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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

Electrochemical hydrogen generation via water splitting is the greenest approach toward the hydrogen economy. To satisfy the practical utilization, the electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) must be of low cost with high catalytic activity. Accordingly, transition metal based electrocatalysts have attracted significant research interest. Herein, this work demonstrates an efficient HER electrocatalyst based on copper nickel sulfide (CNS), and Agaricus bisporus biomass derived functionalized carbon (FMCs) based nanocomposites, where the CNS are in situ hydrothermally grown in presence of FMCs. First, the effect of solvent (water, ethylene glycol, and glycerol) on the phase and crystallinity of CNS and their performance as HER electrocatalyst in acidic medium are demonstrated. The CNS heterojunction synthesized in aqueous medium (CNSW) shows the best HER catalytic activity with 269 mV (at 10 mA cm−2) overpotential and corresponding Tafel slope of 146.86 mV dec−1. Further, while the FMCs possess no catalytic activity itself, its control presence in the nanocomposites CNSW/FMCs nanocomposites caused a dramatic reduction in the HER overpotential (180 mV@10 mA cm−2) and the corresponding Tafel slope (78.71 mV dec−1). Notably, where the nonlayered metal sulfides generally are unstable in acidic medium, the synergistic interaction between the CNSW and FMCs enables stable catalytic activity for the measured 10 h. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Levels of matrix metalloproteinase-8 (MMP-8) in peri-implant sulcular fluid (PISF) increase to pathologically elevated levels in peri-implant diseases as a result of the destruction of peri-implant tissues. Active (a) and not latent (l) MMP-8 is shown to be truly representative of the disease progression. The objective of the study was therefore to evaluate if aMMP-8 levels in PISF predict the severity of peri-implant diseases in peri-implantitis patients and serve as a possible biomarker. A systematic review of the literature was performed using the PubMed/Medline and EBSCOhost databases. Studies concerning the use of aMMP-8 in the diagnosis of peri-implant disease that evaluated its effectiveness as a biomarker for peri-implant diseases were selected. The search strategy provided a total of 687 studies; only seven studies met the eligibility criteria and were included in the present systematic review. The studies demonstrated significantly higher concentrations of aMMP-8 in PISF of peri-implantitis patients than in healthy controls. aMMP-8 was shown to be a more sensitive biomarker with a questionable correlation to gingival index in assessing peri-implant disease activity and progression. These findings imply the potential adjunctive use of aMMP-8 in the diagnosis of peri-implant disease either alone or along with other pro-inflammatory biomarkers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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]