to the scar was either reduced or completely recovered in all the patients. Apart from 1 hematoma case, none of the early or late complications such as infection, wound dehiscence, skin necrosis, seroma, recurrence, or neck contracture was seen., Conclusions: We think that this technique, which gives functionally and aesthetically satisfying results, can be used safely in depressed scars formed after tracheostomy and treatment of functional impairment due to this procedure.

Aim: To evaluate the effects of the etonogestrel contraceptive implant (Implanon ® ) on bone metabolism in lactating women using markers for bone formation and resorption., Study Design: This single-centre, prospective cohort study was conducted in Turgut Ozal University Medical Faculty Obstetrics and Gynecology Department with healthy lactating women aged between 24 and 38 years to compare the effect on bone metabolism of 6 months' use of either the implant or a non-hormonal contraceptive method. The study group ( n =25) used an implant and the control group ( n =25) used a non-hormonal contraceptive intrauterine device inserted 40 days' postpartum. Bone metabolism differences at the time of insertion and after 6 months were assessed quantitatively by biochemical analysis of serum and urine samples., Results: At baseline, serum levels of bone metabolism parameters were similar for the two groups. In the implant group, serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels decreased ( p =0.004) and total protein levels increased ( p =0.045) at 6 months. In the control group, serum levels of bone metabolism parameters did not change at 6 months compared to baseline. However, serum levels of phosphorus ( p =0.013) and ALP ( p =0.003) decreased at 6 months compared to baseline., Conclusion: Six months' postpartum use of Implanon was found to have no deleterious impact on bone turnover in healthy lactating women., (Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/.)

Weakly coupled high-Q nanophotonic cavities are building blocks of slow-light waveguides and other nanophotonic devices. Their functionality critically depends on tuning as resonance frequencies should stay within the bandwidth of the device. Unavoidable disorder leads to random frequency shifts which cause localization of the light in single cavities. We present a new method to finely tune individual resonances of light in a system of coupled nanocavities. We use holographic laser-induced heating and address thermal crosstalk between nanocavities using a response matrix approach. As a main result we observe a simultaneous anticrossing of 3 nanophotonic resonances, which were initially split by disorder.

The aim of this study is to histologically compare effects of blue light-emitting diode (LED) light (400-490 nm) and Ga-Al-As low-level diode laser light (980 nm) on bone regeneration of calvarial critical-sized defects in rats. Thirty Wistar Albino rats were included in the study. The experimental groups were as follows: blue LED light (400-490 nm) group (LED); 980-nm low-level laser light group (LL); and no-treatment, control group (CL). A critical-sized defect of 8 mm was formed on calvaria of rats. Each animal was sacrificed 21 days after defect formation. Calvarias of all rats were dissected and fixated for histological examination. Histomorphometric measurements of total horizontal length of the newly produced bone tissue, total vertical length of the newly produced bone tissue, and diameter of the newly produced longest bone trabecula were performed with a computer program in micrometers. There was a statistically significant increase in the total horizontal length and total vertical length in LL and LED groups compared to that in the CL group (P < 0.05), while there was no statistical difference between LED and LL groups (P > 0.05). A statistically significant difference was observed in the longest bone trabecula and LL groups compared to that in CL (P < 0.05), but not between LED-CL and LED-LL groups (P > 0.05). In conclusion, blue LED light significantly enhances bone regeneration in critical-sized defects when compared with CL group, but does not have a statistically significant effect on bone regeneration when compared with 980-nm low-level laser light.

Background: P-wave duration helps to determine the risk of atrial arrhythmia, especially atrial fibrillation. QT interval, T peak to end interval (Tp-e), and Tp-e/QT ratio are electrocardiographic indices related to ventricular repolarization which are used to determine the risk of ventricular arrhythmias. We search for any alterations in electrocardiographic indices of arrhythmia in the pregnancy period with respect to trimesters., Methods: We enrolled 154 pregnant and 62 nonpregnant, healthy women into this cross-sectional study. Maximum and minimum P-wave durations (Pmax, Pmin), and QT intervals (QTmax, QTmin) were measured from 12 leads. QT measurements were corrected using Fridericia (QTc-Fr) and Bazett's (QTc-Bz) correction. Tp-e interval was obtained from the difference between QT interval, and QT peak interval (QTp) measured from the beginning of the QRS until the peak of the T wave. Tp-e/QT ratio was calculated using these measurements., Results: Pmax were 93.0 ± 9.1, 93.9 ± 8.9, 97.9 ± 5.6, 99.0 ± 6.1 in nonpregnant women, first, second, third trimesters of pregnancy, respectively (P = 0.001); whereas Pmin values were not significantly different. QTc-Fr max were 407.4 ± 14.2, 408.5 ± 16.1, 410.1 ± 13.1, 415.1 ± 10.1 (P = 0.007); Tp-e were 72.7 ± 6.2, 73.2 ± 6.5, 77.2 ± 8.9, 87.2 ± 9.6 (P < 0.001); and Tp-e/QT were 0.17 (0.14-0.20), 0.17 (0.14-0.20), 0.18 (0.15-0.23), 0.20 (0.16-0.25) in nonpregnant women, first, second, and third trimesters of pregnancy respectively (P < 0.001). None of the participants experienced any arrhythmic event., Conclusions: P-wave duration is prolonged in the second trimester, and resumes a plateau thereafter. Maximum QTc interval, Tp-e interval and Tp-e/QT ratio are increased in the late pregnancy. Although these indices are altered during the course of pregnancy, they all remain in the normal ranges., (© 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

We have switched GaAs/AlAs and AlGaAs/AlAs planar microcavities that operate in the "Original" (O) telecom band by exploiting the instantaneous electronic Kerr effect. We observe that the resonance frequency reversibly shifts within one picosecond when the nanostructure is pumped with low-energy photons. We investigate experimentally and theoretically the role of several parameters: the material backbone and its electronic bandgap, the quality factor, and the duration of the switch pulse. The magnitude of the frequency shift is reduced when the backbone of the central λ-layer has a greater electronic bandgap compared to the cavity resonance frequency and the frequency of the pump. This observation is caused by the fact that pumping with photon energies near the bandgap resonantly enhances the switched magnitude. We thus find that cavities operating in the telecom O-band are more amenable to ultrafast Kerr switching than those operating at lower frequencies, such as the C-band. Our results indicate that the large bandgap of AlGaAs/AlAs cavity allows to tune both the pump and the probe to the telecom range to perform Kerr switching without detrimental two-photon absorption. We observe that the magnitude of the resonance frequency shift decreases with increasing quality factor of the cavity. Our model shows that the magnitude of the resonance frequency shift depends on the pump pulse duration and is maximized when the duration matches the cavity storage time to within a factor two. In our experiments, we obtain a maximum shift of the cavity resonance relative to the cavity linewidth of 20%. We project that the shift of the cavity resonance can be increased twofold with a pump pulse duration that better matches the cavity storage time. We provide the essential parameter settings for different materials so that the frequency shift of the cavity resonance can be maximized using the electronic Kerr effect.

In the last 20 to 30 years, early diagnosis of pregnancy has markedly decreased ectopic pregnancy-related maternal mortality, and the necessity for surgical treatment. With modern approaches in the treatment of ectopic pregnancy, surgical therapy has been replaced by medical therapy and medical treatment by spontaneous follow-up in appropriate cases. However, this current trend has led to some problems, including the maximization of ultrasonographic interpretations, misunderstandings in serial human koryonik gonadotropin hormon measurements, and complications due to inappropriate methotrexate use. The aim of the present study was to review the literature relating to the diagnosis and follow-up of early pregnancies, to underline some of the important considerations, and to help avoid possible iatrogenic errors.

The dispersion of a coupled resonator optical waveguide made of photonic crystal mode-gap cavities is pronouncedly asymmetric. This asymmetry cannot be explained by the standard tight binding model. We show that the fundamental cause of the asymmetric dispersion is the inherent dispersive cavity mode profile; i.e., the mode wave function depends on the driving frequency, not the eigenfrequency. This occurs because the photonic crystal cavity resonances do not form a complete set. We formulate a dispersive mode coupling model that accurately describes the asymmetric dispersion without introducing any new free parameters.

In this work, electrical square pulses at various duty cycles are applied to a silicon microsphere resonator in order to continuously tune the refractive index of a silicon microsphere and to map the optical resonance in the time domain. A continuous-wave semiconductor diode laser operating in the L-band is used for the excitation of the silicon microsphere optical resonances. The 90° transverse magnetically polarized elastic scattering signal is used to monitor the silicon microsphere resonances. We show that at a constant input laser wavelength, up to five high-quality-factor optical resonances can be scanned by dynamical electrical tuning of the silicon microsphere cavity.

We have repeatedly and reproducibly switched a GaAs-AlAs planar microcavity operating in the "original" telecom band by exploiting the virtually instantaneous electronic Kerr effect. We achieve repetition times as fast as 300 fs, thereby breaking the terahertz modulation barrier. The rate of the switching in our experiments is only determined by optics and not by material-related relaxation. Our results offer opportunities for fundamental studies of cavity quantum electrodynamics and optical information processing in the subpicosecond time scale.