True holographic ghost illusion.

Pepper's ghost optical illusion, used in amusement parks, theaters, movies, museums, and other venues since 1862, is produced by reflected light and is often wrongly described as holographic. This paper presents an alternative illusion technique based on the use of full-color analog Denisyuk holograms mixed with real elements with the help of special lighting. The result is a stunning applied-science experiment that arouses the curiosity of even the most discerning observer, first by combining the real-world and holography on a level never before achieved, and then by creating an unexpected final effect of disappearance.

Uniformity improvement of a reconstructed-holographic image in a near-eye display system using off-axis HOE.

When a near-eye display (NED) device reproduces an image at a location close to the eye, the virtual image is implemented at a large angle. The uniformity of the image is unbalanced due to the change in diffraction efficiency by the hologram recording angle and angular selectivity. This study proposes a method for implementing an optimal uniform image by analyzing the diffraction efficiency and the reconstructed image was analyzed using angular selectivity generated while reproducing the source point of the diffused image as an intermediate element by holographic optical element (HOE). This research provides practical results for displaying high diffraction efficiency and immersive holographic images in the NED system with HOE as uniformed intermediate elements.

Recording Ultra-Realistic Full-Color Analog Holograms for Use in a Moving Hologram Display.

This paper demonstrates a method to record a set of twelve ultra-realistic full-color analog holograms presenting the same brightness, transparency and homogeneous colors for the fabrication of a Fantatrope, a dynamic holographic 3D display, without the need for special viewing aids. The method involves the use of 3D printer technology, a single-beam full-color Denisyuk optical setup with three low-power lasers (red, green, and blue) and an iso-panchromatic high-sensitive silver-halide holographic emulsion specially designed for recording analog holograms without any diffusion. A cyclic animation is created with a 3D computer graphics program and different elements are 3D printed to form models for the holograms. Holograms are recorded with a full-color holographic setup and developed using two simple chemical baths. To prevent any emulsion thickness variations, the holograms are sealed with optical glue. Results confirm that all holograms recorded with this protocol present the same characteristics, which allow them to be used in the Fantatrope.

CHIMERA, a new holoprinter technology combining low-power continuous lasers and fast printing.

This paper presents CHIMERA, a third-generation digital holographic printing system that solves the known problems of the two previous generations. This holoprinter is based on the use of low-power RGB continuous lasers combined with the ultrafine-grain silver-halide material Ultimate U04 and is capable of printing at a frequency equal to or greater than 25 hogels per second, full-color, 120° full-parallax digital reflection holograms or holographic optical elements with a size of up to 60×80cm and a hogel size ranging from 250 to 500 µm. A 3D scanner using a 4K video camera has been specially designed for scanning real objects printable on CHIMERA, which offers new achievements in terms of color rendition, palette, and accuracy and opens new perspectives for digital holography applications and holography in general.

Fantatrope, a moving hologram display: design and implementation.

This paper presents the Fantatrope, an improvement of the pre-cinematographic devices such as the zoetrope, which creates a comfortable 3D display with the addition of ultra-realistic full-color holograms. The Fantatrope is built with a set of holograms of 3D-printed figurines mounted on a cylinder rotating at constant speed. A stroboscopic RGB LED lamp synchronized with the rotation successively illuminates the different frames and the recorded character is animated like in a stop-motion movie. All principal functions of this new device can be adjusted and this paper evaluates its performances. The operation of the Fantatrope is successfully demonstrated and shows the effect of a true 3D display without the need for special glasses or other viewing aids.

KIT gene in pediatric osteosarcomas: could it be a new therapeutic target?

In our previous study, a frequent rearrangement at 4q12 has been identified by allelotyping in our large and homogeneous population of pediatric osteosarcomas and it was significantly linked to c-kit protein overexpression. To confirm and understand the involvement of KIT in this tumor, the next step of the study was designed to detect the potential mutations of KIT gene by sequencing the frequently mutated exons 6, 8, 10, 11, 13, 17 and 21 and, in case of unmutated samples, to confirm the genomic amplifications of the wild-type receptor by real-time quantitative PCR (QPCR). A new microsatellite and QPCR targeting PDGFRA was also added to check the accuracy of the 4q11-12 locus. These techniques were performed in 74 pediatric high-grade osteosarcomas treated with the OS94 protocol. Surprisingly, no mutations were found, but, only DNA amplification of KIT gene in the entire population. PDGFRA gene QPCR revealed an unexpected result of predominant deletions in the rearranged tumors. All these results confirm the major role of the 4q11-12 locus and specifically the involvement of c-kit wild-type receptor overexpression in pediatric osteosarcomas and leads us to believe that inhibitors targeting this receptor could have a therapeutic effect in a selected group of patients.