Intrinsic Detectivity Limits of Organic Near-Infrared Photodetectors.

Organic photodetectors (OPDs) with a performance comparable to that of conventional inorganic ones have recently been demonstrated for the visible regime. However, near-infrared photodetection has proven to be challenging and, to date, the true potential of organic semiconductors in this spectral range (800-2500 nm) remains largely unexplored. In this work, it is shown that the main factor limiting the specific detectivity (D*) is non-radiative recombination, which is also known to be the main contributor to open-circuit voltage losses.

By the Skin of Your Teeth: A Subcutaneous Mouse Model to Study Pulp Regeneration.

Exiting developments in tissue engineering and new insights in stem cell biology have led to new possible strategies for the regeneration of damaged tissues in the oral cavity. The regeneration of the pulp-dentin complex regeneration in particular, has drawn the attention of many researchers because of the high clinical needs. While it is still important to perform in vitro research using a wide variety of cells, scaffolds and growth factors, it is also critical to have a reliable animal model for preclinical trials.

The future is now: a call for action for cardiac telerehabilitation in the COVID-19 pandemic from the secondary prevention and rehabilitation section of the European Association of Preventive Cardiology.

The role of comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation is well established in the secondary prevention of cardiovascular diseases such as coronary artery disease and heart failure. Numerous trials have demonstrated both the effectiveness as well as the cost-effectiveness of comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation in improving exercise capacity and quality of life, and in reducing cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. However, the current COVID-19 pandemic has led to closure of many cardiac rehabilitation centres in Europe resulting in many eligible patients unable to participate in the optimisation of secondary prevention and physical performance.

Near-Infrared BODIPY-Acridine Dyads Acting as Heavy-Atom-Free Dual-Functioning Photosensitizers.

Boron dipyrromethene (BODIPY) dyes represent a particular class within the broad array of potential photosensitizers. Their highly fluorescent nature opens the door for theragnostic applications, combining imaging and therapy using a single, easily synthesized chromophore. However, near-infrared absorption is strongly desired for photodynamic therapy to enhance tissue penetration.

Increased Intra-Abdominal Pressure During Laparoscopic Pneumoperitoneum Enhances Albuminuria via Renal Venous Congestion, Illustrating Pathophysiological Aspects of High Output Preeclampsia.

Intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) causes severe organ dysfunction. Our aim is to evaluate the effect of increased intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) on renal function, hypothesizing that venous congestion may increase proteinuria and fluid retention without endothelial dysfunction. Three urine samples were collected from 32 non-pregnant women undergoing laparoscopic-assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH) and from 10 controls placed in Trendelenburg position for 60 min.

Precursor Design Strategies for the Low-Temperature Synthesis of Functional Oxides: It's All in the Chemistry.

Solution-based (multi)metal oxide synthesis has been carried out employing a large diversity of precursor routes. The selection of an appropriate synthesis strategy is frequently dictated by the resulting material properties, although this choice should also be based on green chemistry principles, atom economy considerations and energy efficiency. In order to limit the required energy budget to convert the chemical precursor to the target oxide material, various approaches were recently reported.

Angiogenic Effects of Human Dental Pulp and Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stromal Cells and their Extracellular Vesicles.

Blood vessel formation or angiogenesis is a key process for successful tooth regeneration. Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (BM-MSCs) possess paracrine proangiogenic properties, which are, at least partially, induced by their extracellular vesicles (EVs). However, the isolation of BM-MSCs is associated with several drawbacks, which could be overcome by MSC-like cells of the teeth, called dental pulp stromal cells (DPSCs).

Effectiveness of Ligand Denticity-Dependent Oxidation Protection in Copper MOD Inks.

The recent cost-driven transition from silver- to copper-based inks for printing on flexible substrates is connected with new key challenges. Given the high oxidation sensitivity of copper inks before, during, and after the curing process, the conductivity and thereby the device performance can be affected. Strategies to limit or even avoid this drawback include the development of metal organic decomposition (MOD) inks with selected "protective" ligands.

Fluorescent PCDTBT Nanoparticles with Tunable Size for Versatile Bioimaging.

Conjugated polymer nanoparticles exhibit very interesting properties for use as bio-imaging agents. In this paper, we report the synthesis of PCDTBT (poly([9-(1'-octylnonyl)-9H-carbazole-2,7-diyl]-2,5-thiophenediyl-2,1,3-benzothiadiazole-4,7-diyl-2,5-thiophene-diyl)) nanoparticles of varying sizes using the mini-emulsion and emulsion/solvent evaporation approach. The effect of the size of the particles on the optical properties is investigated using UV-Vis absorption and fluorescence emission spectroscopy.

Non-pulsed Sinusoidal Electromagnetic Field Rescues Animals From Severe Ischemic Stroke via NO Activation.

Despite the high prevalence and devastating outcome, only a few treatment options for cerebral ischemic stroke exist. Based on the nitric oxide (NO)-stimulating capacity of Non-pulsed Sinusoidal Electromagnetic Field (NP-SEMF) and the possible neuroprotective role of NO in ischemic stroke, we hypothesized that NP-SEMF is able to enhance survival and neurological outcome in a rat model of cerebral ischemia. The animals, in which ischemic injury was induced by occlusion of both common carotid arteries, received 20 min of NP-SEMF of either 10 or 60 Hz daily for 4 days.

Understanding the Importance of Cu(I) Intermediates in Self-Reducing Molecular Inks for Flexible Electronics.

Fast and scalable low-temperature deposition of microscale metallic features is of utmost importance for the development of future flexible smart applications including sensors, wireless communication, and wearables. Recently, a new class of metal-organic decomposition (MOD) copper inks was developed, consisting of self-reducing copper formate containing amine complexes. From these novel inks, copper metal features with outstanding electrical conductivity (±10 S cm) are deposited at a temperature of 150 °C or less, which is well below the reduction temperature of orthorhombic α-copper formate (around 225 °C).

Feasibility, accuracy and safety of a percutaneous fine-needle biopsy technique to obtain qualitative muscle samples of the lumbar multifidus and erector spinae muscle in persons with low back pain.

The lumbar muscular system, in particular the lumbar multifidus muscle (LM) and the erector spinae muscle (ES), plays an important role in stabilizing and mobilizing the lumbar spine. Based on the topography, the lumbar paraspinal muscles can be classified into local and global muscles. LM is part of the local system, whereas ES is part of the global system.

Modelling public bus/minibus transport accident severity in Ghana.

The current safety concerns with buses/minibuses (public transport) in both developed and developing countries have warranted a renewed interest in bus/minibus safety research. Prior to this, there was a paucity of research in this domain especially in developed countries where the safety associated with buses was deemed adequate. In this study, we examined the factors that influence bus/minibus accident severity in Ghana using bus/minibus accident data from 2011-2015.

The Impact of Acceptor-Acceptor Homocoupling on the Optoelectronic Properties and Photovoltaic Performance of PDTSQx Low Bandgap Polymers.

Push-pull-type conjugated polymers applied in organic electronics do not always contain a perfect alternation of donor and acceptor building blocks. Misscouplings can occur, which have a noticeable effect on the device performance. In this work, the influence of homocoupling on the optoelectronic properties and photovoltaic performance of PDTSQx polymers is investigated, with a specific focus on the quinoxaline acceptor moieties.

Conjugated Polymer Nanoparticles for Bioimaging.

During the last decade, conjugated polymers have emerged as an interesting class of fluorescence imaging probes since they generally show high fluorescence brightness, high photostability, fast emission rates, non-blinking behavior and low cytotoxicity. The main concern related to most conjugated polymers is their lack of hydrophilicity and thereby poor bio-availability. This can, however, be overcome by the formulation of conjugated polymer nanoparticles in aqueous medium.

Absorption and Fluorescence Features of an Amphiphilic meso-Pyrimidinylcorrole: Experimental Study and Quantum Chemical Calculations.

Corroles are emerging as an important class of macrocycles with numerous applications because of their peculiar photophysical and metal chelating properties. meso-Pyrimidinylcorroles are easily deprotonated in certain solvents, which changes their absorption and emission spectra as well as their accessible supramolecular structures. To enable control over the formation of supramolecular structures, the dominant corrole species, i.

Remarkable lowering in the synthesis temperature of LiMnOvia citrate solution-gel synthesis facilitated by ethanol.

LiMnO (LMO) is interesting from the viewpoint of its energy storage applications as it is a cathode in lithium ion batteries (LIB), which contains no rare, toxic or expansive elements, while it provides a high theoretical capacity (148 mA h g) at a reasonable voltage (4 V region) and a higher thermal stability compared to cobalt based cathodes and has a good rechargeability and cycling stability due to its spinel structure. Low temperature synthesis routes for cathode materials are currently gaining attention, in order to decrease the ecological footprint of the final LIB. Here, the crystallization temperature of LMO by a citrate based solution-gel synthesis was significantly lowered, to as low as 250 °C by the addition of ethanol to the precursor.

A novel explanation for the increased conductivity in annealed Al-doped ZnO: an insight into migration of aluminum and displacement of zinc.

A combined experimental and first-principles study is performed to study the origin of conductivity in ZnO:Al nanoparticles synthesized under controlled conditions via a reflux route using benzylamine as a solvent. The experimental characterization of the samples by Raman, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and conductivity measurements indicates that upon annealing in nitrogen, the Al atoms at interstitial positions migrate to the substitutional positions, creating at the same time Zn interstitials. We provide evidence for the fact that the formed complex of Al and Zn corresponds to the origin of the Knight shifted peak (KS) we observe in Al NMR.

Identification and Quantification of Celery Allergens Using Fiber Optic Surface Plasmon Resonance PCR.

: Accurate identification and quantification of allergens is key in healthcare, biotechnology and food quality and safety. Celery () is one of the most important elicitors of food allergic reactions in Europe. Currently, the golden standards to identify, quantify and discriminate celery in a biological sample are immunoassays and two-step molecular detection assays in which quantitative PCR (qPCR) is followed by a high-resolution melting analysis (HRM).

Clinical assessment and three-dimensional movement analysis: An integrated approach for upper limb evaluation in children with unilateral cerebral palsy.

Introduction: The clinical application of upper limb (UL) three-dimensional movement analysis (3DMA) in children with unilateral cerebral palsy (uCP) remains challenging, despite its benefits compared to conventional clinical scales. Moreover, knowledge on UL movement pathology and how this relates to clinical parameters remains scarce. Therefore, we investigated UL kinematics across different manual ability classification system (MACS) levels and explored the relation between clinical and kinematic parameters in children with uCP.

How does the interaction of presumed timing, location and extent of the underlying brain lesion relate to upper limb function in children with unilateral cerebral palsy?

Background: Upper limb (UL) function in children with unilateral cerebral palsy (CP) vary largely depending on presumed timing, location and extent of brain lesions. These factors might exhibit a complex interaction and the combined prognostic value warrants further investigation. This study aimed to map lesion location and extent and assessed whether these differ according to presumed lesion timing and to determine the impact of structural brain damage on UL function within different lesion timing groups.

Tuning the optical properties of poly(p-phenylene ethynylene) nanoparticles as bio-imaging probes by side chain functionalization.

Conjugated polymers are versatile bio-imaging probes as their optical properties can be readily fine-tuned. In this manuscript, fluorescent conjugated polymer nanoparticles are fabricated using three different poly(p-phenylene ethynylene) (PPE) derivatives. The polymers have the same backbone but carry different side chains, i.