Platelet count on preoperative day 1 predicts the long-term responses to laparoscopic splenectomy for Chinese patients with medically refractory idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic splenectomy (LS) is regarded as a second-line treatment for medically refractory idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), but the predictive factors for the long-term postoperative responses to ITP are still a matter of debate. We aimed to investigate the factors that can predict the long-term response after LS for Chinese patients with medically refractory ITP. METHODS: From January 2011 to September 2016, 78 Chinese patients with ITP who underwent LS were retrospectively analyzed. Twelve parameters were analyzed by univariate and multivariate methods. RESULTS: Univariate analysis revealed that platelet count on preoperative day (PRD) 1 (P < 0.001) and operative time (P = 0.011) were significantly associated with long-term response of ITP after LS. Multivariate analysis revealed that platelet count on PRD 1 was a predictive factor of long-term response (P < 0.001). Furthermore, a long-term, stable response of platelet count on PRD 1 of > 30.0 × 109/L was easier to achieve than a platelet count on PRD 1 ≤ 30.0 × 109/L after LS for ITP. CONCLUSIONS: LS is a valuable and effective option in the treatment of medically refractory ITP. Platelet count on PRD 1 is an independent predicting factor for long-term response after LS for Chinese patients with ITP.

Hybrid III-V/silicon laser with laterally coupled Bragg grating.

In this paper, we demonstrate a compact electrically pumped distributed-feedback hybrid III-V/silicon laser with laterally coupled Bragg grating for the first time to the best of our knowledge. The hybrid laser structure consists of AlGaInAs/InP multi-quantum-well gain layers on top of a laterally corrugated silicon waveguide patterned on a silicon on insulator (SOI) substrate. A pair of surface couplers is integrated at the two ends of the silicon waveguide for the optical coupling and characterization of the ouput light. Single wavelength emission of ~1.55µm with a side-mode-suppression- ratio larger than 20dB and low threshold current density of 1.54kA/cm(2) were achieved for the device under pulsed operation at 20 °C.

Spectral engineering by flexible tunings of optical Tamm states and Fabry-Perot cavity resonance.

We present a design for spectral engineering in a metal dual distributed Bragg reflector (DBR)-based structure. Optical Tamm states and Fabry-Perot cavity mode, dual windows for light-matter interaction enhancement, can be excited simultaneously and tuned flexibly, including their respective bandwidth and resonant wavelength, due to the variable reflection phase from the outer DBR's internal surface. The design can find applications in solar cells for light trappings. Via calculations of overall absorptivity, the proposed simpler dual-states-based scheme is demonstrated to be almost as effective as the coherent-light-trapping scheme, owing to the dual-states-induced broader-band absorption enhancement.

Complex three-dimensional polymer-metal core-shell structures towards emission control.

We report the fabrication of three-dimensional periodic metal nickel nanostructures achieved by the combination of femtosecond laser-induced two-photon polymerization and electroless plating technology. We can control the deposition speed of 10 nm per second by adjusting the reaction time. The thermal stability is good under 500 °C for the three-dimensional graphite-lattice polymer structure with 200 nm nickel film. Optical reflectivity and thermal emission measurements under 550 °C showed that the fabricated metallic structure was thermally excited and emitted light at λ = 4.50, 4.95 µm. The emission peak wavelengths agree with the absorption peaks. These data demonstrate that creating metallic photonic crystals by incorporation of metals to laser-fabricated templates is a simple and cost-efficient method. The emitters can work at such low temperatures, which is more important for realistic operation in applications.

Omnidirectional emission from top-emitting organic light-emitting devices with microstructured cavity.

We demonstrate optimized viewing-angle characteristics from top-emitting organic light-emitting devices by integrating a periodic microstructure into the cavity. A holographic lithography technique combined with filling process of the groove by spin coating of a polymer film has been employed to enable its periodically and gradually changed cavity length and suppress the viewing-angle dependence of the peak emission wavelength and intensity. The theoretical and experimental results support that the proposed microstructured cavity can resolve the angular-dependence effect in a very simple and effective way, and a desired omnidirectional emission has been obtained.

Nanoporous TiO2/polyion thin-film-coated long-period grating sensors for the direct measurement of low-molecular-weight analytes.

We present novel nanoporous TiO(2)/polyion thin-film-coated long-period fiber grating (LPFG) sensors for the direct measurement of low-molecular-weight chemicals by monitoring the resonance wavelength shift. The hybrid overlay films are prepared by a simple layer-by-layer deposition approach, which is mainly based on the electrostatic interaction of TiO(2) nanoparticles and polyions. By the alternate immersion of LPFG into dispersions of TiO(2) nanoparticles and polyions, respectively, the so-formed TiO(2)/polyion thin film exhibits a unique nanoporous internal structure and has a relative higher refractive index than LPFG cladding. In particular, the porosity of the thin film reduces the diffusion coefficient and enhances the permeability retention of low-molecular-weight analytes within the porous film. The increases in the refractive index of the LPFG overlay results in a distinguished modulation of the resonance wavelength. Therefore, the detection sensitivity of LPFG sensors has been greatly improved, according to theoretical simulation. After the structure of the TiO(2)/polyion thin film was optimized, glucose solutions as an example with a low concentration of 10(-7) M was easily detected and monitored at room temperature.

Grating amplitude effect on electroluminescence enhancement of corrugated organic light-emitting devices.

We report grating amplitude dependence of electroluminescence (EL) in organic light-emitting devices with one-dimensional corrugated structure. Our proposed devices can emit light from both the top silver and bottom quartz side, and both exhibit amplitude-dependence EL enhancement. The effect of grating amplitude on the EL intensity has been studied experimentally and numerically to find out the optimal grating amplitude for the greatest EL enhancement. We deduce from the numerical simulations and experimental results that surface plasmon-polariton modes and waveguide modes are coupled out of the corrugated devices efficiently at the optimal amplitude; therefore, higher efficiency of light extraction could be realized.

Electrochemiluminescence of palmatine being oxidized by electrogenerated hydroxyl radical and its analytical application.

A strong electrochemiluminescence (ECL) of palmatine in NaOH medium was observed at a vaseline-impregnated graphite anode. The ECL production could be described as follows: hydroxyl radical (OH(•)) was generated via the oxidation of hydroxyl group (OH(-)) in NaOH medium, and the formed OH(•) subsequently oxidized palmatine base converted from palmatine in NaOH medium to the excited state oxypalmatine (oxypalmatine*). As the oxypalmatine* went back to its ground state, a stronger chemiluminescence was produced. Based on the ECL of palmatine, an ECL method for the determination of palmatine was proposed. An ECL signal of palmatine in NaOH solution was obtained by applying direct current of 15 mA to the vaseline-impregnated graphite anode. The ECL intensity was rectilinear with palmatine concentration in the range of 8.0 × 10(-7) to 2.0 × 10(-5) mol l(-1) and the limit of detection (signal-to-noise = 3) was 3 × 10(-7) mol l(-1) . The proposed method was applied to the determination of palmatine in pharmaceutical preparations.

Cathodic electrochemiluminescence of the peroxydisulphate-ciprofloxacin system and its analytical applications.

The cathodic electrochemiluminescence (ECL) of peroxydisulphate (S(2)O(8)(2-))-ciprofloxacin (CPF) system at a wax-impregnated graphite electrode was studied. When CPF was absent, S(2)O(8)(2-) was electrochemically reduced to sulphate free radical (SO(4)(•-)), and dissolved oxygen absorbed on the electrode surface was reduced to protonated superoxide anion radical (HO(2)(•)). The HO(2)(•) was oxidized by SO(4)(•-) to produce molecular oxygen in both singlet and triplet states. Some of the singlet molecular oxygen ((1)O(2)) further combined through collision to be an energy-rich precursor singlet molecular oxygen pair ((1)O(2))(2). A weak ECL was produced when (1)O(2) or ((1)O(2))(2) was converted to ground-state molecular oxygen ((3)O(2)). When CPF was present, a stronger ECL was produced, which originated from two emitting species. The main emitting species was excited state CPF (CPF*), which was produced by accepting energy from ((1)O(2))(2). The other emitting species was excited singlet molecular oxygen pair [((1)O(2))(2)*], which originated from the chemical oxidation of CPF by SO(4)(•-) and dissolved oxygen. Based on the stronger ECL phenomenon, an ECL method for the determination of either S(2)O(8)(2-) or CPF was proposed. The proposed ECL method has been applied to the determination of CPF in pharmaceutical preparations.

Suspended optical fiber-to-waveguide mode size converter for silicon photonics.

In this paper, an efficient and novel optical fiber-to-waveguide mode size converter for Si Photonics devices with sub-micron waveguides is developed on the SOI platform. This optical converter is composed of a suspended SiO(2) waveguide and overlapped Si nano-tapers located in the center of suspended SiO(2) waveguide. Laterally connected SiO(2) beams provide structural support for the suspended SiO(2) waveguide. The optical input signal from the optical fiber is launched into the suspended SiO(2) waveguide, and then coupled into the Si nano-taper. The measured coupling loss using a lensed fiber with 5 microm spot diameter is 1.7 ~2.0 dB/facet for TE mode and 2.0 ~2.4 dB/facet for TM mode in the wavelength range of 1520 ~1600 nm. When a cleaved fiber with 9.2microm spot diameter is used, the coupling losses for both TE and TM modes are less than 4.0 dB/facet at 1550 nm. For the case of lensed fiber, the alignment tolerances for both TE and TM modes are about +/- 1.7 microm for 1 dB excess loss in both X and Y axes. The alignment tolerances for both modes of TE and TM are relaxed, exceeding +/- 2.5 microm for 1 dB excess loss in both X and Y axes when a cleaved fiber is used.

WDM multi-channel silicon photonic receiver with 320 Gbps data transmission capability.

A high performance monolithically integrated WDM receiver is fabricated on the SOI platform, with key components comprising a 1 x 32 Si-based AWG and an array of high speed waveguided Ge-on-Si photodetectors. The optical channel spacing is 200 GHz. This configuration was used to demonstrate 32-channel operation in the L-band, where it is particularly challenging for silicon photonics due to the low absorption coefficient of Ge at L-band wavelengths. Each channel is capable of operating at a data rate of at least 10 Gbps, resulting in an aggregate data rate of 320 Gbps. At a BER of 1 x 10(-11), the WDM receiver showed an optical input sensitivity between -16 dBm and -19 dBm.

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering substrates of high-density and high-homogeneity hot spots by magneto-metal nanoprobe assembling.

Binary naoparticles composed of a superparamagnetic Fe(3)O(4) core and an Au nanoshell were prepared via a high-temperature hydrolysis reaction followed by seed-mediated growth. The nanoprobes render simultaneous dual functions of both fast magnetic response and local surface plasmon resonance. Using these nanoprobes, analyte molecules can be easily biologically captured, magnetically concentrated, and analyzed by surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). Particularly, the complex particles were assembled under magnetic force direction into a SERS substrate. It was found to possess both a high enhancement factor (10(6)) and high homogeneity of "hot spot" distribution (fluctuation less than 20% for a 1 µm(2) area) with 4-aminothiophenol as the analyte.

High-Efficiency Fabrication of Geometric Phase Elements by Femtosecond-Laser Direct Writing.

The nanoresolution of geometric phase elements for visible wavelengths calls for a flexible technology with high throughout and free from vacuum. In this article, we propose a high-efficiency and simple manufacturing method for the fabrication of geometric phase elements with femtosecond-laser direct writing (FsLDW) and thermal annealing by combining the advantages of high-efficiency processing and thermal smoothing effect. By using a femtosecond laser at a wavelength of 343 nm and a circular polarization, free-form nanogratings with a period of 300 nm and 170-nm-wide grooves were obtained in 50 s by laser direct ablation at a speed of 5 mm/s in a non-vacuum environment. After fine-tuning through a hot-annealing process, the surface morphology of the geometric phase element was clearly improved. With this technology, we fabricated blazed gratings, metasurface lens, vortex Q-plates and "M" holograms and confirmed the design performance by analyzing their phases at the wavelength of 808 nm. The efficiency and capabilities of our proposed method can pave the possible way to fabricate geometric phase elements with essentially low loss, high-temperature resistance, high phase gradients and novel polarization functionality for potentially wide applications.

Nickel(II)-baicalein complex modified multiwall carbon nanotube paste electrode and its electrocatalytic oxidation toward glycine.

A modified electrode, nickel(II)-baicalein complex modified multiwall carbon nanotube paste electrode (Ni(II)-BA-MWCNT-PE), has been fabricated by electrodepositing Ni(II)-BA complex on the surface of MWCNT-PE in alkaline solution. The Ni(II)-BA-MWCNT-PE exhibits the characteristic of improved reversibility and enhanced current responses of the Ni(III)/Ni(II) couple compared with Ni(II)-BA-carbon paste electrode (CPE). It also shows better electrocatalytic activity toward the oxidation of glycine than Ni(II)-MWCNT-PE. Kinetic parameters such as the electron transfer coefficient alpha, rate constant k(s) of the electrode reaction, the diffusion coefficient D of glycine, and the catalytic rate constant k(cat) of the catalytic reaction are determined. Moreover, the catalytic currents present linear dependence on the concentration of glycine from 20 microM to 1.0 mM by amperometry. The detection limit and sensitivity are 9.2 microM and 3.92 microA mM(-1), respectively. The modified electrode for glycine determination is of the property of simple preparation, fast response, and good stability.

Catalytic action of copper (II) ion on electrochemical oxidation of metformine and voltammetric determination of metformine in pharmaceuticals.

The catalytic effect of Cu(II) ion toward the oxidation of metformine (MET) have been observed in NH(3).H(2)O-NH(4)Cl buffer (pH 8.9; 0.1M). The oxidation peak current of imino-group in guanidino-group of MET at 0.95 V at carbon paste electrode (C/PE) in the presence of 2.0 x 10(-4)M Cu(II) ion was increased by about 20 times and the peak potential was unchanged compared with that in the absence of Cu(II) ion. Moreover, the oxidation peak current of MET at multiwalled carbon nanotube paste electrode (MWCNT/PE) was further increased by about three times compared with that at C/PE in the same medium. Based on the catalytic oxidation peak of MET by Cu(II) ion at MWCNT/PE, a voltammetric method for the determination of MET is developed. The peak current of the catalytic oxidation peak was proportional to MET concentration in the range of 2.0 x 10(-7) to 1.0 x 10(-5)M. The detection limit was 6.7 x 10(-8)M.

Electrochemiluminescence from successive electro- and chemo-oxidation of rifampicin and its application to the determination of rifampicin in pharmaceutical preparations and human urine.

A novel electrochemiluminescence (ECL) type was proposed based on successive electro- and chemo-oxidation of oxidable analyte, which was different from both annihilation and coreactant ECL types in mechanism. Rifampicin was used as a model compound. No any chemiluminescence (CL) was produced by either electrochemical oxidation or chemical oxidation of rifampicin in KH(2)PO(4)--Na(2)B(4)O(7) (pH 6.6) buffer-dodecyl trimethyl ammonium chloride (DTAC) solution. However, an ECL was observed by electrochemical oxidization of rifampicin in the same solution in the presence of oxidant such as dissolved oxygen, activated oxygen and potassium peroxydisulfate (K(2)S(2)O(8)). The ECL was attributed to electrochemical oxidation of rifampicin to form semiquinone free radical, and then subsequently chemical oxidation of the formed radical by oxidant to form excited state rifampicin quinone. The proposed ECL type introduced additional advantages such as high selectivity, simple and convenient operation, and effective avoidance of side reaction that often took place in homogenous CL reaction, and will open a novel application field. In addition, with the ECL in the presence of K(2)S(2)O(8) as oxidant, a flow injection ECL method for the determination of rifampicin was proposed. The ECL intensity was linear with rifampicin concentration in the range of 1.0 x 10(-7) to 4.0 x 10(-5) mol l(-1) and the limit of detection (s/n=3) was 3.9 x 10(-8) mol l(-1). The proposed method was applied to the determination of rifampicin in pharmaceutical preparations and human urine.

[Tri-ortho-cresyl phosphate induced oligodendrocyte vacuolation and process degeneration in cultured hen oligodendrocytes].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether tri-ortho-cresyl phosphate (TOCP) and organophosphate compound that could produce organophosphate-induced delayed neuropathy (OPIDN) in hen and other sensitive species, directly affect oligodendrocytes, the myelin-forming cell of the central nervous system. METHODS: This was achieved by a combination of measurements of cell viability (MTT) cell pathological observation in the presence and absence of the compound cultured hen brain oligodendrocytes were prepared and treated with various concentrations of TOCP. RESULTS: In a time-course experiment TOCP showed a cytotoxic effect to oligodendrocytes and led to the oligodendrocyte processes disintegrated and membranous blebs, cytoplasmic vacuolation following exposure time of 24 h or longer, it showed a dose-depended and time-depended manner cytotoxic effect to oligodendrocytes at dose levels of 0.5 approximately 1.5 microg/ml (1.35 approximately 4.05 mol/L) concentrations of TOCP for 24 - 72 h exposure. MTT experiment indicated that TOCP inhibited cell viability by dose-depended manner at dose levels of 0.5 approximately 1.5 microg/ml (1.35 approximately 4.05 mol/L) concentrations of TOCP for an 24 h exposure. CONCLUSIONS: TOCP is cytotoxic to oligodendrocytes and leads to the oligodendrocyte processes disintegrated and membranous blebs, vacuolar degeneration, which suggests that this oligodendrocyte degeneration may involve in the pathogenesis mechanism for OPIDN.

[Inclusion of coenzyme Q10 with beta-cyclodextrin studied by polarography].

AIM: To investigate the inclusion of coenzyme Q10 with beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD). METHODS: The inclusion of the electroactive guest molecule coenzyme Q10 with the host molecule beta-CD was studied by the polarography. The change of the reduction peak current of the inclusion complex with time and the change of the peak potential of the inclusion complex with beta-CD concentration were examined. In order to study the photostability, the change of the reduction peak current of both coenzyme Q10 and coenzyme Q10-beta-CD inclusion complex with time were also examined under light, separately. RESULTS: In 0.1 mol x L(-1) HAc/NaAc (pH 4.7) buffer-ethanol/water (60:40) medium, coenzyme Q10 was included with p-CD to form an 1:1 inclusion complex. The formation constant Kf was 1.26 x 10(4) L x mol(-1) the apparent formation rate constant was 6.64 x 10(-2) min(-1). The photodegradation apparent rate constant of coenzyme Q10 as 7.77 x 10(-3) min(-1) and that of the coenzyme Q10-beta-CD inclusion complex was 3.38 x 10(-3) min(-1). CONCLUSION: The inclusion of coenzyme Q10 with beta-CD took place. The stability of coenzyme Q10 to lights was improved in a certain degree due to the formation of the inclusion complex.

[Induction of growth-associated protein-43 expression in airway afferent nerves of guinea pigs by allergic airway inflammation].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the mechanisms underlying sensitization of airway sensory nerves induced by allergic airway inflammation. METHODS: Thirty-nine guinea pigs were divided randomly into three groups including group A (saline sensitized/challenged guinea pigs, n = 9), group B [ovalbumin (OVA) sensitized/saline challenged guinea pigs, n = 9], group C (OVA sensitized/challenged guinea pigs, n = 21). In group C, animals were subdivided into three groups with group C1 (treated by one OVA challenge, n = 6), group C2 (treated by 3 consecutive days OVA challenges, n = 6), group C3 (treated by 5 consecutive days OVA challenges, n = 9). The guinea pigs were sensitized by intraperitoneal injection of 0.5 ml saline (group A) or 0.5 ml 10% OVA (group B and C) on day 0 and challenged via the airway with saline (group A and B) or 1% OVA (group C) for 30 min on days 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14 by ultrasonic nebulization. The expression patterns of growth-associated protein-43 (GAP-43) in the airway nerve endings, the nodose and jugular ganglion neurons and the distribution relationships of GAP-43 with substance P (SP) and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) receptor components c-RET in the nodose and jugular ganglion neurons in guinea pig after allergic airway inflammation were studied using immunofluorescence double-labeling with laser confocal scanning microscopy, and Western blot. RESULTS: By morphological study, after 2 hours following 5 consecutive days OVA challenge, GAP-43 immunoreactivity (IR) positive nerve endings were observed in the large bronchi, distributing network-like in the submucosa, a few nerve endings extending between the epithelia in the guinea pig airways. A substantial amount of GAP-43 IR neurons were found in the nodose and jugular ganglion, and GAP-43 IR co-localized with SP were predominantly in the nodose ganglion neurons, but in the jugular ganglion neurons, GAP-43 IR and c-RET IR were co-localized predominantly. By Western blot, GAP-43 protein levels (A) were 0.38 +/- 0.04, 0.41 +/- 0.03, 0.49 +/- 0.05, 0.79 +/- 0.08, 0.76 +/- 0.04 in group A, B, C1, C2, C3 respectively, after 2 hours following 1, 3, 5 d challenged. GAP-43 protein levels were increased significantly in the nodose and jugular ganglion after 2 hours following the first OVA challenged (0.49 +/- 0.05, P < 0.05) when compared with that in group B, after 3 consecutive days OVA challenge treatment, GAP-43 protein expression levels (0.79 +/- 0.08) were increased more significantly (P < 0.01), compared with that in group B and reached the levels of GAP-43 of group C3 (0.76 +/- 0.04, P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: These data indicate that GAP-43 protein expression in airway afferent neurons including SP peptidergic neurons in the nodose ganglion and GDNF responsive neurons in the jugular ganglion in guinea pigs can be induced by allergic airway inflammation.

Integrated photonics with programmable non-volatile memory.

Silicon photonics integrated circuits (Si-PIC) with well-established active and passive building elements are progressing towards large-scale commercialization in optical communications and high speed optical interconnects applications. However, current Si-PICs do not have memory capabilities, in particular, the non-volatile memory functionality for energy efficient data storage. Here, we propose an electrically programmable, multi-level non-volatile photonics memory cell (PMC) fabricated by standard complementary-metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) compatible processes. A micro-ring resonator (MRR) was built using the PMC to optically read the memory states. Switching energy smaller than 20 pJ was achieved. Additionally, a MRR memory array was employed to demonstrate a four-bit memory read capacity. Theoretically, this can be increased up to ~400 times using a 100 nm free spectral range broadband light source. The fundamental concept of this design provides a route to eliminate the von Neumann bottleneck. The energy-efficient optical storage can complement on-chip optical interconnects for neutral networking, memory input/output interfaces and other computational intensive applications.