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Interferon-induced transmembrane protein 1 (IFITM1) is a member of the IFITM family that is associated with some acute-phase cytokine-stimulated response. Recently, we demonstrated that IFITM1 was significantly upregulated in the injured spinal cords at the mRNA level. However, its expression and cellular localization at the protein level is still unclear. Here, a rat model of spinal cord injury (SCI) was performed to investigate the spatio-temporal expression of IFITM1 after SCI. IFITM1 mRNA and protein were assessed by quantitative reverse transcription-PCR and western blot, respectively. IHC was used to identify its cellular localization. We revealed that IFITM1 could be found in sham-opened spinal cords and gradually increased after SCI. It reached peak at 7 and 14 days postinjury (dpi) and still maintained at a relatively higher level at 28 dpi. IHC showed that IFITM1 expressed in GFAP+and APC+cells in sham-opened spinal cords. After SCI, in addition to the above-mentioned cells, it could also be found in CD45+and CD68+cells, and its expression in CD45+, CD68+, and GFAP+cells was increased significantly. These results demonstrate that IFITM1 is mainly expressed in astrocytes and oligodendroglia in normal spinal cords, and could rapidly increase in infiltrated leukocytes, activated microglia, and astrocytes after SCI.

UV- and visible-light photoresponse was achieved via p-type K-doped ZnO nanowires and nanosheets that were hydrothermally synthesized on an n-ZnO/glass substrate and peppered with Au nanoparticles. The K content of the p-ZnO nanostructures was 0.36 atom %. The UV- and visible-light photoresponse of the p-ZnO nanostructures/n-ZnO sample was roughly 2 times higher than that of the ZnO nanowires. The Au nanoparticles of various densities and diameter sizes were deposited on the p-ZnO nanostructures/n-ZnO samples by a simple UV photochemical reaction method yielding a tunable and enhanced UV- and visible-light photoresponse. The maximum UV and visible photoresponse of the Au nanoparticle sample was obtained when the diameter size of the Au nanoparticle was approximately 5-35 nm. On the basis of the localized surface plasmon resonance effect, the UV, blue, and green photocurrent/dark current ratios of Au nanoparticle/p-ZnO nanostructures/n-ZnO are ∼1165, ∼94.6, and ∼9.7, respectively.

Prior studies addressing associations between mercury and blood pressure have produced inconsistent findings; some of this may result from measuring total instead of speciated mercury. This cross-sectional study of 263 pregnant women assessed total mercury, speciated mercury, selenium, and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in umbilical cord blood and blood pressure during labor and delivery. Models with a) total mercury or b) methyl and inorganic mercury were evaluated. Regression models adjusted for maternal age, race/ethnicity, prepregnancy body mass index, neighborhood income, parity, smoking, n-3 fatty acids and selenium. Geometric mean total, methyl, and inorganic mercury concentrations were 1.40 μg/L (95% confidence interval: 1.29, 1.52); 0.95 μg/L (0.84, 1.07); and 0.13 μg/L (0.10, 0.17), respectively. Elevated systolic BP, diastolic BP, and pulse pressure were found, respectively, in 11.4, 6.8, and 19.8% of mothers. In adjusted multivariable models, a one-tertile increase of methyl mercury was associated with 2.83 mmHg (0.17, 5.50) higher systolic blood pressure and 2.99 mmHg (0.91, 5.08) higher pulse pressure. In the same models, an increase of one tertile of inorganic mercury was associated with a -1.18 mmHg (-3.72, 1.35) lower systolic blood pressure and -2.51 mmHg (-4.49, -0.53) lower pulse pressure. No associations were observed with diastolic pressure. There was a non-significant trend of higher total mercury with higher systolic blood pressure. We observed a significant association of higher methyl mercury with higher systolic and pulse pressure, yet higher inorganic mercury was significantly associated with lower pulse pressure. These results should be confirmed with larger, longitudinal studies.

Monolithically electro-absorption modulating the DFBLD with pre-emphasized PAM-4 data at 52 Gbaud (104 Gbit/s) for back-to-back link and 48 Gbaud (96 Gbit/s) after 10-km-long SMF transmissions is demonstrated for inter-data-center application.

To investigate the gene-carrying rate and gene mutation types of α- and β-thalassemia in population of Fujian area and to analyze the differences in hemoglobin A2 (HbA2), mean cell volume (MCV) and mean cell hemoglobin (MCH) between different types of thalassemia, so as to provide the reference basis for screening and classification, genetic diagnosis and counseling about thalassemia.Total 1474 samples from different areas of Fujian province were detected for α- and β-thalassemsia genotypes by gap single PCR (GS-PCR) combined with reverse dot blot hybridization (RDB). The detection of peripheral RBC, hemoglobin and primary screening of thalassemia in each set of sample were carried out before test.Among the detected 1474 samples, 704 (47.76%) were diagnosed as α-thalassemia, out of them 416 (28.22%) were diagnosed as α-thalassemia, 267(18.11%) as β-thalassemia, 21 (1.43%) as αβ-thalassemia. The α-thalassemia further was divide into 3 types: silent (5.09%), minor (22.18%) and HbH disease (0.95%), and their MCV, MCH and HbA2 levels were detected. The detection results showed obvious decrease trend with significant difference (P＜0.05).The gene mutation types of thalassemia display obvious heterogenity in Fujian area. The gene type in α-thalassemia mostly is --中国福建地区1474例地中海贫血基因检测结果分析.了解福建地区人群α、β地中海贫血基因的携带率及基因突变的类型，分析不同类型地中海贫血在血红蛋白A2（HbA2）、平均红细胞体积（MCV）和平均红细胞血红蛋白含量（MCH）中的差异性，为其筛查分类、基因诊断、遗传咨询提供参考，以提高人群的优生质量.送检福建各区、县样本，总计1 474例，采用单管多重聚合酶链反应（PCR）结合反向点杂交法（RDB）进行地中海贫血基因检测。各组标本送检前已完成外周血的血红蛋白指数、MCV和MCH测定，即进行了地中海贫血的初筛.在检测1 474例样本中，共检出704例地中海贫血（47.76%），其中α地中海贫血416例（28.22%），β地中海贫血267例（18.11%），α复合β地中海贫血21例（1.43%）。而α地中海贫血细分为3类，分别为静止型（5.09%），轻型（22.18%），中间型（0.95%），在对其HbA2、MCV和MCH的检测结果进行统计分析时发现呈明显的下降趋势，差异显著（P＜0.05）.福建地区α、β地中海贫血基因突变类型存在明显的遗传异质性，α地中海贫血以基因型

n-3 Tetracosapentaenoic acid (24:5n-3, TPAn-3) and tetracosahexaenoic acid (24:6n-3, THA) are believed to be important intermediates to docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n-3) synthesis. The purpose of this study is to report for the first time serum concentrations of TPAn-3 and THA and their response to changing dietary α-linolenic acid (18:3n-3, ALA) and DHA. The responses will then be used in an attempt to predict the location of these fatty acids in relation to DHA in the biosynthetic pathway. Male Long Evans rats (n = 6 per group) were fed either a low (0.1% of total fatty acids), medium (3%) or high (10%) ALA diet with no added DHA, or a low (0%), medium (0.2%) or high (2%) DHA diet with a background of 2% ALA for 8 weeks post-weaning. Serum n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) concentrations (nmol/mL ± SEM) were determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Serum THA increases from low (0.3 ± 0.1) to medium (5.8 ± 0.7) but not from medium to high (4.6 ± 0.9) dietary ALA, while serum TPAn-3 increases with increasing dietary ALA from 0.09 ± 0.04 to 0.70 ± 0.09 to 1.23 ± 0.14 nmol/mL. Following DHA feeding, neither TPAn-3 or THA change across all dietary DHA intake levels. Serum TPAn-3 demonstrates a similar response to dietary DHA. In conclusion, this is the first study to demonstrate that increases in dietary ALA but not DHA increase serum TPAn-3 and THA in rats, suggesting that both fatty acids are precursors to DHA in the biosynthetic pathway.

This study aims to explore the temporal changes of cytotoxic CD8+CD28+ and regulatory CD8+ CD28− T-cell subsets in the lesion microenvironment after spinal cord injury (SCI) in rats, by combination of immunohistochemistry (IHC) and flow cytometry (FCM). In the sham-opened spinal cord, few CD8+ T cells were found. After SCI, the CD8+ T cells were detected at one day post-injury (dpi), then markedly increased and were significantly higher at 3, 7, and 14 dpi compared with one dpi (p

Background Methylmercury (MeHg) may affect fetal growth; however, prior research often lacked assessment of mercury speciation, confounders, and interactions. Objective Our objective was to assess the relationship between MeHg and fetal growth as well as the potential for confounding or interaction of this relationship from speciated mercury, fatty acids, selenium, and sex. Methods This cross-sectional study includes 271 singletons born in Baltimore, Maryland, 2004–2005. Umbilical cord blood was analyzed for speciated mercury, serum omega-3 highly unsaturated fatty acids (n-3 HUFAs), and selenium. Multivariable linear regression models controlled for gestational age, birth weight, maternal age, parity, prepregnancy body mass index, smoking, hypertension, diabetes, selenium, n-3 HUFAs, and inorganic mercury (IHg). Results Geometric mean cord blood MeHg was 0.94 μg/L (95% CI: 0.84, 1.07). In adjusted models for ponderal index, βln(MeHg) = –0.045 (g/cm3) × 100 (95% CI: –0.084, –0.005). There was no evidence of a MeHg × sex interaction with ponderal index. Contrastingly, there was evidence of a MeHg × n-3 HUFAs interaction with birth length [among low n-3 HUFAs, βln(MeHg) = 0.40 cm, 95% CI: –0.02, 0.81; among high n-3 HUFAs, βln(MeHg) = –0.15, 95% CI: –0.54, 0.25; p-interaction = 0.048] and head circumference [among low n-3 HUFAs, βln(MeHg) = 0.01 cm, 95% CI: –0.27, 0.29; among high n-3 HUFAs, βln(MeHg) = –0.37, 95% CI: –0.63, –0.10; p-interaction = 0.042]. The association of MeHg with birth weight and ponderal index was affected by n-3 HUFAs, selenium, and IHg. For birth weight, βln(MeHg) without these variables was –16.8 g (95% CI: –75.0, 41.3) versus –29.7 (95% CI: –93.9, 34.6) with all covariates. Corresponding values for ponderal index were –0.030 (g/cm3) × 100 (95% CI: –0.065, 0.005) and –0.045 (95% CI: –0.084, –0005). Conclusion We observed an association of increased MeHg with decreased ponderal index. There is evidence for interaction between MeHg and n-3 HUFAs; infants with higher MeHg and n-3 HUFAs had lower birth length and head circumference. These results should be verified with additional studies. Citation Wells EM, Herbstman JB, Lin YH, Jarrett J, Verdon CP, Ward C, Caldwell KL, Hibbeln JR, Witter FR, Halden RU, Goldman LR. 2016. Cord blood methylmercury and fetal growth outcomes in Baltimore newborns: potential confounding and effect modification by omega-3 fatty acids, selenium, and sex. Environ Health Perspect 124:373–379; http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1408596

A few-mode 850-nm VCSEL chip directly modulated by 16-QAM OFDM data at 140 Gbit/s is demonstrated to enable error-free transmission over 100-m-long OM5 MMF with 3.1-dB power penalty compared to the back-to-back case.

Third party funding arrives at international commercial arbitration without clear guidelines. The recognition and acceptance of its legality is hampered by the omissions of all stakeholder’s rights involved in international commercial arbitration. In balancing the funder’s contractual rights to gather information under the third party funding agreement and stakeholders’ rights to know, the current research examined how non-disclosure of the third party funding agreement would prevent the arbitrators from fulfilling procedural justice required for the integrity of arbitration on their part and impede the opposing party’s right to know during the proceedings. The research highlights the issues from the delivery of procedural and substantive justice as well as suggesting legal and jurisprudential grounds in third party funding governance. It also points out that all issues examined will ultimately contribute to the failure in delivering justice in international commercial arbitration if third party funding is left to self-governance.

The International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes (hereinafter "ICSID") has started its fourth amendment of its Arbitration Rules since 2016. The issue of transparency has been highlighted as a delicate issue in ICSID ongoing current amendment. It is also listed in the topics that have been identified for potential amendment. This article analyses how the issues of access to hearings and confidentiality over information arising from arbitration is treated under the current framework. A comparison is made against the Transparency Rules. The analysis is also made against the comments received from the public whose views are analysed as a possible direction the amendment may take.

Recently, GaN based light-emitting diodes (LEDs) have become a promising candidate for visible light communication (VLC). In this work, we demonstrated 2-Gbit/s data rate transmission using GaN-based LEDs with photonic crystal (PhC) structure.

Our previous study showed that Schwann cells (SCs) promote survival, proliferation and migration of co-transplanted oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) and neurological recovery in rats with spinal cord injury (SCI). A subsequent in vitro study confirmed that SCs modulated OPC proliferation and migration by secreting platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-AA and fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF)-2. We also found that PDGF-AA stimulated OPC proliferation and their differentiation into oligodendrocytes (OLs) at later stages. We therefore speculated that PDGF-AA administration can exert the same effect as SC co-transplantation in SCI repair. To test this hypothesis, in this study we investigated the effect of transplanting PDGF-AA-overexpressing OPCs in a rat model of SCI. We found that PDGF-AA overexpression in OPCs promoted their survival, proliferation, and migration and differentiation into OLs in vivo. OPCs overexpressing PDGF-AA were also associated with increased myelination and tissue repair after SCI, leading to the recovery of neurological function. These results indicate that PDGF-AA-overexpressing OPCs may be an effective treatment for SCI.

A comprehensive comparison on the data transmission performance of photonic crystal structured micro light-emitting diodes (PC-µLEDs) with different aperture sizes is realized for high-speed visible light communication application. The 120×120-µm2 large PC-µLED exhibits the largest optical power of 580 µW and the highest external quantum efficiency of 2.5%; however, it also demonstrates the lowest analog modulation bandwidth of only 72 MHz. By contrast, the smallest PC-µLED with 20×20-µm2 aperture emits the lowest optical power of 37 µW but provides the highest 3-dB bandwidth of 162 MHz. After optimizing the operating parameters for data transmission, the trade-off between output power and encoding bandwidth is observed to improve the transmission performance. The PC-µLED with mesa length of 60–80 µm can transmit on-off keying (OOK) data format at 500 Mbit/s under error-free BER criterion. In particular, the device with a mesa area of 80×80-µm2 successfully carries the 300-MBaud 4-level pulse amplitude modulation (PAM-4) data with corresponding data rate of 600 Mbit/s under KP4 forward error correction (FEC) required BER. Furthermore, the quadrature-amplitude-modulation (QAM) orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) data transmission is also performed, and the highest data rate of 2 Gbit/s under FEC criterion is allowable by using the PC-µLED with a mesa aperture of 80×80-µm2.

Accumulation of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in the fetal brain is accomplished predominantly via a highly selective flow of docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3, DHA) and arachidonic acid (20:4n-6, AA) through the placenta. Little is known regarding the endogenous capability of the fetus to generate its own DHA and AA from lower homologues such as linolenic (18:3n-3, ALA) and linoleic (18:2n-6, LA) acids, respectively. Deuterium-labeled d5-ALA and d5-LA at millimolar concentrations were injected directly into the amniotic fluid in order to investigate maternal-independent metabolic conversion of the stable isotopes in brain and liver of the fetus near delivery. After 48h under adequate maternal diet, the levels of d5-ALA metabolites in the fetal brain and fetal liver were 45±2.2 pmol/mg and 86±4 pmol/mg of which 79% and 63.6% were comprised of d5-DHA. At this time point, incorporation of d5-LA metabolites was 103±5 pmol/mg and 772±46 pmol/mg for brain and liver, of which 50% and 30% were comprised of d5-AA. Following sustained maternal dietary ALA deficiency, the levels of total d5-ALA derived metabolites in the fetal brain and fetal liver were increased to 231 pmol/mg and 696 pmol/mg of which 71% and 26% were comprised of d5-DHA. From the time course and relative rates of d5-ALA precursor displacement by d5-DHA in cellular phosphoglycerides, it is concluded that the fetal rat brain can generate its own DHA from its d5-ALA precursors particularly under dietary stress.

A methodology combining finger-pricked blood sampling, microwave accelerated fatty acid assay, fast gas chromatography data acquisition, and automated data processing was developed, evaluated and applied to a population study. Finger-pricked blood was collected on filter paper previously impregnated with 0.05 mg of the antioxidant butylated hydroxytoluene and air-dried at room temperature. Transmethylation was accelerated by microwave irradiation in an explosion-proof multimode microwave reaction system. The chemical procedure was based on a one-step direct transmethylation procedure catalyzed by acetyl chloride. The short-term stability of PUFA in blood dried on filter paper and storage at room temperature was examined using venous blood. The recoveries ranged from 97 to 101 % for the categorized fatty acids as well as the ratios of n-6 to n-3 PUFA and the n-3 % highly unsaturated fatty acid. Specifically, recoveries were 99, 98, 97, and 97 % for linoleic acid (18:2n-6), arachidonic acid (ARA), α-linolenic acid (ALA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), respectively. The mol% (mean ± SD, 95 % confidence interval) of fatty acid composition in subjects from the population study was determined as 36.2 ± 3.8 (35.8, 36.7), 23.2 ± 3.0 (22.8, 23.5), 36.8 ± 3.5 (36.4, 37.2) and 3.79 ± 1.0 (3.68, 3.91) for the saturated, monounsaturated, n-6 and n-3 PUFA, respectively. Individually, the mean mol% (95 % CI) was 22.6 (22.3, 22.9) for 18:2n-6, 9.5 (9.3, 9.7) for ARA, 0.51 (0.49, 0.53) for ALA, 0.42 (0.38, 0.47) for eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and 1.67 (1.61, 1.73) for DHA. This methodology provides an accelerated yet high-efficiency, chemically safe, and temperature-controlled transmethylation, with diverse laboratory applications including population studies.

Altered levels of selenium and copper have been linked with altered cardiovascular disease risk factors including changes in blood triglyceride and cholesterol levels. However, it is unclear whether this can be observed prenatally. This cross-sectional study includes 274 singleton births from 2004 to 2005 in Baltimore, Maryland. We measured umbilical cord serum selenium and copper using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. We evaluated exposure levels vis-à-vis umbilical cord serum triglyceride and total cholesterol concentrations in multivariable regression models adjusted for gestational age, birth weight, maternal age, race, parity, smoking, prepregnancy body mass index, n-3 fatty acids and methyl mercury. The percent difference in triglycerides comparing those in the highest v. lowest quartile of selenium was 22.3% (95% confidence interval (CI): 7.1, 39.7). For copper this was 43.8% (95% CI: 25.9, 64.3). In multivariable models including both copper and selenium as covariates, copper, but not selenium, maintained a statistically significant association with increased triglycerides (percent difference: 40.7%, 95% CI: 22.1, 62.1). There was limited evidence of a relationship of increasing selenium with increasing total cholesterol. Our findings provide evidence that higher serum copper levels are associated with higher serum triglycerides in newborns, but should be confirmed in larger studies.

The formation of graphitic rods with a carbon nanotube (CNT) in the center was observed in CNT-reinforced phenolic resin-based carbon/carbon composites heat treated at 2000 °C. TEM characterization indicated that the carbon surrounding the CNT has a much better degree of graphitization compared to the carbon in most of the matrix. The formation temperature (2000 °C) of the graphitic rod is lower than for stress graphitization and normal graphitization of phenolic resin.

This study aims to explore the temporal changes of cytotoxic CD8

First paragraph: Facing the possibility of being forced to pay over $50 billion dollars awarded in the Yukos arbitration, unsurprisingly, the Russian Federation filed a writ at the District Court in The Hague to set aside the awards. As expected, the controversial issues related to the award of the tribunal arc listed as the grounds for setting aside; the tribunal's lack of jurisdiction under arts 21(1), 26 and 45 of the Energy Charter Treaty, invalidity of the arbitration agreemcnt, the composition of the tribunal, arbitrability of tax issues, the mandate of the tribunal, and the breach of public policy. What is interesting for researchers watching the development of the Yukos case is the RF's argument over the possible inputs contributed to the awards by the arbitral tribunal's legal assistant. In essence, the RF argues that the arbitrators delegated substantial responsibilities to the tribunal's assistant and thus breached their mandate to perform their duties personally. As a consequence, the Russian Federation contends that the award should be set aside on the grounds of art 1065(1) (c) of the DCCP.

Suppressing hyperactive endocannabinoid tone is a critical target for reducing obesity. The backbone of both endocannabinoids 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) and anandamide (AEA) is the ω-6 fatty acid arachidonic acid (AA). Here we posited that excessive dietary intake of linoleic acid (LA), the precursor of AA, would induce endocannabinoid hyperactivity and promote obesity. LA was isolated as an independent variable to reflect the dietary increase in LA from 1 percent of energy (en%) to 8 en% occurring in the United States during the 20th century. Mice were fed diets containing 1 en% LA, 8 en% LA, and 8 en% LA + 1 en% eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) + docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in medium-fat diets (35 en% fat) and high-fat diets (60 en%) for 14 weeks from weaning. Increasing LA from 1 en% to 8 en% elevated AA-phospholipids (PL) in liver and erythrocytes, tripled 2-AG + 1-AG and AEA associated with increased food intake, feed efficiency, and adiposity in mice. Reducing AA-PL by adding 1 en% long-chain ω-3 fats to 8 en% LA diets resulted in metabolic patterns resembling 1 en% LA diets. Selectively reducing LA to 1 en% reversed the obesogenic properties of a 60 en% fat diet. These animal diets modeled 20th century increases of human LA consumption, changes that closely correlate with increasing prevalence rates of obesity. In summary, dietary LA increased tissue AA, and subsequently elevated 2-AG + 1-AG and AEA resulting in the development of diet-induced obesity. The adipogenic effect of LA can be prevented by consuming sufficient EPA and DHA to reduce the AA-PL pool and normalize endocannabinoid tone.

Dietary intake of linoleic acid (LA) has increased dramatically during the twentieth century and is associated with a greater prevalence of obesity. Vegetable oils are recognised as suitable alternatives to fish oil (FO) in feed for Atlantic salmon (Salmo salarL.) but introduce high amounts of LA in the salmon fillet. The effect on fish consumers of such a replacement remains to be elucidated. Here, we investigate the effect of excessive dietary LA from soyabean oil (SO) on endocannabinoid levels in Atlantic salmon and mice, and study the metabolic effects in mice when SO replaces FO in feed for Atlantic salmon. Atlantic salmon were fed FO and SO for 6 months, and the salmon fillet was used to produce feed for mice. Male C57BL/6J mice were fed diets of 35 % of energy as fat based on FO- and SO-enriched salmon for 16 weeks. We found that replacing FO with SO in feed for Atlantic salmon increased LA, arachidonic acid (AA), decreased EPA and DHA, elevated the endocannabinoids 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) and anandamide (AEA), and increased TAG accumulation in the salmon liver. In mice, the SO salmon diet increased LA and AA and decreased EPA and DHA in the liver and erythrocyte phospholipids, and elevated 2-AG and AEA associated with increased feed efficiency, weight gain and adipose tissue inflammation compared with mice fed the FO salmon diet. In conclusion, excessive dietary LA elevates endocannabinoids in the liver of salmon and mice, and increases weight gain and counteracts the anti-inflammatory properties of EPA and DHA in mice.

Stability is an essential issue in polymer solar cells for achieving commercially applicable devices. In this work, we report on a highly stable polymer solar cell, based on an inverted structure with the active layer sandwiched between a pair of metal-oxide buffer layers and an inherently air-stable conjugated polymer, a-PTPTBT. After interface modification, the unencapsulated device can retain power conversion efficiency without apparent degradation even after six months of storage in ambient conditions. This device's excellent stability is attributed to the air-stable and chemically stable conjugated polymer, as well as the environmentally robust metal oxides used as the interfacial layers. To further improve the device performance, cathode-side interface modification was also carried out. After the insertion of the TiO 2 nanorod interlayer between the ZnO thin film and the active layer, the device efficiency can be successfully increased from 3.3% to 4.1%. The future application of this materials system in inverted structures needs efforts devoted to morphology control and interface engineering to improve the device fill factor. The methodology applied here can serve as an effective strategy for fabricating highly air-stable devices with different materials systems.

Background—The recent escalation of US Military suicide deaths to record numbers has been an sentinel for impaired force efficacy and has accelerated the search for reversible risk factors. Objective—Determine if deficiencies of neuroactive highly unsaturated omega-3 essential fatty acids (n-3 HUFA), in particular docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), are associated with increased risk of suicide death among a large random sample of active duty US military. Methods—Serum fatty acids were quantified as % of total fatty acids, among US military suicide deaths (n= 800) and controls (n=800) matched for age, date of collection, sex, rank and year of incident. Participants were Active Duty US Military personnel (2002–2008). Outcome measures, included death by suicide, post deployment health assessment questionnaire and ICD-9 mental health diagnosis data. Results—Risks of suicide death was 14% higher, per standard deviation [SD] lower DHA % (OR =1.14, 95% CI; 1.02–1.27, p

The selection of carrier transporting layer in polymer solar cells is an important issue because the nature and direction of carrier transport can be manipulated by inserting different functional layers in the device structure. In this work, we report a very efficient inverted polymer solar cell (PSC) system based on regioregular poly(3-hexylthiophene) and a n-type acceptor, bis-indene[C60]. With a pair of metal oxides and the insertion of TiO2 nanorods electron collecting layer between the ZnO thin film and the active layer, the device efficiency can be greatly improved. The contact area between the active layer and the electron collecting layer, as well as the thickness of active layer, can be increased with the incorporation of TiO2 nanorods. As a result, photocurrent can be enhanced due to more absorption of light and more charge separation interface. In addition, the larger contact area and the crystalline TiO2 nanorods provide a more efficient transporting route for the carriers to the cathode. The most efficient device demonstrated shows a high power conversion efficiency of 5.6% with the inverted structure.

We have used sol–gel derived copper oxide (CuO x ) thin film as an interlayer at the organic/metal interface to improve the performance of the inverted P3HT:PC 61 BM solar cells. The resulting interlayer can form an ohmic contact between the P3HT:PC 61 BM and electrode. Due to the formation of the ohmic contact, the series resistance of device has been decreased from 2.77 to 1.29 (Ω/cm 2 ). Simultaneously, the CuO x interlayer can redistribute the light intensity to enhance light absorption and thereby increases the current density form 11.0 to 11.9 (mA/cm 2 ). Thus, the power conversion efficiency (PCE) is improved from 3.11% to 4.02%.

The effect of mild oxygen plasma etching on poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT): [6,6]-phenyl C 61 butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) blend film was investigated to improve the efficiency of inverted polymer solar cells. Our study shows that the polymer surface adjacent to the anode was modified into a more hydrophobic P3HT-rich surface, which leads to better interface contact, fine electrode selectivity, and lower series resistance in the device. Although PCBM still aggregates on the top surface, it can be removed with mild oxygen plasma etching. As a result, the power conversion efficiency increased significantly from 3.4% to 4.3% with an enhanced fill factor of 64%.

The removal of CO 2 from a 10 vol% CO 2 gas by chemical absorption with 30 wt% alkanolamine solutions containing monoethanolamine (MEA), piperazine (PZ), and 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol (AMP) in the cross-flow rotating packed bed (RPB) was investigated. The CO 2 removal efficiency increased with rotor speed, liquid flow rate and inlet liquid temperature. However, the CO 2 removal efficiency decreased with gas flow rate. Also, the CO 2 removal efficiency was independent of inlet gas temperature. The 30 wt% alkanolamine solutions containing PZ with MEA were the appropriate absorbents compared with the single alkanolamine (MEA, AMP) and the mixed alkanolamine solutions containing AMP with MEA. A higher portion of PZ in alkanolamine solutions was more favorable to CO 2 removal. Owing to less contact time in the cross-flow RPB, alkanolamines having high reaction rates with CO 2 are suggested to be used. For the mixed alkanolamine solution containing 12 wt% PZ and 18 wt% MEA, the highest gas flow rate allowed to achieve the CO 2 removal efficiency more than 90% at a liquid flow rate of 0.54 L/min was of 29 L/min. The corresponding height of a transfer unit (HTU) was found to be less than 5.0 cm, lower than that in the conventional packed bed.

Sarcopenia, characterized by low muscle mass and function, results in frailty, comorbidities and mortality. However, its prevalence varies according to the different criteria used in its diagnosis. This cross-sectional study investigated the difference in the number of sarcopenia cases recorded by two different measurement methods of low muscle mass to determine which measurement was better. We recruited 878 (54.2% female) individuals aged over 65 years and obtained their body composition and functional parameters. Low muscle mass was defined as two standard deviations below either the mean height-adjusted (hSMI) or weight-adjusted (wSMI) muscle mass of a young reference group. The prevalence of sarcopenia was 6.7% vs. 0.4% (male/female) by hSMI and 4.0% vs. 10.7% (male/female) by wSMI. The κ coefficients for these two criteria were 0.39 vs. 0.03 (male/female) and 0.17 in all subjects. Serum myostatin levels correlated positively with gait speed (r = 0.142, p = 0.007) after adjustment for gender. hSMI correlated with grip strength, cardiopulmonary endurance, leg endurance, gait speed and flexibility. wSMI correlated with grip strength, leg endurance, gait speed and flexibility. Since hSMI correlated more closely with grip strength and more muscular functions, we recommend hSMI in the diagnosis of low muscle mass.

The steady state compositions of omega-6 and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) throughout the various viscera and tissues within the whole body of rats have not previously been described in a comprehensive manner. Dams consumed diets containing 10 wt% fat (15% linoleate and 3% α-linolenate). Male offspring (n=9) at 7-wks of age were euthanized and dissected into 25 compartments. Total lipid fatty acids for each compartment were quantified by GC/FID and summed for the rat whole body; total n-6 PUFA was 12 wt% and total n-3 PUFA was 2.1% of total fatty acids. 18:2n-6 accounted for 84% of the total n-6 PUFA, 20:4n-6 was 12%, 18:3n-3 was 59% of the total n-3 PUFA, 20:5n-3 was 2.1%, and 22:6n-3 was 32%. The white adipose tissue contained the greatest amounts of 18:2n-6 (1.5 g) and 18:3n-3 (0.2 g). 20:4n-6 was highest in muscle (60 mg) and liver (57 mg), while 22:6n-3 was greatest in muscle (46 mg), followed by liver (27 mg) and carcass (20 mg). In terms of fatty acid composition expressed as a percentage, 18:2n-6 was the highest in the heart (13 wt%), while 18:3n-3 was about 1.3 wt% for skin, white adipose tissue and fur. 20:4n-6 was highest (21–25 wt%) in the circulation, kidney, and spleen, while 22:6n-3 was highest in the brain (12 wt%), followed by the heart (7.9 wt%), liver (5.9 wt%), and spinal cord (5.1 wt%). Selectivity was greatest when comparing 22:6n-3 in brain (12%) to white adipose (0.08%) (68-fold) and 22:5n-6 in testes (15.6%) compared to white adipose (0.02%), 780-fold.

In this brief, Nyquist-rate current-steering digital-to-analog converters (DACs) applying the random multiple data-weighted averaging (RMDWA) technique and the QN rotated walk switching scheme are proposed such that high spurious-free dynamic range (SFDR) and small maximum output error can be achieved without calibrations, which are area and power consuming. RMDWA suppresses the harmonics caused by element mismatches to gain high SFDR performance. Furthermore, QN rotated walk can lower the maximum output error when RMDWA and Q N rotated walk are employed simultaneously. Because the benefits of both dynamic element matching technique and switching scheme are obtained by the proposed DAC structure, the proposed structure can deliver smaller maximum output errors than traditional randomization techniques even if a low-cost small-area DAC with poor matching property is adopted

Docosahexaenoate is usually considered to be the principal endpoint of alpha-linolenate metabolism in mammals. Nevertheless, several studies over the past 30 y have shown that more carbon from alpha-linolenate is recycled into newly synthesized lipids than is used to make docosahexaenoate. Our objective in this study was to assess carbon recycling from alpha-linolenate in suckling rats made deficient in n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). Female Long-Evans rats were given a diet deficient in n-3 PUFA at weaning and then bred 8 wk later. Pups from the second generation were nursed by their respective dams and gavaged with 1 mg [U-13C]-alpha-linolenate at 10 d old. Brain and liver were obtained 24 h later, and the fatty acid profiles and 13C enrichment analyzed. Docosahexaenoate was markedly depleted in brain (-82%) and liver (-97%) of the n-3 PUFA-deficient rats. In the controls, 13C enrichment in products of carbon recycling (cholesterol and fatty acids other than n-3 PUFA) exceeded that in docosahexaenoate by 2.4-fold (liver) and 7.5-fold (brain). n-3 PUFA deficiency reduced the ratio of 13C enrichment in products of carbon recycling compared with 13C incorporated into docosahexaenoate by 63% in the brain but not in the liver. Despite severe n-3 PUFA deficiency, carbon recycling still consumed 50% more 13C from alpha-linolenate than went into docosahexaenoate in the liver and 2.8-fold more in the brain. We conclude that carbon recycling is an integral part of neonatal metabolism of alpha-linolenate and is not simply an overflow pathway arising from excess availability of preformed docosahexaenoate.

At the 2002 conference of ICCA (International Commercial Congress of Arbitration), the conference participants debated the following proposition: ‘the parties, not the arbitrators, control the arbitration.’ Thus, the proposition permitted only two answers—either the parties or the arbitrators control the arbitral process. Both answers were consistent with the contractualist theory of arbitration

A novel tracer technique is presented for the simultaneous and independent measurement of multiple stable isotopically labeled essential fatty acids. Gas chromatography/negative chemical ionization mass spectrometry was employed for high sensitivity detection of the following isotopes: deuterium-labeled-linolenate, carbon-13-U-labeled-eicosapentaenoate, carbon-13-U-labeled-linoleate, and deuterium-labeled-dihomo-γ-linolenate. These isotope-labeled fatty acids in vehicle oil were given to rats either singly or together as a single oral dose. Rat blood was collected after dosing and the isotopomers of the precursors and their main metabolites, including those containing both 13 C and 2 H, were detected simultaneously with good resolution and without interference from other isotopes due to differences in mass and chromatographic retention.

It was shown previously that ultrasonic scattering from whole blood varies during a flow cycle under pulsatile flow both in vitro and in vivo. It has been postulated that this cyclic variation may be associated with the dynamics of red cell aggregation because the shearing force acting on the red cell aggregates across the lumen is a function of time during a flow cycle. In all studies, the local shear rate variation as a function of time is unknown. The effect of shear rate on the red cell aggregation and, thus, on ultrasonic scattering from blood can only be merely speculated. One solution to this problem is to estimate the shear rate in a flow conduit by finite element analysis (FEA). An FEA computational fluid dynamics (CFD) tool was used to calculate local shear rate in a series of experiments in which ultrasonic backscattering from porcine whole blood under pulsatile flow was measured as a function of hematocrit and shear rate intravascularly with a 10-MHz catheter-mounted transducer in a mock flow loop. The results show that, at 20 beats per min (BPM), the magnitudes of the cyclic variation for hematocrits at 30, 40, and 50% were approximately 4 dB. However, at 60 BPM, the magnitude of cyclic variation was found to be minimal. The results also confirm previous findings that the amplitude and the timing of the peak of ultrasonic backscattering from porcine whole blood under pulsatile flow during a flow cycle are dependent upon the shear rate and hematocrit in a complicated way.

Suppressing hyperactive endocannabinoid tone is a critical target for reducing obesity. The endocannabinoids 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) and anandamide (AEA) derive from arachidonic acid (AA). Here we posited that excessive dietary intake of linoleic acid (LA), the precursor of AA, would induce endocannabinoid hyperactivity and promote obesity. LA was isolated to reflect dietary increases in LA from 1 percent of energy (en%) to 8 en% occurring in the United States during the 20th century. Mice were fed diets containing 1 en% LA, 8 en% LA, and 8 en% LA + 1 en% eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) + docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in medium-fat diets (35 en% fat) and high-fat diets (60 en%) for 14 weeks from weaning. ResultsIncreasing LA from 1 en% to 8 en% elevated AA-phospholipids (PL) in liver and erythrocytes, tripled 2-AG + 1-AG and AEA associated with increased food intake, feed efficiency, and adiposity. Selectively reducing LA to 1 en% reversed the obesogenic properties of a 60 en% fat diet. In summary, increas...

Microwave irradiation as the energy source for one-step direct transesterification of fatty acids in human serum lipids was examined in a solvent system of methanol: hexane: acetyl chloride based on a Lepage & Roy assay. Innovative and explosion proof single-mode or multimode microwave accelerated reaction system was employed. Recoveries were calculated as the percentage of fatty acid concentrations measured by microwave assay to those by the reference method of the Lepage & Roy assay that utilized conductive heating at 100 °C for 60 min. Under conditions of 100 °C for 1 min in Single-mode (S4–100 × 1), or 125 °C for 5 min in Multimode (M5–125 × 5), the recoveries were 100–103 % for the total fatty acids and 96–106 % for each categorized fatty acid, including saturates, monounsaturates, n-6 PUFA, and n-3 PUFA. For individual PUFA, the mean recoveries were 102–105 % for 18:2n-6 and 18:3n-3; 99, 109, and 95 % for 20:4n-6, 20:5n-3, and 22:6n-3, respectively. Thus, fatty acid concentrations determined by microwave fatty acid assay were accurate to those results by the reference method, when the microwave conditions were optimal. In summary, the microwave irradiation could replace conductive heating in one-step direct transesterification, and reduce the duration from 60 min to 5 min or less. This methodology may be applied in both the absolute and relative quantification of serum total fatty acids.

Explores the extent to which there is a duty of confidentiality in relation to the information used in arbitration proceedings. Considers how the duty is regulated by arbitration rules in different countries and whether there is a sufficient consensus to develop an internationally accepted principle of duty of confidentiality. Discusses which jurisdictions have an implied duty of confidentiality in the parties' arbitration agreement. Looks at how confidential information is defined in different jurisdictions, who is bound by the duty of confidentiality and the exceptions to the duty.