Early experiences in establishing a regional quantitative imaging network for PET/CT clinical trials

The Seattle Cancer Care Alliance (SCCA) is a Pacific Northwest regional network that enables patients from community cancer centers to participate in multicenter oncology clinical trials where patients can receive some trial-related procedures at their local center. Results of positron emission tomography (PET) scans performed at community cancer centers are not currently used in SCCA Network trials since clinical trials customarily accept results from only trial-accredited PET imaging centers located at academic and large hospitals. Oncologists would prefer the option of using standard clinical PET scans from Network sites in multicenter clinical trials to increase accrual of patients for whom additional travel requirements for imaging are a barrier to recruitment. In an effort to increase accrual of rural and other underserved populations to Network trials, researchers and clinicians at the University of Washington, SCCA and its Network are assessing the feasibility of using PET scans from all Network sites in their oncology clinical trials. A feasibility study is required because the reproducibility of multicenter PET measurements ranges from approximately 3% to 40% at national academic centers. Early experiences from both national and local PET phantom imaging trials are discussed, and next steps are proposed for including patient PET scans from the emerging regional quantitative imaging network in clinical trials. There are feasible methods to determine and characterize PET quantitation errors and improve data quality by either prospective scanner calibration or retrospective post hoc corrections. These methods should be developed and implemented in multicenter clinical trials employing quantitative PET imaging of patients.     

Coupling coefficients evaluation of a directional coupler using gain guided and index antiguided fibers

In this paper, we have investigated the mutual and self coupling characteristics of directional couplers using two individual gain guided and index antiguided fibers, which can deliver robust single mode operation with large mode area, respectively owing to the combined adequately large gain coefficients in the core; Some interesting and distinguishing properties from conventional index guided fiber couplers are obtained that: The variations of coupling coefficients are complex-valued and spatially damping oscillated, but not exponential-like decreasing as conventional index guided couplers.     

Paraxial designing of planar waveguide variable-index focusing elements: Part 1—lenses of circular symmetry

A paraxial ray equation is used to evaluate refractive index profiles for a family of radially symmetric planar waveguide lenses. Two cases are considered: the (theoretically) full-aperture solution, and the solution with smooth index variation (non-full-aperature case). In deriving the latter case a new method has been applied that consists of the proper choice of a continuous deflection function. Both types of index profiles are described by exceptionally simple formulas.     

Dispersion Robustness of Millimeter Waves Generated by Up-Conversion Strategies

Abstract

The performance degradation caused by transmission along dispersive single-mode fibers of optically generated millimeter-wave signals using up-conversion is theoretically assessed and validated by numerical simulation. Up-conversion techniques based on optical double sideband, optical single sideband, and optical carrier suppression are considered. The generation of 60 GHz by frequency tripling using the optical single sideband is shown to be particularly tolerant to the fiber dispersion. The practical imbalance of Mach-Zehnder modulators is taken into account for optical carrier suppression modulation, where the finite extinction ratio is found to increase tolerance to fiber dispersion.     

Two-Frequency Brillouin Fiber Laser Based on Bragg Grating Fabry-Perot Cavity

Abstract

A novel and simple two-frequency Brillouin fiber laser is presented. It is based on a fiber Fabry-Perot cavity with fiber Bragg gratings as reflectors. The model of stimulated Brillouin scattering in fiber grating–based Fabry-Perot resonator is investigated. The laser allows conversion efficiency of close to 100% and suppresses the higher-order Stokes waves. The theoretical prediction is presented and the experimental demonstration is realized.     

Relative Intensity Noise in Optical Single Side Band Systems with Multiple In-Line Amplifiers: Analysis and Validation

Abstract

This article analyzes and validates through simulation the influence of fiber nonlinearity, dispersion, and loss on the Relative Noise Intensity (RIN) spectrum at fiber output in externally modulated optical single side band (OSSB) systems. The analysis includes the RIN generated by the laser source, the effect of the OSSB modulator, and noise generated by the in-line optical amplifiers. The analysis takes into account conversion between phase noise and intensity noise introduced by fiber transmission. It is shown that, depending on the operating conditions, the system performance may be predominantly affected either by the laser RIN or by the noise generated by the in-line optical amplifiers. The impact of the OSSB modulator can be relevant when the RIN of the system is dominated by the laser noise and should therefore be considered.     

Theoretical and experimental investigation of thermal effects in a high power Yb-doped double-clad fiber laser

In this paper, based on the thermal conduction equations and the steady-state rate equations, a theoretical and numerical analysis of thermal effects is investigated for a single end pumped Yb-doped double-clad fiber laser (YDDC). The distributions of signal power and temperature for different pump powers and fiber parameters are compared. According to the results, the parameters of the optical-cavity have been optimized and an effective method has been adopted to reduce the thermal effects in an experimental investigation. As a result, an output power of 621 W has been obtained with a slope efficiency of 78%.     

贵金属纳米结构为敏感层的锥形光纤探针及其SERS活性

表面等离激元纳米结构与便携式光纤拉曼系统相结合,在液体样品和生物活体组织的快速、实时监测上有较好的应用前景。其核心技术是将具有表面增强拉曼散射(SERS)活性的贵金属纳米结构耦合到光纤探针表面。本文基于共价键结合原理,将3-巯丙基三甲氧基硅烷通过与锥形光纤探针表面的硅羟基形成共价键修饰在光纤上;同时,硅烷偶联剂末端的巯基与金或银纳米结构形成Au-S或Ag-S共价键,将金纳米粒子和银纳米立方体牢牢吸附到光纤探针表面。这种SERS光纤探针具有很高的稳定性(SERS信号相对标准偏差低于3%),对农残甲基对硫磷的敏感度达到10纳摩尔,对污染物的远程、便携式在线检测具有重要意义。     

The Study of Full Light Speech Signal Collection System

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Optimum Temporal Pulse Shape of Launched Light for Optical Time Domain Reflectometry Type Sensors Using Brillouin Backscattering

We investigated numerically the relationship between the temporal shape of an optical pulse launched into an optical fiber and the power spectrum of the Brillouin backscattered light it produces. We analyzed the measurement error of the peak-power frequency of the Brillouin backscattered light power spectra obtained from the launched light with various pulse shapes. In this investigation and analysis, we characterized the pulse shape by the width, leading-trailing time, and steepness. Regardless of the launched pulse shape, the peak-power frequency-measurement error increases as the pulse width shortens. For identical launched pulse widths, a triangular pulse generates the Brillouin backscattered-light power spectrum with both the narrowest profile and the largest peak power, and consequently provides the minimum error when we measure the peak-power frequency. This shows that a temporally triangular pulse is the best for the launched light.