thinning

Tungsten-doped TiO2 (W@TiO2 ) nanoparticles, with different percentages of atomic tungsten dopant levels (range of 0 to 6 mol%) have been synthesized by the sol-gel method and characterized by UV-Visible spectroscopy, XRD, SEM, EDX, ICP-OES and XPS analysis. By means of UV-Vis spectroscopy, it has been observed that with 6 mol% tungsten doping the wavelength range of excitation of TiO2 has extended to the visible portion of spectrum. Therefore, we evaluated the photocatalytic activity of W@TiO2 catalysts for the degradation of Congo red dye under varying experimental parameters such as dopant concentration, catalyst dosage, dye concentrations and pH...

Transmural and regional gradients in membrane potential and Ca2+ transient in the murine heart are largely unexplored. Here, we developed and validated a robust approach which combines transverse ultra-thin cardiac slices and high resolution optical mapping to enable systematic analysis of transmural and regional gradients in transmembrane potential (Vm) and intracellular Ca2+ transient (CaT) across the entire murine ventricles. The voltage dye RH237 or Ca2+ dye Rhod-2 AM were loaded through the coronary circulation using a Langendorff perfusion system...

Ice shelves control sea-level rise through frictional resistance, which slows the seaward flow of grounded glacial ice. Evidence from around Antarctica indicates that ice shelves are thinning and weakening, primarily driven by warm ocean water entering into the shelf cavities. We have identified a mechanism for ice shelf destabilization where basal channels underneath the shelves cause ice thinning that drives fracture perpendicular to flow. These channels also result in ice surface deformation, which diverts supraglacial rivers into the transverse fractures...

OBJECTIVE: Rectangular (cylindrical) cuffs and bladders are currently used for blood pressure (BP) measurement at the upper arm. However, large arms have a troncoconical shape, which make cylindrical cuffs potentially unsuitable. Aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the shape of the cuff on BP measurement in very obese participants. METHODS: In 33 participants with upper arm mid-circumference at least 42 cm and 33 participants of control, cylindrical and troncoconical cuffs of appropriate size were compared...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To describe a novel technique of scleral indentation and transillumination for single-surgeon, unassisted vitrectomy and vitreous base shaving enhanced with a digital heads-up display system (NGENUITY 3D Visualization System; Alcon, Fort Worth, TX). PATIENTS AND METHODS: This technique was utilized in six eyes of six patients during vitrectomy surgery for common vitreoretinal surgical diagnoses. In each case, the transillumination was performed with the traditional intraocular light pipe set at 100% power, placed obliquely just posterior to the vitreous base insertion, with or without a transillumination adapter...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To report the association of angioid streaks in patients with Pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE) with reticular pseudodrusen (RPD), thin choroid, and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) atrophy using swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) and short-wave autofluorescence (SWAF). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective cross-sectional study. Records of consecutive patients with angioid streaks due to PXE, who presented with a decrease of vision due to choroidal neovascularization (CNV), were reviewed for best-corrected visual acuity, color fundus photographs, SS-OCT, SWAF, and red-free images with special emphasis on presence or absence of RPD, subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT), and RPE atrophy...

Binge eating and purging behaviors are associated with significant harm and distress among adolescents. The process by which these behaviors develop (often in the high school years) is not fully understood. We tested the Acquired Preparedness (AP) model of risk involving transactions among biological, personality, and psychosocial factors to predict binge eating and purging behavior in a sample of 1,906 children assessed in the spring of 5th grade (the last year of elementary school), the fall of 6th grade (the first year of middle school), spring of 6th grade, and spring of 10th grade (second year of high school)...

A new asymmetric furan and thieno[3,2-b]thiophene flanked diketopyrrolopyrrole (TTFDPP) building block for conjugated polymers is designed and used to generate a donor-acceptor semiconducting polymer, poly[3-(furan-2-yl)-2,5-bis(2-octyldodecyl)-6-(thieno[3,2-b]thiophen-2-yl)pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrole-1,4(2H,5H)-dione-alt-thieno[3,2-b]thiophene] (abbreviated to PTTFDPP-TT), consisting of TTFDPP unit copolymerized with thieno[3,2-b]thiophene comonomer (TT), which is further synthesized. Results demonstrate that PTTFDPP-TT-based thin-film transistors in a bottom-gate bottom-contact device configuration exhibit typical hole-transporting property, with weak temperature dependence for charge carrier mobility from room temperature to 200 °C...

The synthesis of a novel naphthalenediimide (NDI)-bithiazole (Tz2)-based polymer [P(NDI2OD-Tz2)] is reported, and structural, thin-film morphological, as well as charge transport and thermoelectric properties are compared to the parent and widely investigated NDI-bithiophene (T2) polymer [P(NDI2OD-T2)]. Since the steric repulsions in Tz2 are far lower than in T2, P(NDI2OD-Tz2) exhibits a more planar and rigid backbone, enhancing π-π chain stacking and intermolecular interactions. In addition, the electron-deficient nature of Tz2 enhances the polymer electron affinity, thus reducing the polymer donor-acceptor character...

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the present paper was to review factors and conditions that are associated with hard and soft-tissue deficiencies at implant sites. IMPORTANCE: Hard- and soft-tissue deficiencies at dental implants are common clinical findings. They can lead to complications and compromise implant survival and, hence, may require therapeutic interventions. It is, therefore, important to understand the etiology of hard and soft-tissue deficiencies. Based on this understanding, strategies should be developed to correct hard and soft-tissue deficiencies with the aim of improving clinical outcomes of implant therapy...

BACKGROUND: Mucogingival deformities, and gingival recession in particular, are a group of conditions that affect a large number of patients. Since life expectancy is rising and people are retaining more teeth both gingival recession and the related damages to the root surface are likely to become more frequent. It is therefore important to define anatomic/morphologic characteristics of mucogingival lesions and other predisposing conditions or treatments that are likely to be associated with occurrence of gingival recession...

Synapses are key structures in neural networks, and are involved in learning and memory in the central nervous system. Investigating synaptogenesis and synaptic aging is important in understanding neural development and neural degeneration in diseases such as Alzheimer disease and Parkinson's disease. Our previous study found that synaptogenesis and synaptic maturation were harmonized with brain development and maturation. However, synaptic damage and loss in the aging cerebellum are not well understood. This study was designed to investigate the occurrence of synaptic aging in the cerebellum by observing the ultrastructural changes of dendritic spines and synapses in cerebellar Purkinje cells of aging mice...

Anguillonema iranicum n. sp. is described and illustrated as the second species of this genus from Iran, based on morphological, morphometric and molecular characteristics. It is identified by a short, thin body, a continuous lip region, six lines on the lateral field, a short, thin stylet, a posteriorly located pharyngo-intestinal junction to excretory pore, the presence of a post-vulval uterine sac, vulval position at 89% (87.4-89.9%) of body length, an elongate conoid tail with a rounded to pointed tip and not dorsally bent, and common functional males with short spicules and lacking a bursa...

The SYNERGY stent is composed of thin, platinum-chromium metal alloy struts and an ultrathin, bioabsorbable poly-DL-lactide-co-glycolide polymer limited to the abluminal strut surface which elutes everolimus prior to complete resorption within 3-4 months. SYNERGY was designed to reduce inflammation and facilitate stent healing compared with permanent polymer drug eluting stents. This review summarizes the preclinical and clinical development of SYNERGY, its integration into clinical practice and future directions...

Due to substantial phonon scattering induced by various structural defects, the in-plane thermal conductivity (K) of graphene films (GFs) is still inferior to the commercial pyrolytic graphite sheet (PGS). Here, the problem is solved by engineering the structures of GFs in the aspects of grain size, film alignment, and thickness, and interlayer binding energy. The maximum K of GFs reaches to 3200 W m-1 K-1 and outperforms PGS by 60%. The superior K of GFs is strongly related to its large and intact grains, which are over four times larger than the best PGS...

BACKGROUND: Mucogingival deformities, and gingival recession in particular, are a group of conditions that affect a large number of patients. Since life expectancy is rising and people are retaining more teeth both gingival recession and the related damages to the root surface are likely to become more frequent. It is therefore important to define anatomic/morphologic characteristics of mucogingival lesions and other predisposing conditions or treatments that are likely to be associated with occurrence of gingival recession...

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the present paper was to review factors and conditions that are associated with hard and soft-tissue deficiencies at implant sites. IMPORTANCE: Hard- and soft-tissue deficiencies at dental implants are common clinical findings. They can lead to complications and compromise implant survival and, hence, may require therapeutic interventions. It is, therefore, important to understand the etiology of hard and soft-tissue deficiencies. Based on this understanding, strategies should be developed to correct hard and soft-tissue deficiencies with the aim of improving clinical outcomes of implant therapy...

Determination of a glycolipid ligand can quickly reveal the carbohydrate epitope recognized by carbohydrate-binding proteins (CBP) which may include antibodies, lectins, toxins, and virulence factors. Thin layer chromatography (TLC) is a simple, well-known, and heavily used method to separate glycolipids based on their migration through a thin layer of chromatography media, usually silica gel, coated on the surface of a rigid plate. Reacting carbohydrate-binding proteins directly on a TLC plate of separated glycolipids is a powerful technique to quickly determine functional carbohydrate epitopes present in an entire glycolipid extract of a target cell type or tissue...

PURPOSE: Experimental liver steatosis induced by overfeeding is associated with enhanced gut permeability and endotoxin translocation to the liver. We examined the role of the gut microbiota for steatosis formation by performing the feeding experiments in mice raised under conventional and germ-free (GF) housing. METHODS: Adult wild-type and GF mice were fed a Western-style diet (WSD) or a control diet (CD), the latter combined with liquid fructose supplementation (F) or not, for 8 weeks...

Inspired by the excellent device performance of triindole-based semiconductors in electronic and optoelectronic devices, the relationship between the solid-state organization and the charge-transporting properties of an easily accessible series of triindole derivatives is reported herein. The vacuum-evaporated organic thin-film transistors (OTFTs) exhibited a non ideal behaviour with a double slope in the saturation curves. Moreover, the treatment of the gate insulator of the OTFT device with either a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) or a polymer controls the molecular growth and the film morphology of the semiconducting layer, as shown by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses, atomic force microscopy (AFM) and theoretical calculations...