Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Variants Are Related to Smoking Habits, but Not Directly to COPD

Genome-wide association studies identified single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) cluster as a risk factor for nicotine dependency and COPD. We investigated whether SNPs in the nAChR cluster are associated with smoking habits and lung function decline, and if these potential associations are independent of each other. The SNPs rs569207, rs1051730 and rs8034191 in the nAChR cluster were analyzed in the Vlagtwedde-Vlaardingen cohort (n = 1,390) that was followed for 25 years. We used GEE and LME models to analyze the associations of the SNPs with quitting or restarting smoking and with the annual FEV1 decline respectively. Individuals homozygote (CC) for rs569207 were more likely to quit smoking (OR (95%CI) = 1.58 (1.05–2.38)) compared to wild-type (TT) individuals. Individuals homozygote (TT) for rs1051730 were less likely to quit smoking (0.64 (0.42; 0.97)) compared to wild-type (CC) individuals. None of the SNPs was significantly associated with the annual FEV1 decline in smokers and ex-smokers. We show that SNPs in the nAChR region are associated with smoking habits such as quitting smoking, but have no significant effect on the annual FEV1 decline in smokers and ex-smokers, suggesting a potential role of these SNPs in COPD development via smoking habits rather than via direct effects on lung function

Deposition of Aluminum-Doped ZnO Films by ICP-Assisted Sputtering

Inductively coupled plasma (ICP) assisted DC sputter deposition was used for the deposition of Al-doped ZnO (AZO or ZnO:Al) thin films. With increasing ICP RF power, film properties including deposition rate, crystallinity, transparency, and resistivity were improved. To understand the plasma-surface interaction, several plasma diagnostics were performed. Heat fluxes to the substrate were measured by thermal probes, number densities of sputtered metallic atom species were measured by absorption spectroscopy using hollow cathode lamps (HCL) and light emitting diodes (LEDs), and neutral gas temperatures were measured by external cavity diode laser (ECDL) absorption spectroscopy. As a result, it was revealed that the high-density ICP heated the substrate through a high heat flux to the substrate, resulting in a high-quality film deposition without the need for intentional substrate heating. The heat flux to the substrate was predominantly contributed by the plasma charged species, not by the neutral Ar atoms which were also significantly heated in the ICP. The substrate position where the highest quality films were obtained was found to coincide with the position where the substrate heat flux took the maximum value

Resonant Cavity Enhanced Photonic Devices

In the present paper we review our recent works on technology, basic physics, and applications of one-dimensional photonic structures. We demonstrate spontaneous emission control in In$\text{}_{x}$Ga$\text{}_{1-x}$As/GaAs planar microcavities with distributed Bragg reflectors. In general, observed trends are in agreement with theoretical predictions. We also demonstrate the operation of resonant-cavity light emitting diodes and optically pumped vertical cavity light emitting diodes developed recently at the Department of Physics and Technology of Low-Dimensional Structures of the Institute of Electron Technology

Porównanie zawartości proantocyjanidyn w korzeniach Rhodiola kirilowii i Rhodiola rosea z wykorzystaniem metody UPLC-MS/MS

The purpose of presented study was the comparison of flavan-3-ol content in the roots of Rhodiola kirilowii and Rhodiola rosea with use of UPLC-MS/MS method. Two kinds of extract were prepared: aqueous extract and 50% v/v ethanol extract. The worked out UPLC MS/MS method allowed to determine the content of five flavan-3-ols: (+)-catechin, (-)-epicatechin, (-)-epigallocatechin, (-)-epicatechin gallate (ECG) and (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). The obtained results shown that the content of measured catechins was higher in R. kirilowii roots than in R. rosea. Both Rhodiola roots contain EGCG as a main proanthocyanidin compound – the content in R. kirilowii roots is about 0.14%. Our results indicate that application of ultra performance liquid chromatograph connected to a tandem mass spectrometer (UPLC MS/MS method) allows to determine the proanthocyanidins content in tested samples with satisfactory precision and can be used in the Rhodiola sp. phytochemical investigations.Celem przedstawionych badań było porównanie za pomocą opracowanej metodyki wykorzystującej ultrasprawny chromatograf cieczowy sprzężony z tandemowym spektrometrem mas (Waters) zawartości flawan-3-oli w korzeniach Rhodiola kirilowii i Rhodiola rosea. Badano wodne i alkoholowo-wodne (50% EtOH) wyciągi z korzeni. Opracowana metoda UPLC MS/MS pozwoliła na określenie stężeń pięciu flawan-3-oli: (+)-katechiny, (-)-epikatechiny, (-)-epigalokatechiny, galusanu (-)-epikatechiny (ECG) oraz galusanu (-)-epigalokatechiny (EGCG). Otrzymane wyniki wskazują, że zawartość tych katechin jest wyższa w korzeniach R. kirilowii niż w korzeniach R. rosea. Oba surowce zawierają galusan (-)-epigallokatechiny jako główną proantocyjanidynę – jej zawartość w korzeniach R. kirilowii wynosi ok. 0,14%. Uzyskane przez nas wyniki wskazują, że metoda analityczna z wykorzystaniem ultrasprawnego chromatografu cieczowego sprzężonego z tandemowym spektrometrem mas pozwala z zadawalającą precyzją oznaczyć zawartości proantocyjanidyn w analizowanych próbkach i może być stosowana w badaniach rodzaju Rhodiola