Determination of the ensemble transition dipole moments of self-assembled quantum dot films by time and angle resolved emission spectroscopy measurements

The spontaneous emission of light in semiconductors is due to the excitonic relaxation process. The emission of light requires a change in the transition dipole matrix of the system. This is captured in terms of the physical quantity called transition dipole moment. The transition dipole moment (TDM) characterizes the line strength of the emission process. TDM is of fundamental importance in emitter-cavity interaction as its magnitude decides the interaction strength of emitters and cavities. In all light emitting devices, the orientation of the transition dipole moments is directly related to the optical power output of the devices. In this manuscript, the basic framework of spontaneous emission and Einstein coefficients is discussed for two level systems. Semiconducting alloyed quantum dots (AQDs) are synthesized in hydrophobic phase. AQDs are used as the experimental two level system. The AQDs are then self-assembled into monolayers by the Langmuir-Schaefer method. The ensemble averaged TDM magnitude and orientation of AQDs are extracted from the time resolved and the angle resolved emission spectroscopy measurements respectively. The procedure for finding out the TDM, described in this manuscript is generalized. The mentioned procedure can be extended to any emitters in hydrophobic phase

Inhibited spontaneous emission of quantum dots weakly coupled to off resonant silver nanoplatelets and silver nanowires

Spontaneous emission (SE) rate of any light emitters directly scales with the locally available modes for photons. The emission rate can be modified, by changing the dielectric environment of light emitters. Generally cavities with modes in resonance to light emission frequency, are used to amplify the light emission rate. The Fermi golden rule predicts that if the cavity modes are offresonant to the emission frequency, then the SE rate is suppressed. In this study, we demonstrate that the SE of colloidal alloyed quantum dots is inhibited by coupling them to chemically synthesized Silver nanowires and Silver nanoplatelet systems. The silver nanoplatelet and silver nanowire plasmonic resonance modes are in ultraviolet and infrared regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. The quantum dots emit in visible region of light. This off-resonant weak coupling of emitters and cavities results in emission rate suppression and is quantified by time resolved photoluminescence (TRPL) measurements. TRPL decay profiles show that the emission rate can be suppressed by coupling self assembled quantum dot monolayers to a single silver nanoplatelet and a single silver nanowire respectively

A SURVIVAL ANALYSIS ON THE IMMUNE LANDSCAPE OF PAEDIATRIC SOLID TUMOURS.

Introduction: The functional orientation of the tumor microenvironment has been shown in large immunogenomic investigations to play a predictive role in adult solid tumors; however, the paediatric equivalent of this variable has received little attention. Method: For four paediatric tumor types (408 patients), Wilms tumor (WLM), neuroblastoma (NBL), os- teosarcoma (OS), clear cell sarcoma of the kidney (CCSK), and rhabdoid tumor of the kidney (RT), we carried out a thorough study of public RNAseq data (TARGET). We evaluated the Immunologic Constant of Rejection’s (ICR) capability to detect an active Th1/cytotoxic response. Additionally, we carried out gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA), grouped more than 100 immunological features with good characterization into distinct immune subtypes, and compared the results. Result: Higher ICR scores were linked to better OS and high-risk NBL without MYCN amplification survival, but worse WLM survival. The same four major modules previously discovered in adult tumors (TCGA) were revealed by clustering immunological characteristics. These modules classified paediatric patients into six immunological subtypes (S1–S6), each of which had a different prognosis for survival. The S2 cluster, which has low enrichment of the wound healing signature, high Th1, and low Th2 infiltrates, and the S4 cluster, which has the opposite characteristics, demonstrated the best overall survival. Increased T-cell infiltration and worse outcomes were linked to the WNT/Beta-catenin pathway in OS. Conclusion: We showed that extracranial paediatric tumors might be categorized by their immunological makeup, revealing parallels with tumors seen in adults. To find diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers and to find potential immune-responsive tumors, immunological factors may be investigated. Recommendations: Close disease surveillance and genetic evaluation are recommended for patients with certain solid tumors or particular predisposing conditions

Burden of hidradenitis suppurativa: a systematic literature review of patient reported outcomes

Introduction Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) has a profound negative impact on patients’ health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Here we summarize the evidence on HRQoL and Patient Reported Outcomes (PROs) in patients with HS in real-world settings by conducting a systematic literature review (SLR) of observational studies. Methods Data sources included MEDLINE, Embase & PsycINFO between January 1, 2010 and August 29, 2021, and conference proceedings between 2019 and 2021. Identified abstracts were reviewed and screened independently by two reviewers. Eligibility criteria included patients with HS of any severity, sample size ≥ 100, reporting PROs including HRQoL measures. Included studies were critically appraised. Results Fifty-eight observational studies matched inclusion criteria. Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) was the most commonly utilized instrument: 57% of included studies reported mean baseline DLQI scores, ranging between 8.4 and 16.9, indicating a very large impact on the patients’ HRQoL. Higher scores were reported with increasing disease severity and among female patients. Pain was assessed mostly by an 11-point (0–10) numeric rating scale (NRS) with a mean baseline score ranging from 3.6 to 7.7 indicating moderate to high pain levels. There was a negative impact of HS on patients’ psychological well-being, based on PRO scores related to depression and anxiety. A high proportion of sexual dysfunction was reported, with a larger impact on women than men. Work productivity and leisure activity were consistently found to be impaired in patients with HS. Conclusions All included studies reported a negative impact of HS on patients’ lives. A diverse set of disease- and non-disease-specific PRO instruments were utilized highlighting the need for more consistent use of HS-specific validated PRO instruments to assess the impact of HS on the different aspects of patients’ HRQoL to allow for data to be more meaningfully interpreted and compared in real-world settings. Patients with HS need better disease management approaches that address the observed low quality of life

Comparative efficacy of Umeclidinium/Vilanterol versus other bronchodilators for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A network meta-analysis.

This is the final version. Available from Springer via the DOI in this record. Data Availability: Anonymised individual participant data and study documents can be requested for further research from www.clinicalstudydatarequest.com. Extracted data summaries are available upon request to the authors.INTRODUCTION: Few randomised controlled trials (RCTs) have directly compared long-acting muscarinic antagonist/long-acting β2-agonist (LAMA/LABA) dual maintenance therapies for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This systematic literature review and network meta-analysis (NMA) compared the efficacy of umeclidinium/vilanterol (UMEC/VI) versus other dual and mono-bronchodilator therapies in symptomatic patients with COPD. METHODS: A systematic literature review (October 2015-November 2020) was performed to identify RCTs ≥ 8 weeks long in adult patients with COPD that compared LAMA/LABA combinations against any long-acting bronchodilator-containing dual therapy or monotherapy. Data extracted on changes from baseline in trough forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), St George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) total score, Transitional Dyspnoea Index (TDI) focal score, rescue medication use and moderate/severe exacerbation rate were analysed using an NMA in a frequentist framework. The primary comparison was at 24 weeks. Fixed effects model results are presented. RESULTS: The NMA included 69 full-length publications (including 10 GSK clinical study reports) reporting 49 studies. At 24 weeks, UMEC/VI provided statistically significant greater improvements in FEV1 versus all dual therapy and monotherapy comparators. UMEC/VI provided similar improvements in SGRQ total score compared with all other LAMA/LABAs, and significantly greater improvements versus UMEC 125 μg, glycopyrronium 50 μg, glycopyrronium 18 μg, tiotropium 18 μg and salmeterol 50 μg. UMEC/VI also provided significantly better outcomes versus some comparators for TDI focal score, rescue medication use, annualised moderate/severe exacerbation rate, and time to first moderate/severe exacerbation. CONCLUSION: UMEC/VI provided generally better outcomes compared with LAMA or LABA monotherapies, and consistent improvements in lung function (measured by change from baseline in trough FEV1 at 24 weeks) versus dual therapies. Treatment with UMEC/VI may improve outcomes for symptomatic patients with COPD compared with alternative maintenance treatments.GlaxoSmithKlei

Correction to: Comparative efficacy of Umeclidinium/Vilanterol versus other bronchodilators for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A network meta-analysis.

This is the final version. Available from Springer via the DOI in this record. The authors regret to inform readers that the labels for the ‘treatment favour’ arrows were incorrectly labelled in Fig. 4. The ‘Favours UMEC/VI 62.5/25’ and ‘Favours comparator’ labels were appended to the wrong arrows and the corrected Fig. 4 is shown below. Please note that the data have not changed between versions