Terkildsenbernard8890

Electron-beam-induced deposition patterns, with composition of PtC5, were purified using a pulsed laser-induced purification reaction to erode the amorphous carbon matrix and form pure platinum deposits. Enhanced mobility of residual H2O molecules via a localized injection of inert Ar-H2 (4%) is attributed to be the reactive gas species for purification of the deposits. Surface purification of deposits was realized at laser exposure times as low as 0.1 s. The ex situ purification reaction in the deposit interior was shown to be rate-limited by reactive gas diffusion into the deposit, and deposit contraction associated with the purification process caused some loss of shape retention. To circumvent the intrinsic flaws of the ex situ anneal process, in situ deposition and purification techniques were explored that resemble a direct write atomic layer deposition (ALD) process. First, we explored a laser-assisted electron-beam-induced deposition (LAEBID) process augmented with reactive gas that resulted in a 75% carbon reduction compared to standard EBID. A sequential deposition plus purification process was also developed and resulted in deposition of pure platinum deposits with high fidelity and shape retention.Highly Li-ion conductive Y-doped garnet-type Li5+2xLa3Ta2-xYxO12 (0.05 ≤ x ≤ 0.75) were studied to understand the effects of yttrium- and lithium-doping on crystal structure, porosity, and Li-ion conductivity using (7)Li MAS NMR, electrochemical ac impedance spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), as well as ex situ and in situ powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) to further explore the potential application of garnets in all-solid-state Li-ion batteries. Solid-state (7)Li MAS NMR studies showed an increase in the Li-ion mobility as a function of Y- and Li-doping in Li5+2xLa3Ta2-xYxO12, which is consistent with the results from ac impedance spectroscopy. The SEM studies on sintered pellets indicated a systematic decrease in porosity and an increase in sinterability as the Y- and Li-doping levels increase in Li5+2xLa3Ta2-xYxO12. These results are consistent with the calculated porosity and densities using the Archimedes method. Using the variable-temperature in situ PXRD in the temperature range of 30-700 °C, a thermal expansion coefficient of 7.25 × 10(-6) K(-1) was observed for Li6La3Ta1.5Y0.5O12. To further explore the possibility of a new application for the Li-stuffed garnets, the stability of these materials in aqueous LiCl solution was also studied. A high degree of structural stability was observed in these materials upon 1 M LiCl treatment, making them suitable candidates for further studies as protective layers for lithium electrodes in aqueous lithium batteries.Current diagnostic strategies for pulmonary embolism rely on the sequential use of noninvasive diagnostic tests including ventilation-perfusion (V/Q) scan and computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA). V/Q scan remains criticized because of a high proportion of nondiagnostic test results, especially when the chest X-ray (CXR) is abnormal. The present study assesses whether CXR results have an impact on the conclusiveness of a noninvasive diagnostic strategy of pulmonary embolism based on the combination of pretest probability, compression ultrasonography, V/Q scan, and CTPA. Patients suspected of having pulmonary embolism were managed according to a validated diagnostic strategy. All patients underwent a CXR within 24 h of the suspicion of pulmonary embolism. CXR results were correlated to strategy conclusiveness, as assessed by the rate of required CTPA as per the diagnostic algorithm. Two hundred and twenty-three patients were retrospectively analyzed. CXRs were considered as normal in 108 (48%) patients and abnormal in 115 (52%) patients. According to the diagnostic algorithm, a CTPA was required to reach a diagnostic conclusion in 11 (10%) patients of the normal CXR group, and in 14 (12%) patients of the abnormal CXR group (P > 0.05). In this study, the presence of CXR abnormalities did not have an impact on the conclusiveness of a diagnostic strategy of pulmonary embolism based on V/Q scan. CXR abnormalities should likely not be regarded as a contraindication to the use of V/Q scan in patients with suspected pulmonary embolism.Cyclopia subternata is a medicinal plant commonly used in traditional medicine to relieve pain in physiological processes. However, there are limited modern data on its pharmacological effects and active components relating to its traditional use. Here, the anticoagulant and antiplatelet activities of vicenin-2 (VCN), an active compound in C. subternata, were determined. The anticoagulant activities were investigated by monitoring activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), prothrombin time (PT), and the activities of thrombin and activated factor X (FXa). The effects of VCN on the expression of plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1) and tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) were evaluated in tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α-activated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Treatment with VCN resulted in prolonged aPTT and PT and inhibition of the activities of thrombin and FXa, as well as inhibited production of thrombin and FXa in HUVECs. In addition, VCN inhibited thrombin-catalyzed fibrin polymerization and platelet aggregation. VCN also elicited anticoagulant effects in mice. In addition, treatment with VCN resulted in significant reduction of the PAI-1 to t-PA ratio. Collectively, VCN possesses antithrombotic activities and offers a basis for development of a novel anticoagulant.Despite the increasing evidence regarding its association with low bone mineral density (BMD) both in adults and children, haemophilia A or B has not yet been considered among the classic causes of secondary osteoporosis. Although the exact mechanisms are not fully elucidated, physical inactivity and vitamin D deficiency seem to play a fundamental role for such an association. Viral infections and arthropathy further compromise bone mass. Except for low BMD, patients with haemophilia seem to be at increased risk for fracture and falls. The FRAX tool may be of value in this population, for the estimation of fracture risk. Regular exercise, prophylactic factor replacement therapy in severe haemophilia, fall prevention strategies and optimization of calcium and vitamin D intake are recommended. In any case, individualized multidisciplinary approach and careful assessment and management of fracture risk are recommended.Mondor's disease is a rare entity, characterized by sclerosing thrombophlebitis classically involving one or more of the subcutaneous veins, including the anterior chest wall. It is usually a self-limited, benign condition, although it may be rarely associated with cancer. The intramuscular administration of botulinum toxin type A (BoNT-A), and also, more recently, type B, is a well-established treatment of many neurological, other medical and cosmetic disorders, including strabismus, blepharospasm, cervical and other focal/segmental dystonia, and also hyperhidrosis. Herein, we describe a case of thrombosis of the subcutaneous anterior chest veins, known as Mondor's disease, following botulinum toxin treatment for armpits hyperhidrosis.Herein, we report an example of entropy-driven crystallization behavior in DNA-nanoparticle superlattice assembly, marking a divergence from the well-established enthalpic driving force of maximizing nearest-neighbor hybridization connections. Such behavior is manifested in the observation of a non-close-packed, body-centered cubic (bcc) superlattice when using a system with self-complementary DNA linkers that would be predicted to form a close-packed, face-centered cubic (fcc) structure based solely on enthalpic considerations and previous design rules for DNA-linked particle assembly. Notably, this unexpected phase behavior is only observed when employing long DNA linkers with unpaired "flexor" bases positioned along the length of the DNA linker that increase the number of microstates available to the DNA ligands. A range of design conditions are tested showing sudden onsets of this behavior, and these experiments are coupled with coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations to show that this entropy-driven crystallization behavior is due to the accessibility of additional microstates afforded by using long and flexible linkers.Low-energy vibrational modes that have a gap in the density of states (DOS) have often been observed in heat capacity data in the form of 'boson' peaks, but the functions used to model these modes are often inadequate or are not physically meaningful. We have adapted the Debye model to represent these gapped modes and have derived the heat capacity equations for these modes in one, two, and three dimensions. Applying these equations to the low-temperature heat capacity data fitting for a large variety of materials substantially improves the fit quality relative to conventional fits. From the fitting parameters, the underlying DOS were estimated, which we show to be comparable to those reported in the literature. This model expands the methods of theoretical low-temperature heat capacity data analysis and improves the procedure of approximating a material's DOS from its low-temperature heat capacity.

The most frequently cited prevalence for serrated polyposis syndrome (SPS) is 1 in every 3000 people screened, but this value is debated. Additionally, changes in 2010 in the World Health Organization (WHO) diagnostic criteria for SPS might affect reported prevalence. An updated estimate of SPS prevalence is necessary to predict the number of cases in screening programs.

A systematic literature search was conducted in the PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases up to February 2014. Studies reporting the prevalence of SPS, as defined by WHO criteria, in screening populations were selected.

Six studies reported prevalence of SPS in screening populations, varying from 0 to 0.66 %. The highest prevalences (0.34 % and 0.66 %) were seen in studies from screening programs with patients pre-selected by fecal blood test. Primary colonoscopy-based screening programs, that have the lowest risk of bias, reported SPS prevalences ranging from 0 to 0.09 %. Across studies, 56 patients were diagnosed with SPS of wh, are necessary for better estimation of the true prevalence of SPS in average-risk patients.

Fecal immunochemical tests (FIT) are used to detect blood in feces, which might indicate the presence of colorectal neoplasia. The aim of this study was to investigate whether FIT results vary depending on the characteristics of colonic lesions.

This was a retrospective analysis of lesions detected in a cohort of asymptomatic individuals (aged 50 - 75 years) who were invited to participate in a FIT-based screening pilot in The Netherlands. The mean FIT result was compared across subgroups of individuals defined by histopathology of the most advanced lesion detected. In addition, the results were compared with data from a primary colonoscopy screening trial, in which participants also completed a FIT.

In three rounds of FIT-based screening, a total of 877 FIT-positive individuals underwent colonoscopy. Higher mean FIT results (hemoglobin [Hb]/g feces) were observed in individuals with carcinomas (199 μg Hb/g) and advanced adenomas (87 μg Hb/g) compared with participants with nonadvanced adenomas (50 μg Hb/g) or those with serrated lesions (46 μg Hb/g) (P < 0.