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Introduction: The German PID-NET registry was founded in 2009, serving as the first national registry of patients with primary immunodeficiencies (PID) in Germany. It is part of the European Society for Immunodeficiencies (ESID) registry. The primary purpose of the registry is to gather data on the epidemiology, diagnostic delay, diagnosis, and treatment of PIDs.
Methods: Clinical and laboratory data was collected from 2,453 patients from 36 German PID centres in an online registry. Data was analysed with the software Stata® and Excel.
Results: The minimum prevalence of PID in Germany is 2.72 per 100,000 inhabitants. Among patients aged 1-25, there was a clear predominance of males. The median age of living patients ranged between 7 and 40 years, depending on the respective PID. Predominantly antibody disorders were the most prevalent group with 57% of all 2,453 PID patients (including 728 CVID patients). A gene defect was identified in 36% of patients. Familial cases were observed in 21% of patients. The age of onset for presenting symptoms ranged from birth to late adulthood (range 0-88 years). Presenting symptoms comprised infections (74%) and immune dysregulation (22%). Ninety-three patients were diagnosed without prior clinical symptoms. Regarding the general and clinical diagnostic delay, no PID had undergone a slight decrease within the last decade. However, both, SCID and hyper IgE-syndrome showed a substantial improvement in shortening the time between onset of symptoms and genetic diagnosis. Regarding treatment, 49% of all patients received immunoglobulin G (IgG) substitution (70%-subcutaneous; 29%-intravenous; 1%-unknown). Three-hundred patients underwent at least one hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Five patients had gene therapy.
Conclusion: The German PID-NET registry is a precious tool for physicians, researchers, the pharmaceutical industry, politicians, and ultimately the patients, for whom the outcomes will eventually lead to a more timely diagnosis and better treatment.
Objectives
In this in-vitro study, teeth were imaged using photoacoustic tomography (PAT), cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), and micro-computed tomography (μ-CT). The study had aim: to identify the best wavelength for PAT images to determine the accuracy of the three imaging methods, and to determine whether PAT images of teeth can achieve acceptable reconstruction quality.
Methods
Nineteen human mandibular single-rooted incisors were extracted from patients with trauma or periodontitis. To determine the best wavelength for acquiring photoacoustic images, all 19 teeth were scanned in vitro with PAT, using different laser wavelengths between 680 and 960 nm. The images were analyzed using image analysis software. To assess the accuracy of PAT and compare it with the accuracy of CBCT, each tooth was also scanned in vitro using CBCT and the reference standard technique of μ-CT. Subsequently, three different three-dimensional models, one for each imaging technique, were created for each tooth. Finally, the three different three-dimensional models acquired for the same tooth were matched and analyzed regarding volume and surface.
Results
The highest quality tooth images were achieved using the 680 nm wavelength, which showed the best contrast ratio. The full geometry of the dental root (μ-CT compared with PAT) could be visualized with relative standard deviations of 0.12 mm for the surface and −7.33 mm3 for the volume (n = 19). The full geometry of the dental root (μ-CT compared with CBCT) could be visualized with relative standard deviations of 0.06 mm for the surface and −14.56 mm3 for the volume (n = 19). The difference between the PAT–μ-CT group and CBCT–μ-CT group regarding the total average of the root surface area was not significant (p>0.06).
Conclusion
Images, which were acquired using PAT at 680nm showed the best contrast ration, enabling the identification of dentin, cementum and the dental pulp. No significant differences were found between the PAT–μ-CT group and CBCT–μ-CT group regarding the total average of the RSA and the total volume. Thus, three-dimensional reconstructions based on in-vitro PAT are already of acceptable reconstruction quality.
Optimal open-loop control, i.e. the application of an analytically derived control rule, is demonstrated for nanooptical excitations using polarization-shaped laser pulses. Optimal spatial near-field localization in gold nanoprisms and excitation switching is realized by applying a shift to the relative phase of the two polarization components. The achieved near-field switching confirms theoretical predictions, proves the applicability of predefined control rules in nanooptical light–matter interaction and reveals local mode interference to be an important control mechanism.
Light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation, well-known for revolutionising photonic science, has been realised primarily in fermionic systems including widely applied diode lasers. The prerequisite for fermionic lasing is the inversion of electronic population, which governs the lasing threshold. More recently, bosonic lasers have also been developed based on Bose-Einstein condensates of exciton-polaritons in semiconductor microcavities. These electrically neutral bosons coexist with charged electrons and holes. In the presence of magnetic fields, the charged particles are bound to their cyclotron orbits, while the neutral exciton-polaritons move freely. We demonstrate how magnetic fields affect dramatically the phase diagram of mixed Bose-Fermi systems, switching between fermionic lasing, incoherent emission and bosonic lasing regimes in planar and pillar microcavities with optical and electrical pumping. We collected and analyzed the data taken on pillar and planar microcavity structures at continuous wave and pulsed optical excitation as well as injecting electrons and holes electronically. Our results evidence the transition from a Bose gas to a Fermi liquid mediated by magnetic fields and light-matter coupling.
Coherent Polariton Laser
(2016)
The semiconductor polariton laser promises a new source of coherent light, which, compared to conventional semiconductor photon lasers, has input-energy threshold orders of magnitude lower. However, intensity stability, a defining feature of a coherent state, has remained poor. Intensity noise many times the shot noise of a coherent state has persisted, attributed to multiple mechanisms that are difficult to separate in conventional polariton systems. The large intensity noise, in turn, limits the phase coherence. Thus, the capability of the polariton laser as a source of coherence light is limited. Here, we demonstrate a polariton laser with shot-noise-limited intensity stability, as expected from a fully coherent state. This stability is achieved by using an optical cavity with high mode selectivity to enforce single-mode lasing, suppress condensate depletion, and establish gain saturation. Moreover, the absence of spurious intensity fluctuations enables the measurement of a transition from exponential to Gaussian decay of the phase coherence of the polariton laser. It suggests large self-interaction energies in the polariton condensate, exceeding the laser bandwidth. Such strong interactions are unique to matter-wave lasers and important for nonlinear polariton devices. The results will guide future development of polariton lasers and nonlinear polariton devices.
The super-thermal photon bunching in quantum-dot (QD) micropillar lasers is investigated both experimentally and theoretically via simulations driven by dynamic considerations. Using stochastic multi-mode rate equations we obtain very good agreement between experiment and theory in terms of intensity profiles and intensity-correlation properties of the examined QD micro-laser's emission. Further investigations of the time-dependent emission show that super-thermal photon bunching occurs due to irregular mode-switching events in the bimodal lasers. Our bifurcation analysis reveals that these switchings find their origin in an underlying bistability, such that spontaneous emission noise is able to effectively perturb the two competing modes in a small parameter region. We thus ascribe the observed high photon correlation to dynamical multistabilities rather than quantum mechanical correlations.
The Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless (BKT) theorem predicts that two-dimensional bosonic condensates exhibit quasi-long-range order which is characterized by a slow decay of the spatial coherence. However previous measurements on exciton-polariton condensates revealed that their spatial coherence can decay faster than allowed under the BKT theory, and different theoretical explanations have already been proposed. Through theoretical and experimental study of exciton-polariton condensates, we show that the fast decay of the coherence can be explained through the simultaneous presence of multiple modes in the condensate.
Solid-state cavity quantum electrodynamics is a rapidly advancing field, which explores the frontiers of light–matter coupling. Metal-based approaches are of particular interest in this field, as they carry the potential to squeeze optical modes to spaces significantly below the diffraction limit. Transition metal dichalcogenides are ideally suited as the active material in cavity quantum electrodynamics, as they interact strongly with light at the ultimate monolayer limit. Here, we implement a Tamm-plasmon-polariton structure and study the coupling to a monolayer of WSe\(_{2}\), hosting highly stable excitons. Exciton-polariton formation at room temperature is manifested in the characteristic energy–momentum dispersion relation studied in photoluminescence, featuring an anti-crossing between the exciton and photon modes with a Rabi-splitting of 23.5 meV. Creating polaritonic quasiparticles in monolithic, compact architectures with atomic monolayers under ambient conditions is a crucial step towards the exploration of nonlinearities, macroscopic coherence and advanced spinor physics with novel, low-mass bosons.
Konzepte zur skalierbaren Realisierung von effizienten, halbleiterbasierten Einzelphotonenquellen
(2011)
Dem Einsatz niederdimensionaler Nanostrukturen als optisch aktives Medium wird enormes Potential vorausgesagt sowohl in den klassischen optoelektronischen Bauteilen (wie z.B. Halbleiterlasern) als auch in optischen Bauteilen der näachsten Generation (z.B. Einzelphotonenquellen oder Quellen verschränkter Photonenpaare). Dennoch konnten sich quantenpunktbasierte Halbleiterlaser, abgesehen von einigen wenigen Ausnahmen (QDLaser inc.), im industriellen Maßstab bisher nicht gegen Bauelemente mit höherdimensionalen Quantenfilmen als optisch aktivem Element durchsetzen. Deshalb scheint der Einsatz von Quantenpunkten (QPen) in nichtklassischen Lichtquellen gegenwärtig vielversprechender. Um jedoch solche Bauteile bis zur letztendlichen Marktreife zu bringen, müssen neben der starken Unterdrückung von Multiphotonenemission noch wesentliche Grundvoraussetzungen erfüllt werden: In dieser Arbeit wurden grundlegende Studien durchgeführt, welche insbesondere dem Fortschritt und den Problemen der Effizienz, des elektrischen Betriebs und der Skalierbaren Herstellung der Photonenqullen dienen sollte. Zum Einen wurden hierfür elektrisch betriebene Einzelphotonenquellen basierend auf gekoppelten QP-Mikroresonatoren realisiert und de ren Bauteileffizienz gezielt optimiert, wobei konventionelle selbstorganisierte InAs-QPe als aktives Medium eingesetzt wurden. Für die skalierbare Integration einzelner QPe in Mikroresonatoren wurde des Weiteren das gesteuerte QP-Wachstum auf vorstrukturierten Substraten optimiert und auf diese Art ortskontrollierte QPe in Bauteile integriert. Für die Realisierung hocheffizienter, elektrisch gepumpter inzelphotonenquellen wurde zunächst das Wachstum von binären InAs-QPen im Stranski-Krastanov-Modus optimiert und deren optische Eigenschaften im Detail untersucht. Durch das Einbringen einer Schicht von Siliziumatomen nahe der QP-Schicht konnten die Emitter negativ geladen werden und der helle Trionenzustand der QPe als energetischer Eigenzustand des Systems zur effizienten Extraktion einzelner Photonen ausgenutzt werden. Durch die Integration dieser geladenen QPe in elektrisch kontaktierte, auf Braggspiegel basierte Mikrotürmchen konnten Einzelphotonenquellen realisiert werden, in denen gezielt Licht-Materie- Wechselwirkungseffekte zur Steigerung der Bauteileffizienz ausgenutzt wurden. Basierend auf theoretischen Überlegungen wurde die Schichtstruktur soweit optimiert, dass letztendlich experimentell eine elektrisch gepumpte Einzelphotonenquelle mit einer Photonenemissionsrate von 47 MHz sowie einer zuvor unerreichten Bauteileffizienz von 34 % im Regime der schwachen Licht-Materie-Kopplung demonstriert werden konnte. Da Effekte der Licht-Materie-Wechselwirkung zwischen QP und Resonator neben der spektralen Resonanz ebenfalls von der relativen Position von Resonator und QP zueinander abhängen, ist eine Kombination von positionierten QPen und Bauteilausrichtung nahezu unumg¨anglich für die skalierbare, deterministische Herstellung von Systemen aus perfekt angeordnetem Emitter und Resonator. Deshalb wurden bestehende Konzepte zum geordneten Wachstum von QPen weiterentwickelt: Hierbei wurde geordnetes InAs-QP-Wachstum mit Perioden realisiert, die vergleichbare Abmessungen wie optische Resonatoren aufweisen, also Nukleationsperioden zwischen 500 nm und 4 μm. Durch ein genaues Anpassen der Wachstums- und Prozessbedingungen konnte des Weiteren die Bildung von QP-Molekülen auf den Nukleationsplätzen nahezu unterdrückt beziehungsweise gesteuert werden. Durch eine systematische Optimierung der optischen Eigenschaften der QPe konnten Emitter mit Einzelquantenpunktlinienbreiten um 100 μeV realisiert werden, was eine Grundvoraussetzung zur Studie ausgeprägter Licht-Materie-Wechselwirkungseffekte in Mikroresonatoren darstellt. Letztendlich konnten durch die Integration derartiger QPe in optisch sowie elektrisch betriebene Mikroresonatoren erstmals Bauteile realisiert werden, welche einige der prinzipiellen, an eine Einzelphotonenquelle gestellten Anforderungen erfüllen. Insbesondere konnten deutliche Signaturen der schwachen Licht-Materie-Kopplung einzelner positionierter QPe in photonische Kristallresonatoren, Mikroscheibenresonatoren sowie Mikrotürmchenresonatoren festgestellt werden. Darüberhinaus konnte an einem spektral resonanten System aus einem positionierten QP und der Grundmode eines Mikrotürmchenresonators eindeutig Einzelphotonenemission unter optischer Anregung demonstriert werden. Ebenfalls konnten Mikrotürmchenresonatoren mit integrierten positionierten QPen erstmals elektrisch betrieben werden und somit die Grundvoraussetzung für eine der skalierbaren Herstellung effizienter Einzelphotonenquellen geschaffen werden.
Electro-optical switching between polariton and cavity lasing in an InGaAs quantum well microcavity
(2014)
We report on the condensation of microcavity exciton polaritons under optical excitation in a microcavity with four embedded InGaAs quantum wells. The polariton laser is characterized by a distinct nonlinearity in the input-output-characteristics, which is accompanied by a drop of the emission linewidth indicating temporal coherence and a characteristic persisting emission blueshift with increased particle density. The temporal coherence of the device at threshold is underlined by a characteristic drop of the second order coherence function to a value close to 1. Furthermore an external electric field is used to switch between polariton regime, polariton condensate and photon lasing.
Background
Up to 50% of septic patients develop acute kidney injury (AKI). The pathomechanism of septic AKI is poorly understood. Therefore, we established an innovative rodent model to characterize sepsis-induced AKI by standardized colon ascendens stent peritonitis (sCASP). The model has a standardized focus of infection, an intensive care set up with monitoring of haemodynamics and oxygenation resulting in predictable impairment of renal function, AKI parameters as well as histopathology scoring.
Methods
Anaesthetized rats underwent the sCASP procedure, whereas sham animals were sham operated and control animals were just monitored invasively. Haemodynamic variables and blood gases were continuously measured. After 24 h, animals were reanesthetized; cardiac output (CO), inulin and PAH clearances were measured and later on kidneys were harvested; and creatinine, urea, cystatin C and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) were analysed. Additional sCASP-treated animals were investigated after 3 and 9 days.
Results
All sCASP-treated animals survived, whilst ubiquitous peritonitis and significantly deteriorated clinical and macrohaemodynamic sepsis signs after 24 h (MAP, CO, heart rate) were obvious. Blood analyses showed increased lactate and IL-6 levels as well as leucopenia. Urine output, inulin and PAH clearance were significantly decreased in sCASP compared to sham and control. Additionally, significant increase in cystatin C and NGAL was detected. Standard parameters like serum creatinine and urea were elevated and sCASP-induced sepsis increased significantly in a time-dependent manner. The renal histopathological score of sCASP-treated animals deteriorated after 3 and 9 days.
Conclusions
The presented sCASP method is a standardized, reliable and reproducible method to induce septic AKI. The intensive care set up, continuous macrohaemodynamic and gas exchange monitoring, low mortality rate as well as the opportunity of detailed analyses of kidney function and impairments are advantages of this setup. Thus, our described method may serve as a new standard for experimental investigations of septic AKI.
Balanced hydroxyethylstarch (HES 130/0.4) impairs kidney function in-vivo without inflammation
(2015)
Volume therapy is a standard procedure in daily perioperative care, and there is an ongoing discussion about the benefits of colloid resuscitation with hydroxyethylstarch (HES). In sepsis HES should be avoided due to a higher risk for acute kidney injury (AKI). Results of the usage of HES in patients without sepsis are controversial. Therefore we conducted an animal study to evaluate the impact of 6% HES 130/0.4 on kidney integrity with sepsis or under healthy conditions Sepsis was induced by standardized Colon Ascendens Stent Peritonitis (sCASP). sCASP-group as well as control group (C) remained untreated for 24 h. After 18 h sCASP+HES group (sCASP+VOL) and control+HES (C+VOL) received 50 ml/KG balanced 6% HES (VOL) 130/0.4 over 6h. After 24h kidney function was measured via Inulin- and PAH-Clearance in re-anesthetized rats, and serum urea, creatinine (crea), cystatin C and Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) as well as histopathology were analysed. In vitro human proximal tubule cells (PTC) were cultured +/- lipopolysaccharid (LPS) and with 0.1–4.0% VOL. Cell viability was measured with XTT-, cell toxicity with LDH-test. sCASP induced severe septic AKI demonstrated divergent results regarding renal function by clearance or creatinine measure focusing on VOL. Soleley HES (C+VOL) deteriorated renal function without sCASP. Histopathology revealed significantly derangements in all HES groups compared to control. In vitro LPS did not worsen the HES induced reduction of cell viability in PTC cells. For the first time, we demonstrated, that application of 50 ml/KG 6% HES 130/0.4 over 6 hours induced AKI without inflammation in vivo. Severity of sCASP induced septic AKI might be no longer susceptible to the way of volume expansion
Lipid rafts are membrane microdomains specialized in the regulation of numerous cellular processes related to membrane organization, as diverse as signal transduction, protein sorting, membrane trafficking or pathogen invasion. It has been proposed that this functional diversity would require a heterogeneous population of raft domains with varying compositions. However, a mechanism for such diversification is not known. We recently discovered that bacterial membranes organize their signal transduction pathways in functional membrane microdomains (FMMs) that are structurally and functionally similar to the eukaryotic lipid rafts. In this report, we took advantage of the tractability of the prokaryotic model Bacillus subtilis to provide evidence for the coexistence of two distinct families of FMMs in bacterial membranes, displaying a distinctive distribution of proteins specialized in different biological processes. One family of microdomains harbors the scaffolding flotillin protein FloA that selectively tethers proteins specialized in regulating cell envelope turnover and primary metabolism. A second population of microdomains containing the two scaffolding flotillins, FloA and FloT, arises exclusively at later stages of cell growth and specializes in adaptation of cells to stationary phase. Importantly, the diversification of membrane microdomains does not occur arbitrarily. We discovered that bacterial cells control the spatio-temporal remodeling of microdomains by restricting the activation of FloT expression to stationary phase. This regulation ensures a sequential assembly of functionally specialized membrane microdomains to strategically organize signaling networks at the right time during the lifespan of a bacterium.
The possibility of investigating macroscopic coherent quantum states in polariton condensates and of engineering polariton landscapes in semiconductors has triggered interest in using polaritonic systems to simulate complex many-body phenomena. However, advanced experiments require superior trapping techniques that allow for the engineering of periodic and arbitrary potentials with strong on-site localization, clean condensate formation, and nearest-neighbor coupling. Here we establish a technology that meets these demands and enables strong, potentially tunable trapping without affecting the favorable polariton characteristics. The traps are based on a locally elongated microcavity which can be formed by standard lithography. We observe polariton condensation with non-resonant pumping in single traps and photonic crystal square lattice arrays. In the latter structures, we observe pronounced energy bands, complete band gaps, and spontaneous condensation at the M-point of the Brillouin zone.
We report on a quasi-planar quantum-dot-based single-photon source that shows an unprecedented high extraction efficiency of 42% without complex photonic resonator geometries or post-growth nanofabrication. This very high efficiency originates from the coupling of the photons emitted by a quantum dot to a Gaussian shaped nanohill defect that naturally arises during epitaxial growth in a self-aligned manner. We investigate the morphology of these defects and characterize the photonic operation mechanism. Our results show that these naturally arising coupled quantum dot-defects provide a new avenue for efficient (up to 42% demonstrated) and pure (g(2)(0) value of 0.023) single-photon emission.
Eczema often precedes the development of asthma in a disease course called the 'atopic march'. To unravel the genes underlying this characteristic pattern of allergic disease, we conduct a multi-stage genome-wide association study on infantile eczema followed by childhood asthma in 12 populations including 2,428 cases and 17,034 controls. Here we report two novel loci specific for the combined eczema plus asthma phenotype, which are associated with allergic disease for the first time; rs9357733 located in EFHC1 on chromosome 6p12.3 (OR 1.27; P = 2.1 x 10(-8)) and rs993226 between TMTC2 and SLC6A15 on chromosome 12q21.3 (OR 1.58; P = 5.3 x 10(-9)). Additional susceptibility loci identified at genome-wide significance are FLG (1q21.3), IL4/KIF3A (5q31.1), AP5B1/OVOL1 (11q13.1), C11orf30/LRRC32 (11q13.5) and IKZF3 (17q21). We show that predominantly eczema loci increase the risk for the atopic march. Our findings suggest that eczema may play an important role in the development of asthma after eczema.
Practical quantum communication between remote quantum memories rely on single photons at telecom wavelengths. Although spin-photon entanglement has been demonstrated in atomic and solid-state qubit systems, the produced single photons at short wavelengths and with polarization encoding are not suitable for long-distance communication, because they suffer from high propagation loss and depolarization in optical fibres. Establishing entanglement between remote quantum nodes would further require the photons generated from separate nodes to be indistinguishable. Here, we report the observation of correlations between a quantum-dot spin and a telecom single photon across a 2-km fibre channel based on time-bin encoding and background-free frequency downconversion. The downconverted photon at telecom wavelengths exhibits two-photon interference with another photon from an independent source, achieving a mean wavepacket overlap of greater than 0.89 despite their original wavelength mismatch (900 and 911 nm). The quantum-networking operations that we demonstrate will enable practical communication between solid-state spin qubits across long distances.
Measles Virus Glycoprotein-Based Lentiviral Targeting Vectors That Avoid Neutralizing Antibodies
(2012)
Lentiviral vectors (LVs) are potent gene transfer vehicles frequently applied in research and recently also in clinical trials. Retargeting LV entry to cell types of interest is a key issue to improve gene transfer safety and efficacy. Recently, we have developed a targeting method for LVs by incorporating engineered measles virus (MV) glycoproteins, the hemagglutinin (H), responsible for receptor recognition, and the fusion protein into their envelope. The H protein displays a single-chain antibody (scFv) specific for the target receptor and is ablated for recognition of the MV receptors CD46 and SLAM by point mutations in its ectodomain. A potential hindrance to systemic administration in humans is pre-existing MV-specific immunity due to vaccination or natural infection. We compared transduction of targeting vectors and non-targeting vectors pseudotyped with MV glycoproteins unmodified in their ectodomains (MV-LV) in presence of \(\alpha\)-MV antibody-positive human plasma. At plasma dilution 1: 160 MV-LV was almost completely neutralized, whereas targeting vectors showed relative transduction efficiencies from 60% to 90%. Furthermore, at plasma dilution 1: 80 an at least 4-times higher multiplicity of infection (MOI) of MV-LV had to be applied to obtain similar transduction efficiencies as with targeting vectors. Also when the vectors were normalized to their p24 values, targeting vectors showed partial protection against \(\alpha\)-MV antibodies in human plasma. Furthermore, the monoclonal neutralizing antibody K71 with a putative epitope close to the receptor binding sites of H, did not neutralize the targeting vectors, but did neutralize MV-LV. The observed escape from neutralization may be due to the point mutations in the H ectodomain that might have destroyed antibody binding sites. Furthermore, scFv mediated cell entry via the target receptor may proceed in presence of a-MV antibodies interfering with entry via the natural MV receptors. These results are promising for in vivo applications of targeting vectors in humans.
Highly efficient single-photon sources (SPS) can increase the secure key rate of quantum key distribution (QKD) systems compared to conventional attenuated laser systems. Here we report on a free space QKD test using an electrically driven quantum dot single-photon source (QD SPS) that does not require a separate laser setup for optical pumping and thus allows for a simple and compact SPS QKD system. We describe its implementation in our 500 m free space QKD system in downtown Munich. Emulating a BB84 protocol operating at a repetition rate of 125 MHz, we could achieve sifted key rates of 5-17 kHz with error ratios of 6-9% and g((2))(0)-values of 0.39-0.76.
Mutual coupling and injection locking of semiconductor lasers is of great interest in non-linear dynamics and its applications for instance in secure data communication and photonic reservoir computing. Despite its importance, it has hardly been studied in microlasers operating at mu W light levels. In this context, vertically emitting quantum dot micropillar lasers are of high interest. Usually, their light emission is bimodal, and the gain competition of the associated linearly polarized fundamental emission modes results in complex switching dynamics. We report on selective optical injection into either one of the two fundamental mode components of a bimodal micropillar laser. Both modes can lock to the master laser and influence the non-injected mode by reducing the available gain. We demonstrate that the switching dynamics can be tailored externally via optical injection in very good agreement with our theory based on semi-classical rate equations. (C) 2019 Optical Society of America under the terms of the OSA Open Access Publishing Agreement
Skala für Arbeitssucht
(2001)
Es wurde in dieser Studie das Merkmal Arbeitssucht mittels eines 174 Items umfassenden Fragebogens an 263 zufällig aus der Normalbevölkerung ausgewählten Probanden untersucht. Die Ergebnisse der Untersuchung wurden einer Faktorenanalyse unterzogen, die zeigte, daß das Merkmal Arbeitssucht Eindimensionalität besitzt, da nur ein inhaltlich homogener Faktor extrahiert werden konnte: Arbeitssucht als hohe Arbeitseinbezogenheit, die alle anderen Lebensbereiche dominiert, einhergehend mit Kontrollverlust über die Arbeitsmenge. Im nächsten Schritt wurde aus den erhobenen Daten mit Hilfe einer Itemanalyse eine Skala entwickelt, wofür die Items nach einem noch härteren Kriterium –nämlich der Trennschärfe- selektiert wurden. Die Skala bestand nun aus den 20 Items, welche die höchste Trennschärfe besaßen. Dabei zeigte die hohe Korrelation der Faktorwerte mit den Skalenwerten, daß der Genauigkeitsverlust durch die Itemreduktion sehr gering war. Um nun auch die allgemeine Anwendbarkeit dieser Skala nachzuweisen, wurde eine Reliabilitätsprüfung angeschlossen, die zum einen die Unabhängigkeit der Skala von formalen Kriterien und darüberhinaus von Alter und Geschlecht der Testpersonen nachwies, da zwischen den verschiedenen Kollektiven keine signifikanten Unterschiede in der Beantwortung der Aussagen gefunden werden konnten. Zum anderen konnte die hohe Zuverlässigkeit der Skala mittels Bestimmung des Reliabilitätskoeffizienten Cronbach´s Alpha, der Split-half-Reliabilität und der Retest-Reliabilität als härtestem Kriterium gezeigt werden. Somit war eine sehr zuverlässige Skala entstanden, die die Grundlage für einen Kurzfragebogen zur differenzierten Erfassung von Arbeitssucht bildete. Dieser kann zusammen mit anderen Inventaren zu Neurotizismus, Günstige/ Ungünstige Primärsozialisation und Zielgerichtetheit zur biographischen Typologisierungen für Personenbefragungen in der Allgemeinbevölkerung oder bei anderen Fragestellungen auch allein zur Quantifizierung von Arbeitssucht herangezogen werden.
Aims
Various studies have reported that young European women are more likely to develop early‐onset periodontitis compared to men. A potential explanation for the observed variations in sex and age of disease onset is the natural genetic variation within the autosomal genomes. We hypothesized that genotype‐by‐sex (G × S) interactions contribute to the increased prevalence and severity.
Materials and methods
Using the case‐only design, we tested for differences in genetic effects between men and women in 896 North‐West European early‐onset cases, using imputed genotypes from the OmniExpress genotyping array. Population‐representative 6823 controls were used to verify that the interacting variables G and S were uncorrelated in the general population.
Results
In total, 20 loci indicated G × S associations (P < 0.0005), 3 of which were previously suggested as risk genes for periodontitis (ABLIM2, CDH13, and NELL1). We also found independent G × S interactions of the related gene paralogs MACROD1/FLRT1 (chr11) and MACROD2/FLRT3 (chr20). G × S‐associated SNPs at CPEB4, CDH13, MACROD1, and MECOM were genome‐wide‐associated with heel bone mineral density (CPEB4, MECOM), waist‐to‐hip ratio (CPEB4, MACROD1), and blood pressure (CPEB4, CDH13).
Conclusions
Our results indicate that natural genetic variation affects the different heritability of periodontitis among sexes and suggest genes that contribute to inter‐sex phenotypic variation in early‐onset periodontitis.
While impulsivity is a basic feature of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), no study explored the effect of different components of the Impulsiveness (Imp) and Venturesomeness (Vent) scale (IV7) on psychiatric comorbidities and an ADHD polygenic risk score (PRS). We used the IV7 self-report scale in an adult ADHD sample of 903 patients, 70% suffering from additional comorbid disorders, and in a subsample of 435 genotyped patients. Venturesomeness, unlike immediate Impulsivity, is not specific to ADHD. We consequently analyzed the influence of Imp and Vent also in the context of a PRS on psychiatric comorbidities of ADHD. Vent shows a distinctly different distribution of comorbidities, e.g., less anxiety and depression. PRS showed no effect on different ADHD comorbidities, but correlated with childhood hyperactivity. In a complementary analysis using principal component analysis with Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition ADHD criteria, revised NEO Personality Inventory, Imp, Vent, and PRS, we identified three ADHD subtypes. These are an impulsive–neurotic type, an adventurous–hyperactive type with a stronger genetic component, and an anxious–inattentive type. Our study thus suggests the importance of adventurousness and the differential consideration of impulsivity in ADHD. The genetic risk is distributed differently between these subtypes, which underlines the importance of clinically motivated subtyping. Impulsivity subtyping might give insights into the organization of comorbid disorders in ADHD and different genetic background.
Major depressive disorder and the anxiety disorders are highly prevalent, disabling and moderately heritable. Depression and anxiety are also highly comorbid and have a strong genetic correlation (r(g) approximate to 1). Cognitive behavioural therapy is a leading evidence-based treatment but has variable outcomes. Currently, there are no strong predictors of outcome. Therapygenetics research aims to identify genetic predictors of prognosis following therapy. We performed genome-wide association meta-analyses of symptoms following cognitive behavioural therapy in adults with anxiety disorders (n = 972), adults with major depressive disorder (n = 832) and children with anxiety disorders (n = 920; meta-analysis n = 2724). We (h(SNP)(2)) and polygenic scoring was used to examine genetic associations between therapy outcomes and psychopathology, personality and estimated the variance in therapy outcomes that could be explained by common genetic variants learning. No single nucleotide polymorphisms were strongly associated with treatment outcomes. No significant estimate of h(SNP)(2) could be obtained, suggesting the heritability of therapy outcome is smaller than our analysis was powered to detect. Polygenic scoring failed to detect genetic overlap between therapy outcome and psychopathology, personality or learning. This study is the largest therapygenetics study to date. Results are consistent with previous, similarly powered genome-wide association studies of complex traits.
Excitons in atomically thin transition-metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) have been established as an attractive platform to explore polaritonic physics, owing to their enormous binding energies and giant oscillator strength. Basic spectral features of exciton polaritons in TMD microcavities, thus far, were conventionally explained via two-coupled-oscillator models. This ignores, however, the impact of phonons on the polariton energy structure. Here we establish and quantify the threefold coupling between excitons, cavity photons, and phonons. For this purpose, we employ energy-momentum-resolved photoluminescence and spatially resolved coherent two-dimensional spectroscopy to investigate the spectral properties of a high-quality-factor microcavity with an embedded WSe\(_2\) van-der-Waals heterostructure at room temperature. Our approach reveals a rich multi-branch structure which thus far has not been captured in previous experiments. Simulation of the data reveals hybridized exciton-photon-phonon states, providing new physical insight into the exciton polariton system based on layered TMDs.
Aggressiveness is a behavioral trait that has the potential to be harmful to individuals and society. With an estimated heritability of about 40%, genetics is important in its development. We performed an exploratory genome-wide association (GWA) analysis of childhood aggressiveness in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) to gain insight into the underlying biological processes associated with this trait. Our primary sample consisted of 1,060 adult ADHD patients (aADHD). To further explore the genetic architecture of childhood aggressiveness, we performed enrichment analyses of suggestive genome-wide associations observed in aADHD among GWA signals of dimensions of oppositionality (defiant/vindictive and irritable dimensions) in childhood ADHD (cADHD). No single polymorphism reached genome-wide significance (P<5.00E-08). The strongest signal in aADHD was observed at rs10826548, within a long noncoding RNA gene (beta = -1.66, standard error (SE) = 0.34, P = 1.07E-06), closely followed by rs35974940 in the neurotrimin gene (beta = 3.23, SE = 0.67, P = 1.26E-06). The top GWA SNPs observed in aADHD showed significant enrichment of signals from both the defiant/vindictive dimension (Fisher's P-value = 2.28E-06) and the irritable dimension in cADHD (Fisher's P-value = 0.0061). In sum, our results identify a number of biologically interesting markers possibly underlying childhood aggressiveness and provide targets for further genetic exploration of aggressiveness across psychiatric disorders.
Efficient and fast on-demand single photon sources have been sought after as critical components of quantum information science. We report an efficient and tunable single photon source based on an InAs quantum dot (QD) embedded in a photonic crystal cavity coupled with a highly curved \(\mu\)-fibre. Exploiting evanescent coupling between the \(\mu\)-fibre and the cavity, a high collection efficiency of 23% and Purcell-enhanced spontaneous emissions are observed. In our scheme, the spectral position of a resonance can be tuned by as much as 1.5 nm by adjusting the contact position of the \(\mu\)-fibre, which increases the spectral coupling probability between the QD and the cavity mode. Taking advantage of the high photon count rate and the tunability, the collection efficiencies and the decay rates are systematically investigated as a function of the QD-cavity detuning.
Strong light matter coupling between excitons and microcavity photons, as described in the framework of cavity quantum electrodynamics, leads to the hybridization of light and matter excitations. The regime of collective strong coupling arises, when various excitations from different host media are strongly coupled to the same optical resonance. This leads to a well-controllable admixture of various matter components in three hybrid polariton modes. Here, we study a cavity device with four embedded GaAs quantum wells hosting excitons that are spectrally matched to the A-valley exciton resonance of a MoSe\(_{2}\) monolayer. The formation of hybrid polariton modes is evidenced in momentum resolved photoluminescence and reflectivity studies. We describe the energy and k-vector distribution of exciton-polaritons along the hybrid modes by a thermodynamic model, which yields a very good agreement with the experiment.
A fine balance of regulatory (T\(_{reg}\)) and conventional CD4\(^+\) T cells (T\(_{conv}\)) is required to prevent harmful immune responses, while at the same time ensuring the development of protective immunity against pathogens. As for many cellular processes, sphingolipid metabolism also crucially modulates the T\(_{reg}\)/T\(_{conv}\) balance. However, our understanding of how sphingolipid metabolism is involved in T cell biology is still evolving and a better characterization of the tools at hand is required to advance the field. Therefore, we established a reductionist liposomal membrane model system to imitate the plasma membrane of mouse T\(_{reg}\) and T\(_{conv}\) with regards to their ceramide content. We found that the capacity of membranes to incorporate externally added azide-functionalized ceramide positively correlated with the ceramide content of the liposomes. Moreover, we studied the impact of the different liposomal preparations on primary mouse splenocytes in vitro. The addition of liposomes to resting, but not activated, splenocytes maintained viability with liposomes containing high amounts of C\(_{16}\)-ceramide being most efficient. Our data thus suggest that differences in ceramide post-incorporation into T\(_{reg}\) and T\(_{conv}\) reflect differences in the ceramide content of cellular membranes.
Hintergrund
Im Rahmen der Pandemie des SARS-CoV-2-Virus erlangte das Patientenkollektiv der Schwangeren früh Aufmerksamkeit. Initial wurde angesichts sich früh abzeichnender Krankheitsfälle bei jüngeren Patienten mit einem erheblichen Aufkommen peripartal zu betreuender, COVID-19-positiver Schwangerer gerechnet.
Ziel der Arbeit
Diese Arbeit vermittelt einen Einblick in die SARS-CoV-2-Infektionszahlen im Rahmen der geburtshilflichen Anästhesie zu Beginn der Pandemie sowie während der zweiten Infektionswelle in Deutschland.
Methoden
Über das COALA-Register (COVID-19 related Obstetric Anaesthesia Longitudinal Assessment-Registry) wurden sowohl von März bis Mai 2020 als auch von Oktober 2020 bis Februar 2021 in Deutschland und der Schweiz wöchentlich prospektiv Daten zu Verdachts- und bestätigten SARS-CoV-2-Fällen bei Schwangeren zum Zeitpunkt der Geburt erhoben. Betrachtet wurden die Verteilung dieser auf die Anzahl der Geburten, Zentren und Erhebungswochen sowie mütterliche Charakteristika und Krankheitsverläufe.
Ergebnisse
Neun Zentren haben im Verlauf 44 SARS-CoV-2-positive Schwangere zum Zeitpunkt der Geburt bei 7167 Geburten (0,6 %) gemeldet (3 Fälle auf 2270 Geburten (0,4 %) und 41 Fälle auf 4897 Geburten (0,8 %)). Berichtet wurden 2 schwere COVID-19-Verläufe (n = 1 mit Todesfolge nach ECMO, n = 1 mit ECMO überlebt). Bei 28 (68 %) Patientinnen verlief die Infektion asymptomatisch. Ein Neugeborenes wurde im Verlauf positiv auf SARS-CoV‑2 getestet.
Schlussfolgerung
Mithilfe des Registers konnte das Auftreten von Fällen zu Beginn der Pandemie zeitnah eingeschätzt werden. Es traten sporadisch Verdachtsfälle bzw. bestätigte Fälle auf. Aufgrund fehlender flächendeckender Testung muss aber von einer Dunkelziffer asymptomatischer Fälle ausgegangen werden. Während der zweiten Infektionswelle wurden 68 % asymptomatische Fälle gemeldet. Jedoch kann es bei jungen, gesunden Patientinnen ohne das Vorliegen typischer Risikofaktoren zu schwerwiegenden Verläufen kommen.
Giant photon bunching, superradiant pulse emission and excitation trapping in quantum-dot nanolasers
(2016)
Light is often characterized only by its classical properties, like intensity or coherence. When looking at its quantum properties, described by photon correlations, new information about the state of the matter generating the radiation can be revealed. In particular the difference between independent and entangled emitters, which is at the heart of quantum mechanics, can be made visible in the photon statistics of the emitted light. The well-studied phenomenon of superradiance occurs when quantum–mechanical correlations between the emitters are present. Notwithstanding, superradiance was previously demonstrated only in terms of classical light properties. Here, we provide the missing link between quantum correlations of the active material and photon correlations in the emitted radiation. We use the superradiance of quantum dots in a cavity-quantum electrodynamics laser to show a direct connection between superradiant pulse emission and distinctive changes in the photon correlation function. This directly demonstrates the importance of quantum–mechanical correlations and their transfer between carriers and photons in novel optoelectronic devices.
Background
The efficacy of parent-child training (PCT) regarding child symptoms may be reduced if the mother has attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The AIMAC study (ADHD in Mothers and Children) aimed to compensate for the deteriorating effect of parental psychopathology by treating the mother (Step 1) before the beginning of PCT (Step 2). This secondary analysis was particularly concerned with the additional effect of the Step 2 PCT on child symptoms after the Step 1 treatment.
Methods
The analysis included 143 mothers and children (aged 6–12 years) both diagnosed with ADHD. The study design was a two-stage, two-arm parallel group trial (Step 1 treatment group [TG]: intensive treatment of the mother including psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy; Step 1 control group [CG]: supportive counseling only for mother; Step 2 TG and CG: PCT). Single- and multi-group analyses with piecewise linear latent growth curve models were applied to test for the effects of group and phase. Child symptoms (e.g., ADHD symptoms, disruptive behavior) were rated by three informants (blinded clinician, mother, teacher).
Results
Children in the TG showed a stronger improvement of their disruptive behavior as rated by mothers than those in the CG during Step 1 (Step 1: TG vs. CG). In the CG, according to reports of the blinded clinician and the mother, the reduction of children’s disruptive behavior was stronger during Step 2 than during Step 1 (CG: Step 1 vs. Step 2). In the TG, improvement of child outcome did not differ across treatment steps (TG: Step 1 vs. Step 2).
Conclusions
Intensive treatment of the mother including pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy may have small positive effects on the child’s disruptive behavior. PCT may be a valid treatment option for children with ADHD regarding disruptive behavior, even if mothers are not intensively treated beforehand.
Trial registration
ISRCTN registry ISRCTN73911400. Registered 29 March 2007.
Monolayers of transition metal dichalcogenide materials emerged as a new material class to study excitonic effects in solid state, as they benefit from enormous Coulomb correlations between electrons and holes. Especially in WSe\(_{2}\), sharp emission features have been observed at cryogenic temperatures, which act as single photon sources. Tight exciton localization has been assumed to induce an anharmonic excitation spectrum; however, the evidence of the hypothesis, namely the demonstration of a localized biexciton, is elusive. Here we unambiguously demonstrate the existence of a localized biexciton in a monolayer of WSe\(_{2}\), which triggers an emission cascade of single photons. The biexciton is identified by its time-resolved photoluminescence, superlinearity and distinct polarization in micro-photoluminescence experiments. We evidence the cascaded nature of the emission process in a cross-correlation experiment, which yields a strong bunching behaviour. Our work paves the way to a new generation of quantum optics experiments with two-dimensional semiconductors.
Background
Over the past two decades, there has been a rising trend in malignant melanoma incidence worldwide. In 2008, Germany introduced a nationwide skin cancer screening program starting at age 35. The aims of this study were to analyse the distribution of malignant melanoma tumour stages over time, as well as demographic and regional differences in stage distribution and survival of melanoma patients.
Methods
Pooled data from 61 895 malignant melanoma patients diagnosed between 2002 and 2011 and documented in 28 German population-based and hospital-based clinical cancer registries were analysed using descriptive methods, joinpoint regression, logistic regression and relative survival.
Results
The number of annually documented cases increased by 53.2% between 2002 (N = 4 779) and 2011 (N = 7 320). There was a statistically significant continuous positive trend in the proportion of stage UICC I cases diagnosed between 2002 and 2011, compared to a negative trend for stage UICC II. No trends were found for stages UICC III and IV respectively. Age (OR 0.97, 95% CI 0.97–0.97), sex (OR 1.18, 95% CI 1.11–1.25), date of diagnosis (OR 1.05, 95% CI 1.04–1.06), ‘diagnosis during screening’ (OR 3.24, 95% CI 2.50–4.19) and place of residence (OR 1.23, 95% CI 1.16–1.30) had a statistically significant influence on the tumour stage at diagnosis. The overall 5-year relative survival for invasive cases was 83.4% (95% CI 82.8–83.9%).
Conclusions
No distinct changes in the distribution of malignant melanoma tumour stages among those aged 35 and older were seen that could be directly attributed to the introduction of skin cancer screening in 2008.
"
The incidence of melanoma and nonmelanoma skin cancer has increased tremendously in recent years. Although novel treatment options have significantly improved patient outcomes, the prognosis for most patients with an advanced disease remains dismal. It is, thus, imperative to understand the molecular mechanisms involved in skin carcinogenesis in order to develop new targeted treatment strategies. Receptor tyrosine kinases (RTK) like the ERBB receptor family, including EGFR/ERBB1, ERBB2/NEU, ERBB3, and ERBB4, are important regulators of skin homeostasis and their dysregulation often results in cancer, which makes them attractive therapeutic targets. Members of the leucine‐rich repeats and immunoglobulin‐like domains protein family (LRIG1‐3) are ERBB regulators and thus potential therapeutic targets to manipulate ERBB receptors. Here, we analyzed the function of LRIG1 during chemically induced skin carcinogenesis in transgenic mice expressing LRIG1 in the skin under the control of the keratin 5 promoter (LRIG1‐TG mice). We observed a significant induction of melanocytic tumor formation in LRIG1‐TG mice and no difference in papilloma incidence between LRIG1‐TG and control mice. Our findings also revealed that LRIG1 affects ERBB signaling via decreased phosphorylation of EGFR and increased activation of the oncoprotein ERBB2 during skin carcinogenesis. The epidermal proliferation rate was significantly decreased during epidermal tumorigenesis under LRIG1 overexpression, and the apoptosis marker cleaved caspase 3 was significantly activated in the epidermis of transgenic LRIG1 mice. Additionally, we detected LRIG1 expression in human cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma samples. Therefore, we depleted LRIG1 in human melanoma cells (A375) by CRISPR/Cas9 technology and found that this caused EGFR and ERBB3 downregulation in A375 LRIG1 knockout cells 6 h following stimulation with EGF. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that LRIG1‐TG mice develop melanocytic skin tumors during chemical skin carcinogenesis and a deletion of LRIG1 in human melanoma cells reduces EGFR and ERBB3 expression after EGF stimulation.
Objectives
To investigate plaque inhibition of 0.1% octenidine mouthwash (OCT) vs. placebo over 5 days in the absence of mechanical plaque control.
Materials and methods
For this randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, parallel group, multi-center phase 3 study, 201 healthy adults were recruited. After baseline recording of plaque index (PI) and gingival index (GI), collection of salivary samples, and dental prophylaxis, subjects were randomly assigned to OCT or placebo mouthwash in a 3:1 ratio. Rinsing was performed twice daily for 30 s. Colony forming units in saliva were determined before and after the first rinse. At day 5, PI, GI, and tooth discoloration index (DI) were assessed. Non-parametric van Elteren tests were applied with a significance level of p < 0.05.
Results
Treatment with OCT inhibited plaque formation more than treatment with placebo (PI: 0.36 vs. 1.29; p < 0.0001). OCT reduced GI (0.04 vs. placebo 0.00; p = 0.003) and salivary bacterial counts (2.73 vs. placebo 0.24 lgCFU/ml; p < 0.0001). Tooth discoloration was slightly higher under OCT (DI: 0.25 vs. placebo 0.00; p = 0.0011). Mild tongue staining and dysgeusia occurred.
Conclusions
OCT 0.1% mouthwash inhibits plaque formation over 5 days. It therefore can be recommended when regular oral hygiene is temporarily compromised.
Clinical relevance
When individual plaque control is compromised, rinsing with octenidine mouthwash is recommended to maintain healthy oral conditions while side effects are limited.
Context
Primary aldosteronism (PA) is the most frequent form of endocrine hypertension. Besides its deleterious impact on cardiovascular target organ damage, PA is considered to cause osteoporosis.
Patients and methods
We assessed bone turnover in a subset of 36 postmenopausal women with PA. 18 patients had unilateral PA and were treated by adrenalectomy, whereas 18 patients had bilateral PA and received mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist (MRA) therapy respectively. 18 age- and BMI-matched females served as controls. To estimate bone remodeling, we measured the bone turnover markers intact procollagen 1 N-terminal propeptide, bone alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin and tartrate resistant acid phosphatase 5b in plasma by chemiluminescent immunoassays at time of diagnosis and one year after initiation of treatment.
Study design
Observational longitudinal cohort study.
Setting
Tertiary care hospital.
Results
Compared with controls, patients with PA had mildly elevated osteocalcin at baseline (p = 0.013), while the other bone markers were comparable between both groups. There were no differences between the unilateral and the bilateral PA subgroup. One year after initiation of MRA treatment with spironolactone bone resorption and bone formation markers had significantly decreased in patients with bilateral PA. In contrast, patients adrenalectomized because of unilateral PA showed no significant change of bone turnover markers.
Conclusion
This study shows that aldosterone excess in postmenopausal women with PA is not associated with a relevant increase of bone turnover markers at baseline. However, we observed a significant decrease of bone markers in patients treated with spironolactone, but not in patients treated by adrenalectomy.
Background
To identify injury patterns and mechanisms in professional men’s basketball by means of video match analysis.
Methods
In Germany, injuries are registered with the statutory accident insurance for professional athletes (VBG) by clubs or club physicians as part of occupational accident reporting. Moderate and severe injuries (absence of > 7 days) sustained during basketball competition in one of four seasons (2014–2017 and 2018–2019) in the first or second national men’s league in Germany were prospectively analyzed using a newly developed standardized observation form. Season 2017–2018 was excluded because of missing video material.
Results
Video analysis included 175 (53%) of 329 moderate and severe match injuries. Contact patterns categorized according to the different body sites yielded eight groups of typical injury patterns: one each for the head, shoulders, and ankles, two for the thighs, and three for the knees. Injuries to the head (92%), ankles (76%), shoulders (70%), knees (47%), and thighs (32%) were mainly caused by direct contact. The injury proportion of foul play was 19%. Most injuries (61%) occurred in the central zone below the basket. More injuries occurred during the second (OR 1.8, p = 0.018) and fourth quarter (OR 1.8, p = 0.022) than during the first and third quarter of the match.
Conclusion
The eight identified injury patterns differed substantially in their mechanisms. Moderate and severe match injuries to the head, shoulders, knees, and ankles were mainly caused by collision with opponents and teammates. Thus, stricter rule enforcement is unlikely to facilitate safer match play.
We investigate the mode-switching dynamics of an electrically driven bimodal quantum-dot micropillar laser when subject to delayed coherent optical feedback from a short external cavity. We experimentally characterize how the external cavity length, being on the same order than the microlaser’s coherence length, influences the spectral and dynamical properties of the micropillar laser. Moreover, we determine the relaxation oscillation frequency of the micropillar by superimposing optical pulse injection to a dc current. It is found that the optical pulse can be used to disturb the feedback-coupled laser within one roundtrip time in such a way that it reaches the same output power as if no feedback was present. Our results do not only expand the understanding of microlasers when subject to optical feedback from short external cavities, but pave the way towards tailoring the properties of this key nanophotonic system for studies in the quantum regime of self-feedback and its implementation to integrated photonic circuits.
Objective: In two independent study arms, we determine the effects of strength training (ST) and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) overload on cardiac autonomic modulation by measuring heart rate (HR) and vagal heart rate variability (HRV).
Methods: In the study, 37 well-trained athletes (ST: 7 female, 12 male; HIIT: 9 female, 9 male) were subjected to orthostatic tests (HR and HRV recordings) each day during a 4-day baseline period, a 6-day overload microcycle, and a 4-day recovery period. Discipline-specific performance was assessed before and 1 and 4 days after training.
Results: Following ST overload, supine HR, and vagal HRV (Ln RMSSD) were clearly increased and decreased (small effects), respectively, and the standing recordings remained unchanged. In contrast, HIIT overload resulted in decreased HR and increased Ln RMSSD in the standing position (small effects), whereas supine recordings remained unaltered. During the recovery period, these responses were reversed (ST: small effects, HIIT: trivial to small effects). The correlations between changes in HR, vagal HRV measures, and performance were weak or inconsistent. At the group and individual levels, moderate to strong negative correlations were found between HR and Ln RMSSD when analyzing changes between testing days (ST: supine and standing position, HIIT: standing position) and individual time series, respectively. Use of rolling 2–4-day averages enabled more precise estimation of mean changes with smaller confidence intervals compared to single-day values of HR or Ln RMSSD. However, the use of averaged values displayed unclear effects for evaluating associations between HR, vagal HRV measures, and performance changes, and have the potential to be detrimental for classification of individual short-term responses.
Conclusion: Measures of HR and Ln RMSSD during an orthostatic test could reveal different autonomic responses following ST or HIIT which may not be discovered by supine or standing measures alone. However, these autonomic changes were not consistently related to short-term changes in performance and the use of rolling averages may alter these relationships differently on group and individual level.
Synchronization of coupled oscillators at the transition between classical physics and quantum physics has become an emerging research topic at the crossroads of nonlinear dynamics and nanophotonics. We study this unexplored field by using quantum dot microlasers as optical oscillators. Operating in the regime of cavity quantum electrodynamics (cQED) with an intracavity photon number on the order of 10 and output powers in the 100 nW range, these devices have high β-factors associated with enhanced spontaneous emission noise. We identify synchronization of mutually coupled microlasers via frequency locking associated with a sub-gigahertz locking range. A theoretical analysis of the coupling behavior reveals striking differences from optical synchronization in the classical domain with negligible spontaneous emission noise. Beyond that, additional self-feedback leads to zero-lag synchronization of coupled microlasers at ultra-low light levels. Our work has high potential to pave the way for future experiments in the quantum regime of synchronization.
Evidence for a shared genetic basis of association between coronary artery disease (CAD) and periodontitis (PD) exists. To explore the joint genetic basis, we performed a GWAS meta-analysis. In the discovery stage, we used a German aggressive periodontitis sample (AgP-Ger; 680 cases vs 3,973 controls) and the CARDIoGRAMplusC4D CAD meta-analysis dataset (60,801 cases vs 123,504 controls). Two SNPs at the known CAD risk loci ADAMTS7 (rs11634042) and VAMP8 (rs1561198) passed the pre-assigned selection criteria (PAgP-Ger < 0.05; PCAD < 5 × 10−8; concordant effect direction) and were replicated in an independent GWAS meta-analysis dataset of PD (4,415 cases vs 5,935 controls). SNP rs1561198 showed significant association (PD[Replication]: P = 0.008 OR = 1.09, 95% CI = [1.02–1.16]; PD [Discovery + Replication]: P = 0.0002, OR = 1.11, 95% CI = [1.05–1.17]). For the associated haplotype block, allele specific cis-effects on VAMP8 expression were reported. Our data adds to the shared genetic basis of CAD and PD and indicate that the observed association of the two disease conditions cannot be solely explained by shared environmental risk factors. We conclude that the molecular pathway shared by CAD and PD involves VAMP8 function, which has a role in membrane vesicular trafficking, and is manipulated by pathogens to corrupt host immune defense.
The optical properties of transition metal dichalcogenide monolayers are widely dominated by excitons, Coulomb-bound electron–hole pairs. These quasi-particles exhibit giant oscillator strength and give rise to narrow-band, well-pronounced optical transitions, which can be brought into resonance with electromagnetic fields in microcavities and plasmonic nanostructures. Due to the atomic thinness and robustness of the monolayers, their integration in van der Waals heterostructures provides unique opportunities for engineering strong light-matter coupling. We review first results in this emerging field and outline future opportunities and challenges.
Two-level emitters are the main building blocks of photonic quantum technologies and are model systems for the exploration of quantum optics in the solid state. Most interesting is the strict resonant excitation of such emitters to control their occupation coherently and to generate close to ideal quantum light, which is of utmost importance for applications in photonic quantum technology. To date, the approaches and experiments in this field have been performed exclusively using bulky lasers, which hinders the application of resonantly driven two-level emitters in compact photonic quantum systems. Here we address this issue and present a concept for a compact resonantly driven single-photon source by performing quantum-optical spectroscopy of a two-level system using a compact high-β microlaser as the excitation source. The two-level system is based on a semiconductor quantum dot (QD), which is excited resonantly by a fiber-coupled electrically driven micropillar laser. We dress the excitonic state of the QD under continuous wave excitation, and trigger the emission of single photons with strong multi-photon suppression (g\(^{(2)}\)(0)=0.02) and high photon indistinguishability (V = 57±9%) via pulsed resonant excitation at 156 MHz. These results clearly demonstrate the high potential of our resonant excitation scheme, which can pave the way for compact electrically driven quantum light sources with excellent quantum properties to enable the implementation of advanced quantum communication protocols.
Bosonic condensation belongs to the most intriguing phenomena in physics, and was mostly reserved for experiments with ultra-cold quantum gases. More recently, it became accessible in exciton-based solid-state systems at elevated temperatures. Here, we demonstrate bosonic condensation driven by excitons hosted in an atomically thin layer of MoSe2, strongly coupled to light in a solid-state resonator. The structure is operated in the regime of collective strong coupling between a Tamm-plasmon resonance, GaAs quantum well excitons, and two-dimensional excitons confined in the monolayer crystal. Polariton condensation in a monolayer crystal manifests by a superlinear increase of emission intensity from the hybrid polariton mode, its density-dependent blueshift, and a dramatic collapse of the emission linewidth, a hallmark of temporal coherence. Importantly, we observe a significant spin-polarization in the injected polariton condensate, a fingerprint for spin-valley locking in monolayer excitons. Our results pave the way towards highly nonlinear, coherent valleytronic devices and light sources.
We theoretically and experimentally investigate quantum features of an interacting light-matter system from a multidisciplinary perspective, combining approaches from semiconductor physics, quantum optics, and quantum-information science. To this end, we quantify the amount of quantum coherence that results from the quantum superposition of Fock states, constituting a measure of the resourcefulness of the produced state for modern quantum protocols. This notion of quantum coherence from quantum-information theory is distinct from other quantifiers of nonclassicality that have previously been applied to condensed-matter systems. As an archetypal example of a hybrid light-matter interface, we study a polariton condensate and implement a numerical model to predict its properties. Our simulation is confirmed by our proof-of-concept experiment in which we measure and analyze the phase-space distributions of the emitted light. Specifically, we drive a polariton microcavity across the condensation threshold and observe the transition from an incoherent thermal state to a coherent state in the emission, thus confirming the buildup of quantum coherence in the condensate itself.