Gated mode superconducting nanowire single photon detectors.

Single Photon Detectors are fundamental to quantum optics and quantum information. Superconducting nanowire detectors exhibit high performance in free-running mode, but have a limited maximum count rate. By exploiting a bistable superconducting nanowire system, we demonstrate the first gated-mode operation of these detectors for a large active area single element device at 625MHz, one order of magnitude faster than its free-running counterpart. We show the maximum count rate in gated-mode operation can be pushed to GHz range without a compromise on the active area or quantum efficiency, while reducing the dark count rate.

Reduced dark counts in optimized geometries for superconducting nanowire single photon detectors.

We have experimentally compared the critical current, dark count rate and photo-response of 100nm wide superconducting nanowires with different bend designs. Enhanced critical current for nanowires with optimally rounded bends, and thus with no current crowding, are observed. Furthermore, we find that the optimally designed bend significantly reduces the dark counts without compromising the photo-response of the device. The results can lead to major improvements in superconducting nanowire single photon detectors.

The curriculum development process for an international emergency medicine rotation.

BACKGROUND: Completion of electives abroad is not a new phenomenon for physicians in training. Benefits to the physician and the host country's population have been sufficiently described in the literature; however, many academic residency programs lack an international health curriculum that incorporates both the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education's core and specialty-specific competencies. DESCRIPTION: The goal of this project was to develop a curriculum for emergency medicine residents completing International Emergency Medicine (IEM) rotations. EVALUATION: A literature search was conducted to review available international rotation curricula and the curriculum development process. A committee was formed to create an IEM rotation, borrowing philosophical premises from the educational literature, particularly experientialism. CONCLUSIONS: The resulting article describes the curriculum development process and provides a curriculum template for medical specialties to utilize when sending residents abroad.

Nonlinearity in single photon detection: modeling and quantum tomography.

Single Photon Detectors are integral to quantum optics and quantum information. Superconducting Nanowire based detectors exhibit new levels of performance, but have no accepted quantum optical model that is valid for multiple input photons. By performing Detector Tomography, we improve the recently proposed model [M.K. Akhlaghi and A.H. Majedi, IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond. 19, 361 (2009)] and also investigate the manner in which these detectors respond nonlinearly to light, a valuable feature for some applications. We develop a device independent model for Single Photon Detectors that incorporates this nonlinearity.

Pupillary response to light is preserved in the majority of patients undergoing rapid sequence intubation.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: We determine whether pharmacologic neuromuscular blockade with succinylcholine or rocuronium during emergency rapid sequence intubation affects pupillary response to light. METHODS: This was a prospective case series of patients undergoing rapid sequence intubation between February 2008 and February 2009. Two blinded, independent emergency physicians assessed pupillary response after administration of neuromuscular blockade and intubation. Cases without pupillary response before rapid sequence intubation were excluded. The primary outcome measure was clinically observable pupillary response. RESULTS: We studied 94 patients undergoing rapid sequence intubation, including 67 (71%) receiving succinylcholine and 27 (31%) receiving rocuronium. Of patients receiving succinylcholine, 61 of 67 (91%; 95% confidence interval 82% to 97%) demonstrated pupillary response after rapid sequence intubation. All patients receiving rocuronium demonstrated preserved pupillary reflexes. κ For interobserver agreement was 0.66. CONCLUSION: Succinylcholine and rocuronium do not appear to inhibit pupillary response in patients undergoing emergency department rapid sequence intubation.

Waveguide integrated superconducting single-photon detectors implemented as near-perfect absorbers of coherent radiation.

At the core of an ideal single-photon detector is an active material that absorbs and converts every incident photon to a discriminable signal. A large active material favours efficient absorption, but often at the expense of conversion efficiency, noise, speed and timing accuracy. In this work, short (8.5 µm long) and narrow (8 × 35 nm(2)) U-shaped NbTiN nanowires atop silicon-on-insulator waveguides are embedded in asymmetric nanobeam cavities that render them as near-perfect absorbers despite their small volume. At 2.05 K, when biased at 0.9 of the critical current, the resulting superconducting single-photon detectors achieve a near-unity on-chip quantum efficiency for ∼1,545 nm photons, an intrinsic dark count rate <0.1 Hz, a reset time of ∼7 ns, and a timing jitter of ∼55 ps full-width at half-maximum. Such ultracompact, high-performance detectors are essential for progress in integrated quantum optics.

Citrus aurantium blossom and preoperative anxiety.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Reducing anxiety is very important before operation. Preoperative visit and use of premedication are popular methods to achieve this goal, but the role of anxiolytic premedication remains unclear and postoperative side-effects may result from routine premedication. Citrus aurantium is used as an alternative medicine in some countries to treat anxiety, and recently the anxiolytic role of this medicinal plant was established in an animal model study. The aim of this study was to assess the anxiolytic effect of Citrus aurantium blossomon preoperative anxiety. METHODS: We studied 60 ASA I patients undergoing minor operation. In a randomized double-blind design, two groups of 30 patients received one of the following oral premedication two hours before induction of anesthesia: 1) Citrus aurantium blossom distillate 1mL.kg(-1) (C-group); 2) Saline solution 1mL.kg(-1) as placebo (P-group). Anxiety was measured before and after premedication using the Spielberger state-trait anxiety inventory (STAI-state) and the Amsterdam preoperative anxiety and information scale (APAIS) before operation. RESULTS: After premedication, both the STAI-state and the APAIS scales were decreased in C-group (p<0.05); while exhibiting no significant changes in P-group. CONCLUSIONS: Citrus aurantium blossom may be effective in terms of reduction in preoperative anxiety before minor operation.

Flor de Citrus aurantium e ansiedade pré-operatória / Citrus aurantium Blossom and Preoperative Anxiety / Flor del Citrus aurantium y la Ansiedad Preoperatoria

JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: Reduzir a ansiedade é muito importante antes da operação. A visita no pré-operatório e a utilização de pré-medicação são os métodos mais populares para se atingir esse objetivo, mas o papel da pré-medicação ansiolítica permanece incerto e os efeitos colaterais no pós-operatório podem partir de uma pré-medicação de rotina. Citrus aurantium é usado como medicina alternativa em alguns países para tratar a ansiedade. Recentemente, o papel ansiolítico dessa planta medicinal foi estabelecido em um estudo realizado em modelo animal. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o efeito ansiolítico da flor de Citrus aurantium sobre a ansiedade pré-operatória. MÉTODOS: Foram estudados 60 pacientes ASA I submetidos a uma pequena cirurgia. Em um desenho randomizado e duplo-cego, dois grupos de 30 pacientes receberam uma das seguintes MPA oral duas horas antes da indução da anestesia: 1) Citrus aurantium destilado 1 mL.kg-1 (Grupo C); 2) solução salina 1 mL.kg-1 como placebo (Grupo P). A ansiedade foi medida antes e após pré-medicação com o Inventário de Ansiedade Traço-Estado (IDATE) e a Escala de Ansiedade e Informação Pré-Operatória de Amsterdam (APAIS) antes da operação. RESULTADOS: Após pré-medicação, tanto o IDATE quanto as escalas APAIS estavam diminuídos no Grupo C (p < 0,05), embora não tenham apresentado alterações significativas no Grupo P. CONCLUSÕES:Citrus aurantium pode mostrar-se eficaz na redução da ansiedade pré-operatória em cirurgias de pequeno porte.

ACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Reducing anxiety is very important before operation. Preoperative visit and use of premedication are popular methods to achieve this goal, but the role of anxiolytic premedication remains unclear and postoperative side-effects may result from routine premedication. Citrus aurantium is used as an alternative medicine in some countries to treat anxiety, and recently the anxiolytic role of this medicinal plant was established in an animal model study. The aim of this study was to assess the anxiolytic effect of Citrus aurantium blossom on preoperative anxiety. METHODS: We studied 60 ASA I patients undergoing minor operation. In a randomized double-blind design, two groups of 30 patients received one of the following oral premedication two hours before induction of anesthesia: 1) Citrus aurantium blossom distillate 1 mL.kg-1 (C-group); 2) Saline solution 1 mL.kg-1 as placebo (P-group). Anxiety was measured before and after premedication using the Spielberger state-trait anxiety inventory (STAI-state) and the Amsterdam preoperative anxiety and information scale (APAIS) before operation. RESULTS: After premedication, both the STAI-state and the APAIS scales were decreased in C-group (p < 0.05); while exhibiting no significant changes in P-group. CONCLUSIONS: Citrus aurantium blossom may be effective in terms of reduction in preoperative anxiety before minor operation.

JUSTIFICATIVA Y OBJETIVOS: Reducir la ansiedad es algo muy importante antes de la operación. La visita en el preoperatorio y la utilización de premedicación, son los métodos más populares para alcanzar ese objetivo, pero el rol de la premedicación ansiolítica permanece como incierto y los efectos colaterales en el postoperatorio pueden originarse de una premedicación de rutina. El Citrus aurantium es usado como medicina alternativa en algunos países para tratar la ansiedad. Recientemente, el papel ansiolítico de esa planta medicinal quedó establecido en un estudio realizado en un modelo animal. El objetivo de este estudio, fue evaluar el efecto ansiolítico de la flor del Citrus aurantium sobre la ansiedad preoperatoria. MÉTODOS: Fueron estudiados 60 pacientes ASA I sometidos a una pequeña operación. En un proyecto randomizado y doble ciego, dos grupos de 30 pacientes recibieron una de las siguientes MPA oral dos horas antes de la inducción de la anestesia: 1) Flor del Citrus aurantium destilado 1 mL.kg-1 (Grupo C); 2) solución salina 1 mL.kg-1 como placebo (Grupo P). La ansiedad se midió antes y después de la premedicación con el Inventario de Ansiedad Trazo-Estado (IDATE), y la Escala de Ansiedad e Información Preoperatoria de Ámsterdam (APAIS) antes de la operación. RESULTADOS: Después de la premedicación, tanto el IDATE como las escalas APAIS se habían reducido en el Grupo C (p < 0,05), aunque no hayan presentado alteraciones significativas en el Grupo P. CONCLUSIONES: El Citrus aurantium puede ser eficaz para la reducción de la ansiedad preoperatoria en las cirugías menores.