The Ex Hoc Infrastructure Framework: Enhancing Traffic Safety through LIfe Warning Systems

New pervasive computing technologies for sensing and communication open up novel possibilities for enhancing traffic safety. We are currently designing and implementing the Ex Hoc infrastructure framework for communication among mobile and stationary units including vehicles. The infrastructure will connect sensing devices on vehicles with sensing devices on other vehicles and with stationary communication units placed alongside roads. The current application of Ex Hoc is to enable the collection and dissemination of information on road condition through LIfe Warning Systems (LIWAS) units

Non-Invasive Bleaching of the Human Lens by Femtosecond Laser Photolysis

Background: Globally, cataract is the leading cause of blindness and impaired vision. Cataract surgery is an attractive treatment option but it remains unavailable in sufficient quantity for the vast majority of the world population living in areas without access to specialized health care. Reducing blindness from cataract requires solutions that can be applied outside operating theatres. Cataract is a protein conformational disease characterized by accumulation of light absorbing, fluorescent and scattering protein aggregates. The aim of the study was to investigate whether these compounds were susceptible to photobleaching by a non-invasive procedure and whether this would lead to optical rejuvenation of the lens. Methodology/Principal Findings: Nine human donor lenses were treated with an 800 nm infra-red femtosecond pulsed laser in a treatment zone measuring 16160.52 mm. After laser treatment the age-induced yellow discoloration of the lens was markedly reduced and the transmission of light was increased corresponding to an optical rejuvenation of 3 to 7 years. Conclusions/Significance: The results demonstrate that the age-induced yellowing of the human lens can be bleached by a non-invasive procedure based on femtosecond laser photolysis. Cataract is a disease associated with old age. At the current technological stage, lens aging is delayed but with a treatment covering the entire lens volume complete optical rejuvenation is expected. Thus, femtosecond photolysis has the potential clinical value of replacing invasive cataract surgery by a non-invasive treatment modality that can be placed in mobile units, thus breaking down many of the barriers impedin

Frequency tunability of solid-core photonic crystal fibers filled with nanoparticle-doped liquid crystals

We infiltrate liquid crystals doped with BaTiO3 nanoparticles in a photonic crystal fiber and compare the measured transmission spectrum with the one achieved without dopant. New interesting features, such as frequency modulation response of the device and a transmission spectrum with tunable attenuation on the short wavelength side of the widest bandgap, suggest a potential application of this device as a tunable all-in-fiber gain equalization filter with an adjustable slope. The tunability of the device is achieved by varying the amplitude and the frequency of the applied external electric field. The threshold voltage for doped and undoped liquid crystals in a silica capillary and in a glass cell are also measured as a function of the frequency of the external electric field and the achieved results are compared

The NAME trial:a direct comparison of classical oral Navelbine versus metronomic Navelbine in metastatic breast cancer

Chemotherapy for metastatic breast cancer (MBC) is in general given in cycles of maximum tolerated doses to potentially maximize the therapeutic outcome. However, when compared with targeted therapies for MBC, conventional and dose intensified chemotherapy has caused only modest survival benefits during the recent decades, often compromising the quality of life considerably. Navelbine is an antineoplastic agent that has shown efficacy in the treatment of a variety of cancer types, including breast cancer. Early clinical trials involving both breast cancer and lung cancer patients suggest that metronomic dosing of Navelbine might be at least as effective as classical administration (once weekly, etc.). The NAME trial compares these two strategies of Navelbine administration in MBC patients

Optical effects of exposing intact human lenses to ultraviolet radiation and visible light

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The human lens is continuously exposed to high levels of light. Ultraviolet radiation is believed to play a causative role in the development of cataract. In vivo, however, the lens is mainly exposed to visible light and the ageing lens absorbs a great part of the short wavelength region of incoming visible light. The aim of the present study was to examine the optical effects on human lenses of short wavelength visible light and ultraviolet radiation.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Naturally aged human donor lenses were irradiated with UVA (355 nm), violet (400 and 405 nm) and green (532 nm) lasers. The effect of irradiation was evaluated qualitatively by photography and quantitatively by measuring the direct transmission before and after irradiation. Furthermore, the effect of pulsed and continuous laser systems was compared as was the effect of short, intermediate and prolonged exposures.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Irradiation with high intensity lasers caused scattering lesions in the human lenses. These effects were more likely to be seen when using pulsed lasers because of the high pulse intensity. Prolonged irradiation with UVA led to photodarkening whereas no detrimental effects were observed after irradiation with visible light.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Irradiation with visible light does not seem to be harmful to the human lens except if the lens is exposed to laser irradiances that are high enough to warrant thermal protein denaturation that is more readily seen using pulsed laser systems.</p

A low-cost remotely operated vehicle (ROV) with an optical positioningsystem for under-ice measurements and sampling

Embargo until 26 March 2020.Here we describe the design, performance and field tests of a lightweight (13.1 kg), low-cost (15.000 USD), and portable remotely operated vehicle (ROV) of dimensions 55 × 43 × 34 cm (L × H × W), with a new optical based positioning system. The ROV is designed for deployments and measurements of the irradiance field at a short distance below sea ice bottom in landfast level sea ice at calm under ice conditions. It is equipped with two cameras (front and rear) for optical positioning based on reference poles with LED lights below the ice. A third upward camera is for guiding during deployment and positioning. The ROV is equipped with spacer poles to maintain a constant distance between ROV with onboard optical sensors and bottom of the ice. All pre-tests of housing, thrusters, optical positioning, and ROV maneuverability were carried out in freshwater basins prior to field trials and tests. These were conducted at Kangerlussuaq, West Greenland on landfast first-year 79–80 cm thick ice with a variable (1–12 cm) snow cover in March 2016. The ROV was easily deployed through a hole (75 × 50 cm) in the ice and easy to maneuver below the ice. Test of positioning system showed an average deviation of 28 ± 5 cm between optically based position and actual position with an average offset from center line of 16 ± 5 cm. The ROV was applied for measuring the under-ice irradiance field and results demonstrated a solid negative correlation between snow depth and PAR transmittance. We derived a Normalized Differences Index (NDI) for snow depths: NDIsnow depth = [E(610 nm) – E(490 nm)]/[E(610 nm) + E(490 nm)] with minimum attenuation at 490 nm and maximum at 610 nm. It is discussed that the correlations for both PAR transmittance and the NDI with snow depths are due to a combination of a constant distance between optical sensor and ice bottom, and accurate positioning. A test showed that the wakes of thrusters removed parts of the ice algae biomass, but the study demonstrates the applicability of this ROV design for measurements of the under-ice irradiance field below landfast sea ice with a new optical based positioning system.acceptedVersio

Nanoparticles Doped Liquid Crystal Filled Photonic Bandgap Fibers

We infiltrate liquid crystals doped with BaTiO3 nanoparticles in a photonic crystal fiber and compare the measured transmission spectrum to the one achieved with undoped liquid crystals. New interesting features such as frequency dependent behavior and a transmission spectrum with tunable attenuation on the short wavelength side of the bandgap suggest a potential application of this device as a tunable all-in-fiber gain equalization filter. The tunability of the device is demonstrated by changing the temperature of the liquid crystal and by varying both the amplitude and the frequency of the applied external electric field. © American Institute of Physics