We describe the optical and electrical analysis of a micro-explosion of silicon and micro-thermite micro-bridges with a spectral temporal resolution within a 2 ms time range. The intensity of peaks ...and their mean lifetimes are calculated to identify the contributing atomic and molecular species. Singly ionised atoms and molecules were the main contributor to spectroscopic signature of emission. It is shown that micro-bridges can be used to characterise small (safe) < 10 mg amounts of energetic materials. Use of ions at low ionisation numbers of Si as well as Cu-oxides with different metal-to-oxygen ratios allows the thermal conditions for micro-explosions and a higher temperature of the discharge plasma to be engineered. Temperatures of 5000 ± 500 K (the black-body radiation fit) were achieved with simple micro-bridge junctions of 10–30 Ω resistance initiated with 100–250 V (triggered capacitor discharge). The demonstrated approach can be applied in material science research concerning ultra-fast melting, phase transitions, and detailed steps leading towards detonation (exponentially growing exothermic chemical reactions).
Silent lacunar infarct (SLI) is associated with cognitive decline and linked to an increased risk of stroke and dementia. We examined the association of SLI with MRI measures of cortical thickness, ...subcortical and lateral ventricular shapes and cognition in 285 ethnic Chinese elderly.
SLI, cortical thickness, shapes of subcortical and ventricular structures were quantified using MRI. The cognitive performance was assessed using comprehensive neuropsychological tests. Linear regression was used to examine associations among SLI, brain measures and cognition.
SLI was associated with atrophy in multiple subcortical structures, ventricular enlargement and widespread cortical thinning. Both SLI and atrophy were independently related to poorer performance in attention, memory and language domains. Only SLI was associated with visuomotor speed and executive function, while atrophy mediated the association between SLI and visuoconstruction.
Our findings support a vascular contribution to neurodegeneration and cognitive impairment.
To predict pulmonary hypertension (PH) therapy at discharge in a large multicenter cohort of infants with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH).
Six-year linked records from Children's Hospitals ...Neonatal Database and Pediatric Health Information System were used; patients whose diaphragmatic hernia was repaired before admission or referral, who were previously home before admission or referral, and non-survivors were excluded. The primary outcome was the use of PH medications at discharge and the secondary outcome was an inter-center variation of therapies during inpatient utilization. Clinical factors were used to develop a multivariable equation randomly applied to 80% cohort; validated in the remaining 20% infants.
A total of 831 infants with CDH from 23 centers were analyzed. Overall, 11.6% of survivors were discharged on PH medication. Center, duration of mechanical ventilation, and duration of inhaled nitric oxide were associated with the use of PH medication at discharge. This model performed well in the validation cohort area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.9, goodness-of-fit χ
, p = 0.17.
Clinical variables can predict the need for long-term PH medication after NICU hospitalization in surviving infants with CDH. This information may be useful to educate families and guide the development of clinical guidelines.
Development of a core outcome set for basal cell carcinoma Schlessinger, Daniel I.; Reynolds, Kelly A.; Dirr, McKenzie A. ...
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology,
September 2022, 2022-09-00, 20220901, Letnik:
87, Številka:
3
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
There is variation in the outcomes reported in clinical studies of basal cell carcinoma. This can prevent effective meta-analyses from answering important clinical questions.
To identify a ...recommended minimum set of core outcomes for basal cell carcinoma clinical trials.
Patient and professional Delphi process to cull a long list, culminating in a consensus meeting. To be provisionally accepted, outcomes needed to be deemed important (score, 7-9, with 9 being the maximum) by 70% of each stakeholder group.
Two hundred thirty-five candidate outcomes identified via a systematic literature review and survey of key stakeholders were reduced to 74 that were rated by 100 health care professionals and patients in 2 Delphi rounds. Twenty-seven outcomes were provisionally accepted. The final core set of 5 agreed-upon outcomes after the consensus meeting included complete response; persistent or serious adverse events; recurrence-free survival; quality of life; and patient satisfaction, including cosmetic outcome.
English-speaking patients and professionals rated outcomes extracted from English language studies.
A core outcome set for basal cell carcinoma has been developed. The use of relevant measures may improve the utility of clinical research and the quality of therapeutic guidance available to clinicians.
To assess the impact of intercenter variation and patient factors on end-of-life care practices for infants who die in regional neonatal intensive care units (NICUs).
We conducted a retrospective ...cohort analysis using the Children's Hospital Neonatal Database during 2010-2016. A total of 6299 nonsurviving infants cared for in 32 participating regional NICUs were included to examine intercenter variation and the effects of gestational age, race, and cause of death on 3 end-of-life care practices: do not attempt resuscitation orders (DNR), cardiopulmonary resuscitation within 6 hours of death (CPR), and withdrawal of life-sustaining therapies (WLST). Factors associated with these practices were used to develop a multivariable equation.
Dying infants in the cohort underwent DNR (55%), CPR (21%), and WLST (73%). Gestational age, cause of death, and race were significantly and differently associated with each practice: younger gestational age (<28 weeks) was associated with CPR (OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.5-2.1) but not with DNR or WLST, and central nervous system injury was associated with DNR (1.6, 1.3-1.9) and WLST (4.8, 3.7-6.2). Black race was associated with decreased odds of WLST (0.7, 0.6-0.8). Between centers, practices varied widely at different gestational ages, race, and causes of death.
From the available data on end-of-life care practices for regional NICU patients, variability appears to be either individualized or without consistency.
The hydrogenation of benzaldehyde to benzyl alcohol on carbon‐supported metals in water, enabled by an external potential, is markedly promoted by polarization of the functional groups. The presence ...of polar co‐adsorbates, such as substituted phenols, enhances the hydrogenation rate of the aldehyde by two effects, that is, polarizing the carbonyl group and increasing the probability of forming a transition state for H addition. These two effects enable a hydrogenation route, in which phenol acts as a conduit for proton addition, with a higher rate than the direct proton transfer from hydronium ions. The fast hydrogenation enabled by the presence of phenol and applied potential overcompensates for the decrease in coverage of benzaldehyde caused by competitive adsorption. A higher acid strength of the co‐adsorbate increases the intensity of interactions and the rates of selective carbonyl reduction.
Electrocatalytic hydrogenation of benzaldehyde to benzyl alcohol on carbon‐supported metals proceeds through proton‐coupled electron transfer. The presence of polar co‐adsorbates such as phenols enhances the hydrogenation rate of the aldehyde by the polarization of the carbonyl group because of the formation of a hydrogen bond. Increasing either the concentration or acidity of the co‐adsorbate increases the rates of selective carbonyl reduction.
Skin maintenance and healing after wounding requires complex epithelial-mesenchymal interactions purportedly mediated by growth factors and cytokines. We show here that, for wound healing, ...transforming growth factor-β-activated kinase 1 (TAK1) in keratinocytes activates von Hippel-Lindau tumor suppressor expression, which in turn represses the expression of platelet-derived growth factor-B (PDGF-B), integrin β1, and integrin β5 via inhibition of the Sp1-mediated signaling pathway in the keratinocytes. The reduced production of PDGF-B leads to a paracrine-decreased expression of hepatocyte growth factor in the underlying fibroblasts. This TAK1 regulation of the double paracrine PDGF/hepatocyte growth factor signaling can regulate keratinocyte cell proliferation and is required for proper wound healing. Strikingly, TAK1 deficiency enhances cell migration. TAK1-deficient keratinocytes displayed lamellipodia formation with distinct microspike protrusion, associated with an elevated expression of integrins β1 and β5 and sustained activation of cdc42, Rac1, and RhoA. Our findings provide evidence for a novel homeostatic control of keratinocyte proliferation and migration mediated via TAK1 regulation of von Hippel-Lindau tumor suppressor. Dysfunctional regulation of TAK1 may contribute to the pathology of non-healing chronic inflammatory wounds and psoriasis.
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