On the use of multilayer Laue lenses with X-ray Free Electron Lasers

Multilayer Laue lenses were used for the first time to focus x-rays from an X-ray Free Electron Laser (XFEL). In an experiment, which was performed at the European XFEL, we demonstrated focusing to a spot size of a few tens of nanometers. A series of runs in which the number of pulses per train was increased from 1 to 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 20 and 30 pulses per train, all with a pulse separation of 3.55 us, was done using the same set of lenses. The increase in the number of pulses per train was accompanied with an increase of x-ray intensity (transmission) from 9% to 92% at 5 pulses per train, and then the transmission was reduced to 23.5 % when the pulses were increased further. The final working condition was 30 pulses per train and 23.5% transmission. Only at this condition we saw that the diffraction efficiency of the MLLs changed over the course of a pulse train, and this variation was reproducible from train to train. We present the procedure to align and characterize these lenses and discuss challenges working with the pulse trains from this unique x-ray source

Spontaneous Conception and Uncomplicated Term Pregnancy after Fertility Preserving Surgery and Chemotherapy in a Young Woman with Embryonal Rhabdomyosarcoma of the Pelvic Wall

Ovarian failure after chemotherapy is a challenge for practitioners in infertility. We report a case of uncomplicated term pregnancy in a young woman undergoing surgery and chemotherapy for rhabdomyosarcoma of the pelvic wall. The woman has been followed up for 15 years. She underwent operative laparoscopy and a first course of chemotherapy together with GnRH agonist therapy when she was 22-year-old. An exploratory laparoscopy and a debulking laparotomy were performed after six months because of persistent intraperitoneal disease and were followed by multiple courses of chemotherapy together with GnRH agonist therapy. A laparotomy for adhesiolysis was performed after two years because of mechanical ileus. The woman conceived spontaneously and delivered at term when she was 30-year-old. The long term follow up demonstrated that menstrual pattern, conception and pregnancy were unaffected by surgery and chemotherapy. This case further suggests that attempts to preserve fertility at surgery are mandatory in young women with cancer

Uterine rupture in pregnancy: two case reports and review of literature

Rupture of a gravid uterus is an obstetric emergency. Risks factors include a scarred uterus but also spontaneous rupture of an un- scarred uterus during pregnancy is possible. The authors present two cases of a spontaneous complete uterine rupture during pregnancy. The first case had only a past history of dilatation and curettage for abortion; the second case had a past history of dilatation and curettage for abortion and a monolateral laparoscopic salpingectomy for ectopic pregnancy. They presented with abdominal pain and after ultrasound scan, uterine ruptures were diagnosed. These cases show that there should be a high index of suspicious of uterine rupture in a gravid woman with a history of curettage for the possible presence of misunderstood uterine scar and in women with a past history of salpingectomy with or without corneal resection. Appropriate counseling and close follow-up might help to avoid such obstetrical catastrophes. To provide more insight into the possible risk factors for prelabor uterine rupture in pregnancy, a literature review was performed

Interferential lithography of 1D thin metallic sinusoidal gratings: accurate control of the profile for azimuthal angular dependent plasmonic effects and applications

Nonlinear processes involved in the manufacture of nominally sinusoidal surface relief diffraction gratings generated by interference lithography can introduce distortions into the profile of these surfaces. Such distortions may dramatically affect both the specular reflectivity and diffracted efficiencies from such a surface [H. Raether, Phys. Thin Film 9 (1977) 145-261]. We shall consider in particular the case of metallic gratings used to investigate plasmonic effects that can be engineered for bio-sensing applications. To investigate these effects, interference lithography (IL) has been used for the generation of profile controlled sinusoidal plasmonic crystals. IL exposure contrast study has been performed to control the amplitude oscillation and the surface roughness quality. Bi-metallic layer of silver and gold have been systematically deposited with different film thicknesses. A comprehensive numerical model that studies the optical coupling to surface plasmon polaritons on Ag/Au gratings has been undertaken for the simulation of the reflectivity and azimuthal angle dependence [Z. Chen, I.R. Hooper J.R. Sambles, J. Opt. A: Pure Appl. Opt. 10 (1) (2008) 015007]. This computation illustrates the sensitivity of individual features to specific harmonic components of the surface, for surface plasmon resonances recorded in both the zeroth and higher diffracted orders. The roughness surface control after development and after bi-metallic evaporation strongly contributes to tighten the width of the reflectivity, peak. Optimization process has shown that for an Ag (37 nm) and Au (7 nm) metallic bilayer, a semi-amplitude of 20 nm provides the best reflectivity. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved