Long-Range Fiber Transmission of Optical Vortices

We use specialty fiber (“vortex fiber”), to create and propagate orbital angular momentum states over ~kilometer lengths in telecom band (~1550nm). The spiral phase structure of the vortex beams was confirmed by interference with a Gaussian reference. This result is an important step toward achieving long-range classical and quantum communication links using orbital angular momentum of light.DARPA Grant No. HR0011-11-1-000

Wire-based antegrade dissection re-entry technique for coronary chronic total occlusions percutaneous revascularization: Experience from the ERCTO Registry

Background: The recent development and widespread adoption of antegrade dissection re-entry (ADR) techniques have been underlined as one of the antegrade strategies in all worldwide CTO consensus documents. However, historical wire-based ADR experience has suffered from disappointing long-term outcomes.Aims: Compare technical success, procedural success, and long-term outcome of patients who underwent wire-based ADR technique versus antegrade wiring (AW).Methods: One thousand seven hundred and ten patients, from the prospective European Registry of Chronic Total Occlusions (ERCTO), underwent 1806 CTO procedures between January 2018 and December 2021, at 13 high-volume ADR centers. Among all 1806 lesions attempted by the antegrade approach, 72% were approached with AW techniques and 28% with wire-based ADR techniques.Results: Technical and procedural success rates were lower in wire-based ADR than in AW (90.3% vs. 96.4%, p < 0.001; 87.7% vs. 95.4%, p < 0.001, respectively); however, wire-based ADR was used successfully more often in complex lesions as compared to AW (p = 0.017). Wire-based ADR was used in most cases (85%) after failure of AW or retrograde procedures. At a mean clinical follow-up of 21 & PLUSMN; 15 months, major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCEs) did not differ between AW and wire-based ADR (12% vs. 15.1%, p = 0.106); both AW and wire-based ADR procedures were associated with significant symptom improvements.Conclusions: As compared to AW, wire-based ADR is a reliable and effective strategy successfully used in more complex lesions and often after the failure of other techniques. At long-term follow-up, patient's MACCEs and symptoms improvement were similar in both antegrade techniques

IMPACT OF ECHOCARDIOGRAPHIC OPTIMIZATION OF RESYNCHRONIZATION PACE-MAKER USING DIFFERENT PACING MODALITIES AND ATRIOVENTRICULAR DELAYS ON ACUTE HEMODYNAMIC RESPONSE AND LONG TERM PROGNOSIS

Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) improves ventricular dyssynchrony and is associated with an improvement in life quality and prognosis.Aim. The aim of study was to examine acute hemodynamic changes with different of CRT device modalities throughout optimization procedure and its impact on one year prognosis.Material and methods. The study comprised 62 patients with severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVEF 24,6±4,4%, QRS duration 154,71±14,92 ms, NYHA class III/IV 47/15) with implanted CRT device. After implantation and before discharge all the patients underwent optimization procedure guided by Doppler echocardiography. Left (LVPEI) and right (RVPEI) ventricular pre-ejection intervals, interventricular mechanical delay (IVD) and the maximal rate of ventricular pressure rise during early systole (max dP/dt) were measured during left and biventricular pacing with three different atrioventricular (AV) delays. Stroke volume derived from the left ventricular outflow tract velocity–time integral (VTI) of left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT VTI) was measured as well. After one year patients underwent clinical, echocardiographical examination and 6 minute walking test.Results. After CRT device optimization, optimal AV delay and CRT mode were defined. Left ventricular pre-ejection intervals changed from 175,4±21,5 to 142,6±16,7 (p &lt; 0,01), RVPEI from 108,6±18,9 to 127,3±18,3 (p &lt; 0,001), IVD from 71,3±14,8 to 24,7±7,6 (p &lt; 0,001) and dP/dt from 532,2±74 to 675,2±111 (p &lt; 0,001). Left ventricular outflow tract VTI increased after optimization procedure from 18±3,4 to 21±1,5 cm (p&lt;0,05).Conclusions. Echocardiographic optimization procedure emphasizes the individualized approach in CRT optimization procedure in order to derive the best short and long term results

Biochemical and physical kernel properties of a standard maize hybrid in different TopCross™ Blends

ABSTRACT A pilot experiment was undertaken in order to examine high oil populations of maize (Zea mays L.) to be used as pollinators in TopCross blends with commercial ZP341 standard hybrid. Five high oil populations (HOPs) from the Maize Research Institute (MRI) gene bank were chosen for this research, according to their high grain oil content, synchrony between silking of ZP341 and anthesis of the populations and good agronomic performances in 2012. Selfing of ZP341 and HOPs, as well as crosses of ZP341 cmsS sterile × HOPs were carried out in 2013. Oil content, fatty acid composition, protein and tryptophan content, and physical characteristics of the obtained kernels were measured. Four HOPs showed significant positive influence on the oil content in the TopCrosses (TC), 16.85 g kg−1 on average. Oleic acid, which is the principal monounsaturated fatty acid, was significantly lower in all HOPs and all TCs, while selfed ZP341 had almost twice the average value typical for standard maize. However, this decrease in TCs was in a narrow range from 1 % (in TC-3) to 5 % (in TC-4) and the oleic content of TCs was on average higher by 60 % compared to the typical standard maize. Different favorable and unfavorable significant changes were detected in fatty acid compositions, protein and tryptophan contents and physical kernel properties for each potential TC combination. Results indicate differences in gene effects present in different TC combinations and underscore the need to examine each potential TC blend by conducting similar simple experiments

FREQUENCY OF MAJOR UNWANTEDFREQUENCY OF MAJOR UNWANTED CORANARY EVENTS IN PATIENTS WITH AORTOCORONAROGRAPHY BYPASS AND PTCA DURING THE THREE YEAR FOLLOW UP

The paper compares the major unwanted coronary events in patients with surgical revascularization of myocardium and with percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty during the period of 36 months. The frequency of major unwanted coronary events, above all mortality, was higher in group of patients with surgical revascularization of myocardium, but the difference was not statistically significant