Interband cascade lasers grown simultaneously on GaSb, GaAs and Si substrates.

We report on Sb-based interband cascade lasers simultaneously grown on GaSb, GaAs and Si substrates. 8 µm x 2 mm devices exhibited similar threshold currents around 40 mA at 20°C and achieved continuous-wave (CW) operation up to 65°C on GaSb, GaAs and Si substrates despite a dislocation density of ∼ 4.108 cm-2 for both mismatched substrates. In the CW regime the output power of the devices emitting at 3.3 µm exceeded 30 mW/facet at 20°C. ICLs on GaAs and Si were subsequently aged at 50°C with an injection current of 200 mA, i.e. five times the laser-threshold current. No degradation was observed after 500 h of CW operation, demonstrating the high performance of ICLs and their tolerance to dislocations.

Correction: Amine-borane complex-initiated SF5Cl radical addition on alkenes and alkynes.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3762/bjoc.16.256.].

Amine-borane complex-initiated SF5Cl radical addition on alkenes and alkynes.

The SF5Cl radical addition on unsaturated compounds was performed using an air-stable amine-borane complex as the radical initiator. This method showed to be complementary to the classic Et3B-mediated SF5Cl addition on alkenes and alkynes. A total of seven alkene and three alkyne derivatives were tested in the reaction, with yields ranging from 3% to 85%.

Acute pancreatitis in pregnancy: a comparison of associated conditions, treatments and complications.

OBJECTIVE: Acute pancreatitis is a rare condition in pregnancy. The aim of this study is to compare associated conditions, treatments and complications of pancreatitis in pregnant and age-matched non-pregnant controls. METHODS: We carried out a population-based retrospective cohort study using the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Nationwide Inpatient Sample (HCUP-NIS) from 2003 to 2010. A cohort of pregnant women with acute pancreatitis was created and compared to a created age-matched cohort of non-pregnant women with acute pancreatitis at a 1:4 ratio. Comparisons of associated conditions, treatment types, and complications were carried out using unconditional logistic regression. RESULTS: We identified 7725 cases of acute pancreatitis in pregnancy. As compared to non-pregnant controls, pancreatitis in pregnancy was more likely to be associated with cholelithiasis and less likely with hyperlipidemia and alcohol abuse. Pancreatitis in pregnancy was more likely to be treated with parenteral nutrition and less likely to undergo endoscopic sphincterotomy. As compared to non-pregnant controls, pregnant women with pancreatitis were less likely to have pancreatic pseudocysts/hemorrhage/necrosis, generalized peritonitis, adult respiratory distress syndrome, disseminated intravascular coagulation, and death. CONCLUSION: Pancreatitis in pregnancy is predominantly caused by cholelithiasis, and unlike in the non-pregnant state, usually has a milder course.

Effects of treatment of ectopic pregnancy with methotrexate or salpingectomy in the subsequent IVF cycle.

Ectopic pregnancy is a known risk for patients treated with IVF. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of methotrexate (MTX) and laparoscopic salpingectomy as treatments of ectopic pregnancy on ovarian response during IVF cycles. Data of all women treated for ectopic pregnancy as a result of IVF treatment were evaluated; the study included women who had an unruptured ectopic pregnancy after IVF treatment that was treated with either MTX or laparoscopic salpingectomy and underwent a subsequent IVF cycle. The main outcome measures were baseline serum FSH concentrations and ovarian response in the subsequent IVF cycle after treatment of ectopic pregnancy. Of a total of 58 patients, 36 were previously treated with MTX and 22 others by salpingectomy. No significant differences were observed between the MTX and the salpingectomy groups in the parameters of ovarian response in the subsequent IVF cycle.

Unlocking the monolithic integration scenario: optical coupling between GaSb diode lasers epitaxially grown on patterned Si substrates and passive SiN waveguides.

Silicon (Si) photonics has recently emerged as a key enabling technology in many application fields thanks to the mature Si process technology, the large silicon wafer size, and promising Si optical properties. The monolithic integration by direct epitaxy of III-V lasers and Si photonic devices on the same Si substrate has been considered for decades as the main obstacle to the realization of dense photonics chips. Despite considerable progress in the last decade, only discrete III-V lasers grown on bare Si wafers have been reported, whatever the wavelength and laser technology. Here we demonstrate the first semiconductor laser grown on a patterned Si photonics platform with light coupled into a waveguide. A mid-IR GaSb-based diode laser was directly grown on a pre-patterned Si photonics wafer equipped with SiN waveguides clad by SiO2. Growth and device fabrication challenges, arising from the template architecture, were overcome to demonstrate more than 10 mW outpower of emitted light in continuous wave operation at room temperature. In addition, around 10% of the light was coupled into the SiN waveguides, in good agreement with theoretical calculations for this butt-coupling configuration. This work lift an important building block and it paves the way for future low-cost, large-scale, fully integrated photonic chips.

Does education level influence the decision to undergo elective repeat caesarean section among women with a previous caesarean section?

OBJECTIVE: Patient education level has been shown to affect health care outcomes in a variety of clinical contexts. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether maternal education level influences women to plan elective repeat Caesarean section rather than attempt a vaginal birth after Caesarean. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of women with a previous Caesarean section who delivered at the Royal Victoria Hospital between 2001 and 2006. Education level was stratified as follows: /= 16 years (university degree). We used unconditional logistic regression to calculate age-adjusted estimates of the risk of having a planned Caesarean section. RESULTS: Among 18 673 deliveries in our cohort, 1915 were in women with a previous Caesarean section. Of these, 12.6% had a high school degree or less, 38.3% had some college or university education, and 49.1% had a university degree. Compared with women whose maximum education was a high school diploma, there was a higher rate of planned Caesarean section in women with some college or university education (OR 1.38; 95% CI 1.00 to 1.89, P = 0.047) and in women with a university degree (OR 1.42; 95% CI 1.04 to 1.94, P = 0.03). CONCLUSION: Higher education appears to be associated with an increased rate of elective repeat Caesarean section. Whether this is due to patient differences or physician bias, physicians should be aware of this disparity and should attempt to provide unbiased informed consent for all women regardless of their level of education.

Silver-Promoted Synthesis of 5-[(Pentafluorosulfanyl)methyl]-2-oxazolines.

The synthesis of 5-[(pentafluorosulfanyl)methyl]-2-oxazolines is reported. The use of a silver promoter allows the intramolecular cyclization of N-[2-chloro-3-(pentafluorosulfanyl)propyl]amide to occur without elimination of the chlorine atom, a reaction pathway typically observed for ß-chloro-SF5-alkyl compounds. The products, potentially valuable SF5-containing heterocycles, are obtained in up to 97% yield.

Direct Esterification of Carboxylic Acids with Perfluorinated Alcohols Mediated by XtalFluor-E.

The direct esterification of carboxylic acids with perfluorinated alcohols mediated by XtalFluor-E is reported. The corresponding polyfluorinated esters are obtained in moderate to excellent yields with a broad range of carboxylic acids, including aromatic, heteroaromatic, aliphatic, and nonracemic chiral substrates, using only a slight excess (2 equiv) of the perfluorinated alcohol. Control experiments indicate that the reaction does not proceed through the formation of an acyl fluoride but most likely through a (diethylamino)difluoro-λ4-sulfanyl carboxylate intermediate.

Development of an analytical method to measure insoluble and soluble starch in sugarcane and sweet sorghum products.

A rapid research method using microwave-assisted probe ultrasonication was developed to quantify total, insoluble, and soluble starch in various sugar crop products. Several variables affecting starch solubilisation were evaluated, (1) heating method, (2) boiling time, (3) probe ultrasonication time, (4) water loss, (5) concentration, (6) sample colour, and (7) sample. The optimised method solubilises < 40,000 ppm insoluble starch with microwave-assisted sonication in 6 min, has acceptable precision (<6% CV), accuracy (⩾ 95%), uses a corn starch reference, and incorporates a colour blank to remove contribution from natural colourants found in industrial samples. This method was validated using factory samples and found applicable to sugarcane and sweet sorghum bagasse (3% CV), mixed juices (2%), massecuites (4%), molasses (7%), and raw sugars (12%), 100% satisfactory performance z-scores were also obtained. Total starch values obtained with this method were significantly higher than those measured using other methods presently accepted by the sugar industry.

Bowel complications in endometriosis surgery.

Endometriosis surgery by laparoscopy or laparotomy can be associated with various types of intestinal complications that may occur in the immediate postoperative period or later. They include bowel anastomotic dehiscence, rectovaginal fistula, anastomotic bleeding, intra-abdominal infections, wound infections, bowel stricture, intestinal obstruction, chronic constipation, and diarrhea. There is growing evidence that bowel injuries can be repaired by primary closure in two layers even without previous bowel preparation. Surgical treatments of deep bowel endometriosis include conservative surgery (including shaving technique or discoid resection) or a more radical approach such as bowel resection that is associated with increased complications. Good perfusion and no tension at the anastomosis site are essential when segmental resection is performed. Early recognition of bowel complications during surgery or in the immediate postoperative period is fundamental to decreased morbidity and mortality. This chapter will deal with the prevention of bowel complication in minimally invasive surgery for endometriosis.