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Ultraviolet irradiation of CO-releasing molecules (CORMs) in water eventually leads to the loss of several carbon monoxide ligands.We show for an exemplary manganese tricarbonyl CORM that only one ligand is photolyzed off on an ultrafast timescale and that some molecules may undergo geminate recombination.

Copyright of Langenbecks Archiv fuer Chirurgie is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Langenbecks Archiv fuer Chirurgie is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Arterial stiffness is an indicator of vascular health, influenced by both pathological conditions and physiological determinants, noticeably age. Augmentation index (AI) and pulse wave velocity (PWV) are used among others to assess arterial stiffness. Several risk factors may contribute to pathologically increase arterial stiffness and produce early vascular aging. Our study aims to assess the impact of individual risk factors on vascular health, evaluating the distribution of PWV and AI values in a cohort of adult people without modifiable cardiovascular risk factors while analyzing their role in accelerating vascular ageing. We performed a secondary analysis of a Swiss population-based research project, which took place in 2017 and 2018. Of the 1202 participants originally enrolled, 1097 were included in the final sample. The population was divided into without (n=388) and with risk factors (n=709), based on the presence of the following: smoking, diabetes, previous cardiovascular disease (CVD), chronic kidney disease stage 3 or more, LDL cholesterol ≥ 4.11 or treatment with hypolipidemic drugs, hypertension or treatment with antihypertensive drugs, and metabolic syndrome. Tonometric and oscillometric devices were employed to assess PWV, and the 75th percentiles of PWV and AI in the population without risk factors were calculated to identify cut-offs for the logistic regression analysis. We developed nomograms by assigning a numerical score to each independent prognostic factor; the total score estimating the probability of PWVs and AIs being over the defined cut-offs. Patients with hypertension, diabetes, and obesity showed higher PWV values (p < 0.001). In the univariate logistic regression, factors predictive for higher PWV values were diabetes, CVDs, hypercholesterolemia, and hypertension, while CVDs, antihyperlipidemic treatment, hypertension, and increased BMI were predictive in the multivariate logistic regression. Smoking did not significantly influence arterial stiffness parameters. The present study provides reference values for PWV and AI in subjects without modifiable cardiovascular risk factors and, through nomograms, a risk score stratification to assess the impact of individual risk factors on vascular health.

The computer vision algorithms used currently in advanced driver assistance systems rely on image-based RGB cameras, leading to a critical bandwidth-latency trade-off for delivering safe driving experiences. To address this, event cameras have emerged as alternative vision sensors. Event cameras measure the changes in intensity asynchronously, offering high temporal resolution and sparsity, markedly reducing bandwidth and latency requirements 1 . Despite these advantages, event-camera-based algorithms are either highly efficient but lag behind image-based ones in terms of accuracy or sacrifice the sparsity and efficiency of events to achieve comparable results. To overcome this, here we propose a hybrid event- and frame-based object detector that preserves the advantages of each modality and thus does not suffer from this trade-off. Our method exploits the high temporal resolution and sparsity of events and the rich but low temporal resolution information in standard images to generate efficient, high-rate object detections, reducing perceptual and computational latency. We show that the use of a 20 frames per second (fps) RGB camera plus an event camera can achieve the same latency as a 5,000-fps camera with the bandwidth of a 45-fps camera without compromising accuracy. Our approach paves the way for efficient and robust perception in edge-case scenarios by uncovering the potential of event cameras 2 ., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Event cameras triggered a paradigm shift in the computer vision community delineated by their asynchronous nature, low latency, and high dynamic range. Calibration of event cameras is always essential to account for the sensor intrinsic parameters and for 3D perception. However, conventional image-based calibration techniques are not applicable due to the asynchronous, binary output of the sensor. The current standard for calibrating event cameras relies on either blinking patterns or event-based image reconstruction algorithms. These approaches are difficult to deploy in factory settings and are affected by noise and artifacts degrading the calibration performance. To bridge these limitations, we present E-Calib, a novel, fast, robust, and accurate calibration toolbox for event cameras utilizing the asymmetric circle grid, for its robustness to out-of-focus scenes. E-Calib introduces an efficient reweighted least squares (eRWLS) method for feature extraction of the calibration pattern circles with sub-pixel accuracy and robustness to noise. In addition, a modified hierarchical clustering algorithm is devised to detect the calibration grid apart from the background clutter. The proposed method is tested in a variety of rigorous experiments for different event camera models, on circle grids with different geometric properties, on varying calibration trajectories and speeds, and under challenging illumination conditions. The results show that our approach outperforms the state-of-the-art in detection success rate, reprojection error, and pose estimation accuracy.

Natural microbial communities are phylogenetically and metabolically diverse. In addition to underexplored organismal groups 1 , this diversity encompasses a rich discovery potential for ecologically and biotechnologically relevant enzymes and biochemical compounds 2,3 . However, studying this diversity to identify genomic pathways for the synthesis of such compounds 4 and assigning them to their respective hosts remains challenging. The biosynthetic potential of microorganisms in the open ocean remains largely uncharted owing to limitations in the analysis of genome-resolved data at the global scale. Here we investigated the diversity and novelty of biosynthetic gene clusters in the ocean by integrating around 10,000 microbial genomes from cultivated and single cells with more than 25,000 newly reconstructed draft genomes from more than 1,000 seawater samples. These efforts revealed approximately 40,000 putative mostly new biosynthetic gene clusters, several of which were found in previously unsuspected phylogenetic groups. Among these groups, we identified a lineage rich in biosynthetic gene clusters ('Candidatus Eudoremicrobiaceae') that belongs to an uncultivated bacterial phylum and includes some of the most biosynthetically diverse microorganisms in this environment. From these, we characterized the phospeptin and pythonamide pathways, revealing cases of unusual bioactive compound structure and enzymology, respectively. Together, this research demonstrates how microbiomics-driven strategies can enable the investigation of previously undescribed enzymes and natural products in underexplored microbial groups and environments., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Antibiotic resistance spread via plasmids is a serious threat to successfully fight infections and makes understanding plasmid transfer in nature crucial to prevent the rise of antibiotic resistance. Studies addressing the dynamics of plasmid conjugation have yet neglected one omnipresent factor: prophages (viruses integrated into bacterial genomes), whose activation can kill host and surrounding bacterial cells. To investigate the impact of prophages on conjugation, we combined experiments and mathematical modelling. Using Escherichia coli , prophage λ and the multidrug-resistant plasmid RP4 we find that prophages can substantially limit the spread of conjugative plasmids. This inhibitory effect was strongly dependent on environmental conditions and bacterial genetic background. Our empirically parameterized model reproduced experimental dynamics of cells acquiring either the prophage or the plasmid well but could only reproduce the number of cells acquiring both elements by assuming complex interactions between conjugative plasmids and prophages in sequential infections. Varying phage and plasmid infection parameters over empirically realistic ranges revealed that plasmids can overcome the negative impact of prophages through high conjugation rates. Overall, the presence of prophages introduces an additional death rate for plasmid carriers, the magnitude of which is determined in non-trivial ways by the environment, the phage and the plasmid. This article is part of the theme issue 'The secret lives of microbial mobile genetic elements'.

Objective: To assess if active commuting with an electrically assisted bicycle (e-bike) during a 4-week period can induce increases in cardiorespiratory fitness measured as peak oxygen uptake (V[Combining Dot Above]O2peak) in untrained, overweight individuals, and if these changes are comparable with those induced by a conventional bicycle., Design: Four-week randomized pilot study., Setting: Controlled laboratory., Participants: Thirty-two volunteers (28 men) participated. Seventeen {median age 37 years [interquartile range (IQR) 34, 45], median body mass index [BMI] 29 kg/m [IQR 27, 31]} were randomized to the E-Bike group and 15 [median age 43 years (IQR 38, 45), median BMI 28 kg/m (IQR 26, 29)] to the Bike group., Interventions: Participants in both groups were instructed to use the bicycle allocated to them (e-bike or conventional bicycle) for an active commute to work in the Basel (Switzerland) area at a self-chosen speed on at least 3 days per week during the 4-week intervention period., Main Outcome Measures: V[Combining Dot Above]O2peak was assessed before and after the intervention in an all-out exercise test on a bicycle ergometer., Results: V[Combining Dot Above]O2peak increased by an average of 3.6 mL/(kg·min) [SD 3.6 mL/(kg·min)] in the E-Bike group and by 2.2 mL/(kg·min) [SD 3.5 mL/(kg·min)] in the Bike group, with an adjusted difference between the 2 groups of 1.4 mL/(kg·min) [95% confidence interval, -1.4-4.1; P = 0.327]., Conclusions: E-bikes may have the potential to improve cardiorespiratory fitness similar to conventional bicycles despite the available power assist, as they enable higher biking speeds and greater elevation gain.

Using time-resolved photoluminescence (TRPL) spectroscopy the exciton lifetime in a range of conjugated polymers is investigated. For poly(p-phenylenevinylene) (PPV)-based derivatives and a polyspirobifluorene copolymer (PSBF) we find that the exciton lifetime is correlated with the energetic disorder. Better ordered polymers exhibit a single exponential PL decay with exciton lifetimes of a few hundred picoseconds, whereas polymers with a larger degree of disorder show multiexponential PL decays with exciton lifetimes in the nanosecond regime. These observations are consistent with diffusion-limited exciton quenching at nonradiative recombination centers. The measured PL decay time reflects the time that excitons need to diffuse toward these quenching sites. Conjugated polymers with large energetic disorder and thus longer exciton lifetime also exhibit a higher photoluminescence quantum yield due to the slower exciton diffusion toward nonradiative quenching sites.

Herein, we report on the structural design principle of small-molecule organic semiconductors as metal-free, pure organic and visible light-active photocatalysts. Two series of electron-donor and acceptor-type organic semiconductor molecules were synthesized to meet crucial requirements, such as 1) absorption range in the visible region, 2) sufficient photoredox potential, and 3) long lifetime of photogenerated excitons. The photocatalytic activity was demonstrated in the intermolecular C-H functionalization of electron-rich heteroaromates with malonate derivatives. A mechanistic study of the light-induced electron transport between the organic photocatalyst, substrate, and the sacrificial agent are described. With their tunable absorption range and defined energy-band structure, the small-molecule organic semiconductors could offer a new class of metal-free and visible light-active photocatalysts for chemical reactions., (© 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

The synthesis and photophysical characterization of a palladium(II) porphyrin - anthracene dyad bridged via short and conformationally rigid bicyclo[2.2.2]octadiene spacer were achieved. A spectroscopic investigation of the prepared molecule in solution has been undertaken to study electronic energy transfer in excited singlet and triplet states between the anthracene and porphyrin units. By using steady-state and time-resolved photoluminescence spectroscopy it was shown that excitation of the singlet excited state of the anthracene leads to energy transfer to the lower-lying singlet state of porphyrin. Alternatively, excitation of the porphyrin followed by intersystem crossing to the triplet state leads to very fast energy transfer to the triplet state of anthracene. The rate of this energy transfer has been determined by transient absorption spectroscopy. Comparative studies of the dynamics of triplet excited states of the dyad and reference palladium octaethylporphyrin (PdOEP) have been performed.

Dimensionality for conjugated micro-porous polymers (CMP-nD, n = 0, 1, 2) is proven to be of great importance for tailoring their photophysical properties. Moreover, CMP-nD can further be converted into boron and nitrogen co-doped porous carbons (nDBN, n = 0, 1, 2) with maintained 0D, 1D, and 2D nano-structures and highly efficient catalytic performance., (© 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Based on recent developments regarding the synthesis and design of Janus nanoparticles, they have attracted increased scientific interest due to their outstanding properties. There are several combinations of multicomponent hetero-nanostructures including either purely organic or inorganic, as well as composite organic-inorganic compounds. Janus particles are interconnected by solid state interfaces and, therefore, are distinguished by two physically or chemically distinct surfaces. They may be, for instance, hydrophilic on one side and hydrophobic on the other, thus, creating giant amphiphiles revealing the endeavor of self-assembly. Novel optical, electronic, magnetic, and superficial properties emerge in inorganic Janus particles from their dimensions and unique morphology at the nanoscale. As a result, inorganic Janus nanoparticles are highly versatile nanomaterials with great potential in different scientific and technological fields. In this paper, we highlight some advances in the synthesis of inorganic Janus nanoparticles, focusing on the heterogeneous nucleation technique and characteristics of the resulting high quality nanoparticles. The properties emphasized in this review range from the monodispersity and size-tunability and, therefore, precise control over size-dependent features, to the biomedical application as theranostic agents. Hence, we show their optical properties based on plasmonic resonance, the two-photon activity, the magnetic properties, as well as their biocompatibility and interaction with human blood serum.

Ultrafast photoinduced carrier dynamics in prototypical low band gap polymer:fullerene photovoltaic blend films PTB7:PC70BM and P3HT:PC70BM is investigated using ultrafast terahertz (THz) spectroscopy. The subpicosecond and few-picosecond decays of THz-probed photoconductivities for both compounds are observed, attributed to the rapid formation of polaron pairs by exciton-exciton annihilation and subsequent polaron pair annihilation, respectively. The transient THz photoconductivity spectra of PTB7:PC70BM are well described by the Drude-Smith (DS) model, directly yielding the important charge transport parameters such as charge carrier density, momentum scattering time, and effective localization. By comparison with P3HT:PC70BM, we find that in PTB7:PC70BM the mobile charge carrier photoconductivity is significantly enhanced by a factor of 1.8 and prevails for longer times after charge formation, due to both improved mobile charge carrier yield and lower charge localization. In PTB7:PC70BM, a strong dependency of electron momentum scattering time on electron density was found, well parametrized by the empirical Caughey-Thomas model. The difference in ultrafast photoconductivities of both P3HT:PC70BM and PTB7:PC70BM is found to correlate very well with the performance of photovoltaic devices based on those materials.

The influence of various polar solvent additives with different dipole moments has been investigated since the performance of a photovoltaic device comprising a donor-acceptor copolymer (benzothiadiazole-fluorene-diketopyrrolopyrrole (BTD-F-DKPP)) and phenyl-C60-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) was notably increased. A common approach for controlling bulk heterojunction morphology and thereby improving the solar cell performance involves the use of solvent additives exhibiting boiling points higher than that of the surrounding solvent in order to allow the fullerene to aggregate during the host solvent evaporation and film solidification. In contrast to that, we report the application of polar solvent additives with widely varied dipole moments, where intentionally no dependence on their boiling points was applied. We found that an appropriate amount of the additive can improve all solar cell parameters. This beneficial effect could be largely attributed to a modification of the poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS)-active layer interface within the device layer stack, which was successfully reproduced for polymer solar cells based on the commonly used PCDTBT (poly[N-900-hepta-decanyl-2,7-carbazole-alt-5,5-(40,70-di-2-thienyl-20,10,30-benzothiadiazole)]) copolymer.

Monodisperse multifunctional and nontoxic Au@MnO Janus particles with different sizes and morphologies were prepared by a seed-mediated nucleation and growth technique with precise control over domain sizes, surface functionalization, and dye labeling. The metal oxide domain could be coated selectively with a thin silica layer, leaving the metal domain untouched. In particular, size and morphology of the individual (metal and metal oxide) domains could be controlled by adjustment of the synthetic parameters. The SiO2 coating of the oxide domain allows biomolecule conjugation (e.g., antibodies, proteins) in a single step for converting the photoluminescent and superparamagnetic Janus nanoparticles into multifunctional efficient vehicles for theranostics. The Au@MnO@SiO2 Janus particles were characterized using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-)TEM, powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), optical (UV-vis) spectroscopy, confocal laser fluorescence scanning microscopy (CLSM), and dynamic light scattering (DLS). The functionalized nanoparticles were stable in buffer solution or serum, showing no indication of aggregation. Biocompatibility and potential biomedical applications of the Au@MnO@SiO2 Janus particles were assayed by a cell viability analysis by coincubating the Au@MnO@SiO2 Janus particles with Caki 1 and HeLa cells. Time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy in combination with CLSM revealed the silica-coated Au@MnO@SiO2 Janus particles to be highly two-photon active; no indication for an electronic interaction between the dye molecules incorporated in the silica shell surrounding the MnO domains and the attached Au domains was found; fluorescence quenching was observed when dye molecules were bound directly to the Au domains.

Self-assembly of a series of carboxylic acid-functionalized naphthalene diimide (NDI) chromophores with a varying number (n=1-4) of methylene spacers between the NDI ring and the carboxylic acid group has been studied. The derivatives show pronounced aggregation due to the synergistic effects of H-bonding between the carboxylic acid groups in a syn-syn catemer motif and π stacking between the NDI chromophores. Solvent-dependent UV/Vis studies reveal the existence of monomeric dye molecules in a "good" solvent such as chloroform and self-assembly in "bad" solvents such as methylcyclohexane. The propensity of self-assembly is comparable for all samples. Temperature-dependent spectroscopic studies show high thermal stability of the H-bonding-mediated self-assembled structures. In the presence of a protic solvent such as MeOH, self-assembly can be suppressed, suggesting a decisive role of H-bonding, whereas π stacking is more a consequence of than a cause for self-assembly. Syn-syn catemer-type H-bonding is supported by powder XRD studies and the results corroborate well with DFT calculations. The morphology as determined by AFM is found to be dependent on the value of n; with increasing n, the morphology gradually shifts from 2D nanosheets to 1D nanofibers. Emission spectra show sharp emission bands with relatively small Stokes shifts. In addition, a rather broad emission band is observed at longer wavelengths because of the in situ formation of excimer-type species. Due to such a heterogeneous nature, the emission spectrum spans almost the entire red-green-blue region. Depending on the value of n, the ratio of intensities of the two emission bands is changed, which results in a tunable luminescent color. Furthermore, in the case of n=1 and 3, almost pure white light emission is observed. Time-resolved photoluminescence spectra show a very short lifetime (a few picoseconds) of monomeric dye molecules and biexponential decays with longer lifetimes (on the order of nanoseconds) for aggregated species. Current-voltage measurements show electrical conductivity in the range of 10(-4)  S cm(-1) for the aggregated chromophores, which is four orders of magnitude higher than the value for a structurally similar NDI control molecule lacking the H-bonding functionality., (Copyright © 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Structure formation, phase behavior, and dynamics of mono-bromo hexa-peri-hexabenzocoronene (HBC-Br) are strongly affected by the confinement of cylindrical nanopores with rigid walls. Using self-ordered nanoporous anodic aluminum oxide (AAO)-containing arrays of aligned nanopores with narrow size distribution as a confining matrix, pronounced alignment of the HBC-Br columns along the nanopore axes was found to be independent of the pore diameter. Hence, arrays of one-dimensional supramolecular HBC-Br wires with the columns uniformly oriented along the wire axes on a macroscopic scale were obtained, unlike with discotics bearing smaller cores. The formation of the crystalline herringbone structure is shifted to lower temperatures in nanopores with diameters of a few hundred nanometers, whereas the formation of this low-temperature phase is completely suppressed when the pore diameter is below 20 lattice parameters. Moreover, the cylindrical confinement affects the disk axial dynamics as well as the distribution of relaxation times.

Gabapentin is used with other medications to control and prevent seizures. It is also used to treat neuropathic pain following surgery due to shingles. Gabapentin comes in many different forms, including capsules, tablets, and oral solutions. Some patients, however, cannot use oral solutions containing alcohol or sorbitol. The objective of this study was to determine the stability of gabapentin in SyrSpend SF, a suspending agent that does not contain either sorbitol or alcohol. The studied samples were compounded into a 50-mg/mL suspension and stored in low actinic bottles at room temperature and refrigerated conditions. Samples were assayed at each time point out to 90 days by a stability-indicating high-performance liquid chromatography method. The method was validated for its specificity through forced-degradation studies. The samples remained within 90% to 110% of the initial concentration throughout the course of the study. Based on data collected, the beyond-use date of this product is at least 90 days when refrigerated or stored at room temperature and protected from light. Based on the final potency data at day 90, the beyond-use date may be longer, but 90 days was the limit of this study.

A 54-year old man was hospitalized for a non severe acute pancreatitis of alcoholic aetiology. Four days after his admission, whilst symptoms and laboratory findings were on the mend, he suddenly presented with acute shock. A CT-scan demonstrated a massive haemoperitoneum due to splenic rupture which necessitated an emergency splenectomy. The causes of shock in acute pancreatitis and the factors that may lead to splenic rupture are discussed. In this patient, a possible role of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory treatment remains undetermined.

Discovery on a protein electrophoregram of a bisalbuminemia can orientate according to its migration fast or slow to an hereditary mutation of an amino acid, or an acquired form by excess of beta lactamines due to renal insufficiency or by the rupture of a pancreatic pseudocyst in the peritoneum. This is this late mechanism that we report in this case of bisalbuminemia related to an opened pancreatic pseudocyst secondary to an adenoma of the parathyroid gland.

In 1987, two media campaigns were organized in Switzerland to promote donor cards. The purpose of this study was to test their impact on the medical community. Questionnaires were sent to qualified practitioners, doctors in training and intensive care nurses. It is concluded that the campaigns for organ donation must be repeated and that their quality can be improved. It is however more urgent to improve the level of knowledge among doctors and other health professionals.

The simultaneous occurrence of platelet antibodies (ab) and a circulating "antithromboplastic" anticoagulant in a patient with thrombocytopenia led to the hypothesis that antiphospholipid ab may be causing both phenomena. Of 55 sera obtained from thrombocytopenic patients exhibiting a positive microtest for complement fixation (CFT) with platelets, 37 also gave positive results with highly purified phospholipids (Phl) used as antigen. In order to further evaluate the role of Phl, 40 different liposome suspensions obtained by sonication of various mixtures of Phl (with/without addition of cholesterol) were tested as antigen in the CFT with 11 selected sera, and as platelet factor 3 (PF3) reagent in the partial thromboplastin time test with normal plasma. Eight liposome preparations with PF3 activity (all containing phosphatidyl-serine) were equally active as antigen (ag) in the CFT. Liposomes composed of phosphatidyl-ethanolamine and sphingomyeline delivered ag-activity only. Since the two substances are accessible components of the outer membrane surface of thrombocytes, anti-Phl-ab may well bind to platelets in vivo, causing thrombocytopenia. Coagulation-inhibiting activity of these ab could be directly demonstrated in a PF3-test system (thrombocytopathy caused by PF3 inhibition). The identity of antithromboplastic anticoagulant and anti-Phl-ab was further substantiated by immunoabsorption, since both activities were simultaneously eliminated from the sera with a Phl-charcoal adsorbent.

A family with congenital hypofibrinogenemia (fibrinogen levels of 60-90 mg%) has been studied. Out of 19 members tested, 11 exhibit this trait, which follows a strictly autosomal-dominant pattern of inheritance. Congenital hypofibrinogenemia appears to be a separate entity which can be distinguished from heterozygous individuals of congenital afibrinogenemia and from congenital dysfibrinogenemia. A bleeding tendency of clinical significance is observed only during major surgery or after severe injury.