The purpose of the present study was to improve, optimize and modification, a kinetic photometric assay of Factor IIa activity with regard to blood sample types, calibration, analytic corrections, ...and activation reagents, in order to establish a rapid routine, less time consuming, and suitable method for the evaluation of large numbers of clinical samples. Our modified method was based on the continuous monitoring of the Factor IIa released from the reacting substance, in the presence of a specific chromogenic peptide substrate (S2238). The optimization of pH and of the concentrations of substrate, activator (CaCl2), EDTA, and tissue factor was carried out as well as blood sample types (Platelet-rich and platelet-poor plasma samples) so as to ensure the best compromise between reliability, specificity, and sensitivity, However, the Factor IIa activity was compared in the plasma of different donors. In conclusion, our modified and optimized FIIa generation assay is a rapid and simple method for the diagnosis and monitoring of different clinical cases, at the same time it can be easily adapted to clinical chemistry analyzers.
Genome studies of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) have revealed a large number of somatic mutations and structural alterations. However, the clinical significance of these alterations is still ...not well defined. In this study, we have integrated the analysis of targeted next-generation sequencing of 106 genes and genomic copy number alterations (CNA) in 150 DLBCL. The clinically significant findings were validated in an independent cohort of 111 patients. Germinal center B-cell and activated B-cell DLBCL had a differential profile of mutations, altered pathogenic pathways and CNA. Mutations in genes of the NOTCH pathway and tumor suppressor genes (TP53/CDKN2A), but not individual genes, conferred an unfavorable prognosis, confirmed in the independent validation cohort. A gene expression profiling analysis showed that tumors with NOTCH pathway mutations had a significant modulation of downstream target genes, emphasizing the relevance of this pathway in DLBCL. An in silico drug discovery analysis recognized 69 (46%) cases carrying at least one genomic alteration considered a potential target of drug response according to early clinical trials or preclinical assays in DLBCL or other lymphomas. In conclusion, this study identifies relevant pathways and mutated genes in DLBCL and recognizes potential targets for new intervention strategies.
ZnO is a wide-band-gap semiconductor material that is now being developed for many applications, including ultraviolet (UV) light-emitting diodes, UV photodetectors, transparent thin-film ...transistors, and gas sensors. It can be grown as boules, as thin films, or as nanostructures of many types and shapes. However, as with any useful semiconductor material, its electrical and optical properties are controlled by impurities and defects. We have reviewed the growth and analysis of carbon molecular crystals by the plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition method. The three main synthesis methods of Carbon Nanocrystals (CNCs) are the arc discharge, the laser ablation and the chemical vapour deposition with a special regard to the later one. By two different methods ZnO layers were coated on the tubes. RF sputtering was one of the ways to directly deposit ZnO thin layer on the MWCNCs. On the other hand, we used thermally physical vapour deposition for making thin Zn film to oxidize it later. Scanning electron microscopy and also Raman spectroscopy measurements of the prepared samples confirmed the presence of ZnO nanolayers on the CNC bodies.
This paper aims to investigate the effects of fusion relevant intense pulse of energetic and high fluence deuterium ions and neutrons generated in a low energy (3.0kJ) plasma focus device (UNU/ICTP ...PFF) on stainless steel-AISI 304 samples. The irradiation was performed using different number of deuterium plasma focus shots (1, 3, 5 and 10) at a fixed axial distance of 8cm from the anode tip. X-ray diffraction spectra of irradiated samples indicated the structural phase transition from mixed ferittic-austenitic form in virgin AISI 304 SS sample to only austenitic form indicated by the presence of only γ-Fe diffraction peaks and increase in corresponding peak intensities. A small shift in all austenitic diffraction peaks towards the higher diffraction angles was observed indicating the decrease in lattice spacing by vacancy defects most probably due to energetic fusion neutrons. Field emission scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy images showed the formation of nanometer sized particles on irradiated samples' surfaces. The size of nanoparticles initially decreased as the number of focus shots was increased from 1 to 3 and to 5, and later as the number of focus shots was increased to 10, the aggregations of the particles occurred to form bigger clusters. The sample surface hardness was found to decrease with increasing number of irradiation shots which can be attributed to the induction of vacancy defects by 2.45MeV fusion neutron irradiations and the increasing deposition of the copper ablated from the anode-top on the irradiated samples. The study clearly established that the plasma focus device provides intense fusion relevant pulses suitable for causing the topographical, structural and hardness changes on the surface of the irradiated SS AISI 304 which is one of the candidate materials for plasma facing components in fusion reactors.
•SS-AISI 304 irradiation by high energy deuterons and fusion neutrons in PF device•Structural transition from mixed ferritic-austenitic phase to austenitic phase•Surface topography changed to nano-sized particles and their agglomerates.•Vacancy defects might be attributed to energetic fusion neutrons irradiation.•Hardness of irradiated samples is reduced due to copper impurity deposition.
The COVID-19 outbreak spread globally on March 11, 2020 and WHO declared this disease as a pandemic. This outbreak was sudden and spread all over the world. At the time of writing this article still ...COVID -19 cases are increasing among several countries. This disease has serious public health implications not only increasing morbidity and mortality but has severe psychological trauma everyone is facing since the beginning of this outbreak. The COVID -19 vaccination started at the end of December 2019 in a few countries and now it is used in several countries and the majority of people got their one or both shots hoping to get control on this outbreak soon and life will resume as usual. In my view this outbreak created the atmosphere of uncertainty, fear, anxiety, and hopelessness throughout the whole world because millions of people around the globe were dead or still dying in various hospitals around the world. After vaccination people are getting confidence to move freely in the crowded places but still need more time to come out from COVID-19 psychological trauma...
The three main synthesis methods of Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are the arc discharge, the laser ablation and the chemical vapour deposition (CVD) with a special regard to the latter one. CNTs were ...produced on a silicon wafer by Thermal Chemical Vapor Deposition (TCVD) using acetylene as a carbon source, cobalt as a catalyst and ammonia as a reactive gas. The DC-sputtering system was used to prepare cobalt thin films on Si substrates. A series of experiments was carried out to investigate the effects of reaction temperature and deposition time on the synthesis of the nanotubes. The deposition time was selected as 15 and 25 min for all growth temperatures. Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) measurements were used to investigate the elemental composition of the Co nanocatalyst deposited on Si substrates. Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) was used to characterize the surface topography of the Co nanocatalyst deposited on Si substrates. The as-grown CNTs were characterized under Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) to study the morphological properties of CNTs. Also, the grown CNTs have been investigated by High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM) and Raman spectroscopy. The results demonstrated that increasing the temperature leads to increasing the diameter of CNTs. The ideal re-action temperature was 850 degreesC and the deposition time was 15 min.
Carbon materials doped with only one kind of C-N bonding configuration are a great outlook for studying doping effects on the electronic structure and electrical properties. Synthesis of ...nitrogen-doped few-layer graphene films on Cu foil is achieved by low pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD). For investigation of nitrogen doped effect on structural, morphological and electrical properties of graphene the reactive gas was a mixture of 0-14 and NHsub 3 with the different ratio 0-14 and NHsub 3 by volume at the constant pressure of the growth chamber. The study on electrical properties emphasized that the dependence of current with voltage for all samples was linear like behavior, and sample conductivity was decreased with increasing the percent of nitrogen in gas mixture. The results showed that nitrogen-doped graphene can be successfully synthesized and also chemical nitrogen doping can be change the electrical conductivity of the graphene.
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