We report here the study of two-photon induced luminescence of 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid functionalized quantum-sized Au nanodots (11MUA-Au nanodots). The X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) measurement at the gold L III edge indicates that the oxidation state of the surface of 11MUA-Au nanodots is best described as Au + . The two-photon absorption (TPA) property of 11MUA-Au nanodots was then investigated via an open aperture Z-scan method. Together with a precise extinction coefficient (i.e., onephoton absorption) extracted from inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, the TPA cross section, σ, was deduced to be 8761 ( 175 GM (800 nm) for 11MUA-Au nanodots (diameter 1.33 ( 0.12) in water. Upon dextran encapsulation, 11MUA-Au nanodots was proved to be highly water-soluble, stable, and low in toxicity, which demonstrated its power in two-photon imaging toward human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) in vitro.

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Background and Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the factors affecting extrusion time in both children and adults with ventilation tube (VT) insertion, providing useful information for clinicians for better decision-making, follow strategy, and potentially improve clinical outcomes for these patients. Methods: Data from patients receiving myringotomy with VT insertion from January 1, 2007, to June 30, 2012, were retrospectively collected and analyzed by the end of 2018. Various factors, including age, gender, history of VT insertion, tympanogram, size of VT used, local finding of tympanic membrane, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, and postoperative ear infection, were included and analyzed to examine the effects of these factors on extrusion time. Results: A total of 447 patients were included in this study (Child group–Adult group = 237:210). The overall average extrusion time was 225.85 days. In the subgroup analysis, the average time was 221.3 days and 231.0 days for children and adults, respectively. The results showed that the VT extrusion time was significantly longer in participants without a history of VT insertion and in those where larger sized VTs were inserted in both age-groups. Male gender had an influence on extrusion time in children. In addition, a history of VT insertion and VT size were determined to be factors related to extrusion before 12 months in children. Conclusion: History of VT insertion and VT size were significantly related to VT extrusion time in both children and adults and defined as factors associated with extrusion before 12 months in children. The findings suggest avoiding VT with a diameter < 1 mm and considering an appropriately larger size in patients with a history of VT insertion to optimize VT retention.