Titania nanotube arrays (NTA) generated from anodizing processes are tested as the substrate for surface-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (SALDI MS). The background generated ...from titania NTA is very low, making the approach suitable for the analysis of small molecules. The upper detectable mass is ∼29 kDa. Homogeneous sample deposition leads to good shot-to-shot reproducibility and suitability for quantitative analysis. Additionally, phosphopeptides can be selectively trapped on the titania NTA substrate, as illustrated by simply depositing a tryptic digest of β-casein followed by titania NTA SALDI MS analysis. The detection limit for small organics and peptides is in low fmol.
In this work, an oxygen plasma treatment was used to improve the memory effect of nonvolatile W nanocrystal memory, including memory window, retention and endurance. To investigate the role of the ...oxygen plasma treatment in charge storage characteristics, the X-ray photon-emission spectra (XPS) were performed to analyze the variation of chemical composition for W nanocrystal embedded oxide both with and without the oxygen plasma treatment. In addition, the transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analyses were also used to identify the microstructure in the thin film and the size and density of W nanocrystals. The device with the oxygen plasma treatment shows a significant improvement of charge storage effect, because the oxygen plasma treatment enhanced the quality of silicon oxide surrounding the W nanocrystals. Therefore, the data retention and endurance characteristics were also improved by the passivation.
This work presents a simple method to generate ordered chromophore/dispersant nanoarrays through a pore-filling process for a nanoporous polymer template to enhance chromophore luminescence. ...Fluorescence results combining with the morphological evolution examined by scanning probe microscopy reveal that the enhanced luminescence intensity reaches the maximum intensity as the nanopores of the template are completely filled by the chromophore/dispersant mixture. The variation is attributed to nanoscale spatial effect on the enhanced mixing efficiency of chromophore and dispersant, that is, the alleviation of self-quenching problem, as evidenced by the results of attenuated total reflection Fourier transform IR spectroscopy combining with grazing incident wide-angle X-ray diffraction. The enhanced luminescence of the chromophore/dispersant nanoarrays driven by the nanoscale spatial effect is highly promising for use in designing luminescent nanodevices.
This study focuses on the influence of a hydrogen plasma treatment on electrical properties of tungsten nanocrystal nonvolatile memory. The X-ray photon emission spectra show that, after the hydrogen ...plasma treatment, a change in binding energy occurs such that Six+ and Siy+ peaks appear at a position that is shifted about 2.3 and 3.3eV from Si0+ in Si 2p spectra. This indicates that Si dangling bonds are passivated to form a Si–H bond structure in the SiO2. Furthermore, the transmission electron microscopy shows cross-sectional and plane-view for the nanocrystal microstructure after the hydrogen plasma treatment. Electrical measurement analyses show improved data retention because the hydrogen plasma treatment enhances the quality of the oxide surrounding the nanocrystals. The endurance and retention properties of the memory device are improved by about 36% and 30%, respectively.
Introduction: In normal tension glaucoma (NTG), factors other than elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) are likely to play a role in the pathogenesis of optic neuropathy. The potential similarities ...between Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and NTG in cellular apoptosis leading to neurodegeneration have been shown in recent studies. Heat Shock Protein family A member 5 (HSPA5) promoter polymorphisms have been reported to be associated with a risk of AD. The purpose of our study was to investigate the role of HSPA5 promoter polymorphisms in NTG patients. Methods: A total of 222 patients with NTG, along with 236 normal controls were enrolled in this study. Genomic DNA was amplified through a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and identified for the polymorphic HSPA5 (−415 and −370) by Xmn1 and BstY1 restriction digestion, respectively. PCR fragments with potential polymorphic HSPA5 (−180) were subjected to sequence-analyses by a Hex-labeled primer. Genotypes for both NTG patients and control groups were compared for statistically significant differences. Results: Polymorphisms (−415) G/A and (−180) del/G were completely linked in our population. The genotype and allele frequency distribution at the −415 G/A and −180 del/G sites showed a significant difference between the NTG cases and controls. The genotype frequency of HSPA5 (−415) AA/(−180) GG and the allele frequency of HSPA5 (−415) A/(−180) G were significantly lower (p = 0.04 and p = 0.01, respectively) in the NTG patients when compared with those in the control group. There was no significant difference in genotype or allele frequency distribution of the HSPA5 (−370) C/T between the NTG and control groups. There was a reduced risk of NTG associated with the carriers for the HSPA5 (−415) A/(−180) G allele compared with that in the control population (p = 0.01). Conclusion: HSPA5 (−415) A and (−180) G allele polymorphisms may be protective factors in the development of NTG.
We report a 70-year-old man with a salmon patch conjunctival mass diagnosed as multiple myeloma.
Case report.
Surgical biopsies of the salmon patch conjunctival mass and bone marrow, as well as ...hematologic workup for multiple myeloma were performed.
Conjunctival biopsy revealed heavy myeloma cells with eccentric nuclei and basophilic cytoplasm infiltrate in the conjunctival stroma. Bone marrow biopsy and aspirate showed interstitial infiltrated by myeloma cells, which stained monoclonally for immunoglobulin G (IgG)-κ light chains. Hematologic tests confirmed the diagnosis of multiple myeloma.
Multiple myeloma is one of the causes of a salmon patch conjunctival lesion and may be included in the differential diagnosis.
Renal dysfunction is a potent risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, including stroke. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of admission estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) levels on ...short-term (1-month) and long-term (1-year) mortality in patients with acute ischemic stroke.
From the Taiwan Stroke Registry data, we classified ischemic stroke patients, identified from April 2006 to December 2015, into 5 groups by eGFR at admission: ≥ 90, 60–89, 30–59, 15–29, and <15 mL/min/1.73 m2 or on dialysis. Risks of 1-month mortality and 1-year mortality after ischemic stroke were investigated by the eGFR level.
Among 52,732 ischemic stroke patients, 1480 died within one month. The 1-month mortality rate was over 5-fold greater in patients with eGFR <15 mL/min/1.73 m2 or dialysis than in patients with eGFR ≥90 mL/min/1.73 m2 (2.88 versus 0.56 per 1000 person-days). The adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of 1-month mortality increased from 1.31 (95% CI = 1.08–1.59) for patients with eGFR 60–89 mL/min/1.73 m2 to 2.33 (95% CI = 1.80–3.02) for patients with eGFR < 15 mL/min/1.73 m2 or on dialysis. 3226 patients died within one year. The adjusted HR of mortality increased from 1.38 (95% CI = 1.21–1.59) for patients with eGFR 60–89 mL/min/1.73 m2 to 2.60 (95% CI 2.18–3.10) for patients with eGFR < 15 mL/min/1.73 m2 or on dialysis, compared to patients with eGFR ≥ 90 mL/min/1.73 m2.
After acute ischemic stroke, patients with reduced eGFR are at elevated risks of short-term and long-term deaths in a graded relationship.
•This study aims to evaluate the short-term (1-month) and long-term (1-year) mortality for patients with acute ischemic stroke by the glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) levels measured at admission: ≥ 90, 60–89, 30–59, 15–29, and <15 mL/min/1.73 m2 or on dialysis.•Patients with reduced eGFR were at higher risk of dying either at short- or long-term in a graded relationship.
BACKGROUNDFactors other than intraocular pressure are likely to play a role in the pathogenesis of glaucomatous optic neuropathy, particularly in individuals with normal tension glaucoma (NTG). ...Recent laboratory evidence has shown that there are potential similarities between Alzheimer disease and NTG in cellular apoptosis leading to neurodegeneration. IL-1α (−889) T allele polymorphism has been found to increase the risk of developing Alzheimer disease. The aim of this study was to test in a Chinese cohort the hypothesis that IL-1α (−889) polymorphism is associated with NTG.
METHODSOne hundred sixty-two unrelated patients with NTG were recruited and compared with 167 controls in a Chinese population. Genomic DNA was amplified by polymerase chain reaction, followed by enzymatic restriction fragment length polymorphism technique. Patients and controls were genotyped for the C/T polymorphism at position −889 of the IL-1α gene promoter region.
RESULTSThere was no significant difference in the frequency of IL-1α (−889) alleles or genotypes in the NTG population compared with that in the control group.
CONCLUSIONSWe conclude that C/T polymorphism at position −889 of the IL-1α gene promoter region does not increase the risk of developing NTG. However, further studies on NTG are necessary to investigate the genetic basis and factors involved in the development of the neurodegenerative process.
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