34 research outputs found
Memory Capacity of a novel optical neural net architecture
A new associative memory neural network which can be constructed using optical matched filters is described. It has three layers, the centre one being iterative with its weights set prior to training. The other two layers are feedforward nets and the weights are set during training. The best choice of central layer weights, or in optical terms, of pairs of images associated in a hologram is considered. The stored images or codes are selected carefully form an orthogonal set using a novel algorithm. This enables the net to have a high memory capacity equal to half the umber of neurons with a low probability of error. 17-18th October 1989
COMPUTER-GENERATED HOLOGRAM ETCHED IN GAAS FOR OPTICAL INTERCONNECTION OF VLSI CIRCUITS
By integrating, on a wafer plane, GaAs semiconductor optoelectronic modulators and detectors with computer-generated holograms between then, the potential for in-plane interconnections is proposed. We report the fabrication and characterisation of a binary-phase relief hologram etched in a GaAs wafer using an averaged Fresnel zone plate design to focus light to 2 x 2 spots for array interconnection. Efficiencies of 28% for this design of binary CGH etched in GaAs have been achieved, close to the theoretical maximum
Bridging the Mid-Infrared-to-Telecom Gap with Silicon Nanophotonic Spectral Translation
Expanding far beyond traditional applications in optical interconnects at
telecommunications wavelengths, the silicon nanophotonic integrated circuit
platform has recently proven its merits for working with mid-infrared (mid-IR)
optical signals in the 2-8 {\mu}m range. Mid-IR integrated optical systems are
capable of addressing applications including industrial process and
environmental monitoring, threat detection, medical diagnostics, and free-space
communication. Rapid progress has led to the demonstration of various silicon
components designed for the on-chip processing of mid-IR signals, including
waveguides, vertical grating couplers, microcavities, and electrooptic
modulators. Even so, a notable obstacle to the continued advancement of
chip-scale systems is imposed by the narrow-bandgap semiconductors, such as
InSb and HgCdTe, traditionally used to convert mid-IR photons to electrical
currents. The cryogenic or multi-stage thermo-electric cooling required to
suppress dark current noise, exponentially dependent upon the ratio Eg/kT, can
limit the development of small, low-power, and low-cost integrated optical
systems for the mid-IR. However, if the mid-IR optical signal could be
spectrally translated to shorter wavelengths, for example within the
near-infrared telecom band, photodetectors using wider bandgap semiconductors
such as InGaAs or Ge could be used to eliminate prohibitive cooling
requirements. Moreover, telecom band detectors typically perform with higher
detectivity and faster response times when compared with their mid-IR
counterparts. Here we address these challenges with a silicon-integrated
approach to spectral translation, by employing efficient four-wave mixing (FWM)
and large optical parametric gain in silicon nanophotonic wires
Room temperature mid-IR single photon spectral imaging
Spectral imaging and detection of mid-infrared (mid-IR) wavelengths are
emerging as an enabling technology of great technical and scientific interest;
primarily because important chemical compounds display unique and strong mid-IR
spectral fingerprints revealing valuable chemical information. While modern
Quantum cascade lasers have evolved as ideal coherent mid-IR excitation
sources, simple, low noise, room temperature detectors and imaging systems
still lag behind. We address this need presenting a novel, field-deployable,
upconversion system for sensitive, 2-D, mid-IR spectral imaging. Measured room
temperature dark noise is 0.2 photons/spatial element/second, which is a
billion times below the dark noise level of cryogenically cooled InSb cameras.
Single photon imaging and up to 200 x 100 spatial elements resolution is
obtained reaching record high continuous wave quantum efficiency of about 20 %
for polarized incoherent light at 3 \mum. The proposed method is relevant for
existing and new mid-IR applications like gas analysis and medical diagnostics
Triphala inhibits both in vitro and in vivo xenograft growth of pancreatic tumor cells by inducing apoptosis
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Triphala is commonly used in Ayurvedic medicine to treat variety of diseases; however its mechanism of action remains unexplored. This study elucidates the molecular mechanism of Triphala against human pancreatic cancer in the cellular and in vivo model.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Growth-inhibitory effects of Triphala were evaluated in Capan-2, BxPC-3 and HPDE-6 cells by Sulphoradamine-B assay. Apoptosis was determined by cell death assay and western blotting. Triphala was administered orally to nude mice implanted with Capan-2 xenograft. Tumors were analyzed by immunohistochemistry and western blotting.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Exposure of Capan-2 cells to the aqueous extract of Triphala for 24 h resulted in the significant decrease in the survival of cells in a dose-dependent manner with an IC50 of about 50 μg/ml. Triphala-mediated reduced cell survival correlated with induction of apoptosis, which was associated with reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Triphala-induced apoptosis was linked with phosphorylation of p53 at Ser-15 and ERK at Thr-202/Tyr-204 in Capan-2 cells. Above mentioned effects were significantly blocked when the cells were pretreated with an antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC), suggesting the involvement of ROS generation. Pretreatment of cells with pifithrin-α or U0126, specific inhibitors of p53 or MEK-1/2, significantly attenuated Triphala-induced apoptosis. Moreover, NAC or U0126 pretreatment significantly attenuated Triphala-induced p53 transcriptional activity. Similarly, Triphala induced apoptosis in another pancreatic cancer cell line BxPC-3 by activating ERK. On the other hand, Triphala failed to induce apoptosis or activate ERK or p53 in normal human pancreatic ductal epithelial (HPDE-6) cells. Further, oral administration of 50 mg/kg or 100 mg/kg Triphala in PBS, 5 days/week significantly suppressed the growth of Capan-2 pancreatic tumor-xenograft. Reduced tumor-growth in Triphala fed mice was due to increased apoptosis in the tumors cells, which was associated with increased activation of p53 and ERK.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our preclinical studies demonstrate that Triphala is effective in inhibiting the growth of human pancreatic cancer cells in both cellular and in vivo model. Our data also suggests that the growth inhibitory effects of Triphala is mediated by the activation of ERK and p53 and shows potential for the treatment and/or prevention of human pancreatic cancer.</p
Diagnostic tools in Rhinology EAACI position paper
This EAACI Task Force document aims at providing the readers with a comprehensive and complete overview of the currently available tools for diagnosis of nasal and sino-nasal disease. We have tried to logically order the different important issues related to history taking, clinical examination and additional investigative tools for evaluation of the severity of sinonasal disease into a consensus document. A panel of European experts in the field of Rhinology has contributed to this consensus document on Diagnostic Tools in Rhinology
A922 Sequential measurement of 1 hour creatinine clearance (1-CRCL) in critically ill patients at risk of acute kidney injury (AKI)
Meeting abstrac