Exciton-photon coupling in a ZnSe based microcavity fabricated using epitaxial liftoff

We report the observation of strong exciton-photon coupling in a ZnSe based microcavity fabricated using epitaxial liftoff. Molecular beam epitaxial grown ZnSe/Zn$_{0.9}$Cd$_{0.1}$Se quantum wells with a one wavelength optical length at the exciton emission were transferred to a SiO$_2$/Ta$_2$O$_5$ mirror with a reflectance of 96% to form finesse matched microcavities. Analysis of our angle resolved transmission spectra reveals key features of the strong coupling regime: anticrossing with a normal mode splitting of $23.6 meV$ at $20 K$; composite evolution of the lower and upper polaritons; and narrowing of the lower polariton linewidth near resonance. The heavy hole exciton oscillator strength per quantum well is also deduced to be $1.78 \times 10^{13} cm^{-2}$.Comment: 3 pages, 3 figure

FRI0592-HPR Work rehabilitation in inflammatory arthritis: A pilot randomised controlled trial

Background Work problems are common in people with inflammatory arthritis (IA): with 28-40% of people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) stopping work in 5y of diagnosis. There is little research into effectiveness of job retention vocational rehabilitation (JRVR)for employed people with IA. Brief JR-VR led to significantly fewer job losses at 3.5 years in the USA (Allaire et al, 2003) and a UK pilot trial demonstrated 6m improvements in work instability and work satisfaction (Macedo et al, 2009). Objectives: To conduct a pilot randomised controlled trial (RCT) evaluating a JR-VR intervention with employed people with IA,to facilitate planning a full RCT. Methods: Participants with IA were recruited from 6 Rheumatology departments and randomised to VR (delivered by Rheumatology OTs with VR training) or a control group. Both groups received written self-help information about managing work problems. The VR group could receive up to 6h JR-VR, including a work visit. Presenteeism outcomes included: RA-Work Instability Scale (RAWIS:0-23), Work Limitations Questionnaire Productivity Loss (WLQPL: %), Work Activities Limitations Scale (WALS:0-33). Absenteeism was measured using monthly work diaries. Health outcomes included: SF12v2 Physical component(SF12-PC), pain, fatigue and perceived health status VAS (0-100). Mean (SD) change scores and effect sizes were calculated. Results: 213 eligible employed patients with IA were identified, of whom 55 (26%) participated (34 with RA): 13M, 42F; aged 49y (SD 8.8); 7.9y (SD 8.9) disease duration; 33 worked full-time; job types were professional (27%), associated professional/skilled (15%), partly skilled/admin/caring/retain (53%), unskilled (5%). Both groups were comparable at baseline (see Table). At 9m: effect sizes were moderate to large for changes in work and health outcomes in the JR-VR group and none to small in the control group; %working days lost due to sickness: JR-VR =9.6% (SD 13.6); control = 20% (SD 27.1). JR-VR lasted on average 3.08 (SD 1.8)hours and cost £74.98 (SD £46.80) per patient. Conclusions: This pilot suggests brief JR-VR provided by Rheumatology OTs can improve presenteeism, absenteeism and health status, indicating a RCT is warranted. Recruitment was problematic, with many not consenting. Potential reasons include: fear about employers (in a recession) learning they have arthritis; concerns about time out of work attending VR; and not perceiving VR is needed as yet. JR-VR intends to prevent work problems. Support is needed to enable employed people with IA and work problems to attend JR-VR

Splanchnic metabolism of nutrients and hormones in steers fed alfalfa under conditions of increased absorption of ammonia and L-arginine supply across the portal-drained viscera

Effects of increased ammonia and/or arginine absorption on net splanchnic (portal-drained viscera [PDV] plus liver) metabolism of nonnitrogenous nutrients and hormones in cattle were examined. Six Hereford × Angus steers (501 ± 1 kg BW) prepared with vascular catheters for measurements of net flux across the splanchnic bed were fed a 75% alfalfa:25% (as-fed basis) corn and soybean meal diet (0.523 MJ of ME/[kg BW0.75.d]) every 2 h without (27.0 g of N/kg of DM) and with 20 g of urea/kg of DM (35.7 g of N/kg of DM) in a split-plot design. Net flux measurements were made immediately before and after a 72-h mesenteric vein infusion of L-arginine (15 mmol/h). There were no treatment effects onPDVor hepaticO2 consumption. Dietary urea had no effect on splanchnic metabolism of glucose or L-lactate, but arginine infusion decreased net hepatic removal of L-lactate when urea was fed (P < 0.01). Net PDV appearance of n-butyrate was increased by arginine infusion (P < 0.07), and both dietary urea (P < 0.09) and arginine infusion (P < 0.05) increased net hepatic removal of n-butyrate. Dietary urea also increased total splanchnic acetate output (P < 0.06), tended to increase arterial glucagon concentration (P < 0.11), and decreased arterial ST concentration (P < 0.03). Arginine infusion increased arterial concentration (P < 0.07) and net PDV release (P < 0.10) and tended to increase hepatic removal (P < 0.11) of insulin, as well as arterial concentration (P < 0.01) and total splanchnic output (P < 0.01) of glucagon. Despite changes in splanchnic N metabolism, increased ammonia and arginine absorption had little measurable effect on splanchnic metabolism of glucose and other nonnitrogenous components of splanchnic energy metabolism

Non-invasive probing of random local potential fluctuations in ZnCdSe/ZnSe quantum wells

Temperature dependence and recombination behavior of trapped charge carriers in ZnCdSe/ZnSe multiple quantum wells are investigated employing surface acoustic waves. These weakly perturb the carrier system, but remain highly sensitive even at small conductivities. Using this non-invasive probe we are able to detect persistent photoconductivity minutes after optical excitation. Measurement of exciting photon energies, the temperature dependence and ability to quench the conductivity with energies lower than the bandgap, support the notion of spatial separation of electrons and holes in the wells, due to random local potential fluctuations possibly induced by compositional fluctuations

Quantum dynamics in photonic crystals

Employing a recently developed method that is numerically accurate within a model space simulating the real-time dynamics of few-body systems interacting with macroscopic environmental quantum fields, we analyze the full dynamics of an atomic system coupled to a continuum light-field with a gapped spectral density. This is a situation encountered, for example, in the radiation field in a photonic crystal, whose analysis has been so far been confined to limiting cases due to the lack of suitable numerical techniques. We show that both atomic population and coherence dynamics can drastically deviate from the results predicted when using the rotating wave approximation, particularly in the strong coupling regime. Experimental conditions required to observe these corrections are also discussed.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures Updated with published versio

First communication on the efficacy of combined ¹⁷⁷Lutetium-PSMA with immunotherapy outside prostate cancer.

Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-targeted radioligand therapy is a validated treatment option for patients with advanced prostate cancer. Although PSMA expression is not limited to prostate tissue, little is known about its relevance to other types of cancer. Here, we present a case report of a patient with uterine leiomyosarcoma that is progressing while on immunotherapy and treated with &lt;sup&gt;177&lt;/sup&gt; Lu-PSMA radionuclide therapy. We report for the first time that &lt;sup&gt;177&lt;/sup&gt; Lu-PSMA radionuclide therapy combined with immunotherapy outside of prostate cancer. We did observe post-treatment reduction of tumor growth rate, although we did not notice disease response based on RECIST criteria. We suggest that &lt;sup&gt;177&lt;/sup&gt; Lu-PSMA treatment especially combined with immunotherapy may be an option for patients with cancer without other therapeutic options. Insights: &lt;sup&gt;177&lt;/sup&gt; Lu-PSMA radionuclide therapy should be considered for any tumor stained positive for PSMA