Mechanically stable solution-processed transparent conductive electrodes for optoelectronic applications

The bilayer structure of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) coating on silver nanowires (AgNWs) film is a promising structure for replacing indium tin oxide (ITO) as a flexible transparent conductive electrode. Pristine PEDOT:PSS film due to its hydrophilicity and high permeability cannot fully protect AgNWs from mechanical stress and oxidation. Here, we present a composite approach that improves mechanical properties and lifespan of the AgNWs/PEDOT:PSS electrode by adding polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as a polymer-surfactant. It is shown that addition of PVA improves the conductivity as well as the stability of hybrid electrode under demanding mechanical stress conditions. The drop in conductivity of the hybrid electrode is only 17% after 2000 repeated bending cycles whereas the reference electrode has shown a dramatic drop of 180% in the conductivity. We speculate that generation of hydrogen bonds between PEDOT:PSS and PVA increases adhesivity and cohesivity of the conductive polymer film to the sublayer. So PEDOT:PSS-PVA film not only fixes the arrangement of AgNWs but also improves the welding on cross junction points. By addition of PVA, optoelectronic performance (Figure-of-merit (ΦTC)) of the electrode is improved from ΦTC = 2.646 × 10-3 Ω-1 for AgNWs/PEDOT:PSS to ΦTC = 3.819 × 10-3 Ω-1 for AgNWs/PEDOT:PSS-PVA electrode and power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the polymer solar cell (PSC) is increased by over 17%.</p

Geographical and climatic risk factors of cutaneous leishmaniasis in the hyper-endemic focus of Bam County in southeast Iran

IntroductionCutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a prevalent debilitating disease in many countries, particularly in Iran, the Middle East, North Africa, and South America. Bam County is the most important highly endemic focus of anthropometric CL in Iran and has been under consideration by WHO. This study investigated the environmental and geographic factors affecting the occurrence and distribution of CL in this focus.MethodsDemographic data and the home addresses of CL patients diagnosed from 2015 to 2020 were retrieved from the Leishmaniasis Center of Bam in southeast Iran. The effects of mean annual rainfall (MAR), mean annual humidity (MAH), mean annual temperature (MAT), maximum annual temperature (MaxMAT), minimum annual temperature (MinMAT), mean annual humidity (MAH), mean annual evaporation (MAE), mean annual frosty days (MAFD), mean annual snowy hours (MASH), elevation, and land cover on the distribution of CL were analyzed using geographical information systems (GIS) and univariate and multivariate regression models.ResultsOf 847 patients studied, 50.9% (n = 431) were female and 49.1% (n = 416) were male. The age classes 0–10 (n = 246) and 11–20 (n = 145) showed the highest frequency of patients, respectively. Leishmaniasis patients were reported from 66 villages/cities (11.8%) out of 561 residential areas in Bam County. Univariate analysis showed that urban settings (OR = 21.66), agriculture (OR = 5.73), orchards (OR = 5), salty land (OR = 1.05), and temperatures (OR = 2.37, 2.79 and 3.47) had positive effects on CL occurrence (p &lt; 0.05), while altitude, precipitation, humidity, evaporation, and the number of frozen days had negative effects. Multivariate analysis identified urban settings (OR = 13.6), orchards (OR = 6.29), agriculture (OR = 5.82), and minimum temperature (OR = 2.38) as the most significant determinants of CL occurrence in this region.ConclusionEnvironmental and ecological factors play an important role in the distribution of CL in Bam County. The high-risk zones for CL are cities/large villages, agricultural and orchard areas in lower altitudes and with warmer climates and lower rainfall and humidity. This model can guide researchers and health managers to properly conduct CL control programs and allocate budgets

Evaluation of miR-146a expression level in macrophages exposed to Candida glabrata

Background and Purpose: MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNAs with 1924- nucleotides in length. Up- or downregulation of many miRNAs has been shown by stimulation of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) in the innate immune system. Up-regulation of miR-146a has been reported by both TLR and heat-killed Candida albicans. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the expression of miR-146a in cultured monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs) infected by Candida glabrata at 12, 24, and 48 hours. Materials and Methods: miR-146a expression was evaluated by qRT-real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) at three time points in C. glabrata-infected MDMs. The data was analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA. Results:&nbsp;miR-146a expression was down-regulated in infected MDMs compared to the control group (P<0.018). The expression of miR-146a was at its highest level at 48 h, as compared to 12 and 24 h (P<0.018). The differences between the experimental group compared to the control group were statistically significant (P<0.018). Conclusion: These results suggest that miR-146a can be involved in regulating macrophage function following TLR stimulation in C. glabrata-infected MDMs

Path Analysis to Determine the Relationship Between Marital Dissatisfaction, Premenstrual Syndrome and Emotional Dimension of Quality of Life in Women

Introduction: Marital satisfaction was defined as individuals&rsquo; global subjective evaluation of the quality of their marriage. Quality of life (QOL) is a multidimensional concept and includes all aspects of individuals&rsquo; lives. Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is characterized by a wide variety of emotional and physical symptoms and behavioral changes. The purpose of this study was to determine the role of marital dissatisfaction and premenstrual syndrome in the emotional dimension of quality of life. &nbsp; Methods: This study was analytical cross-sectional.&nbsp; 246 women referred to health centers in the border Yazd city, were recruited, voluntarily or accidentally. Tools for data collection were Quality of life questionnaire SF36, Premenstrual Syndrome Screening Tool and Index of Marital Satisfaction(QOL &PSST & IMS). Data collected was coded by SPSS18, descriptive statistics were used to summarize and organize the data and analyzed with path analyze Test. Results: Marital dissatisfaction (p = 0.021) and premenstrual syndrome (p = 0.001) have a direct negative effect on the quality of life's emotional dimension, and the severity of premenstrual syndrome has a stronger effect. Also, marital dissatisfaction with the effect on the severity of premenstrual syndrome (p = 0.001) indirectly affects the quality of life's emotional dimension. Conclusions: The findings of this study emphasize that women with premenstrual syndrome and marital dissatisfaction have a problem in their emotional dimension, so women should be taught that, in order to have a better mental health, to overcome Complications of marital life and recognizing the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome and its improvement strategies will further control these factors and increase their quality of life

MicroRNAs: Potential prognostic and theranostic biomarkers in chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Abstract Small noncoding ribonucleic acids called microRNAs coordinate numerous critical physiological and biological processes such as cell division, proliferation, and death. These regulatory molecules interfere with the function of many genes by binding the 3'‐UTR region of target mRNAs to inhibit their translation or even degrade them. Given that a large proportion of miRNAs behave as either tumor suppressors or oncogenes, any genetic or epigenetic aberration changeing their structure and/or function could initiate tumor formation and development. An example of such cancers is chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), the most prevalent adult leukemia in Western nations, which is caused by unregulated growth and buildup of defective cells in the peripheral blood and lymphoid organs. Genetic alterations at cellular and molecular levels play an important role in the occurrence and development of CLL. In this vein, it was noted that the development of this disease is noticeably affected by changes in the expression and function of miRNAs. Many studies on miRNAs have shown that these molecules are pivotal in the prognosis of different cancers, including CLL, and their epigenetic alterations (e.g., methylation) can predict disease progression and response to treatment. Furthermore, miRNAs are involved in the development of drug resistance in CLL, and targeting these molecules can be considered a new therapeutic approach for the treatment of this disease. MiRNA screening can offer important information on the etiology and development of CLL. Considering the importance of miRNAs in gene expression regulation, their application in the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of CLL is reviewed in this paper