Fabrication of tungsten-based optical diffuser using fiberform nanostructure via efficient plasma route.

Optical diffusion is an essential process used to manage photons in a wide range of photoelectric systems. This work proposes an approach to fabricate novel optical diffusers by a plasma-processing technique, using fiberform nanostructures formed by helium plasma irradiation and subsequent annealing. After an annealing procedure in the air for oxidation, the optical properties and the light-diffusing abilities of these nanostructured thin films were studied. In addition to the morphology analysis and total transmittance measurement, the diffusion efficiency of the optical diffusers was analyzed using a transmitted scatter distribution function (TDF). It was revealed that the diffusion efficiency of a device with an irradiation time of 30 minutes could reach 97%. The results demonstrate the potential of these nanostructured optical diffusers for various photoelectric applications.

Tb,Y:SrF2 crystal for efficient laser operation in the visible spectral region.

A Tb,Y:SrF2 crystal with high optical quality is grown using the temperature gradient technique. The spectroscopic and laser properties of the crystal in the visible spectral region are studied. A fluorescence lifetime of 5.6 ms is measured from the crystal, which is beneficial for laser operation with a low threshold. A continuous-wave Tb,Y:SrF2 laser delivers an output power of 259 mW at 545 nm, with a slope efficiency of 35.2%. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first report on a Tb-doped SrF2 laser and represents the highest output power for visible alkaline-earth fluoride lasers. The limitations for power scaling are discussed.

Efficient diode-pumped Er:YAP master-oscillator power-amplifier system for laser power improvement at 2920†nm.

We report on the first demonstration of laser-diode-pumped master-oscillator power-amplifier (MOPA) system based on Er-doped bulk material working at 2920 nm. The relaxation oscillation at the beginning of the laser pulse from the Er:YAlO3 (YAP) oscillator was suppressed effectively when the pump frequency was increased to 140 Hz, as a result of the establishment of a three-level system. In the amplifier, the small signal gain of the Er:YAP strongly depends on pump duration and repetition frequency, and can reach the upper limit of parasitic oscillation. Further, 25.5 mJ of output pulse energy has been achieved from the amplifier at 150 Hz frequency (2.2 ms pump duration), with over 32% of optical-to-optical efficiency. Further improvement of the amplification ability of the MOPA system was discussed.

Ho3+:Y2O3 ceramic laser generated over 113 W of output power at 2117 nm.

We demonstrate efficient laser operation using a Ho:Y2O3 ceramic with low scattering loss and excellent optical quality fabricated in-house through an improved technique in support of high-power laser operation. The Ho:Y2O3 ceramic laser was in-band pumped by a Tm-fiber laser of 1931 nm at room temperature. With an optically polished but uncoated sample of 0.5 at. % Ho3+ doping, up to 113.6 W continuous-wave output power at 2117 nm has been generated with a slope efficiency of 55.6% with respect to the absorbed pump power. To the best of our knowledge, this is the highest output power achieved with a Ho-doped ceramic.

CXCL8 Associated Dendritic Cell Activation Marker Expression and Recruitment as Indicators of Favorable Outcomes in Colorectal Cancer.

Accumulating evidence suggests that tumor-infiltrating immune cells (TICs) in the tumor microenvironment (TME) serve as promising therapeutic targets. CXCL8 (IL-8) may also be a potential therapeutic target in cancer. CXCL8 is a potent chemotactic factor for neutrophils, myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and monocytes, which are considered immunosuppressive components in cancer-bearing hosts. Here, we identified the TME-related gene CXCL8 in a high-ImmuneScore population that contributed to better survival in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. An integrated gene profile and functional analysis of TIC proportions revealed that the dendritic cell (DC) activation markers CD80, CD83, and CD86 were positively correlated with CXCL8 expression, suggesting that CXCL8 may be functional as antitumor immune response status in the TME. The gene signature was further validated in independent GSE14333 and GSE38832 cohorts from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). To test the differential contributions of immune and tumor components to progression, three CRC cell lines, CT26, MC38 and HCT116, were used. In vitro results suggested no significant growth or survival changes following treatment with an inhibitor of the CXCL8 receptor (CXCR1/2) such as reparixin or danirixin. In vivo treatment with danirixin (antagonists of CXCR2) promoted tumor progression in animal models established with CT26 cells. CXCR2 antagonism may function via an immune component, with CXCR2 antagonist treatment in mice resulting in reduced activated DCs and correlating with decreased Interferon gamma (IFN-γ) or Granzyme B expressed CD8+ T cells. Furthermore, CXCL8 induced DC migration in transwell migration assays. Taken together, our data suggested that targeting the CXCL8-CXCR2 axis might impede DC activation or recruitment, and this axis could be considered a favorable factor rather than a target for critical antitumor effects on CRC.

Serum growth differentiation factor 15 is closely associated with metabolic abnormalities in Chinese pregnant women.

AIMS: To explore the relationship between serum growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) and metabolic abnormalities in Chinese pregnant women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We recruited 200 patients with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and 211 matched normal control within 24-28 weeks of pregnancy. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to determine the serum GDF15 levels of all participants. Then we grouped participants according to the number of metabolic abnormalities (including blood glucose, blood lipids and blood pressure), divided them into a normal metabolic group, one metabolic abnormality group, two or more metabolic abnormalities group. Finally, multinomial logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the odds radio (OR) and 95% CIs expressing the association between GDF15 and metabolic abnormalities in pregnant women. RESULTS: Through bivariate correlation analysis, we found that serum GDF15 is linearly correlated with glucose metabolism indices, such as 1h-PG, 2h-PG, HbA1c (all P < 0.05). In addition, serum GDF15 and triglycerides were linearly correlated (P < 0.05). Grouping by the number of metabolic abnormalities, we found that as GDF15 levels increased, the risk of metabolic abnormalities also increased (OR > 1), and the risk of multiple metabolic abnormalities was higher. As the number of metabolic abnormalities increased, serum GDF15 levels also were elevated (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that serum GDF15 levels are closely associated with metabolic abnormalities in pregnant women and may be used as a predictor of metabolic abnormalities during pregnancy.

Overexpression of PLXDC2 in Stromal Cell-Associated M2 Macrophages Is Related to EMT and the Progression of Gastric Cancer.

The tumor microenvironment (TME) comprises distinct cell types, including stromal types such as fibroblast cells and macrophage cells, which have recently become a critical factor in tumor development and progression. Here, we identified the TME-related gene, plexin domain containing 2 (PLXDC2), in a high-stromal-score population. And we revealed that this gene was related to poor survival and advanced (tumor-node-metastasis) stage in gastric cancer (GC) patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas database. An integrated gene profile and functional analysis of the proportions of tumor-infiltrating immune cells revealed that the expression of the M2 macrophages cell marker CD163 was positively correlated with PLXDC2 expression. In addition, the M2 macrophages gene signature and high PLXDC2 expression were associated with the inflammatory signaling pathway and the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related gene signature. Single-cell study of GC identified PLXDC2 was enriched specifically in fibroblasts and monocytes/macrophages populations, which supported its important role in the stroma. Furthermore, according to a tissue microarray immunohistochemistry analysis, the expression of PLXDC2 elevated in human GC stromal specimens compared to tumor tissue specimens. Moreover, PLXDC2 overexpression in the stromal compartment was associated with CD163-positive regulatory M2 macrophages, and its functions were related to the pathogenesis of GC. Multiplexed immunohistochemistry verified PLXDC2's correlation with EMT markers. Our data suggested that PLXDC2 was expressed in stromal cells and that its crosstalk with tumor-associated macrophages could contribute to cancer biology by inducing the EMT process.