Design of a 3D photonic band gap cavity in a diamond-like inverse woodpile photonic crystal

We theoretically investigate the design of cavities in a three-dimensional (3D) inverse woodpile photonic crystal. This class of cubic diamond-like crystals has a very broad photonic band gap and consists of two perpendicular arrays of pores with a rectangular structure. The point defect that acts as a cavity is centred on the intersection of two intersecting perpendicular pores with a radius that differs from the ones in the bulk of the crystal. We have performed supercell bandstructure calculations with up to $5 \times 5 \times 5$ unit cells. We find that up to five isolated and dispersionless bands appear within the 3D photonic band gap. For each isolated band, the electric-field energy is localized in a volume centred on the point defect, hence the point defect acts as a 3D photonic band gap cavity. The mode volume of the cavities resonances is as small as 0.8 $\lambda^{3}$ (resonance wavelength cubed), indicating a strong confinement of the light. By varying the radius of the defect pores we found that only donor-like resonances appear for smaller defect radius, whereas no acceptor-like resonances appear for greater defect radius. From a 3D plot of the distribution of the electric-field energy density we conclude that peaks of energy found in sharp edges situated at the point defect, similar to how electrons collect at such features. This is different from what is observed for cavities in non-inverted woodpile structures. Since inverse woodpile crystals can be fabricated from silicon by CMOS-compatible means, we project that single cavities and even cavity arrays can be realized, for wavelength ranges compatible with telecommunication windows in the near infrared.Comment: 11 figure

Signature of a three-dimensional photonic band gap observed on silicon inverse woodpile photonic crystals

We have studied the reflectivity of CMOS-compatible three-dimensional silicon inverse woodpile photonic crystals at near-infrared frequencies. Polarization-resolved reflectivity spectra were obtained from two orthogonal crystal surfaces corresponding to 1.88 pi sr solid angle. The spectra reveal broad peaks with high reflectivity up to 67 % that are independent of the spatial position on the crystals. The spectrally overlapping reflectivity peaks for all directions and polarizations form the signature of a broad photonic band gap with a relative bandwidth up to 16 %. This signature is supported with stopgaps in plane wave bandstructure calculations and with the frequency region of the expected band gap.Comment: 9 pages, 5 figure

Comparison of acute non-visual bright light responses in patients with optic nerve disease, glaucoma and healthy controls.

This study examined the effect of optic nerve disease, hence retinal ganglion cell loss, on non-visual functions related to melanopsin signalling. Test subjects were patients with bilateral visual loss and optic atrophy from either hereditary optic neuropathy (n = 11) or glaucoma (n = 11). We measured melatonin suppression, subjective sleepiness and cognitive functions in response to bright light exposure in the evening. We also quantified the post-illumination pupil response to a blue light stimulus. All results were compared to age-matched controls (n = 22). Both groups of patients showed similar melatonin suppression when compared to their controls. Greater melatonin suppression was intra-individually correlated to larger post-illumination pupil response in patients and controls. Only the glaucoma patients demonstrated a relative attenuation of their pupil response. In addition, they were sleepier with slower reaction times during nocturnal light exposure. In conclusion, glaucomatous, but not hereditary, optic neuropathy is associated with reduced acute light effects. At mild to moderate stages of disease, this is detected only in the pupil function and not in responses conveyed via the retinohypothalamic tract such as melatonin suppression

A More Fundamental Plane

We combine strong-lensing masses with SDSS stellar velocity dispersions and HST-ACS effective (half-light) radii for 36 lens galaxies from the Sloan Lens ACS (SLACS) Survey to study the mass dependence of mass-dynamical structure in early-type galaxies. We find that over a 180--390 km/s range in velocity dispersion, structure is independent of lensing mass to within 5%. This result suggests a systematic variation in the total (i.e., luminous plus dark matter) mass-to-light ratio as the origin of the tilt of the fundamental plane (FP) scaling relationship between galaxy size, velocity dispersion, and surface brightness. We construct the FP of the lens sample, which we find to be consistent with the FP of the parent SDSS early-type galaxy population, and present the first observational correlation between mass-to-light ratio and residuals about the FP. Finally, we re-formulate the FP in terms of surface mass density rather than surface brightness. By removing the complexities of stellar-population effects, this mass-plane formulation will facilitate comparison to numerical simulations and possible use as a cosmological distance indicator.Comment: 4+epsilon pages, 1 figure, emulateapj. Revised version accepted for publication in the ApJ Letter

Taxas de letalidade por tuberculose na cidade de Campinas, São Paulo, Brasil, de 2001 a 2009

The mortality rate among tuberculosis patients (TB fatality) has been attributed to irregular chemotherapy, delay in diagnosis, multidrug resistance, and HIV coinfection. To analyze TB fatality rates by sex, clinical presentation and HIV coinfection in Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil. ohorts of residents in the city of Campinas who either died during treatment for tuberculosis or had the disease confirmed after death were divided into three intervals: 2001-2003, 2004-2006, and 2007-2009. Data were obtained from the database of the Tuberculosis Surveillance System of the University of Campinas, and notifications were gathered through TB-WEB Health São Paulo Secretary. Statistical significance was determined using a chi-square test, considering p < 0.05. Between 2001 and 2009, 3,416 TB patients were diagnosed: 2,827 (82.8%) were new TB cases and 589 (17.2%) were retreatments. Between the first and second triennium, the number of new patients decreased by 18%, and 23% among retreatments. Between the second and third intervals, the reduction was 5% and 21%, respectively. General case fatality rate declined from 11.4% to 9.9% across intervals, and was most significant among patients that had previously abandoned treatment (17.3% to 5.1%). Fatality rates among patients coinfected with TB-AIDS were 2-3 times that of patients not infected with TB-AIDS throughout the intervals. Fatality between the first and third triennium among TB-AIDS co-infected patients declined (24.8% to 19.5%), while increasing slightly among non-AIDS TB patients (7.3% to 8%) during this period. Conclusion: Though mortality among TB-AIDS patients declined from 2001-2009, rates among non-AIDS TB remained stagnant. Improved TB diagnosis and treatment is needed to further decrease TB mortality in Campinas22A letalidade por tuberculose tem sido atribuída à quimioterapia irregular, à demora no diagnóstico, à multidrogarresistência, à coinfecção com o vírus da imunodeficiência humana (HIV). Analisar letalidade por tuberculose segundo sexo, apresentação clínica, presença da coinfecção pelo HIV, em Campinas, São Paulo, Brasil. Foram verificadas coortes de residentes em Campinas que morreram durante tratamento para tuberculose e aqueles notificados após óbito, agrupados em três intervalos: 2001-2003, 2004-2006 e 2007-2009. As informações foram obtidas no Banco de Dados para Vigilância da Tuberculose da Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), com captação das notificações no Sistema de Notificação e Acompanhamento de Casos de Tuberculose da Secretaria Estadual de Saúde de São Paulo. A significância estatística foi verificada pelo teste χ2 considerando p < 0,05. Entre 2001 e 2009, foram diagnosticados 3.416 pacientes com tuberculose: 2.827 (82,8%) sem tratamento anterior e 589 (17,2%) com retratamentos. Entre o primeiro e o segundo triênio, o número de pacientes novos diminuiu 18% sem tratamento anterior e 23% entre retratamentos. Entre o segundo e o terceiro intervalo, a redução foi de 5 e 21%, respectivamente. A letalidade geral declinou de 11,4 para 9,9%, diferença mais significante entre os que haviam abandonado tratamento anteriormente (17,3 para 5,1%). A letalidade entre pacientes com coinfecção tuberculose-síndrome da imunodeficiência adquirida (Aids) foi 2-3 vezes maior que entre tuberculose sem aids durante todo o período estudado. A letalidade entre o primeiro e o terceiro triênio declinou no grupo com tuberculose-aids (24,8 para 19,5%), enquanto teve ligeiro aumento entre tuberculose sem aids (7,3 para 8%). Embora a mortalidade entre pacientes com tuberculose-aids tenha diminuído de 2001-2009, as taxas no grupo tuberculose sem aids permaneceram estagnadas. Melhorias no diagnóstico e no tratamento são necessárias para a redução da mortalidade entre pacientes com tuberculose em Campina

Observation of sub-Bragg diffraction of waves in crystals

We investigate the diffraction conditions and associated formation of stopgaps for waves in crystals with different Bravais lattices. We identify a prominent stopgap in high-symmetry directions that occurs at a frequency below the ubiquitous first-order Bragg condition. This sub-Bragg diffraction condition is demonstrated by reflectance spectroscopy on two-dimensional photonic crystals with a centred rectangular lattice, revealing prominent diffraction peaks for both the sub-Bragg and first-order Bragg condition. These results have implications for wave propagation in 2 of the 5 two-dimensional Bravais lattices and 7 out of 14 three-dimensional Bravais lattices, such as centred rectangular, triangular, hexagonal and body-centred cubic

Ground penetrating radar at work: A realistic perspective on utility surveying in the Netherlands through a comprehensive ground-truth dataset

This dataset provides a comprehensive compilation of Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) surveys across 125 utility surveying activities in the Netherlands. The dataset details the specific use of GPR in each authentic real-life utility surveying activity, whether employed independently or as a complementary tool alongside existing surveying methods, with or without post-processing. The dataset includes 959 radargrams, ground-truth information obtained from trial trenches, and an inventory of construction, geophysical, infrastructural, and technical features. The GPR utilised in all activities is an air-coupled radar with a 500 MHz frequency antenna, a GNSS RTK positioning system, and a measuring wheel encoder. This ground-truth dataset provides researchers with a valuable resource to further assess the practical efficacy of GPR as a utility surveying method, refine radargram processing algorithms and techniques, and explore the possibilities of predictive modelling

Résection trans urétrale de la prostate : première expérience à Bukavu, RD Congo: Transurethral resection of the prostate: pilot experience in Bukavu, DR Congo

Context and objective. Despite its large use as alternative to open surgical adenomectomy, transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) is still poorly performed in many African countries. The purpose of this study was to describe a pilotTURP experience in Bukavu. Methods.This retrospective study included 159 patients (average age: 68 ± 8.5 years) with benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH), treated at three medical centres in Bukavu between February 2014 andFebruary 2017. Socio-demographic, clinical, and ultrasound data were recorded, and comorbidities and complications reported. Each patient was questionned about treatment received before surgery. Results. The average prostatic volume was 53.2 ± 22 grams. All patients were severelysymptomatic (mean International Prostate Symptoms Score (IPSS) 26.8 ± 5.8) and severely bored (mean quality of life score (QOL) 6.2 ± 0.8).Hypertension (42%) and type 2 diabetes (41%) were the most common comorbidities. The most frequent complications of BPH were urinary tractinfection (44%) and urinary retention (40%). Prior to hospital admission, 60% of patients used traditional medicine. Conclusion.This study has revealed a late reference of patients to the hospital, when the illness is already in advanced stage with complications. There is a need of implementing educational measures targeting early detection and reference of patients with BPH in this area. Résumé Contexte et objectif. Bien que la résection trans urétrale de la prostate (RTUP) se soit imposée comme alternative à l’adénomectomie chirurgicale classique à ciel ouvert, sa pratique reste exceptionnelle dans quelques contrées africaines. L’objectif de la présente étude était de décrire la première expérience de la RTUP à Bukavu.&nbsp;Méthodes. La présente étude documentaire a porté sur 159 patients avec hypertrophie bénigne de la prostate (HBP), opérés dans 3 centres médicaux de Bukavu entre février 2014 et février 2017. Les paramètres d’intérêts comprenaient les données sociodémographiques, cliniques, échographiques les comorbidités, les complications et l’attitude thérapeutique avant l’intervention.&nbsp;Résultats. Leur âge moyen était de 68±8,5 ans. Le volume prostatique moyen était de 53,2 ± 22 grammes. Tous les patients étaient sévèrement symptomatiques (score international des symptômes prostatiques (IPSS) moyen de 26,8 ± 5,8) et fortement ennuyés (score de la qualité de vie (QOL) moyen de 6,2 ± 0,8). L’hypertension artérielle (42%) et le diabète sucré de type 2 (41 %) étaient les comorbidités les plus fréquentes. Les complications de l’HBP les plus fréquentes étaient l’infection urinaire (44 %) et la rétention urinaire (40%). Avant l’admission à l’hôpital, 60% des patients ont eu recours à la médecine traditionnelle.&nbsp;Conclusion. L’avènement de la RTUP à Bukavu a permis de déceler que la majorité des patients avec HBP consultent très tardivement au stade de sevérité symptomatique et des complications. Une campagne d’éducation, information et communication de la population sur le dépistage précoce de l’HBP est à envisager

Biological inflammatory markers mediate the effect of preoperative pain-related behaviours on postoperative analgesics requirements

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