Review of Metasurfaces and Metadevices: Advantages of Different Materials and Fabrications

Flat optics, metasurfaces, metalenses, and related materials promise novel on-demand light modulation within ultrathin layers at wavelength scale, enabling a plethora of next-generation optical devices, also known as metadevices. Metadevices designed with different materials have been proposed and demonstrated for different applications, and the mass production of metadevices is necessary for metadevices to enter the consumer electronics market. However, metadevice manufacturing processes are mainly based on electron beam lithography, which exhibits low productivity and high costs for mass production. Therefore, processes compatible with standard complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor manufacturing techniques that feature high productivity, such as i-line stepper and nanoimprint lithography, have received considerable attention. This paper provides a review of current metasurfaces and metadevices with a focus on materials and manufacturing processes. We also provide an analysis of the relationship between the aspect ratio and efficiency of different materials.

Epidemiology of invasive fungal diseases among patients with haematological disorders in the Asia-Pacific: a prospective observational study

We conducted a 2-year multicentre prospective observational study to determine the epidemiology of and mortality associated with invasive fungal diseases (IFDs) among patients with haematological disorders in Asia. Eleven institutions from 8 countries/regions participated, with 412 subjects (28.2% possible, 38.3% probable and 33.5% proven IFDs) recruited. The epidemiology of IFDs in participating institutions was similar to Western centres, with Aspergillus spp. (65.9%) or Candida spp. (26.7%) causing the majority of probable and proven IFDs. The overall 30-day mortality was 22.1%. Progressive haematological disorder (odds ratio [OR] 5.192), invasive candidiasis (OR 3.679), and chronic renal disease (OR 6.677) were independently associated with mortality.

Influences of Follicular Size on Parthenogenetic Activation and in Vitro Heat Shock on the Cytoskeleton in Cattle Oocytes

The availability of cow ovaries from the slaughterhouse has been very limited in Taiwan. To maximize the use of cow ovaries for research purposes, whole ovary dissection was performed and the developmental competence of the oocytes derived from different sizes of follicles was assessed by the rates of in vitro maturation (IVM) and parthenogenetic activation of the oocytes in Experiment 1 (Exp 1). Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) derived from small (1-2 mm) and large (3-8 mm) follicles were subjected to standard IVM culture for 24 h. Mature oocytes were selected and then parthenogenetically activated using A23187 (5 microm, 5 min) or thimerosal (200 microm, 10 min) alone or combined with 6-dimethylaminopurine (2.5 mm and 3.5 h, respectively). Activation rates of the oocytes, neither from the large nor small follicles, were affected by different activation treatments (single or combined stimuli). Whereas maturation rates for the oocytes from large follicles were superior to those from small follicles in both the single (59% vs 45%) and combined treatments (76% vs 40%; p < 0.05). To understand how prolonged heat shock (HS) influences cytoskeletal configurations of mature bovine oocytes, in Experiment 2 (Exp 2), matured oocytes derived from large follicles were randomly allocated to different durations of HS treatments at 41.5 degrees C for 0 (C0h, control, n = 12), 1 (HS1h, n = 28), 2 (HS2h, n = 31), and 4 h (HS4h, n = 30). An additional control group was cultured for 4 h without HS (38.5 degrees C, 4 h, n = 35). Alterations in nuclear structures, microtubules (MTs), and microfilaments (MFs) of the oocytes were examined. Abnormalities in the chromosomes, spindle MTs and the percentages of oocytes with cytoplasmic MTs increased with time of HS treatment. The intensity of the MF distribution in the HS oocytes was also altered. Significant changes in the cytoskeleton after HS may be associated with the reduced development under hyperthermia and, perhaps, with the low pregnancy rates of the animals during hot seasons.

Analysis of chlorophenoxy acid herbicides in water by large-volume on-line derivatization and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

This work presents a modified method to analyze chlorophenoxy acid herbicides in water samples. The herbicides 2,4-D (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid). Silvex (2,4,5-trichlorophenoxypropionic acid) and 2,4,5-T (2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid) were used to evaluate the method. The method involves extraction of samples by a graphitized carbon black cartridge, and on-line derivatization in the GC injection port using a large-volume (10-20 microl) direct sample introduction (DSI) device with tetraalkylammonium salts. The analytes were then identified and quantitated by ion-trap gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The large-volume DSI injection-port derivatization technique provides sensitivity, fast and reproducible results for chlorophenoxy acid herbicides residues, to quantitation at 0.1 to 0.2 microg/l in 500-ml water samples. An enhanced characteristic mass chromatogram of molecular ions of butylated chlorophenoxy acid herbicides with a significant chlorine isotope pattern by electron impact ionization MS allows us to determine herbicides residues at trace levels in aqueous samples. Recovery of the herbicide residues in spiked various water samples ranged from 70 to 99% while RSDs ranged from 1 to 13%.

Near-tetraploid minimally differentiated acute myeloid leukemia with extensive erythrophagocytosis by leukemic blasts

Numerical change of chromosomes is common in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). However, a chromosome number as high as near-tetraploidy is very rare, especially in minimally differentiated AML (AML-M0). Erythrophagocytosis by reactive or malignant histiocytes is common in malignant hematological diseases; however, erythrophagocytosis by leukemic blasts is also very rare, especially in AML-M0. We report here the first case of AML-M0 with both of these unique characteristics: a near-tetraploid karyotype and erythrophagocytosis by leukemic blasts.

Oral ciprofloxacin as antibacterial prophylaxis after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation: a reappraisal

The efficacy of ciprofloxacin as antibacterial prophylaxis for allogeneic bone marrow transplantation has been well documented, and it virtually eliminated bacteremias caused by gram-negative pathogens in early reports. Ciprofloxacin was therefore incorporated into the prophylactic antibiotic regimen during allogeneic bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cell transplantation at Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung from February 1997. In 12 consecutive patients receiving allogeneic bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cell transplantation, ciprofloxacin-resistant Escherichia coli bacteremia developed in three (25%). In addition to our data, increasing evidence suggests that the widespread use of a fluoroquinolone is associated with the emergence of resistant isolates as well as documented infections caused by these resistant strains. The incidence of Escherichia coli bacteremia in our transplant patients was 25%, which was similar to that in patients not receiving preventive therapy or in those receiving trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole prophylaxis. The prophylactic efficacy of ciprofloxacin in allogeneic bone marrow transplant or peripheral blood stem cell transplant recipients should therefore be reassessed.

Nesidioblastosis, myelodysplastic syndrome and nodular diabetic glomerulosclerosis in an elderly nondiabetic woman: an autopsy report

Nesidioblastosis as the cause of hyperinsulinaemic hypoglycaemia in an adult is rare. We report here an additional case of nesidioblastosis, which resulted in fatal hyperinsulinaemic hypoglycaemia in a 72-year-old woman with an underlying myelodysplastic syndrome. The diagnosis of nesidioblastosis was established only after post-mortem examination with a careful exclusion of minute insulinoma. To our surprise, the renal pathology disclosed typical diabetic nodular glomerulosclerosis in the same patient who had no previous history of diabetes mellitus (DM). Nesidioblastosis has been reported to cause 'reversal' of Type 1 DM and insulinoma causing 'reversal' of Type 2 disease. We therefore hypothesize that our patient might have had an undiagnosed DM in the past, which resulted in the typical diabetic nodular glomerulosclerosis. The nesidioblastosis caused a 'reversal' of DM and even the ultimate development of hyperinsulinaemic hypoglycaemia.

Ticlopidine-associated aplastic anemia. A case report and review of literature

Serious hematologic complications associated with ticlopidine have been reported, including aplastic anemia. We report here an additional case of fatal aplastic anemia due to ticlopidine. A 66-year-old male patient developed fever and pancytopenia 2 months after ticlopidine was started. Despite the administration of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) and broad-spectrum antibiotics, as well as aggressive red cell and platelet transfusions, the patient died 16 days after admission due to septic shock. Eighteen other cases of ticlopidine-induced aplastic anemia published in the English literature are also reviewed and presented here. Eight of the total 19 patients (including the one reported here) have died, mostly due to infection. Of the seven who received supportive treatment only, four had spontaneous recovery. Nine cases were treated with G-CSF or granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and response was observed in only four of them. Several other cases were treated with high-dose corticosteroids or androgens; however, it was not possible to evaluate the efficacy of these treatments because of the limited number of cases. In the absence of satisfactory treatment for ticlopidine-induced aplastic anemia at present, it may be reasonable to try antilymphocyte globulin or cyclosporine. Also, great efforts should be made in the prevention and management of infection accompanying this disease.