Low cost production of computer-generated holograms: from design to optical evaluation

In this work we review some optical characterization methods useful for the low cost production of two phase level computer generated holograms (CGH). As an example, binary CGH are designed with an iterative Fourier transform algorithm (IFTA) and fabricated on a silicon master micromachining with a single step of selective dry etch of silicon dioxide (SiO2) layer. The CGH characterization is performed in three steps; a first one involves the application of spectroscopic ellipsometry measurements to accurately measure the thickness of the SiO2 layer. These results permit the evaluation of the relative complex reflectance between the two levels of the developed hologram as a function of the wavelength. In a second step, interference microscopy is applied to directly visualize the phase shift in the SiO2/Si binary phase profile. Finally, the performance and diffraction efficiency of the fabricated CGH is compared for various lasers with different wavelengths. These experimental measurements in these two last steps confirm with very good accuracy the results derived from the spectroscopic ellipsometry analysis. In conjunction, the combination of these well established optical techniques provides a precise optical characterization of binary diffractive optical elements produced with simple and low cost technique, useful for mass production

Matrixes of unconventional micro-optical components molded with etched silicon

This paper reports on a process to create microlenses characterized by unconventional footprints, spherical profiles and a wide range of sizes. Fabricated shapes such as squares, rectangles, ellipses, triangles and hexagons are tested alone as well as in matrix with high fulfill factors. The technique is based on molds from which microlenses are fabricated by UV-molding replication. The molds are produced by silicon wet isotropic etching in an acid solution. The process is mainly steered by temperature and etching concentration. The use of the proposed technology opens a wide range of geometries allowing the fabrication of microlenses matrices with high fulfill factors as well as microlenses for beam-shaping

Next-generation sequencing for diagnosis of thoracic aortic aneurysms and dissections: diagnostic yield, novel mutations and genotype phenotype correlations

Additional file 1. Complementary data on primer sequences, SKI amplification and survival analyses

Morphogenesis of the T4 tail and tail fibers

Remarkable progress has been made during the past ten years in elucidating the structure of the bacteriophage T4 tail by a combination of three-dimensional image reconstruction from electron micrographs and X-ray crystallography of the components. Partial and complete structures of nine out of twenty tail structural proteins have been determined by X-ray crystallography and have been fitted into the 3D-reconstituted structure of the "extended" tail. The 3D structure of the "contracted" tail was also determined and interpreted in terms of component proteins. Given the pseudo-atomic tail structures both before and after contraction, it is now possible to understand the gross conformational change of the baseplate in terms of the change in the relative positions of the subunit proteins. These studies have explained how the conformational change of the baseplate and contraction of the tail are related to the tail's host cell recognition and membrane penetration function. On the other hand, the baseplate assembly process has been recently reexamined in detail in a precise system involving recombinant proteins (unlike the earlier studies with phage mutants). These experiments showed that the sequential association of the subunits of the baseplate wedge is based on the induced-fit upon association of each subunit. It was also found that, upon association of gp53 (gene product 53), the penultimate subunit of the wedge, six of the wedge intermediates spontaneously associate to form a baseplate-like structure in the absence of the central hub. Structure determination of the rest of the subunits and intermediate complexes and the assembly of the hub still require further study

The influence of poisoning with patulin on activity of acid phosphatase, cathepsin B and D in mice kidneys and livers

Introduction. Patulin is a mycotoxin produced by a variety of moulds, for instance, Aspergillus, Penicillium and Byssochlamys, and found most often in rotten apples. Previous studies showed toxic effects of patulin in the gastro-intestinal tract, impairment of kidney function, as well as neurotoxicity. Objective. The aim of the study was to investigate whether intoxication with patulin affects the activity of acid phosphatase, cathepsin B and D in mice kidneys and livers. Materials and method. Experiments were conducted on 36 female mice. Animals were divided into 6 groups of 6: 1 – control, 2 – received 0.1 LD50 patulin i.p. 28 days, 3 – saline i.p. once, 4 – patulin i.p. 0.1 LD50 once, 5 patulin i.p. 0.2 LD50 once, 6 – patulin i.p. 0.5 LD50 once. 6 hours after patulin or saline administration, animals from groups 3, 4, 5, 6 were sacrificed. Kidneys and livers were obtained. Animals from groups 1 and 2 were sacrificed on day 29. Acid phosphatase activity was measured in the tissue supernatants with colorimetric method. Cathepsin B and D activities were determined with an ELISA-kit. Results. The activities of acid phosphatase, cathepsin B and D in the kidneys and livers of mice exposed to patulin for 28 days was higher than in controls. A proportionate increase in acid phosphatase and cathepsin B activity in the kidneys and livers was observed for a single dose of the xenobiotic. Conclusions. Acute and subacute poisoning with patulin negatively affects the functioning of lysosomes and induces an increase in the activity of lysosomal enzymes in mice livers and kidneys. Activities of acid phosphatase and selected cathepsins in the livers and kidneys are markers of cell damage due to patulin’s toxicity

Wykorzystanie nieinwazyjnych metod w lokalizacji grobów ofiar Holocaustu; Rejowiec - studium przypadku

The Holocaust - the almost total extermination of European Jews by the Germans during World War II (1939-45) is primarily associated with such German extermination camps as Auschwitz, Bełżec, Majdanek, Sobibór or Treblinka. In addition to these places, Central and Eastern Europe, including territory, within the present Polish borders, is literally dotted with forgotten individual and mass Jewish war graves. These are the graves of Jews who were not sent to the German death camps during the liquidation of the ghettos during Reinhardt’s operation (March 1942 - November 1943), but were murdered during and after the mass extermination. These Jews were buried in nameless graves located in forests, roadside ditches, arable fields, etc. In most cases, their number and exact location are unknown, both for scientists and descendants of victims, although they often exist in the memories of the last living witnesses of the Holocaust and local communities . One of the statutory tasks of the Rabbinical Commission for Jewish cemeteries in Poland is to search for the forgotten graves of Holocaust victims and restore the identity of the murderers who were taken away from them. The Commission, as a religious entity, headed by the Chief Rabbi of Poland, operates in support of the Jewish law - Halacha, whose regulations define the method and methodology of research. Halacha prohibits opening graves and moving the remains of the dead. All investigations specifying the location and size of the graves they must be carried out in a non-invasive manner, without interfering with the soil structure. In this study, the authors present the first results of work on the location of places of execution and mass graves of Jews from World War II, which were carried out using methods respecting the provisions of Jewish law. To locate these places, the following methods are used: the Holocaust witness account, documents from the Institute of National Remembrance, data from laser scanning, GPR measurements, historical and current aerial photographs. The authors will present the methods of their work and the problems they faced during the research