134 research outputs found

    All-Polymer Microcavities for the Fluorescence Radiative Rate 2 Modification of a Diketopyrrolopyrrole Derivative

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    Controlling the radiative rate of emitters with 6 macromolecular photonic structures promises flexible devices with 7 enhanced performances that are easy to scale up. For instance, radiative rate enhancement empowers low-threshold lasers, while rate suppression affects recombination in photovoltaic and photochemical processes. However, claims of the Purcell effect with polymer structures are controversial, as the low dielectric contrast typical of suitable polymers is commonly not enough to provide the necessary confinement. Here we show all-polymer planar microcavities with photonic band gaps tuned to the photoluminescence of a diketopyrrolopyrrole derivative, which allows a change in the fluorescence lifetime. Radiative and nonradiative rates were disentangled systematically by measuring the external quantum efficiencies and comparing the planar microcavities with a series of references designed to exclude any extrinsic effects. For the first time, this analysis shows unambiguously the dye radiative emission rate variations obtained with macromolecular dielectric mirrors. When different0 waveguides, chemical environments, and effective refractive index effects in the structure were accounted for, the change in the radiative lifetime was assigned to the Purcell effect. This was possible through the exploitation of photonic structures made of polyvinylcarbazole as a high-index material and the perfluorinated Aquivion as a low-index one, which produced the largest dielectric contrast ever obtained in planar polymer cavities. This characteristic induces the high confinement of the radiation electric field within the cavity layer, causing a record intensity enhancement and the steering the radiative rate. Current limits and requirements to achieve the full control of radiative rates with polymer planar microcavities are also addressed

    Hiatus hernia – Late complication after gastrectomy followed by double tract reconstruction (DTR): a case report

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    In patients with dyspeptic symptoms who have been treated for gastric cancer, other medical conditions apart from cancer recurrence should be considered. A long small-bowel loop left after esophagogastric anastomosis, flaccid diaphragmatic crura, and several external factors such as hard physical exertion can promote the development of postoperative hiatus hernia. The authors of this paper present a rare case of hiatus hernia considered a late complication of primary surgery performed due to gastric cancer. The 63-year-old patient had undergone total gastrectomy with double tract reconstruction (DTR) six years earlier. Gastrectomy was performed with extended lymphadenectomy (>D2). Histopathologic examination of tumor specimens showed mucinous adenocarcinoma with no lymph node metastasis and no distant metastases (pathologic staging: pT2, pN0, pM0). After six years, the patient was admitted to the 2nd Department of General and Gastroenterologic Surgery with abdominal pains, malaise, weight loss and feeling of fullness after small meals. Diagnostic procedures performed showed the presence of hiatus hernia, a very rare complication after this particular surgery, with no features of cancer recurrence. The patient was underwent surgery and the hernia was successfully repaired
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