716 research outputs found
Optimized fabrication of high quality La0.67Sr0.33MnO3 thin films considering all essential characteristics
In this article, an overview of the fabrication and properties of high
quality La0.67Sr0.33MnO3 (LSMO) thin films is given. A high quality LSMO film
combines a smooth surface morphology with a large magnetization and a small
residual resistivity, while avoiding precipitates and surface segregation. In
literature, typically only a few of these issues are adressed. We therefore
present a thorough characterization of our films, which were grown by pulsed
laser deposition. The films were characterized with reflection high energy
electron diffraction, atomic force microscopy, x-ray diffraction, magnetization
and transport measurements, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and scanning
transmission electron microscopy. The films have a saturation magnetization of
4.0 {\mu}B/Mn, a Curie temperature of 350 K and a residual resistivity of 60
{\mu}{\Omega}cm. These results indicate that high quality films, combining both
large magnetization and small residual resistivity, were realized. A comparison
between different samples presented in literature shows that focussing on a
single property is insufficient for the optimization of the deposition process.
For high quality films, all properties have to be adressed. For LSMO devices,
the thin film quality is crucial for the device performance. Therefore, this
research is important for the application of LSMO in devices.Comment: Accepted for publication in Journal of Physics D - Applied Physic
Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) as salvage treatment for pulmonary Echinococcus granulosus infection with acute cyst rupture
Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has been used successfully for the treatment of patients with respiratory failure due to severe infections. Although rare, parasites can also cause severe pulmonary disease. Tapeworms of the genus Echinococcus give rise to the development of cystic structures in the liver, lungs, and other organs. Acute cyst rupture leads to potentially life-threatening infection, and affected patients may deteriorate rapidly. The case of a young woman from Bulgaria who was admitted to hospital with severe dyspnoea, progressive chest pain, and haemoptysis is described. Computed tomography of the chest was pathognomonic for cystic echinococcosis with acute cyst rupture. Following deterioration on mechanical ventilation, she was cannulated for veno-venous ECMO. The patient's condition improved considerably, and she was weaned successfully from ECMO and mechanical ventilation. Following lobectomy of the affected left lower lobe, the patient was discharged home in good condition. This appears to be the first report of the successful use of ECMO as salvage treatment for a severe manifestation of a helminthic disease. Due to recent migration to Western Europe, the number of patients presenting with respiratory failure due to pulmonary echinococcosis with cyst rupture is likely to increase
Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) as salvage treatment for pulmonary Echinococcus granulosus infection with acute cyst rupture
Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has been used successfully for the treatment of patients with respiratory failure due to severe infections. Although rare, parasites can also cause severe pulmonary disease. Tapeworms of the genus Echinococcus give rise to the development of cystic structures in the liver, lungs, and other organs. Acute cyst rupture leads to potentially life-threatening infection, and affected patients may deteriorate rapidly. The case of a young woman from Bulgaria who was admitted to hospital with severe dyspnoea, progressive chest pain, and haemoptysis is described. Computed tomography of the chest was pathognomonic for cystic echinococcosis with acute cyst rupture. Following deterioration on mechanical ventilation, she was cannulated for veno-venous ECMO. The patientâs condition improved considerably, and she was weaned successfully from ECMO and mechanical ventilation. Following lobectomy of the affected left lower lobe, the patient was discharged home in good condition. This appears to be the first report of the successful use of ECMO as salvage treatment for a severe manifestation of a helminthic disease. Due to recent migration to Western Europe, the number of patients presenting with respiratory failure due to pulmonary echinococcosis with cyst rupture is likely to increase
Human airway construct model is suitable for studying transcriptome changes associated with indoor air particulate matter toxicity
In vitro models mimicking the human respiratory system are essential when investigating the toxicological effects of inhaled indoor air particulate matter (PM). We present a pulmonary cell culture model for studying indoor air PM toxicity. We exposed normal human bronchial epithelial cells, grown on semiâpermeable cell culture membranes, to four doses of indoor air PM in the airâliquid interface. We analyzed the chemokine interleukinâ8 concentration from the cell culture medium, protein concentration from the apical wash, measured tissue electrical resistance, and imaged airway constructs using light and transmission electron microscopy. We sequenced RNA using a targeted RNA toxicology panel for 386 genes associated with toxicological responses. PM was collected from a nonâcomplaint residential environment over 1 week. Sample collection was concomitant with monitoring sizeâsegregated PM counts and determination of microbial levels and diversity. PM exposure was not acutely toxic for the cells, and we observed upâregulation of 34 genes and downâregulation of 17 genes when compared to blank sampler control exposure. The five most upâregulated genes were related to immunotoxicity. Despite indications of incomplete cell differentiation, this model enabled the comparison of a toxicological transcriptome associated with indoor air PM exposure
Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome due to Mycoplasma pneumoniae Misinterpreted as SARS-CoV-2 Infection
Background. In 2020, a novel coronavirus caused a global pandemic with a clinical picture termed COVID-19, accounting for numerous cases of ARDS. However, there are still other infectious causes of ARDS that should be considered, especially as the majority of these pathogens are specifically treatable. Case Presentation. We present the case of a 36-year-old gentleman who was admitted to the hospital with flu-like symptoms, after completing a half-marathon one week before admission. As infection with SARS-CoV-2 was suspected based on radiologic imaging, the hypoxemic patient was immediately transferred to the ICU, where he developed ARDS. Empiric antimicrobial chemotherapy was initiated, the patient deteriorated further, therapy was changed, and the patient was transferred to a tertiary care ARDS center. As cold agglutinins were present, the hypothesis of an infection with SARS-CoV-2 was then questioned. Bronchoscopic sampling revealed Mycoplasma (M.) pneumoniae. When antimicrobial chemotherapy was adjusted, the patient recovered quickly. Conclusion. Usually, M. pneumoniae causes mild disease. When antimicrobial chemotherapy was adjusted, the patient recovered quickly. The case underlines the importance to adhere to established treatment guidelines, scrutinize treatment modalities, and not to forget other potential causes of severe pneumonia or ARDS
High levels of SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells with restricted functionality in severe courses of COVID-19
BACKGROUND. Patients infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARSCoV-2) differ in the severity of disease. We hypothesized that characteristics of SARS-CoV-2â
specific immunity correlate with disease severity.
METHODS. In this study, SARS-CoV-2âspecific T cells and antibodies were characterized in
uninfected controls and patients with different coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) disease
severity. SARS-CoV-2âspecific T cells were flow cytometrically quantified after stimulation with
SARS-CoV-2 peptide pools and analyzed for expression of cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-2, and TNF-α)
and markers for activation, proliferation, and functional anergy. SARS-CoV-2âspecific IgG and
IgA antibodies were quantified using ELISA. Moreover, global characteristics of lymphocyte
subpopulations were compared between patient groups and uninfected controls.
RESULTS. Despite severe lymphopenia affecting all major lymphocyte subpopulations, patients
with severe disease mounted significantly higher levels of SARS-CoV-2âspecific T cells as compared
with convalescent individuals. SARS-CoV-2âspecific CD4+
T cells dominated over CD8+
T cells and
closely correlated with the number of plasmablasts and SARS-CoV-2âspecific IgA and IgG levels.
Unlike in convalescent patients, SARS-CoV-2âspecific T cells in patients with severe disease showed
marked alterations in phenotypical and functional properties, which also extended to CD4+
and CD8+
T cells in general.
CONCLUSION. Given the strong induction of specific immunity to control viral replication in
patients with severe disease, the functionally altered characteristics may result from the need for
contraction of specific and general immunity to counteract excessive immunopathology in the lung.
FUNDING. The study was supported by institutional funds to MS and in part by grants of Saarland
University, the State of Saarland, and the Rolf M. Schwiete Stiftung
High levels of SARS-CoV-2 specific T-cells with restricted functionality in patients with severe course of COVID-19
Patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 differ in the severity of disease. In this study, SARS-CoV-2 specific T-cells and antibodies were characterized in patients with different COVID-19 related disease severity. Despite severe lymphopenia affecting all major lymphocyte subpopulations, patients with severe disease mounted significantly higher levels of SARS-CoV-2 specific T-cells as compared to convalescent individuals. SARS-CoV-2 specific CD4 T-cells dominated over CD8 T-cells and closely correlated with the number of plasmablasts and SARS-CoV-2 specific IgA- and IgG-levels. Unlike in convalescents, SARS-CoV-2 specific T-cells in patients with severe disease showed marked alterations in phenotypical and functional properties, which also extended to CD4 and CD8 T-cells in general. Given the strong induction of specific immunity to control viral replication in patients with severe disease, the functionally altered phenotype may result from the need for contraction of specific and general immunity to counteract excessive immunopathology in the lung
Future business and the role of purchasing and supply management: Opportunities for âbusiness-not-as-usualâ PSM research
The raison d'ĂȘtre for this article is simple: traditional ways of researching, theorizing, and practicing purchasing and supply management (PSM) are no longer sufficient to âmeet the momentâ. Scholars need to advance a âbusiness-not-as-usualâ footing approach to their work, if they are to make a meaningful contribution to addressing the current and future emergencies, as highlighted by recent extreme weather and the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, what can this, or should this, mean for a field rooted in traditional business thinking? This article builds on the Journal of Purchasing and Supply Management's (JPSM) 25th Anniversary Special Issue editorial (2019); members of the JPSM's editorial team advance their unique perspectives on what âbusiness-not-as-usualâ means for PSM. Specifically, we advocate both thinking much more widely, in scope and ambition, than we currently do, and simultaneously building our ability to comprehend supply chains in a more nuanced and granular way. We explore whether the bias toward positivist work has omitted potentially interesting findings, and viewpoints. This leads to a call to re-think how we approach our work: should the key criteria always be to focus on theory development or testing? Should academics âthink biggerâ? Turning to specific research themes, illustrations of how our current thinking can be challenged or broadened by addressing the circular economy, and role of purchasing and innovation. Specifically, the focus on the PSM function as an intrapreneur within the larger organization, and the role of innovation and technology in PSM work. Taken together, we hope the ideas and arguments presented here will inform and inspire ambitious and novel approaches to PSM research with significant and enduring impact on the transformation of business
Fast Aâsite cation crossâexchange at room temperature: singleâto doubleâ and tripleâcation halide perovskite nanocrystals
Financiado para publicaciĂłn en acceso aberto: Universidade de Vigo/CISUGWe report here fast A-site cation cross-exchange between APbX3 perovskite nanocrystals (NCs) made of different A-cations (Cs (cesium), FA (formamidinium), and MA (methylammonium)) at room temperature. Surprisingly, the A-cation cross-exchange proceeds as fast as the halide (X=Cl, Br, or I) exchange with the help of free A-oleate complexes present in the freshly prepared colloidal perovskite NC solutions. This enabled the preparation of double (MACs, MAFA, CsFA)- and triple (MACsFA)-cation perovskite NCs with an optical band gap that is finely tunable by their A-site composition. The optical spectroscopy together with structural analysis using XRD and atomically resolved high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM) and integrated differential phase contrast (iDPC) STEM indicates the homogeneous distribution of different cations in the mixed perovskite NC lattice. Unlike halide ions, the A-cations do not phase-segregate under light illumination.Agencia Estatal de InvestigaciĂłn
https://doi.org/10.13039/501100011033 | Ref. PID2020-117371RA-I00Xunta de Galicia
https://doi.org/10.13039/501100010801 | Ref. ED431F2021/05HORIZON EUROPE European Research Council
https://doi.org/10.13039/100019180 | Ref. ERC-CoG-2019 815128European Commission
https://doi.org/10.13039/501100000780 | Ref. 731019Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
https://doi.org/10.13039/501100000266 | Ref. EP/R023980/1Royal Society
https://doi.org/10.13039/50110000028
Antibiotic therapeutic drug monitoring in intensive care patients treated with different modalities of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and renal replacement therapy: a prospective, observational single-center study
Background: Efective antimicrobial treatment is key to reduce mortality associated with bacterial sepsis in patients
on intensive care units (ICUs). Dose adjustments are often necessary to account for pathophysiological changes or
renal replacement therapy. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is increasingly being used for the treatment of respiratory and/or cardiac failure. However, it remains unclear whether dose adjustments are necessary to
avoid subtherapeutic drug levels in septic patients on ECMO support. Here, we aimed to evaluate and comparatively
assess serum concentrations of continuously applied antibiotics in intensive care patients being treated with and
without ECMO.
Methods: Between October 2018 and December 2019, we prospectively enrolled patients on a pneumological
ICU in southwest Germany who received antibiotic treatment with piperacillin/tazobactam, ceftazidime, meropenem, or linezolid. All antibiotics were applied using continuous infusion, and therapeutic drug monitoring of serum
concentrations (expressed as mg/L) was carried out using high-performance liquid chromatography. Target concentrations were defned as fourfold above the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of susceptible bacterial isolates,
according to EUCAST breakpoints
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