Plasmonic Resonances and Their Application to Thin-Film Solar Cell

This chapter furnishes the plasmonic properties of metal nanostructure and its application to thin-film solar cell. Plasmonics is an emerging branch of nanooptics where light metal interaction in subwavelength domain is studied. Metal supports surface plasmon resonance that has tunable signature, which depends on the morphology as well as surrounding media. These plasmonic resonances can be tuned in a broader range of solar spectra by changing several parameters such as size, shape and medium. Moreover, metals show scattering properties that could be utilized to enhance optical path length of photon inside the thin film of solar device. The chapter mainly focusses on the study of plasmonic resonance of smaller- and larger-sized metal nanoparticle using semi-analytical as well as numerical approach. For the estimation of optical properties like extinction spectrum and field profile of larger-sized nanoparticle, finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method is used. The field distribution in both silver and gold nanoparticle cases has been plotted in ‘on’ resonance condition, which has a broader range of applications

A Perspective on Plasmonics within and beyond the Electrostatic Approximation

Plasmonic is an emerging branch of nanophotonics wherein the electromagnetic properties of nanoparticles are studied for variety of applications. The optics of nanoparticles is studied in terms of surface plasmon resonances and optical cross section. Initially the first principle approach has been used to study the plasmonic fundamentals known as electrostatic approach. Under this approach, various parameters are taken into account to observe the electromagnetic properties of plasmonic nanogeometries. This electrostatic model is only used to analyze the optical signature of smaller size plasmonic geometries. Therefore, for the estimation of optical properties of larger size nanoparticle numerical model (Discrete Dipole Approximation) has been used. The observed surface plasmon resonances could be useful in sensing field, SERS signal detection and thin film solar cell application

BLOOD STREAM INFECTION AMONG THE FEBRILE NEUTROPENIC PATIENTS SUFFER-ING FROM HEMATOLOGICAL DISORDERS AT A TERTIARY CARE CENTRE, NORTH INDIA

Introduction: Blood stream infections are the common infectious consequence in neutropenic patients suffering from the hematological malignancies. These infections are usually caused by a diverse group of microbes. Material and methods: A pair of blood culture was executed in the febrile neutropenic patients suffering from hematological disorders, to observe the microbiology of the blood stream infections. Identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing were performed as per standard microbiological procedures. Results: In the present study, 27% of blood culture positivity (27/100) was observed among the enrolled febrile neutropenic patients. Gram-positive cocci including Staphylococcus aures (n=15), Coagulase negative staphylococci (n=8), Enterococcus fecalis (n1) were the predominance in comparison to Gram negative microbes (one each isolate of Klebsiella pneumonaie, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa). All the isolated Gram-positive microbes were sensitive to vancomycin and linezolid. 65.2% of isolated Staphylococci were methicillin resistant (15/23). One MDR Klebsiella pneumoniae strain was also isolated, having a susceptibility to only carbapenem and polymyxin B. Conclusion: Blood culture and susceptibility testing should be performed in each case of febrile neutropenia as blood stream infections among these patients are caused by a divergent group of microbes having a varied susceptibility pattern

A Comparison of Tanning Habits Among Gym Tanners and Other Tanners

Physical activity has been associated with increased risk of malignant melanoma,1 as has the use of tanning beds.2 The presence of tanning beds in gyms is a concerning trend. Two of the largest American gym chains (Planet Fitness and Anytime Fitness) with total combined membership of more than 13 million people, offer indoor tanning. Nearly half of the gyms in Canada offer indoor tanning as well.3 Little is known about the characteristics of tanners who use gym tanning beds. The present study examined the proportion of indoor tanners who use gym tanning beds and tested whether they have riskier habits than other tanners. We also examined whether physical activity was related to the frequency of indoor tanning among tanners

Terms non-exudative and non-neovascular: awaiting entry at the doors of AMD reclassification

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Smartphone-Assisted Glaucoma Screening in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes: a Pilot Study

We aimed to determine true and false positives of glaucoma screening, relying solely on photos of the retina, taken with a smartphone. We performed a descriptive and analytical study on patients with type 2 diabetes at the National Obesity Centre, Yaoundé, Cameroon. Participating patients had retinal photography sessions using an iPhone 5s (iOS 10.3.3; Apple, Cupertino, CA) coupled to the Make in India Retinal Camera (MIIRetCam; MIIRetCam Inc., Coimbatore, TN, India). Obtained pictures of the retina were stored and transferred via the internet to an ophthalmologist to assess glaucoma. Selected patients were then invited to undergo a conventional ophthalmological examination to confirm the diagnosis. A total of 395 patients were screened, 39 (including 20 women) were diagnosed with suspicion of glaucoma based on retinal photos, a prevalence rate of 9.87%. The following signs were found; C/D ≥0.5 in 64.1% (25/39), asymmetric C/D >0.2 in 35.9% (14/39), papillary haemorrhage in 10.2% (4/39) and retinal nerve fibre deficiency in 2.5% (1/39). Only 14 of 39 patients with suspicion of glaucoma were examined, giving a lost-to-follow-up rate of 64.1%. Chronic open-angle glaucoma was confirmed in 8 patients (true positives) and absent in 6 patients (false positives). The prevalence of smartphone-detected glaucoma and lost-to-follow-up rates were high. So we need to improve this type of screening, with additional tests like transpalpebral applanation tonometer and the smartphone Frequency Doubling Technique visual field combined with better education of patients to increase their adherence to follow-up

Smartphone-Assisted Glaucoma Screening in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes: a Pilot Study

We aimed to determine true and false positives of glaucoma screening, relying solely on photos of the retina, taken with a smartphone. We performed a descriptive and analytical study on patients with type 2 diabetes at the National Obesity Centre, Yaoundé, Cameroon. Participating patients had retinal photography sessions using an iPhone 5s (iOS 10.3.3; Apple, Cupertino, CA) coupled to the Make in India Retinal Camera (MIIRetCam; MIIRetCam Inc., Coimbatore, TN, India). Obtained pictures of the retina were stored and transferred via the internet to an ophthalmologist to assess glaucoma. Selected patients were then invited to undergo a conventional ophthalmological examination to confirm the diagnosis. A total of 395 patients were screened, 39 (including 20 women) were diagnosed with suspicion of glaucoma based on retinal photos, a prevalence rate of 9.87%. The following signs were found; C/D ≥0.5 in 64.1% (25/39), asymmetric C/D >0.2 in 35.9% (14/39), papillary haemorrhage in 10.2% (4/39) and retinal nerve fibre deficiency in 2.5% (1/39). Only 14 of 39 patients with suspicion of glaucoma were examined, giving a lost-to-follow-up rate of 64.1%. Chronic open-angle glaucoma was confirmed in 8 patients (true positives) and absent in 6 patients (false positives). The prevalence of smartphone-detected glaucoma and lost-to-follow-up rates were high. So we need to improve this type of screening, with additional tests like transpalpebral applanation tonometer and the smartphone Frequency Doubling Technique visual field combined with better education of patients to increase their adherence to follow-up