Trade-offs in absorption and scattering by nanophotonic structures.

Trade-offs between absorption and scattering cross sections of lossy obstacles confined to an arbitrarily shaped volume are formulated as a multi-objective optimization problem solvable by Lagrangian-dual methods. Solutions to this optimization problem yield a Pareto-optimal set, the shape of which reveals the feasibility of achieving simultaneously extremal absorption and scattering. Two forms of the trade-off problems are considered involving both pre-assigned loss and reactive material parameters. Numerical comparisons between the derived multi-objective bounds and several classes of realized structures are made. Additionally, low-frequency (electrically small, long wavelength) limits are examined for certain special cases.

Prolonged Interferon-Stimulated Gene and Protein Signatures in Multiple Sclerosis Induced by PEGylated IFN-ß-1a Compared to Non-PEGylated IFN-ß-1a.

Interferon (IFN)-ß-1a (Avonex) and longer half-life, polyethylene glycol-conjugated IFN-ß-1a (PEG-IFN-ß-1a, Plegridy), may generate different molecular responses. We identified different short-term and long-term in vivo global RNA signatures of IFN-stimulated genes in multiple sclerosis (MS) peripheral blood mononuclear cells and in selected paired serum immune proteins. At 6 h, non-PEGylated IFN-ß-1a injection upregulated expression of 136 genes and PEG-IFN-ß-1a upregulated 85. At 24 h, induction was maximal; IFN-ß-1a upregulated 476 genes and PEG-IFN-ß-1a now upregulated 598. Long-term PEG-IFN-ß-1a therapy increased expression of antiviral and immune-regulatory genes (IFIH1, TLR8, IRF5, TNFSF10 [TRAIL], STAT3, JAK2, IL15, and RB1) and IFN signaling pathways (IFNB1, IFNA2, IFNG, IRF7), but downregulated expression of inflammatory genes (TNF, IL1B, and SMAD7). Long-term PEG-IFN-ß-1a induced longer and stronger expression of Th1, Th2, Th17, chemokine, and antiviral proteins than long-term IFN-ß-1a. Long-term therapy also primed the immune system, evoking higher gene and protein induction after IFN reinjection at 7 months than at 1 month of PEG-IFN-ß-1a treatment. Both forms of IFN-ß balanced correlations of expression among these genes and proteins, with positive correlations between Th1 and Th2 families, quelling the "cytokine storm" of untreated MS. Both IFNs induced long-term, potentially beneficial, molecular effects on immune and possibly neuroprotective pathways in MS.

Near Spurious-Free Thickness Shear Mode Lithium Niobate Resonator for Piezoelectric Power Conversion.

Piezoelectric power converters, where acoustic resonators replace the inductors as energy storage elements, promise much higher power density and higher efficiency compared to conventional circuits. Recently, lithium niobate (LiNbO3) piezoelectric resonators have been integrated within power converter circuits, showing good conversion efficiency, thanks to their high quality factor ( Q ) and electromechanical coupling ( kt 2 ). However, the converter output power range is limited by large spurious modes near resonance. This work reports a near-spurious-free LiNbO3 thickness shear (TS) resonator, demonstrating a high Q of 3500 and kt 2 of 45% at 5.94 MHz, with a fractional suppressed region of 35%. First, we identify the best LiNbO3 crystal orientation for efficient TS resonators. Then, we propose a novel acoustic design without busbars for spurious suppression, which is extensively simulated, fabricated, and characterized. Further analysis is done to identify existing spurious modes in our proposed design, specifically the effect of dicing on our TS resonator design. Upon optimization, LiNbO3 TS resonators could potentially empower a new design space for low-loss and compact power converters.

Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole-Induced Drug Reaction With Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS) Complicated by Acute Liver Failure.

Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) is a delayed adverse drug reaction that is characterized by fever, cutaneous manifestation, enlarged lymph nodes, hematologic abnormalities, and organ involvement. Multiple medications have been reported to cause DRESS with the presentation varying from drug to drug. Some cases are mild and can be managed by stopping the causative agent along with supportive measures; however, other cases can lead to multi-organ failure requiring systemic corticosteroids and organ transplant. Acute liver failure is a rare manifestation of DRESS. We report a patient who had recently completed a course of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and presented with low-grade fever, diffuse skin rash, eosinophilia, elevated liver enzymes, acute kidney injury, and thrombocytopenia. DRESS was subsequently diagnosed based on history, physical examination, and relatively negative workup for an alternate diagnosis. The patient eventually showed improvement with steroid therapy without the need for a liver transplant. Due to its pharmacogenetic susceptibility, it is essential to recommend avoiding the causative medication for the patient's family members.

Expression of myosin VIIA in the developing chick inner ear neurons.

The auditory-vestibular ganglion (AVG) is formed by the division of otic placode-derived neuroblasts, which then differentiate into auditory and vestibular afferent neurons. The developmental mechanisms that regulate neuronal cell fate determination, axonal pathfinding and innervation of otic neurons are poorly understood. The present study characterized the expression of myosin VIIA, along with the neuronal markers, Islet1, NeuroD1 and TuJ1, in the developing avian ear, during Hamburger-Hamilton (HH) stages 16-40. At early stages, when neuroblasts are delaminating from the otic epithelium, myosin VIIA expression was not observed. Myosin VIIA was initially detected in a subset of neurons during the early phase of neuronal differentiation (HH stage 20). As the AVG segregates into the auditory and vestibular portions, myosin VIIA was restricted to a subset of vestibular neurons, but was not present in auditory neurons. Myosin VIIA expression in the vestibular ganglion was maintained through HH stage 33 and was downregulated by stage 36. Myosin VIIA was also observed in the migrating processes of vestibular afferents as they begin to innervate the otic epithelium HH stage 22/23. Notably, afferents targeting hair cells of the cristae were positive for myosin VIIA while afferents targeting the utricular and saccular maculae were negative (HH stage 26-28). Although previous studies have reported that myosin VIIA is restricted to sensory hair cells, our data shows that myosin VIIA is also expressed in neurons of the developing chick ear. Our study suggests a possible role for myosin VIIA in axonal migration/pathfinding and/or innervation of vestibular afferents. In addition, myosin VIIA could be used as an early marker for vestibular neurons during the development of the avian AVG.