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In the present communication, structural and electrical properties of Y0.95Ca0.05MnO3 (YCMO) manganite thin films, having different thicknesses grown on (100) single crystalline Nb:SrTiO3 (SNTO) substrate using pulsed laser deposition (PLD) technique, have been investigated. Influence of 100 MeV O+7 energetic ion irradiation has been understood on the basis of structure–property correlations across the lattice of YCMO manganite. Influence of YCMO film thickness and ion fluence on the electrical properties have also been explored in the context of lattice strain, crystallite size (CS), crystallinity, defect state, local annealing effect and three dimensional disorder. YCMO/SNTO interface experiences the presence of tensile strain which is found to vary between +1.02 and +1.88% for 100 nm YCMO/SNTO thin film whereas it is found to decrease monotonically from +1.50 to +0.98% for 200 nm and +1.40 to +0.92% for 300 nm upon increase in ion fluence. For higher thicknesses of YCMO/SNTO films (i.e. 200 and 300 nm), CS (estimated using Scherrer's formula) is found to increase from 19.73 nm for pristine to 25.01 nm for higher influence irradiated 200 nm film and from 24.91 nm for pristine to 27.97 nm for higher influence irradiated 300 nm film which has been ascribed to the local annealing effect across the YCMO/SNTO thin film lattices. Variation in dielectric constant with frequency, YCMO layer thickness and ion fluence has been understood on the bases of lattice strain, defect state, CS, crystallite boundaries, dipolar relaxation and universal dielectric response (UDR) model. Nature of ac conductivity has been understood well in the context of Jonscher's power law fits where correlated barrier hopping (CBH) mechanism has been confirmed as a responsible process for charge conduction across the YCMO/SNTO interfaces. Maximum barrier height (Wm) has been derived using its relation with power exponent from Jonscher's power law fits to ac conductivity data and its values are found to vary nonmonotonically between 0.3218 and 0.4849 eV for 100 nm YCMO/SNTO film however it gets enhanced from 0.2382 to 0.3820 eV for 200 nm and from 0.1977 to 0.2203 eV for 300 nm YCMO/SNTO films upon increase in oxygen ion fluence. These variations have been ascribed to the dominant impact of high resistive insulating nature of core of the YCMO crystallites and three dimensional disorder across YCMO manganite lattice. Present report serves a complex simultaneous impact of YCMO layer thickness, ion fluence and related structural aspects on the electrical properties of YCMO/SNTO films where defect state can be regenerated through well established experimental tool of SHI irradiation in a controlled way. The electric properties of YCMO/SNTO thin films are of paramount importance in a variety of technological applications and are of fundamental importance for materials science research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) is a key hub of the default mode network and is known to play an important role in attention. Using ultra-high field 7 Tesla magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) to quantify neurometabolite concentrations, this exploratory study investigated the effect of the concentrations of myo-inositol (Myo-Ins), glutamate (Glu), glutamine (Gln), aspartate or aspartic acid (Asp) and gamma-amino-butyric acid (GABA) in the PCC on attention in forty-six healthy participants. Each participant underwent an MRS scan and cognitive testing, consisting of a trail-making test (TMT A/B) and a test of attentional performance. After a multiple regression analysis and bootstrapping for correction, the findings show that Myo-Ins and Asp significantly influence (p < 0.05) attentional tasks. On one hand, Myo-Ins shows it can improve the completion times of both TMT A and TMT B. On the other hand, an increase in aspartate leads to more mistakes in Go/No-go tasks and shows a trend towards enhancing reaction time in Go/No-go tasks and stability of alertness without signal. No significant (p > 0.05) influence of Glu, Gln and GABA was observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Charge transport studies on pulsed laser deposition grown Y0.95Ca0.05MnO3 (YCMO) thin film on (100) single crystalline Nb:SrTiO3 (SNTO) substrate. X-ray diffraction analysis reveals the single phase nature of YCMO manganite film having lattice mismatch between YCMO thin layer and SNTO substrate. Surface morphology, studied using atomic force microscopy, indicates the presence of island like grain growth with narrow size distribution. Transport properties have been studied by performing temperature dependent resistivity under different applied voltages across the YCMO/SNTO interface to understand the charge conduction across the same interface. The observed electric field-induced modifications in interface resistance across the YCMO/SNTO lattice have been discussed in the contexts of barrier between YCMO and SNTO, oxygen vacancies, structural disorder and structurally strained region at the film–substrate interface. Electrical resistance has been theoretically fitted using various models and mechanisms to better understand the charge conduction mechanisms in the semiconducting region for the YCMO/SNTO interface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This systematic review explores the neural correlates of emotion dysregulation (ED) in adolescents. The review finds limited research on the biological and social processes underlying ED in adolescents and highlights the need for more studies in this area. The review includes studies that examine the association between ED and white matter structural integrity, as well as studies that explore the relationship between gray matter and ED. The findings suggest that there are differences in neural correlates of ED across different diagnostic groups. The review provides valuable insights into the current understanding of the neural correlates of ED in adolescents. Additionally, a separate study suggests that neuroimaging measures may be useful in predicting and understanding ED severity in youth. The study found that a combination of neuroimaging measures and clinical measures could predict ED severity. Overall, these findings contribute to our understanding of ED and highlight the potential of neuroimaging in predicting and studying this condition. [Extracted from the article]

Purpose: Morphological imaging using MRI is essential for brain tumour diagnostics. Dynamic susceptibility contrast (DSC) perfusion-weighted MRI (PWI), as well as amino acid PET, may provide additional information in ambiguous cases. Since PWI is often unavailable in patients referred for amino acid PET, we explored whether maps of relative cerebral blood volume (rCBV) in brain tumours can be extracted from the early phase of PET using O-(2-18F-fluoroethyl)-L-tyrosine (18F-FET). Procedure: Using a hybrid brain PET/MRI scanner, PWI and dynamic 18F-FET PET were performed in 33 patients with cerebral glioma and four patients with highly vascularized meningioma. The time interval from 0 to 2 min p.i. was selected to best reflect the blood pool phase in 18F-FET PET. For each patient, maps of MR-rCBV, early 18F-FET PET (0–2 min p.i.) and late 18F-FET PET (20–40 min p.i.) were generated and coregistered. Volumes of interest were placed on the tumour (VOI-TU) and normal-appearing brain (VOI-REF). The correlation between tumour-to-brain ratios (TBR) of the different parameters was analysed. In addition, three independent observers evaluated MR-rCBV and early 18F-FET maps (18F-FET-rCBV) for concordance in signal intensity, tumour extent and intratumoural distribution. Results: TBRs calculated from MR-rCBV and 18F-FET-rCBV showed a significant correlation (r = 0.89, p < 0.001), while there was no correlation between late 18F-FET PET and MR-rCBV (r = 0.24, p = 0.16) and 18F-FET-rCBV (r = 0.27, p = 0.11). Visual rating yielded widely agreeing findings or only minor differences between MR-rCBV maps and 18F-FET-rCBV maps in 93 % of the tumours (range of three independent raters 91–94%, kappa among raters 0.78–1.0). Conclusion: Early 18F-FET maps (0–2 min p.i.) in gliomas provide similar information to MR-rCBV maps and may be helpful when PWI is not possible or available. Further studies in gliomas are needed to evaluate whether 18F-FET-rCBV provides the same clinical information as MR-rCBV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pure metal oxides ZnO and TiO2 and their composite ZnO:TiO2 (1:1 weight ratio) were prepared by using conventional solid-state reaction technique. X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurement reveals the hexagonal phase for ZnO, whereas anatase phase has been identified for TiO2 sample. Rietveld refinements have been performed using FULLPROF code to verify the structural phase purity for all three samples. No clear evidence of other mixed phase can be realized for ZnO:TiO2 composite. Field emission scanning electron microscopy and particle size analyzer measurements provide modifications in the grain size and particle size for pure metal oxides and their composite sample. Optical behaviours of all samples have been investigated using UV–visible absorption spectroscopy, where it is evident that UV absorption gets improved for ZnO:TiO2 composite that can be advantageous application to reduce UV light hazards. Bandgap value for the composite is found to be higher than both the pure oxides, which verifies the surface modification approach in the lattice of the composite. Room temperature dielectric permittivity gets reduced in accordance with frequency, indicating a disability of dipoles to follow a higher electric field. It is also observed that the dielectric constant of the composite is found to be lower than both the pure ZnO and TiO2 samples. Investigations on dielectric loss indicate its lower values experienced by composite sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: While many factors have been correlated with lesser outcomes in abdominal wall reconstruction (AWR), the impact of surgeon experience has yet to be elucidated. We sought to evaluate the effect of cumulative surgeon experience on long-term complex AWR outcomes. Methods: We conducted a comprehensive review of all consecutive patients who underwent AWR using biologic mesh for the repair of ventral hernias or tumor resection defects from March 2005 to June 2019. The primary outcome measure was hernia recurrence (HR). Secondary outcomes were surgical site occurrences (SSOs) and surgical site infections (SSIs). Patients were a priori categorized into the following groups according to the cumulative number of hernia repairs performed by their surgeons: low (< 50), moderate experience (50–100), and high (> 100) experience. Results: We identified 60 surgeons and 650 consecutive patients (62% women) who met our inclusion criteria. In adjusted models, AWR performed by surgeons with high experience was associated with a fourfold lower risk of HR (hazard ratio, 0.28; 95% confidence interval, 0.08 to 0.87), but the odds of surgical site occurrences (odds ratio, 0.72, 95% confidence interval, 0.34 to 1.52) and surgical site infections (odds ratio, 0.89, 95% confidence interval, 0.26 to 2.86) did not differ significantly in the high-experience group. Conclusions: High surgical experience, defined as > 100 cumulative hernia repairs, is predictive for markedly lower HR rates in complex AWR. These findings have potential implications for preoperative risk assessment, patient-centered surgeon selection, regulatory oversight, specific referral patterns, designations of centers of excellence, and individual provider or trainee quality improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The association between vitamin D deficiency and primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is common and has clear implications. Vitamin D deficiency is commonly seen in PHPT population and exacerbates its severity with skeletal and metabolic effects. Retrospective data collection and review were done in patients who underwent surgery for PHPT at a tertiary care hospital in India between January 2011 and December 2020. A total of 150 subjects were included in the study and were divided into group 1 (vitamin D < 20 ng/ml, deficient), group 2 (vitamin D 21–29 ng/ml, insufficient), and group 3 (vitamin D > 30 ng/ml, sufficient). There was no difference in the duration of symptoms or the symptomatology between the three groups. Mean pre-operative serum calcium and serum phosphorous levels were also comparable in all the three groups. Mean pre-operative parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels in the three groups were 703 ± 996 vs 343.6 ± 396 vs 343.6 ± 396 pg/ml, respectively (P = 0.009). There was a statistically significant difference in group 1 vs groups 2 and 3 in their mean weight of the parathyroid gland (P = 0.018) and high alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels (P = 0.047). Post-operative symptomatic hypocalcemia was observed in 17.3% of patients. Post-operative hungry bone syndrome occurred in 4 patients, all in group 1. PHPT in patients with low serum vitamin D was associated with higher serum PTH levels, increased frequency of high serum ALP levels, and higher weight of the excised gland, with no difference in the serum calcium and phosphorous. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple sites within Germany operate human MRI systems with magnetic fields either at 7 Tesla or 9.4 Tesla. In 2013, these sites formed a network to facilitate and harmonize the research being conducted at the different sites and make this technology available to a larger community of researchers and clinicians not only within Germany, but also worldwide. The German Ultrahigh Field Imaging (GUFI) network has defined a strategic goal to establish a 14 Tesla whole-body human MRI system as a national research resource in Germany as the next progression in magnetic field strength. This paper summarizes the history of this initiative, the current status, the motivation for pursuing MR imaging and spectroscopy at such a high magnetic field strength, and the technical and funding challenges involved. It focuses on the scientific and science policy process from the perspective in Germany, and is not intended to be a comprehensive systematic review of the benefits and technical challenges of higher field strengths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is critical to capture and share product manufacturability knowledge along with manufacturing operations and their sequences to enhance the competitiveness of manufacturing enterprises. The developed approaches have proven to be expensive and time-consuming. In this paper, a new core manufacturing ontology is developed to model manufacturing operations, sequence knowledge and make it easily shareable. The ontological approach involves identification and definition of a core set of concepts with relations to develop the hierarchical structures of manufacturing models. The ontological model is then formalised through the Web Ontology Language, while formal axioms and rules are written in the Semantic Web Rule Language. The model was validated in an industrial environment via collaboration with one of the largest aero engine manufacturing companies. The generic nature of the proposed model renders that it is capable of capturing manufacturing operations and their sequences into proper categorisation. The multifaceted capability of the ontological model can greatly facilitate manufacturing engineers in decision-making for new product manufacturing planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: For positron emission tomography (PET) ligands, such as [11C]ABP688, to be able to provide more evidence about the glutamatergic hypothesis in schizophrenia (SZ), quantification bias during dynamic PET studies and its propagation into the estimated values of non-displaceable binding potential (BPND) must be addressed. This would enable more accurate quantification during bolus + infusion (BI) neuroreceptor studies and further our understanding of neurological diseases. Previous studies have shown BPND-related biases can often occur due to overestimated cerebellum activity (reference region). This work investigates whether an alternative framing scheme can minimize quantification biases propagated into BPND, whether confounders, such as smoking status, need to be controlled for during the study, and what the consequences for the data interpretation following analysis are. A group of healthy controls (HC) and a group of SZ patients (balanced and unbalanced number of smokers) were investigated with [11C]ABP688 and a BI protocol. Possible differences in BPND quantification as a function of smoking status were tested with constant 5 min ('Const 5 min') and constant true counts ('Const Trues') framing schemes. In order to find biomarkers for SZ, the differences in smoking effects were compared between groups. The normalized BPND and the balanced number of smokers and non-smokers for both framing schemes were evaluated. Results: When applying F-tests to the 'Const 5 min' framing scheme, effect sizes (η2p) and brain regions which showed significant effects fluctuated considerably with F = 50.106 ± 54.948 (9.389 to 112.607), P-values 0.005 to < 0.001 and η2p = 0.514 ± 0.282 (0.238 to 0.801). Conversely, when the 'Const Trues' framing scheme was applied, the results showed much smaller fluctuations with F = 78.038 ± 8.975 (86.450 to 68.590), P < 0.001 for all conditions and η2p = 0.730 ± 0.017 (0.742 to 0.710), and regions with significant effects were more robustly reproduced. Further, differences, which would indicate false positive identifications between HC and SZ groups in five brain regions when using the 'Const 5 min' framing scheme, were not observed with the 'Const Trues' framing. Conclusions: Based on an [11C]ABP688 PET study in SZ patients, the results show that non-consistent BPND outcomes can be propagated by the framing scheme and that potential bias can be minimized using 'Const Trues' framing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To quantify T2*, multiple echoes are typically acquired with a multi-echo gradient echo sequence using either monopolar or bipolar readout gradients. The use of bipolar readout gradients achieves a shorter echo spacing time, enabling the acquisition of a larger number of echoes in the same scan time. However, despite their relative time efficiency and the potential for more accurate quantification, a comparative investigation of these readout gradients has not yet been addressed. This work aims to compare the performance of monopolar and bipolar readout gradients for T2* quantification. The differences in readout gradients were theoretically investigated with a Cramér-Rao lower bound and validated with computer simulations with respect to the various imaging parameters (e.g., flip angle, TR, TE, TE range, and BW). The readout gradients were then compared at 3 T using phantom and in vivo experiments. The bipolar readout gradients provided higher precision than monopolar readout gradients in both computer simulations and experimental results. The difference between the two readout gradients increased for a lower SNR and smaller TE range, consistent with the prediction made using Cramér-Rao lower bound. The use of bipolar readout gradients is advantageous for regions or situations where a lower SNR is expected or a shorter acquisition time is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present communication, cadmium oxide (CdO)—alumina (Al2O3) nano–micro composites were prepared by addition of different amounts of nanostructured CdO in Al2O3 microstructured material. CdO was prepared by the sol-gel technique and Al2O3 was taken readily in micrometer scale. X–ray diffraction (XRD) results reveal the cubic structure of CdO and hexagonal structure of Al2O3. The nano and micro sizes of CdO and Al2O3 were confirmed by particle size analyzer, respectively. The microstructural properties and crystallinity of samples tested using FESEM and HRTEM with SEAD pattern analysis respectively. Energy band gap of the pure and composite materials has been estimated using the UV–Visible (UV–Viz) measurement. The dielectric, ac conductivity, and impedance behaviors of the materials were studied in the context of role of Al2O3 high resistive nature and conducting crystal boundaries of CdO nanoparticles. Space charge polarization for dielectric constant variation and correlated barrier hopping mechanism for ac conductivity behavior have been identified and discussed for all studied samples. Highlights: CdO nanoparticles were synthesized using sol–gel technique. Electrical properties of pure Al2O3, CdO20, CdO30, and pure CdO samples were studied. All the composites exhibit higher dielectric constant. Experimental data have been fitted by different models and mechanism. Theoretical models were employed to understand the responsible charge conduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a common cardiovascular disorder that is frequently underdiagnosed, which can lead to poorer outcomes due to lower rates of medical optimization. We aimed to develop an automated tool to identify undiagnosed PAD and evaluate physician acceptance of a dashboard representation of risk assessment. Data were derived from electronic health records (EHR). We developed and compared traditional risk score models to novel machine learning models. For usability testing, primary and specialty care physicians were recruited and interviewed until thematic saturation. Data from 3168 patients with PAD and 16,863 controls were utilized. Results showed a deep learning model that utilized time engineered features outperformed random forest and traditional logistic regression models (average AUCs 0.96, 0.91 and 0.81, respectively), P < 0.0001. Of interviewed physicians, 75% were receptive to an EHR-based automated PAD model. Feedback emphasized workflow optimization, including integrating risk assessments directly into the EHR, using dashboard designs that minimize clicks, and providing risk assessments for clinically complex patients. In conclusion, we demonstrate that EHR-based machine learning models can accurately detect risk of PAD and that physicians are receptive to automated risk detection for PAD. Future research aims to prospectively validate model performance and impact on patient outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Gamma Knife Radiosurgery(GKRS) is an established modality for treatment of non-functioning pituitary adenomas(NFPA). The objective of the study was to assess long-term hormonal and imaging outcomes after adjunctive GKRS in patients with NFPA. Methods: A retrospective review of records of 109 patients with NFPA, from 1996 to 2020, who received adjunctive GKRS, was performed. Patients who had received GKRS as the primary modality of treatment for NFPA were not included. Results: Sixty-three (57.8%) patients were available for follow up at our institute. The median follow-up period was 47 months (range, 6–260). At a median time of 38 months (range, 8–97), 25 (39.7%) patients developed ≥ 1 new pituitary hormone deficiency. Median time to cortisol deficiency was 38 months (range, 8–55), thyroid hormone deficiency was 45.5 months (range, 12–97) and gonadotropin deficiency was 45 months (range, 21–75). The actuarial risk of developing a new pituitary hormone deficit at 1, 3, 5, 7, and 10 years was 2.5%, 11%, 26.3%, 28% and 29.7%, respectively. Adenoma size decreased in 36 (57.1%) patients, remained unchanged in 19 (30.2%) patients, and increased in 8 (12.7%) patients. Overall tumor control rate was 87.3%. Endocrinopathy-Free Survival was 47.1%, and tumor Progression-Free Survival was 93.3%, at 5 years. Five (4.6%) patients required additional treatment after GKRS. One (1.6%) patient each had worsening of headache, optic atrophy and cerebellar infarct after GKRS therapy. Conclusion: GKRS offers a safe adjunctive treatment modality, with satisfactory long-term preservation of hormone functions and a high rate of tumor control, in patients with NFPA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction and objectives: Surgeons should aim for continuous quality improvement. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of incremental changes to Robot Assisted Radical Prostatectomy (RARP) technique on intra-operative and early post-operative outcomes. Patients and methods: All cases of RARP performed by a single surgeon in a tertiary institution over a 2-year period were included in this evaluation. Routine clinical data were collected. Cases were retrospectively allocated to four groups depending on key technical steps (1 = standard anterior approach; 2 = anterior approach with preservation of endopelvic fascia, puboprostatic fascia and urachus; 3 = posterior approach for nerve spare, with preservation of endopelvic fascia, puboprostatic fascia and urachus; 4 = Retzius-sparing posterior approach). Results: 187 patients were allocated to groups: 1 = 22, 2 = 53, 3 = 90, 4 = 22. There were no significant differences in pre-operative characteristics, except age: 1 = 62.5, 2 = 62, 3 = 62.5, 4 = 58.5 (p = 0.02). Intra-operative differences were found in console time: 1 = 195, 2 = 167, 3 = 195 4 = 136.5 min (p < 0.001); and proportion of non-nerve sparing cases: 1 = 36%, 2 = 17%, 3 = 13%, 4 = 0% (p = 0.044). No significant differences were found in lymph node dissections, blood loss or complications. Post-operatively, no differences were found in length of stay, pathological characteristics, margin status, lymph node yield, complications or PSA levels. Significant differences were seen in pad-free continence at 6 weeks: 1 = 23%, 2 = 23%, 3 = 34%, 4 = 73% (p < 0.01); and social continence (using 1 pad) at 6-weeks: 1 = 59%, 2 = 87%, 3 = 81%, 4 = 95% (p = 0.01). Significant differences in pad-free continence persisted at 12 months: 1 = 63%, 2 = 81%, 3 = 78%, 4 = 100% (p = 0.019). Conclusion: Our results suggest that aggregated marginal gains from incremental modification of RARP leads to significantly improved continence outcomes without compromising patient safety or oncological control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The decoration of metal oxide semiconducting nanoparticles upon the side walls of multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) is examined to create the defects attached with the -COOH group. The walls of the MWCNTs are modified by the ZnO nanoparticles to decrease the resistance of ZnO nanoparticles. The sensitive MWCNT-based ZnO semiconductor (MWCTs/ZnO) nanostructures are synthesized through the bottom-up approach known as co-precipitation method. Some spherical zero-dimensional and elongated structures are also studied. Three samples of MWCNT-based ZnO nanoparticles are synthesized at 65 °C, 80 °C, and 90 °C. The XRD results show that the major diffraction plane of samples has wurtzite hexagonal structure. SEM analysis show that ZnO nanoparticles made the cluster of agglomeration on the walls of the MWCNTs. TEM results show that some of the particles are in spherical shaped and some are elongated. It is observed that the carboxylate group such as COOH on the side walls of the MWCNTs has greater sensitivity 0.36% toward infrared radiations. Moreover, the infrared sensing response of the MWCNT-based ZnO nanosensor increased by varying their synthesizing temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding how the living human brain functions requires sophisticated in vivo neuroimaging technologies to characterise the complexity of neuroanatomy, neural function, and brain metabolism. Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) studies of human brain function have historically been limited in their capacity to measure dynamic neural activity. Simultaneous [18 F]-FDG-PET and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) with FDG infusion protocols enable examination of dynamic changes in cerebral glucose metabolism simultaneously with dynamic changes in blood oxygenation. The Monash vis-fPET-fMRI dataset is a simultaneously acquired FDG-fPET/BOLD-fMRI dataset acquired from n = 10 healthy adults (18–49 yrs) whilst they viewed a flickering checkerboard task. The dataset contains both raw (unprocessed) images and source data organized according to the BIDS specification. The source data includes PET listmode, normalization, sinogram and physiology data. Here, the technical feasibility of using opensource frameworks to reconstruct the PET listmode data is demonstrated. The dataset has significant re-use value for the development of new processing pipelines, signal optimisation methods, and to formulate new hypotheses concerning the relationship between neuronal glucose uptake and cerebral haemodynamics. Measurement(s) brain activity Technology Type(s) functional magnetic resonance imaging • FDG-Positron Emission Tomography Sample Characteristic - Organism Homo sapiens Machine-accessible metadata file describing the reported data: https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.14977851 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was designed to evaluate the age-related changes in biometal and antimicrobial peptide (cathelicidin) concentration and their role in oxidative cum pro-inflammatory cascade in an ovine animal model. Clinically healthy ovine (n = 126) were grouped as Group I (n = 55, age = up to 3 years), Group II (n = 52, age = above 3-below 6 years) and Group III (n = 19, age = 6 years above). Samples (aqueous humour and lens of the eye) were collected stored at − 80 °C till further analysis. In aqueous humour, the concentration of zinc (p < 0.001 in group III), copper (p < 0.05 in group II and p < 0.001 group III) and iron (p < 0.05 in group III) were significantly increased compared to group I. While as the concentration of magnesium were significantly decreased in group II (p < 0.001) and group III (p < 0.05) compared to group I. Similarly in eye lens the level of copper remained uniform as no significant change was observed across different age groups, while as significantly elevated levels of iron were observed in group III (p < 0.001) compared to group I. whereas, levels of lens Zinc (p < 0.05 in group II) and magnesium (p < 0.05 in group III and p < 0.001 in group II) were significantly decreased compared to group I. Age-dependent increase in levels of oxidation products which include advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) in aqueous humour and lenses of group II and group III (p < 0.001) and MDA in aqueous humour of group III (p < 0.05) were found compared to levels recorded in group I. In contrast, levels of antioxidants which include lens vitamin C in group II and group III (p < 0.01) and lens superoxide dismutase (SOD) in group III (p < 0.001) were significantly increased compared to group I. Levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in aqueous humour revealed significantly (p < 0.001) age-dependent increase in IL-1, IL-6 and TNF-α elevated in group III, and group II as compared to group I, However, cathelicidin level in aqueous humour of group III and group II were significantly (p < 0.001) lower as compared to groups I. Furthermore,the present study observed significant (p < 0.05) metal–metal positive interaction between copper levels in lens with levels of (iron and magnesium) in aqueous humour, levels of Zn in lens with levels of Zn in aqueous humour, levels of Mg in lens with levels of (Cu, Zn and Mg) in aqueous humour. In addition,the present study reports significantly negative interaction between levels of lens Fe with levels of lens magnesium level, aqueous humour magnesium level and levels of copper in aqueous humour. A significantly positive correlation was observed between oxidative markers and pro-inflammatory cytokine levels, while a significant negative correlation was observed between antioxidant defence markers and pro-inflammatory cytokine. These results suggest the essential role of age-related changes in biometal levels, oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory cytokines. These changes might help understand age-related changes in pathogenesis and effective targeting of pathogenetic pathways in ocular diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Present technical paper investigates the humidity sensing properties of Fe doped SnO2 nanocoral (FSNC)-like structures which were achieved by hydrothermal synthesis. The structural properties of FSNC samples were characterized using field emission scanning electron microscopy (Hitachi S–4800), energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy and x-ray diffraction (Rigaku Miniflex). FSNC with rod-, spherical-, and rod-shaped tentacles have been achieved using autoclave reactors of size 100 ml, 250 ml and 500 ml, respectively. The average crystallite size of FSNC with rod-, spherical-, and rod-shaped tentacles have been found to be ~ 6.51 nm, 7.26 nm and 4.93 nm, respectively. The sensing properties of the FSNC sensors have been established in a humidity chamber for a range of 20–80% relative humidity. The response/recovery time of sensors for FSNC with rod-, spherical-, and rod-shaped tentacles have been found to be 18/32 s, 25/40 s, and 20/30 s, respectively. The highest sensitivity has been achieved for FSNC with rod-shaped tentacles. The humidity sensing properties of FSNC sensors, such as response/recovery time, stability, hysteresis, and sensitivity have been investigated in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Semiconducting oxide nanocomposites of ZnO/SnO2 with different weight ratio, i.e. (i) ZnO:SnO2 = 100:0 (ZnO0), (ii) ZnO:SnO2 = 75:25 (ZnO25), and (iii) ZnO:SnO2 = 50:50 (ZnO50), were prepared by sol–gel method. X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurement reveals a rutile type tetragonal structure of SnO2 whereas hexagonal wurtzite structure of ZnO. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) measurement suggests an effective role of SnO2 addition on the particle size of studied nanocomposites. Energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX), carried out for elemental analysis for the studied nanocomposites, reveals the Sn deficiency in ZnO50 nanocomposite sample. Frequency dependent dielectric behavior recorded at different temperatures has been understood in the context of cole–cole plots for all the nanocomposites where variations in relaxation time and relaxation time distribution have been discussed in detail. Variation in ac conductivity has been discussed on the basis of Jonscher's universal power law and crossover from correlated barrier hopping (CBH) mechanism to Maxwell–Wagner (M–W) relaxation has been identified for the studies nanocomposites. Overall electrical properties have been discussed in the context of oxygen vacancies, defects, disorder, and thermal energy in details. Highlights: Cost effective synthesis of ZnO and SnO2 based nanocomposites. Strong effect of addition of SnO2 on electrical properties nanocomposites. Effective role of SnO2 nanoparticles in governing polarization mechanisms. Efficient role of SnO2 nanoparticles in governing charge hopping mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite numerous studies investigating resilience and personality trials, a paucity of information regarding their neurobiological commonalities at the level of the large resting-state networks (rsNWs) remains. Here we address this topic using the advantages of ultra-high-field (UHF) 7T-MRI, characterized by higher signal-to-noise ratio and increased sensitivity. The association between resilience, personality traits and three fMRI measures (fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (fALFF), degree centrality (DC) and regional homogeneity (ReHo)) determined for three core rsNWs (default mode (DMN), salience (SN), and central executive network (CEN)) were examined in 32 healthy volunteers. The investigation revealed a significant role of SN in both resilience and personality traits and a tight association of the DMN with resilience. DC in CEN emerged as a significant moderator for the correlations of resilience with the personality traits of neuroticism and extraversion. Our results indicate that the common neurobiological basis of resilience and the Big Five personality traits may be reflected at the level of the core rsNWs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we report the results of the fabrication and studies of Y0.95Ca0.05MnO3/Si device (referred hereafter as YCMO/Si) by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) and its temperature-dependent resistive switching (RS) behaviours measured across the YCMO/Si interface. These temperature (100–300 K)-dependent hysteretic current–voltage (I–V) characteristics have been understood on the basis of various possible charge conduction mechanisms involving the thermal effects on the charge carriers during four different cycles of the RS behaviours. Variations in the values of barrier height and the ratio of free to trapped charge carrier densities with temperature have been discussed for reverse bias mode of this YCMO/Si device. Temperature-dependent temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) under different applied forward voltages shows an interesting variations in TCR with applied forward voltage, which proves this device as a potential candidate for practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Every year tones of plastic are produced and people become the victim of many types of waste including domestic, agronomic and industrialized waste. In this paper, we have constructed the mathematical model to examine the rising pollution level due to industrial plastic waste and the process of destroying or renovating this plastic waste using several toxic chemicals. The dynamical model suggests investing the influential part of the budget into civilization health policy, like reducing the plastic burning and support the installation of the eco-friendly plastic recycling machine to reuse dumped industrial plastic. Both of these policies are strides to the health as well as the economic progress of the country. In the model, the local stability of the system of nonlinear differential equations is qualitatively analyzed with appropriate conditions. Graph theory results help to distinguish the global stability behavior of the model. Techniques to reduce plastic pollution are outlined by optimizing both the policies which are simulated numerically with given validated data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has a five-year survival under 10%. Treatment is compromised due to a fibrotic-like stromal remodeling process, known as desmoplasia, which limits therapeutic perfusion, supports tumor progression, and establishes an immunosuppressive microenvironment. These processes are driven by cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), functionally activated through transforming growth factor beta1 (TGFβ1). CAFs produce a topographically aligned extracellular matrix (ECM) that correlates with reduced overall survival. Paradoxically, ablation of CAF populations results in a more aggressive disease, suggesting CAFs can also restrain PDAC progression. Thus, unraveling the mechanism(s) underlying CAF functions could lead to therapies that reinstate the tumor-suppressive features of the pancreatic stroma. CAF activation involves the f-actin organizing protein palladin. CAFs express two palladin isoforms (iso3 and iso4) which are up-regulated in response to TGFβ1. However, the roles of iso3 and iso4 in CAF functions remain elusive. Using a CAF-derived ECM model, we uncovered that iso3/iso4 are required to sustain TGFβ1-dependent CAF activation, secrete immunosuppressive cytokines, and produce a pro-tumoral ECM. Findings demonstrate a novel role for CAF palladin and suggest that iso3/iso4 regulate both redundant and specific tumor-supportive desmoplastic functions. This study highlights the therapeutic potential of targeting CAFs to restore fibroblastic anti-tumor activity in the pancreatic microenvironment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this communication, structural and electrical properties have been discussed for chemically grown ZnO–LaMnO3 (ZnO–LMO) nanocomposites. Nanocomposites were prepared by mixing the different weights, i.e., ratios of ZnO to LMO, 100:0, 95:5, 90:10, 85:15, and 0:100 wt% of ZnO:LMO in their composite form. X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurement shows that all the pure and composite samples possess single-phase nature without any detectable impurity. Particle size and shape were identified using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) measurement. Frequency-dependent dielectric constant (ε′), loss tangent (tanδ), real and imaginary parts of the electric modulus (M′ and M′′), and a.c. conductivity have been carried out at room temperature for all the samples. Dielectric behavior has been understood in the context of universal dielectric relaxation (UDR) model and relaxation mechanism fits well throughout the frequency range studied. Variation in a.c. conductivity has been discussed on the basis of Jonscher's universal power law. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper describes a multidisciplinary work that uses a model-based systems engineering method for developing real-time magnetoencephalography (MEG) signal processing. We introduce a requirement-driven, model-based development methodology (RDD and MBD) to provide a high-level environment and efficiently handle the complexity of computation and control systems. The proposed development methodology focuses on the use of System Modeling Language to define high-level model-based design descriptions for later implementation in heterogeneous hardware/software systems. The proposed approach was applied to the implementation of a real-time artifact rejection unit in MEG signal processing and demonstrated high efficiency in designing complex high-performance embedded systems. In MEG signal processing, biological artifacts in particular have a signal strength that overtop the signal of interest by orders of magnitude and must be removed from the measurement to achieve high-quality source reconstructions with minimal error contributions. However, many existing brain–computer interface studies overlook real-time artifact removal because of the demanding computational process. In this work, an automated real-time artifact rejection method is introduced, which is based on the recently presented method "ocular and cardiac artifact rejection for real-time analysis in MEG" (OCARTA). The method has been implemented using the RDD and MBD approach and successfully verified on a Virtex-6 field-programmable gate array. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: A recent study reported on high, longer lasting and finally reversible cerebral uptake of O-(2-[18F]fluoroethyl)-L-tyrosine ([18F]FET) induced by epileptic activity. Therefore, we examined cerebral [18F]FET uptake in two chemically induced rat epilepsy models and in patients with focal epilepsy to further investigate whether this phenomenon represents a major pitfall in brain tumor diagnostics and whether [18F]FET may be a potential marker to localize epileptic foci.Procedures: Five rats underwent kainic acid titration to exhibit 3 to 3.5 h of class IV-V motor seizures (status epilepticus, SE). Rats underwent 4× [18F]FET PET and 4× MRI on the following 25 days. Six rats underwent kindling with pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) 3 to 8×/week over 10 weeks, and hence, seizures increased from class I to class IV. [18F]FET PET and MRI were performed regularly on days with and without seizures. Four rats served as healthy controls. Additionally, five patients with focal epilepsy underwent [18F]FET PET within 12 days after the last documented seizure.Results: No abnormalities in [18F]FET PET or MRI were detected in the kindling model. The SE model showed significantly decreased [18F]FET uptake 3 days after SE in all examined brain regions, and especially in the amygdala region, which normalized within 2 weeks. Corresponding signal alterations in T2-weighted MRI were noted in the amygdala and hippocampus, which recovered 24 days post-SE. No abnormality of cerebral [18F]FET uptake was noted in the epilepsy patients.Conclusions: There was no evidence for increased cerebral [18F]FET uptake after epileptic seizures neither in the rat models nor in patients. The SE model even showed decreased [18F]FET uptake throughout the brain. We conclude that epileptic seizures per se do not cause a longer lasting increased [18F]FET accumulation and are unlikely to be a major cause of pitfall for brain tumor diagnostics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of an external constant magnetic field on the dielectric properties and magnetodielectric (MD) coupling in La0.4Eu0.1Ca0.5MnO3 polycrystalline manganite at room temperature (RT) has been investigated. This sample exhibits negative colossal MD values under low applied magnetic fields (− 30% and − 45% under applied fields of 0.6 T and 1.2 T, respectively). The colossal MD values as well as the relatively low dielectric loss values suggest that the La0.4Eu0.1Ca0.5MnO3 sample can be a suitable␣candidate for technological applications at RT, like magnetic field sensing and gyrators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In addition to the structural information afforded by 1H MRI, the use of X-nuclei, such as sodium-23 (23Na) or phosphorus-31 (31P), offers important complementary information concerning physiological and biochemical parameters. By then combining this technique with PET, which provides valuable insight into a wide range of metabolic and molecular processes by using of a variety of radioactive tracers, the scope of medical imaging and diagnostics can be significantly increased. While the use of multimodal imaging is undoubtedly advantageous, identifying the optimal combination of these parameters to diagnose a specific dysfunction is very important and is advanced by the use of sophisticated imaging techniques in specific animal models. Methods: In this pilot study, rats with intracerebral 9L gliosarcomas were used to explore a combination of sequential multinuclear MRI using a sophisticated switchable coil set in a small animal 9.4 T MRI scanner and, subsequently, a small animal PET with the tumour tracer O-(2-[18F]-fluoroethyl)-L-tyrosine ([18F]FET). This made it possible for in vivo multinuclear MR-PET experiments to be conducted without compromising the performance of either multinuclear MR or PET. Results: High-quality in vivo images and spectra including high-resolution 1H imaging, 23Na-weighted imaging, detection of 31P metabolites and [18F]FET uptake were obtained, allowing the characterisation of tumour tissues in comparison to a healthy brain. It has been reported in the literature that these parameters are useful in the identification of the genetic profile of gliomas, particularly concerning the mutation of the isocitrate hydrogenase gene, which is highly relevant for treatment strategy. Conclusions: The combination of multinuclear MR and PET in, for example, brain tumour models with specific genetic mutations will enable the physiological background of signal alterations to be explored and the identification of the optimal combination of imaging parameters for the non-invasive characterisation of the molecular profile of tumours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Recent studies reported on high uptake of the PSMA ligands [68Ga]HBED-CC (68Ga-PSMA) and 18F-DCFPyL in cerebral gliomas. This study explores the regional uptake and cellular targets of 68Ga-PSMA and 18F-DCFPyL in three different rat glioma models. Methods: F98, 9 L, or U87 rat gliomas were implanted into the brains of 38 rats. After 13 days of tumor growth, 68Ga-PSMA (n = 21) or 18F-DCFPyL (n = 17) was injected intravenously, and animals were sacrificed 40 min later. Five animals for each tracer and tumor model were additionally investigated by micro-PET at 20–40 min post injection. Cryosections of the tumor bearing brains were analyzed by ex vivo autoradiography and immunofluorescence staining for blood vessels, microglia, astrocytes, and presence of PSMA. Blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability was tested by coinjection of Evans blue dye (EBD). 68Ga-PSMA uptake after restoration of BBB integrity by treatment with dexamethasone (Dex) was evaluated in four animals with U87 gliomas. Competition experiments using the PSMA-receptor inhibitor 2-(phosphonomethyl)pentane-1,5-dioic acid (PMPA) were performed for both tracers in two animals each. Results: Autoradiography demonstrated a strong 68Ga-PSMA and 18F-DCFPyL binding in the peritumoral area and moderate binding in the center of the tumors. PMPA administration led to complete inhibition of 68Ga-PSMA and 18F-DCFPyL binding in the peritumoral region. Restoration of BBB by Dex treatment reduced EBD extravasation but 68Ga-PSMA binding remained unchanged. Expression of activated microglia (CD11b) was low in the intra- and peritumoral area but GFAP staining revealed strong activation of astrocytes in congruency to the tracer binding in the peritumoral area. All tumors were visualized in micro PET, showing a lower tumor/brain contrast with 68Ga-PSMA than with 18F-DCFPyL. Conclusions: High uptake of 68Ga-PSMA and 18F-DCFPyL in the peritumoral area of all glioma models is presumably caused by activated astrocytes. This may represent a limitation for the clinical application of PSMA ligands in gliomas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present communication, nanostructured Bi0.9Nd0.1FeO3 (BNFO) multiferroics have been successfully synthesized by sol–gel method and finally sintered at different temperatures. In order to investigate the structural properties, X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurement was carried out at room temperature that reveals the single phase of BNFO samples. For microstructural behaviors and granular morphology of nanostructures, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was performed. It is observed that grain morphology gets improved with increase in sintering temperature. For elemental analysis, energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX) was carried out for all BNFO samples, which reveal appropriate doping of Nd at Bi site in BNFO samples. Frequency dependent dielectric measurements show that the dielectric constant increases with increase in sintering temperature, which has been understood on the basis granular morphology of the samples. Frequency dependent dielectric behavior follows the universal dielectric response (UDR) model for all BNFO samples. Magnetodielectric (MD) effect has been investigated in the frequency range of 20 Hz–2 MHz, which shows a strong dependence of sintering temperature and granular morphology of the samples. AC conductivity was found to obey the Jonscher's universal power law, which suggests the correlated barrier hopping (CBH) process as a responsible mechanism for charge conduction across the BNFO lattices. Highlights: Multiferroic Bi0.9Nd0.1FeO3 (BNFO) nanoparticles were prepared by low cost sol–gel method. Different particle sizes were obtained by varying sintering temperature (700, 750, and 800 °C). Effect of sintering temperature on the structural, microstructural, and dielectric properties has been discussed. Strong magnetoelectric coupling effect observed for BNFO nanoparticle at room temperature. Magnetic field tunable dielectric relaxation process in BNFO nanoparticles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Positron emission tomography (PET) using O-(2-[18F]fluoroethyl)-L-tyrosine ([18F]FET) improves the diagnostics of cerebral gliomas compared with conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Sodium MRI is an evolving method to assess tumor metabolism. In this pilot study, we explored the relationship of [18F]FET-PET and sodium MRI in patients with cerebral gliomas in relation to the mutational status of the enzyme isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH).Procedures: Ten patients with untreated cerebral gliomas and one patient with a recurrent glioblastoma (GBM) were investigated by dynamic [18F]FET-PET and sodium MRI using an enhanced simultaneous single-quantum- and triple-quantum-filtered imaging of 23Na (SISTINA) sequence to estimate total (NaT), weighted non-restricted (NaNR, mainly extracellular), and restricted (NaR, mainly intracellular) sodium in tumors and normal brain tissue. [18F]FET uptake and sodium parameters in tumors with a different IDH mutational status were compared. After biopsy or resection, histology and the IDH mutational status were determined neuropathologically.Results: NaT (p = 0.05), tumor-to-brain ratios (TBR) of NaT (p = 0.02), NaNR (p = 0.003), and the ratio of NaT/NaR (p < 0.001) were significantly higher in IDH-mutated than in IDH-wild-type gliomas (n = 5 patients each) while NaR was significantly lower in IDH-mutated gliomas (p = 0.01). [18F]FET parameters (TBR, time-to-peak) were not predictive of IDH status in this small cohort of patients. There was no obvious relationship between sodium distribution and [18F]FET uptake. The patient with a recurrent GBM exhibited an additional radiation injury with strong abnormalities in sodium MRI.Conclusions: Sodium MRI appears to be more strongly related to the IDH mutational status than are [18F]FET-PET parameters. A further evaluation of the combination of the two methods in a larger group of high- and low-grade gliomas seems promising. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this communication, structure and charge, conduction mechanisms have been understood for sol–gel-grown nanostructured La0.6Nd0.1Sr0.3MnO3 (LNSMO) manganites prepared at different process temperatures under air and oxygen environments. Obtained X-ray diffraction patterns of all the samples were analysed using Rietveld refinements and obtained structural lattice parameters have been discussed in correlation with resistivity behaviour of the samples. Observed low temperature resistivity upturn behaviour has been examined in the context of electron–electron scattering mechanism. Metallic and insulating/semiconducting behaviours of all the nanostructured LNSMO manganites have been understood by using various models and mechanisms. Magnetoresistance isotherms have also been theoretically fitted and separate grain and grain boundary contributions have been studied for LNSMO manganite samples. All obtained fitting parameters have been discussed in the context of role of applied magnetic field, process temperature and annealing environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cadmium (Cd) contamination of the water resources is one of the serious environmental issues. The present study aims to (1) evaluate the biosorption potential of Cassia fistula biomass for the removal of Cd from contaminated water and validate the experimental results with kinetic and equilibrium sorption models, (2) assess the removal of Cd from groundwater samples in the presence of other competing ions in the solution. The C. fistula biomass was characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller technique and scanning electron microscopy to understand the role of its physical properties in Cd biosorption and removal. The effects of biosorbent dose, initial Cd concentrations, contact time and presence of competing cations in groundwater samples at constant pH and temperature (27 ± 1.5 °C) were studied. At equilibrium (90 min), Cd removal (98–16%) and biosorption (6.26–0.34 mg/g) were recorded depending on the experimental conditions. The Langmuir model yielded a better approximation of the experimental data at equilibrium Q max = 7.24 mg/g, R 2 = 0.99 rather than Freundlich model. The pseudo-second-order kinetic model explained well the kinetic behavior of Cd biosorption. Results revealed a decline in the Cd removal (12.7 and 6% at 0.25 and 1.0 g/100 mL, respectively) in the presence of cations in the water samples. The results proved that C. fistula is a very effective and environment friendly alternative adsorbent for the removal (98%) of Cd from the aqueous system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) technology has been proven to be a viable strategy for balancing the trade-off between energy efficiency (EE) and spectral efficiency (SE), which is key to the design of fifth-generation wireless cellular networks. In this work, we investigate the trade-off between EE and SE for downlink massive MIMO in wireless communication networks with respect to the power allocation problem. We maximize EE by deriving the signal-to-interference noise ratio for higher SE in the upper bound and propose that the EE–SE trade-off can be maximized when formulated as a Pareto-optimal solution based on the optimization problem. A Lagrange dual decomposition method is also developed for both transmit power allocation and the number of available antennas. From the simulation results, the maximum trade-off between EE and SE can be achieved based on the optimal transmit power allocation in every cell and when the number of base stations for the value of SE is high. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Present report deals with the synthesis of nanocrystalline cadmium oxide (CdO) using low-cost acetate precursor based modified sol-gel technique. Final product was sintered at different temperatures and studied for their structural, optical and electrical properties. In this present work, we report the sintering temperature-dependent structural, optical and electrical properties of nanocrystalline cadmium oxide (CdO) grown by cost effective sol-gel method. Structural properties of CdO materials were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) which reveals the crystalline phase of the samples without any detectable impurity within the range of measurements. Crystallite size (CS), calculated using Scherer's formula, is found in the range of nanometer (<100 nm) and increases with increasing sintering temperature. Average crystallite size of all CdO nanocrystals were estimated using the William-Hall (W-H) plots from XRD patterns. Furthermore, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images were captured to check the crystallinity and particle growth of the samples. The optical properties of nanocrystalline CdO were studied by using UV-Visible (UV-Vis) absorption spectrum. High absorption has been observed for nanocrystalline CdO sintered at lower temperatures. The band gap of nanocrystalline CdO was calculated by using Tauc's law where band gap increases with increasing sintering temperature. The electrical properties of the samples were studied by performing dielectric and AC conductivity measurements. It is observed that dielectric constant decreases with increase in frequency and sintering temperature. Variation in AC conductivity with light and sintering temperature has been discussed in detail. Successfully synthesis of high quality nanocrystalline CdO materials using cost effective sol-gel method.Role of sintering temperature on the optical band gap calculated from UV- visible spectroscopy using tauc's law.Role of sintering temperature affect the dielectric property and AC conductivity in applied field frequency range.The effect of photon on the AC conductive properties of samples sintered at different temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC) are important new anticoagulant therapies that are not well studied in patients with chronic liver disease. The aim of this study was to compare rates of bleeding in cirrhosis patients treated with DOAC (factor Xa inhibitors: rivaroxaban and apixaban) to those in cirrhosis patients treated with traditional anticoagulation (warfarin and low molecular weight heparin).Methods: We identified a total of 39 patients with cirrhosis who received anticoagulation therapy over a 3-year period (20 DOAC and 19 traditional anticoagulation) from a research database. Medical records were reviewed to obtain clinical data to compare between the groups.Results: Clinical characteristics between the two groups were similar. There were three documented bleeding events in the traditional anticoagulation group and four bleeding events in the DOAC group (p = 0.9). There were two major bleeding events in the traditional anticoagulation group and one major bleeding event in the DOAC group. There were no documented reports of drug-induced liver injury during this study period. Among all patients, no significant predictors of bleeding were identified using univariate regression and Cox proportional hazard modeling.Conclusions: This is the first clinical study evaluating the use of DOAC in patients with cirrhosis. DOAC display similar safety characteristics when compared to traditional anticoagulation in patients with cirrhosis and are potentially attractive agents for anticoagulation therapy. Larger studies are now needed to better understand the safety and efficacy of these agents in cirrhosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on individual circadian cycles and associated cognitive rhythms, humans can be classified via standardised self-reports as being early (EC), late (LC) and intermediate (IC) chronotypes. Alterations in neural cortical structure underlying these chronotype differences have rarely been investigated and are the scope of this study. 16 healthy male ECs, 16 ICs and 16 LCs were measured with a 3 T MAGNETOM TIM TRIO (Siemens, Erlangen) scanner using a magnetization prepared rapid gradient echo sequence. Data were analysed by applying voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and vertex-wise cortical thickness (CTh) analysis. VBM analysis revealed that ECs showed significantly lower grey matter volumes bilateral in the lateral occipital cortex and the precuneus as compared to LCs, and in the right lingual gyrus, occipital fusiform gyrus and the occipital pole as compared to ICs. CTh findings showed lower grey matter volumes for ECs in the left anterior insula, precuneus, inferior parietal cortex, and right pars triangularis than for LCs, and in the right superior parietal gyrus than for ICs. These findings reveal that chronotype differences are associated with specific neural substrates of cortical thickness, surface areas, and folding. We conclude that this might be the basis for chronotype differences in behaviour and brain function. Furthermore, our results speak for the necessity of considering “chronotype” as a potentially modulating factor in all kinds of structural brain-imaging experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: PET using radiolabelled amino acids has become a promising tool in the diagnostics of gliomas and brain metastasis. Current research is focused on the evaluation of amide proton transfer (APT) chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) MR imaging for brain tumour imaging. In this hybrid MR-PET study, brain tumours were compared using 3D data derived from APT-CEST MRI and amino acid PET using O-(2-18F-fluoroethyl)-L-tyrosine (18F-FET).Methods: Eight patients with gliomas were investigated simultaneously with 18F-FET PET and APT-CEST MRI using a 3-T MR-BrainPET scanner. CEST imaging was based on a steady-state approach using a B1 average power of 1μT. B0 field inhomogeneities were corrected a Prametric images of magnetisation transfer ratio asymmetry (MTRasym) and differences to the extrapolated semi-solid magnetisation transfer reference method, APT# and nuclear Overhauser effect (NOE#), were calculated. Statistical analysis of the tumour-to-brain ratio of the CEST data was performed against PET data using the non-parametric Wilcoxon test.Results: A tumour-to-brain ratio derived from APT# and 18F-FET presented no significant differences, and no correlation was found between APT# and 18F-FET PET data. The distance between local hot spot APT# and 18F-FET were different (average 20 ± 13 mm, range 4-45 mm).Conclusion: For the first time, CEST images were compared with 18F-FET in a simultaneous MR-PET measurement. Imaging findings derived from18F-FET PET and APT CEST MRI seem to provide different biological information. The validation of these imaging findings by histological confirmation is necessary, ideally using stereotactic biopsy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phenotype of calcium channel subunit (CACN) α2δ3 knockout (KO) mice includes sensory cross-activation and deficient pain perception. Sensory cross-activation defines the activation of a sensory cortical region by input from another modality due to reorganization in the brain such as after sensory loss. To obtain mechanistic insight into both phenomena, we employed a comprehensive battery of neuroanatomical techniques. While CACNα2δ3 was ubiquitously expressed in wild-type mice, it was absent in α2δ3 KO animals. Immunostaining of α1A, α1B, and α1E revealed upregulation of N-type and R-type, but not P/Q-type Ca2 channels in cortical neurons of CACNα2δ3 KO mice. Compared to wild-type mice, axonal processes in somatosensory cortex were enhanced, and dendritic processes reduced, in CACNα2δ3 KO mice. Immunohistochemical and MRI analyses, investigating morphology, thalamocortical and intra-/intercortical trajectories, revealed a disparity between projection and commissural fibers with reduction of the number of spatial specificity of thalamocortical projections. L1cam staining revealed wide-ranging projections of thalamocortical fibers reaching both somatosensory/motor and visual cortical areas. Activation (c-fos) of excitatory and inhibitory neurons suggested that deficient pain perception in α2δ3 KO mice is unlikely to result from cortical disinhibition. Collectively, our data demonstrate that knock out of CACN α2δ3 results in some structural abnormalities whose functional implications converge to dedifferentiation of sensory activation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Six new organotin(IV) carboxylates, [MeSnL] ( 1), [ n-BuSnL] ( 2), [ n-OctSnL] ( 3), [MeSnL] ( 4), [ n-BuSnL] ( 5) and [PhSnL] ( 6), where L = 3-(4-ethoxyphenyl)-2-methylacrylate, have been synthesized and characterized by FT-IR, NMR spectroscopy and elemental analyses. The synthesized compounds were tested for in vitro antibacterial and antifungal activities. The complexes 4-6 demonstrated higher activity than the complexes 1-3. UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy indicated that the ligand and its complexes interacted with DNA via partial intercalation as well as minor groove binding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study focused on the feasibility of high NH -N (400-600 mg/L) and COD load at two different hydraulic retention times (HRTs = 36 and 24 h) in two identical aerobic-anoxic sequencing bioreactors which were constructed in series in a single system using a specifically designed single biomass containing autotrophic nitrifying and heterotrophic denitrifying bacteria. Internal recirculation of synthetic wastewater from one tank to other was not carried out like the conventional aerobic-anoxic processes. Cycles of 15 days under sequences of aerated and non-aerated periods of three hour each were repeated during each continuous flow experiment conducted. Sodium bicarbonate and sodium acetate were selected as the appropriate inorganic and organic carbon sources. The results showed that the HRT may not affect the simultaneous nitrification and denitrification processes. Average nitrification ratio was obtained to be above 20 mg/L NH -N/h daily. Results of 90 days' operation also showed high removal efficiencies of ammoniacal nitrogen of about 83% daily. The main advantage of this process includes efficient ammoniacal nitrogen removal without separated aerobic and anoxic tanks, decrease operating costs due to the lesser oxygen concentration requirement in the bioreactors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This cross-sectional study provides a general profile of mothers of children with ASDs in Kuwait and examines their use of social support resources and coping strategies (using the Brief COPE questionnaire). The majority of mothers reported decreased ability to perform social duties (62.4%) and take care of themselves (50.5%). Overall, 57.7% of mothers reported a decreased ability to enjoy life; this difference was more pronounced among non-Kuwaiti mothers compared to Kuwaiti mothers (p value = 0.03), and in mothers with a bachelor's degree or higher (p value = 0.011). There was a significant association between the mothers' ability to enjoy life and receiving support from the family (p value = 0.021) and support groups (p value = 0.003). 'Religion', 'Acceptance', and 'Positive Reframing' were the 3 most common coping strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electrical transport properties of manganites play a significant role in the diverse applications of spintronics. In this communication, we report the variation in the electrical transport properties of YCaMnO (YCMO) films deposited on (100) single crystalline Si substrates by two different deposition techniques: chemical solution deposition (CSD) and pulsed laser deposition (PLD). The charge conduction mechanisms responsible for the electrical transport properties of these films have been studied across the YCMO/Si junctions using temperature-dependent current-voltage ( I- V) and resistance-voltage characteristics and results have been compared for both the devices fabricated by CSD and PLD techniques. The role of structural strain and space charge limited conduction (SCLC) processes has been discussed to understand the results of I- V and electroresistance (ER) behavior across the junctions. The CSD grown films exhibits better electrical transport properties at the junction, i.e., high current across the junction, low junction resistance and large ER, and this has been discussed in detail on the basis of low structural strain present at the interface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]