Evaluation of National Surgical Practice for Lateral Lymph Nodes in Rectal Cancer in an Untrained Setting.

Background: Involved lateral lymph nodes (LLNs) have been associated with increased local recurrence (LR) and ipsi-lateral LR (LLR) rates. However, consensus regarding the indication and type of surgical treatment for suspicious LLNs is lacking. This study evaluated the surgical treatment of LLNs in an untrained setting at a national level.

Nonreciprocal Frequency Domain Beam Splitter.

The canonical beam splitter-a fundamental building block of quantum optical systems-is a reciprocal element. It operates on forward- and backward-propagating modes in the same way, regardless of direction. The concept of nonreciprocal quantum photonic operations, by contrast, could be used to transform quantum states in a momentum- and direction-selective fashion.

Microwave response in a topological superconducting quantum interference device.

Photon detection at microwave frequency is of great interest due to its application in quantum computation information science and technology. Herein are results from studying microwave response in a topological superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) realized in Dirac semimetal CdAs. The temperature dependence and microwave power dependence of the SQUID junction resistance are studied, from which we obtain an effective temperature at each microwave power level.

Phase-Exchange-Driven Wake-Up and Fatigue in Ferroelectric Hafnium Zirconium Oxide Films.

Ferroelectric hafnium zirconium oxide holds great promise for a broad spectrum of complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) compatible and scaled microelectronic applications, including memory, low-voltage transistors, and infrared sensors, among others. An outstanding challenge hindering the implementation of this material is polarization instability during field cycling. In this study, the nanoscale phenomena contributing to both polarization fatigue and wake-up are reported.

Electrical power generation from moderate-temperature radiative thermal sources.

Moderate-temperature thermal sources (100° to 400°C) that radiate waste heat are often the by-product of mechanical work, chemical or nuclear reactions, or information processing. We demonstrate conversion of thermal radiation into electrical power using a bipolar grating-coupled complementary metal-oxide-silicon (CMOS) tunnel diode. A two-step photon-assisted tunneling charge pumping mechanism results in separation of charge carriers in pn-junction wells leading to a large open-circuit voltage developed across a load.

One-stop routing for surgical interventions: a cost-analysis of endoscopic groin repair.

Background: Single-visit (SV) totally extraperitoneal (TEP) inguinal hernia repair is an efficient service without impairment of safety or complication rate. Data on the economic impact of this approach are rare. The aim of this study was to compare the costs between the SV TEP and the regular TEP in an employed healthy population from a hospital and societal point of view.

Electronic Health Program to Empower Patients in Returning to Normal Activities After General Surgical and Gynecological Procedures: Intervention Mapping as a Useful Method for Further Development.

Background: Support for guiding and monitoring postoperative recovery and resumption of activities is usually not provided to patients after discharge from the hospital. Therefore, a perioperative electronic health (eHealth) intervention ("ikherstel" intervention or "I recover" intervention) was developed to empower gynecological patients during the perioperative period. This eHealth intervention requires a need for further development for patients who will undergo various types of general surgical and gynecological procedures.

[A step-up approach for dealing with rectal foreign bodies].

Patients visiting a hospital with retained rectal foreign bodies can no longer be considered rare and the incidence appears to increase. Currently, little is known about management of patients with retained foreign bodies and there are no medical protocols for situations like this. There is no limit to the type of objects inserted into the anal canal, exposing clinicians to diagnostic and therapeutic dilemmas.

Higher Recurrence Rate After Endoscopic Totally Extraperitoneal (TEP) Inguinal Hernia Repair With Ultrapro Lightweight Mesh: 5-Year Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial (TULP-trial).

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine inguinal hernia recurrence rates 5 years after endoscopic totally extraperitoneal (TEP) inguinal hernia repair when either lightweight or heavyweight mesh was used.

Background: Recurrence is an important complication of inguinal hernia surgery. Higher recurrence rates of Ultrapro lightweight meshes after TEP repair have been demonstrated, yet data regarding long-term follow-up are limited.

A Perioperative eHealth Program to Enhance Postoperative Recovery After Abdominal Surgery: Process Evaluation of a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Electronic health (eHealth) interventions have proven effective, but implementation in clinical practice is difficult. More research focusing on the implementation process of eHealth interventions is necessary.

Objective: The objective of this study was to describe the process evaluation of a perioperative eHealth intervention, aiming to enhance recovery after laparoscopic abdominal surgery.

Graphene-Insulator-Semiconductor Junction for Hybrid Photodetection Modalities.

A sensitive optical detector is presented based on a deeply depleted graphene-insulator-semiconducting (DGIS) junction, which offers the possibility of simultaneously leveraging the advantages of both charge integration and localized amplification. Direct read-out and built-in amplification are accomplished via photogating of a graphene field-effect transistor (GFET) by carriers generated within a deeply depleted low-doped silicon substrate. Analogous to a depleted metal-oxide-semiconducting junction, photo-generated charge collects in the potential well that forms at the semiconductor/insulator interface and induces charges of opposite polarity within the graphene film modifying its conductivity.

Single photon detection in a waveguide-coupled Ge-on-Si lateral avalanche photodiode.

We examine gated-Geiger mode operation of an integrated waveguide-coupled Ge-on-Si lateral avalanche photodiode (APD) and demonstrate single photon detection at low dark count for this mode of operation. Our integrated waveguide-coupled APD is fabricated using a selective epitaxial Ge-on-Si growth process resulting in a separate absorption and charge multiplication (SACM) design compatible with our silicon photonics platform. Single photon detection efficiency and dark count rate is measured as a function of temperature in order to understand and optimize performance characteristics in this device.

Designing graphene absorption in a multispectral plasmon-enhanced infrared detector.

We have examined graphene absorption in a range of graphene-based infrared devices that combine either monolayer or bilayer graphene with three different gate dielectrics. Electromagnetic simulations show that the optical absorption in graphene in these devices, an important factor in a functional graphene-based detector, is strongly dielectric-dependent. These simulations reveal that plasmonic excitation in graphene can significantly influence the percentage of light absorbed in the entire device, as well as the graphene layer itself, with graphene absorption exceeding 25% in regions where plasmonic excitation occurs.

Silicon photonic transceiver circuit for high-speed polarization-based discrete variable quantum key distribution.

We demonstrate a silicon photonic transceiver circuit for high-speed discrete variable quantum key distribution that employs a common structure for transmit and receive functions. The device is intended for use in polarization-based quantum cryptographic protocols, such as BB84. Our characterization indicates that the circuit can generate the four BB84 states (TE/TM/45°/135° linear polarizations) with >30 dB polarization extinction ratios and gigabit per second modulation speed, and is capable of decoding any polarization bases differing by 90° with high extinction ratios.

Substitution of Usual Perioperative Care by eHealth to Enhance Postoperative Recovery in Patients Undergoing General Surgical or Gynecological Procedures: Study Protocol of a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Due to the strong reduction in the length of hospital stays in the last decade, the period of in-hospital postoperative care is limited. After discharge from the hospital, guidance and monitoring on recovery and resumption of (work) activities are usually not provided. As a consequence, return to normal activities and work after surgery is hampered, leading to a lower quality of life and higher costs due to productivity loss and increased health care consumption.

High performance waveguide-coupled Ge-on-Si linear mode avalanche photodiodes.

We present experimental results for a selective epitaxially grown Ge-on-Si separate absorption and charge multiplication (SACM) integrated waveguide coupled avalanche photodiode (APD) compatible with our silicon photonics platform. Epitaxially grown Ge-on-Si waveguide-coupled linear mode avalanche photodiodes with varying lateral multiplication regions and different charge implant dimensions are fabricated and their illuminated device characteristics and high-speed performance is measured. We report a record gain-bandwidth product of 432 GHz for our highest performing waveguide-coupled avalanche photodiode operating at 1510nm.

Long-term Results of a Randomized Double-blinded Prospective Trial of a Lightweight (Ultrapro) Versus a Heavyweight Mesh (Prolene) in Laparoscopic Total Extraperitoneal Inguinal Hernia Repair (TULP-trial).

Objective: The aim of the randomized clinical trial was to compare the 2 years of clinical outcomes of a lightweight (Ultrapro) vs a heavyweight (Prolene) mesh for laparoscopic total extraperitoneal (TEP) inguinal hernia repair.

Background: Lightweight meshes reduce postoperative pain and stiffness in open anterior inguinal hernia repair. The discussion about a similar benefit for laparoscopic repair is ongoing, but concerns exist about higher recurrence rates.

Infrared rectification in a nanoantenna-coupled metal-oxide-semiconductor tunnel diode.

Direct rectification of electromagnetic radiation is a well-established method for wireless power conversion in the microwave region of the spectrum, for which conversion efficiencies in excess of 84% have been demonstrated. Scaling to the infrared or optical part of the spectrum requires ultrafast rectification that can only be obtained by direct tunnelling. Many research groups have looked to plasmonics to overcome antenna-scaling limits and to increase the confinement.

Pit excision with phenolisation of the sinus tract versus radical excision in sacrococcygeal pilonidal sinus disease: study protocol for a single centre randomized controlled trial.

Background: Excision of the pit of the sinus with phenolisation of the sinus tract and surgical excision are two treatment modalities for patients with sacrococcygeal pilonidal sinus disease. Phenolisation seems to have advantages over local sinus excision as it is performed under local anaesthesia with a relatively small surgical procedure, less postoperative pain, minor risk of surgical site infection (8.7%), and only a few days being unable to perform normal activity (mean of 2.

More adequate lymph node dissection after laparoscopic colorectal surgery.

The aim of this study was to determine whether there is a difference in the amount of lymph nodes harvested during open and laparoscopic surgery and whether this might influence the subsequent offering of adjuvant chemotherapy. All patients who underwent colorectal surgery for colorectal malignancies from July 2006 to April 2008 were included in our prospective database and in the study. In the laparoscopic group, 11/55 (20%) patients with stage II tumors had <10 lymph nodes in the pathology specimen when compared with 44/110 (40%) in the open group (P=0.

Strong Casimir force reduction through metallic surface nanostructuring.

The Casimir force between bodies in vacuum can be understood as arising from their interaction with an infinite number of fluctuating electromagnetic quantum vacuum modes, resulting in a complex dependence on the shape and material of the interacting objects. Becoming dominant at small separations, the force has a significant role in nanomechanics and object manipulation at the nanoscale, leading to a considerable interest in identifying structures where the Casimir interaction behaves significantly different from the well-known attractive force between parallel plates. Here we experimentally demonstrate that by nanostructuring one of the interacting metal surfaces at scales below the plasma wavelength, an unexpected regime in the Casimir force can be observed.

Highly directional thermal emission from two-dimensional silicon structures.

We simulate, fabricate, and characterize near perfectly absorbing two-dimensional grating structures in the thermal infrared using heavily doped silicon (HdSi) that supports long wave infrared surface plasmon polaritons (LWIR SPP's). The devices were designed and optimized using both finite difference time domain (FDTD) and rigorous coupled wave analysis (RCWA) simulation techniques to satisfy stringent requirements for thermal management applications requiring high thermal radiation absorption over a narrow angular range and low visible radiation absorption over a broad angular range. After optimization and fabrication, characterization was performed using reflection spectroscopy and normal incidence emissivity measurements.

The effect of ultrapro or prolene mesh on postoperative pain and well-being following endoscopic Totally Extraperitoneal (TEP) hernia repair (TULP): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: The purpose of this study was to describe the rationale and design of a randomized controlled trial analyzing the effects of mesh type (Ultrapro versus Prolene mesh) on postoperative pain and well-being following an endoscopic Totally Extraperitoneal (TEP) repair for inguinal hernias (short: TULP trial).

Methods And Design: The TULP trial is a prospective, two arm, double blind, randomized controlled trial to assess chronic postoperative pain and quality of life following implantation of a lightweight (Ultrapro) and heavyweight (Prolene) mesh in endoscopic TEP hernia repair. The setting is a high-volume single center hospital, specializing in TEP hernia repair.

Ultra compact 45 GHz CMOS compatible Germanium waveguide photodiode with low dark current.

We present a compact 1.3 × 4 μm2 Germanium waveguide photodiode, integrated in a CMOS compatible silicon photonics process flow. This photodiode has a best-in-class 3 dB cutoff frequency of 45 GHz, responsivity of 0.

Feasibility of enhanced recovery programme in various patient groups.

Introduction: An accelerated multi-modal rehabilitation programme may improve the recuperation and reduce the complication rate in patients undergoing colorectal surgery. The aim of this study was to see whether fast-track recovery is feasible in various patient groups.

Patients And Methods: Data on all patients operated for intestinal pathology from July 2006-April 2008 were prospectively collected for this prospective study.