The tuning of the plasmon resonance of the metal nanoparticles in terms of the SERS effect.

The Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy is the essential tool for various levels of the molecular studies. In order to become widely used as a fast analytical tool, the enhancing structures such as the nanoparticles have to be simple, inexpensive, and offer good flexibility in enhancing properties and the spectral range. In this paper, we investigated the plasmonic properties of the metal nanoparticles, to which the molecules of interest can be adsorbed, forming the bionanocomplexes. Here, for the first time, we provided the collection of the results gathered in one article, which can serve as the basis or guidance for designing the SERS studies on different bionanocomplexes, various nanoparticle structures, sizes, and excitation wavelengths. The presented plasmonic properties describe the spectral position of the plasmonic resonances as results of their size and structure. The electric field enhancement as a key contributor to the SERS effect is given as well. We considered silver and gold nanoparticles and their variations. Gold is one of the best choice, due to its relevant surface properties, however, suffers from the plasmonic activity and rather static spectral position of the plasmonic resonances. Therefore, one of the main purposes was to show the effective resonance tuning using simple and less expensive geometries. We showed the possibility to adjust the plasmonic resonances with the excitation wavelengths from the blue region to the near infrared region of lasers most commonly used for Raman spectroscopy. The presented studies indicated the high potential of the core-shell structures for this kind of applications.

Antireflection TiO x Coating with Plasmonic Metal Nanoparticles for Silicon Solar Cells.

It is known that the light scattering from the metal particles deposited on the surfaces of cells can be used for increasing light trapping in the solar cells. In this work, plasmonic structures are composite materials that consisted of silver nanoparticles embedded in dielectric films of TiO x -used as cell antireflection coating. The films are deposited by sol-gel method using spin-on technique. Microstructure of prepared samples is analyzed by SEM observation. Good homogenity and particles density was obtained by this simple, cheap, and short time-demanding method. We demonstrate that due to light scattering by metal particles, the plasmonic-ARC layer is more effective than TiO x layer without Ag nanoparticles. Implementation of nanoparticles on bare cell surface was carried out too. The influence of the plasmonic structures on the silicon solar cells parameters is presented as well. We announce about 5 % additional growth in short circuit current for cells with nanoparticles.

The prevalence of erectile dysfunction in men visiting outpatient clinics.

The prevalence of erectile dysfunction (ED) in men visiting outpatient clinics was analyzed using data reported by 1352 randomly chosen physicians who were requested to interview five to 20 consecutive patients aged >or=40 years about the presence of ED. A total of 25.12% of the physicians returned the questionnaires, containing data on 3552 patients, of whom 42.7% had ED, 44.9% had no ED and 12.4% declined to answer the questions. The duration of ED was <1 year in 8.1% of patients, 1-2 years in 32.2% and >2 years in 59.7% of patients. 86.4% of men with ED had >or=1 chronic disease. ED was present in 70.3% of men with coronary heart disease, 67.8% of those with hypertension, 78% of those with diabetes and 70.5% of patients with psychiatric diseases. 93.2% of patients with ED used one or more drugs chronically. In conclusions, 42.7% of men visiting outpatient clinics had ED. Patients with ED often had one or more chronic diseases and used at least one drug chronically. Older patients are less inclined to talk to their physicians about sexual problems.

The changing sexual attitudes of boys in Poland.

PIP: Until relatively recently, boys in Poland, especially in rural areas, were encouraged to have sex before marriage, while girls were expected to remain virgin until their wedding day or at least until they were engaged to be married. Many boys therefore had sex with girls they did not intend to marry, and abstained from sex with the women they hoped to have as wives. That arrangement was accepted by both boys' parents and boys' prospective wives. Women's emancipation, migration, and changing gender roles during the 1970s, however, affected sexual attitudes and behaviors. Girls grew more sexually active and the importance of virginity decreased. Tensions between the sexes subsequently increased as folk and romantic models were replaced by the partnership model and greater adherence to Catholic sexual ethics. The increased tension is readily seen via the growing number of boys with sexual problems. Approximately 90% of boys masturbate, generally without guilt. Almost 50% of 17 year old boys in Poland have had intimate sexual contact. It is common for boys' first act of sexual intercourse to occur after consuming alcohol and generally without the use of contraception. During first sexual contacts and throughout their premarital period, 40% of boys practice coitus interruptus and 38% use no method of contraception at all. An inability among the majority of boys to find willing sex partners after their first sexual intercourse causes them by necessity to not continue having sex immediately after initiation and also to engage in sex with other boys and men. The author notes that alcohol consumption among boys prior to having sex may be their way of overcoming the fear of women, and that some boys expect their female partners to be maternal. Contraception is not widely used because methods are not well known or rejected often for religious reasons. Many young people get married as a result of unplanned premarital pregnancy. Perceiving no common threat from HIV/AIDS due to the low number of AIDS cases and poor information about the problem, boys do not concern themselves with safer sex behavior. Finally, recent political and economic change in Poland has prompted boys to delay their sexual initiation and avoid permanent relationships and early marriages in the attempt to not ruin any plans for their future which they may have.^ieng

[Cyclic impotence in male infertility]. / Impotencja cykliczna w nieplodnosci meskiej.

PIP: 23 men were treated during 1977-87 in a special hospital in Warsaw for infertility by administering the Mell-Krat scale, the Rorschach test, and a test consisting of drawing figures. Most of them were in the 26-35 age group and had secondary and higher level education. 15 of them had a domineering mother, and 13 were only children. 14 had been married for 5 years and had used a biological method of contraception for 5-8 years. The personality tests indicated that 16 were immature and 5 were neurotic; in 13, the marital roles were reversed; the need for fatherhood was lacking in 7, and it was deficient in 9; 17 had disorders of erection, 4 had premature ejaculation, and 2 half diminished libido; the partners of 9 were tolerant and passive concerning the sexual dysfunction, 7 were critical and castrating, and 4 were understanding and helpful. The causative factors and the effectiveness of treatment were: partner-related in 13 cases (9 treated), stereotypical transformation of cohabitation in 23 cases (14 treated), burdensome sexual activity in 3 cases (1 treated), and 4 unknown factors (1 treated). Various therapeutic methods were used: hypnosis, psychotherapy of married couple, and training. 14 patients were successfully treated and rehabilitated; however, 9 patients did not improve. Although the small number of this sample does not permit the drawing of sweeping conclusions, some inferences could be made on forms of impotence of psychogenic origin. Implicated factors were: having a domineering mother, being an only child, and immature personality. Other causes had to do with the partner, sexual duty, and stereotypical sexual cohabitation of many years' duration during a nonfertile period of the woman using a natural method of contraception.^ieng