Side-pumped WGM milled microstub resonator laser

Whispering Gallery Mode (WGM) resonators are promising candidates for realization of ultra-small micro lasers. Conventional 3D resonators such as micro toroids [1], micro spheres [2, 3] and microbottles [4] are well studied as both passive and active devices. The excitation and signal collection are mostly done using evanescently coupled micro-sized fibers [5], integrated waveguides [3] and\or collecting the scattered light [6]. As the spectrum and coupling efficiency highly depend on the excitation position, the coupling system requires precise alignment, and packaging is complex. Here, we demonstrate a completely new micro laser based on WGM generated in an Yb3+-doped stub resonator side-pumped at 976nm wavelength

Improvement of neuroglial differentiation from human dental pulp stem cells using CSF

Background and purpose: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) has a broad set of molecules which is essential for neurogenesis. Human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs) are putatively neural crest cell-derived that can differentiate into neurons and glial cells under appropriate neurotrophic factors. The aim of this study was to induce differentiation of hDPSCs into neuroglial phenotypes using Retinoic acid (RA) and CSF. Materials and methods: The hDPSCs were isolated by mechanical enzymatic digestion from an impacted third molar and cultured. 2 � 105cells were treated by 10-7µM Retinoic acid (RA group) for 8 days, CSF (CSF group) for 8 days and pre-induced with RA for 4 days followed by inducing with CSF for 4 days (RC group). Nestin, βIII-tubulin and GFAP immunostaining were used for evaluating the differentiated cells. Axonal outgrowth was detected using Bielschowsky's silver impregnation method and Nissl bodies were stained in differentiated cells by Cresyl violet. Data analysis was performed in SPSS V.16 applying One-way ANOVA and Chi-square test. Results: The morphology of differentiated cells in treated groups significantly changed after 3-5 days. The immunocytochemistry results showed that nestin, the neuroprogenitor marker, was observed in all groups. Whereas, a high percentage of nestin positive cells and �III-tubulin, as mature neural markers, were seen at the pre-induction and induction stage, respectively. Nissl bodies were detected as dark-blue particles in the cytoplasm of treated cells. Conclusion: The findings suggest that the RA as pre-inducer and CSF as inducer could be used for in vitro differentiation of neuroglial cells from hDPSCs. © 2016, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved

Mapping local patterns of childhood overweight and wasting in low- and middle-income countries between 2000 and 2017

A double burden of malnutrition occurs when individuals, household members or communities experience both undernutrition and overweight. Here, we show geospatial estimates of overweight and wasting prevalence among children under 5 years of age in 105 low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) from 2000 to 2017 and aggregate these to policy-relevant administrative units. Wasting decreased overall across LMICs between 2000 and 2017, from 8.4 (62.3 (55.1�70.8) million) to 6.4 (58.3 (47.6�70.7) million), but is predicted to remain above the World Health Organization�s Global Nutrition Target of <5 in over half of LMICs by 2025. Prevalence of overweight increased from 5.2 (30 (22.8�38.5) million) in 2000 to 6.0 (55.5 (44.8�67.9) million) children aged under 5 years in 2017. Areas most affected by double burden of malnutrition were located in Indonesia, Thailand, southeastern China, Botswana, Cameroon and central Nigeria. Our estimates provide a new perspective to researchers, policy makers and public health agencies in their efforts to address this global childhood syndemic. © 2020, The Author(s)

The global burden of cancer attributable to risk factors, 2010–19: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

BACKGROUND: Understanding the magnitude of cancer burden attributable to potentially modifiable risk factors is crucial for development of effective prevention and mitigation strategies. We analysed results from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019 to inform cancer control planning efforts globally. METHODS: The GBD 2019 comparative risk assessment framework was used to estimate cancer burden attributable to behavioural, environmental and occupational, and metabolic risk factors. A total of 82 risk–outcome pairs were included on the basis of the World Cancer Research Fund criteria. Estimated cancer deaths and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) in 2019 and change in these measures between 2010 and 2019 are presented. FINDINGS: Globally, in 2019, the risk factors included in this analysis accounted for 4·45 million (95% uncertainty interval 4·01–4·94) deaths and 105 million (95·0–116) DALYs for both sexes combined, representing 44·4% (41·3–48·4) of all cancer deaths and 42·0% (39·1–45·6) of all DALYs. There were 2·88 million (2·60–3·18) risk-attributable cancer deaths in males (50·6% [47·8–54·1] of all male cancer deaths) and 1·58 million (1·36–1·84) risk-attributable cancer deaths in females (36·3% [32·5–41·3] of all female cancer deaths). The leading risk factors at the most detailed level globally for risk-attributable cancer deaths and DALYs in 2019 for both sexes combined were smoking, followed by alcohol use and high BMI. Risk-attributable cancer burden varied by world region and Socio-demographic Index (SDI), with smoking, unsafe sex, and alcohol use being the three leading risk factors for risk-attributable cancer DALYs in low SDI locations in 2019, whereas DALYs in high SDI locations mirrored the top three global risk factor rankings. From 2010 to 2019, global risk-attributable cancer deaths increased by 20·4% (12·6–28·4) and DALYs by 16·8% (8·8–25·0), with the greatest percentage increase in metabolic risks (34·7% [27·9–42·8] and 33·3% [25·8–42·0]). INTERPRETATION: The leading risk factors contributing to global cancer burden in 2019 were behavioural, whereas metabolic risk factors saw the largest increases between 2010 and 2019. Reducing exposure to these modifiable risk factors would decrease cancer mortality and DALY rates worldwide, and policies should be tailored appropriately to local cancer risk factor burden

Author Correction: Mapping local patterns of childhood overweight and wasting in low- and middle-income countries between 2000 and 2017 (Nature Medicine, (2020), 26, 5, (750-759), 10.1038/s41591-020-0807-6)

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper. © 2020, The Author(s)

Author Correction: Mapping local patterns of childhood overweight and wasting in low- and middle-income countries between 2000 and 2017 (Nature Medicine, (2020), 26, 5, (750-759), 10.1038/s41591-020-0807-6)

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper. © 2020, The Author(s)

Polarisation effects in optical microresonators

Polarization effects in different types of optical microresonators are studied in detail. It is observed that microresonators with tighter axial power confinement, such as MBRs and micro-milled resonators, show larger cross-polarization coupling efficiencies

WGM microrod laser fabricated by pulsed CO₂ laser micromilling

Fabrication of high Q milled microrod resonators using a pulsed CO2 laser, directly on Yb3+-doped fibers, is demonstrated. Evanescently pumped WGM microlaser with ~9µW output power has been achieved

Yb³⁺-doped silica WGM milled microrod laser

A fast and versatile fabrication method for high Q milled microrod resonators, directly on rare-earth doped fibers, is demonstrated using a pulsed CO2 laser. Evanescently pumped WGM microlaser with ~9µW output power has been achieved

Microrod resonator laser with versatile pumping configurations

A new Yb3+-doped silica WGM microrod resonator laser is demonstrated using different pump-delivery and signal-collection configurations, which include evanescently-coupled microtapers or direct side-pumping