Influence of Ba[Mg2Al2N4]Eu2+ phosphor particle size on optical properties of the 6000K CPW-LEDs

In this paper, we consider the red phosphor Ba[Mg2Al2N4]Eu2+ as the novel recommendation for improving the optical properties of the 6000K conformal packaging WLEDs (CPW-LEDs). For this purpose, we investigate the influence of the Ba[Mg2Al2N4]Eu2+ particle size on the optical properties in terms of CCT, CQS, CRI, and LO using the Light Tools and Mat Lab software. From the research results, it can be observed that the optical properties of the 6000K CPW-LEDs are significantly influenced by the size of the Ba[Mg2Al2N4]Eu2+ particle. The CRI and CQS increase from 65 to 67 and 64 to 68 while the size of the Ba[Mg2Al2N4]Eu2+ particle varies from 1 μm to 10 μm, respectively. This research can provide a novel recommendation for LEDs industry at this time

Enhanced Near-Infrared Fluorescent Sensing Using Metal-Dielectric-Metal Plasmonic Array

This work presents a numerical study of metal-dielectric-metal (MDM) plasmonic structure used to enhance a near-infrared fluorescent sensor. The MDM plasmonic structure consists of silver (Ag) subwavelength disk arrays on a thin silica (SiO2) spacing layer and 100-nm-thick-Ag film on a silicon (Si) substrate. The MDM plasmonic arrays with various structural parameters are designed and numerically investigated using the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method. Results show that the optical properties of designed structures are slightly dependent on the height of the Ag disk and strongly dependent on the Ag disk diameter and SiO2 thickness. In the near-infrared wavelength range, the proposed MDM plasmonic array has low ohmic loss and shows the high fluorescent emitting enhancement and directivity of about 16 times and 625.0, respectively, thus making MDM plasmonic array an alternative approach for near-infrared fluorescence bioimaging and biosensing devices

A rapid and robust tri-color flow cytometry assay for monitoring malaria parasite development

Microscopic examination of Giemsa-stained thin blood smears remains the gold standard method used to quantify and stage malaria parasites. However, this technique is tedious, and requires trained microscopists. We have developed a fast and simple flow cytometry method to quantify and stage, various malaria parasites in red blood cells in whole blood or in vitro cultured Plasmodium falciparum. The parasites were stained with dihydroethidium and Hoechst 33342 or SYBR Green I and leukocytes were identified with an antibody against CD45. Depending on the DNA stains used, samples were analyzed using different models of flow cytometers. This protocol, which does not require any washing steps, allows infected red blood cells to be distinguished from leukocytes, as well as allowing non-infected reticulocytes and normocytes to be identified. It also allows assessing the proportion of parasites at different developmental stages. Lastly, we demonstrate how this technique can be applied to antimalarial drug testing

MicroRNA-377 suppresses initiation and progression of esophageal cancer by inhibiting CD133 and VEGF

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Small Non-coding RNAs Govern Mammary Gland Tumorigenesis

Small non-coding RNAs include siRNA, miRNA, piRNA and snoRNA. The involvement of miRNAs in the regulation of mammary gland tumorigenesis has been widely studied while the role for other small non-coding RNAs remains unclear. Here we summarize the involvement of miRNA in breast cancer onset and progression through regulating the cell cycle and cellular proliferation. The regulation of breast cancer stem cells and tumor regeneration by miRNA is reviewed. In addition, the emerging evidence demonstrating the involvement of piRNA and snoRNA in breast cancer is briefly described

Global Retinoblastoma Presentation and Analysis by National Income Level

Importance: Early diagnosis of retinoblastoma, the most common intraocular cancer, can save both a child's life and vision. However, anecdotal evidence suggests that many children across the world are diagnosed late. To our knowledge, the clinical presentation of retinoblastoma has never been assessed on a global scale. Objectives: To report the retinoblastoma stage at diagnosis in patients across the world during a single year, to investigate associations between clinical variables and national income level, and to investigate risk factors for advanced disease at diagnosis. Design, Setting, and Participants: A total of 278 retinoblastoma treatment centers were recruited from June 2017 through December 2018 to participate in a cross-sectional analysis of treatment-naive patients with retinoblastoma who were diagnosed in 2017. Main Outcomes and Measures: Age at presentation, proportion of familial history of retinoblastoma, and tumor stage and metastasis. Results: The cohort included 4351 new patients from 153 countries; the median age at diagnosis was 30.5 (interquartile range, 18.3-45.9) months, and 1976 patients (45.4%) were female. Most patients (n = 3685 [84.7%]) were from low- A nd middle-income countries (LMICs). Globally, the most common indication for referral was leukocoria (n = 2638 [62.8%]), followed by strabismus (n = 429 [10.2%]) and proptosis (n = 309 [7.4%]). Patients from high-income countries (HICs) were diagnosed at a median age of 14.1 months, with 656 of 666 (98.5%) patients having intraocular retinoblastoma and 2 (0.3%) having metastasis. Patients from low-income countries were diagnosed at a median age of 30.5 months, with 256 of 521 (49.1%) having extraocular retinoblastoma and 94 of 498 (18.9%) having metastasis. Lower national income level was associated with older presentation age, higher proportion of locally advanced disease and distant metastasis, and smaller proportion of familial history of retinoblastoma. Advanced disease at diagnosis was more common in LMICs even after adjusting for age (odds ratio for low-income countries vs upper-middle-income countries and HICs, 17.92 [95% CI, 12.94-24.80], and for lower-middle-income countries vs upper-middle-income countries and HICs, 5.74 [95% CI, 4.30-7.68]). Conclusions and Relevance: This study is estimated to have included more than half of all new retinoblastoma cases worldwide in 2017. Children from LMICs, where the main global retinoblastoma burden lies, presented at an older age with more advanced disease and demonstrated a smaller proportion of familial history of retinoblastoma, likely because many do not reach a childbearing age. Given that retinoblastoma is curable, these data are concerning and mandate intervention at national and international levels. Further studies are needed to investigate factors, other than age at presentation, that may be associated with advanced disease in LMICs