Wheatstone bridge configuration for evaluation of plasmonic energy transfer

We propose an internal (on-chip) Wheatstone bridge configuration to evaluate the efficiency of near-field transducers (NFT) as used in heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR). The electric field enhancement between the transducer and the image plane is monitored by measuring the resistance of metal electrodes composing the image plane. The absorption of the enhanced electric field causes an increase in the metal temperature, and thereby, in its resistance whose variation is monitored with an internal Wheatstone bridge which is accurately balanced in the absence of the electric field

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Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is widespread all over the world. The greatest number of infected people are in developing countries, whereas in developed countries the rate of infection is the smallest. Among risk factors of infection, the socioeconomic environment is regarded as one of the most important. In developed countries, the incidence of H. pylori infection in children is smaller than 12% and shows a tendency to decrease, while in developing countries it may exceed 40% (1). Multicenter studies conducted in Poland in the years [2002][2003] have demonstrated a high rate of H. pylori seroprevalence in both children and adults. In children aged 6 month to 18 years H. pylori seroprevalence rate was 32% and in adults aged 19 to 89 years 84% and varied depending on the region of the country (2). An influence of poor sanitary and hygiene conditions, economical status and parents education on the infection rate was demonstrated. In the last years a tendency to the decrease of infection rate has been shown, which could be linked to the improvement of social condition (3). H. pylori infection is a principal cause of chronic gastritis and peptic ulcer disease in children. In adulthood it leads to many diseases of the gastrointestinal tract including in particular JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY 2014, 65, 6, 801-807 www. Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of the upper gastrointestinal tract diseases in both children and adults. The aim of this paper was to assess the differences between the clinical course of the disease in children and adults. This paper also presents an analysis of clinical symptoms, endoscopic and histopathological findings, H. pylori cagA and vacA genotypes rates and analysis of the sensitivity of these strains to antibiotics in the Polish population, with possible practical and therapeutic implications. The multicenter study on the frequency of H. pylori infections assessed by the presence of antibodies in IgG class against H. pylori in serum was conducted in the years 2002 and 2003. The study group included 6565 children and adults, in 3827 of whom antibodies levels were above 24 U/mL. The authors analyzed clinical and endoscopic symptoms and in some patients with H. pylori seropositivity also histopathological changes, and cagA and vacA genes. Sensitivity of H. pylori strains to antibiotics were also analyzed. Differences between the frequency of infection between children and adults were determined. Endoscopic examination in adults revealed more frequent cases of gastropathy (P=0.003) and erosive gastritis (P=0.001), and in children-thick mucosal folds (P<0.0001). Histopathological examinations carried out in adults have revealed atrophic gastritis and intestinal metaplasia. In children, cagA(+)s1m1 was observed more frequently than in adults (34.0% versus 23.1%; P=0.02) contrary to cagA(-)s2m2 which occurred more frequently in adults (27.1% versus 14.0%; P=0.003). No effect of the infection on nausea, regurgitation, vomiting, heartburn, and abdominal pain in children was detected. However, adults infected with H. pylori suffered from more frequent episodes of heartburn and abdominal pain. The H. pylori strain exhibited a high resistance to metronidazole (higher in adults: 41.7% versus 27.4%; P=0.002), and to clarithromycin (higher in children: 20.2% versus 15.4%; P>0.05), and dual resistance to metronidazole and clarithromycin (higher in children: 9.9% versus 8.4%; P>0.05). Resistance of the H. pylori to amoxicillin and tetracycline was not detected. The conducted study indicated clinical differences in the H. pylori infection in children and adults. Among the differences in children, especially the more frequent infections by the cagA(+)s1m1/m2 strain could have an influence on further consequences of the infection. The obtained results could be useful in therapeutic decisions

Phase-matched multi-layer based polarisation-independent spot-size converter for silicon nanowire

The efficient coupling of optical power from a silicon nanowire (NW) to an optical fibre is challenging for both the quasi-TE and quasi-TM polarisations. Here, we propose a polarisation-independent spot-size converter (PI-SSC) based on phase-matched multi-layer waveguides for efficient coupling between a silicon NW and an optical fibre for both the polarisations. The fabrication process of the proposed PI-SSC is compatible with the complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) process. The optimisation for the proposed PI-SSC is studied by using a numerically efficient algorithm, combining a rigorous H-field based full-vectorial finite element method (VFEM) and the least squares boundary residual (LSBR) method. The simulation results show that using an eleven-layer based PI-SSC, the coupling losses between a silicon NW and a lensed fibre of radius 2 μm can be reduced to only 0.34 dB and 0.25 dB for the quasi-TE and quasi-TM polarisations, respectively. Furthermore, the output multi-layer is horizontally tapered, which further reduces the coupling loss for both the polarisations and the end face is easy to be polished

Quality control of B-lines analysis in stress Echo 2020

Background The effectiveness trial “Stress echo (SE) 2020” evaluates novel applications of SE in and beyond coronary artery disease. The core protocol also includes 4-site simplified scan of B-lines by lung ultrasound, useful to assess pulmonary congestion. Purpose To provide web-based upstream quality control and harmonization of B-lines reading criteria. Methods 60 readers (all previously accredited for regional wall motion, 53 B-lines naive) from 52 centers of 16 countries of SE 2020 network read a set of 20 lung ultrasound video-clips selected by the Pisa lab serving as reference standard, after taking an obligatory web-based learning 2-h module ( http://se2020.altervista.org ). Each test clip was scored for B-lines from 0 (black lung, A-lines, no B-lines) to 10 (white lung, coalescing B-lines). The diagnostic gold standard was the concordant assessment of two experienced readers of the Pisa lab. The answer of the reader was considered correct if concordant with reference standard reading ±1 (for instance, reference standard reading of 5 B-lines; correct answer 4, 5, or 6). The a priori determined pass threshold was 18/20 (≥ 90%) with R value (intra-class correlation coefficient) between reference standard and recruiting center) > 0.90. Inter-observer agreement was assessed with intra-class correlation coefficient statistics. Results All 60 readers were successfully accredited: 26 (43%) on first, 24 (40%) on second, and 10 (17%) on third attempt. The average diagnostic accuracy of the 60 accredited readers was 95%, with R value of 0.95 compared to reference standard reading. The 53 B-lines naive scored similarly to the 7 B-lines expert on first attempt (90 versus 95%, p = NS). Compared to the step-1 of quality control for regional wall motion abnormalities, the mean reading time per attempt was shorter (17 ± 3 vs 29 ± 12 min, p < .01), the first attempt success rate was higher (43 vs 28%, p < 0.01), and the drop-out of readers smaller (0 vs 28%, p < .01). Conclusions Web-based learning is highly effective for teaching and harmonizing B-lines reading. Echocardiographers without previous experience with B-lines learn quickly.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Guía ESC 2015 sobre el tratamiento de la endocarditis infecciosa

[No abstract available

Performance of thermo-optic components based on dielectric-loaded surface plasmon polariton waveguides

Theoretical analysis of thermo-optic (TO) modulation with dielectric-loaded surface plasmon polariton waveguide (DLSPPW) components at telecom wavelength of 1.55 μm is presented with simulations performed using the finite-element method (FEM). The investigated DLSPPW configuration consists of a 1 μm-thick and 1 μm-wide polymer ridge placed on a 50 nm-thin gold stripe and supported by a buffer layer material covering a Si wafer. Our analysis covers a broad range of parameters, including the buffer layer thickness, its thermal conductivity, and the metal stripe width, and takes into account the effect of isolation trenches structured along the heated part of waveguide. The results of our simulations agree well with the reported experimental data and provide valuable information for further development of TO plasmonic components with low switching powers, fast responses and small footprints

Wplyw miedzyplonu z gorczycy bialej oraz obornika i orki jesiennej na jakosc przetworcza buraka cukrowego

In 2000-2001 at Piwnice (Kujawsko-Pomorski district), on podsolic soil (silty light loam), the influence of inter-crop of white mustard, farmyard manure application and autumn ploughing on the quality of sugar beet was investigated. Following variants were compared in the experiment: 1) farmyard manure with autumn ploughing (control), 2) autumn ploughing, 3) inter-crop of white mustard and autumn ploughing, 4) inter-crop of white mustard, farmyard manure and autumn ploughing, 5) inter-crop of white mustard - mulch. Highest sugar content was obtained in 2nd and 3rd variants - at sugar beet cultivation with farmyard manure, autumn ploughing and inter-catch crop of white mustard or without it. Sugar beet cultivated in mentioned variants and on mulch of white mustard showed relatively low a-NH₂-N content. Inter-crop of white mustard influenced on decrease of plant infestation by Erysiphe betae. Investigated factors did not cause intensified occurrence of Uromyces betae and Ramularia beticola.W latach 2000-2001 na glebie płowej właściwej w Piwnicach (glina lekka pylasta - woj. kujawsko-pomorskie) oceniano wpływ międzyplonu ścierniskowego z gorczycy białej, obornika i orki jesiennej na parametry jakościowe buraka cukrowego. W doświadczeniu porównywano następujące warianty: 1) obornik z orką jesienną (wariant kontrolny), 2) orka jesienna, 3) międzyplon z gorczycy białej i orka jesienna, 4) międzyplon z gorczycy białej, obornik i orka jesienna, 5) międzyplon z gorczycy białej - mulcz. Największą zawartość cukru uzyskano na obiektach 2 i 3 - z uprawą buraka cukrowego bez obornika, z orką jesienną i międzyplonem z gorczycy białej lub bez niego. Buraki cukrowe uprawiane na wymienionych wariantach oraz na mulczu z międzyplonu gorczycy białej wykazywały stosunkowo niską zawartość azotu alfaaminowego. Międzyplon z gorczycy białej wpłynął na ograniczenie porażenia roślin przez Erysiphe betae. Badane czynniki nie wpływały na nasilenie występowania Uromyces betae i Ramularia beticola