Search

Hydrogenation and dehydrogenation of metal hydrides are of great interest because of their potential in on-board applications for hydrogen vehicles. This paper aims to study hydrogen diffusion in metal hydrides, which is generally considered to be a controlling factor of hydrogenation/dehydrogenation. The present work first calculated temperature-dependent hydrogen diffusion coefficients by a theoretical model incorporated with experimental data in a Mg-based system and accordingly the activation energy. The grain size effect on diffusion in nanoscale was also investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Na3AlH6 can be directly formed by mechanical milling NaH/Al with TiF3 under hydrogen atmosphere. The hydrogenation fraction of NaH increases with increasing the milling time, and reaches up to 0.61 after 20 h milling. Thus-formed Na3AlH6 exhibits unexpected polymorphic transformation and decomposition behaviors. This, together with the unusual hydrogen storage performance of the mechanically prepared materials, provides us a suggestive perspective to probe the favorable modification of the thermodynamics of Na3AlH6 and nature of active Ti-species in Ti-doped NaAlH4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Household light bulbs were fabricated using macroscopically long and aligned single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) ropes as filaments. It was found that the SWNT filament could emit bright light when an electric current was passed through it. The light spectrum from the SWNT filament showed a nonblackbody characteristic of the thermal emission, and its infrared emission was almost completely suppressed possibly due to the “photonic band-gap” effect that originates in the loose fibrous bundle structure of the SWNT filament. The electrical resistance of the SWNT filament was found to first increase, and then continually decrease during light emission. It was also found that an electric current could cause degradation and burnout of the SWNT filament and result in complete amorphization, and that an interesting mushroomlike carbon structure was formed due to the carbon evaporation of the nanotube filament during light emission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arginine kinase (AK) is an important regulation factor of energy metabolism in invertebrate. An arginine kinase gene, named HaAK, was identified to be differentially expressed between Cry1Ac-susceptible (96S) and Cry1Ac-resistant (Bt-R) Helicoverpa armigera larvae using cDNA-amplification fragment length polymorphism analysis. The full-length open reading frame sequence of HaAK gene with 1068 bp was isolated from H. armigera. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assay revealed that HaAK gene is specifically expressed in multiple tissues and at larval developmental stages. The peak expression level of HaAK was detected in the midgut of the fifth-instar larvae. Moreover, the expression of HaAK was obviously down-regulated in Bt-R larvae. We further constructed a dsRNA vector directly targeting HaAK and employed RNAi technology to control the larvae. The feeding bioassays showed that minute quantities of dsRNA could greatly increase the larval mortality and delay the larval pupation. Silencing of HaAK significantly retarded the larval development, indicating that HaAK is a potential target for RNA interference-based pest management. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

We examined the contribution of arterial wave reflection to early abnormalities in left ventricular relaxation, whether this association was modified by gender or hypertension and the role of reflected wave timing and amplitude. We studied a cohort of normotensive and untreated essential hypertensive Taiwanese participants (675 men, 601 women, mean age 52 years). Doppler flow and applanation tonometry were performed to assess carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV) and augmentation index (AI). Diastolic parameters including the ratio between the peak velocity of early and late diastolic mitral inflow (E/A), E-deceleration time and left atrial (LA) diameter were measured by echocardiography. In multivariate models predicting E/A, women were more likely to have lower E/A than men (β=−0.08, P<0.001). AI was significantly associated with lower E/A in both men (β=−0.09, P=0.005) and women (β=−0.12, P<0.001) independent of PWV. Inclusion of AI in the overall model reduced the gender difference in E/A by 61% and rendered it nonsignificant. There was a significant interaction between AI and hypertension (P=0.02). The inverse association between AI and E/A was significant only in normotensive men and women, and only for the amplitude but not timing of the reflected wave. In conclusion, the contribution of wave reflection to left ventricular diastolic dysfunction was independent of arterial stiffness, more pronounced in normotensive individuals and explained a significant portion of the gender difference in diastolic function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Microbial corrosion limits the use of metallic structures in a variety of technological processes and applications. Here, we report the first demonstration of graphene as a passive layer that retards microbially-induced galvanic corrosion (MIC) of metals for extended periods of time (∼2700h). The effectiveness of the MIC-resistant graphene coating was evaluated under realistic operating conditions by testing baseline Ni foams and graphene-coated Ni foams as anodes in a microbial fuel cell. The rates of Ni dissolution in the graphene-coated Ni anode were at least an order of magnitude lower than the baseline (uncoated) Ni electrode. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy characterization revealed that the MIC of Ni was impeded by over 40-fold when coated with graphene. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A non-invasive measurement method for transparent objects using digital holographic interferometry based on iterative least-squares phase unwrapping is presented. Holograms are captured and processed by digital method. The phase reconstructed from holograms is wrapped. Continual and real phase is obtained by phase unwrapping. In this paper iterative unwrapping of phase difference is combined with least-squares unwrapping to eliminate errors. The relations between the phase variation of object wave and the thickness deformation and stress of transparent object are given. A polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) specimen with a hole under uniform tensile force is tested by this method. The experimental results are in accordance with the theoretical ones. That means the method is correct. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: TiF3 shows a superior catalytic effect over TiCl3 in improving the hydrogen sorption kinetics of MgH2. Combined phase analysis and microstructure characterization suggest that both titanium halide additives react with host MgH2 in a similar way. However, systematic X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy studies reveal that the incorporated fluorine (F) differs significantly from its analog chlorine (Cl) in terms of bonding state. The asymmetry of F 1s spectra and the sputtering-induced peak shift suggest that, in addition to the Mg–F bond, a new Ti–F–Mg bonding is formed in the TiF3-doped MgH2. In contrast, only one stable binding state of Cl is identified in the form of MgCl2 for the TiCl3-doped MgH2. In combination with the designed experiments, these findings suggest that the generation of active F-containing species may be responsible for the advantage of TiF3 over TiCl3 in improving both the absorption and desorption kinetics of MgH2. Fundamentally, it emphasizes the functionality of F anion in tuning the activity of compound catalyst. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background -- Detection of tocotrienols in human plasma has proven difficult even after long periods of supplementation. The rapid disappearance of tocotrienols has raised questions about their physiological effects in humans. Objectives -- To elucidate the metabolic fate of palm tocotrienols in humans using a postprandial model system. Design -- Seven healthy volunteers (four males & three females) were conditioned on a tocotrienol-free diet for seven consecutive days. On the eighth day, all volunteers were administered a single dose of vitamin E supplement, either 1010 mg palm vitamin E (318 mg α-tocopherol + 692 mg tocotrienols) or 1098 mg á-tocopherol in the form of capsules. Blood was sampled at baseline (fasted), 2, 4, 6, 8 & 24 h after supplementation. Tocopherols & tocotrienols concentration in total plasma, triglyceride rich particles (TRP), LDL & HDL fractions for each bleeding interval was determined. Outcomes -- Following the intervention with palm vitamin E, tocotrienols were detected in total plasma, TRP, LDL and HDL. However, the concentrations of the tocotrienols detected were minimal, while á-tocopherol remained the major circulating plasma vitamin E isomer. Findings showed that tocotrienols appeared in the blood stream at 2 h interval & disappeared within 24 h. Tocotrienols concentration in total plasma plasma, TRP & LDL peaked between 4 to 6 h; in HDL, tocotrienol concentrations peaked at 8 h after supplementation. α-tocopherol was the major vitamin E detected in plasma despite supplementation with either á-tocopherol or the tocotrienol-rich palm vitamin E preparations. Conclusions -- Rapid disappearance of tocotrienols in plasma and all lipoprotein fractions suggest that tocotrienols have a very short duration of absorption & distribution in circulating blood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) is an autosomal dominant disease associated with a very high risk of coronary vascular disease. The study objective was to identify patients with FH in Taiwan and characterize novel mutations. Materials and methods Fifty-one patients with suspected FH living in Taiwan were screened for mutations in both the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor and the apolipoprotein (apoB) genes using the multiplex polymerase chain reaction and exon-by-exon DNA sequencing technique. Functional consequences on LDL receptor activity were characterized in vitro for novel mutations and family pedigree was also analyzed. Results Thirteen different functional mutations in the LDL receptor gene and one mutation in the apoB gene were found in 21 patients. Among the 13 mutations in the LDL receptor gene, 10 were single-point missense mutations, one was a two-point mutation in the same allele, one was a non-sense mutation and one was a frame-shift mutation. There were three novel mutations, including two missense mutations (M510K and W512R) and one frame-shift mutation (1953 delTA mutation). The characterization of missense M510K retained 36·2% of the activity of the normal receptor. Conversely, frame-shift 1953 delTA and missense W512R led to defective proteins, with only 0–6% of normal receptor activity. Conclusions The study identified 13 LDL receptor gene mutations and characterized three novel mutations causing FH in Taiwan. This facilitated a better understanding of FH among the Chinese population and may enable diagnosis of FH at the molecular level at a presymptomatic, early age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) enhanced high-density polyethylene (HDPE) composites were prepared and their thermophysical properties were measured. The thermal diffusivity of the composites increases with the increase in the amount of MWCNTs. A thermal diffusivity of more than three times that of pure HDPE was obtained for 38 vol. % MWCNTs/HDPE composites. An equation based on an effective medium approach model was used to discuss the thermal diffusivity enhancement of MWCNTs/HDPE composites as a function of the volume fraction of MWCNTs. The results from this analysis can be a predictive guideline for further improvements in the thermal transport properties of MWCNTs/HDPE composites. Moreover, the intrinsic longitudinal thermal conductivity kz of an individual MWCNT was deduced from the measured results on the MWCNTs/HDPE composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Impedance analysis was employed to study the frequency response characteristics of supercapacitors utilizing single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) as electrode material. The knee frequency is around 631 Hz for the electrochemically oxidized SWNT supercapacitor, much higher than that of the as-prepared one (around 316 Hz) and the common activated carbon supercapacitor (<1 Hz). The good frequency response observed in this work is due to the introduction of nanosized mesopores and oxygen-containing groups formed during the electrochemical oxidization of SWNTs. The capacitance of electrochemically oxidized SWNT supercapacitor is 113 F/g, which is much higher than the value of the as-prepared one (20 F/g). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electronic structures and optical properties of various sizes of ZnO quantum dots (QDs) were studied using x-ray absorption, photoluminescence, and Raman spectroscopy. The increase in the intensity ratio of the second-order Raman spectra of longitudinal optical mode and its fundamental mode, which is related to the strength of the electron-phonon coupling (EPC), is found to increase with the size of QD. The trend of EPC also correlates with the increase of the intensity ratio of the O 2pπ (Iπ) and 2pσ (Iσ) orbital features in the O K-edge x-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) as the size of QD increases. The EPC and XANES results suggest that the crystal orientations of ZnO QDs are approximately aligned with the c axis parallel with the polarization of x-ray photons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ZnS nanowires and their coaxial lateral BN nanowire heterostructures with a length of hundreds of micrometers and an average diameter of ∼300 nm were fabricated via one-step chemical vapor deposition method. Wurtzite ZnS nanowires were coated by a shell of fluffylike hexagonal BN sheets distributed randomly. Thermogravimetric analysis indicates that the heterostructures have a much better oxidation resistance compared with ZnS nanowires. Their similar optical property suggests that the ZnS/BN heterostructures would have potential applications in thermally and chemically rigorous environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flowerlike Si-doped AlN nanoneedle array is grown from cobalt particles seeded on Si substrate by evaporating AlCl4 and SiCl4 in NH3 atmosphere. The nanoneedles are several microns in length, and their base and tip diameters are in the range of 50–150 and 5–30 nm, respectively. Field emission (FE) measurements show that the Si-doped AlN nanoneedle array has a low turn-on field (∼1.8 V/μm) and a high field enhancement factor (∼3271), indicating that it is a promising candidate for FE applications. In addition, this catalyst-seeded and Si-doped method may facilitate the development of efficient AlN nanostructure FE devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-purity nanocables of iron-containing amorphous-silica-sheathed silicon carbide were synthesized by a thermal reaction method using silicon wafer as the silicon source and growth substrate, and ferrocene as the carbon and iron catalyst precursor. The nanocables were tens of μm in length and 40–60 nm in diameter. Iron oxide nanoparticles with a mean diameter of 5 nm were dispersed evenly in the amorphous silica layer. The nanocables were found to be ferromagnetic at both 10 K and room temperature, which indicates that they may have important potential applications in electromagnetic nanodevices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study reports a self-assembled multiferroic nanostructure, composed of PbTiO3 (PTO) pillars embedded in a CoFe2O4 (CFO) matrix, deposited on MgO(001) by pulsed laser deposition. The epitaxial relationship in the PTO-CFO nanostructure is (100)[101]PTO∥(001)[101]CFO∥(001)[101]MgO, confirming the in-plane aligned polarization of PTO. The perpendicular magnetic anisotropy of this thin film results from the magnetoelastic anisotropy that exceeds the shape anisotropy. The increased frequency and the enhanced intensity of the tetrahedral (T-) site phonon modes by increasing the magnetic field indicate strong magnetoelastic coupling through magnetostriction in this multiferroic nanostructure. The anisotropic Raman strength enhancement of the T-site phonon along different directions suggests the magnetoelastic coupling is most efficient in the in-plane direction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Competing Interests: All authors have disclosed no conflicts of interest.

Objective: To investigate the clinical and electrophysiological characteristics of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) with positive repetitive nerve stimulation (RNS) test results on the accessory nerve and negative needle electromyography (EMG) test results on the sternocleidomastoid with the goal to enrich the knowledge of disease progression in patients with ALS. Methods: The clinical data of 612 patients diagnosed with ALS at the Neurology Department of the First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital from June 2016 to August 2022 were collected. In total, 267 cases had undergone EMG tests on the sternocleidomastoid following a positive 3 Hz RNS test result on the accessory nerve, who were selected as the study subjects. The differences in clinical indicators were compared between RNS (+)/EMG (-) group and RNS (+)/EMG (+) group. A binomial distribution model with multiple variables was built to quantitatively analyze the major factors and their effects. Results: At the initial visit, 15.8% of patients with ALS were 3 Hz RNS (+) on the accessory nerve and EMG (-) on the ipsilateral sternocleidomastoid, accounting for 36.3% of RNS (+) patients. The decremental range of the 3 Hz RNS test delivered to the accessory nerve in these patients [-14% (-19%, -12%)] was lower than that in patients with RNS (+)/EMG (+) [-17% (-23%, -13%)] ( P <0.05), while the ratio of upper limb onset (64.9%) and non-definite diagnosis (28.9%) were higher [54.7% and 13.5% for patients with RNS (+)/EMG (+), P <0.05]. Furthermore, the Revised Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Functional Rating Scale (ALSFRS-R) score [40 (37, 42)], body mass index (BMI) [23.8 (22.0, 25.4) kg/m 2 ] and forced vital capacity (FVC) [92.8% (76.6%, 103.8%)] were higher in patients with RNS(+)/EMG(+) ( P <0.05). The multivariate model suggested that, in patients with RNS (+)/EMG (-), the ratio of upper limb onset to lower limb onset was 1.04, while that of upper limb onset to bulbar onset was 2.02, and that of lower limb onset to bulbar onset was 1.94. The ratio of non-definite ALS to definite ALS was 1.13. The ALSFRS-R score, BMI, and FVC had a protective contribution to the electrophysiological function of the motor neurons. The ratio of the effect size of the ALSFRS-R or BMI to that of FVC was 3.37 and 1.14, respectively. Conclusions: Patients with ALS that were 3 Hz RNS (+) on the accessory nerve and EMG (-) on the ipsilateral sternocleidomastoid had a smaller decremental range of the compound muscle action potential amplitude, and a higher proportion of upper limb onset and non-definite ALS. A higher ALSFRS-R score, BMI, and FVC have a protective effect to the electrophysiological function of motor neurons. The effect size of the ALSFRS-R score is the largest, followed by BMI and FVC.

Graphite is one of the most chemically inert materials. Its elementary constituent, monolayer graphene, is generally expected to inherit most of the parent material's properties including chemical inertness. Here, we show that, unlike graphite, defect-free monolayer graphene exhibits a strong activity with respect to splitting molecular hydrogen, which is comparable to that of metallic and other known catalysts for this reaction. We attribute the unexpected catalytic activity to surface corrugations (nanoscale ripples), a conclusion supported by theory. Nanoripples are likely to play a role in other chemical reactions involving graphene and, because nanorippling is inherent to atomically thin crystals, can be important for two-dimensional (2D) materials in general.

Two-dimensional crystals with angstrom-scale pores are widely considered as candidates for a next generation of molecular separation technologies aiming to provide extreme, exponentially large selectivity combined with high flow rates. No such pores have been demonstrated experimentally. Here we study gas transport through individual graphene pores created by low intensity exposure to low kV electrons. Helium and hydrogen permeate easily through these pores whereas larger species such as xenon and methane are practically blocked. Permeating gases experience activation barriers that increase quadratically with molecules' kinetic diameter, and the effective diameter of the created pores is estimated as ∼2 angstroms, about one missing carbon ring. Our work reveals stringent conditions for achieving the long sought-after exponential selectivity using porous two-dimensional membranes and suggests limits on their possible performance., (© 2021. Crown.)

Objective: To investigate the electrophysiological features of patients with subacute combined degeneration (SCD). Methods: The electrophysiological data of 85 hospitalized patients in Department of Neurology, First Medical Centre, Chinese PLA General Hospital from January 2014 to September 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. Results: Abnormality rate of motor nerve conduction (27.4%(93/339)) was lower than that of sensory nerve conduction (45.9%(107/233)) ( P< 0.001). Abnormality of sensory nerve action potential amplitude was more frequent than conduction velocity abnormality (22.7%(53/233) vs 4.7%(11/233), P= 0.001). Abnormality rate of needle electromyogram (EMG) was higher in lower limbs than upper limbs (31.9%(59/185) vs 5.7%(5/87), P< 0.001). Spontaneous potentials were unrelated to disease duration or severity. Abnormal somatosensory evoked potential (SEP) results appeared more frequent in lower limbs (80.8%(118/146)) than upper limbs (61.1%(77/126)) ( P< 0.001). SEP abnormalities (71.7%(195/272)) were more common than nerve conduction abnormalities (35.0%(200/572)). Abnormal findings presented in 15/16 of visual evoked potential (VEP) studies. Neurological severity score were correlated with electrophysiological findings. Conclusions: Posterior funiculus is more likely to be affected than peripheral nerves in SCD patients. The sensory nerves rather than motor nerves, lower limbs rather than upper limbs, axons of sensory nerves rather than myelin, are more severely affected. Electrophysiological tests can provide evidence in early diagnosis, lesions location, and disease severity evaluation for SCD.

Defect-free monolayers of graphene and hexagonal boron nitride are surprisingly permeable to thermal protons, despite being completely impenetrable to all gases. It remains untested whether small ions can permeate through the two-dimensional crystals. Here we show that mechanically exfoliated graphene and hexagonal boron nitride exhibit perfect Nernst selectivity such that only protons can permeate through, with no detectable flow of counterions. In the experiments, we use suspended monolayers that have few, if any, atomic-scale defects, as shown by gas permeation tests, and place them to separate reservoirs filled with hydrochloric acid solutions. Protons account for all the electrical current and chloride ions are blocked. This result corroborates the previous conclusion that thermal protons can pierce defect-free two-dimensional crystals. Besides the importance for theoretical developments, our results are also of interest for research on various separation technologies based on two-dimensional materials.

Competing Interests: All authors have disclosed no conflicts of interest.

The large surface roughness, low work function and high cost of transparent electrodes using multilayer graphene films can limit their application in organic photovoltaic (OPV) cells. Here, we develop single layer graphene (SLG) films as transparent anodes for OPV cells that contain light-absorbing layers comprised of the evaporable molecular organic semiconductor materials, zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPc)/fullerene (C60), as well as a molybdenum oxide (MoO x ) interfacial layer. In addition to an increase in the optical transmittance, the SLG anodes had a significant decrease in surface roughness compared to two and four layer graphene (TLG and FLG) anodes fabricated by multiple transfer and stacking of SLGs. Importantly, the introduction of a MoO x interfacial layer not only reduced the energy barrier between the graphene anode and the active layer, but also decreased the resistance of the SLG by nearly ten times. The OPV cells with the structure of polyethylene terephthalate/SLG/MoO x /CuI/ZnPc/C60/bathocuproine/Al were flexible, and had a power conversion efficiency of up to 0.84%, which was only 17.6% lower than the devices with an equivalent structure but prepared on commercial indium tin oxide anodes. Furthermore, the devices with the SLG anode were 50% and 86.7% higher in efficiency than the cells with the TLG and FLG anodes. These results show the potential of SLG electrodes for flexible and wearable OPV cells as well as other organic optoelectronic devices.

Background: Superficial basal cell carcinoma (sBCC) can be safely treated topically. Potentially noninvasive imaging techniques, such as optical coherence tomography (OCT), may be useful to diagnose and manage patients with sBCC and obviate the need for biopsy., Objectives: To evaluate in OCT (i) the sensitivity and specificity for sBCC diagnosis, (ii) the accuracy in determining BCC depth and (iii) the role in management of sBCC mimickers., Methods: A prospective, consecutive cohort of lesions for which sBCC was considered in the differential diagnosis. These lesions underwent clinical, dermoscopic and OCT assessment. Diagnosis and its confidence were recorded for each modality and were correlated with the histopathological diagnosis (punch biopsy). Interpretation of the OCT images and assessment of individual features were performed blinded to the biopsy results., Results: In total, 168 lesions were recruited: 52% were sBCC, 26% were other BCC variants and the remaining lesions were actinic keratosis, squamous cell carcinoma in situ, other benign inflammatory processes and two other malignant tumours. The sensitivity and specificity of OCT for diagnosis of sBCC were 0·87 and 0·80, respectively. There was excellent correlation between OCT and biopsy for tumour depth amongst tumours ≤ 0·4 mm (Pearson correlation r = 0·86, P < 0·001), but the correlation was less as depth increased (Pearson correlation r = 0·71, P < 0·001 for all tumours < 1·0 mm)., Conclusions: OCT has good diagnostic accuracy for diagnosing sBCC and measuring depth in tumours ≤ 0·4 mm. Potentially OCT can reduce the need for biopsy in clinically suspected sBCCs. However, careful follow-up is required in such cases as there is a small risk (5%) of misdiagnosis., (© 2016 British Association of Dermatologists.)

The relatively high sheet resistance, low work function and poor compatibility with hole injection layers (HILs) seriously limit the applications of graphene as transparent conductive electrodes (TCEs) for organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs). Here, a graphene oxide/graphene (GO/G) vertical heterostructure is developed as TCEs for high-performance OLEDs, by directly oxidizing the top layer of three-layer graphene films with ozone treatment. Such GO/G heterostructure electrodes show greatly improved optical transmittance, a large work function, high stability, and good compatibility with HIL materials (MoO3 in this work). Moreover, the conductivity of the heterostructure is not sacrificed compared to the pristine three-layer graphene electrodes, but is significantly higher than that of pristine two-layer graphene films. In addition to high flexibility, OLEDs with different emission colors based on the GO/G heterostructure TCEs show much better performance than those based on indium tin oxide (ITO) anodes. Green OLEDs with GO/G heterostructure electrodes have the maximum current efficiency and power efficiency, as high as 82.0 cd A(-1) and 98.2 lm W(-1), respectively, which are 36.7% (14.8%) and 59.2% (15.0%) higher than those with pristine graphene (ITO) anodes. These findings open up the possibility of using graphene for next generation high-performance flexible and wearable optoelectronics with high stability.

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a noninvasive imaging tool used in vivo in real time for diagnosis, treatment delineation and monitoring of basal cell carcinoma (BCC). Features of BCC on OCT have been widely described and reviewed. However, the diagnostic accuracy of OCT in these various applications is unclear. We systematically reviewed the literature to assess the accuracy of OCT in diagnosis and management of BCC using the Embase and Medline databases. In total 179 unique references were identified in the initial search, of which 22 studies with 556 histologically proven BCCs were eligible. Assessment of the quality of eligible studies was undertaken using the STROBE criteria. Data extraction and quality assessment were performed independently by the two authors. This systematic review provides an overview of the clinical applications of OCT in the diagnosis and management of BCC. OCT has been suggested to be useful in the diagnosis, treatment planning and treatment monitoring of BCC. As the technology improves and its utility increases, further studies with good methodological quality will be needed to implement OCT into daily practice., (© 2015 British Association of Dermatologists.)

Central aortic systolic blood pressure (SBP-C) can be estimated from a cuff oscillometric waveform derived during the pulse volume plethysmography (PVP) by applying a device-specific aortic pressure-to-PVP waveform-generalized transfer function (A2P(GTF)). The present study compared the performance of an aortic-to-brachial pressure waveforms generalized transfer function (A2B(GTF)), which is independent of any PVP devices, with an A2P(GTF). Generalized transfer function of aortic-to-brachial (A2B(GTF)) and aortic-to-PVP (A2P(GTF)) were generated from the simultaneously obtained central aortic and brachial pressure waveforms recorded by a high-fidelity dual pressure sensor catheter, and the PVP waveform recorded by a customized noninvasive blood pressure monitor during cardiac catheterization in 40 patients, and were then applied in another 100 patients with simultaneously recorded invasive aortic pressure and noninvasively calibrated (using cuff SBP and diastolic blood pressures) PVP waveforms. The mean difference±s.d. between the noninvasively estimated and invasively recorded SBP-C was -2.1±7.7 mm Hg for A2B(GTF), which was not greater than that of -3.0±7.7 mm Hg for A2P(GTF) (P<0.01). In conclusion, SBP-C can be measured reliably using a noninvasive blood pressure monitor by applying either an A2P(GTF) or A2B(GTF) to a noninvasively calibrated PVP waveform. The performance of an A2B(GTF) is not inferior to that of an A2P(GTF).

Background: To establish a tacrolimus-induced diabetes rat model and assess efficacy and safety of insulin glargine combined with repaglinide in Chinese patients with diabetes after liver transplantation., Methods: Animal experiments and clinical trial were conducted. Animal experiments: Male SD rats were randomly divided into tacrolimus (4 mg/kg daily) and control group (saline). Rats were sacrificed after five months of treatment and blood was collected through heart puncture. Patients who underwent liver transplantation were selected and followed up regularly. If HbA1c was < 9%, repaglinide was administered; if HbA1c was > or = 9%, glargine plus repaglinide was administered., Results: For rat model studies, in the tacrolimus group, fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels were increased after three months (p < 0.01). After five months, the insulin secretion index and the sensitivity index in the tacrolimus group was significantly lower than in the control group (p < 0.01). For studies of post-transplant diabetes mellitus (PTDM), eighty-six liver transplant recipients were enrolled. 51 were given repaglinide and 35 were given repaglinide combined with glargine. After treatment for 1, 6, and 12 months, FBG, post-prandial blood glucose (PPBG), and HbA1c levels decreased (p < 0.05) in both groups, and no statistically significant changes were observed in the liver and kidney function indicators (p > 0.05). No severe hypoglycemia episodes were reported., Conclusions: Tacrolimus caused islet cell necrosis, reduced insulin secretion, increased insulin resistance, and increased blood glucose in the model. The blood glucose levels increased in a time-dependent manner. Combination of glargine and repaglinide was effective and safe for Chinese patients with post liver transplant diabetes mellitus.

The effects of pressure wave reflection have been incompletely described by the central augmentation index (cAI) and augmented pressure (Pa). We therefore investigated the determinants of amplitude of the reflected wave (Pb), which is independent of the reflected wave transit time (RWTT) and has been shown to predict cardiovascular mortality in the general population. A total of 180 (117 men, mean age 68 years old) patients were recruited. Carotid pressure waveforms derived by tonometry at baseline and 3 min after administration of sublingual nitroglycerin (NTG) were calibrated and then decomposed into the forward and backward waves to yield Pb. The ratio of pre-ejection period/ejection time (PEP/ET) was measured. By stepwise multivariate analysis, independent determinants of Pb included brachial mean blood pressure (β=0.56, P<0.001), heart rate (β=-0.29, P<0.001), age (β=0.20, P<0.001), PEP/ET (β=-0.16, P=0.004) and height (β=-0.13, P=0.018). RWTT, body mass index and sex were significant independent determinants of Pa and cAI but did not contribute to Pb. Change of Pb but not Pa or cAI significantly predicted the changes of carotid systolic (r=0.550, P<0.001) and pulse pressure (r=0.618, P<0.001) after NTG. In conclusion, determinants of Pb differ from those of cAI and Pa. Pb is independent of sex and RWTT.

CT-guided transthoracic lung biopsy is becoming a widely accepted procedure for the diagnosis of pulmonary lesions. The rate of severe complications following such a procedure has been reported. Of these complications, air embolism is the most likely to be fatal. We report a case of right coronary air embolism resulting in myocardial infarction after a CT-guided percutaneous needle biopsy of the lung. The patient died from underlying malignant disease 4 months later.

Vertically aligned Mg-doped GaN nanorods have been epitaxially grown on n-type Si substrate to form a heterostructure for fabricating p-n heterojunction photovoltaic cells. The p-type GaN nanorod/n-Si heterojunction cell shows a well-defined rectifying behavior with a rectification ratio larger than 10(4) in dark. The cell has a high short-circuit photocurrent density of 7.6 mAlcm2 and energy conversion efficiency of 2.73% under AM 1.5G illumination at 100 mW/cm2. Moreover, the nanorod array may be used as an antireflection coating for solar cell applications to effectively reduce light loss due to reflection. This study provides an experimental demonstration for integrating one-dimensional nanostructure arrays with the substrate to directly fabricate heterojunction photovoltaic cells.