Cathodoluminescence investigations of dark-line defects in platelet-based InGaN nano-LED structures.

We have investigated the optical properties of heterostructured InGaN platelets aiming at red emission, intended for use as nano-scaled light-emitting diodes. The focus is on the presence of non-radiative emission in the form of dark line defects. We have performed the study using hyperspectral cathodoluminescence imaging. The platelets were grown on a template consisting of InGaN pyramids, flattened by chemical mechanical polishing. These templates are defect free, whereas the dark line defects are introduced in the lower barrier and tend to propagate through all the subsequent layers, as revealed by the imaging of different layers in the structure. We conclude that the dark line defects are caused by stacking mismatch boundaries introduced by multiple seeding and step bunching at the edges of the as-polished, dome shaped templates. To avoid these defects, we suggest that the starting material must be flat rather than dome shaped.

Levels of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1), MMP-2, MMP-3, osteopontin, pentraxin-3, and thymic stromal lymphopoietin in crevicular fluid samples from peri-implantitis, periodontitis, and healthy sites.

AIM: Periodontitis and peri-implantitis are chronic inflammatory diseases characterized by the destruction of supporting tissues. Despite some similarities, it is essential to understand the differences in how these diseases elicit unique host responses within the oral tissues, including the production of selected matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and inflammatory mediators involved in tissue remodelling. The aim of this study was to evaluate the levels of proteolytic enzymes MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-3, as well as the inflammatory mediators osteopontin (OPN), pentraxin-3 (PTX3), and thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) in crevicular fluid samples collected from healthy, periodontitis-affected, and peri-implantitis sites. METHODS: Gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and peri-implant crevicular fluid (PICF) samples were collected from healthy and diseased teeth and implant sites of 163 patients. The MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-3, OPN, PTX3, and TSLP levels were determined using commercially available immunoassays. A linear mixed model procedure was adopted for multilevel analyses, using biomarker levels as the outcome variable to compare two types of sites. The diagnostic accuracy of the biomarkers was evaluated by Youden's index to estimate the sensitivity, specificity and the area under curve (AUC). RESULTS: The levels of MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-3, OPN, and TSLP were higher at sites with periodontitis and peri-implantitis compared to the levels at sites with healthy teeth and healthy implants. No significant differences were observed in the levels of the measured markers between the sites diagnosed with periodontitis and those diagnosed with peri-implantitis. The highest diagnostic potential at implant sites was found for MMP-2 (AUC = 0.74) and TSLP (AUC = 0.72). The highest AUC (0.82) at tooth sites was found for OPN. CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicate that the proteolytic enzyme MMP-2 and the cytokine TSLP might be potential biomarkers for both periodontitis and peri-implantitis, whereas the proinflammatory cytokine OPN may serve as a biomarker for periodontitis. Further studies are required to confirm the utility of these biomarkers and explore their potential clinical applications.

Periodontitis in young individuals: Important factors for disease progression.

AIM: To investigate the progression of periodontitis in young individuals and identify factors that contribute to progression rate and whether periodontitis stage and grade have an impact on disease progression. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective cohort study was based on patients younger than 36 years at two periodontal clinics between 2003 and 2009. At least 10 years later, a clinical and radiographic examination was performed on 215 patients. The marginal bone loss between baseline and follow-up for the tooth with the most severe bone loss at follow-up was estimated by radiographic measurements. Linear regression analysis was used to investigate the influence of potential risk indicators on periodontitis progression. RESULTS: Most patients (83%) were classified as periodontitis stage III at baseline. At follow-up, 70% of these patients remained in stage III. The frequency of patients with grade C decreased from 79% to 17% at follow-up. The median (Q25%; Q75%) of the longitudinal marginal bone loss was 0.5 mm (0.0; 2.0). High bleeding on probing (BOP) index at baseline, smoking and interruption of periodontal treatment were found to significantly increase longitudinal bone loss. CONCLUSIONS: High levels of BOP at baseline, smoking and interruption of periodontal treatment increased the risk of marginal bone loss. The stage and grade at baseline had no significant impact on disease progression.

Does Periodontitis Increase the Risk for Future Cardiovascular Events? Long-Term Follow-Up of the PAROKRANK Study.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The study 'Periodontitis and Its Relation to Coronary Artery Disease' (PAROKRANK) reported an association between periodontitis (PD) and the first myocardial infarction (MI). This follow-up study aims to test the hypothesis that those with PD-compared to periodontally healthy individuals-are at increased risk for cardiovascular (CV) events and death. METHODS: A total of 1587 participants (age <75 years; females 19%) had a dental examination including panoramic radiographs between 2010 and 2014. PD was categorized as healthy (≥80% alveolar bone height), mild/moderate (79%-66%) or severe (<66%). A composite CV event (first of all-cause death, non-fatal MI or stroke and hospitalization following to heart failure) was investigated during a mean follow-up period of 9.9 years (range 0.2-12.5 years). Participants were divided into two groups: those with and without PD. The primary event rate, stratified by periodontal status at baseline, was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression. RESULTS: The number of events was 187 in the 985 periodontally healthy participants (19%) and 174 in the 602 participants with PD (29%; p < 0.0001). Those with PD had a higher likelihood for a future event (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.26; 95% CI: 1.01-1.57; p = 0.038), following adjustment for age, smoking and diabetes. CONCLUSION: The PAROKRANK follow-up revealed that CV events were more common among participants with PD, which supports the assumption that there might be a direct relation between PD and CV disease.

The microbiota of ensiled forages and of bulk tank milk on dairy cattle farms in northern Sweden - a case study.

Factors contributing to variations in the quality and microbiota of ensiled forages and in bulk tank microbiota in milk from cows fed different forages were investigated. Nutritional quality, fermentation parameters and hygiene quality of forage samples and corresponding bulk tank milk samples collected in 3 periods from 18 commercial farms located in northern Sweden were compared. Principal coordinates analysis revealed that the microbiota in forage and bulk milk, analyzed using 16S rRNA gene-based amplicon sequencing, were significantly different. The genera Lactobacillus, Weissella and Leuconostoc dominated in forage samples, whereas Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus and Streptococcus dominated in bulk milk samples. Forage quality and forage-associated microbiota were affected by ensiling method and by use of silage additive. Forages stored in bunker and tower silos (confounded with use of additive) were associated with higher levels of acetic and lactic acid and Lactobacillus. Forage ensiled as bales (confounded with no use of additive) was associated with higher dry matter content, water-soluble carbohydrate content, pH, yeast count and the genera Weissella, Leuconostoc and Enterococcus. For bulk tank milk samples, milking system was identified as the major factor affecting the microbiota and type of forage preservation had little impact. Analysis of common amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) suggested that forage was not the major source of Lactobacillus found in bulk tank milk.

Higher expression of Th1/Th2-related cytokines in the intestine of Wistar rats with ligature-induced periodontitis.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the impact of ligature-induced periodontitis (LIP) on histopathological and immunological outcomes in the colon of Wistar rats. BACKGROUND: It has been repeatedly shown that inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients are at higher risk of developing periodontitis and presenting worse oral health than non-IBD patients. However, whether the chronic inflammatory process around teeth contributes to the pathophysiology of IBD needs to be further explored. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirteen Wistar rats were allocated into LIP (n = 7) and controls (n = 6). Half of the colon was processed for histopathological analyses and immunohistochemical (CD45); the other half was homogenized for immunological analyses. Periodontal destruction was confirmed by measuring the distance from the cementum-enamel junction to the mandible's apical position of the mesial interproximal bone. The immunological analyses were performed with the Bio-Plex Th1/Th2 assay. RESULTS: There was a significantly higher interproximal bone loss in LIP compared to controls. The LIP group showed a moderate infiltrate of inflammatory cells, predominantly mononucleated cells in the intestinal tissues. There was significantly higher expression of GM-CSF, IFN-γ, IL-1α, IL-1ß, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, IL-12 (p70), IL-13, and TNF-α in the intestinal tissues of LIP group compared to controls. CONCLUSION: Ligature-induced periodontitis was associated with an overexpression of Th1/Th2-related cytokines in the colon of Wistar rats.

Colitis induced by dextran sulphate sodium causes histopathological and immunological changes in the periodontal tissues of Wistar rats.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the impact of colitis induced by dextran sulphate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis (DIC) on histopathological and immunological outcomes in the periodontal tissues of Wistar rats. BACKGROUND: Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and periodontitis have been reported to present a bidirectional relationship. However, the inflammatory pathway that connects both diseases needs further investigation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty-five male Wistar rats were allocated in four groups: unilateral ligature-induced periodontitis for 14 days: LIP (n = 7); dextran sulphate sodium-induced colitis only: DIC (n = 6); DIC + LIP (n = 6) and controls (n = 6). Digital images were obtained from the histological sections. In order to assess the attachment loss (AL), the linear distance between the cementoenamel junction (CEJ) and the alveolar bone crest was measured on the mesial root using histological photomicrography's ImageJ software. Immunological analyses of gingival tissues and plasma were performed by Bio-Plex Th1/Th2 Assay. RESULTS: The DIC group showed inflammatory cells extending to the periodontal connective tissues, which contained significantly elevated expressions of IL-1α, IL-1ß, IL-2, IL-6, IL-12, IL-13, GM-CSF, IFN-γ and TNF-α compared to controls. There was no significant difference in bone loss between controls and DIC. There were no significant histopathological differences between DIC + LIP and LIP. However, DIC + LIP presented a significantly lower IL-2 and IL-5 than the LIP group. There was no bone loss difference between LIP+DIC and LIP groups. DIC + LIP group presented significantly higher levels of GM-CSF in plasma. CONCLUSION: DSS-induced colitis was associated with an overexpression of Th1/Th2- related cytokines in the gingival tissue.

Milking system and premilking routines have a strong effect on the microbial community in bulk tank milk.

In this study, we investigated the variation in the microbial community present in bulk tank milk samples and the potential effect of different farm management factors. Bulk tank milk samples were collected repeatedly over one year from 42 farms located in northern Sweden. Total and thermoresistant bacteria counts and 16S rRNA gene-based amplicon sequencing were used to characterize microbial community composition. The microbial community was in general heterogeneous both within and between different farms and the community composition in the bulk tank milk was commonly dominated by Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, Streptococcus, unclassified Peptostreptococcaceae, and Staphylococcus. Principal component analysis including farm factor variables and microbial taxa data revealed that the microbial community in milk was affected by type of milking system. Milk from farms using an automatic (robot) milking system (AMS) and loose housing showed different microbial community composition compared with milk from tiestall farms. A discriminant analysis model revealed that this difference was dependent on several microbial taxa. Among farms using an automatic milking system, there were further differences in the microbial community composition depending on the brand of the milking robot used. On tiestall farms, routines for teat preparation and cleaning of the milking equipment affected the microbial community composition in milk. Total bacteria count (TBC) in milk differed between the farm types, and TBC were higher on AMS than tiestall farms (log 4.05 vs. log 3.79 TBC/mL for AMS and tiestalls, respectively). Among tiestall farms, milk from farms using a chemical agent in connection to teat preparation and a more frequent use of acid to clean the milking equipment had lower TBC in milk, than milk from farms using water for teat preparation and a less frequent use of acid to clean the milking equipment (log 3.68 vs. 4.02 TBC/mL). There were no significant differences in the number of thermoresistant bacteria between farm types. The evaluated factors explained only a small proportion of total variation in the microbiota data, however, despite this, the study highlights the effect of routines associated with teat preparation and cleaning of the milking equipment on raw milk microbiota, irrespective of type of milking system used.

Designing satisfying service encounters: website versus store touchpoints.

This study investigated how touchpoints moderate the antecedents of customer satisfaction with service encounters by comparing online and in-store encounters. Construal level theory was used within the Touchpoint, Context, Qualities (TCQ) Framework (De Keyser et al., 2020) to integrate a comprehensive model of how touchpoints-websites or stores-influence the magnitude of customer responses to qualities of service encounters. A hierarchical linear model (HLM) was estimated using survey data describing the service encounters of 2.4 million customers with a global retailer. Online customers weighed cognitive and behavioral qualities more heavily than in-store customers, whereas they weighed emotional and sensorial qualities less heavily. Moreover, random effects in the HLM model indicated that each country and store would have unique clientele effects for specific qualities. Since each firm has limited resources, this research offers guidance on key qualities in designing satisfying service encounters for each touchpoint and how qualities should be standardized and customized in global omnichannel environments. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11747-021-00808-9.

Composition and properties of bovine milk: A study from dairy farms in northern Sweden; Part I. Effect of dairy farming system.

This study was part of a larger project that aimed to understand the causes for increasing variation in cheese ripening in a cheese-producing region in northern Sweden. The influence of different on-farm factors on raw milk composition and properties was investigated and is described in this paper, whereas the monthly variation in the milk quality traits during 1 yr is described in our companion paper. The dairy farming systems on a total of 42 dairy farms were characterized through a questionnaire and farm visits. Milk from farm tanks was sampled monthly over 1 yr and analyzed for quality attributes important for cheese making. On applying principal component analyses to evaluate the variation in on-farm factors, different types of farms were distinguished. Farms with loose housing and automatic milking system (AMS) or milking parlor had a higher number of lactating cows, and predominantly Swedish Holstein (SH) breed. Farms associated with tiestalls had a lower number of lactating cows and breeds other than SH. Applying principal component analyses to study the variation in composition and properties of tank milk samples from farms revealed a tendency for the formation of 2 clusters: milk from farms with AMS or a milking parlor, and milk from farms with tiestall milking. The interaction between the milking system, housing system, and breed probably contributed to this grouping. Other factors that were used in the characterization of the farming systems only showed a minor influence on raw milk quality. Despite the interaction, milk from tiestall farms with various cow breeds had higher concentrations (g/100 g of milk) of fat (4.74) and protein (3.63), and lower lactose concentrations (4.67) than milk from farms with predominantly SH cows and AMS (4.32, 3.47, and 4.74 g/100 g of milk, respectively) or a milking parlor (4.47, 3.54, and 4.79 g/100 g of milk, respectively). Higher somatic cell count (195 × 103/mL) and lower free fatty acid concentration (0.75 mmol/100 g of fat) were observed in milk from farms with AMS than in milk from tiestall systems (150 × 103/mL and 0.83 mmol/100 g of fat, respectively). Type of farm influenced milk gel strength, with milk from farms with predominantly SH cows showing the lowest gel strength (65.0 Pa), but not a longer rennet coagulation time. Effects of dairy farming system (e.g., dominant breed, milking system, housing, and herd size) on milk quality attributes indicate a need for further studies to evaluate the in-depth effects of farm-related factors on milk quality attributes.

Composition and properties of bovine milk: A study from dairy farms in northern Sweden; Part II. Effect of monthly variation.

This study investigated the influence of monthly variation on the composition and properties of raw farm milk collected as part of a full-scale cheese-making trial in a region in northern Sweden. In our companion paper, the contribution of on-farm factors to the variation in milk quality attributes is described. In total, 42 dairy farms were recruited for the study, and farm milk samples were collected monthly over 1 yr and characterized for quality attributes of importance for cheese making. Principal component analysis suggested that milk samples collected during the outdoor period (June-September) were different from milk samples collected during the indoor period. Despite the interaction with the milking system, the results showed that fat and protein concentrations were lower in milk collected during May through August, and lactose concentration was higher in milk collected during April through July than for the other months. Concentrations of free fatty acids were generally low, with the highest value (0.86 mmol/100 g of fat) observed in February and the lowest (0.70 mmol/100 g of fat) observed in June. Plasmin and plasminogen-derived activities varied with sampling month without a clear seasonal pattern. The pH of farm tank milk ranged from 6.60 to 6.82, with the lowest and highest values in September and February, respectively. The highest somatic cell count was observed in August (201 × 103 cells/mL) and the lowest in April (143 × 103 cells/mL). The highest value of gel strength, was recorded in December (88 Pa) and the lowest in July (64 Pa). Rennet coagulation time and gel strength were inversely correlated, with the lowest rennet coagulation time value observed in December. Orthogonal projections to latent structures (OPLS) and discriminant analysis adaptation of OPLS identified casein micelle size and total proteolysis as the milk quality attributes with major responses to sampling month, with smaller casein micelle size and higher total proteolysis associated with the outdoor months. Using discriminant analysis adaptation of OPLS to further investigate causes behind the variation in milk traits revealed that there were factors in addition to feeding on pasture that differed between outdoor and indoor months. Because fresh grass was seldom the primary feed in the region during the outdoor period, grazing was not considered the sole reason for the observed difference between outdoor and indoor periods in raw milk quality attributes.

Dislocation-Free and Atomically Flat GaN Hexagonal Microprisms for Device Applications.

III-nitrides are considered the material of choice for light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and lasers in the visible to ultraviolet spectral range. The development is hampered by lattice and thermal mismatch between the nitride layers and the growth substrate leading to high dislocation densities. In order to overcome the issue, efforts have gone into selected area growth of nanowires (NWs), using their small footprint in the substrate to grow virtually dislocation-free material. Their geometry is defined by six tall side-facets and a pointed tip which limits the design of optoelectronic devices. Growth of dislocation-free and atomically smooth 3D hexagonal GaN micro-prisms with a flat, micrometer-sized top-surface is presented. These self-forming structures are suitable for optical devices such as low-loss optical cavities for high-efficiency LEDs. The structures are made by annealing GaN NWs with a thick radial shell, reforming them into hexagonal flat-top prisms with six equivalents either m- or s-facets depending on the initial heights of the top pyramid and m-facets of the NWs. This shape is kinetically controlled and the reformation can be explained with a phenomenological model based on Wulff construction that have been developed. It is expected that the results will inspire further research into micron-sized III-nitride-based devices.

Cathodoluminescence visualisation of local thickness variations of GaAs/AlGaAs quantum-well tubes on nanowires.

We present spatially and spectrally resolved emission from nanowires with a thin radial layer of GaAs embedded in AlGaAs barriers, grown radially around taper-free GaAs cores. The GaAs layers are thin enough to show quantization, and are quantum wells. Due to their shape, they are referred to as quantum well tubes (QWTs). We have investigated three different nominal QWT thicknesses: 1.5, 2.0, and 6.0 nm. They all show average emission spectra from the QWT with an energy spread corresponding to a thickness variation of ±30%. We observe no thickness gradient along the length of the nanowires. Individual NWs show a number of peaks, corresponding to different QW thicknesses. Apart from the thinnest QWT, the integrated emission from the QWTs shows homogeneous emission intensity along the NW. The thinnest QWTs show patchy emission patterns due to the incomplete coverage of the QWT. We observe a few NWs with larger diameters. The QWTs in these NWs show spatially resolved variations across the NW. An increase in the local thickness of the QWT at the corners blocks the diffusion of carriers from facet to facet, thereby enabling us to visualise the thickness variations of the radial quantum wells.

Hot-carrier separation in heterostructure nanowires observed by electron-beam induced current.

The separation of hot carriers in semiconductors is of interest for applications such as thermovoltaic photodetection and third-generation photovoltaics. Semiconductor nanowires offer several potential advantages for effective hot-carrier separation such as: a high degree of control and flexibility in heterostructure-based band engineering, increased hot-carrier temperatures compared to bulk, and a geometry well suited for local control of light absorption. Indeed, InAs nanowires with a short InP energy barrier have been observed to produce electric power under global illumination, with an open-circuit voltage exceeding the Shockley-Queisser limit. To understand this behaviour in more detail, it is necessary to establish control over the precise location of electron-hole pair-generation in the nanowire. In this work we perform electron-beam induced current measurements with high spatial resolution, and demonstrate the role of the InP barrier in extracting energetic electrons.We interprete the results in terms of hot-carrier separation, and extract estimates of the hot carriers' mean free path.

InGaN Platelets: Synthesis and Applications toward Green and Red Light-Emitting Diodes.

In this work, we present a method to synthesize arrays of hexagonal InGaN submicrometer platelets with a top c-plane area having an extension of a few hundred nanometers by selective area metal-organic vapor-phase epitaxy. The InGaN platelets were made by in situ annealing of InGaN pyramids, whereby InGaN from the pyramid apex was thermally etched away, leaving a c-plane surface, while the inclined {101̅1} planes of the pyramids were intact. The as-formed c-planes, which are rough with islands of a few tens of nanometers, can be flattened with InGaN regrowth, showing single bilayer steps and high-quality optical properties (full width at half-maximum of photoluminescence at room temperature: 107 meV for In0.09Ga0.91N and 151 meV for In0.18Ga0.82N). Such platelets offer surfaces having relaxed lattice constants, thus enabling shifting the quantum well emission from blue (as when grown on GaN) to green and red. For single InGaN quantum wells grown on the c-plane of such InGaN platelets, a sharp interface between the quantum well and the barriers was observed. The emission energy from the quantum well, grown under the same conditions, was shifted from 2.17 eV on In0.09Ga0.91N platelets to 1.95 eV on In0.18Ga0.82N platelets as a result of a thicker quantum well and a reduced indium pulling effect on In0.18Ga0.82N platelets. On the basis of this method, prototype light-emitting diodes were demonstrated with green emission on In0.09Ga0.91N platelets and red emission on In0.18Ga0.82N platelets.

Investigating the emerging COVID-19 research trends in the field of business and management: A bibliometric analysis approach.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been labeled as a black swan event that caused a ripple effect on every aspect of human life. Despite the short time span of the pandemic-only four and half months so far-a rather large volume of research pertaining to COVID-19 has been published (107 articles indexed in Scopus and the Web of Science). This article presents the findings of a bibliometric study of COVID-19 literature in the business and management domain to identify current areas of research and propose a way forward. The analysis of the published literature identified four main research themes and 18 sub-themes. The findings and propositions of this study suggest that COVID-19 will be the catalyst of several long- and short-term policy changes and requires the theoretical and empirical attention of researchers. The offered propositions will act as a roadmap to potential research opportunities.

Effects of COVID-19 on business and research.

The COVID-19 outbreak is a sharp reminder that pandemics, like other rarely occurring catastrophes, have happened in the past and will continue to happen in the future. Even if we cannot prevent dangerous viruses from emerging, we should prepare to dampen their effects on society. The current outbreak has had severe economic consequences across the globe, and it does not look like any country will be unaffected. This not only has consequences for the economy; all of society is affected, which has led to dramatic changes in how businesses act and consumers behave. This special issue is a global effort to address some of the pandemic-related issues affecting society. In total, there are 13 papers that cover different industry sectors (e.g., tourism, retail, higher education), changes in consumer behavior and businesses, ethical issues, and aspects related to employees and leadership.

Fostering collaborative research for customer experience - Connecting academic and practitioner worlds.

This editorial calls for greater use of academic-practitioner workshops to co-create value for academics, practitioners and wider network actors through promotion of research relevance and sharing of problems, ideas and data. It describes how one such workshop, the 2nd Academic-Practitioner Research with Impact Workshop focusing on the design and decision making for customer experience (CE), co-hosted in Manchester on 18th and 19th of June 2018 by Alliance Manchester Business School, the University of Manchester and Loughborough University's Centre for Service Management (CSM), was delivered. The key processes for success and issues to consider for future such events are discussed. The workshop resulted in 8 papers (six theoretical and two empirical). This Special Issue advances current understanding of CE through the research considering the role of technology (AI and big data) in CE research, atypical CE (vulnerability, deviance behaviours and service failure and recovery) and focusing on important organizational and B2B issues (business model innovation, and CE Management (CEM) in business markets).

MMP-12 and S100s in saliva reflect different aspects of periodontal inflammation.

Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-12, S100A8/A9, and S100A12 are involved in innate immune responses. We addressed whether different aspects of oral health and non-disease-related covariates influence their levels in saliva. 436 participants were clinically examined, completed a health questionnaire, and provided stimulated saliva. Salivary levels of MMP-12, S100A8/A9, and S100A12 were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Lower MMP-12 levels were observed in individuals 40-64 years old (yo) compared to < 40 yo, and higher S100A8/A9 levels were found in individuals > 64 yo compared to 40-64 yo. Smokers exhibited lower MMP-12 and S100A12 levels compared to non-smokers. All three proteins were elevated in individuals with bleeding on probing (BOP) > 20% compared to those with BOP ≤ 20%, and the S100A8/A9 levels were higher in individuals having ≥ 10% gingival pocket depths (PPD) ≥ 4 mm compared to the ones with shallow pockets < 4 mm. The extent of alveolar bone loss or presence of manifest caries did not alter any of the markers. MMP-12, S100A8/A9, and S100A12 levels were higher in participants with high periodontal inflammatory burden. All three proteins correlated positively to BOP, PPD, and to several inflammatory mediators. The explanatory variables for MMP-12 in saliva were age, smoking, presence of any tumor, and percentage of PPD ≥ 4 mm. The determinant of salivary S100A8/A9 was percentage of BOP, while S100A12 levels were associated with percentage of BOP and presence of any tumor. Taken together, MMP-12 and the S100/calgranulin levels in saliva reflect different aspects of periodontal inflammation. Smoking and age should be taken into account in further investigation of these proteins as biomarker candidates of periodontal disease.

Single-Mode Near-Infrared Lasing in a GaAsSb-Based Nanowire Superlattice at Room Temperature.

Semiconductor nanowire lasers can produce guided coherent light emission with miniaturized geometry, bringing about new possibilities for a variety of applications including nanophotonic circuits, optical sensing, and on-chip and chip-to-chip optical communications. Here, we report on the realization of single-mode and room-temperature lasing from 890 to 990 nm, utilizing a novel design of single nanowires with GaAsSb-based multiple axial superlattices as a gain medium under optical pumping. The control of lasing wavelength via compositional tuning with excellent room-temperature lasing performance is shown to result from the unique nanowire structure with efficient gain material, which delivers a low lasing threshold of ∼6 kW/cm2 (75 µJ/cm2 per pulse), a lasing quality factor as high as 1250, and a high characteristic temperature of ∼129 K. These results present a major advancement for the design and synthesis of nanowire laser structures, which can pave the way toward future nanoscale integrated optoelectronic systems with superior performance.