A technique of hand digit reconstruction using scarred and deformed donor segments.

BACKGROUND: Hand digit reconstruction with transposition of hand segments in cases of hand injury is not used frequently by surgeons, at least in part because of potential ischemic complications after cicatricial changes in tissues. The aim of this study was to investigate the opportunities for expanding the set of indications for hand digit reconstruction using scarred and deformed donor segments. METHODS: We developed a technique of ischemic preconditioning and preforming the segment before transfer to improve macro-circulation and micro-circulation in scarred donor segments with a view to preventing ischemic complications in reconstructed digits. It was validated using clinical, radiological, morphological, and biophysical (IR imaging, laser Doppler flowmetry, rheovasography) methods. RESULTS: A total of 184 patients were included. Primary digit reconstruction was performed in 19 patients while secondary reconstruction-in 165 patients. Single-stage transfer was performed in 122 hands, delayed transfer-in 67 hands. The total number of reconstructed thumbs and fingers was 203. Digit viability, stability, mobility and range of motion were very good with the use of new technique. CONCLUSIONS: When transferring hand segments with severe and highly severe deformations, tissue scarring and vascular damage, it is beneficial to pre-train the donor segment against hypoxia by both exsanguination and surgical methods.

Time-resolved monitoring of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons adsorbed on atmospheric particles.

Real-time monitoring of individual particles from atmospheric aerosols was performed by means of a specifically developed single-particle fluorescence spectrometer (SPFS). The observed fluorescence was assigned to particles bearing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). This assignment was supported by an intercomparison with classical speciation on filters followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. As compared with daily averaged data, our time-resolved approach provided information about the physicochemical dynamics of the particles. In particular, distinctions were made between background emissions related to heating, and traffic peaks during rush hours. Also, the evolution of the peak fluorescence wavelength provided an indication of the aging of the particles during the day.

Assessing the Dynamics of Organic Aerosols over the North Atlantic Ocean.

The influence of aerosols on climate is highly dependent on the particle size distribution, concentration, and composition. In particular, the latter influences their ability to act as cloud condensation nuclei, whereby they impact cloud coverage and precipitation. Here, we simultaneously measured the concentration of aerosols from sea spray over the North Atlantic on board the exhaust-free solar-powered vessel "PlanetSolar", and the sea surface physico-chemical parameters. We identified organic-bearing particles based on individual particle fluorescence spectra. Organic-bearing aerosols display specific spatio-temporal distributions as compared to total aerosols. We propose an empirical parameterization of the organic-bearing particle concentration, with a dependence on water salinity and sea-surface temperature only. We also show that a very rich mixture of organic aerosols is emitted from the sea surface. Such data will certainly contribute to providing further insight into the influence of aerosols on cloud formation, and be used as input for the improved modeling of aerosols and their role in global climate processes.

A flash-lamp based device for fluorescence detection and identification of individual pollen grains.

We present a novel optical aerosol particle detector based on Xe flash lamp excitation and spectrally resolved fluorescence acquisition. We demonstrate its performances on three natural pollens acquiring in real-time scattering intensity at two wavelengths, sub-microsecond time-resolved scattering traces of the particles' passage in the focus, and UV-excited fluorescence spectra. We show that the device gives access to a rather specific detection of the bioaerosol particles.

Individual bioaerosol particle discrimination by multi-photon excited fluorescence.

Femtosecond laser induced multi-photon excited fluorescence (MPEF) from individual airborne particles is tested for the first time for discriminating bioaerosols. The fluorescence spectra, analysed in 32 channels, exhibit a composite character originating from simultaneous two-photon and three-photon excitation at 790 nm. Simulants of bacteria aggregates (clusters of dyed polystyrene microspheres) and different pollen particles (Ragweed, Pecan, Mulberry) are clearly discriminated by their MPEF spectra. This demonstration experiment opens the way to more sophisticated spectroscopic schemes like pump-probe and coherent control.

Design, simulation, fabrication, packaging, and characterization of a MEMS-based mirror array for femtosecond pulse-shaping in phase and amplitude.

We present an in-detail description of the design, simulation, fabrication, and packaging of a linear micromirror array specifically designed for temporal pulse shaping of ultrashort laser pulses. The innovative features of this device include a novel comb-drive actuator allowing both piston and tilt motion for phase- and amplitude-shaping, and an X-shaped laterally reinforced spring preventing lateral snap-in while providing high flexibility for both degrees of freedom.

Discriminating biomolecules with coherent control strategies.

The activity of the GAP-Biophotonics research group at the University of Geneva in the field of coherent control for discriminating similar biomolecules, such as flavins, proteins and DNA bases, is presented and future developments are discussed.

Spectral phase, amplitude, and spatial modulation from ultraviolet to infrared with a reflective MEMS pulse shaper.

We describe the performance of a reflective pulse-shaper based on a Micro-ElectroMechanical System (MEMS) linear mirror array. It represents a substantial upgrade of a preceding release [Opt. Lett. 35, 3102 (2010)] as it allows simultaneous piston and tilt mirror motion, allowing both phase- and binary amplitude-shaping with no wavelength restriction. Moreover, we show how the combination of in-axis and tilt movement can be used for active correction of spatial chirp.

Ultraviolet and near-infrared femtosecond temporal pulse shaping with a new high-aspect-ratio one-dimensional micromirror array.

We demonstrate the capabilities of a new optical microelectromechanical systems device that we specifically developed for broadband femtosecond pulse shaping. It consists of a one-dimensional array of 100 independently addressable, high-aspect-ratio micromirrors with up to 3 µm stroke. We apply linear and quadratic phase modulations demonstrating the temporal compression of 800 and 400 nm pulses. Because of the device's surface flatness, stroke, and stroke resolution, phase shaping over an unprecedented bandwidth is attainable.

Nano-FROG: Frequency resolved optical gating by a nanometric object.

We present a technique to characterize ultrashort pulses at the focal plane of a high numerical aperture objective with unprecedented spatial resolution, by performing a FROG measurement with a single nanocrystal as nonlinear medium. This approach can be extended to develop novel phase-sensitive techniques in laser scanning microscopy, probing the microscopic environment by monitoring phase and amplitude distortions of femtosecond laser pulses.