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Aims The aim of this study was to assess the morphological characteristics and prognostic implications of the optical coherence tomography (OCT)-derived lipid core burden index (LCBI). Methods and results OCT-LCBI was assessed in 1003 patients with 1-year follow-up from the CLIMA multicentre registry using a validated software able to automatically obtain a maximum OCT-LCBI in 4 mm (maxOCT-LCBI4mm). Primary composite clinical endpoint included cardiac death, myocardial infarction, and target-vessel revascularization. A secondary analysis using clinical outcomes of CLIMA study was performed. Patients with a maxOCT-LCBI4mm ≥ 400 showed higher prevalence of fibrous cap thickness (FCT) <75 μm [odds ratio (OR) 1.43, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.03–1.99; P = 0.034], lipid pool arc >180° (OR 3.93, 95%CI 2.97–5.21; P < 0.001), minimum lumen area <3.5 mm2 (OR 1.5, 95%CI 1.16–1.94; P = 0.002), macrophage infiltration (OR 2.38, 95%CI 1.81–3.13; P < 0.001), and intra-plaque intimal vasculature (OR 1.34, 95%CI 1.05–1.72; P = 0.021). A maxOCT-LCBI4mm ≥400 predicted the primary endpoint [adjusted hazard ratio (HR) 1.86, 95%CI 1.1–3.2; P = 0.019] as well as the CLIMA endpoint (HR 2.56, 95%CI 1.24–5.29; P = 0.011). Patients with high lipid content and thin FCT < 75 µm were at higher risk for adverse events (HR 4.88, 95%CI 2.44–9.72; P < 0.001). Conclusions A high maxOCT-LCBI4mm was related to poor outcome and vulnerable plaque features. This study represents a step further in the automated assessment of the coronary plaque risk profile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article questions whether COVID-19 is the deadliest event of the 20th century. It discusses the history of COVID-19 and compares it to past wars and other events including World War II, Spanish flu and AIDS. It also considers the reduction in hospital admissions for acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction and the difficulty of predicting the post-COVID-19 era, especially in terms of impact on and of cardiovascular disease.

The Seebeck coefficient of both electrons and holes in a family of ambipolar diketopyrrolopyrrole copolymers is investigated using field-effect gated measurements. It is found that at high carrier concentrations the magnitude of the Seebeck coefficients is not strongly dependent on the molecular structure of the backbone within this family of polymers. Additionally, the Seebeck coefficients of electrons and holes have very similar magnitudes showing that electrons and holes experience a similar energetic landscape. Subtle differences in the carrier concentration dependence between the polymers are observed, which are interpreted in terms of different degrees of energetic disorder on the basis of molecular dynamics and electronic structure simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on use of polymer blends is also an effective way to explore charge transport in organic semiconductors, with blends usually exhibiting unique behaviors. It mentions amorphous polymer blend as the semiconducting layer and thin film is polycrystalline and charge density is high enough to enter the amorphous region. It also mentions charge accumulation spectroscopy and charge transport behavior and flexibility.

Graph A 52-year-old gentleman, with systemic arterial hypertension, dyslipidaemia, diabetes mellitus, chronic coronary syndrome, and recent severe anaemia episode was referred to our hospital for ischaemic stroke. Cardiac-MR concluded for an uncertain lesion ( I Panel A and B i ), so vitamin K antagonist therapy was started and was stopped when PET-CT diagnosed the mass as a tumour. An angio-cerebral-CT showed numerous micro-ischaemic lesions. [Extracted from the article]

The nanomorphology of the high mobility polymer poly{[N,N′-bis(2-octyldodecyl)-1,4,5,8-naphthalenedicarboximide-2,6-diyl]-alt-5,5′-(2,2′-bithiophene)} P(NDI2OD-T2) in thin films is explored as a function of different annealing conditions and correlated to optical and electrical properties. While nanofibrils with face-on orientation in form I are obtained directly after spin-coating and annealing below the melt transition temperature, clear evidence of lamellar structures is found after melt-annealing followed by slow cooling to room temperature. Interestingly these structural changes are accompanied by distinct changes in the absorption patterns. Electron diffraction measurements further show clear transitions towards predominant edge-on oriented chains in form II upon melt-annealing. Large-scale alignment with dichroic ratios up to 10 and improved order is achieved by high temperature rubbing and subsequent post-rubbing annealing. These highly oriented morphologies allow anisotropic in-plane charge transport to be probed with top-gate transistors parallel and perpendicular to the polymer chain direction. Mobilities up to 0.1 cm2 V-1 s-1 are observed parallel to the polymer chain, which is up to 10 times higher than those perpendicular to the polymer chain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report electroluminescence from ion-gel gated, field-effecttransistors based on the conjugated polymer, poly(9,9′-dioctylfluorene-co-benzothiadiazole)gated by an 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazoliumbis (trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide/poly (styrene-block-ethylene oxide-block-styrene) ion gel, andinvestigate the mechanism for light emission. The devices emit lightfrom near the electron-injecting drain electrode when the drain sourcevoltage exceeds approximately the energy gap of the polymer (Vds> Eg/e). Charge accumulation spectroscopy is used to demonstratethe significantpenetration of the negative TFSI–ions into theF8BT assisted by the application of negative gate voltages, wherethey lead to significant p-type doping of the bulk of the F8BT film.In contrast, no evidence for diffusion of positive ions with positivegate voltages is observed, and this is consistent with the locationof the recombination zone in the proximity of electron injecting electrodeand the absence of a comparable electron current at positive gatevoltages. We conclude that in the light-emission regime the devicesoperate more akin to a hole-current dominated light-emitting electrochemicalcell than a transistor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]