Unprecedented highest electro-optic coefficient of 226 pm/V for electro-optic polymer/TiO₂ multilayer slot waveguide modulators

We investigated the electrical properties and optical quality of two layers a titanium dioxide (TiO₂) selective layer and a sol-gel silica cladding layer for use as coating layers for nonlinear optic (NLO) polymers in electro-optic (EO) polymer/TiO₂ multilayer slot waveguide modulators. We used a simple ellipsometric reflective technique developed by Teng and Man to measure the electro-optic (EO) coefficients of poled thin films of an EO polymer in an EO multilayer device. The Pockels coefficient was enhanced up to 226 and 198 pm/V at wavelengths of 1.31 and 1.55 μm, respectively, when optimally poled with TiO₂ and a sol-gel silica cladding.

Anti-transforming growth factor-beta1 antibody transiently enhances DNA synthesis during liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy in rats

The regulation of liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy (PHx) is complex and involves many different cytokines. We investigated the role of one of these, transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1), an inhibitor of liver regeneration, in a Wistar male rat model, in which anti-TGF-beta1 antibody was injected immediately or 24 h after 70% PHx. Livers from treated animals contained an increased number of cells in S phase, according to 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) labeling 36 h after PHx. Antibody administration 24 h after PHx resulted in the highest peak of proliferation; moreover, peak MIB-5 labeling was also observed at that time. However, neither residual liver-weight-to-body-weight ratios nor regeneration rates differed significantly between any of the animals. Therefore, we also measured levels of serum TGF-beta1 and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF; an activator). With antibody administration at 0 or 24 h, TGF-beta1 levels were diminished at 24 or 36 h as compared with levels in control rats, but then rebounded, reaching a delayed peak at 48 or 72 h after PHx, respectively. Interestingly, there were also similar trends in HGF levels. These results indicate that TGF-beta1 may inhibit the G1 checkpoint, and serum TGF-beta1 concentration may influence HGF to regulate liver regeneration and to maintain homeostasis of proliferation after PHx.

Infrared photorefractive polymers and their applications for imaging

Photorefractive polymers with high diffraction efficiency in the visible and near-infrared regions of the electromagnetic spectrum have been developed. These polymers, which have a large dynamic range because of their high orientational birefringence, incorporate a dye designed to have a large dipole moment and a high linear polarizability anisotropy. Such polymers have enabled demonstrations of imaging through scattering media, using a holographic time-gating technique at a wavelength that is compatible with the transparency of biological tissues and with the emission of low-cost semiconductor laser diodes.