Aluminum nitride waveguide beam splitters for integrated quantum photonic circuits

We demonstrate integrated photonic circuits for quantum devices using sputtered polycrystalline aluminum nitride (AlN) on insulator. The on-chip AlN waveguide directional couplers, which are one of the most important components in quantum photonics, are fabricated and show the output power splitting ratios from 50:50 to 99:1. The polarization beam splitters with an extinction ratio of more than 10 dB are also realized from the AlN directional couplers. Using the fabricated AlN waveguide beam splitters, we observe the Hong-Ou-Mandel interference with a visibility of 91.7 +(-) 5.66 %.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figure

Effects of Bladder Training and/or Tolterodine in Female Patients with Overactive Bladder Syndrome: A Prospective, Randomized Study

We compared the effects of bladder training and/or tolterodine as first line treatment in female patients with overactive bladder (OAB). One hundred and thirty-nine female patients with OAB were randomized to treatment with bladder training (BT), tolterodine (To, 2 mg twice daily) or both (Co) for 12 weeks. Treatment efficacy was measured by micturition diary, urgency scores and patients' subjective assessment of their bladder condition. Mean frequency and nocturia significantly decreased in all treatment groups, declining 25.9% and 56.1%, respectively, in the BT group; 30.2% and 65.4%, respectively, in the To group; and 33.5% and 66.3%, respectively in the Co group (p<0.05 for each). The decrease in frequency was significantly greater in the Co group than in the BT group (p<0.05). Mean urgency score decreased by 44.8%, 62.2% and 60.2% in the BT, To, and Co groups, respectively, and the improvement was significantly greater in the To and Co groups than in the BT group (p<0.05 for each). Although BT, To and their combination were all effective in controlling OAB symptoms, combination therapy was more effective than either method alone. Tolterodine alone may be instituted as a first-line therapy, but may be more effective when combined with bladder training

Effect of pralidoxime on coronary perfusion pressure during cardiopulmonary resuscitation in a pig model

Objective Pralidoxime is widely used for the treatment of organophosphate poisoning. Multiple studies have reported its vasoconstrictive property, which may facilitate the restoration of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) after cardiac arrest by increasing the coronary perfusion pressure (CPP). 2,3-Butanedione monoxime, which belongs to the same oxime family, has been shown to facilitate ROSC by reducing left ventricular ischemic contracture. Because pralidoxime and 2,3-butanedione monoxime have several common mechanisms of action, both drugs may have similar effects on ischemic contracture. Thus, we investigated the effects of pralidoxime administration during cardiopulmonary resuscitation in a pig model with a focus on ischemic contracture and CPP. Methods After 14 minutes of untreated ventricular fibrillation, followed by 8 minutes of basic life support, 16 pigs randomly received either 80 mg/kg of pralidoxime (pralidoxime group) or an equivalent volume of saline (control group) during advanced cardiovascular life support (ACLS). Results Mixed-model analyses of left ventricular wall thickness and chamber area during ACLS revealed no significant group effects or group-time interactions, whereas a mixed-model analysis of the CPP during ACLS revealed a significant group effect (P=0.038) and group-time interaction (P<0.001). Post-hoc analyses revealed significant increases in CPP in the pralidoxime group, starting at 5 minutes after pralidoxime administration. No animal, except one in the pralidoxime group, achieved ROSC; thus, the rate of ROSC did not differ between the two groups. Conclusion In a pig model of cardiac arrest, pralidoxime administered during cardiopulmonary resuscitation did not reduce ischemic contracture; however, it significantly improved CPP

A Case of Osteoclast-like Giant Cell Tumor of the Pancreas with Ductal Adenocarcinoma: Histopathological, Immunohistochemical, Ultrastructural and Molecular Biological Studies

Osteoclast-like giant cell tumor of the pancreas is a very rare neoplasm, of which the histiogenesis remains controversial. A 63-yr-old woman was hospitalized for evaluation of epigastric pain. An abdominal computerized tomography revealed the presence of a large cystic mass, arising from the tail of pancreas. A distal pancreatectomy with splenectomy was performed. Histologically, the tumor was composed of mononuclear stromal cells intermingled with osteclast-like giant cells. In addition, there was a small area of moderately to well differentiated ductal adenocarcinoma. The final pathologic diagnosis was osteoclast-like giant cell tumor of the pancreas with ductal adenocarcinoma. Here, we describe the histopathological, immunohistochemical, ultrastructural and molecular biological findings of this tumor with review of the literature pertaining to this condition

Cluster analysis of regional use patterns among critically ill emergency patients in Korea

Objectives: The aim of this study was to analyze the inflow and outflow of critically ill emergency patients in Korea using National Emergency Department Information System (NEDIS) data for the last five years (2014-2018).Background: In Korea, an imbalance across regions in emergency medical services has been creating a continuous barrier to ensuring access to such services for all residents. Korea’s medical delivery system is not efficiently linked and a concentration of patients and medical resources in certain areas has continued due to the inefficiency of the competition between medical institutions from primary private clinics and tertiary hospitals.Methods: Using the relevance index (RI) and the commitment index (CI) for analysis, the optimal number of clusters was determined and K-means cluster analysis was performed using the determined number of clusters in the cities, counties, and districts across the country. We classified regional types and expressed them as a geographic information system to examine changes over the five years. The difference between the RI and the CI clusters by year was analyzed by the non-parametric Mann-Whitney test.Results: The total NEDIS data analyzed included 5,551,616 critically ill emergency patients. In the determination of the optimal number of clusters, the most appropriate number was two (Cluster 1, Cluster 2) for the years 2014-2018. Cluster 1 captured the patient outflow, low RI and high CI, and more than 100 regions by year. Cluster 2 captured patient inflow, high RI and low CI, and more than 80 regions by year. There were no significant differences in the RI and the CI each year based on the patient inflow of critically ill emergency patients. In an annual comparison of the CI, significant differences were noted between 2014 and 2017.Conclusion: During the five-year period of 2014-2018, there were two regional types of critically ill emergency patients in Korea, and there was a significant difference between 2014 and 2017 in the CI in the patient outflow areas

Synthesis and Characterization of W Composite Powder with La2O3-Y2O3 Nano-Dispersoids by Ultrasonic Spray Pyrolysis

An optimum route to synthesis the W-based composite powders with homogeneous dispersion of oxide nanoparticles was investigated. The La2O3 dispersed W powder was synthesized by ultrasonic spray pyrolysis using ammonium metatungstate hydrate and lanthanum nitrate. The dispersion of Y2O3 nanoparticles in W-La2O3 powder was carried out by a polymer addition solution method using yttrium nitrate. XPS and Tem analyses for the composite powder showed that the nano-sized La2O3 and Y2O3 particles were well distributed in W powder. This study suggests that the combination processing of ultrasonic spray pyrolysis and polymeric additive solution is a promising way to synthesis W-based composite powders

Relationship of common hemodynamic and respiratory target parameters with brain tissue oxygen tension in the absence of hypoxemia or hypotension after cardiac arrest: A post-hoc analysis of an experimental study using a pig model.

Brain tissue oxygen tension (PbtO2)-guided care, a therapeutic strategy to treat or prevent cerebral hypoxia through modifying determinants of cerebral oxygen delivery, including arterial oxygen tension (PaO2), end-tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO2), and mean arterial pressure (MAP), has recently been introduced. Studies have reported that cerebral hypoxia occurs after cardiac arrest in the absence of hypoxemia or hypotension. To obtain preliminary information on the degree to which PbtO2 is responsive to changes in the common target variables for PbtO2-guided care in conditions without hypoxemia or hypotension, we investigated the relationships between the common target variables for PbtO2-guided care and PbtO2 using data from an experimental study in which the animals did not experience hypoxemia or hypotension after resuscitation. We retrospectively analyzed 170 sets of MAP, ETCO2, PaO2, PbtO2, and cerebral microcirculation parameters obtained during the 60-min post-resuscitation period in 10 pigs resuscitated from ventricular fibrillation cardiac arrest. PbtO2 and cerebral microcirculation parameters were measured on parietal cortices exposed through burr holes. Multiple linear mixed effect models were used to test the independent effects of each variable on PbtO2. Despite the absence of arterial hypoxemia or hypotension, seven (70%) animals experienced cerebral hypoxia (defined as PbtO2 <20 mmHg). Linear mixed effect models revealed that neither MAP nor ETCO2 were related to PbtO2. PaO2 had a significant linear relationship with PbtO2 after adjusting for significant covariates (P = 0.030), but it could explain only 17.5% of the total PbtO2 variance (semi-partial R2 = 0.175; 95% confidence interval, 0.086-0.282). In conclusion, MAP and ETCO2 were not significantly related to PbtO2 in animals without hypoxemia or hypotension during the early post-resuscitation period. PaO2 had a significant linear association with PbtO2, but its ability to explain PbtO2 variance was small