Electrochemically Switchable Multimode Strong Coupling in Plasmonic Nanocavities.

The strong-coupling interaction between quantum emitters and cavities provides the archetypical platform for fundamental quantum electrodynamics. Here we show that methylene blue (MB) molecules interact coherently with subwavelength plasmonic nanocavity modes at room temperature. Experimental results show that the strong coupling can be switched on and off reversibly when MB molecules undergo redox reactions which transform them to leuco-methylene blue molecules. In simulations we demonstrate the strong coupling between the second excited plasmonic cavity mode and resonant emitters. However, we also show that other detuned modes simultaneously couple efficiently to the molecular transitions, creating unusual cascades of mode spectral shifts and polariton formation. This is possible due to the relatively large plasmonic particle size resulting in reduced mode splittings. The results open significant potential for device applications utilizing active control of strong coupling.

Simulation and an experimental study on the optical performance of a Wolter-I focusing mirror based on a 3D ray tracing algorithm.

The nested Wolter-I type focusing mirror is widely used in the field of X-ray astronomy. The thin-shell mirrors produced by the electroforming replication method will introduce various shape errors during the fabricating and assembling process. This study introduces a non-analytical 3D geometrical ray tracing algorithm capable of predicting optical performance for large mirror deformations. The algorithm's implementation involves error reconstruction, light source and ray simulation, and optical performance calculation. Experimental and simulation validation underscores the algorithm's precision and effectiveness. The results also indicate that edge deformation can seriously affect imaging contrast which is generally considered to be determined only by surface scattering. Applying the 3D ray tracing algorithm, a range of low-frequency fabrication and assembly errors are simulated, such as absolute radius, taper, roundness, edge effects, mirror posture, and hoisting deformation errors, and their effects on imaging quality are analyzed and discussed.

Influence on imaging performance and evaluation of Wolter-I type mandrel fabrication errors.

The electroforming replication process has been widely used in the fabrication of nested x-ray telescopes. The imaging performance of the mirrors is determined largely by the shape accuracy of the mandrels. To predict the imaging performance of mirrors replicated from mandrels with different parameter and fabrication errors, a special Monte Carlo ray tracing model is established and verified by experiments. Then, based on ray tracing numerical calculation, the influence of each major fabrication error is discussed. Furthermore, according to the results obtained by the simulation of slope error, a method for evaluating the relationship between the mandrel full-band errors and imaging quality is proposed and then verified by experiments. The results show that the power spectral density (PSD) reference given by the method can well reflect the quality of the mandrels, and guide the fabrication process.

Mechanical force regulates root resorption in rats through RANKL and OPG.

BACKGROUND: External root resorption is one of common complications of orthodontic treatment, while internal root resorption is rarely observed, and the difference between pulp and periodontal tissues during orthodontic treatment is still unknown. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of orthodontic forces on histological and cellular changes of the dental pulp and periodontal tissues. METHODS: Orthodontic tooth movement model was established in Forty-eight adult male Wistar rats. The distance of orthodontic tooth movement was quantitatively analyzed. The histological changes of pulp and periodontal tissues were performed by hematoxylin-eosin staining, tartrate-resistant acid phosphate staining was used to analyze the changes of osteoclast number, immunohistochemistry analysis and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction were used to examine the receptor of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL) and osteoprotegerin (OPG) expression. The width of tertiary dentine was quantitatively analyzed. Tartrate-resistant acid phosphate staining and the erosion area of osteo assay surface plate was used to evaluate osteoclast activity. RESULTS: The orthodontic tooth movement distance increased in a force dependent manner, and reached the peak value when orthodontic force is 60 g. Heavy orthodontic force increased the RANKL expression of periodontal ligament srem cells (PDLSCs) which further activated osteoclasts and resulted in external root resorption, while the RANKL expression of dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) was relatively low to activate osteoclasts and result in internal root resorption, and the dental pulp tend to form tertiary dentine under orthodontic force stimulation. CONCLUSIONS: Heavy orthodontic forces activated osteoclasts and triggered external root resorption by upregulating RANKL expression in rat periodontal tissues, while there was no significant change of RANKL expression in dental pulp tissue under heavy orthodontic forces, which prevented osteoclast activation and internal root resorption.

Stacking of micro-aperture arrays: A new strategy to construct Söller collimator for x rays.

A stacking strategy to construct a light-weight collimator is proposed in this paper by which micro-aperture arrays can be assembled as a novel Söller collimator. Compared to Söller collimators made from conventional methods, our strategy enabled a substantial mass reduction up to 67% for a field of view of 2°. 21 micro-aperture arrays were fabricated by fiber laser drilling, and the Söller collimator was thereafter afforded by stacking and aligning the arrays. The processing consistency of the arrays and the alignment of the assembled collimator were examined by optical microscopy and x-ray computer tomography. Collimation tests were conducted to evaluate the feasibility of the stacking strategy. Based on this new strategy, higher aspect ratios can be fulfilled, which also allows for a significant mass reduction compared to the conventional Söller collimator.

Effectiveness of post-exposure prophylaxis during varicella outbreaks among primary and middle school students in Shanghai: An analysis of three-year surveillance data.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effectiveness of post-exposure prophylaxis conducted during varicella outbreaks among students in Shanghai. METHODS: Surveillance data were collected from September 1, 2013 to December 31, 2016 involving 3524 susceptible students in 109 primary and middle school classes where emergency vaccinations (EVs) had been administered. Students were divided into two groups according to their prior vaccination (PV) varicella vaccine status. A secondary attack rate was used to compare EV and non-EV groups using a chi-squared test. Stratification analyses were performed, adjusting for the EV administration date, the vaccination coverage rate, and the number of cases prior to the EV. RESULTS: The effectiveness rate was 92.2% (95% confidence interval (CI): 37.1-99.0%) when EV was applied within 3 days following the outbreak onset date, and 95.2% (95% CI: 79.9-98.8%) when vaccination coverage was ≥80% among students with PV. When students with PV received an EV for varicella within 3 days, the effectiveness rate was 100%. CONCLUSIONS: EV showed high protective effectiveness for varicella during outbreaks, especially if administered within 3 days of an outbreak and in conjunction with a high coverage rate.

Molecular epidemiology of measles virus infection in Shanghai in 2000-2012: the first appearance of genotype D8.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify measles virus in Shanghai in 2012 and study the genotype trend of measles virus epidemic strains during 2000-2012. METHODS: Nose and throat swab specimens were collected from 34 suspected measles cases in Shanghai. Measles virus was isolated using Vero-SLAM cells (African green monkey kidney cells/lymphoid signal activating factor-transfected African green monkey kidney cells). The 450 bp of C terminus of the N gene and the entire hemagglutinin gene sequence was amplified using RT-PCR. Phylogenetic analysis was performed by comparing the seven measles strains in Shanghai with the reference strains for H1a, H1b and D8 genotypes, as well as the Chinese measles virus vaccine strain. RESULTS: Seven measles viruses strains were isolated from the 34 throat swap specimens. Six strains were genotype H1a, which is the predominant strain in China and one strain was genotype D8, which is the first imported strain since 2000. All these seven strains maintained most of the glycosylation sites except subtype H1a, which lost one glycosylation site. CONCLUSION: Since 2000, measles virus strains in Shanghai are consistent with measles virus from other provinces in China with H1a being the predominant genotype. This study is also the first report of genotype D8 strain in Shanghai. All strains maintained their glycosylation sites except H1a that lost one glycosylation site. These strains could still be neutralized by the Chinese measles vaccine. We suggest that Shanghai Center for Disease Control laboratories should strengthen their approaches to monitor measles cases to prevent further spread of imported strains.

[Genetic characterization of the isolates of measles viruses in Hongkou district of Shanghai, China in 2012].

OBJECTIVE: To ascertain the genotype of measles viruses isolated in 2012 and genetic characterization of measles viruses in Hongkou district of Shanghai during 2000-2012. METHODS: Measles virus was isolated from throat swab specimens collected from suspected measles cases and 450 bp fragment of C terminus on nucleoprotein (N) gene was amplified by RT-PCR. Sequence analysis was conducted to ascertain the genotype and to compare the difference of nucleotide with other measles virus strain announced by GenBank during 2000-2012. Measles virus genotype was analyzed. Epidemiological investigation was conducted. RESULTS: Phylogenetic analysis showed that 7 measles virus samples were isolated from 34 throat swab specimens with 6 of them belonged to H1 genotype, 1 belonged to D8 genotype of H1 genotype. H1a appeared the main part of Shanghai measles virus. Epidemiological survey showed that D8 was an imported case, also the first case detected since 2000. CONCLUSION: The genotype distribution of measles virus in Hongkou was identified the same as elsewhere in Shanghai. D8 was an imported case, detected for the first time since 2000. The results suggested that viral gene sequencing and genotyping should be regularly conducted at the measles laboratories in Shanghai to strengthen the networking monitoring program of the disease.

[Genetic characterization analysis on the first imported measles virus of genotype D8 in Chinese mainland].

This study analyzed the genetic characterization on first imported measles virus of genotype D8 in Chinese mainland. Serums were collected from the suspicious MV patients to detect IgM antibody in ELISA. Throat swabs were cultured in Vero/SLAM cell line to get measles virus isolates. Part of the nucleotide sequence of the 3' terminus of nucleoprotein (N) gene of these isolates were amplified by RT-PCR, and the amplicons were directly sequenced. The phylogenetic analysis was based on the nucleotide sequence about 456 base pairs of the 3' terminus of nucleoprotein (N) gene. Results showed that it reported 1 105 suspicious measles cases in shanghai, 2012, including 590 confirmed cases and 2 clinical case. The reported morbidity was 2.52 per one hundred thousand. 247 measles viruses were isolated from 984 throat swabs specimen. Most of them belonged to sub-genotype H1a except Shanghai12-239 was genotype D8. The homology of nucleotide and amino acid sequences were 97.8% and 98.6% respectively between Shanghai12-239 and WHO reference strain (Manchester. UNK30.94(D8)AF280803). Those were 89.6%-94.5% and 88.7%-95.3% between Shanghai12-239 and WHO reference strains of other genotypes.

Molecular epidemiology of measles virus infection in Shanghai in 2000–2012: the first appearance of genotype D8

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify measles virus in Shanghai in 2012 and study the genotype trend of measles virus epidemic strains during 2000–2012. Methods: Nose and throat swab specimens were collected from 34 suspected measles cases in Shanghai. Measles virus was isolated using Vero-SLAM cells (African green monkey kidney cells/lymphoid signal activating factor-transfected African green monkey kidney cells). The 450 bp of C terminus of the N gene and the entire hemagglutinin gene sequence was amplified using RT-PCR. Phylogenetic analysis was performed by comparing the seven measles strains in Shanghai with the reference strains for H1a, H1b and D8 genotypes, as well as the Chinese measles virus vaccine strain. Results: Seven measles viruses strains were isolated from the 34 throat swap specimens. Six strains were genotype H1a, which is the predominant strain in China and one strain was genotype D8, which is the first imported strain since 2000. All these seven strains maintained most of the glycosylation sites except subtype H1a, which lost one glycosylation site. Conclusion: Since 2000, measles virus strains in Shanghai are consistent with measles virus from other provinces in China with H1a being the predominant genotype. This study is also the first report of genotype D8 strain in Shanghai. All strains maintained their glycosylation sites except H1a that lost one glycosylation site. These strains could still be neutralized by the Chinese measles vaccine. We suggest that Shanghai Center for Disease Control laboratories should strengthen their approaches to monitor measles cases to prevent further spread of imported strains. .

[Study on the quality of life among floating population in a community of Shanghai].

OBJECTIVE: To discover the current condition of the floating population's quality of life (QOL) in a community of Shanghai and find out the possible influencing factors. METHODS: 480 people identified as 'floating', were chosen by systematic sampling method, whose QOL was evaluated by WHOQOL-BREF (Chinese Version). A multiple linear regression model was used to analyze the relationship between the factors and the scores of the four domains. RESULTS: The physical and psychological scores of the floating population were 14.09 +/- 2.09 and 11.28 +/- 2.18 which were lower than the average levels of the Chinese population which were 15.8 +/- 2.9 and 14.3 +/- 2.5. Women showed higher score in the social relationship domain than men (P = 0.017). With the increase of age, the scores of physical and psychological domain were descending (P(Phys.) = 0.030, P(Phych.) = 0.023). The score in every domain was rising when the appetite was better or the family conflicts had a lighter impact on life (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The QOL of the young females was better than other groups. Considering the whole QOL of the floating population, their physical and psychological demands should be highly concerned.