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Compact power splitters are essential components in integrated optics. While 1 × 2 power splitters with uniform splitting are widely used, a 1 × N splitter with arbitrary number N of ports and arbitrary splitting ratio is yet to be demonstrated. In this work we address this problem. We fabricate and characterise 1 × N integrated power splitters that provide fully arbitrary splitting ratios. The core of our design is represented by an array of N non-equally spaced waveguides fabricated on a silicon nitride-on-insulator wafer. Any arbitrary 1 × N splitting ratio can be achieved by properly setting the array length and the dimension of the (N–1) nano-gaps between the adjacent waveguides. Most importantly, at variance with state-of-the-art solutions, our devices can be designed for arbitrary splitting of higher-order modes. In this manuscript we provide the first experimental demonstration of 1 × N arbitrary splitting ratio for both the fundamental modes (TE00 and TM00) and the TE01 mode, here up to N = 5 ports. With a footprint of 20 μm2/port, a bandwidth up to 70 nm and an excess losses

Byline: Siddhi. Khandeparkar, Sanjay. Deshmukh, Ajay. Naik, Pooja. Naik, Jeevan. Shinde Primary localized congenital sacrococcygeal neuroblastomas (SCNs) are rare. Diagnosis is based on histological and immunohistochemical evaluation, which is indispensable [...]

Background: Cyanoacrylate tissue adhesives have been used as a substitute to silk for intraoral wound closure. Placement of sutures provides a corridor for accumulation of microorganisms into tissue which leads to infection. Cyanoacrylate-based adhesives exhibit many properties of an ideal wound closure agent, minimizing the problems generated by suturing thread. The antimicrobial properties of cyanoacrylates have been extensively assessed in other fields of medicine. However, there is a dearth in the literature on the antibacterial effect of cyanoacrylates in oral environment against oral microflora. Aim: To assess the antibacterial properties of two commonly used formulations of cyanoacrylate tissue adhesives against oral pathogens. Materials and Methods: Iso-amyl cyanoacrylate and a blend of n-butyl and 2-Octyl cyanoacrylates were applied on sterile filter paper discs and placed on culture plates. Plates for aerobic & anaerobic bacterial cultures were incubated in blood agar & Brain-Heart infusion agar respectively. Following incubation period, the bacterial inhibitory halos were measured in millimeters. In order to evaluate the bactericidal efficacy, samples were collected from the inhibitory halos and re-cultured on new bacterial culture plates. Antibacterial activity was assessed against five bacteria: A.actinomycetemcomitans, P.gingivalis, T.forsythia, L.amylovorus and S.aureus. Statistical analysis used: The data collected was analysed using Mann Whitney u test. Results: Cyanoacrylates demonstrated potent inhibitory effects against all test organisms. The zones of inhibition against gram positive bacteria were found to be larger than gram negative bacteria. The bactericidal activity of Iso amyl cyanoacrylate was found to be more potent than nbutyl + 2 octyl cyanoacrylate. Conclusions: Due to its potent antibacterial properties, cyanoacrylate tissue adhesives can be considered as appealing alternatives to silk sutures for intraoral wound closure and help prevent postoperative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ovarian cancer is the third leading site of cancer among women, trailing behind cervix and breast cancer. Aim: This study was undertaken to analyze the immunohistochemical (IHC) profile of estrogen receptors (ER), progesterone receptors (PR), Ki-67, and p53 in various ovarian epithelial tumors and attempt correlation with clinical and histopathological findings. Materials and Methods: The present study was conducted over a period of 4 years. A technique of manual tissue array was employed for cases subjected for IHC. The primary antibodies used were ER, PR, p53, and Ki-67. A correlation was attempted between histopathological and IHC findings. Results were subjected to statistical analysis. Software program "the primer of biostatistics 5.0" was used for calculation of interrelationships between the analyzed ER, PR, p53, and Ki-67 expression and histological factors by Pearson's Chi-square test. The results were considered to be significant when the P < 0.05. Results: There were 110 cases of surface epithelial ovarian tumors (SEOT) encountered over the period of 4 years. The expression of ER was more in malignant tumors (13/16, 81.25%) than borderline (9/12, 75%) and benign (20/82, 24.39%). As compared to ER, the expression of PR was more in benign (51/82, 62.19%) than borderline (8/12, 66.67%) and malignant tumors (9/16, 56.25%). The expression of PR was more in benign tumors than borderline and malignant tumors. However, this was not statistically significant (Chi-square = 0.335 with 2 degrees of freedom; P = 0.846). The expression of p53 was less in benign (5/82, 6.1%) than borderline (9/12, 75%) and malignant tumors (13/16, 81.25%). The expression of Ki-67 was more in malignant (4/82, 4.88%) than borderline (10/12, 83.33%) and benign tumors (15/16, 93.75%). In all the above cases, the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). There was statistically significant difference in the expression of ER, PR, p53, and Ki-67 in the patients with age <40 years and above 40 years (P = 0.912). A positive correlation was observed in p53 expression and tumor grade. Similar correlation was seen in Ki-67 and tumor grade. It was also noted that mean Ki-67 labeling index (Li) had also increased with tumor grade. In the case of serous tumors, ER was expressed in all high- and low-grade tumors. The expression of PR was more in low-grade tumors than high-grade ones. P53 expression was seen in all highgrade tumors and 33.34% of low-grade tumor. The Ki-67 Li was more in high-grade tumors than low-grade tumors. Expression of ER, p53, and Ki-67 was higher in tumor showing metastasis. The mean Ki-67 Li was also higher in metastasizing tumors. However, PR expression was less in metastasizing tumors than nonmetastasizing tumors. Conclusion: IHC marker report of ER, PR status, and Ki-67 if included in each pathology report will pave the way for better understanding of biological behavior and modify treatment strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Fibro-osseous lesions (FOLs) are one of the commonest entities reported in the head and neck region. However, studies on these groups of lesions on Indian population were not carried out before. So this motivated us to analyze the clinico-pathologic correlation of fibro-osseous lesions reported at our hospital. Materials and Methods: A retrospective review was made of all the lesions surgically treated in our hospital. A total of 6,175 biopsies were performed during the study period. All the cases which were histopathologically diagnosed as FOLs were included in the study. The demographic data, radiographic features, and histopathologic findings were analyzed and compared with similar studies on other races. Results and Conclusion: We could find 80 cases diagnosed as fibro-osseous lesions and information about them was documented. The most common FOL reported in the region was cemento-ossifying fibroma (COF) (75%) than fibrous dysplasia (FD) (25%). These were commonly occurring in 2nd decade without any sex or site predilection. However, COF was showing a slight female predominance and FD with a definite male predominance. COF was commonly seen in mandible (posterior region) whereas FD mainly confined to the maxilla (as a whole bone). Radiographically, most of COF showed well-defined mixed opaque and lucent areas whereas FD showed diffuse borders. Cortical plate expansion and resorption of associated teeth was a frequent finding in COF when compared with FD. Histopathologically, stroma was fibrocellular in many cases of COF, whereas most FDs showed fibrous stroma, interspersed with mainly woven bone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]