Slow optical solitons via intersubband transitions in a semiconductor quantum well

We show the formation of bright and dark slow optical solitons based on intersubband transitions in a semiconductor quantum well (SQW). Using the coupled Schrodinger-Maxwell approach, we provide both analytical and numerical results. Such a nonlinear optical process may be used for the control technology of optical delay lines and optical buffers in the SQW solid-state system. With appropriate parameters, we also show the generation of a large cross-phase modulation (XPM). Since the the intersubband energy level can be easily tuned by an external bias voltage, the present investigation may open the possibility for electrically controlled phase modulator in the solid-state system

Neuronal degeneration in autonomic nervous system of Dystonia musculorum mice

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Dystonia musculorum </it>(<it>dt</it>) is an autosomal recessive hereditary neuropathy with a characteristic uncoordinated movement and is caused by a defect in the <it>bullous pemphigoid antigen 1 </it>(<it>BPAG1</it>) gene. The neural isoform of <it>BPAG1 </it>is expressed in various neurons, including those in the central and peripheral nerve systems of mice. However, most previous studies on neuronal degeneration in <it>BPAG1</it>-deficient mice focused on peripheral sensory neurons and only limited investigation of the autonomic system has been conducted.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In this study, patterns of nerve innervation in cutaneous and iridial tissues were examined using general neuronal marker protein gene product 9.5 via immunohistochemistry. To perform quantitative analysis of the autonomic neuronal number, neurons within the lumbar sympathetic and parasympathetic ciliary ganglia were calculated. In addition, autonomic neurons were cultured from embryonic <it>dt/dt </it>mutants to elucidate degenerative patterns <it>in vitro</it>. Distribution patterns of neuronal intermediate filaments in cultured autonomic neurons were thoroughly studied under immunocytochemistry and conventional electron microscopy.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Our immunohistochemistry results indicate that peripheral sensory nerves and autonomic innervation of sweat glands and irises dominated degeneration in <it>dt/dt </it>mice. Quantitative results confirmed that the number of neurons was significantly decreased in the lumbar sympathetic ganglia as well as in the parasympathetic ciliary ganglia of <it>dt/dt </it>mice compared with those of wild-type mice. We also observed that the neuronal intermediate filaments were aggregated abnormally in cultured autonomic neurons from <it>dt/dt </it>embryos.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>These results suggest that a deficiency in the cytoskeletal linker BPAG1 is responsible for dominant sensory nerve degeneration and severe autonomic degeneration in <it>dt/dt </it>mice. Additionally, abnormally aggregated neuronal intermediate filaments may participate in neuronal death of cultured autonomic neurons from <it>dt/dt </it>mutants.</p

Attenuation of Guided Wave Propagation by the Insulation Pipe

Pipeline systems are widely used in gas, refinery, chemical and petro-chemical industries, which usually carry high pressure, high temperature or even highly corrosive fluids. Cracks and corrosion are often found at the outer or inner surface of pipeline and can lead to a serious thinning of wall thickness. Leaks or sudden failures of pipes can cause injuries, fatalities and environmental damage. Ultrasonic nondestructive techniques are available for the detection of wall loss associated with defects in the pipe. Unfortunately, a high proportion in pipelines of these industrial are insulated, so that even external corrosion cannot readily be detected by the conventional ultrasonic testing (single position measurement) without the removal of the insulation, which in most case is time-consuming and cost expensive. Especially in typically industrial plants, there are hundreds of kilometers of pipelines can be in operation. Making inspection of full pipelines is virtually impossible in industrial plants. There is therefore a quick reliable method for the detection of corrosion under insulation (CUI). This technique, called guided wave, employs a pulseecho system applied at a single location of a pipe where only a small section of insulation need to be removed, using waves propagation along the pipe wall. The changes in the response signal indicate the presence of an impedance change in the pipe. The shape and axial location of defects and features in the pipe are also determined by reflected signals and their arrival times. Propagation distance of many tens of meters can readily be obtained in steel pipes [1-6]. Since these guided waves are cylindrical Lamb waves along the pipe, no lateral spreading can occur and the propagation is essentially one-dimensional. In a uniform pipe, their amplitude with propagation distance is therefore only reduced by the material attenuation of the steel [7]

The Effect of Financial Resources on Fertility: Evidence from Administrative Data on Lottery Winners

This paper utilizes wealth shocks from winning lottery prizes to examine the effect of financial resources on fertility. Using administrative data on Taiwanese lottery winners and a difference-in-differences design, we compare the trend in fertility between households receiving lottery prizes of more than 1 million NT$(33,000 US$) with those winning less than 10,000 NT$(330 US$). The results show that the receipt of a big lottery prize significantly increases fertility, and effects are driven by households with less financial resources. Moreover, big lottery wins mainly trigger childless households to have children and induce people to get married earlier

Early-cleavage is a reliable predictor for embryo implantation in the GnRH agonist protocols but not in the GnRH antagonist protocols

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>To test if early-cleavage was a strong predictor of pregnancy in patients receiving either a GnRH agonist long protocol or a GnRH antagonist protocol for in-vitro fertilization treatment (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This retrospective study included 534 patients undergoing a fresh cycle of oocyte retrieval and the day-3 embryo transfer (from 22 to 46 years old). Of the 534 patients treated, 331 received a GnRH agonist long stimulation protocol (GnRH agonist group) for ovarian stimulation and 203 patients received a GnRH antagonist protocol (GnRH antagonist group). In each group, patients who had at least one early-cleavage embryo transferred were designated as the 'early-cleavage' subgroup. Patients who had no early-cleavage embryos transferred were designated as the 'late-cleavage' subgroup.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The early cleavage rate was significantly lower in the GnRH antagonist group compared with that in the GnRH agonist group (IVF cycles: 34% versus 20%; ICSI cycles: 50% versus 37.8%, respectively, P < 0.0001). In the GnRH agonist group, the pregnancy rates were significantly higher in the early-cleavage subgroup than those in the late-cleavage subgroup (53.7% vs 33.9%, <it>P </it>< 0.0001). In the GnRH antagonist group, the pregnancy rates were not significantly different between the early-cleavage and late-cleavage subgroups (45.9% vs 43.8%, P > 0.05).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Early cleavage of zygote is not a reliable predictor for embryo implantation potential in using the GnRH antagonist protocol. Furthermore, the implantation rates between the GnRH agonist and GnRH antagonist groups were comparable.</p

Application and comparison of scoring indices to predict outcomes in patients with healthcare-associated pneumonia

Introduction: Healthcare-associated pneumonia HCAP is a relatively new category of pneumonia. It refers to infections that occur prior to hospital admission in patients with specific risk factors following contact or exposure to a healthcare environment. There is currently no scoring index to predict the outcomes of HCAP patients. We applied and compared different community acquired pneumonia CAP scoring indices to predict 30-day mortality and 3-day and 14-day intensive care unit ICU admission in patients with HCAP. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study based on an inpatient database from six medical centers, recruiting a total of 444 patients with HCAP between 1 January 2007 and 31 December 2007. Pneumonia severity scoring indices including PSI pneumonia severity index, CURB 65 confusion, urea, respiratory rate, blood pressure , age 65, IDSA/ATS Infectious Diseases Society of America/American Thoracic Society, modified ATS rule, SCAP severe community acquired pneumonia, SMART-COP systolic blood pressure, multilobar involvement, albumin, respiratory rate, tachycardia, confusion, oxygenation, pH, SMRT- CO systolic blood pressure, multilobar involvement, respiratory rate, tachycardia, confusion, oxygenation, and SOAR systolic blood pressure, oxygenation, age, respiratory rate were calculated for each patient. Patient characteristics, co-morbidities, pneumonia pathogen culture results, length of hospital stay LOS, and length of ICU stay were also recorded. Results: PSI > 90 has the highest sensitivity in predicting mortality, followed by CURB-65 >= 2 and SCAP > 9 SCAP score area under the curve AUC: 0.71, PSI AUC: 0.70 and CURB-65 AUC: 0.66. Compared to PSI, modified ATS, IDSA/ATS, SCAP, and SMART-COP were easy to calculate. For predicting ICU admission Day 3 and Day 14, modified ATS AUC: 0.84, 0.82 , SMART-COP AUC: 0.84, 0.82, SCAP AUC: 0.82, 0.80 and IDSA/ ATS AUC: 0.80, 0 .79 performed better statistically significant difference than PSI, CURB- 65, SOAR and SMRT-CO. Conclusions: The utility of the scoring indices for risk assessment in patients with healthcare-associated pneumonia shows that the scoring indices originally designed for CAP can be applied to HCAP