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Sol-gel is one of the most attractive techniques for production of silica-on-silicon integrated optical devices. In fact, it combines low cost with flexibility and ease of doping; thus, nonlinear and active compounds can be effectively included in the silica matrix. Here, the feasibility of applying the sol-gel technique to the realization of an erbium-doped optical amplifier is reported on, operating in the third telecommunication window. In particular, the development of an optimum strategy for the design and fabrication of a guiding structure in the strip-loaded configuration is described. Design optimization results, as well as fabrication results and measured characteristics, are described and discussed.

Summary Background Proactive therapeutic drug monitoring (proactive‐TDM) to optimise maintenance infliximab (IFX) trough levels prior to loss of response reduces the risk of treatment failure, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)‐related surgery and hospitalisation when compared with reactive monitoring (reactive‐TDM). Aim The aim of this study is to investigate if proactive‐TDM in a virtual biologic clinic (VBC) improves patient disease control determined by number of hospital admissions, surgeries, patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) and biomarkers of disease activity. Methods We conducted a single‐centre retrospective observational study. Data were collected from commencement of the VBC in June 2016 to September 2017. All IBD patients on IFX in the VBC were included. PROMs were recorded using the IBD‐Control‐8 sub‐score and Visual Analogue Scale. Results One hundred and twenty‐three patients were included in the study. A statistically significant improvement in faecal calprotectin was observed with proactive‐TDM with a P‐value <.001. There was a 59% reduction in crisis IBD admissions with the introduction of proactive‐TDM in the VBC (P‐value <.005). Dose de‐escalations in the first 3 months of the VBC lead to cost savings of €32 000 per annum. Conclusions The introduction of proactive‐TDM resulted in a significant reduction in hospital admissions, an increase in mean IFX trough levels, a significant improvement in faecal calprotectin and adjustment to therapy in 33% of patients. Proactive‐TDM in the setting of a VBC is a method of managing IBD patients on IFX therapy with the potential for significant cost savings.

A technique for doping of porous films by surface adsorption of ions from aqueous solution is demonstrated. Fabrication of the films by use of the solgel technique gives a nanometer-scale porosity, which provides high doping levels and homogeneity. Doping through a masking layer patterned by photolithography is thus possible. With Pb as a dopant, lead silicate films with refractive indices of 1.46 to 1.55 were obtained, with submicrometer patterning resolution. Linear control of the refractive index is achieved through variation of the solution pH. Applications of this technique in integrated optics and optical elements are proposed.

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