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Two optically controlled phase shifters are proposed. The first structure is based on the microstrip ring resonator inserted between two gaps. Phase-shifting is performed by optically controlling the gaps capacitance. The structure has shown excellent characteristics, however the rejection rate is high. To minimise the reflected power, the second phase shifter, which is based on the rat race coupler, is proposed. In this case, the phase-shifting is performed by adding extra lengths to two gaps, judiciously placed along the microwave ports. The gaps act as short-circuits under sufficient illumination conditions. At 10 GHz, the structure provides a continuous variation of Δφ(S^sub 21^) between 0 and 90°, with Δ|S^sub 21^| less than 5 dB. On a 500 MHz band around 10 GHz, the phase variation is less than 5%. |S^sub 11^| keeps < -20 dB within the experimental bandwidth 8.9-10.7 GHz. Both structures were fabricated on high-resistivity silicon substrate and the experimental results confirm the three-dimensional electromagnetic simulations.

We present a rare late-onset (after 24 years) complication of gastric surgery with a combination of afferent loop syndrome associated with a large duodenal stone. The patient, who had undergone Billroth II partial gastrectomy for benign ulcer 24 years before, developed abdominal pain in the right upper quadrant, associated with nausea, vomiting, and high grade fever. Abnormal laboratory values included elevated liver function test, suggesting a pressure-related phenomenon. Leukocytosis and a high level of platelets were also found. Only computed tomography and endoscopy of the upper gastrointestinal tract confirmed the diagnosis of a huge stone in the dilated duodenal afferent loop. To our knowledge, a case like this has not been reported previously in the literature.

The ‘MHC-I (major histocompatibility complex class I)-opathy’ concept describes a family of inflammatory conditions with overlapping clinical manifestations and a strong genetic link to the MHC-I antigen presentation pathway. Classical MHC-I-opathies such as spondyloarthritis, Behçet’s disease, psoriasis and birdshot uveitis are widely recognised for their strong association with certain MHC-I alleles and gene variants of the antigen processing aminopeptidases ERAP1 and ERAP2 that implicates altered MHC-I peptide presentation to CD8+T cells in the pathogenesis. Progress in understanding the cause and treatment of these disorders is hampered by patient phenotypic heterogeneity and lack of systematic investigation of the MHC-I pathway.Here, we discuss new insights into the biology of MHC-I-opathies that strongly advocate for disease-overarching and integrated molecular and clinical investigation to decipher underlying disease mechanisms. Because this requires transformative multidisciplinary collaboration, we introduce the EULAR study group on MHC-I-opathies to unite clinical expertise in rheumatology, dermatology and ophthalmology, with fundamental and translational researchers from multiple disciplines such as immunology, genomics and proteomics, alongside patient partners. We prioritise standardisation of disease phenotypes and scientific nomenclature and propose interdisciplinary genetic and translational studies to exploit emerging therapeutic strategies to understand MHC-I-mediated disease mechanisms. These collaborative efforts are required to address outstanding questions in the etiopathogenesis of MHC-I-opathies towards improving patient treatment and prognostication.

Bioactive glasses (80Mg, 70Mg, 60Mg and 50Mg) in the system SiO2-CaO-P2O5-MgO were prepared by sol-gel method and then characterized. The structure of the synthesized samples has been studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourrier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Environmental Scanning Electron Microscopy (ESEM). In vitro bioactivity tests were performed in Simulated Body Fluid (SBF). The apparent density and wettability variation with time were measured. The in vitro studies showed the formation of an apatite-like layer covering areas of the material surface. The variation in the CaO/MgO ratio has an influence on the chemical durability and bioactivity. The XRD and FTIR analysis revealed that the samples with larger CaO/MgO ratio exhibited better bioactivity. The results showed that the 50Mg glass which has the higher content of CaO/MgO is hydrophilic sample for the two used fluids (water and SBF). The porosity and hydrophilicity increase with increased the rate of CaO/MgO. The surface of bioglasses became rougher with the increased CaO/MgO ratio, which may lead to a decrease in water contact angle.

Bioactive glasses with 46SiO2-28CaO-20Na2O-6P2O5 (46S0), 46SiO2-28CaO-14Na2O-2SrO-4Ag2O-6P2O5 (46S2), 46SiO2-28CaO-14Na2O-4SrO-2Ag2O-6P2O5 (46S4) and 46SiO2-28CaO-14Na2O-6SrO-6P2O5 (46S6) compositions were prepared by the sol-gel method. The obtained bioglasses were sintered at 600°C for 4 hours. The structural and bioactive properties of these sintered glasses have been investigated by using X-ray diffraction, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). In vitro bioactivity was investigated by soaking the bioglasses in SBF for 14 and 21 days at 37°C. XRD and FTIR have shown that only the 46S0 and 46S6 bioglasses were bioactive by the formation of hydroxycarbonated apatite layer (HCA) and that bioactivity of 46S6 is better than of 46S0, however, no bioactivity have been noticed for 46S2 and 46S4 bioglasses and only AgCl has been formed after soaking in SBF as evidenced by XRD patterns. The measured wettability using a static sessile drop technique has demonstrated a high hydrophilicity for both 46S0 and 46S6 bioglasses.

In this paper, the full potential linearized augmented plane wave method implemented in the WIEN2K code with first principles-based density functional theory are used to investigate the structural, elastic, electronic and thermoelectric properties of TaCoSn, TaIrSn and TaRhSn. The structural and elastic constants are calculated using the generalized gradient potential developed by Perdew-Burke-Ernzerhof (GGA-PBEsol). The electronic structures are performed by means of GGA-PBEsol and improved by Tran-Blaha modified Becke-Johnson (TB-mBJ) potential. Our results show that the studied compounds are semiconductors with indirect gaps. On the other hand, we investigated the thermoelectric properties at different temperatures with respect to the chemical potential. The results show that the thermopower factors are more important for p-type doping than those for n-type doping and the maximum value of these factors indicates the optimal hole-doping level which gives rise to high thermoelectric performances of these materials. Finally, we note that the best thermopower values are found for the TaRhSn compound with optimal doping levels of (75.76, 175.60 and 238.92) 1014 W cm – 1 K – 2 s – 1 at temperatures of 300, 600, and 900 K, respectively.

Bioactive glasses of the type SiO2-CaO, SiO2-CaO-P2O5, and SiO2-CaO-P2O5-MO (M = Na, Mg, or Ag) were obtained by the sol-gel processing method. The obtained materials was characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM/EDS). Contact angle and surface tension variation with time were determined at 25°C, respectively, by the sessile and pendant drop techniques, for distinct testing liquids: water, diiodomethane, formamide, and simulated body fluid (SBF). The in vitro studies showed that all gel-glasses compositions produced were bioactive. In the present work, three effects of elements (Mg, Na, Ag) in the glass were detected: (i) good mechanical strength with satisfactory biodegradability, (ii) formation of hydroxyapatite, which may promote good bone bonding and (iii) the good wettability.

A facile sol-gel method was used to synthesize either hydroxyapatite (HA) or beta-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) as the major phase. Herein, we report, on the one hand, the effect of a very low maturation temperature on the final powder composition after drying step, and on the other hand, we compare the effect of calcination of this powder by microwave or electric furnace. It was found that microwave heating has led to the formation of hydroxyapatite phase upon 180°C for 20 minutes, however, XRD patterns show that the powder becomes less crystallized upon 220°C and amorphous upon 230°C. In contrast, furnace heating at 600°C and 700°C converts the as-synthesized powder to β-TCP as the major phase together with HA as the minor phase. This work shows the possibility to obtain the as-prepared BCP at much lower maturation temperature; it also gives an insight into the role, of either microwave or conventional heating, in controlling the ratio between HA and β-TCP in the sintered powder.

Bioactive glasses (80Mg, 70Mg, 60Mg and 50Mg) in the system SiO 2 -CaO-P 2 O 5 -MgO were prepared by sol-gel method and then characterized. The structure of the synthesized samples has been studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourrier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Environmental Scanning Electron Microscopy (ESEM). In vitro bioactivity tests were performed in Simulated Body Fluid (SBF). The apparent density and wettability variation with time were measured. The in vitro studies showed the formation of an apatite-like layer covering areas of the material surface. The variation in the CaO/MgO ratio has an influence on the chemical durability and bioactivity. The XRD and FTIR analysis revealed that the samples with larger CaO/MgO ratio exhibited better bioactivity. The results showed that the 50Mg glass which has the higher content of CaO/MgO is hydrophilic sample for the two used fluids (water and SBF). The porosity and hydrophilicity increase with increased the rate of CaO/MgO. The surface of bioglasses became rougher with the increased CaO/MgO ratio, which may lead to a decrease in water contact angle.