Stimulated and spontaneous four-wave mixing in silicon-on-insulator coupled photonic wire nano-cavities

We report on four-wave mixing in coupled photonic crystal nano-cavities on a silicon-on-insulator platform. Three photonic wire cavities are side-coupled to obtain three modes equally separated in energy. The structure is designed to be self-filtering, and we show that the pump is rejected by almost two orders of magnitudes. We study both the stimulated and the spontaneous four-wave mixing processes: owing to the small modal volume, we find that signal and idler photons are generated with a hundred-fold increase in efficiency as compared to silicon micro-ring resonators

Demonstration of fluorescence enhancement: via Bloch surface waves in all-polymer multilayer structures

An all-polymer photonic structure constituted by a distributed Bragg reflector topped with an ultrathin fluorescent polymer film has been studied. A Bloch surface wave resonance has been exploited to improve pumping efficiency. A strongly polarization and angle dependent fluorescence signal is found with respect to the light pumping beam and the emitted wavelength. Matching the most favorable condition for the pump coupling and the collection geometry, the signal obtained from the structure appears to be two orders of magnitude larger than the one of the bare emitting film

Strong coupling between excitons in organic semiconductors and Bloch Surface Waves

We report on the strong coupling between the Bloch surface wave supported by an inorganic multilayer structure and $J$-aggregate excitons in an organic semiconductor. The dispersion curves of the resulting polariton modes are investigated by means of angle-resolved attenuated total reflection as well as photoluminescence experiments. The measured Rabi splitting is 290 meV. These results are in good agreement with those obtained from our theoretical model

The role of surgical resection in Unicentric Castleman’s disease: a systematic review

Introduction: Castleman’s disease is a rare benign lymphoproliferative disorder of unknown etiology. The disease occurs in twoclinical forms with different prognoses, treatments and symptoms: a unicentric form (UCD), which is solitary, localized, and a multicentricform characterized by generalized lymphadenopathy and systemic symptoms. This article aims to review the currentliterature to consolidate the evidence surrounding the curative potential of surgical treatment to the unicentric type.Material and methods: A systematic review of English-language literature was performed and databases (Medline, Pubmed,the Cochrane Database and grey literature) were searched to identify articles pertaining to the treatment of unicentric form ofCastleman’s disease. Each article was critiqued by two authors using a structured appraisal tool, and stratified according to thelevel of evidence.Results: After application of inclusion criteria, 14 studies were included. There were no prospective randomized control studiesidentified. One meta-analysis including 278 patients with UCD reported that resective surgery is safe and should be consideredthe gold standard for treatment. Seven retrospective studies enhance this standpoint. Radiotherapy (RT) has been used in sixstudies with controversial results.Conclusions: We conclude that surgical resection appears to be the most effective treatment for Unicentric Castleman’s Diseaseof the thoracic cavity. Radiotherapy can also achieve clinical response and cure in selected patients

2,5-Diisopropenylthiophene by Suzuki\u2013Miyaura cross-coupling reaction and its exploitation in inverse vulcanization: a case study

A novel thiophene derivative, namely 2,5-diisopropenylthiophene (DIT) was synthetized by Suzuki\u2013Miyaura cross-coupling reaction (SMCCR). The influence of reaction parameters, such as temperature, solvent, stoichiometry of reagents, role of the base and reaction medium were thoroughly discussed in view of yield optimization and environmental impact minimization. Basic design of experiment (DoE) and multiple linear regression (MLR) modeling methods were used to interpret the obtained results. DIT was then employed as a comonomer in the copolymerization with waste elemental sulfur through a green process, inverse vulcanization (IV), to obtain sulfur-rich polymers named inverse vulcanized polymers (IVPs) possessing high refractive index (n z 1.8). The DIT comonomer was purposely designed to (i) favor the IV process owing to the high reactivity of the isopropenyl functionalities and (ii) enhance the refractive index of the ensuing IVPs owing to the presence of the sulfur atom itself and to the high electronic polarizability of the p-conjugated thiophene ring. A series of random sulfur-rdiisopropenylthiophene (S-r-DIT) copolymers with sulfur content from 50 up to 90 wt% were synthesized by varying the S/DIT feed ratio. Spectroscopic, thermal and optical characterizations of the new IVPs were carried out to assess their main chemical\u2013physical feature

All-Polymer Photonic Microcavities Doped with Perylene Bisimide J-Aggregates

Thanks to exciting chemical and optical features, perylene bisimide (PBI) J-aggregates are ideal candidates to be employed for high-performance plastic photonic devices. However, they generally tend to form - stacked H-aggregates that are unsuitable for implementation in polymer resonant cavities. In this work, we demonstrate the efficient compatibilization of a tailored perylene bisimide forming robust J-aggregated supramolecular polymers into amorphous polypropylene. The new nanocomposite was then implemented into an all-polymer planar microcavity which provides strong and directional spectral redistribution of the J-aggregate photoluminescence, owing to a strong modification of the photonic states. A systematic analysis of the photoemitting processes, including photoluminescence decay and quantum yields, shows that the optical confinement in the polymeric microcavity does not introduce any additional nonradiative de-excitation pathways to those already found in the J-aggregate nanocomposite film and pave the way to PBI-based high-performance plastic photonic devices

Thoracic Outlet Syndrome: Single Center Experience on Robotic Assisted First Rib Resection and Literature Review.

Background Thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) is a pathological condition caused by a narrowing between the clavicle and first rib leading to a compression of the neurovascular bundle to the upper extremity. The incidence of TOS is probably nowadays underestimated because the diagnosis could be very challenging without a thorough clinical examination along with appropriate clinical testing. Beside traditional supra-, infraclavicular or transaxillary approaches, the robotic assisted first rib resection has been gaining importance in the last few years. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort analysis of all patients who underwent robotic assisted first rib resection due to TOS at Lucerne Cantonal Hospital and then we performed a narrative review of the English literature using PubMed, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and Scopus. Results Between June 2020 and November 2021, eleven robotic assisted first rib resections were performed due to TOS at Lucerne Cantonal Hospital. Median length of stay was 2 days (Standard Deviation: +/- 0.67 days). Median surgery time was 180 min (Standard Deviation: +/- 36.5). No intra-operative complications were reported. Conclusions Robotic assisted first rib resection could represent a safe and feasible option in expert hands for the treatment of thoracic outlet syndrome

Rola resekcji chirurgicznej w leczeniu zlokalizowanej postaci choroby Castlemana — przegląd systematyczny

Choroba Castlemana jest rzadką, łagodną chorobą limfoproliferacyjną o nieznanej etiologii. Schorzenie występuje w dwóch postaciach klinicznych o różnym rokowaniu, sposobie leczenia i objawach: postaci zlokalizowanej (UCD) oraz wieloogniskowej, charakteryzującej się powiększeniem węzłów chłonnych oraz objawami ogólnymi. Celem pracy był przegląd piśmiennictwa, a także analiza dowodów na skuteczność resekcji chirurgicznej w zlokalizowanej postaci choroby. Przeprowadzono przegląd systematyczny piśmiennictwa angielskojęzycznego oraz baz danych (Medline, Pubmed, Cochrane i źródeł dodatkowych) w poszukiwaniu artykułów dotyczących leczenia zlokalizowanej postaci choroby Castlemana. Każdy artykuł oceniony był przez dwóch autorów przy użyciu ustrukturyzowanego narzędzia oceny, a następnie skategoryzowany zgodnie z siłą dowodu. Zgodnie z kryteriami włączenia, do badania zakwalifikowano 14 badań. Nie znaleziono prospektywnych, randomizowanych badań z grupą kontrolną. W jednej metaanalizie, obejmującej 278 chorych na UCD, stwierdzono, że resekcja chirurgiczna jest bezpieczna i powinna być traktowana jako „złoty standard” w leczeniu. Wnioski zawarte w siedmiu badaniach retrospektywnych potwierdzały ten punkt widzenia. Radioterapia (RT) była stosowana w sześciu badaniach, z różnym efektem. W leczeniu choroby Castlemana zlokalizowanej w klatce piersiowej resekcja chirurgiczna wydaje się metodą o najwyższej skuteczności. Ponadto, pozytywną odpowiedź kliniczną można w niektórych przypadkach osiągnąć przy zastosowaniu radioterapii.Choroba Castlemana jest rzadką, łagodną chorobą limfoproliferacyjną o nieznanej etiologii. Schorzenie występuje w dwóch postaciach klinicznych o różnym rokowaniu, sposobie leczenia i objawach: postaci zlokalizowanej (UCD) oraz wieloogniskowej, charakteryzującej się powiększeniem węzłów chłonnych oraz objawami ogólnymi. Celem pracy był przegląd piśmiennictwa, a także analiza dowodów na skuteczność resekcji chirurgicznej w zlokalizowanej postaci choroby. Przeprowadzono przegląd systematyczny piśmiennictwa angielskojęzycznego oraz baz danych (Medline, Pubmed, Cochrane i źródeł dodatkowych) w poszukiwaniu artykułów dotyczących leczenia zlokalizowanej postaci choroby Castlemana. Każdy artykuł oceniony był przez dwóch autorów przy użyciu ustrukturyzowanego narzędzia oceny, a następnie skategoryzowany zgodnie z siłą dowodu. Zgodnie z kryteriami włączenia, do badania zakwalifikowano 14 badań. Nie znaleziono prospektywnych, randomizowanych badań z grupą kontrolną. W jednej metaanalizie, obejmującej 278 chorych na UCD, stwierdzono, że resekcja chirurgiczna jest bezpieczna i powinna być traktowana jako „złoty standard” w leczeniu. Wnioski zawarte w siedmiu badaniach retrospektywnych potwierdzały ten punkt widzenia. Radioterapia (RT) była stosowana w sześciu badaniach, z różnym efektem. W leczeniu choroby Castlemana zlokalizowanej w klatce piersiowej resekcja chirurgiczna wydaje się metodą o najwyższej skuteczności. Ponadto, pozytywną odpowiedź kliniczną można w niektórych przypadkach osiągnąć przy zastosowaniu radioterapii

All-Polymer Microcavities for the Fluorescence Radiative Rate 2 Modification of a Diketopyrrolopyrrole Derivative

Controlling the radiative rate of emitters with 6 macromolecular photonic structures promises flexible devices with 7 enhanced performances that are easy to scale up. For instance, radiative rate enhancement empowers low-threshold lasers, while rate suppression affects recombination in photovoltaic and photochemical processes. However, claims of the Purcell effect with polymer structures are controversial, as the low dielectric contrast typical of suitable polymers is commonly not enough to provide the necessary confinement. Here we show all-polymer planar microcavities with photonic band gaps tuned to the photoluminescence of a diketopyrrolopyrrole derivative, which allows a change in the fluorescence lifetime. Radiative and nonradiative rates were disentangled systematically by measuring the external quantum efficiencies and comparing the planar microcavities with a series of references designed to exclude any extrinsic effects. For the first time, this analysis shows unambiguously the dye radiative emission rate variations obtained with macromolecular dielectric mirrors. When different0 waveguides, chemical environments, and effective refractive index effects in the structure were accounted for, the change in the radiative lifetime was assigned to the Purcell effect. This was possible through the exploitation of photonic structures made of polyvinylcarbazole as a high-index material and the perfluorinated Aquivion as a low-index one, which produced the largest dielectric contrast ever obtained in planar polymer cavities. This characteristic induces the high confinement of the radiation electric field within the cavity layer, causing a record intensity enhancement and the steering the radiative rate. Current limits and requirements to achieve the full control of radiative rates with polymer planar microcavities are also addressed