1
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Madeleine T, Podoliak N, Buchnev O, Membrillo Solis I, Orlova T, van Rossem M, Kaczmarek M, D’Alessandro G, Brodzki J. Topological Learning for the Classification of Disorder: An Application to the Design of Metasurfaces. ACS Nano 2023; 18. [PMID: 38108267 PMCID: PMC10796169 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c08776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Structural disorder can improve the optical properties of metasurfaces, whether it is emerging from some large-scale fabrication methods or explicitly designed and built lithographically. For example, correlated disorder, induced by a minimum inter-nanostructure distance or by hyperuniformity properties, is particularly beneficial for light extraction. Inspired by topology, we introduce numerical descriptors to provide quantitative measures of disorder with universal properties, suitable to treat both uncorrelated and correlated disorder at all length scales. The accuracy of these topological descriptors is illustrated both theoretically and experimentally by using them to design plasmonic metasurfaces with controlled disorder that we then correlate to the strength of their surface lattice resonances. These descriptors are an example of topological tools that can be used for the fast and accurate design of disordered structures or as aid in improving their fabrication methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tristan Madeleine
- Mathematical
Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom
| | - Nina Podoliak
- Physics
and Astronomy, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom
| | - Oleksandr Buchnev
- Optoelectronics
Research Centre and Centre for Photonic Metamaterials, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom
| | | | - Tetiana Orlova
- Physics
and Astronomy, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom
- Infochemistry
Scientific Center, ITMO University, 9 Lomonosova Street, Saint-Petersburg, 191002, Russia
| | - Maria van Rossem
- Physics
and Astronomy, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom
| | - Malgosia Kaczmarek
- Physics
and Astronomy, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom
| | | | - Jacek Brodzki
- Mathematical
Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom
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2
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Petronella F, Madeleine T, De Mei V, Zaccagnini F, Striccoli M, D’Alessandro G, Rumi M, Slagle J, Kaczmarek M, De Sio L. Thermoplasmonic Controlled Optical Absorber Based on a Liquid Crystal Metasurface. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 2023; 15:49468-49477. [PMID: 37816211 PMCID: PMC10614192 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c09896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023]
Abstract
Metasurfaces can be realized by organizing subwavelength elements (e.g., plasmonic nanoparticles) on a reflective surface covered with a dielectric layer. Such an array of resonators, acting collectively, can completely absorb the resulting resonant wavelength. Unfortunately, despite the excellent optical properties of metasurfaces, they lack the tunability to perform as adaptive optical components. To boost the utilization of metasurfaces and realize a new generation of dynamically controlled optical components, we report our recent finding based on the powerful combination of an innovative metasurface-optical absorber and nematic liquid crystals (NLCs). The metasurface consists of self-assembled silver nanocubes (AgNCs) immobilized on a 50 nm thick gold layer by using a polyelectrolyte multilayer as a dielectric spacer. The resulting optical absorbers show a well-defined reflection band centered in the near-infrared of the electromagnetic spectrum (750-770 nm), a very high absorption efficiency (∼60%) at the resonant wavelength, and an elevated photothermal efficiency estimated from the time constant value (34 s). Such a metasurface-based optical absorber, combined with an NLC layer, planarly aligned via a photoaligned top cover glass substrate, shows homogeneous NLC alignment and an absorption band photothermally tunable over approximately 46 nm. Detailed thermographic studies and spectroscopic investigations highlight the extraordinary capability of the active metasurface to be used as a light-controllable optical absorber.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Petronella
- National
Research Council of Italy, Institute of
Crystallography, CNR-IC, Rome Division, Area della Ricerca Roma 1 Strada Provinciale 35d,
n. 9, 00010 Montelibretti
(RM), Italy
| | - Tristan Madeleine
- School
of Mathematical Science, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom
| | - Vincenzo De Mei
- Department
of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies Sapienza, University of Rome, 00185 Latina, Italy
| | - Federica Zaccagnini
- Department
of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies Sapienza, University of Rome, 00185 Latina, Italy
| | - Marinella Striccoli
- National
Research Council of Italy, Institute of
Chemical and Physical Processes CNR-IPCF Bari Division, Via Orabona 4, 70126 Bari, Italy
| | - Giampaolo D’Alessandro
- School
of Mathematical Science, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom
| | - Mariacristina Rumi
- Materials
and Manufacturing Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio 45433-7707, United States
| | - Jonathan Slagle
- Materials
and Manufacturing Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio 45433-7707, United States
| | - Malgosia Kaczmarek
- School
of Physics and Astronomy, University of
Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, United
Kingdom
| | - Luciano De Sio
- Department
of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies Sapienza, University of Rome, 00185 Latina, Italy
- National
Research Council of Italy, Licryl, Institute
NANOTEC, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, Italy
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3
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Beddoes B, Perivolari E, Kaczmarek M, Apostolopoulos V, Fedotov VA. All-optical switching of liquid crystals at terahertz frequencies enabled by metamaterials. Opt Express 2023; 31:18336-18345. [PMID: 37381546 DOI: 10.1364/oe.488360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023]
Abstract
Nematic liquid crystals integrated with metallic resonators (metamaterials) are intriguing hybrid systems, which not only offer added optical functionalities, but also promote strong light-matter interactions. In this report, we show with an analytical model that the electric field generated by a conventional oscillator-based terahertz time domain spectrometer is strong enough to induce partial, all-optical switching of nematic liquid crystals in such hybrid systems. Our analysis provides a robust theoretical footing for the mechanism of all-optical nonlinearity of liquid crystals, which was recently hypothesised to explain an anomalous resonance frequency shift in liquid crystal-loaded terahertz metamaterials. The integration of metallic resonators with nematic liquid crystals offers a robust approach to explore optical nonlinearity within such hybrid material systems in the terahertz range; paves the way towards increased efficiency of existing devices; and broadens the range of applications of liquid crystals in the terahertz frequency range.
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4
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Madeleine T, D'Alessandro G, Kaczmarek M. Spectral properties of intermediate to high refractive index nanocubes. Opt Express 2023; 31:11395-11407. [PMID: 37155775 DOI: 10.1364/oe.485872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Plasmonic resonances in sub-wavelength cavities, created by metallic nanocubes separated from a metallic surface by a dielectric gap, lead to strong light confinement and strong Purcell effect, with many applications in spectroscopy, enhanced light emission and optomechanics. However, the limited choice of metals, and the constraints on the sizes of the nanocubes, restrict the optical wavelength range of applications. We show that dielectric nanocubes made of intermediate to high refractive index materials exhibit similar but significantly blue shifted and enriched optical responses due to the interaction between gap plasmonic modes and internal modes. This result is explained, and the efficiency of dielectric nanocubes for light absorption and spontaneous emission is quantified by comparing the optical response and induced fluorescence enhancement of nanocubes made of barium titanate, tungsten trioxide, gallium phosphide, silicon, silver and rhodium.
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5
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Fall S, Wang J, Regrettier T, Brouckaert N, Ibraikulov OA, Leclerc N, Lin Y, Elhaj MI, Komitov L, Lévêque P, Zhong Y, Brinkmann M, Kaczmarek M, Heiser T. Self-Powered Dynamic Glazing Based on Nematic Liquid Crystals and Organic Photovoltaic Layers for Smart Window Applications. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 2023; 15:4267-4274. [PMID: 36630212 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.2c21727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Dynamic windows allow monitoring of in-door solar radiation and thus improve user comfort and energy efficiency in buildings and vehicles. Existing technologies are, however, hampered by limitations in switching speed, energy efficiency, user control, or production costs. Here, we introduce a new concept for self-powered switchable glazing that combines a nematic liquid crystal, as an electro-optic active layer, with an organic photovoltaic material. The latter aligns the liquid crystal molecules and generates, under illumination, an electric field that changes the molecular orientation and thereby the device transmittance in the visible and near-infrared region. Small-area devices can be switched from clear to dark in hundreds of milliseconds without an external power supply. The drop in transmittance can be adjusted using a variable resistor and is shown to be reversible and stable for more than 5 h. First solution-processed large-area (15 cm2) devices are presented, and prospects for smart window applications are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sadiara Fall
- Laboratoire des Sciences de l'Ingénieur, de l'Informatique et de l'Imagerie (ICube Research Institute), Université de Strasbourg, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, 23, Rue du Loess, Strasbourg Cedex 2 67037, France
| | - Jing Wang
- Laboratoire des Sciences de l'Ingénieur, de l'Informatique et de l'Imagerie (ICube Research Institute), Université de Strasbourg, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, 23, Rue du Loess, Strasbourg Cedex 2 67037, France
| | - Thomas Regrettier
- Laboratoire des Sciences de l'Ingénieur, de l'Informatique et de l'Imagerie (ICube Research Institute), Université de Strasbourg, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, 23, Rue du Loess, Strasbourg Cedex 2 67037, France
- Voltec Solar, 1 Rue des Prés, Dinsheim-sur-Bruche 67190, France
| | - Nicolas Brouckaert
- Laboratoire des Sciences de l'Ingénieur, de l'Informatique et de l'Imagerie (ICube Research Institute), Université de Strasbourg, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, 23, Rue du Loess, Strasbourg Cedex 2 67037, France
- University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, U.K
| | - Olzhas A Ibraikulov
- Laboratoire des Sciences de l'Ingénieur, de l'Informatique et de l'Imagerie (ICube Research Institute), Université de Strasbourg, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, 23, Rue du Loess, Strasbourg Cedex 2 67037, France
| | - Nicolas Leclerc
- Institut de Chimie et Procédés pour l'Energie, l'Environnement et la Santé, Université de Strasbourg, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, 25, Rue Becquerel, Strasbourg Cedex 67085, France
| | - Yaochen Lin
- Laboratoire des Sciences de l'Ingénieur, de l'Informatique et de l'Imagerie (ICube Research Institute), Université de Strasbourg, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, 23, Rue du Loess, Strasbourg Cedex 2 67037, France
| | | | - Lachezar Komitov
- HighVistec GmbH, Benkenstrasse 254C, Witterswil CH 4108, Switzerland
- Dept. of Physics, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg 41296, Sweden
- Department of Chemistry, CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Bangalore 560029, India
| | - Patrick Lévêque
- Laboratoire des Sciences de l'Ingénieur, de l'Informatique et de l'Imagerie (ICube Research Institute), Université de Strasbourg, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, 23, Rue du Loess, Strasbourg Cedex 2 67037, France
| | - Yuhan Zhong
- Laboratoire des Sciences de l'Ingénieur, de l'Informatique et de l'Imagerie (ICube Research Institute), Université de Strasbourg, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, 23, Rue du Loess, Strasbourg Cedex 2 67037, France
- Institut Charles Sadron, CNRS-UPR 22, 23 Rue du Loess, Strasbourg Cedex 2 67034, France
| | - Martin Brinkmann
- Institut Charles Sadron, CNRS-UPR 22, 23 Rue du Loess, Strasbourg Cedex 2 67034, France
| | | | - Thomas Heiser
- Laboratoire des Sciences de l'Ingénieur, de l'Informatique et de l'Imagerie (ICube Research Institute), Université de Strasbourg, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, 23, Rue du Loess, Strasbourg Cedex 2 67037, France
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6
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van Rossem MT, Wilks S, Secor PR, Kaczmarek M, D’Alessandro G. Homogenization modelling of antibiotic diffusion and adsorption in viral liquid crystals. R Soc Open Sci 2023; 10:221120. [PMID: 36636312 PMCID: PMC9810422 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.221120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Systems of rod-shaped viruses have long been important to the science of living liquid crystals, as their monodispersity and uniform charge make them convenient model systems. Recently, it was shown that, upon the addition of polymers, suspensions of rod-shaped viruses form liquid crystals that are linked with increased tolerance of bacteria against antibiotics. We use homogenization to obtain effective equations describing antibiotic diffusion through these liquid crystals. The analytical results of homogenization are compared with numerical results from an exact microscopic model, showing good agreement and thus allowing us to identify the key parameters behind the process. Our modelling shows that the adsorption plays a key role in increasing antibiotic diffusion time and therefore the presence of nematic rod-shaped viruses may increase antibiotic tolerance through physical mechanisms alone. These results demonstrate the applicability of homogenization as an analytical tool to systems of liquid crystalline viruses, with relatively straightforward extension to more complex problems such as liquid crystalline biofilms, other biological liquid crystals and biological systems with different types of local structural order.
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Affiliation(s)
- M. T. van Rossem
- Physics and Astronomy, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
| | - S. Wilks
- Health Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
| | - P. R. Secor
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA
| | - M. Kaczmarek
- Physics and Astronomy, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
| | - G. D’Alessandro
- Mathematical Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
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7
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Forberger S, Lobczowska K, Banik A, Romaniuk P, Kubiak T, Meshkovska B, Neumann-Podczaska A, Kaczmarek M, Scheidmeir M. Finding the fitting framework for the implementation of policies promoting healthy nutrition and physically active lifestyle: Results from a systematic review. Eur J Public Health 2022. [DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/ckac129.268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Policies are an important upstream component of health promotion to influence the general population. Various frameworks exist to help implement policies. However, there is currently no overarching synthesis that describes the differences between policy implementation frameworks. In this study, we examined frameworks for implementing policies to promote healthy eating, physical activity and reduce physical inactivity and aimed to explore the scope of the frameworks, the content of the constructs they contain (e.g. processes, determinants, evaluation), the level at which these constructs operate and the inclusion of equity factors.
Methods
A systematic review (PROSPERO registration number: CRD42019133251) was conducted using 9 databases and 8 stakeholder websites. The content of 38 policy implementation frameworks was coded and analysed.
Results
All three constructs were covered by 18 frameworks: description of the process, determinants and evaluation of implementation. The majority of frameworks (25/38) considered constructs from three levels: the individual, organisational/community and system levels, with system level constructs being included less frequently than individual level or organisational/community level constructs. Most frameworks (32/38) contained sections that were exclusively descriptive. In addition, 19 frameworks contained prescriptive and 23 explanatory sections. The complex systems approach was included in 8 of the frameworks. More than half of the frameworks (21/38) did not consider equity constructs.
Conclusions
Most frameworks have a complex scope, include multi-level constructs, combine sections that are purely descriptive with sections that consider prescriptive and/or explanatory associations, and include few or no equity constructs. The findings of this study can facilitate the process of selecting the framework that best fits the needs and goals of policy makers, researchers and policy implementation actors seeking guidance.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Forberger
- Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology, BIPS , Bremen, Germany
| | - K Lobczowska
- Psychology Department, SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities , Wroclaw, Poland
| | - A Banik
- Psychology Department, SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities , Wroclaw, Poland
| | - P Romaniuk
- Department of Health Policy, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Bytom, Poland
| | - T Kubiak
- Institute of Psychology, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz , Mainz, Germany
| | - B Meshkovska
- Department of Nutrition, University of Oslo , Oslo, Norway
| | - A Neumann-Podczaska
- Department of Palliative Medicine, Poznan University of Medical Sciences , Poznan, Poland
| | - M Kaczmarek
- Department of Health Policy, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Bytom, Poland
| | - M Scheidmeir
- Institute of Psychology, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz , Mainz, Germany
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8
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Berdin A, Gill JR, Perivolari E, Kauppo J, Apostolopoulos V, D'Alessandro G, Kaczmarek M, Priimagi A. Analysis of light diffraction by azobenzene-based photoalignment layers. Opt Express 2022; 30:29495-29506. [PMID: 36299123 DOI: 10.1364/oe.464278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 06/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Photoalignment materials, such as the azobenzene-based PAAD series studied here, are becoming increasingly important in liquid crystal-based optical devices and displays. Yet their properties and, in particular, their response to light, are still not fully understood. We investigate, experimentally and theoretically, the photoinduced birefringence, the order parameter and the formation of surface relief gratings, as well as the diffraction caused by them. We show that some of the azobenzene PAAD materials are suitable for the formation of surface relief gratings with high modulation depth, while others exhibit strong photoinduced birefringence. The two effects are inversely correlated: the stronger the surface relief grating is, the weaker is photoinduced birefringence. Analytical formulas based on the Raman-Nath approximation and numerical simulations of Maxwell's equations are used to quantify the diffraction caused by the induced diffraction gratings, showing excellent agreement between theory and experiment.
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9
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Bankova D, Brouckaert N, Podoliak N, Beddoes B, White E, Buchnev O, Kaczmarek M, D'Alessandro G. Characterization of optically thin cells and experimental liquid crystals. Appl Opt 2022; 61:4663-4669. [PMID: 36255943 DOI: 10.1364/ao.456659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The current development of new liquid crystal devices often requires the use of thin cells and new experimental materials. Characterizing these devices and materials with optical methods can be challenging if (1) the total phase lag is small ("thin cells") or (2) the liquid crystal optical and dielectric properties are only partially known. We explore the limitations of these two challenges for efficient characterization and assessment of new, to the best of our knowledge, liquid crystal devices. We show that it is possible to extract a wealth of liquid crystal parameters even for cells with a phase lag of ΔΦ≈π, such as E7 liquid crystal in a 1.5 µm cell, using cross-polarized intensity measurements. The reliability of the optical method is also demonstrated for liquid crystals without precise values of dielectric or refractive index coefficients.
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10
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van Rossem M, Wilks S, Kaczmarek M, Secor PR, D’Alessandro G. Modelling of filamentous phage-induced antibiotic tolerance of P. aeruginosa. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0261482. [PMID: 35404965 PMCID: PMC9000967 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0261482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Filamentous molecules tend to spontaneously assemble into liquid crystalline droplets with a tactoid morphology in environments with high concentration on non-adsorbing molecules. Tactoids of filamentous Pf bacteriophage, such as those produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, have been linked to increased antibiotic tolerance. We modelled this system and show that tactoids composed of filamentous Pf virions can lead to antibiotic tolerance by acting as an adsorptive diffusion barrier. The continuum model, reminiscent of descriptions of reactive diffusion in porous media, has been solved numerically and good agreement was found with the analytical results, obtained using a homogenisation approach. We find that the formation of tactoids significantly increases antibiotic diffusion times which may lead to stronger antibiotic resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria van Rossem
- Physics and Astronomy, University of Southampton, Southampton, Hampshire, United Kingdom
| | - Sandra Wilks
- Health Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, Hampshire, United Kingdom
| | - Malgosia Kaczmarek
- Physics and Astronomy, University of Southampton, Southampton, Hampshire, United Kingdom
| | - Patrick R. Secor
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, United States of America
| | - Giampaolo D’Alessandro
- Mathematical Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, Hampshire, United Kingdom
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11
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Markovskyi A, Gorbenko V, Nizhankovskiy S, Zorenko T, Pakula M, Kaczmarek M, Fedorov A, Zorenko Y. Novel composite color converters based on Tb 1.5Gd 1.5Al 5O 12:Ce single crystalline films and Y 3Al 5O 12:Ce crystal substrates. CrystEngComm 2022. [DOI: 10.1039/d2ce00658h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The structural, luminescence and photoconversion properties of composite color converters based on Tb1.5Gd1.5AG:Ce single crystalline films, grown by the liquid phase epitaxy method onto YAG:Ce single crystal substrates, are investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. Markovskyi
- Institute of Physics, Kazimierz Wielki University in Bydgoszcz, Powstańców Wielkopolskich str., 2, 85090 Bydgoszcz, Poland
- Mechantronic Department, Kazimierz Wielki University in Bydgoszcz, Kopernik, 1, 85074 Bydgoszcz, Poland
| | - V. Gorbenko
- Institute of Physics, Kazimierz Wielki University in Bydgoszcz, Powstańców Wielkopolskich str., 2, 85090 Bydgoszcz, Poland
| | - S. Nizhankovskiy
- Institute for Single Crystals, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Av. Nauki 60, 61178 Kharkiv, Ukraine
| | - T. Zorenko
- Institute of Physics, Kazimierz Wielki University in Bydgoszcz, Powstańców Wielkopolskich str., 2, 85090 Bydgoszcz, Poland
| | - M. Pakula
- Mechantronic Department, Kazimierz Wielki University in Bydgoszcz, Kopernik, 1, 85074 Bydgoszcz, Poland
| | - M. Kaczmarek
- Mechantronic Department, Kazimierz Wielki University in Bydgoszcz, Kopernik, 1, 85074 Bydgoszcz, Poland
| | - A. Fedorov
- Institute for Single Crystals, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Av. Nauki 60, 61178 Kharkiv, Ukraine
| | - Yu. Zorenko
- Institute of Physics, Kazimierz Wielki University in Bydgoszcz, Powstańców Wielkopolskich str., 2, 85090 Bydgoszcz, Poland
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12
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Gill JR, Perivolari E, Kaczmarek M, D'Alessandro G. Efficient scattering model of multilayer systems with anisotropic films. J Opt Soc Am A Opt Image Sci Vis 2021; 38:595-605. [PMID: 33983264 DOI: 10.1364/josaa.416265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Accepted: 03/11/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
We present an intuitive and efficient method for modeling light propagation in layered isotropic and anisotropic media, which we call the Iterated Ray Method. Considering a single layer sandwiched between semi-infinite layers, the infinite reflected and transmitted rays are summed to obtain effective Fresnel coefficients for the center layer. Thus, the system can be represented as two semi-infinite layers with an effective boundary. The model is coupled to a recursive algorithm to describe an arbitrarily large layered system in the same way. It is numerically stable in the presence of evanescent waves and computationally efficient, both in terms of operation counts and vectorization. We demonstrate its importance for the optical analysis and optimization of layered media, such as those used in photo-addressable liquid crystal cells, thin-film coatings, and Bragg gratings, by measuring the refractive index and thickness of a thin azobenzene dye photo-alignment layer, PAAD-22E, on an indium tin oxide coated glass slide.
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13
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Szewczenko J, Kajzer W, Kajzer A, Basiaga M, Kaczmarek M, Major R, Jaworska J, Jelonek K, Karpeta-Jarząbek P, Jaworska-Kik M, Kasperczyk J. Influence of surface modification of Ti6Al7Nb alloy on adhesion of poly (lactide-co-glycolide) coating (PLGA). Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces 2020; 196:111280. [DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2020.111280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2019] [Revised: 07/23/2020] [Accepted: 07/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
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14
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Frank T, Buchnev O, Cookson T, Kaczmarek M, Lagoudakis P, Fedotov VA. Discriminating between Coherent and Incoherent Light with Planar Metamaterials. Nano Lett 2019; 19:6869-6875. [PMID: 31536706 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.9b02094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Planar metamaterials represent a powerful paradigm of optical engineering, which enables one to control the flow of light across structured material interfaces in the absence of high-order diffraction modes. We report on a discovery that planar metamaterials of a certain type, formed by nanopatterned metal films, respond differently to spatially coherent and incoherent light, enabling robust speckle-free discrimination between different degrees of light coherence. The effect has no direct analogue in natural optical materials and may find applications in nanoscale metadevices enhancing imaging, vision, detection, communication, and metrology.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Frank
- Physics and Astronomy , University of Southampton , Southampton SO17 1BJ , U.K
- Optoelectronics Research Centre , University of Southampton , Southampton SO17 1BJ , U.K
| | - O Buchnev
- Optoelectronics Research Centre , University of Southampton , Southampton SO17 1BJ , U.K
- EPSRC Centre for Photonic Metamaterials , University of Southampton , Southampton SO17 1BJ , U.K
| | - T Cookson
- Physics and Astronomy , University of Southampton , Southampton SO17 1BJ , U.K
| | - M Kaczmarek
- Physics and Astronomy , University of Southampton , Southampton SO17 1BJ , U.K
| | - P Lagoudakis
- Physics and Astronomy , University of Southampton , Southampton SO17 1BJ , U.K
| | - V A Fedotov
- Optoelectronics Research Centre , University of Southampton , Southampton SO17 1BJ , U.K
- EPSRC Centre for Photonic Metamaterials , University of Southampton , Southampton SO17 1BJ , U.K
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15
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Podhorodecki A, Krajnik B, Golacki LW, Kostiv U, Pawlik G, Kaczmarek M, Horák D. Percolation limited emission intensity from upconverting NaYF 4:Yb 3+,Er 3+ nanocrystals - a single nanocrystal optical study. Nanoscale 2018; 10:21186-21196. [PMID: 30417193 DOI: 10.1039/c8nr05961f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Upconverting nanocrystals (UCNC) have recently been subjected to intensive investigation due to their interesting optical properties and high potential for practical applications. Despite the level of attention paid to these materials, very low quantum yield is still an important issue. In order to break through this limitation, understanding of the emission intensity limitation is crucial. In this paper, we investigate the influence of percolation phenomena on the limitation of the emission intensity from NaYF4:Yb3+,Er3+ nanocrystals. We propose a numerical model and support this experimentally at the single nanocrystal level, explaining the influence of Yb3+ concentration on the optical properties of UCNC. Moreover, based on the experimental and numerical results, we explain the existence of the optimal Yb3+ concentration in the core architecture often reported in the literature. All the measurements have been performed using a custom-built wide-field fluorescence microscope to analyze the emission from hundreds of single nanocrystals and thus make analysis independent of UCNC concentration.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Podhorodecki
- Department of Experimental Physics, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wyb. Wyspianskiego 27, 50-370 Wroclaw, Poland.
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Litton E, Bass F, Delaney A, Hillis G, Marasco S, McGuinness S, Myles PS, Reid CM, Smith JA, Bagshaw SM, Keri-Anne Cowdrey HB, Frengley R, Ferrier J, Gilder E, Henderson S, Larobina M, Merthens J, Morgan M, Navarra L, Rudas M, Turner L, Reid K, Wise M, Young N, Young P, McGiffin D, Duncan J, Kaczmarek M, Seevanayagam S, Shaw M, Shardey G, Skillington P, Chorley T, Baker L, Zhang B, Bright C, Baker R, Canning N, Gilfillan, Kruger R, Fayers T, Kyte M, Doran C, Smith J, Baxter H, Seah P, Scaybrook S, James A, Goodwin K, Dignan R, Hewitt N, Gerrard K, Curtis L, Smith J, Baxter H, Tiruvoipati R, Broukal N, Wolfenden H, Muir, Worthington M, Wong C, Tatoulis J, Wynne R, Marshman D, Sze D, Wilson M, Turner L, Passage J, Kolybaba M, Fermanis G, Newbon P, Passage J, Kolybaba M, Newcomb A, Mack J, Duve K, Jansz P, Hunter T, Bissaker P, Dennis N, Burke N, Yadav S, Cooper K, Chard R, Halaka M, Tran L, Huq M, Billah B, Reid CM. Six-Month Outcomes After High-Risk Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery and Preoperative Intra-aortic Balloon Counterpulsation Use: An Inception Cohort Study. J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth 2018; 32:2067-2073. [DOI: 10.1053/j.jvca.2018.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2017] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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18
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Meller KA, Całka J, Kaczmarek M, Jana B. Expression of alpha and beta adrenergic receptors in the pig uterus during inflammation. Theriogenology 2018; 119:96-104. [PMID: 29990768 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2018.06.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2018] [Revised: 06/13/2018] [Accepted: 06/25/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Under physiological conditions, noradrenaline (NA) and adrenergic receptors (ARs) are implicated in the function of the uterus. The role of NA and the expression of ARs in the inflamed uterus is not fully understood. The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of inflammation on the levels of α1 (A, B, D)-, α2 (A, B, C)- and β (1, 2, 3)-ARs mRNA and protein expression and the localization of these receptors in the porcine uterus. On Day 3 of the estrous cycle (Day 0 of the study), 50 ml of either saline (group SAL) or E. coli suspension (109 colony-forming units/ml, group E. coli) were injected into each uterine horn. In the control pigs (group CON), only laparotomy was performed. Eight days later, α1D-ARs mRNA (P < 0.001) and protein (P < 0.05) levels and α2A-ARs protein level (P < 0.05) were increased in the inflamed endometrium, while the α2C-ARs protein level (P < 0.001) was lowered, as compared to the SAL and CON groups. In the inflamed endometrium, β2-ARs mRNA (P < 0.01) and protein (CON: P < 0.01, SAL: P < 0.001) expression was lower than in the other two groups, and β1-ARs mRNA (P < 0.001) and protein (P < 0.01) expression was higher compared to the SAL group. After bacterial treatment, α2A- (P < 0.001) and α2B (P < 0.05) -ARs protein levels and β2-ARs mRNA (CON: P < 0.01, SAL: P < 0.05) and protein (CON: P < 0.01, SAL: P < 0.05) expression in myometrium were found to be increased compared to both groups. In turn, in myometrium following E. coli infusion, the α2C-ARs protein level was lower (P < 0.01) than in the CON group. All studied receptors were present in the luminal and glandular epithelium, blood vessels and myometrial muscular cells of the gilt uteri in the E. coli, SAL and CON groups. The data show that inflammation changes the ARs expression in porcine uterus, suggesting their importance in the course/consequences of uterine inflammation. Those affected ARs may constitute a therapeutic target in an inflamed uterus.
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Affiliation(s)
- K A Meller
- Division of Reproductive Biology, Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Tuwima 10 Str., 10-748 Olsztyn, Poland
| | - J Całka
- Division of Clinical Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Warmia and Mazury, Oczapowskiego 14 Str., 11-041 Olsztyn, Poland
| | - M Kaczmarek
- Division of Reproductive Biology, Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Tuwima 10 Str., 10-748 Olsztyn, Poland
| | - B Jana
- Division of Reproductive Biology, Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Tuwima 10 Str., 10-748 Olsztyn, Poland.
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19
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Bennett T, Proctor M, Forster J, Perivolari E, Podoliak N, Sugden M, Kirke R, Regrettier T, Heiser T, Kaczmarek M, D'Alessandro G. Wide area mapping of liquid crystal devices with passive and active command layers. Appl Opt 2017; 56:9050-9056. [PMID: 29131192 DOI: 10.1364/ao.56.009050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2017] [Accepted: 10/09/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
We track the non-uniformity of a wide area liquid crystal device using multiple cross-polarized intensity measurements. They give us not only accurate estimates of the core physical liquid crystal parameters, such as elastic constants, but also spatial maps of the device properties, including the liquid crystal thickness and pretilt angle. A bootstrapping statistical analysis, coupled with the multiple measurements, gives us reliable error bars on all the measured parameters.
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Bennett TP, Proctor MB, Kaczmarek M, D'Alessandro G. Lifting degeneracy in nematic liquid crystal viscosities with a single optical measurement. J Colloid Interface Sci 2017; 497:201-206. [PMID: 28285047 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2017.03.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2017] [Revised: 03/02/2017] [Accepted: 03/02/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The viscosity of complex, anisotropic fluids, such as liquid crystals or their colloidal suspensions, is characterized by a number of coefficients. Methods to measure them are, typically, sensitive only to their particular combinations, hence unable to determine them individually. Using an Ericksen-Leslie model and propagation of light through aligned layers of such materials, we show theoretically and verify experimentally how this degeneracy can be lifted by exploiting both the amplitude and frequency of the voltage applied to the cell as control parameters.
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Affiliation(s)
- T P Bennett
- Mathematical Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - M B Proctor
- Physics and Astronomy, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - M Kaczmarek
- Physics and Astronomy, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - G D'Alessandro
- Mathematical Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.
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21
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Buchnev O, Podoliak N, Frank T, Kaczmarek M, Jiang L, Fedotov VA. Controlling Stiction in Nano-Electro-Mechanical Systems Using Liquid Crystals. ACS Nano 2016; 10:11519-11524. [PMID: 28024385 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.6b07495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Stiction is one of the major reliability issues limiting practical application of nano-electro-mechanical systems (NEMS), an emerging device technology that exploits mechanical movements on the scale of an integrated electronic circuit. We report on a discovery that stiction can be eliminated by infiltrating NEMS with nematic liquid crystals. We demonstrate this experimentally using a NEMS-based tunable photonic metamaterial, where reliable switching of optical response was achieved for the entire range of nanoscopic structural displacements admitted by the metamaterial design. Being a more straightforward and easy-to-implement alternative to the existing antistiction solutions, our approach also introduces an active mechanism of stiction control, which enables toggling between stiction-free and the usual (stiction-limited) regimes of NEMS operation. It is expected to greatly expand the functionality of electro-mechanical devices and enable the development of adaptive and smart nanosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oleksandr Buchnev
- Optoelectronics Research Centre and Centre for Photonic Metamaterials, ‡Physics and Astronomy, and §Faculty of Engineering and the Environment, University of Southampton , Southampton, SO17 1BJ, U.K
| | - Nina Podoliak
- Optoelectronics Research Centre and Centre for Photonic Metamaterials, ‡Physics and Astronomy, and §Faculty of Engineering and the Environment, University of Southampton , Southampton, SO17 1BJ, U.K
| | - Thomas Frank
- Optoelectronics Research Centre and Centre for Photonic Metamaterials, ‡Physics and Astronomy, and §Faculty of Engineering and the Environment, University of Southampton , Southampton, SO17 1BJ, U.K
| | - Malgosia Kaczmarek
- Optoelectronics Research Centre and Centre for Photonic Metamaterials, ‡Physics and Astronomy, and §Faculty of Engineering and the Environment, University of Southampton , Southampton, SO17 1BJ, U.K
| | - Liudi Jiang
- Optoelectronics Research Centre and Centre for Photonic Metamaterials, ‡Physics and Astronomy, and §Faculty of Engineering and the Environment, University of Southampton , Southampton, SO17 1BJ, U.K
| | - Vassili A Fedotov
- Optoelectronics Research Centre and Centre for Photonic Metamaterials, ‡Physics and Astronomy, and §Faculty of Engineering and the Environment, University of Southampton , Southampton, SO17 1BJ, U.K
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22
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Kaczmarek M, Pacholska-Bogalska J, Kwaśniewski W, Kotarski J, Halerz-Nowakowska B, Goździcka-Józefiak A. The association between socioeconomic status and health-related quality of life among Polish postmenopausal women from urban and rural communities. Homo 2016; 68:42-50. [PMID: 28024658 DOI: 10.1016/j.jchb.2016.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2016] [Accepted: 10/20/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
In recent years, more scholarly attention has been paid to a growing range of geographic characteristics as antecedents of inequalities in women's health and well-being. The purpose of this study was to evaluate differences in health-related quality of life between rural and urban Polish postmenopausal women. Using a data set from a reproductive health preventive screening of 660 postmenopausal women aged 48-60 years, inhabitants of Wielkopolska and Lublin provinces, the association of place of residence, socioeconomic status and lifestyle factors with health-related quality of life (the SF-36 instrument) was evaluated using ANCOVA models and multiple logistic regression analysis with backward elimination steps. A consistent rural-to-urban gradient was found in all indices of physical health functioning and well-being but not in vitality, social functioning, emotional role and mental health scales with women in large cities being likely to enjoy the highest and those in villages the lowest quality of life. The rural-urban disparities in health-related quality of life were mediated by women's socioeconomic status. The likelihood of worse physical and mental functioning and well-being was 2-3 times greater for the low socioeconomic status rural women than their counterparts from more affluent urban areas. The educational attainment and employment status were the most powerful independent risk factors for health-related quality of life in both rural and urban women. Better understanding of the role of socioeconomic status that acts as a mediator in the association between area of residence and health-related quality of life may be useful in developing public health policies on health inequalities among women at midlife.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Kaczmarek
- Department of Human Biological Development, Institute of Anthropology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Poland.
| | - J Pacholska-Bogalska
- Department of Animal Physiology, Institute of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Poland
| | - W Kwaśniewski
- I Chair and Department of Oncological Gynaecology and Gynaecology, Medical University of Lublin, Poland
| | - J Kotarski
- I Chair and Department of Oncological Gynaecology and Gynaecology, Medical University of Lublin, Poland
| | - B Halerz-Nowakowska
- Department of Obstetrics, Endocrinology and Gynaecology, Medical University of Poznań, Poland
| | - A Goździcka-Józefiak
- Department of Molecular Virology, Institute of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Poland
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23
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Budna J, Spychalski Ł, Kaczmarek M, Frydrychowicz M, Goździk-Spychalska J, Batura-Gabryel H, Sikora J. Regulatory T cells in malignant pleural effusions subsequent to lung carcinoma and their impact on the course of the disease. Immunobiology 2016; 222:499-505. [PMID: 27773662 DOI: 10.1016/j.imbio.2016.10.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2016] [Revised: 10/17/2016] [Accepted: 10/17/2016] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Tumors exert suppressive effects on the host immune system and tumor progression can be linked to functional impairments of immune cells. Regulatory T cells (Treg) are a subpopulation of T lymphocytes and play a key role in suppressing immune responses against autoimmune diseases and cancer. The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence of Treg in malignant and benign pleural effusions and to evaluate the relationship between Treg frequency and disease advance. Pleural effusions from 76 patients were subjected to a routine laboratory diagnosis and analyzed by conventional cytology. Biological materials were divided into three groups: malignant pleural effusions with malignant cells, effusions from patients with malignancy but without malignant cells, and non-malignant pleural effusions. The frequency of Treg in malignant pleural effusions was significantly higher compared to non-malignant effusions. In general, the increase in Treg frequency was correlated with a decrease in the percentage of lymphocytes and an increase in T CD4+ and T CD4+ CD25+ cells. The highest percentage of Treg was observed among patients with the most advanced clinical stage of lung cancer in terms of size and location of a primary tumor, T4. A Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed a statistically significant trend towards an adverse outcome for patients representing higher Treg counts. Overall, our results support the extraordinary potential of Treg control in future anticancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Budna
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | - Ł Spychalski
- Department of Oncology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | - M Kaczmarek
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland.
| | - M Frydrychowicz
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | - J Goździk-Spychalska
- Department of Pulmonology, Allergology and Respiratory Oncology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | - H Batura-Gabryel
- Department of Pulmonology, Allergology and Respiratory Oncology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | - J Sikora
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
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Kurzawski M, Kaczmarek M, Kłysz M, Malinowski D, Kazienko A, Kurzawa R, Droździk M. MMP2, MMP9 and TIMP2 polymorphisms affect sperm parameters but not fertility in Polish males. Andrologia 2016; 49. [PMID: 27401679 DOI: 10.1111/and.12654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/30/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Proper function of the blood-testis barrier is pivotal to spermatogenesis. Synchronised action of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) and their inhibitors (TIMP) is mandatory to maintain dynamic balance of the barrier. Therefore, the association of functional genetic variants of MMP-2, MMP-9 and TIMP-2 and male infertility was studied. A total of 416 infertile males and 421 healthy subjects were genotyped for 7 SNPs within MMP2, MMP9 and TIMP2 genes, along with the assessment of semen parameters (concentration, motility and morphology of spermatozoa). No association was observed between the studied genotypes and male infertility. However, higher sperm concentration was associated with TIMP2 rs8080623 C and rs2277698 T variants among infertile men, and with MMP9 rs17576 A minor allele in controls (p < .05). TIMP2 rs9900972 T and rs2277698 T allele were associated with higher percentage of morphologically normal spermatozoa among controls. MMP2 rs2285053 TT homozygous infertile patients presented higher percentage of spermatozoa displaying nonprogressive motility. Haplotype analysis revealed strong linkage disequilibrium between the studied loci (5 of 8 possible TIMP2 haplotypes, and 3 of 4 possible MMP2 and MMP9 were found). None of the haplotypes showed association with infertility. This study results suggest an association between MMP9 and TIMP2 SNPs with sperm parameters, but not infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Kurzawski
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Pomeranian Medical University, Szczecin, Poland
| | - M Kaczmarek
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Pomeranian Medical University, Szczecin, Poland
| | - M Kłysz
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Pomeranian Medical University, Szczecin, Poland
| | - D Malinowski
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Pomeranian Medical University, Szczecin, Poland
| | - A Kazienko
- Department of Reproductive Medicine and Gynecology, Pomeranian Medical University, Police, Poland.,VitroLive Fertility Clinic, Szczecin, Poland
| | - R Kurzawa
- Department of Reproductive Medicine and Gynecology, Pomeranian Medical University, Police, Poland.,VitroLive Fertility Clinic, Szczecin, Poland
| | - M Droździk
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Pomeranian Medical University, Szczecin, Poland
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25
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Kurochkin O, Murugesan YK, Bennett TP, D'Alessandro G, Reznikov Y, Tang BJ, Mehl GH, Kaczmarek M. Thermal optical non-linearity of nematic mesophase enhanced by gold nanoparticles--an experimental and numerical investigation. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2016; 18:11503-12. [PMID: 27063912 DOI: 10.1039/c6cp00116e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
In this work the mechanisms leading to the enhancement of optical nonlinearity of nematic liquid crystalline material through localized heating by doping the liquid crystals (LCs) with gold nanoparticles (GNPs) are investigated. We present some experimental and theoretical results on the effect of voltage and nanoparticle concentration on the nonlinear response of GNP-LC suspensions. The optical nonlinearity of these systems is characterized by diffraction measurements and the second order nonlinear refractive index, n2, is used to compare systems with different configurations and operating conditions. A theoretical model based on heat diffusion that takes into account the intensity and finite size of the incident beam, the nanoparticle concentration dependent absorbance of GNP doped LC systems and the presence of bounding substrates is developed and validated. We use the model to discuss the possibilities of further enhancing the optical nonlinearity.
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Affiliation(s)
- O Kurochkin
- Institute of Physics of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv 03028, Ukraine
| | - Y K Murugesan
- School of Mathematics, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK
| | - T P Bennett
- School of Mathematics, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK
| | - G D'Alessandro
- School of Mathematics, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK
| | - Y Reznikov
- Institute of Physics of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv 03028, Ukraine
| | - B J Tang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Hull, Hull, HU6 7RX, UK
| | - G H Mehl
- Department of Chemistry, University of Hull, Hull, HU6 7RX, UK
| | - M Kaczmarek
- School of Physics, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK.
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Kaczmarek P, Pruszynska-Oszmalek E, Skrzypski M, Sassek M, Kolodziejski P, Kaczmarek M, Billert M, Szczepankiewicz D, Maechler P, Nowak KW, Strowski M. Chronische Applikation von Orexin-A verbessert glykämische Kontrolle und schützt pankreatische Beta-Zellen vor apoptotischem Tod in männlichen Ratten mit Diabetes mellitus Typ 2. DIABETOL STOFFWECHS 2016. [DOI: 10.1055/s-0036-1580758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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Piotrowska MJ, Ennos RA, Fountaine JM, Burnett FJ, Kaczmarek M, Hoebe PN. Development and use of microsatellite markers to study diversity, reproduction and population genetic structure of the cereal pathogen Ramularia collo-cygni. Fungal Genet Biol 2016; 87:64-71. [PMID: 26806723 DOI: 10.1016/j.fgb.2016.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2015] [Revised: 01/08/2016] [Accepted: 01/11/2016] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Ramularia collo-cygni (Rcc) is a major pathogen of barley that causes economically serious yield losses. Disease epidemics during the growing season are mainly propagated by asexual air-borne spores of Rcc, but it is thought that Rcc undergoes sexual reproduction during its life cycle and may also disperse by means of sexual ascospores. To obtain population genetic information from which to infer the extent of sexual reproduction and local genotype dispersal in Rcc, and by implication the pathogen's ability to adapt to fungicides and resistant cultivars, we developed ten polymorphic microsatellite markers, for which primers are presented. We used these markers to analyse the population genetic structure of this cereal pathogen in two geographically distant populations from the Czech Republic (n=30) and the United Kingdom (n=60) that had been sampled in a spatially explicit manner. Genetic diversity at the microsatellite loci was substantial, Ht=0.392 and Ht=0.411 in the Czech and UK populations respectively, and the populations were moderately differentiated at these loci (Θ=0.111, P<0.01). In both populations the multilocus genotypic diversity was very high (one clonal pair per population, resulting in >96% unique genotypes in each of the populations) and there was a lack of linkage disequilibrium among loci, strongly suggesting that sexual reproduction is an important component of the life cycle of Rcc. In an analysis of spatial genetic structure, kinship coefficients in all distance classes were very low (-0.0533 to 0.0142 in the Czech and -0.0268 to 0.0042 in the Scottish population) and non-significant (P>0.05) indicating lack of subpopulation structuring at the field scale and implying extensive dissemination of spores. These results suggest that Rcc possesses a high evolutionary potential for developing resistance to fungicides and overcoming host resistance genes, and argue for the development of an integrated disease management system that does not rely solely on fungicide applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- M J Piotrowska
- Crop and Soils Research Group, Scotland's Rural College, EH9 3JG Edinburgh, UK.
| | - R A Ennos
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh, Charlotte Auerbach Rd, Edinburgh EH9 3FL, UK
| | - J M Fountaine
- Crop and Soils Research Group, Scotland's Rural College, EH9 3JG Edinburgh, UK
| | - F J Burnett
- Crop and Soils Research Group, Scotland's Rural College, EH9 3JG Edinburgh, UK
| | - M Kaczmarek
- Crop and Soils Research Group, Scotland's Rural College, EH9 3JG Edinburgh, UK
| | - P N Hoebe
- Crop and Soils Research Group, Scotland's Rural College, EH9 3JG Edinburgh, UK
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28
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Łagiedo M, Sikora J, Kaczmarek M. Damage-Associated Molecular Patterns in the Course of Lung Cancer - A Review. Scand J Immunol 2015; 82:95-101. [DOI: 10.1111/sji.12308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2015] [Accepted: 05/05/2015] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- M. Łagiedo
- Department of Immunology; Chair of Clinical Immunology; University of Medical Sciences; Poznań Poland
| | - J. Sikora
- Department of Immunology; Chair of Clinical Immunology; University of Medical Sciences; Poznań Poland
| | - M. Kaczmarek
- Department of Immunology; Chair of Clinical Immunology; University of Medical Sciences; Poznań Poland
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29
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Alberucci A, Kravets N, Piccardi A, Buchnev O, Kaczmarek M, Assanto G. Nematicons in planar cells subject to the optical Fréedericksz threshold. Opt Express 2014; 22:30663-30668. [PMID: 25607014 DOI: 10.1364/oe.22.030663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
We investigate, both theoretically and experimentally, self-trapping of light beams in nematic liquid crystals arranged so as to exhibit the optical Fréedericksz transition in planar cells. The resulting threshold in the nonlinear reorientational response supports a bistable behavior between diffracting and self-localized beam states, leading to the appearance of a hysteretic loop versus input excitation. Our results confirm the role of nematic liquid crystals in the study of non-perturbative nonlinear photonics.
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30
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Adamczak DM, Nowak JK, Frydrychowicz M, Kaczmarek M, Sikora J. The role of Toll-like receptors and vitamin D in diabetes mellitus type 1--a review. Scand J Immunol 2014; 80:75-84. [PMID: 24845558 DOI: 10.1111/sji.12188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2014] [Accepted: 05/04/2014] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
It is widely accepted that type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is an autoimmune disease resulting from an interaction between immunologic, genetic and environmental factors. However, the exact mechanism leading to the development of T1DM remains incomplete. There is a large body of evidence pointing towards the important role of toll-like receptor (TLR) activation and vitamin D deficiency in T1DM pathogenesis. In this article, we review the available data on the influence of TLRs' level of activation and vitamin D status on the risk of the development of T1DM in humans and rodent models. We also summarize the current information regarding the interactions between TLRs' level of activation, vitamin D status and various environmental factors, such as enteroviral infections, the gut microbiota and breastfeeding substitution, among others. Our results stipulate that vitamin D seems to protect against T1DM by reducing the TLRs' level of activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- D M Adamczak
- Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Clinical Hospital No. 1, Poznan, Poland; Department of Clinical Immunology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
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31
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Podoliak N, Buchnev O, Herrington M, Mavrona E, Kaczmarek M, Kanaras AG, Stratakis E, Blach JF, Henninot JF, Warenghem M. Elastic constants, viscosity and response time in nematic liquid crystals doped with ferroelectric nanoparticles. RSC Adv 2014. [DOI: 10.1039/c4ra06248e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
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32
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Zy ko D, Szewczuk-Bogus awska M, Kaczmarek M, Agrawal AK, Rudnicki J, Gajek J, Melander O, Sutton R, Fedorowski A. Reflex syncope, anxiety level, and family history of cardiovascular disease in young women: case-control study. Europace 2014; 17:309-13. [DOI: 10.1093/europace/euu200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
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33
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Kravets N, Piccardi A, Alberucci A, Buchnev O, Kaczmarek M, Assanto G. Bistability with optical beams propagating in a reorientational medium. Phys Rev Lett 2014; 113:023901. [PMID: 25062182 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.113.023901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
We investigated bistability with light beams in reorientational nematic liquid crystals. For a range of input powers, beams can propagate as either diffracting or self-trapped, the latter corresponding to spatial solitons. The first-order transition in samples exhibiting abrupt self-focusing with a threshold is in agreement with a simple model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Kravets
- NooEL-Nonlinear Optics and OptoElectronics Lab, University "Roma Tre", 00146 Rome, Italy
| | - Armando Piccardi
- NooEL-Nonlinear Optics and OptoElectronics Lab, University "Roma Tre", 00146 Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandro Alberucci
- NooEL-Nonlinear Optics and OptoElectronics Lab, University "Roma Tre", 00146 Rome, Italy
| | - Oleksandr Buchnev
- Zepler Institute, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom
| | - Malgosia Kaczmarek
- Zepler Institute, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom
| | - Gaetano Assanto
- NooEL-Nonlinear Optics and OptoElectronics Lab, University "Roma Tre", 00146 Rome, Italy
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34
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Bateman J, Proctor M, Buchnev O, Podoliak N, D'Alessandro G, Kaczmarek M. Voltage transfer function as an optical method to characterize electrical properties of liquid crystal devices. Opt Lett 2014; 39:3756-3759. [PMID: 24978729 DOI: 10.1364/ol.39.003756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
The voltage transfer function is a rapid and visually effective method to determine the electrical response of liquid crystal (LC) systems using optical measurements. This method relies on crosspolarized intensity measurements as a function of the frequency and amplitude of the voltage applied to the device. Coupled with a mathematical model of the device it can be used to determine the device time constants and electrical properties. We validate the method using photorefractive LC cells and determine the main time constants and the voltage dropped across the layers using a simple nonlinear filter model.
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35
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Acreman A, Kaczmarek M, D'Alessandro G. Gold nanoparticle liquid crystal composites as a tunable nonlinear medium. Phys Rev E Stat Nonlin Soft Matter Phys 2014; 90:012504. [PMID: 25122321 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.90.012504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
We investigate the nonlinearity of a liquid crystal cell doped with gold nanoparticles by considering their selective absorption. Such nonlinearities are promising for optical processing applications and optical limiters. Systems displaying thermal nonlinearities are particularly attractive as the maximum nonlinearity may occur in the absence of an applied field and additionally this nonlinearity can be controlled by the reorientation of the liquid crystal. We show that there exists a theoretical optimum concentration of absorbers, which maximizes the nonlinearity. Further we show that the nonlinearity of the system can be tuned by the reorientation of the liquid crystal host, with the nonlinearity decreasing from 9 × 10(-5) cm(2)W(-1) to zero by the application of a magnetic field of the order of 0.01 Tesla. This allows a fine control of the diffraction efficiency and, in principle, many other nonlinear effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Acreman
- Physics and Astronomy, University of Southampton, Southampton, England, United Kingdom
| | - M Kaczmarek
- Physics and Astronomy, University of Southampton, Southampton, England, United Kingdom
| | - G D'Alessandro
- Mathematical Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, England, United Kingdom
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36
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Drelich R, Pakuła M, Kaczmarek M. Identification of Drag Parameters of Flow in High Permeability Materials by U-Tube Method. Transp Porous Media 2013. [DOI: 10.1007/s11242-013-0231-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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37
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Kaczmarek M, Jurczyk MU, Rubis B, Banaszak A, Kolecka A, Paszel A, Jurczyk K, Murias M, Sikora J, Jurczyk M. In vitro biocompatibility of Ti-45S5 bioglass nanocomposites and their scaffolds. J Biomed Mater Res A 2013; 102:1316-24. [PMID: 23720374 DOI: 10.1002/jbm.a.34808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2013] [Accepted: 05/16/2013] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Titanium-10 wt % 45S5 Bioglass nanocomposites and their scaffolds were prepared by mechanical alloying (MA) followed by pressing, sintering, or combination of MA and a "space-holder" sintering process, respectively. An amorphous structure was obtained at 15 h of milling. The crystallization of the amorphous phase upon annealing led to the formation of a nanostructured Ti-10 wt % 45S5 Bioglass composite with a grain size of approximately 7 nm. The in vitro cytocompatibility of these materials was evaluated and compared with a conventional microcrystalline titanium. During the studies, established cell line of human fibroblasts CCD-39Lu was cultured in the presence of tested materials and its survival rate, and proliferation activity were examined. Furthermore, the influence of the Ti-45S5 Bioglass nanocomposites and microcrystalline titanium was tested on the growth of Candida albicans yeast. Biocompatibility tests carried out indicate that the nanocomposite Ti-10 wt % 45S5 Bioglass scaffolds could be a possible candidate for dental implants and other medicinal applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Kaczmarek
- Department of Immunology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Rokietnicka 5D, 60-806, Poznan, Poland
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38
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Kaczmarek M, Voelkel A, Pietrzyńska M. Quantitative criteria for needle trap device selection. J Chromatogr A 2013; 1278:181-3. [DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2012.12.076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2012] [Revised: 12/19/2012] [Accepted: 12/21/2012] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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39
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Buchnev O, Ou JY, Kaczmarek M, Zheludev NI, Fedotov VA. Electro-optical control in a plasmonic metamaterial hybridised with a liquid-crystal cell. Opt Express 2013; 21:1633-8. [PMID: 23389148 DOI: 10.1364/oe.21.001633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
We experimentally demonstrate efficient electro-optical control in an active nano-structured plasmonic metamaterial hybridised with a liquid-crystal cell. The hybridisation was achieved by simultaneously replacing the polarizer, transparent electrode and molecular alignment layer of the liquid-crystal cell with the metamaterial nano-structure. With the control signal of only 7 V we have achieved a fivefold hysteresis-free modulation of metamaterial transmission at the wavelength of 1.55 µm.
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Affiliation(s)
- O Buchnev
- Optoelectronics Research Centre, University of Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK
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40
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Szewczuk-Boguslawska M, Kaczmarek M, Flisiak-Antonijczuk H. 1248 – Characteristic of suicide attempts and non-suicidal self-injurious behaviors in adolescent girls diagnosed with conduct disorder. Eur Psychiatry 2013. [DOI: 10.1016/s0924-9338(13)76321-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
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41
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Szewczuk-Boguslawska M, Zysko D, Kaczmarek M, Agrawal A, Rudnicki J, Gajek J, Fedorowski A. 1826 – State and trait anxiety in young women with vasovagal syncope. Eur Psychiatry 2013. [DOI: 10.1016/s0924-9338(13)76790-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
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42
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Podoliak N, Buchnev O, Bavykin DV, Kulak AN, Kaczmarek M, Sluckin TJ. Magnetite nanorod thermotropic liquid crystal colloids: Synthesis, optics and theory. J Colloid Interface Sci 2012; 386:158-66. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2012.07.082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2012] [Revised: 07/25/2012] [Accepted: 07/26/2012] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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43
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Abbott SB, Daly KR, D'Alessandro G, Kaczmarek M, Smith DC. Photorefractive control of surface plasmon polaritons in a hybrid liquid crystal cell. Opt Lett 2012; 37:2436-2438. [PMID: 22743413 DOI: 10.1364/ol.37.002436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
We present a photorefractive hybrid liquid crystal system that allows strong photorefractive effects on surface plasmon polaritons. We demonstrate its capability to couple energy between two 1.03 eV surface plasmon polariton modes with an efficiency of 25.3±2.3%. We present the energy and grating pitch dependence of the diffraction and a model that can qualitatively explain them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen B Abbott
- School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK
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44
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Hermanussen M, Lieberman LS, Janewa VS, Scheffler C, Ghosh A, Bogin B, Godina E, Kaczmarek M, El-Shabrawi M, Salama EE, Rühli FJ, Staub K, Woitek U, Blaha P, Assmann C, van Buuren S, Lehmann A, Satake T, Thodberg HH, Jopp E, Kirchengast S, Tutkuviene J, McIntyre MH, Wittwer-Backofen U, Boldsen JL, Martin DD, Meier J. Diversity in auxology: between theory and practice. Proceedings of the 18th Aschauer Soiree, 13th November 2010. Anthropol Anz 2012; 69:159-74. [PMID: 22606911 DOI: 10.1127/0003-5548/2012/0133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Auxology has developed from mere describing child and adolescent growth into a vivid and interdisciplinary research area encompassing human biologists, physicians, social scientists, economists and biostatisticians. The meeting illustrated the diversity in auxology, with the various social, medical, biological and biostatistical aspects in studies on child growth and development.
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45
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Warenghem M, Henninot JF, Blach JF, Buchnev O, Kaczmarek M, Stchakovsky M. Combined ellipsometry and refractometry technique for characterisation of liquid crystal based nanocomposites. Rev Sci Instrum 2012; 83:035103. [PMID: 22462956 DOI: 10.1063/1.3690382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Spectroscopic ellipsometry is a technique especially well suited to measure the effective optical properties of a composite material. However, as the sample is optically thick and anisotropic, this technique loses its accuracy for two reasons: anisotropy means that two parameters have to be determined (ordinary and extraordinary indices) and optically thick means a large order of interference. In that case, several dielectric functions can emerge out of the fitting procedure with a similar mean square error and no criterion to discriminate the right solution. In this paper, we develop a methodology to overcome that drawback. It combines ellipsometry with refractometry. The same sample is used in a total internal reflection (TIR) setup and in a spectroscopic ellipsometer. The number of parameters to be determined by the fitting procedure is reduced in analysing two spectra, the correct final solution is found by using the TIR results both as initial values for the parameters and as check for the final dielectric function. A prefitting routine is developed to enter the right initial values in the fitting procedure and so to approach the right solution. As an example, this methodology is used to analyse the optical properties of BaTiO(3) nanoparticles embedded in a nematic liquid crystal. Such a methodology can also be used to analyse experimentally the validity of the mixing laws, since ellipsometry gives the effective dielectric function and thus, can be compared to the dielectric function of the components of the mixture, as it is shown on the example of BaTiO(3)/nematic composite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc Warenghem
- Unité de Catalyse et de Chimie du Solide (UCCS Artois), UMR CNRS 8181, Faculté des sciences, Université d'Artois, Lens cedex, France
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46
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Kaczmarek M, Bujnowski A, Wtorek J, Polinski A. Multimodal Platform for Continuous Monitoring of the Elderly and Disabled. j med imaging hlth inform 2012. [DOI: 10.1166/jmihi.2012.1061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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47
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Kwasny M, Piccardi A, Alberucci A, Peccianti M, Kaczmarek M, Karpierz MA, Assanto G. Nematicon-nematicon interactions in a medium with tunable nonlinearity and fixed nonlocality. Opt Lett 2011; 36:2566-2568. [PMID: 21725481 DOI: 10.1364/ol.36.002566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
We investigate the attractive interaction between spatial solitons in nematic liquid crystals with a tunable nonlinearity and a constant nonlocality. The experimental study, carried out by controlling the orientation of the optic axis via the electro-optic response, shows how the interactions depend on reorientation, in excellent agreement with a model accounting for the anisotropic nature of the dielectric.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michal Kwasny
- Nonlinear Optics and OptoElectronics Lab (NooEL), Via della Vasca Navale 84, 00146 Rome, Italy
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48
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Lis S, Kaczmarek M, Staninski K, Krompiec S, Kuznik N. Kinetic and spectral studies of EHPG systems using chemi- and electrochemiluminescence methods. J RARE EARTH 2010. [DOI: 10.1016/s1002-0721(09)60216-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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49
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Podoliak N, Buchnev O, D'Alessandro G, Kaczmarek M, Sluckin TJ. Large effect of a small bias field in liquid-crystal magnetic transitions. Phys Rev E Stat Nonlin Soft Matter Phys 2010; 82:030701. [PMID: 21230018 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.82.030701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2010] [Revised: 08/05/2010] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Most liquid crystals show low sensitivity to magnetic field. However, in this paper we show that a small bias magnetic field not only breaks the symmetry of the ground state, but also plays a crucial role in facilitating the reorientation induced by a large test magnetic field. In particular, a small bias field may alter significantly the strength of the test field needed to observe a given reorientation of the liquid crystal. Moreover, the bias field interacts with other symmetry breaking features of the cell, e.g., pretilt, to change also the qualitative features of the equilibrium state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Podoliak
- School of Physics, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Southampton, Southampton, Hampshire SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom
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50
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Kaczmarek M. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO VARIATION IN AGE AT NATURAL MENOPAUSE OF POLISH WOMEN. Maturitas 2009. [DOI: 10.1016/s0378-5122(09)70327-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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