Asymmetric electrode incorporated 2D GeSe for self-biased and efficient photodetection.

2D layered germanium selenide (GeSe) with p-type conductivity is incorporated with asymmetric contact electrode of chromium/Gold (Cr/Au) and Palladium/Gold (Pd/Au) to design a self-biased, high speed and an efficient photodetector. The photoresponse under photovoltaic effect is investigated for the wavelengths of light (i.e. ~220, ~530 and ~850 nm). The device exhibited promising figures of merit required for efficient photodetection, specifically the Schottky barrier diode is highly sensitive to NIR light irradiation at zero voltage with good reproducibility, which is promising for the emergency application of fire detection and night vision. The high responsivity, detectivity, normalized photocurrent to dark current ratio (NPDR), noise equivalent power (NEP) and response time for illumination of light (~850 nm) are calculated to be 280 mA/W, 4.1 × 109 Jones, 3 × 107 W-1, 9.1 × 10-12 WHz-1/2 and 69 ms respectively. The obtained results suggested that p-GeSe is a novel candidate for SBD optoelectronics-based technologies.

A Rare Presentation of Cardiac Aspergilloma in an Immunocompetent Host: Case Report and Literature Review.

Cardiac aspergilloma is exceptionally rare with only a handful of cases reported and majority of them being in immunocompromised patients. Here, we present a case of cardiac aspergilloma involving the right and left ventricle in an immunocompetent patient that initially presented with acute limb ischemia. He was later found to have a cardiac mass with histopathological diagnosis confirming Aspergillus species. Despite aggressive medical and surgical interventions, the patient had an unfavorable outcome due to low suspicion of invasive fungal endocarditis given his immunocompetent status. Cardiac aspergilloma should remain in the differential diagnosis of immunocompetent patients as early clinical suspicion will result in early treatment and decreased mortality. Novel therapies are required to decrease mortality in the future from this fatal disease.

Staphylococcus Toxin-Mediated Motor Polyneuropathy.

Staphylococcus aureus infection is known to cause a variety of neurologic complications, most involving the CNS, however, rarely have cases of S. aureus affecting the peripheral nervous system been reported in literature. We report a case of S. aureus toxin-mediated motor polyneuropathy in a patient presenting with acute flaccid quadriplegia. CASE SUMMARY: A 64-year-old female with mantle cell lymphoma on oral chemotherapy with ibrutinib presents with malaise and progressive ascending bilateral lower extremity weakness. Blood cultures resulted positive for methicillin-sensitive S. aureus, and she was initiated on antibiotics. Imaging studies and laboratory workup were negative for other causes of acute flaccid quadriplegia. Patient had complete resolution of her neurologic deficits with antibiotic therapy. It was determined that the likely diagnosis was Staphylococcus toxin-mediated motor polyneuropathy. CONCLUSIONS: Staphylococcal-mediated motor polyneuropathy resulting in acute flaccid quadriplegia is a rare but treatable complication of bacteremia and should remain a diagnosis of exclusion.

A prospective randomized comparison of four femtosecond LASIK flap thicknesses.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the visual outcomes, predictability, and planarity of four types of 60-kHz femtosecond laser-assisted LASIK flaps: 90, 100, 110, and 120 microm. METHODS: This randomized, prospective, interventional, comparative trial was performed at a tertiary care facility. Two hundred forty eyes with a calculated residual bed thickness >300 microm (at 120-microm flap thickness and subjective refraction) were randomized into four flap thickness groups to undergo femtosecond laser-assisted LASIK. Pre- and postoperative assessment included uncorrected visual acuity, best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA), and refraction. Flap thickness was assessed by anterior segment optical coherence tomography on 28 points per flap at 1-month follow-up. Three new indices were devised to assess the predictability and planarity. RESULTS: The baseline parameters were matched. Postoperative vision and refractive outcome were similar in the four groups (P>.05, analysis of variance). The achieved flap thickness was different at each measured point among the groups (P<.05) with standard deviations ranging from +/-3.2 to +/-7.3 microm. The predictability and planarity were satisfactory in all four groups, although the indices were slightly better in the 110-microm and 120-microm groups. No loss of BSCVA or flap complications occurred in the four groups. CONCLUSIONS: The study demonstrated that all four flap thicknesses are relatively uniform in predictability and clinical outcomes.