Outlook for inverse design in nanophotonics

Recent advancements in computational inverse design have begun to reshape the landscape of structures and techniques available to nanophotonics. Here, we outline a cross section of key developments at the intersection of these two fields: moving from a recap of foundational results to motivation of emerging applications in nonlinear, topological, near-field and on-chip optics.Comment: 13 pages, 6 figure

Approaches in biotechnological applications of natural polymers

Natural polymers, such as gums and mucilage, are biocompatible, cheap, easily available and non-toxic materials of native origin. These polymers are increasingly preferred over synthetic materials for industrial applications due to their intrinsic properties, as well as they are considered alternative sources of raw materials since they present characteristics of sustainability, biodegradability and biosafety. As definition, gums and mucilages are polysaccharides or complex carbohydrates consisting of one or more monosaccharides or their derivatives linked in bewildering variety of linkages and structures. Natural gums are considered polysaccharides naturally occurring in varieties of plant seeds and exudates, tree or shrub exudates, seaweed extracts, fungi, bacteria, and animal sources. Water-soluble gums, also known as hydrocolloids, are considered exudates and are pathological products; therefore, they do not form a part of cell wall. On the other hand, mucilages are part of cell and physiological products. It is important to highlight that gums represent the largest amounts of polymer materials derived from plants. Gums have enormously large and broad applications in both food and non-food industries, being commonly used as thickening, binding, emulsifying, suspending, stabilizing agents and matrices for drug release in pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. In the food industry, their gelling properties and the ability to mold edible films and coatings are extensively studied. The use of gums depends on the intrinsic properties that they provide, often at costs below those of synthetic polymers. For upgrading the value of gums, they are being processed into various forms, including the most recent nanomaterials, for various biotechnological applications. Thus, the main natural polymers including galactomannans, cellulose, chitin, agar, carrageenan, alginate, cashew gum, pectin and starch, in addition to the current researches about them are reviewed in this article.. }To the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientfíico e Tecnológico (CNPq) for fellowships (LCBBC and MGCC) and the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nvíel Superior (CAPES) (PBSA). This study was supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) under the scope of the strategic funding of UID/BIO/04469/2013 unit, the Project RECI/BBB-EBI/0179/2012 (FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-027462) and COMPETE 2020 (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-006684) (JAT)

The Comparative Study of Different Mixing Methods for Microcrystalline Cellulose/Polyethylene Composites

Polymer composites with polyethylene (PE), microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), and coupling agent (PE-g-MA) were melt blended using a single screw extruder (SSE), twin screw extruder (TSE), and a combination of SSE and extensional flow mixer (EFM) and masterbatch method (MB). The rheological behavior, mechanical, thermal, and morphological properties were investigated to compare material behavior of the MCC-filled PE composites and to evaluate the dispersive mixing efficiency. The composite samples prepared using a single pass method in SSE had relatively larger storage moduli (G') while those from the TSE and SSE + EFM were smaller. The complex viscosities (eta{*}) of composites with processed using EFM was higher than that of neat PE, indicating better dispersion of the MCC. MCC-filled PE composites processed with EFM showed higher tan delta compared to those of composites. In general, MCC-filled PE composites from the EFM process showed higher viscosity compared to all other composites at all shear rates. The EFM method improved flexural properties more than the other processing methods. The effect of EFM on impact strength of the composites was improved with coupling agent. Addition of MCC, couple agent, and different mixing methods did not significantly affect the thermal properties of the MCC-filled PE composites

An investigation into the relationship between region specific quality of life and adverse tuberculosis treatment outcomes in Istanbul, Turkey

Background and objective: Istanbul has the highest incidence of tuberculosis (TB) in Turkey. It is also the largest city, with considerable differences in quality of life across its urban regions. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between (i) the diverse quality of life across specific urban regions, (ii) TB incidence rates, inclusive of demographic and clinical characteristics of TB patients, and (iii) adverse treatment outcomes. Methods: This retrospective study included 23,845 new TB patients (recorded in the National TB Registry between 2006 and 2010) in Istanbul. Thirty-nine urban districts of Istanbul were ranked into five groups on the basis of an urban quality of life index. Patient data were matched with these groups, and further categorized according to âageâ, âsexâ, âcountry of birthâ and âantibiotics resistanceâ. Adverse treatment outcomes and TB incidence rates were extracted from official records. Logistic regression, clustered analyses, 95% CI and p values (STATA) were reported to describe the association between variables. Results: Six per cent of total cases had âat least one adverse treatment outcomeâ (default 3.8%, failure 0.5%, death 1.7% in total cases). âAn adverse treatment outcomeâ was found to be associated with age OR (CI 95%) (1.02 (1.01â1.03)); âmale sexâ 1.65 (1.28â2.12); âother country of birthâ 4.82 (3.05â7.62); 100,000 per âover 60â insidence goups 1.61 (1.32-1.97), the lowest quality of life index 0.65 (0.47-0.83). Conclusions: Patients with high tuberculosis risk factors living in high incidence regions need to be closely monitored. Patients living in lower ranking regions are more likely to have âpoor treatment outcomesâ. Resumo: Contexto e objetivo: Istambul tem a mais elevada incidência de tuberculose (TB) na Turquia. à igualmente a sua maior cidade, com diferenças consideráveis na qualidade de vida ao longo das suas regiões urbanas. O objetivo deste estudo é investigar a relação entre i) as diversas qualidades de vida ao longo de regiões urbanas específicas, ii) taxas de incidência de TB, incluindo as características demográficas e clínicas dos doentes, e iii) resultados adversos do tratamento. Métodos: Este estudo retrospetivo incluiu 23.845 novos doentes com TB (registados no Registo Nacional de TB, entre 2006-2010) em Istambul. Os trinta e nove distritos urbanos de Istambul foram classificados em 5 grupos com base no índice de qualidade de vida urbano. Os dados dos doentes foram correspondidos com estes grupos e subsequentemente divididos por categorias de acordo com a «idade», «sexo», «país de nascimento» e «resistência a antibióticos». Os resultados adversos ao tratamento e as taxas de incidência de TB foram retiradas dos registos oficiais. Regressão logística, análises agregadas, valores de CI e p de 95% (STATA) foram usados para descrever a associação entre variáveis. Resultados: Seis por cento do total de casos tiveram pelo menos um resultado adverso do tratamento (padrão 3,8%; insuficiência 0,5%; morte 1,7% do total de casos). «Um resultado adverso do tratamento» foi considerado como estando associado à idade (CI 95%) (1,02 [1,01-1,03]); «sexo masculino» 1,65 (1,28-2,12); «outro país de nascimento» 4,82 (3,05-7,62); 100.000 por grupos de incidência com «idade superior a 60 anos» 1,61 (1,32-1,97), o índice de qualidade de vida mais baixo 0,65 (0,47-0,83). Conclusões: Os doentes com altos fatores de risco de tuberculose em regiões de elevada incidência precisam de ser monitorizados de forma mais assídua. Os doentes que vivam em regiões de classificação inferior têm maior probabilidade de ter «maus resultados do tratamento». Keywords: Adverse outcome, Tuberculosis, Tuberculosis incidence, Tuberculosis risk factors, Urban quality of life, Palavras-chave: Resultado adverso, Tuberculose, Incidência da tuberculose, Fatores de risco da tuberculose, Qualidade de vida urban

Transjugular approach to device closure of atrial septal defect: In a child with heterotaxia and interrupted inferior vena cava

PubMedID: 22719163In heterotaxia syndrome with left atrial isomerism, the distinguishing feature is interrupted inferior vena cava with azygos continuation. We report using a transjugular approach to device closure of an atrial septal defect in an 8-year-old boy with heterotaxia syndrome. We found that device closure of the child's atrial septal defect through a jugular venous approach was safe when an inferior vena cava approach was not possible. To our knowledge, ours is the first report of the use of internal jugular vein access to close an atrial septal defect in a child. © 2012 by the Texas Heart ® Institute, Houston