Evaluation of automated microscopy sediment analysis in urinary tract infection screening: a practical insight in adjusting fixed cut-off values for urine culture.

PURPOSE: The aim of our study was to evaluate a procedure in which urine culture was only being performed based on fixed cut-off values of urine sediment analysis with intention to prevent unnecessary negative urine cultures. METHODS: From January 2018 to August 2018, all urine samples from patients visiting the urology outpatient department were analyzed. Urine culture was only performed if urine sediment contained more than 130 bacteria per microliter and/or more than 50 leukocytes per microliter. RESULTS: In total, 2821 urine cultures with accompanying urine sediments were analyzed. 2098 cultures (74.4%) were defined negative and 723 (25.6%) positive. By adjusting cut-off values of sediment analysis > 20 per microliter or bacteria more than 330 per microliter, 1051 cultures would have been saved with an estimated cost reduction of € 31.470. Eleven clinically relevant urine cultures would have been missed (1%). CONCLUSION: Using cut-offs values leads to a notable decrease of the total number of urine cultures. According to our analysis, adjusting cut-off values could result in 37% less urine cultures and almost 50% less negative cultures. Hereby, unnecessary cost can be prevented [in our department estimated €31.470 in eight months (€ 47.205/year)].

Tapered InP nanowire arrays for efficient broadband high-speed single-photon detection.

Superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors with peak efficiencies above 90% and unrivalled timing jitter (<30 ps) have emerged as a potent technology for quantum information and sensing applications. However, their high cost and cryogenic operation limit their widespread applicability. Here, we present an approach using tapered InP nanowire p-n junction arrays for high-efficiency, broadband and high-speed photodetection without the need for cryogenic cooling. The truncated conical nanowire shape enables a broadband, linear photoresponse in the ultraviolet to near-infrared range (~500 nm bandwidth) with external quantum efficiencies exceeding 85%. The devices exhibit a high gain beyond 105, such that a single photon per pulse can be distinguished from the dark noise, while simultaneously showing a fast pulse rise time (<1 ns) and excellent timing jitter (<20 ps). Such detectors open up new possibilities for applications in remote sensing, dose monitoring for cancer treatment, three-dimensional imaging and quantum communication.

High-Efficiency Nanowire Solar Cells with Omnidirectionally Enhanced Absorption Due to Self-Aligned Indium-Tin-Oxide Mie Scatterers.

Photovoltaic cells based on arrays of semiconductor nanowires promise efficiencies comparable or even better than their planar counterparts with much less material. One reason for the high efficiencies is their large absorption cross section, but until recently the photocurrent has been limited to less than 70% of the theoretical maximum. Here we enhance the absorption in indium phosphide (InP) nanowire solar cells by employing broadband forward scattering of self-aligned nanoparticles on top of the transparent top contact layer. This results in a nanowire solar cell with a photovoltaic conversion efficiency of 17.8% and a short-circuit current of 29.3 mA/cm2 under 1 sun illumination, which is the highest reported so far for nanowire solar cells and among the highest reported for III-V solar cells. We also measure the angle-dependent photocurrent, using time-reversed Fourier microscopy, and demonstrate a broadband and omnidirectional absorption enhancement for unpolarized light up to 60° with a wavelength average of 12% due to Mie scattering. These results unambiguously demonstrate the potential of semiconductor nanowires as nanostructures for the next generation of photovoltaic devices.

Optical Response of Silver Nanoneedles on a Mirror.

Plasmonic properties of metal nanostructures are appealing due to their potential to enhance photovoltaics or sensing performance. Our aim was to identify the plasmonic characteristics of silver nanoneedles on a reflective layer in the polarized optical response. Experimental ellipsometry results are complemented by finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) calculations. Plasmon resonances on the nanoneedles can indeed be observed in the polarized optical response. This study reveals the details of the complex antenna-like behaviour of the nanoneedles which gives an agreement between experiment and FDTD simulation. The simulations show that the plasmon resonances lead to an effective negative refractive index, originating from the negative refractive index of the nanoneedles in combination with its supporting substrate, i.e. a mirror. This original study of a complex plasmonic system by ellipsometry and FDTD has great relevance for applications, making use of intricate light matter interaction.

Efficient water reduction with gallium phosphide nanowires.

Photoelectrochemical hydrogen production from solar energy and water offers a clean and sustainable fuel option for the future. Planar III/V material systems have shown the highest efficiencies, but are expensive. By moving to the nanowire regime the demand on material quantity is reduced, and new materials can be uncovered, such as wurtzite gallium phosphide, featuring a direct bandgap. This is one of the few materials combining large solar light absorption and (close to) ideal band-edge positions for full water splitting. Here we report the photoelectrochemical reduction of water, on a p-type wurtzite gallium phosphide nanowire photocathode. By modifying geometry to reduce electrical resistance and enhance optical absorption, and modifying the surface with a multistep platinum deposition, high current densities and open circuit potentials were achieved. Our results demonstrate the capabilities of this material, even when used in such low quantities, as in nanowires.

Directional and Polarized Emission from Nanowire Arrays.

Lighting applications require directional and polarization control of the emitted light, which is currently achieved by bulky optical components such as lenses, parabolic mirrors, and polarizers. Ideally, this control would be achieved without any external optics, but at the nanoscale, during the generation of light. Semiconductor nanowires are promising candidates for lighting devices due to their efficient light outcoupling and synthesis flexibility. In this work, we demonstrate a precise control of both the directionality and the polarization of the nanowire array emission by changing the nanowire diameter. We change the angular emission pattern from a large-angle doughnut shape to a narrow-angle beaming along the nanowire axis. In addition, we tune the polarization from unpolarized to either p- or s-polarized. Both the far-field emission pattern and its polarization are controlled by the number and type of guided or leaky modes supported by the nanowire, which are determined by the nanowire diameter.

Nanowire antenna absorption probed with time-reversed fourier microscopy.

Understanding light absorption in individual nanostructures is crucial for optimizing the light-matter interaction at the nanoscale. Here, we introduce a technique named time-reversed Fourier microscopy that enables the measurement of the angle-dependent light absorption in dilute arrays of uncoupled semiconductor nanowires. Because of their large separation, the nanowires have a response that can be described in terms of individual nanostructures. The geometry of individual nanowires makes them behave as nanoantennas that show a strong interaction with the incident light. The angle-dependent absorption measurements, which are compared to numerical simulations and Mie scattering calculations, show the transition from guided-mode to Mie-resonance absorption in individual nanowires and the relative efficiency of these two absorption mechanisms in the same nanostructures. Mie theory fails to describe the absorption in finite-length vertical nanowires illuminated at small angles with respect to their axis. At these angles, the incident light is efficiently absorbed after being coupled to guided modes. Our findings are relevant for the design of nanowire-based photodetectors and solar cells with an optimum efficiency.

"I don't see an added value for myself": a qualitative study exploring the social cognitive variables associated with influenza vaccination of Belgian, Dutch and German healthcare personnel.

BACKGROUND: Health Authorities recommend influenza vaccination of healthcare personnel (HCP) to decrease the transmission of influenza to vulnerable patients. Recent studies have almost exclusively used quantitative questionnaires in order to identify determinants of vaccination behaviour. Interviews enable HCP to express freely why they think they are (not) willing to get vaccinated against influenza. METHODS: By means of semi-structured one-on-one interviews with 123 Belgian, Dutch and German HCP, reasons for and against vaccination, experiences with influenza vaccination, intention to get vaccinated and possible barriers, as well as willingness to advice influenza vaccination to patients were investigated. Data were processed with QSR NVivo 8.0 and analysed using a combination of a deductive and a general inductive approach. RESULTS: Across countries, self-protection, patient protection, and protection of family members were reported as most important reasons to get vaccinated against influenza. Reasons to not get vaccinated against influenza were fear of side effects caused by the vaccine, a low risk-perception, the disbelief in the effectiveness of influenza vaccination, organizational barriers, misconceptions, and undefined negative emotions. CONCLUSIONS: The social cognitive variables underlying the decision of HCP to get vaccinated against influenza (or not) seem to be similar in Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands, even though some differences surfaced. A quantitative investigation of those social cognitive variables is needed in order to determine the importance of the social cognitive variables in explaining the intention to get vaccinated and the importance of the similarities and differences between countries that have been found in this study.