Graphene-nanoparticle hybrid material research in regard to bioapplications is examined and reviewed. This differs from graphene use in cancer therapy.
In-band full-duplex wireless communications are challenging because they require the mitigation of self-interference caused by the co-located transmitter to operate effectively. This paper presents a ...novel tapped delay line RF canceller architecture with multiple non-uniform pre-weighted taps to improve system isolation by cancelling both the direct antenna coupling as well as multipath effects that comprise a typical interference channel. A four-tap canceller prototype was measured over several different operating conditions, and was found to provide an average of 30 dB signal cancellation over a 30 MHz bandwidth centered at 2.45 GHz in isolated scenarios. When combined with an omni-directional high-isolation antenna, the canceller improved the overall analog isolation to 90 dB for these cases. In an indoor setting, the canceller suppressed a +30 dBm OFDM signal by 22 dB over a 20 MHz bandwidth centered at 2.45 GHz, and produced 78 dB of total analog isolation. This complete evaluation demonstrates not only the performance limitations of an optimized multitap RF canceller, but also establishes the amount of analog interference suppression that can be expected for the different environments considered.
IMPORTANCE: Because dietary intake may influence pathophysiologic mechanisms in sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the association between premorbid dietary intake and the risk of sporadic ...ALS will provide insight into which mechanisms are possibly involved in ALS pathophogenesis. OBJECTIVE: To systematically determine the association between premorbid dietary intake and the risk of sporadic ALS. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: A population-based case-control study was conducted in a general community setting in the Netherlands from January 1, 2006, to September 30, 2011. Analysis was conducted April 1, 2013, to November 15, 2014. All patients with a new diagnosis of possible, probable (laboratory supported), or definite ALS according to the revised El Escorial criteria were included and multiple sources were used to ensure complete case ascertainment. Of 986 eligible patients, 674 gave informed consent and returned a complete questionnaire; 2093 controls randomly selected from the general practitioners’ registers and frequency matched to the patients for sex and age were included. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: We studied the premorbid intake of nutrients in association with the risk of ALS by using a 199-item food frequency questionnaire adjusted for confounding factors and corrected for multiple comparisons while minimizing recall bias. RESULTS: Presymptomatic total daily energy intake in patients, reported as mean (SD), was significantly higher compared with controls (2258 730 vs 2119 619 kcal/day; P < .01), and presymptomatic body mass index (calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared) was significantly lower in patients (25.7 4.0 vs 26.0 3.7; P = .02). With values reported as odds ratio (95% CI), higher premorbid intake of total fat (1.14; 1.07-1.23; P < .001), saturated fat (1.43; 1.25-1.64; P < .001), trans-fatty acids (1.03; 1.01-1.05; P < .001), and cholesterol (1.08; 1.05-1.12; P < .001) was associated with an increased risk of ALS; higher intake of alcohol (0.91; 0.84-0.99; P = .03) was associated with a decreased risk of ALS. These associations were independent of total energy intake, age, sex, body mass index, educational level, smoking, and lifetime physical activity. No significant associations between dietary intake and survival were found. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: The combination of independent positive associations of a low premorbid body mass index and a high fat intake together with prior evidence from ALS mouse models transgenic for SOD1 and earlier reports on premorbid body mass index support a role for increased resting energy expenditure before clinical onset of ALS.
Graphene is a single-atom thick, two-dimensional sheet of carbon that is characterized by exceptional chemical, electrical, material, optical, and physical properties. As a result, graphene and ...related materials, such as graphene oxide and reduced graphene oxide, have been brought to the forefront in the field of sensing. Recently, a number of reports have demonstrated that graphene-nanoparticle hybrid structures can act synergistically to offer a number of unique physicochemical properties that are desirable and advantageous for sensing applications. These graphene-nanoparticle hybrid structures are particularly interesting because not only do they display the individual properties of the nanoparticles and of graphene, but they can also exhibit additional synergistic properties thereby enhancing the achievable sensitivity and selectivity using a variety of sensing mechanisms. As such, in this perspective, we will discuss the progress that has been made in the development and application of graphene-nanoparticle hybrid sensors and their future prospects. In particular, we will focus on the preparation of graphene-nanoparticle hybrid structures as well as their application in electronic, electrochemical, and optical sensors.
Effectuation represents a paradigmatic shift in the way that we understand entrepreneurship. Since its introduction, however, few researchers have attempted to empirically test effectuation. Our ...purpose is to encourage effectuation research. To do so, we review the effectuation literature and make suggestions for how to design and conduct empirically rigorous effectuation studies consistent with the developmental state of the research stream.
The continuing launch of innovative but high-price drugs has intensified efforts by payers to manage use and spending and by pharmaceutical manufacturers to support patient access and sales. Payers ...are restricting drug formularies, requiring more stringent prior authorizations, and raising patient cost-sharing requirements. Manufacturers are investing in programs that help patients and physician practices navigate administrative controls and help patients meet sharing Based on a compilation and analysis of the existing peer-reviewed and professional literature, this article estimates that payers, manufacturers, physicians, and patients together incur approximately $93.3 billion in costs annually on implementing, contesting, and navigating utilization management. Payers spend approximately $6.0 billion annually administering drug utilization management, and manufacturers spend approximately $24.8 billion supporting patient access in response. Physicians devote approximately $26.7 billion in time spent navigating utilization management, whereas patients spend approximately $35.8 billion annually in drug cost sharing, even after taking advantage of manufacturer and philanthropic sources of financial support. All stakeholders in the US pharmaceutical system would benefit from a deescalation of utilization management, combining lower drug prices with lower barriers to patient access.
The sustained rise in negative mental health reports among university students is a source of continued global concern, and investigation continues into potential contributors to this rise. This ...includes the increased prevalence of risky sexual behaviors. Related is the increased prevalence of pornography use. Our study sought to explore the potential relationship between compulsive use of pornography and mental health in university students.
Our sample consisted of university students (
= 1031; 34% male, 66% female) from Franciscan University of Steubenville, Steubenville, Ohio. An anonymous survey was sent to all students at the university over the age of 18. The survey was comprised of the following: (1) demographic questions, (2) questions on pornography use and perception, (3) a modified version of the Compulsive Internet Use Scale (mCIUS) assessing various factors associated with compulsive internet pornography use, (4) questions assessing emotional and sexual states relative to pornography use (EmSS), and (5) the 21-question version of the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21).
Our results indicate that 56.6% of those surveyed reported lifetime pornography use, with a significantly higher proportion of males than females reporting such use. The majority of students reported accessing pornography through internet-related technologies. Additionally, 17.0, 20.4, and 13.5% of students reported severe or extremely severe levels of depression, anxiety and stress, respectively, with compulsive pornography use significantly affecting all three mental health parameters in both sexes. Exploratory Factor Analysis identified three factors suggesting emotional coping, dependence and preoccupation for the mCIUS items and three factors reflecting interoceptive, impotent, and extrinsic characteristics for the EmSS items. Regression analysis indicated that various demographics, items pertaining to reduced control and social impairment, and other variables pertaining to pornography use predicted mental health outcomes. Faith, morals and personal motivation were the primary variables reported to help reduce pornography use.
Our analyses indicate a significant relationship between mental health and pornography use, including behaviors reflecting behavioral addictions, highlighting the necessity for a better understanding and consideration of the potential contribution of internet pornography to negative mental health among university students.
Purpose Advances in minimally invasive therapies and novel targeted chemotherapeutics have provided a breadth of options for the management of renal masses. Management of renal angiomyolipoma has not ...been reviewed in a comprehensive fashion in more than a decade. We provide an updated review of the current diagnosis and management strategies for renal angiomyolipoma. Materials and Methods We conducted a PubMed® search of all available literature for renal or kidney angiomyolipoma. Further sources were identified in the reference lists of identified articles. We specifically reviewed case series of partial nephrectomy, selective arterial embolization and ablative therapies as well as trials of mTOR inhibitors for angiomyolipoma from 1999 to 2014. Results Renal angiomyolipoma is an uncommon benign renal tumor. Although associated with tuberous sclerosis complex, these tumors occur sporadically. Risk of life threatening hemorrhage is the main clinical concern. Due to the fat content, angiomyolipomas are generally readily identifiable on computerized tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. However, fat poor angiomyolipoma can present a diagnostic challenge. Novel research suggests that various strategies using magnetic resonance imaging, including chemical shift magnetic resonance imaging, have the potential to differentiate fat poor angiomyolipoma from renal cell carcinoma. Active surveillance is the accepted management for small asymptomatic masses. Generally, symptomatic masses and masses greater than 4 cm should be treated. However, other relative indications may apply. Options for treatment have traditionally included radical and partial nephrectomy, selective arterial embolization and ablative therapies, including cryoablation and radio frequency ablation, all of which we review and update. We also review recent advances in the medical treatment of patients with tuberous sclerosis complex associated angiomyolipomas with mTOR inhibitors. Specifically trials of everolimus for patients with tuberous sclerosis complex suggest that this agent may be safe and effective in treating angiomyolipoma tumor burden. A schema for the suggested management of renal angiomyolipoma is provided. Conclusions Appropriately selected cases of renal angiomyolipoma can be managed by active surveillance. For those patients requiring treatment nephron sparing approaches, including partial nephrectomy and selective arterial embolization, are preferred options. For those with tuberous sclerosis complex mTOR inhibitors may represent a viable approach to control tumor burden while conserving renal parenchyma.
Control of stem cell fate by modulating biophysical cues (e.g., micropatterns, nanopatterns, elasticity and porosity of the substrates) has emerged as an attractive approach in stem cell-based ...research. Here, we report a method for fabricating combinatorial patterns of graphene oxide (GO) to effectively control the differentiation of human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hADMSCs). In particular, GO line patterns were highly effective for modulating the morphology of hADMSCs, resulting in enhanced differentiation of hADMSCs into osteoblasts. Moreover, by generating GO grid patterns, we demonstrate the highly efficient conversion of mesodermal stem cells to ectodermal neuronal cells (conversion efficiency = 30%), due to the ability of the grid patterns to mimic interconnected/elongated neuronal networks. This work provides an early demonstration of developing combinatorial graphene hybrid-pattern arrays for the control of stem cell differentiation, which can potentially lead to more effective stem cell-based treatment of incurable diseases/disorders.
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