Search

A new individualized, cost-effective, modified semi-computer-assisted surgery (MSCAS) concept for free fibular flap mandibular reconstruction is reported and compared with the computer-assisted surgery (CAS) concept. Patients were divided into two groups and retrospectively reviewed. In the MSCAS and CAS groups, intraoperative guides were created using computer-aided design with manual fabrication and computer-aided design and manufacturing, respectively. Differences in specific linear and angular parameters on pre- and postoperative computed tomography scans were calculated for morphometric comparison, and clinical parameters and efficiency were analysed. RESULTS: Eighteen patients (CAS, 7; MSCAS, 11), were included. The morphometric comparison showed no significant differences between the groups. The mean deviation of the mandibular ramus length, body length, width 1 and width 2 was 0.82 ± 0.29 mm, 1.84 ± 0.43 mm, 1.89 ± 0.61 mm and 1.45 ± 0.61 mm in the CAS group versus 1.56 ± 0.54 mm, 1.72 ± 0.33 mm, 2.24 ± 0.55 mm and 2.36 ± 0.50 mm in the MSCAS group (p = 0.7804, p = 0.9997, p = 0.9814 and p = 0.6334). The mean deviation of the sagittal, axial and coronal mandibular angles was 1.56 ± 0.48°, 1.93 ± 0.50° and 2.15 ± 0.72° in the CAS group versus 2.19 ± 0.35°, 1.86 ± 0.35° and 1.94 ± 0.55° in the MSCAS group (p = 0.7594, p = 0.9996 and p = 0.9871). There were no significant differences in clinical parameters, efficiency or postoperative complications between the groups. CONCLUSION: The accuracy and operative efficiency of the MSCAS concept are comparable to those of the more expensive CAS concept. Therefore, in times of increasing clinical costs, this concept might be an adequate and inexpensive alternative to preoperative CAS.

In this paper, a sub-wavelength metal-insulator-metal (MIM) waveguide structure is proposed by using a cross-shape rectangular cavity, of which wings are coupled with two rectangular cavities. Firstly, a cross-shape rectangular cavity is placed between the input and output MIM waveguides. According to the mutual interference between bright and dark modes, three Fano resonant peaks are generated. Secondly, by adding a rectangular cavity on the left wing of the cross shaped one, five asymmetric Fano resonance peaks are obtained. Thirdly, six asymmetric Fano resonance peaks are achieved after adding another cavity on the right wing. Finally, the finite-difference-time-domain (FDTD) method and multimode interference coupled-mode theory (MICMT) are used to simulate and analyze the coupled plasmonic resonant system, respectively. The highest sensitivity of 1 000nm/RIU is achieved.

We propose a design of ring-core few-mode fiber (RC-FMF) with the erbium doping at the cladding region near the outer ring edge. After the parameter optimization of the RC-FM-EDF, the intensity overlapping difference between LP01 and LP11 modes can be minimized, leading to a DMG of 0.22 dB for the corresponding ring-core few-mode erbium-doped fiber amplifier (RC-FM-EDFA). Meanwhile, in comparison with uniform core doping design, the saturation input signal power of the RC-FM-EDFA can be enhanced from −17.7 dBm and −16 dBm to −8.5 dBm for LP01 and LP11 modes, respectively. Consequently, our proposed RC-FM-EDFA is characterized by both low differential modal gain (DMG) and the enhanced saturation input signal power. Those new characteristics of the RC-FM-EDFA is ideally desired for future agile networks.

We have theoretically investigated a plasmonic metal-dielectric-metal (MDM) resonant system with water-based dielectric, which allow easy implementation of up to eight Fano resonant channels. The reported plasmonic MDM system is composed by an end-coupled square ring and three reversed L-shape cavities, which can support bright modes or dark modes that will interact with each other to generate sharp and asymmetric Fano profiles in transmission spectra. Finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method and multiple interference coupled mode theory (MICMT) are employed to investigate high performances of those Fano resonances, of which sensitivity and figure of merit are high as ~1813 nm/RIU and ~57.77 dB, respectively. The proposed plasmonic MDM resonant system may promote the development of integrated photonic devices for applications in nanoscale optical sensing and optical communications.

A novel chip-scale metal-dielectric-metal (MDM) refractive-index sensor is proposed and investigated in this paper by using finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method and multimode interference coupled-mode theory (MICMT), respectively. A slot cavity with an embedded tooth-shape cavity and a side-coupled semi-ring cavity are inserted between the input and output MDM waveguides. According to the simulation results, dual ultra-sharp and asymmetrical Fano peaks emerge in transmission spectrum with high performances. Besides, the transmission responses for the primary parameters of this structure are also investigated. To focus on developing integrated photonic devices, the original structure is successfully expanded by two additional semi-ring cavities through an innovative coupling approach, generating up to eight Fano peaks with outstanding characteristics. It is believed that this novel MDM structure will be a guideline for designing the chip-scale plasmonic devices.

In this paper, multiple tunable Fano resonances are firstly achieved in an end-coupled system composed of a rectangular cavity and an inverted U-shaped groove. Through increasing a coupling path, dual Fano resonances are tuned to four Fano peaks. High figure of merits (FOMs) and high refractive index sensitivities are obtained so that the proposed structure is preferred in the highly integrated optical sensing technology. Besides, a new Fano resonance with high performances occurs through cascading a horizontal rectangular cavity. Additionally, the phase shifts and the group delays are also investigated within the Fano resonant windows. These proposed structures are investigated and analyzed by 2D finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method and multiple interference coupled mode theory (MICMT) method, respectively, and the results show enormous potential in highly integrated optical area.

The Home Falls and Accidents Screening Tool (HOME FAST) is a well validated and researched tool designed to identify risk of falls in home environments for older people. The reach of the tool is limited by its availability only in paper-based form. This paper will outline the process involved in making the HOME FAST available online for health professionals, older people and their carers, and its utility in providing links to recommendations to modify home hazards, referring on to appropriate health professionals, generating reports, and communicating results with general practitioners. An online platform is being designed for both the health professional and self-report versions of the HOME FAST which will be available for use on smartphones, tablets and computers. The program will indicate high, moderate and low falls risk. The platform will be tested by groups of health professionals, and older people throughout NSW. Once approved the online platform will be made generally available and demographic data will be collected about the person the HOME FAST is used with and common hazards they face. Older people have been recruited through NSW council community groups and senior’s expos to trial the online HOME FAST and provide feedback through surveys, interviews and focus groups. Health professionals are being recruited through professional networks. We anticipate collection of useful data about the home environmental risks present in the homes of older people as well as the uptake and adoption of the online HOME FAST and its potential to be used routinely in health professional practice. Findings will inform primary falls prevention in the community, how older people view the advice that is given through the on-line resources and how the home environment can be implicated in falls risk for older people living in the community.

Objective: Therapeutic evaluation of applying superficial circumflex iliac artery perforator (SCIP) flap in tongue reconstruction after hemiglossectomy.Methods: We retrospectively collected a total number of 14 patients who received SCIP flap reconstruction for tongue defects at the Fujian Medical University affiliated Union Hospital, between November 2016 and November 2020. We evaluated the clinical features of the flap, analyzed the postoperative functions and esthetic effects after 6 months of the tongue reconstruction.Results: All the SCIP flaps survived successfully after the operation, the recipient site tongue bodies were well reconstructed 6 months after the surgery. Patient speech and swallowing functions were well recovered during the follow-up. The scars in the donor site were concealed with limited numbness.Conclusions: With the advantages of the hidden donor site and aesthetic benefits, the SCIP flap is a reliable option for the reconstruction of the tongue defect after hemiglossectomy.

We employ particle swarm optimization to present a cladding-pumped few-mode erbium-doped fiber amplifier (FM-EDFA) with an extended erbium-doped distribution over the core. By enlarging the radius of the doping region to improve the gain of high-order modes, the differential modal gain (DMG) can be minimized. The proposed FM-EDFA can provide average gain of 21.7 dB and DMG of less than 0.61 dB across the C-band (1530–1565 nm) for seven-mode groups. In addition, the value of the optimal doping radius has been investigated for different numbers of mode groups, which will gradually increase with the number of mode groups. Finally, simulation results indicate acceptable applicability for four- to six-mode groups even using the proposed design.

Objective Our study aims to investigate the effect of arsenic trioxide (As2O3) on proliferation and apoptosis of Tca8113 tongue squamous carcinoma cells. Methods Cell proliferation and the expression of Id-1 mRNA in Tca8113 cells after treatment with different concentrations of As2O3 were detected by MTT and qRT-PCR, respectively. The expression of Id-1, cell proliferation and apoptosis in Id-1 silencing Tca8113 cells were detected by qRT-PCR, Western blot, MTT and flow cytometry, respectively. The pcDNA 3.1-Id-1 overexpression vector was transfected into Tca8113 cells combination with 3 μmol/L As2O3. The detection of cell proliferation, apoptosis and Caspase-3, Bax and Bcl-2 protein expression in transfected Tca8113 cells were performed by MTT, flow cytometry and Western blot assay, respectively. Results As2O3 of different concentration could inhibit the proliferation of Tca8113 cells and IC50 value was 3.004 ± 0.2379 μmol/L. The expression of Id-1 mRNA was down-regulated in Tca8113 cells treated with 3 μmol/L As2O3 for 48 h. The results of qRT-PCR, Western blot, MTT and flow cytometry indicated that the expression level of Id-1 and cell proliferation ability were decreased while the apoptosis rate was increased in Tca8113 cells after transfection of Id-1 siRNA. Overexpression of Id-1 could attenuate the inhibition or promotion of As2O3 on proliferation, apoptosis and Caspase-3, Bax and Bcl-2 protein expression in Tca8113 cells. Conclusion As2O3 could regulate the proliferation and apoptosis of Tca8113 cells by inhibiting the expression of Id-1.

In this paper, we investigate and analyze numerically and theoretically a coupled plasmonic resonant system by using finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method and multimode interference coupled-mode theory (MICMT), respectively. First, by employing an end-coupled cavity associated with two side-coupled cavities, three ultra-sharp and asymmetrical Fano resonant peaks are observed in the transmission spectrum. High refractive index sensitivities and high figure of merits are achieved for all the peaks. In the interest of highly integrated optical devices, up to seven Fano peaks with asymmetrical line shapes are achieved when the composite structure is successfully extended by two additional cavities, whereas most of the reported results are about 1-4 Fano resonances in a single structure. Preferred performances are also obtained for this chip-scale structure. This proposed structure may have great potential applications for on-chip optical sensing and optical communication in highly integrated photonic circuits.

In this paper, multiple Fano resonances based on semi-ring-rectangular composite cavity (SRRCC) structure are numerically investigated and explained by the finite-difference time-domain method and the multiple interference coupled mode theory method. High refractive-index sensitivities and high figure of merits (FOMs) are obtained in SRRCC system, and thus it may be preferred in the chip-scale optical sensing area. Besides, the phase response and the delay time within the Fano resonant windows are also investigated. Additionally, two more Fano resonances with high sensitivities and FOMs emerge through adding a new semi-ring cavity. These structures show widely applications in the sensing area and promote development of on-chip integrated photonics.

We present a rigorous design of few-mode erbium doping fiber (FM-EDF) with an oversized two-layer erbium ion distribution at the central region with effective differential modal gain (DMG) mitigation over the C-band. The proposed erbium doping distribution allows for a similar overlapping integral value among the guided modes, leading to a signal gain equalization over the C-band. When the length of the proposed FM-EDF is 8 m under the cladding pumping power of 2.5 W, our calculated results reveal that four linearly polarized (LP)-modes can achieve an average gain per mode of 24.8 dB and a typical DMG of less than 0.64 dB over the C-band. Meanwhile, we carry out numerical simulations to explore the fabrication tolerance of the oversized two-layer erbium doping distribution with respect to the DMG, indicating stable DMG mitigation over the C-band. We believe that such new manipulation of erbium doping distribution is helpful for the multiple-dimensional multiplexing of fiber optical transmission.

A chip-scale refractive index sensor based on multiple Fano resonances is proposed by using a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) structure, which is constructed by two side-coupled semi-ring cavities and a vertical cavity. The finite-difference time-domain method and multimode interference coupled-mode theory are employed to simulate and analyze the transmission spectra of this structure, respectively. First, dual Fano resonances are generated in the MIM structure with a baffle and a semi-ring cavity. By arranging two additional cavities, the mode interferences successfully induce up to six ultra-sharp and asymmetrical Fano peaks. The calculated sensing performances are available with ultra-high sensitivity of 1405 nm/RIU and figure of merit of 3.62×105. This chip-scale refractive index sensor may have great applications in highly integrated photonic circuits.

Our study aims to investigate the effect of arsenic trioxide (AsCell proliferation and the expression of Id-1 mRNA in Tca8113 cells after treatment with different concentrations of AsAsAs

A semi-annular-rectangular cavity based on metal-insulator-metal (MIM) waveguide is proposed. The results show that there are obvious asymmetric transmission peaks in the transmission spectrum due to Fano resonances. The sharp transmission peak with a transmittance of ~ 0.75 occurs at the wavelength of ~1174.99nm . Then a steep dip arises at its right side, and the transmittance is almost 0 at ~1239.22nm . In addition, high sensitivity and figure of merit are also investigated. The performances of the proposed structure are demonstrated by using FDTD method.

A multi-channel Fano resonant structure is proposed and analyzed based on subwavelength metal–insulator–metal (MIM) waveguides. First, two MIM output ports associated with specific side-coupled cavities are designed to locate at the center and quarter positions of an end-coupled cavity, respectively. Since the interference between the dark and bright modes, dual-channel Fano resonances with asymmetrical lines shapes are obtained at both ports, respectively. High sensitivity and figure of merits are investigated. Besides, phase shifts are also investigated leading to positive and negative group delays available at the Fano peaks and dips, respectively. Likewise, two extra output ports with identical resonant cavities are placed on the other side of the end-coupled cavity. In this case, four-channel Fano resonances with considerable performances are obtained. The proposed structure is analyzed by the coupled mode theory and the finite difference time domain method. It is believed this device can be used as a chip-scale refractive index sensor and optical filter.

In this paper, multiple Fano resonances preferred in the refractive index sensing area are achieved based on sub-wavelength metal-insulator-metal (MIM) waveguides. Two slot cavities, which are placed between or above the MIM waveguides, can support the bright modes or the dark modes, respectively. Owing to the mode interferences, dual Fano resonances with obvious asymmetrical spectral responses are achieved. High sensitivity and high figure of merit are investigated by using the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method. In view of the development of chip-scale integrated photonics, two extra slot cavities are successively added to the structure, and consequently, three and four ultra-sharp Fano peaks with considerable performances are obtained, respectively. It is believed that this proposed structure can find important applications in the on-chip optical sensing and optical communication areas.

In this paper, a multichannel refractive index sensor based on a subwavelength metal–insulator–metal (MIM) waveguide coupled with tangent-ring resonators is proposed. When two tangent-ring resonators were placed above the MIM waveguide, Fano resonance with asymmetrical line shape appeared in the transmission spectrum due to the interference between the light–dark resonant modes. The sensitivity and figure of merit were as high as 880 nm/RIU and 964, respectively. Through adding more tangent-ring resonators, multiple Fano resonances with ultrasharp peaks/dips were achieved in the wavelength range of 800–2000 nm. Besides, negative group delays were also observed in the Fano resonant dips. Two-dimensional finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method was used to simulate and analyze the performances of the proposed structures. These kinds of multiring structures can find important applications in the on-chip optical sensing and optical communication areas.

A semiannular rectangular composite cavity structure based on metal-insulator-metal waveguides is proposed. By adding a rectangular cavity at a suitable position around the semiannular cavity (SAC), a single analogous plasmonic-induced absorption (PIA) effect is achieved at the expected mode of the SAC structure. After adding two rectangular cavities together in the SAC system, dual analogous PIA effects for both modes can be realized simultaneously. In addition, the phase response is also studied, and abnormal dispersions are achieved in the PIA windows, which can be used in the integrated optics for fast/slow light. The performances of the proposed two-dimensional structure are analyzed and studied by the coupled-mode theory and the finite-difference time-domain method, respectively.

In this paper, an end-coupled hexagonal resonator inserted with dual parallel metallic blocks is proposed based on subwavelength metal-insulator-metal waveguides. When the blocks are vertically inserted into the resonator, more transmission channels (three peaks) with symmetrical spectral shapes than that (one peak) of the perfect hexagonal resonator are achieved in the same wavelength range. The transmission peaks all have high transmittances; thus, the structure can be performed as an on-chip optical filter. When the blocks are horizontally distributed in the resonator, the antinode and node of the magnetic field for the expected mode will arise inside and outside the blocks, leading to the mode interactions. Subsequently, Fano resonance with an asymmetrical peak is achieved in the structure. High index sensitivity and high figure of merit, which are significant factors for optical sensors, are investigated by using the finite-difference time-domain method. The proposed structure can highly support the development of integrated photonics and find wide applications in the on-chip optical filtering and sensing areas.

Accurate prediction of laminar-to-turbulent transition in boundary-layer flows is a key issue in fluid dynamics and design of aerospace vehicles. Existing transition prediction methods vary in their approaches from purely empirical transition criteria to direct numerical simulation (DNS). The most significant problem of the eN method exists in the determination of N factor, while, the DNS is too costly for some problems. The objective of present study is to develop an approach base on parabolized stability equations (PSE) for exactly predicting laminar-turbulent transition. The study is focused on natural transition of flow around NACA0012. The effects of on-flow characteristics and the properties of instability waves are investigated. A good agreement is found, comparing with experiments and numerical simulations. The result highlights the reliability and accuracy of PSE approach.Copyright © 2012 by ASME

The interlaminar deformation behaviors of thermoplastic AS4/PEEK composite laminates subjected to static tensile loading are investigated by means of microscopic moiré interferometry with high spatial resolution. The fully threedimensional orthotropic elastic-plastic analysis of interlaminar deformation for the thermoplastic laminates is developed in this paper, and used to simulate the stress-strain curves of tensile experiment for its angle-ply laminates. Under uniaxial tensile loading, the 3D orthotropic elastic-plastic FE analysis and microscopic moiré interferometry of interlaminar deformations are carried out for the [±25]S4 laminates. The quantitative local-filed experimental results of interlaminar shear strain and displacements at freeedge surface of the laminate are compared with corresponding numerical results of the orthotropic elastic-plastic FE model. It is indicated that the numerical tensile stressstrain curves of angle-ply laminates computed with 3D orthotropic elastic-plastic model are agree with experimental results. The numerical interlaminar displacement U and shear strain γxz are also consistent with the experimental results obtained by moiré interferometry. It is expected the elastic-plastic interlaminar stresses and deformations analysis for the optimal design and application of AS4/PEEK laminates and its structures.