Enhancing Diamond Color Center Fluorescence via Optimized Configurations of Plasmonic Core-Shell Nanoresonator Dimers.

Numerical optimization of silica-metal core-shell nanoresonator dimer geometries was realized to maximize the fluorescence of the NV and SiV diamond color centers. The configurations combine the advantages stemming from the elongation and reduced metal volume of hollow spheroids and the wide tunability and good antenna efficiency due to hybridization of composite modes on the core-shell dimers. The optimized coupled dimers sustain plasmonic modes that maximize the fluorescence by ensuring the simultaneous enhancement of excitation and emission.

Crater formation and deuterium production in laser irradiation of polymers with implanted nano-antennas.

Recent validation experiments on laser irradiation of polymer foils with and without implanted golden nanoparticles are discussed. First we analyze characteristics of craters, formed in the target after its interaction with the laser beam. Preliminary experimental results show significant production of deuterons when both the energy of laser pulse and concentration of nanoparticles are high enough.

Nurse preferences of caring robots: A conjoint experiment to explore most valued robot features.

Aim: Due to the COVID pandemic and technological innovation, robots gain increasing role in nursing services. While studies investigated negative attitudes of nurses towards robots, we lack an understanding of nurses' preferences about robot characteristics. Our aim was to explore how key robot features compare when weighed together.

Plasmonically Enhanced Superradiance of Broken-Symmetry Diamond Color Center Arrays Inside Core-Shell Nanoresonators.

Superradiance was demonstrated in broken-symmetry arrays of SiV diamond color centers embedded into concave plasmonic nanoresonators. The coupled configurations, including the diamond-silver (bare) and diamond-silver-diamond (coated) nanoresonators' geometry parameters as well as the emitters' azimuthal orientation and distance from the metal, were numerically optimized. An objective function consisting of the total fluorescence enhancement multiplied by the corrected emission quantum efficiency was used to design nanoresonators that promote superradiance.

Active Individual Nanoresonators Optimized for Lasing and Spasing Operation.

Plasmonic nanoresonators consisting of a gold nanorod and a spherical silica core and gold shell, both coated with a gain layer, were optimized to maximize the stimulated emission in the near-field (NF-c-type) and the outcoupling into the far-field (FF-c-type) and to enter into the spasing operation region (NF-c*-type). It was shown that in the case of a moderate dye concentration, the nanorod has more advantages: smaller lasing threshold and larger slope efficiency and larger achieved intensities in the near-field in addition to FF-c-type systems' smaller gain and outflow threshold, earlier dip-to-peak switching in the spectrum and slightly larger far-field outcoupling efficiency. However, the near-field (far-field) bandwidth is smaller for NF-c-type (FF-c-type) core-shell nanoresonators.

Few-cycle localized plasmon oscillations.

The generation of few-cycle laser pulses proved to be a key enabling technology in strong-field physics and ultrafast science. The question naturally arises whether one can induce few-cycle localized plasmon oscillations in optical near-fields. Here, we perform a comparative study of different plasmonic nanoresonators illuminated by few-cycle pulses.

Superradiant diamond color center arrays coupled to concave plasmonic nanoresonators.

Superradiantly enhanced emission of SiV diamond color centers was achieved via numerically optimized concave plasmonic nanoresonators. Advantages of different numbers of SiV color centers, diamond-silver (bare) and diamond-silver-diamond (coated) core-shell nanoresonator types, spherical and ellipsoidal geometries were compared. Indistinguishable superradiance is reached via four color centers, which is accompanied by line-width narrowing except in a coated ellipsoidal nanoresonator that outperforms its bare counterpart in superradiance.

Point-of-care testing by healthcare workers for detection of meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Clostridioides difficile, and norovirus.

Background: The feasibility of introducing three separate Cepheid GeneXpert® assays was assessed: Xpert SA Nasal Complete, Xpert C. difficile, and Xpert Norovirus for point-of-care testing (POCT) on a ward in a district general hospital.

Aim: To establish a seven-day/24 h POCT service for meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Clostridioides difficile, and norovirus operated solely by healthcare workers (HCWs).

Utility of drain fluid amylase measurement on the first postoperative day after distal pancreatectomy.

Background: Early exclusion of a postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) may facilitate earlier drain removal in selected patients after distal pancreatectomy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of first postoperative day drain fluid amylase (DFA1) measurement to predict POPF.

Methods: Patients in whom DFA1 was measured after distal pancreatectomy were identified from a prospectively maintained database over a five-year period.

Routine pre- and post-neoadjuvant chemotherapy fitness testing is not indicated for oesophagogastric cancer surgery.

Introduction There is a known correlation between anaerobic threshold (AT) during cardiopulmonary exercise testing and development of cardiopulmonary complications in high-risk patients undergoing oesophagogastric cancer surgery. This study aimed to assess the value of routine retesting following neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Methods Patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy with subsequent oesophagogastric cancer surgery with pre- and post-neoadjuvant chemotherapy cardiopulmonary exercise data were identified from a prospectively maintained database.

Long-term Patient-reported Outcomes After Laparoscopic Fenestration of Symptomatic Liver Cysts.

Background: Laparoscopic fenestration is the treatment of choice for symptomatic liver cysts. Despite the benefits of minimally invasive surgery, there is limited data on long-term outcomes after laparoscopic fenestration, in terms of symptom recurrence and quality of life. The purpose of this study was to evaluate long-term patient-reported outcomes and satisfaction following this procedure.

Comparison of endoscopic laser therapy and self expanding metal stents for palliation in patients with non-resectable oesophageal carcinoma.

Background: There are currently limited data on the comparative success of endoscopic laser therapy (NLT) and self expanding metal stents (SEMS) as palliative measures in patients with non-resectable oesophageal cancer. This study aims to assess and compare the outcomes of these methods of endoscopic palliation.

Methods: Patients with non-curative oesophageal/gastro-oesophageal cancers with dysphagia were identified prospectively and consented to swallow assessment and follow-up.

Inflammatory lymphangiogenesis in a rat transplant model of interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy.

We have previously reported de novo lymphangiogenesis in human renal allograft nephrectomy specimens that exhibited interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy (IFTA). This study examined whether a similar pathology developed in an experimental model of renal transplantation in the rat. Renal transplants were carried out in rats comprising both isografts (Lewis kidneys → Lewis rats) and allografts (Fisher kidneys → Lewis rats).

Restorative and rejection-associated lymphangiogenesis after renal transplantation: friend or foe?

The review focuses on lymphangiogenesis as a possible contributor to interstitial fibrosis leading to chronic renal transplant injury, which culminates in the loss of 5% transplants annually. The process of lymphatic reconnection after renal transplantation and the mechanisms and mediators of lymphangiogenesis are explored in the context of new specific lymphatic markers. In addition, potentially exciting research avenues are examined, with the specific aim of determining whether new lymphatic formation is beneficial or detrimental to the transplanted kidney.

Depletion of cells of monocyte lineage prevents loss of renal microvasculature in murine kidney transplantation.

Background: Acute rejection increases the risk of late renal allograft loss with tubular atrophy, interstitial fibrosis, and microvascular rarefaction. Evidence supports a role for macrophages in promoting allograft injury, but the pathogenic mechanisms are unclear. Using a model of acute rejection, we sought evidence of macrophage-mediated endothelial cell cytotoxicity leading to loss of the renal microvasculature.

Intraoperative retrograde mesenteric angioplasty for acute occlusive mesenteric ischaemia: a case series.

Acute mesenteric ischaemia secondary to atherosclerotic disease of the superior mesenteric artery is a surgical emergency associated with a poor prognosis, and requires prompt diagnosis and early revascularisation in order to improve outcome. The traditional management of surgical resection of necrotic bowel plus mesenteric revascularisation by surgical bypass is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. We describe the use of a combined surgical and endovascular approach, using intraoperative retrograde superior mesenteric angioplasty at the time of laparotomy.

Fast surface profiling by spectral analysis of white-light interferograms with fourier transform spectroscopy.

We present a fast white-light interference method for measuring surface depth profiles at nanometer scales. Previously reported white-light profilers have relied either on path difference scanning or on spectral analysis of the reflection from a fixed interferometer. We show that by performing this spectral analysis with an imaging Fourier transform spectrometer, the high speed of spectral techniques may be combined with the simple data interpretation characteristic of the scanning method.

The value of an elastic tissue stain in detecting venous invasion in colorectal cancer.

Background: Venous invasion by tumour is an independent prognostic indicator of both prognosis and risk of development of distant metastases in colorectal carcinoma. The use of special stains to aid its detection in pathology specimens is not currently universally recommended.

Aims: To determine whether an elastica stain significantly increases the incidence of detection of vascular invasion compared with routinely stained sections.

The glomerulo-tubular junction: a target in renal diseases.

Both global and segmental glomerulopathies may damage specific areas of the renal glomerulus. Diseases associated with glomerular hyperperfusion cause lesions at the vascular pole, while diseases associated with proteinuria often damage the tubular pole. Atubular glomeruli are now known to be plentiful in a variety of common renal diseases.

Measurements on ferroelectric liquid-crystal spatial light modulators: contrast ratio and speed.

The contrast ratio and the speed of a 16 × 16 electrically addressed spatial light modulator, composed of a ferroelectric liquid-crystal layer on top of a VLSI silicon backplane, are measured with different methods but consistent results. The results are presented and compared with recently reported results on a similar spatial light modulator [Appl. Opt.

Real-time binary phase holograms on a reflective ferroelectric liquid-crystal spatial light modulator.

A ferroelectric liquid-crystal spatial light modulator with an active silicon backplane is used to implement reconfigurable reflective phase holograms. Optical results are presented for an optimized computergenerated Fourier hologram.

Improving the performance of liquid-crystal-over-silicon spatial light modulators: issues and achievements.

The performance of liquid-crystal-over-silicon spatial light modulators has advanced rapidly in recent years. Most progress has centered around new device designs with increased bandwidth. In this paper we report on a number of techniques to improve the optical quality; these have applications in both current and future devices.