Misfit cobaltates (Bi/Ba/Sr/Ca/CoOn(RS)CoO2q) constitute the most promising family of thermoelectric oxides for high temperature energy harvesting. However, their complex structure and chemical ...composition makes extremely challenging their deposition by high-vacuum physical techniques. Therefore, many of them have not been prepared as thin films until now. Here we report the synthesis of high-quality epitaxial thin films of the most representative members of this family of compounds by a water-based chemical solution deposition method. The films show an exceptional crystalline quality, with an electrical conductivity and thermopower comparable to single crystals. These properties are linked to the epitaxial matching of the rock-salt layers of the structure to the substrate, producing clean interfaces free of amorphous phases. This is an important step forward for the integration of these materials with complementary n-type thermoelectric oxides in multilayer nanostructures.
We use an original water-based chemical method to grow pure epitaxial BiFeO3 (BFO) ultra-thin films with excellent piezoelectric properties. Particularly, we show that this novel chemical route ...produces higher natural ferroelectric domain size distribution and coercive field compared to similar BFO films grown by physical methods. Moreover, we measured the d33 piezoelectric coefficient of 60 nm thick BFO films by a direct approach, using Direct Piezoelectric Force Microscopy (DPFM). As a result, first piezo-generated charge maps of a very thin BFO layer were obtained applying this novel technology. We also performed a comparative study of the d33 coefficients between standard PFM analysis and DPFM microscopy showing similar values i.e. 17 pm V−1 and 22 pC N−1, respectively. Finally, we proved that the directionality of the piezoelectric effect in BFO ferroelectric thin films is preserved at low thickness dimensions demonstrating the potential of chemical processes for the development of low cost functional ferroelectric and piezoelectric devices.
•Transcranial direct current stimulation paired with meditation was feasible.•Transcranial direct current stimulation paired with meditation reduced pain.•Transcranial stimulation paired with ...meditation reduced osteoarthritis symptoms.
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been shown to be effective for reducing pain, and a growing body of literature shows the potential analgesic effects of mindfulness-based meditation (MBM). However, few studies have investigated the potential benefits associated with combining tDCS and MBM in older adults with knee osteoarthritis (OA). Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of home-based tDCS paired with MBM in older adults with knee OA. Thirty participants 50–85 years old with symptomatic knee OA were randomly assigned to receive 10 daily sessions of home-based 2 mA tDCS paired with active MBM for 20 min (n = 15) or sham tDCS paired with sham MBM (n = 15). We measured clinical pain and OA symptoms via a Numeric Rating Scale and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index. Pressure pain sensitivity and conditioned pain modulation were measured using quantitative sensory testing. Participant satisfaction and side effects were assessed via a questionnaire. Active tDCS paired with active MBM significantly reduced scores on the Numeric Rating Scale and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index and increased pressure pain thresholds and conditioned pain modulation. Participants tolerated tDCS paired with MBM well without serious adverse effects and were satisfied with the treatment. Our findings demonstrate promising clinical efficacy of home-based tDCS paired with MBM for older adults with knee OA.
Vomeronasal information is critical in mice for territorial behavior. Consequently, learning the territorial spatial structure should incorporate the vomeronasal signals indicating individual ...identity into the hippocampal cognitive map. In this work we show in mice that navigating a virtual environment induces synchronic activity, with causality in both directionalities, between the vomeronasal amygdala and the dorsal CA1 of the hippocampus in the theta frequency range. The detection of urine stimuli induces synaptic plasticity in the vomeronasal pathway and the dorsal hippocampus, even in animals with experimentally induced anosmia. In the dorsal hippocampus, this plasticity is associated with the overexpression of pAKT and pGSK3β. An amygdalo-entorhino-hippocampal circuit likely underlies this effect of pheromonal information on hippocampal learning. This circuit likely constitutes the neural substrate of territorial behavior in mice, and it allows the integration of social and spatial information.
High quality epitaxial thin films of LaCoO3 on SrTiO3 have been prepared by spin-coating of a metal/polymeric aqueous solution. The films (≈ 17 nm) are homogeneous and smooth over large areas. The ...characteristic low-spin (LS) state is replaced by a higher spin configuration of Co(III), due to strain-induced distortions of the CoO6 octahedra, introducing a ferromagnetic interaction and negative magnetoresistance below T C = 85 K. This simple chemical method produces the high-quality films required for either fundamental studies or applications, similar to physical deposition techniques.
This study addresses the fabrication of microporous plasmonic nanocomposites (NCs) by using plasmonic nanoparticles (i.e., gold bipyramids, AuB) as seeds to grow microporous shells, specifically, ...metal–organic frameworks (MOF) PCN‐224 of increasing thickness from 69 to 138 nm. This method is based on using a previously synthesized Zr6‐oxo cluster and unfolds at room temperature. Notably, it is demonstrated that the concentration of the AuB seeds determines both the yield of NCs and the resultant thickness of the PCN‐224 shell, illustrating the seeded growth mechanism. Furthermore, it is found that the thermoplasmonic response of the NCs is dominated by the thickness of the microporous shell, with thicker shells having enhanced thermal confinement properties than thinner ones. As a proof of concept, the NCs are loaded with cresyl violet (CV), a lysosomal fluorescent marker. This serves to demonstrate the thermoplasmonic‐induced intracellular release of CV by the photostimulation of the AuB's plasmonic near‐infrared (NIR) band. Moreover, the NCs display exceptional efficacy as photodynamic agents when photostimulated at the PCN‐224's Soret band. In summary, this study offers a facile, efficient, and reproducible methodology for the fabrication of NCs with a controlled geometry while unlocking new possibilities in the field of nanoMOFs as multifunctional theranostic probes.
Developing plasmonic microporous nanocomposites (NCs): this study introduces a novel, room‐temperature method for fabricating gold bipyramid‐seeded metal–organic framework PCN‐224 NCs with controlled shell thickness (69–138 nm). It demonstrates how seed concentration dictates NC yield and shell thickness, impacting their thermoplasmonic properties. Additionally, the study explores thermoplasmonic‐induced intracellular release of cresyl violet and the exceptional photodynamic capabilities of the NCs.
Usher syndrome type I (USH1) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized
by congenital sensorineural hearing loss, vestibular dysfunction and visual
impairment due to early onset retinitis ...pigmentosa (RP). So
far, six loci (USH1A-USH1F) have been mapped, but only
two USH1 genes have been identified: MYO7A (ref.
2) for USH1B and the gene encoding harmonin
for USH1C. We identified a Cuban pedigree linked to the locus for Usher
syndrome type 1D (MIM 601067) within the q2 region of chromosome 10 (ref. 5). Affected individuals present with congenital deafness
and a highly variable degree of retinal degeneration. Using a positional candidate
approach, we identified a new member of the cadherin gene superfamily,
CDH23. It encodes a protein of 3,354 amino acids with a single transmembrane
domain and 27 cadherin repeats. In the Cuban family, we detected two different
mutations: a severe course of the retinal disease was observed in individuals
homozygous for what is probably a truncating splice-site mutation (c.4488G→C),
whereas mild RP is present in individuals carrying the homozygous missense
mutation R1746Q. A variable expression of the retinal phenotype was seen in
patients with a combination of both mutations. In addition, we identified
two mutations, ΔM1281 and IVS51+5G→A, in a German USH1 patient.
Our data show that different mutations in CDH23 result in USH1D
with a variable retinal phenotype. In an accompanying paper,
it is shown that mutations in the mouse ortholog cause disorganization of
inner ear stereocilia and deafness in the waltzer mouse.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Background. We endeavored to construct a simple score based entirely on epidemiological and clinical variables that would stratify patients who require hospital admission because of ...community-acquired pneumonia into groups with a low or high risk of developing bacteremia. Methods. Derivation and internal validation cohorts were obtained by retrospective analysis of a database that included 3116 consecutive patients with community-acquired pneumonia from 2 university hospitals. Potential predictive factors were determined by means of a multivariate logistic regression equation applied to a cohort consisting of 60% of the patients. Points were assigned to significant parameters to generate the score. It was then internally validated with the remaining 40% of patients and was externally validated using an independent multicenter cohort of 1369 patients. Results. The overall rates of bacteremia were 12%-16% in the cohorts. The clinical probability estimate of developing bacteremia was based on 6 variables: liver disease, pleuritic pain, tachycardia, tachypnea, systolic hypotension, and absence of prior antibiotic treatment. For the score, 1 point was assigned to each predictive factor. In the derivation cohort, a cutoff score of 2 best identified the risk of bacteremia. In the validation cohorts, rates of bacteremia were <8% for patients with a score ⩽1 (43%-49% of patients), whereas blood culture results were positive in 14%-63% of cases for patients with a score ⩾2. Conclusions. This clinical score, based on readily available and objective variables, provides a useful tool to predict bacteremia. The score has been internally and externally validated and may be useful to guide diagnostic decisions for community-acquired pneumonia.
Half-metallic ferromagnetic La
0.7
Sr
0.3
MnO
3
(LSMO) represents an appealing candidate to be integrated on silicon substrates for technological devices such as sensors, data storage media, IR ...detectors, and so on. Here, we report high-quality epitaxial LSMO thin films obtained by an original combination of chemical solution deposition (CSD) and molecular beam epitaxy (MBE). A detailed study of the thermal, chemical, and physical compatibility between SrTiO
3
(STO)/Si buffer layers and LSMO films, grown by MBE and CSD, respectively, enables a perfect integration of both materials. Importantly, we show a precise control of the coercive field of LSMO films by tuning the mosaicity of the STO/Si buffer layer. These results demonstrate the enormous potential of combining physical and chemical processes for the development of low-cost functional oxide-based devices compatible with the complementary metal oxide semiconductor technology.
Hole-doping into the Mott insulator LaMnO3 results in a very rich magneto-electric phase diagram, including colossal magnetoresistance and different types of charge and orbital ordering. On the other ...hand, LaMnO3 presents an important catalytic activity for oxygen reduction, which is fundamental for increasing the efficiency of solid-oxide fuel cells and other energy-conversion devices. In this work, we report the chemical solution (water-based) synthesis of high-quality epitaxial thin films of LaMnO3, free of defects at square-centimeter scales, and compatible with standard microfabrication techniques. The films show a robust ferromagnetic moment and large magnetoresistance at room temperature. Through a comparison with films grown by pulsed laser deposition, we show that the quasi-equilibrium growth conditions characteristic of this chemical process can be exploited to tune new functionalities of the material.
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