Optical Extinction-Based 3D Nano-Imaging of WS on Gold.

Broadband nanoextinction images recorded in tip-enhanced optical spectroscopy geometry track the 3D topography of a single layer of WS on Au substrate. The described nano-optical method is complementary to conventional atomic force microscopy and offers additional information about the buried material-metal interface that is not accessible using conventional topographic imaging. Beyond 3D optical imaging, we observe large variations in the junction plasmon resonance on the nanoscale.

A massive multicystic parapharyngeal tumor: A case report.

Cervical sympathetic chain schwannomas are uncommon benign tumors that usually develop in the retrostyloid compartment of the parapharyngeal space. Differentiating cervical sympathetic chain schwannomas from other lesions of the retrostyloid parapharyngeal space can be very difficult. We present a case of a major ingrowth of a cervical lesion, covering the larynx and obstructing the airway beyond the midline.

Tunable Localized Charge Transfer Excitons in Nanoplatelet-2D Chalcogenide van der Waals Heterostructures.

Observation of interlayer, charge transfer (CT) excitons in van der Waals heterostructures (vdWHs) based on 2D-2D systems has been well investigated. While conceptually interesting, these charge transfer excitons are highly delocalized and spatially localizing them requires twisting layers at very specific angles. This issue of localizing the CT excitons can be overcome via making nanoplate-2D material heterostructures (N2DHs) where one of the components is a spatially quantum confined medium.

Recurrence of sleep apnea in children after intracapsular coblation tonsillectomy: A comprehensive exploration of tonsil regrowth.

Objectives: Sleep apnea is a prevalent issue in children, associated with significant morbidities such as cardiovascular and neurocognitive disorders. There is increasing interest in intra-capsular tonsillectomy by coblation (ICTC) as a method to address obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in children. However, the literature remains controversial regarding the most effective intra-capsular tonsillectomy (ICT) technique with the least morbidity.

Classical vs. quantum plasmon-induced molecular transformations at metallic nanojunctions.

Chemical transformations near plasmonic metals have attracted increasing attention in the past few years. Specifically, reactions occurring within plasmonic nanojunctions that can be detected via surface and tip-enhanced Raman (SER and TER) scattering were the focus of numerous reports. In this context, even though the transition between localized and nonlocal (quantum) plasmons at nanojunctions is documented, its implications on plasmonic chemistry remain poorly understood.

A cross-sectional comparative study: ChatGPT 3.5 versus diverse levels of medical experts in the diagnosis of ENT diseases.

Purpose: With recent advances in artificial intelligence (AI), it has become crucial to thoroughly evaluate its applicability in healthcare. This study aimed to assess the accuracy of ChatGPT in diagnosing ear, nose, and throat (ENT) pathology, and comparing its performance to that of medical experts.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional comparative study where 32 ENT cases were presented to ChatGPT 3.

Controlling the Fluctuating Tip-Enhanced Raman Spectra of Chloramben on Silver Nanocubes.

Tip-enhanced Raman (TER) scattering from molecules residing at plasmonic junctions can be used to detect, identify, and image single molecules. This is most evident for flat molecules interrogated under conditions of extreme temperatures and pressure. It is also the case for (bio)molecular systems that feature preferred orientations/conformations under ambient laboratory conditions.

Chemical characterization of microplastic particles formed in airborne waste discharged from sewer pipe repairs.

Microplastic particles are of increasing environmental concern due to the widespread uncontrolled degradation of various commercial products made of plastic and their associated waste disposal. Recently, common technology used to repair sewer pipes was reported as one of the emission sources of airborne microplastics in urban areas. This research presents results of the multi-modal comprehensive chemical characterization of the microplastic particles related to waste discharged in the pipe repair process and compares particle composition with the components of uncured resin and cured plastic composite used in the process.

Subnanometer Visualization of Spatially Varying Local Field Resonances that Drive Tip-Enhanced Optical Spectroscopy.

Our knowledge of the electromagnetic fields that power modern nanoscale optical measurements, including (non)linear tip-enhanced Raman and photoluminescence, chiefly stems from numerical simulations. Aside from idealized in silico vs heterogeneous (nano)structures in the laboratory, challenges in quantitative descriptions of nanoscale light-matter interactions more generally stem from the very nature of the problem, which lies at the interface of classical and quantum theories. This is particularly the case in ultrahigh spatial resolution measurements that are sensitive to local optical field variations that take place on subnanometer length scales.

Probing Local Optical Fields via Ultralow Frequency Raman Scattering from a Corrugated Probe.

We revisit nanoscale local optical field imaging via tip-enhanced Raman scattering (TERS). Rather than taking advantage of molecular reporters to probe different aspects of the local fields, we show how ultralow frequency Raman (ULF) scattering from the (nanocorrugated) metallic probe itself can be used for the same purpose. The bright ULF-TERS response we record allows non-invasive (tapping mode feedback) local field imaging, enables visualization of the local fields of small (≥20 nm) isolated plasmonic particles, and can also be exploited to distinguish between Si and SiO domains with 5 nm spatial resolution.

CT Scan in Children Suspected of Foreign Body Aspiration: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Objective: The goal of this study is to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of computed tomography (CT) scans in the diagnosis of foreign body aspiration (FBA) in children, and to determine whether chest CT scans would reduce the need for diagnostic rigid bronchoscopies.

Data Sources: MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) databases were searched for relevant articles and conference proceedings that were published in English through November 1, 2022.

Review Methods: We included prospective and retrospective studies comparing chest CT scans and rigid bronchoscopy for the diagnosis of FBA in pediatric patients (<16 years old).

Ipratropium Bromide Nasal Spray in Non-Allergic Rhinitis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Objective: This study aims to compare the effectiveness of intranasal ipratropium bromide (INIB) to a placebo in reducing nasal symptoms, particularly rhinorrhea, and enhancing quality of life in non-allergic rhinitis (NAR) patients.

Study Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Methods: A comprehensive review of the literature was conducted on Medline, Embase, and Cochrane libraries.

Tip-Enhanced Raman Chemical and Chemical Reaction Imaging in HO with Sub-3-nm Spatial Resolution.

Reproducible chemical and chemical reaction nanoimaging at solid-liquid interfaces remains challenging, particularly when resolutions on the order of a few nanometers are sought. In this work, we demonstrate the latter through liquid-tip-enhanced Raman (TER) measurements that target gold nanoplates functionalized with 4-mercaptobenzonitrile (MBN). In addition to chemical imaging and local optical field nanovisualization with high spatial resolution, we observe the signatures of 4-mercaptobenzoic acid, which forms as a result of plasmon-induced hydrolysis of MBN.

Influence of surface and intermolecular interactions on the properties of supported polyoxometalates.

Polyoxometalates (POMs) with localized radical or open-shell metal sites have the potential to be used as transformative electronic spin based molecular qubits (MQs) for quantum computing (QC). For practical applications, MQs have to be immobilized in electronically or optically addressable arrays which introduces interactions with supports as well as neighboring POMs. Herein, we synthesized Keggin POMs with both tungsten (W) and vanadium (V) addenda atoms.

High spatial resolution ambient tip-enhanced (multipolar) Raman scattering.

This article summarizes lessons learnt from ambient tip-enhanced Raman (TER) mapping of molecules interacting with plasmonic nanostructures. It is shown that numerous physical and chemical phenomena contribute to high-resolution TER spectral images. As a result, selectively tracking interfacial chemical transformations TERS is more challenging than currently appreciated.

Ambient Tip-Enhanced Two Photon Photoluminescence from CdSe/ZnS Quantum Dots.

Nonlinear nano-optical measurements that combine ultrafast spectroscopy with tools of scanning probe microscopy are scarce. This is particularly the case when high spatial resolution on the order of a few nanometers is sought after in experiments performed under ambient laboratory conditions. In this work, we demonstrate the latter through measurements that track two-photon photoluminescence from aggregates of CdSe/ZnS quantum dots with sub-5 nm spatial resolution.

Excited-State-Selective Ultrafast Relaxation Dynamics and Photoisomerization of -4,4'-Azopyridine.

Excited-state dynamics of -4,4'-azopyridine in ethanol is studied using femtosecond transient absorption with 30 fs temporal resolution. Exciting the system at three different wavelengths, 460 and 290 (275) nm, to access the S * and S * electronic states, respectively, reveals a 195 cm vibrational coherence, which suggests that the same mode is active in both * and * relaxation channels. Following S-excitation, relaxation proceeds via a nonrotational pathway, where a fraction of the * population is trapped in a planar minimum (lifetime, 2.