Synthesizing gas-filled anti-resonant hollow-core fiber Raman lines enables access to the molecular fingerprint region.

The synthesis of multiple narrow optical spectral lines, precisely and independently tuned across the near- to mid-infrared region, is a pivotal research area that enables selective and real-time detection of trace gas species within complex gas mixtures. However, existing methods for developing such light sources suffer from limited flexibility and very low pulse energy, particularly in the mid-infrared domain. Here, we introduce a concept that is based on the combination of an appropriate design of near-infrared fiber laser pump and cascaded configuration of gas-filled anti-resonant hollow-core fiber technology.

A modified Tseng algorithm approach to restoring thoracic diseases' computerized tomography images.

It is well-known that the Tseng algorithm and its modifications have been successfully employed in approximating zeros of the sum of monotone operators. In this study, we restored various thoracic diseases' computerized tomography (CT) images, which were degraded with a known blur function and additive noise, using a modified Tseng algorithm. The test images used in the study depict calcification of the Aorta, Subcutaneous Emphysema, Tortuous Aorta, Pneumomediastinum, and Pneumoperitoneum.

Enhancing Genetic Gains in Grain Yield and Efficiency of Testing Sites of Early-Maturing Maize Hybrids under Contrasting Environments.

The major challenges of maize production and productivity in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) include infestation, recurrent drought, and low soil nitrogen (low N). This study assessed the following: (i) accelerated genetic advancements in grain yield and other measured traits of early-maturing maize hybrids, (ii) ideal test environments for selecting early-maturing multiple-stress tolerant hybrids, and (iii) high-yielding and stable hybrids across multiple-stress and non-stress environments. Fifty-four hybrids developed during three periods of genetic enhancement (2008-2010, 2011-2013, and 2014-2016) were evaluated in Nigeria, The Republic of Benin, and Ghana under multiple stressors ( infestation, managed drought, and Low N) and non-stress environments from 2017 to 2019.

Endoscopic Septoplasty: A Retrospective Analysis of Indications and Outcome.

Background: Endoscopic septoplasty is a minimally invasive surgical procedure for the correction of nasal septal deformity. Globally, nasal septal surgeries are rarely performed, and in our country these procedures are even more scarcely undertaken, partly due to dearth of facilities and to some extent, the expertise of embarking on this specialised surgical procedure. Therefore, we aimed to document the indications and the outcome of endoscopic septoplasty in our environment.

Histopathological and radiographical evaluation of caprine demineralized bone matrix in a critical ulnar defect in a rabbit model.

Background: Caprine species satisfy the conditions of an ideal donor animal when compared to bovine species that has been extensively studied and commercialized for bone xenograft. Histopathological and radiological evaluations of caprine demineralized bone matrix (CDBM) were therefore carried out for fracture healing properties for its possible use in bone grafting procedures.

Materials And Methods: Twenty-four rabbits were used for this study and were divided randomly into three groups of eight (n = 8) rabbits each.

ZIF-90 nanoparticles modified with a homing peptide for targeted delivery of cisplatin.

To improve the selective delivery of cisplatin (Cis) to cancer cells, we report and establish the significance of active, targeting drug delivery nanosystems for efficient treatment of lung cancer. Specifically, pH-responsive nano-sized zeolitic imidazolate framework (nZIF-90) was synthesized, post-synthetically modified with an Arg-Gly-Asp peptide motif (RGD@nZIF-90), a known cancer cell homing peptide, and loaded with a large amount of Cis (RGD@Cis⊂nZIF-90). RGD@Cis⊂nZIF-90 was shown to be highly stable under physiological conditions (pH = 7.

Neural stem cell research in Africa: current realities and future prospects.

Neural stem cells (NSCs) are immature progenitor cells that are found in developing and adult brains that have the potential of dividing actively and renewing themselves, with a complex form of gene expression. The generation of new brain cells in adult individuals was initially considered impossible, however, the landmark discovery of human neural stem cells in the hippocampus has been followed by further discoveries in other discreet regions of the brain. Investigation into the current state in Africa of the research and use of NSCs shows relatively limited activities on the continent.

Roles of Sodium Hydrogen Exchanger (NHE1) and Anion Exchanger (AE2) across Chondrocytes Plasma Membrane during Longitudinal Bone Growth.

Mammalian long bone growth occurs through endochondral ossification, majorly regulated by the controlled enlargement of chondrocytes at the growth plate (GP). This study aimed to investigate the roles of Na+/H+ (sodium hydrogen exchanger (NHE1)) and HCO3− (anion exchanger [AE2]) during longitudinal bone growth in mammals. Bones from P10 SpragueDawley rat pups were cultured exvivo in the presence or absence of NHE1 and AE2 inhibitors to determine their effect on long bone growth.

Hematological Changes after Caprine Demineralized Bone Matrix Implantation in Ulnar Critical Defect of Rabbit Model.

 Several animal models have been used in fracture healing and bone graft studies, but hematological responses are seldom reported. Therefore, the present study reported the hematological changes observed in rabbits that underwent xenografting of caprine demineralized bone matrix (CDBM).  Twenty-four (24) male rabbits (2.

Accelerated Genetic Gains in Early-Maturing Maize Hybrids following Three Periods of Genetic Enhancement for Grain Yield under Low and High Soil-Nitrogen Environments.

Maize ( L.) is an important staple, as well as cash crop, in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). However, its production is severely constrained by low soil nitrogen (low N).

Combining Ability and Performance of Extra-Early Maturing Provitamin A Maize Inbreds and Derived Hybrids in Multiple Environments.

Availability of maize ( L.) hybrids with elevated provitamin A (PVA) levels and tolerance to contrasting stresses would improve food self-sufficiency and combat malnutrition in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This study was conducted to (i) analyze selected PVA inbreds of extra-early maturity for carotenoid content, (ii) estimate the combining abilities of the inbred lines for grain yield and other agronomic traits, (iii) assign inbred lines to distinct heterotic groups (HGs), (iv) identify testers among the inbred lines, and (v) determine grain yield and stability of the PVA hybrids across contrasting environments.

Thermally tunable dispersion modulation in a chalcogenide-based hybrid optical fiber.

A hybrid optical fiber comprising metal electrodes, high performance polymers, and a highly nonlinear glass core is presented in this work as a novel, to the best of our knowledge, platform for mid-infrared nonlinear devices. The fiber allows for electrical tuning of the temperature by joule heating using a set of embedded tungsten wires. Unlike temperature tuning by an external heater, this results in a strong modulation, which introduces alternating signs of its dispersion.

Enhanced birefringence in conventional and hybrid anti-resonant hollow-core fibers.

A hollow-core anti-resonant fiber (HC-ARF) design based on hybrid silica/silicon cladding is proposed for single-polarization, single-mode and high birefringence. We show that by adding silicon layers in a semi-nested HC-ARF, one of the polarization states can be strongly suppressed while simultaneously maintaining low propagation loss for other polarization states, single-mode and high birefiringence. The optimized HC-ARF design exhibits propagation loss, high birefringence, and polarization-extinction ratio of 0.

Mid-infrared photoacoustic gas monitoring driven by a gas-filled hollow-core fiber laser.

Development of novel mid-infrared (MIR) lasers could ultimately boost emerging detection technologies towards innovative spectroscopic and imaging solutions. Photoacoustic (PA) modality has been heralded for years as one of the most powerful detection tools enabling high signal-to-noise ratio analysis. Here, we demonstrate a novel, compact and sensitive MIR-PA system for carbon dioxide (CO) monitoring at its strongest absorption band by combining a gas-filled fiber laser and PA technology.

Multi-wavelength high-energy gas-filled fiber Raman laser spanning from 1.53 µm to 2.4 µm.

In this work, we present a high-pulse-energy multi-wavelength Raman laser spanning from 1.53 µm up to 2.4 µm by employing the cascaded rotational stimulated Raman scattering effect in a 5 m hydrogen ()-filled nested anti-resonant fiber, pumped by a linearly polarized Er/Yb fiber laser with a peak power of ∼13 and pulse duration of ∼7 in the C-band.

Neonatal Hearing Screening, with Otoacoustic Emission, among Normal Babies in a Northeastern Nigerian Hospital.

Background: Hearing is necessary for speech and language development, children with bilateral hearing loss often have impaired speech and language abilities thus limiting educational attainment. Early detection and intervention will help minimize such effects. Therefore, neonatal hearing screening program has been advocated in developing countries.

Spectral broadening of ultraviolet dispersive waves in gas-filled hollow-core fiber using pump pulse modulation.

UV supercontinuum laser sources based on resonant dispersive wave (RDW) generation in gas-filled hollow-core (HC) fibers offer an attractive architecture for numerous applications. However, the narrow UV spectral peak inherent to RDW generation limits the suitability for applications that require broad spectral coverage within the UV region such as spectroscopic scatterometry. In this Letter, we demonstrate how the UV spectrum can be shaped by modulating the peak power of the pump pulses driving the RDW generation, thereby creating a broadened and flattened UV spectrum.

Veterinary acutherapy in management of musculoskeletal disorders: An eye-opener to the developing countries' veterinarians.

Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners believed that the maintenance of the health status of any individual or animal is by the harmonious flow of (life force) along a pathway known as the meridian. Interruption or blockage of brings about disorders, pain, and diseases. Acutherapy, therefore, aims at correcting the interruption or blockage of the harmonious flow of along the meridian to restore the healthy condition of the body system.

Low-noise tunable deep-ultraviolet supercontinuum laser.

The realization of a table-top tunable deep-ultraviolet (UV) laser source with excellent noise properties would significantly benefit the scientific community, particularly within imaging and spectroscopic applications, where source noise has a crucial role. Here we provide a thorough characterization of the pulse-to-pulse relative intensity noise (RIN) of such a deep-UV source based on an argon (Ar)-filled anti-resonant hollow-core (AR HC) fiber. Suitable pump pulses are produced using a compact commercially available laser centered at 1030 nm with a pulse duration of 400 fs, followed by a nonlinear compression stage that generates pulses with 30 fs duration, 24.

High pulse energy and quantum efficiency mid-infrared gas Raman fiber laser targeting CO absorption at 4.2 µm.

In this Letter, we demonstrate a high pulse energy and linearly polarized mid-infrared Raman fiber laser targeting the strongest absorption line of ${\rm CO}_2$CO at $\sim{4.2}\;\unicode {x00B5} {\rm m}$∼4.2µm.

Noise and spectral stability of deep-UV gas-filled fiber-based supercontinuum sources driven by ultrafast mid-IR pulses.

Deep-UV (DUV) supercontinuum (SC) sources based on gas-filled hollow-core fibers constitute perhaps the most viable solution towards ultrafast, compact, and tunable lasers in the UV spectral region, which can even also extend into the mid-infrared (IR). Noise and spectral stability of such broadband sources are key parameters that define their true potential and suitability towards real-world applications. In order to investigate the spectral stability and noise levels in these fiber-based DUV sources, we generate an SC spectrum that extends from 180 nm (through phase-matched dispersive waves - DWs) to 4 μm by pumping an argon-filled hollow-core anti-resonant fiber at a mid-IR wavelength of 2.

The role of edible bird's nest and mechanism of averting lead acetate toxicity effect on rat uterus.

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the protective effect of edible bird's nest (EBN) supplement on the uteri of rats exposed to lead acetate (LA) toxicity.

Materials And Methods: Five treatment groups were established as follows: Group 1 (C), which was given distilled water; Group 2 (T0), which was administered with LA (10 mg/kg body weight [BW]); and Groups 3 (T1), 4 (T2), and 5 (T3), which were given LA (10 mg/kg BW) plus graded concentrations of 30, 60, and 120 mg/kg BW of EBN, respectively. Rats were euthanized at week 5 to collect blood for superoxide dismutase (SOD) assay, and uterus for histomorphological study and expression analyses of epidermal growth factor (EGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA).

Postnatal ex vivo rat model for longitudinal bone growth investigations.

Background: Chondrocytes in the growth plate (GP) undergo increases in volume during different cascades of cell differentiation during longitudinal bone growth. The volume increase is reported to be the most significant variable in understanding the mechanism of long bone growth.

Methods: Forty-five postnatal Sprague-Dawley rat pups, 7-15 days old were divided into nine age groups (P7-P15).

Deep-UV to Mid-IR Supercontinuum Generation driven by Mid-IR Ultrashort Pulses in a Gas-filled Hollow-core Fiber.

Supercontinuum (SC) generation based on ultrashort pulse compression constitutes one of the most promising technologies towards ultra-wide bandwidth, high-brightness, and spatially coherent light sources for applications such as spectroscopy and microscopy. Here, multi-octave SC generation in a gas-filled hollow-core antiresonant fiber (HC-ARF) is reported spanning from 200 nm in the deep ultraviolet (DUV) to 4000 nm in the mid-infrared (mid-IR) having an output energy of 5 μJ. This was obtained by pumping at the center wavelength of the first anti-resonant transmission window (2460 nm) with ~100 fs pulses and an injected pulse energy of ~8 μJ.

Histological changes of immediate skin expansion of the distal limb of rats.

Aim: Tissue expansion is an applicable technique to reconstruct many surgical defects. The aim of this research was to evaluate the histological changes caused by immediate skin tissue expansion in rats as an animal model.

Materials And Methods: Immediate skin tissue expansion in 18 adult female rats was performed using three different sizes (small, medium, and big) of polymethylmethacrylate tissue expanders at the dorsal surface of the metatarsal area of the right limb.