A compact and reconfigurable silicon nitride time-bin entanglement circuit

Photonic chip based time-bin entanglement has attracted significant attention because of its potential for quantum communication and computation. Useful time-bin entanglement systems must be able to generate, manipulate and analyze entangled photons on a photonic chip for stable, scalable and reconfigurable operation. Here we report the first time-bin entanglement photonic chip that integrates time-bin generation, wavelength demultiplexing and entanglement analysis. A two-photon interference fringe with an 88.4% visibility is measured (without subtracting any noise), indicating the high performance of the chip. Our approach, based on a silicon nitride photonic circuit, which combines the low-loss characteristic of silica and tight integration features of silicon, paves the way for scalable real-world quantum information processors.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figure

Advancement of photonic integration technology for space applications: A x-band scan-on-receive synthetic aperture radar receiver with electro-photonic beamforming and frequency downconversion capability

Synthetic Aperture Radar is a well-known technique for remote sensing applications with great advantages like uninterrupted imaging capabilities even at night or in presence of cloud cover. However, spaceborne SAR sensors face major challenges such as cost and size, which are among the barriers against their applicability for future constellations of low-Earth observation applications. SAR sensors are not compact and require large or medium-sized satellites, which cost hundreds million dollars. To solve these challenges, the recently started SPACEBEAM project, funded by the European Commission, aims at developing a novel SAR Scan-on-Receive approach, exploiting a hybrid integrated optical beamforming network (iOBFN). The compactness and frequency flexibility of the proposed photonic solution complies with the requirements of future constellations of low-Earth orbit satellites in terms of size, weight, power consumption, and cost (SWaP-C). In the design of the SCORE SAR receiver module, we target the development of an X-band receiver having a large swath width of 50 km (5 times wider than state-of-art spaceborne SAR systems), although at the same time enabling a fine spatial resolution of 1.5 m in both along-track and across-track directions. In this paper, we present specifications and preliminary design of the SCORE-SAR receiver at equipment level, where we aim at the realization of a hermetically packaged hybrid InP/TriPleX™ photonic integrated circuit (PIC) for this application. We target the design for the PIC as well as for the RF front-end and control electronics, enabling the electro-photonic frequency down-conversion of the RF signals and the fast control of iOBFN with <300 ns switching time

Design and Performance Estimation of a Photonic Integrated Beamforming Receiver for Scan-On-Receive Synthetic Aperture Radar

Synthetic aperture radar is a remote sensing technology finding applications in a wide range of fields, especially related to Earth observation. It enables a fine imaging that is crucial in critical activities, like environmental monitoring for natural resource management or disasters prevention. In this picture, the scan-on-receive paradigm allows for enhanced imaging capabilities thanks to wide swath observations at finer azimuthal resolution achieved by beamforming of multiple simultaneous antenna beams. Recently, solutions based on microwave photonics techniques demonstrated the possibility of an efficient implementation of beamforming, overcoming some limitations posed by purely electronic solutions, offering unprecedented flexibility and precision to RF systems. Moreover, photonics-assisted RF beamformers can nowadays be realized as integrated circuits, with reduced size and power consumption with respect to digital beamforming approaches. This paper presents the design analysis and the challenges of the development of a hybrid photonic-integrated circuit as the core element of an X-band scan-on-receive spaceborne synthetic aperture radar. The proposed photonic-integrated circuit synthetizes three simultaneous scanning beams on the received signal, and performs the frequency down-conversion, guaranteeing a compact 15 cm2-form factor, less than 6 W power consumption, and 55 dB of dynamic range. The whole photonics-assisted system is designed for space compliance and meets the target application requirements, representing a step forward toward a deeper penetration of photonics in microwave applications for challenging scenarios, like the observation of the Earth from space

Advancement of photonic integration technology for space applications: A x-band scan-on-receive synthetic aperture radar receiver with electro-photonic beamforming and frequency downconversion capability

Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) is a well-known technique for remote sensing applications with great advantages like uninterrupted imaging capabilities even at night or in presence of cloud cover. However, spaceborne SAR sensors face major challenges like cost and size, which are among the great barriers against their applicability for future constellations of low-Earth observation applications. SAR sensors are not compact and require large or medium-sized satellites weighting hundred kilograms or more, which cost hundreds million dollars. To solve these challenges, the recently started SPACEBEAM project, funded by the European Commission, aims at developing a novel SAR receiver approach, i.e., the Scan-on-Receive (SCORE), exploiting a hybrid integrated optical beamforming network (iOBFN) that also realizes the electro-photonic down-conversion of RF signals. The compactness and frequency flexibility of the proposed photonic solution complies with the requirements of future constellations of low-Earth orbit satellites in terms of size, weight, power consumption, and cost. A high-level representation of the SCORE SAR receiver module based on the multi-functional hybrid photonic integrated circuit (PIC), with 12 input RF channels and 3 output beam-formed IF channels, is shown in the submitted PDF document. For this design, we target the development of an X-band SCORE-SAR receiver having a swath width of 50 km (5 times wider than state-of-art spaceborne SAR systems), and enabling 1.5 m spatial resolution in both along-track and across-track directions. During the conference, we will present the design and specifications of the SCORE-SAR receiver at equipment level, where we aim at a hermetically packaged PIC that is also designed for space compliance. We target a flight-design for the RF front-end and control electronics, enabling the electro-photonic frequency down-conversion of the RF signals and the fast control of the PZT-driven iOBFN with <300 ns switching time

Daratumumab-Based Treatment for Immunoglobulin Light-Chain Amyloidosis

Background Systemic immunoglobulin light-chain (AL) amyloidosis is characterized by deposition of amyloid fibrils of light chains produced by clonal CD38+ plasma cells. Daratumumab, a human CD38-targeting antibody, may improve outcomes for this disease. Methods We randomly assigned patients with newly diagnosed AL amyloidosis to receive six cycles of bortezomib, cyclophosphamide, and dexamethasone either alone (control group) or with subcutaneous daratumumab followed by single-agent daratumumab every 4 weeks for up to 24 cycles (daratumumab group). The primary end point was a hematologic complete response. Results A total of 388 patients underwent randomization. The median follow-up was 11.4 months. The percentage of patients who had a hematologic complete response was significantly higher in the daratumumab group than in the control group (53.3% vs. 18.1%) (relative risk ratio, 2.9; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.1 to 4.1; P Daratumumab in Light-Chain Amyloidosis In a randomized trial of bortezomib, cyclophosphamide, and dexamethasone as compared with the same therapy plus daratumumab, patients with light-chain amyloidosis who received daratumumab had a higher frequency of hematologic complete response than those who did not (53.3% vs. 18.1%). Deaths were most commonly due to cardiac failure

Nationwide comprehensive gastro-intestinal cancer cohorts: the 3P initiative

Background: The increasing sub-classification of cancer patients due to more detailed molecular classification of tumors, and limitations of current trial designs, require innovative research designs. We present the design, governance and current standing of three comprehensive nationwide cohorts including pancreatic, esophageal/gastric, and colorectal cancer patients (NCT02070146). Multidisciplinary collection of clinical data, tumor tissue, blood samples, and patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures with a nationwide coverage, provides the infrastructure for future and novel trial designs and facilitates research to improve outcomes of gastrointestinal cancer patients. Material and methods: All patients aged ≥18 years with pancreatic, esophageal/gastric or colorectal cancer are eligible. Patients provide informed consent for: (1) reuse of clinical data; (2) biobanking of primary tumor tissue; (3) collection of blood samples; (4) to be informed about relevant newly identified genomic aberrations; (5) collection of longitudinal PROs; and (6) to receive information on new interventional studies and possible participation in cohort multiple randomized controlled trials (cmRCT) in the future. Results: In 2015, clinical data of 21,758 newly diagnosed patients were collected in the Netherlands Cancer Registry. Additional clinical data on the surgical procedures were registered in surgical audits for 13,845 patients. Within the first two years, tumor tissue and blood samples were obtained from 1507 patients; during this period, 1180 patients were included in the PRO registry. Response rate for PROs was 90%. The consent rate to receive information on new interventional studies and possible participation in cmRCTs in the future was >85%. The number of hospitals participating in the cohorts is steadily increasing. Conclusion: A comprehensive nationwide multidisciplinary gastrointestinal cancer cohort is feasible and surpasses the limitations of classical study designs. With this initiative, novel and innovative studies can be performed in an efficient, safe, and comprehensive setting

Multiwavelength Optical Beam Forming Network with Ring Resonator-based Binary-Tree Architecture for Broadband Phased Array Antenna Systems

Integrated optical beam forming networks (OBFN

In Normal Controls, Both Age and Gender Affect Coagulability as Measured by Thrombelastography

BACKGROUND: Our objective was to analyze the effects of age, gender, and the use of oral contraceptives (OCs) on coagulation using thrombelastography (TEG (R)), a single test to analyze both plasma coagulation factors and cellular elements in whole blood. METHODS: TEG (R) variables were measured in native whole blood and in recalcified citrated blood from 120 healthy adults (60 men and 60 women) with various ages and in an additional 29 healthy women using OCs. RESULTS: We observed hypercoagulability in women compared with men and in women using OCs compared with age-matched nonusers. Moreover, we found hypercoagulability with aging. Using the method of Bland and Altman (Lancet 1986;1:307-10), we demonstrated no correlation between TEG (R) measurements in native and recalcified citrated blood. CONCLUSIONS: Aging, female gender, use of OCs, and low-normal hematocrit levels have significant procoagulant effects. TEG measurements in native and recalcified citrated blood are not interchangeable, as indicated by differences between the 2 measurements ranging from 20% in maximal amplitude to 246% in clotting time. Furthermore, the limits of agreement strongly exceeded clinical acceptability to conclude interchangeability. (Anesth Analg 2010;110:987-94