The electrostatic discharge (ESD) characteristics of GaN-based light-emitting diodes (LEDs) with naturally textured p-GaN contact layers grown on c -axis miscut sapphire substrates are studied and ...demonstrated. Based on the machine model, the device grown on a 0.35° miscut sapphire shows the highest ESD tolerance, whereas the device grown on a 0.2° miscut sapphire exhibits the poorest tolerance. It is found that this phenomenon is primarily related to the presence of maximum capacitance Cm values rather than the difference in defect densities between LEDs. The variation in Cm values is caused by the parasitic capacitance effect induced by different p-GaN surface morphologies between the studied devices. This observation gives us a more reliable application in improving the ESD performance based on the device grown on a 0.35° miscut sapphire.
In the development of organic electronics, polyimide (PI)-based materials have drawn significant research attention due to their remarkable features, including a simple synthesis, solution ...processability, outstanding thermal stability, and respectable mechanical strength. Despite the good electronic performance of PI-based materials, a high elastic modulus over 1 GPa and a modest elongation at break of the conventional PIs have restricted their applications in stretchable electronics. To address this issue, poly(siloxane imide) (PSI) with a soft siloxane chain has been proposed to achieve a significantly reduced modulus and an increased stretchability. However, previous works revealed the weak mechanical strength of PSI, in which the latest reported stretchable device comprising PSI thin film could only sustain a tensile strain below 40%. Herein, in the present study, we developed a thermally stable and mechanically durable PSI network through the polyaddition–condensation reaction between 4,4′-oxidiphthalic anhydride, aminopropyl-terminated polydimethylsiloxane, and varied amounts of 1,3,5-triaminophenoxybenzene (TAB) as a cross-linker. An optimal PSI network with 11.1% TAB exhibited a high decomposition temperature at 426 °C, a softening temperature over 200 °C, an elongation at break over 400%, a superior toughness at 13.29 MJ m–3, and low strain hysteresis. Owing to the improved solubility of PSI, the polymer elastomer can be processed as a substrate material or thin-film active layer with good mechanical properties. Finally, all-solution-processed, stretchable, and durable electronic devices including resistive memory and organic field-effect transistors were fabricated using the designed PSI with an affordable and feasible solution process. This work underlines the importance of network design on soft polymers to create mechanically tough and durable elastomers for next-generation stretchable electronics.
We have successfully demonstrated the use of polymer-Au-nanoparticle (Au-NP) nanocomposites as hole transport layer (HTL) materials for improving the performance of perovskite solar cells. In ...addition to the enhanced electrical properties of the HTL material itself, the embedded Au-NPs can also serve as light scattering centers to extend the optical pathway of the incident light, resulting in enhanced photon absorption efficiency of the device. As a result, the power conversion efficiency of the device has been improved to 10.71% from 7.81%.
Lytic reactivation of EBV has been reported to play an important role in human diseases, including NPC carcinogenesis. Inhibition of EBV reactivation is considered to be of great benefit in the ...treatment of virus-associated diseases. For this purpose, we screened for inhibitory compounds and found that apigenin, a flavonoid, seemed to have the ability to inhibit EBV reactivation.
We performed western blotting, immunofluorescence and luciferase analyses to determine whether apigenin has anti-EBV activity.
Apigenin inhibited expression of the EBV lytic proteins, Zta, Rta, EAD and DNase in epithelial and B cells. It also reduced the number of EBV-reactivating cells detectable by immunofluorescence analysis. In addition, apigenin has been found to reduce dramatically the production of EBV virions. Luciferase reporter analysis was performed to determine the mechanism by which apigenin inhibits EBV reactivation: apigenin suppressed the activity of the immediate-early (IE) gene Zta and Rta promoters, suggesting it can block initiation of the EBV lytic cycle.
Taken together, apigenin inhibits EBV reactivation by suppressing the promoter activities of two viral IE genes, suggesting apigenin is a potential dietary compound for prevention of EBV reactivation.
The clinical significance of the highest drain fluid amylase (DFA) level beyond pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) postoperative day three (POD 3) remains unclear. This study investigated the impact of ...highest DFA level beyond POD 3 on postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) severity and outcomes of patients undergoing PD with POPF.
Patient demographics of biochemical POPF and clinically relevant POPF (CR-POPF) were compared. Predictive factors were assessed using binary logistic regression. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed to determine the optimal cutoff value of highest DFA (beyond POD 3). We compared length of hospital stay, surgical mortality rates, and need for postoperative interventions by highest DFA level.
Patients with CR-POPF had an older age (p = 0.039), required intraoperative blood transfusion (p = 0.006), and had greater highest DFA levels (p = 0.001) than those with biochemical POPF. The optimal highest DFA cutoff was 2014.5 U/L. Multivariate analysis showed that percentage of patients with intraoperative blood transfusion (p = 0.011; odds ratio, 3.716) and a highest DFA > 2014.5 U/L beyond POD 3 (p = 0.001; odds ratio, 5.722) was predictive of CR-POPF.
Highest DFA > 2014.5 U/L beyond POD 3 is an independent predictor for CR-POPF. At a highest DFA >2014.5 U/L, 30-day surgical mortality rate, length of stay, and need for postoperative interventions did not differ.
Objectives:
This study explored the correlation between clinical explorations, including modified Mallampati score and Müller’s maneuver, with drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE) findings regarding ...retrolingual obstruction.
Methods:
One hundred forty-two obstructive sleep apnea patients were enrolled in this prospective study. All of the patients received clinical explorations including modified Mallampati scoring and Müller’s maneuver in the clinic. Drug-induced sleep endoscopy was further evaluated in the operating room.
Results:
A significant relationship was noted between modified Mallampati score and retrolingual obstruction during DISE. In contrast, no significant relationship was noted between Müller’s maneuver and DISE findings regarding retrolingual obstruction.
Conclusions:
A significant discrepancy existed between retrolingual airway collapse evaluated by modified Mallampati score and Müller’s maneuver. Modified Mallampati score is more correlated with DISE regarding retrolingual obstruction compared to Müller’s maneuver. It should therefore be used as an initial evaluation of retrolingual obstruction when DISE is unavailable.
Sufficient sleep helps to restore the immune, nervous and cardiovascular systems, but is sometimes disturbed by sleep apnea (SA). The early diagnosis of sleep apnea is beneficial for the prevention ...of diseases. Polysomnography (PSG) recording provides comprehensive data for such assessment, but is not suitable for use at home due to discomfort during measurement and the difficulty of identification. This study proposes an unobtrusive measurement process by placing fiber optic sensors (FOSs) in a pillow (head-neck) or a bed mattress (thoracic-dorsal).
We test two approaches: drop degrees from the baseline to validate the capability of catching respiratory drops, and linear regression models based on a new global measure, the percentage of the total duration of respiratory declination (PTDRD), to estimate the hand-scored apnea/hypopnea index (AHI).
Based on data recorded from 63 adults, the drop degrees derived from respiratory signals exhibited statistical differences among central sleep apnea (CSA), obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and normal breathing. The regression models based on the PTDRDs derived from head-neck FOS and thoracic-dorsal FOS also achieved good agreement with manually scored AHIs in Bland-Altman plots as well as oronasal airflow and thoracic wall movement.
The aforementioned performance demonstrates the capability of the FOS measurement and the efficacy of the PTDRD metrics for SA assessment.
Variceal bleeding outside the esophagus and stomach is rare but important because of its difficult diagnosis and treatment.Bleeding from cholecystojejunostomy varices has been reported to be a late ...complication of palliative biliary surgery for chronic pancreatitis.Such ectopic variceal bleeding has never been reported after palliative surgery for pancreatic cancer,probably because of the limited lifespan of these patients. Herein,we report our successful experience using endoscopic cyanoacrylate sclerother...
Cystic neoplasms of the pancreas are relatively rare, comprising 10 percent of pancreatic cysts and only 1 percent of pancreatic cancers. Cystic neoplasms include mucinous cystic neoplasms, serous ...cystadenomas, papillary cystic tumors, cystic islet cell tumors and intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms of the pancreas （IPMNs）. IPMN was first described in 1982. It has been most commonly described in 60 to 70 years old males, and represents a relatively ＂new＂ but increasingly recognized disease. The improvement and widespread use of modern imaging equipments and heightened awareness of physicians contribute to the increasing incidence of IPMN. The majority of IPMNs are located in the pancreatic head （75%） while the rest involves the body/tail regions. Multifocal IPMNs have been hypothesized, but the true presence of multifocality is unknown. Here we present a 72-year- old male diagnosed with IPMN （carcinoma in situ） in the pancreatic head and a branch duct type IPMN （duct atypia） in the pancreatic body and tail. The patient underwent a Whipple intervention and a distal pancreatectomy. A three-year disease-free survival has been observed so far.
Minocycline is a second-generation tetracycline with multiple biological effects, including inhibition of microglial activation. Recently, microglial activation has been implicated in the development ...of nerve injury-induced neuropathic pain. In this study, the authors examined the effects of continuous intrathecal minocycline on the development of neuropathic pain and microglial activation induced by L5/6 spinal-nerve ligation in rats.
Under isoflurane anesthesia, male Sprague-Dawley rats (200-250 g) received right L5/6 spinal-nerve ligation and intrathecal catheters connected to an infusion pump. Intrathecal saline or minocycline (2 and 6 microg/h) was given continuously after surgery for 7 days (n = 8 per group). The rat right hind paw withdrawal threshold to von Frey filament stimuli and withdrawal latency to radiant heat were determined before surgery and on days 1 to 7 after surgery. Spinal microglial activation was evaluated with OX-42 immunoreactivity on day 7 after surgery.
Spinal-nerve ligation induced mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia on the affected hind paw of saline-treated rats. Intrathecal minocycline (2 and 6 microg/h) prevented the development of mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia induced by nerve ligation. It also inhibited nerve ligation-induced microglial activation, as evidenced by decreased OX-42 staining. No obvious histopathologic change was noted after intrathecal minocycline (6 microg/h) infusion.
In this study, the authors demonstrate the preventive effect of continuous intrathecal minocycline on the development of nociceptive behaviors induced by L5/6 spinal-nerve ligation in rats. Further studies are required to examine if continuous intrathecal minocycline could be used safely in the clinical setting.
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