Development of a novel, windowless, amorphous selenium based photodetector for use in liquid noble detectors

Detection of the vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) scintillation light produced by liquid noble elements is a central challenge in order to fully exploit the available timing, topological, and calorimetric information in detectors leveraging these media. In this paper, we characterize a novel, windowless amorphous selenium based photodetector with direct sensitivity to VUV light. We present here the manufacturing and experimental setup used to operate this detector at low transport electric fields (2.7-5.2 V/$\mu$m) and across a wide range of temperatures (77K-290K). This work shows that the first proof-of-principle device windowless amorphous selenium is robust under cryogenic conditions, responsive to VUV light at cryogenic temperatures, and preserves argon purity. These findings motivate a continued exploration of amorphous selenium devices for simultaneous detection of scintillation light and ionization charge in noble element detectors

Elevated expression of artemis in human fibroblast cells is associated with cellular radiosensitivity and increased apoptosis

Copyright @ 2012 Nature Publishing GroupThis article has been made available through the Brunel Open Access Publishing Fund.Background: The objective of this study was to determine the molecular mechanism(s) responsible for cellular radiosensitivity in two human fibroblast cell lines 84BR and 175BR derived from two cancer patients. Methods: Clonogenic assays were performed following exposure to increasing doses of gamma radiation to confirm radiosensitivity. γ-H2AX foci assays were used to determine the efficiency of DNA double strand break (DSB) repair in cells. Quantitative-PCR (Q-PCR) established the expression levels of key DNA DSB repair proteins. Imaging flow cytometry using Annexin V-FITC was used to compare artemis expression and apoptosis in cells. Results: Clonogenic cellular hypersensitivity in the 84BR and 175BR cell lines was associated with a defect in DNA DSB repair measured by the γ-H2AX foci assay. Q-PCR analysis and imaging flow cytometry revealed a two-fold overexpression of the artemis DNA repair gene which was associated with an increased level of apoptosis in the cells before and after radiation exposure. Over-expression of normal artemis protein in a normal immortalised fibroblast cell line NB1-Tert resulted in increased radiosensitivity and apoptosis. Conclusion: We conclude elevated expression of artemis is associated with higher levels of DNA DSB, radiosensitivity and elevated apoptosis in two radio-hypersensitive cell lines. These data reveal a potentially novel mechanism responsible for radiosensitivity and show that increased artemis expression in cells can result in either radiation resistance or enhanced sensitivity.This work was supported in part by The Vidal Sassoon Foundation USA. This article is made available through the Brunel Open Access Publishing Fund

Determination of maternal risk factors of preterm delivery: Adjusted for sparse data bias; results from a population-based case-control study in Iran

Objective To determine the maternal risk factors associated with preterm delivery in Iran. Methods A population-based case-control study was conducted including 48 women having preterm delivery (case group) and 100 women having term delivery (control group) between March 2007 and March 2012 in the maternity hospitals of the Selseleh County, Lorestan province, Iran. Information regarding maternal risk factors was collected by structured interview and reviewing the medical records. The maternal risk factors associated with preterm delivery were identified using univariate and multivariable logistic regression analysis after adjusting the sparse data bias. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves was estimated to evaluate the discrimination power of the statistical models. Results Multivariable analysis demonstrated that multiparty (odds ratio OR, 14.23; 95% confidence interval CI, 1.60-127.05), history of gestational diabetes (OR, 0.10; 95% CI, 0.01-0.99), thyroid dysfunction (OR, 97.32; 95% CI, 5.78-1,637.80), urinary tract infection (OR, 16.60; 95% CI, 3.20-85.92), and taking care during pregnancy (OR, 0.12; 95% CI, 0.03-0.50) had significant impact on preterm delivery after adjusting the potential confounders. The area under the ROC curve for the aforementioned maternal risk factors was 0.86 (95% CI, 0.80-0.92). Conclusion Our study provides evidence for the associations between multiparty, history of gestational diabetes, thyroid dysfunction, urinary tract infection, as well as taking care during pregnancy, and preterm delivery. © 2020 Korean Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology

A review of the most important medicinal plants effective on cardiac ischemia-reperfusion injury

Introduction: Ischemia, referring to reduction and restriction of perfusion to myocardial tissue which involves coronary arteries through the formation of misplaced clots and thrombosis, is one of the most important cardiovascular diseases. Plant-based compounds help to improve or prevent disease through affecting the factors involved in the disease. This review was conducted to report the medicinal plants and factors effective on cardiac ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury to supplement the knowledge about this disease and its prevention and treatment using certain medicinal plants and their active compounds. For this purpose, medicinal plants and their potential antioxidant activities, effects on lipid levels and plaque formation, atherosclerosis and development of cardiovascular diseases and ischemia were reviewed. Methods: To conduct this review, relevant articles published between 1983 and 2018 were retrieved from the Google Scholar, PubMed, Scientific Information Database, Web of Science, and Scopus using search terms antioxidant, ischemia, reperfusion, heart, infarct, inflammation, cholesterol, and the medicinal plants. Then, the eligible articles were reviewed. Results: The active compounds of plants including phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and antioxidant compounds can be effective on certain pathogenic factors particularly for decreasing cholesterol and blood pressure, preventing increases in free radicals and ultimately reducing blood clots and vascular resistance to reduce and prevent ischemic disease and its harmful effects. Conclusion: Medicinal plants presented in this article appear to be able to prevent cardiac damage and disease progression via affecting the factors that are effective on ischemia

Distribution and New Host Plants of Seed Beetles (Col.: Chrysomelidae: Bruchinae) from Iran

This report is part of a national project for gathering and classifying the arthropod seed feeders in different provinces of Iran between 2008–2014. In this paper, nineteen host species with their areas of distribution are presented for twelve species of seed beetles (Chrysomelidae: Bruchinae). Most of the identified host plants (84%) belong to the family Fabaceae (Leguminosae). In addition, all known hosts for these beetles are discussed. The identified species in this study were confirmed by Dr. Alex Delobel in the Natural history Museum of Paris. The studied material is deposited in the arthropod collection of Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands

Dry Needling for Spine Related Disorders: a Scoping Review

Introduction/Background: The depth and breadth of research on dry needling (DN) has not been evaluated specifically for symptomatic spine related disorders (SRD) from myofascial trigger points (TrP), disc, nerve and articular structures not due to serious pathologies. Current literature appears to support DN for treatment of TrP. Goals of this review include identifying research published on DN treatment for SRD, sites of treatment and outcomes studied. Methods: A scoping review was conducted following Levac et al.’s five part methodological framework to determine the current state of the literature regarding DN for patients with SRD. Results: Initial and secondary search strategies yielded 55 studies in the cervical (C) region (71.43%) and 22 in the thoracolumbar-pelvic (TLP) region (28.57%). Most were randomized controlled trials (60% in C, 45.45% in TLP) and clinical trials (18.18% in C, 22.78% in TLP). The most commonly treated condition was TrP for both the C and TLP regions. In the C region, DN was provided to 23 different muscles, with the trapezius as treatment site in 41.88% of studies. DN was applied to 31 different structures in the TLP region. In the C region, there was one treatment session in 23 studies (41.82%) and 2–6 treatments in 25 (45.45%%). For the TLP region, one DN treatment was provided in 8 of the 22 total studies (36.36%) and 2–6 in 9 (40.9%). The majority of experimental designs had DN as the sole intervention. For both C and TLP regions, visual analogue scale, pressure pain threshold and range of motion were the most common outcomes. Conclusion: For SRD, DN was primarily applied to myofascial structures for pain or TrP diagnoses. Many outcomes were improved regardless of diagnosis or treatment parameters. Most studies applied just one treatment which may not reflect common clinical practice. Further research is warranted to determine optimal treatment duration and frequency. Most studies looked at DN as the sole intervention. It is unclear whether DN alone or in addition to other treatment procedures would provide superior outcomes. Functional outcome tools best suited to tracking the outcomes of DN for SRD should be explored.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12998-020-00310-