Short term doxycycline treatment induces sustained improvement in myocardial infarction border zone contractility.

Decreased contractility in the non-ischemic border zone surrounding a MI is in part due to degradation of cardiomyocyte sarcomeric components by intracellular matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2). We recently reported that MMP-2 levels were increased in the border zone after a MI and that treatment with doxycycline for two weeks after MI was associated with normalization of MMP-2 levels and improvement in ex-vivo contractile protein developed force in the myocardial border zone. The purpose of the current study was to determine if there is a sustained effect of short term treatment with doxycycline (Dox) on border zone function in a large animal model of antero-apical myocardial infarction (MI). Antero-apical MI was created in 14 sheep. Seven sheep received doxycycline 0.8 mg/kg/hr IV for two weeks. Cardiac MRI was performed two weeks before, and then two and six weeks after MI. Two sheep died prior to MRI at six weeks from surgical/anesthesia-related causes. The remaining 12 sheep completed the protocol. Doxycycline induced a sustained reduction in intracellular MMP-2 by Western blot (3649±643 MI+Dox vs 9236±114 MI relative intensity; p = 0.0009), an improvement in ex-vivo contractility (65.3±2.0 MI+Dox vs 39.7±0.8 MI mN/mm2; p<0.0001) and an increase in ventricular wall thickness at end-systole 1.0 cm from the infarct edge (12.4±0.6 MI+Dox vs 10.0±0.5 MI mm; p = 0.0095). Administration of doxycycline for a limited two week period is associated with a sustained improvement in ex-vivo contractility and an increase in wall thickness at end-systole in the border zone six weeks after MI. These findings were associated with a reduction in intracellular MMP-2 activity

Effect of Phosphorus and Strontium Additions on Formation Temperature and Nucleation Density of Primary Silicon in Al-19 Wt Pct Si Alloy and Their Effect on Eutectic Temperature

The influence of P and Sr additions on the formation temperature and nucleation density of primary silicon in Al-19 wt pct Si alloy has been determined, for small volumes of melt solidified at cooling rates _T of ~0.3 and 1 K/s. The proportion of ingot featuring primary silicon decreased progressively with increased Sr addition, which also markedly reduced the temperature for first formation of primary silicon and the number of primary silicon particles per unit volume �Nv: When combined with previously published results, the effects of amount of P addition and cooling rate on �Nv are in reasonable accord with �Nv� _T ¼ ðp=6fÞ1=2 109 [250 � 215 (wt pct P)0.17]�3, where �Nv is in mm�3, _T is in K/s, and f is volume fraction of primary silicon. Increased P addition reduces the eutectic temperature, while increased Sr appears to generate a minimum in eutectic temperature at about 100 ppmw Sr

Ab initio prediction of semiconductivity in a novel two-dimensional Sb2X3 (X= S, Se, Te) monolayers with orthorhombic structure

Sb 2S 3 and Sb 2Se 3 are well-known layered bulk structures with weak van der Waals interactions. In this work we explore the atomic lattice, dynamical stability, electronic and optical properties of Sb 2S 3, Sb 2Se 3 and Sb 2Te 3 monolayers using the density functional theory simulations. Molecular dynamics and phonon dispersion results show the desirable thermal and dynamical stability of studied nanosheets. On the basis of HSE06 and PBE/GGA functionals, we show that all the considered novel monolayers are semiconductors. Using the HSE06 functional the electronic bandgap of Sb 2S 3, Sb 2Se 3 and Sb 2Te 3 monolayers are predicted to be 2.15, 1.35 and 1.37 eV, respectively. Optical simulations show that the first absorption coefficient peak for Sb 2S 3, Sb 2Se 3 and Sb 2Te 3 monolayers along in-plane polarization is suitable for the absorption of the visible and IR range of light. Interestingly, optically anisotropic character along planar directions can be desirable for polarization-sensitive photodetectors. Furthermore, we systematically investigate the electrical transport properties with combined first-principles and Boltzmann transport theory calculations. At optimal doping concentration, we found the considerable larger power factor values of 2.69, 4.91, and 5.45 for hole-doped Sb 2S 3, Sb 2Se 3, and Sb 2Te 3, respectively. This study highlights the bright prospect for the application of Sb 2S 3, Sb 2Se 3 and Sb 2Te 3 nanosheets in novel electronic, optical and energy conversion systems. © 2021, The Author(s)

Material jetting of carbon nano onions for printed Eeectronics

: As an additive manufacturing process, material jetting techniques allow to selectively deposit droplets of materials in liquid or powder form through a small-diameter aperture, such as a nozzle of a print head. For the fabrication of printed electronics, a variety of inks and dispersions of functional materials can be deposited by drop-on-demand printing on rigid and flexible substrates. In this work, zero-dimensional multi-layer shell-structured fullerene material, also known as carbon nano-onion (CNO) or onion-like carbon (OLC), is printed on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrates using drop-on-demand inkjet printing. CNOs are produced using a low-cost flame synthesis technique and characterized by electron microscopy, Raman, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and specific surface area and pore size measurements. The produced CNO material has an average diameter of ~33 nm, pore diameter in the range ~2-40 nm and a specific surface area of 232 m2.g-1. The CNO dispersions in ethanol have a reduced viscosity (~1.2 mPa.s) and are compatible with commercial piezoelectric inkjet heads. The jetting parameters are optimized to avoid satellite drops and to obtain a reduced drop volume (52 pL), resulting in optimal resolution (220 µm) and line continuity. A multi-step process is implemented without inter-layer curing and a fine control over the CNO layer thickness is achieved (~180 nm-thick layer after 10 printing passes). The printed CNO structures show an electrical resistivity of ~600 Ω.m, a high negative temperature coefficient of resistance (-4.35x10-2 ºC-1) and a marked dependency on relative humidity (-1.29x10-2 RH%-1). The high sensitivity to temperature and humidity, combined to the large specific area of the CNOs, make this material and the corresponding ink a viable prospect for inkjet-printed technologies, such as environmental and gas sensors

The Adverse Effects of Auditory Stress on Mouse Uterus Receptivity and Behaviour

Stress during gestation has harmful effects on pregnancy outcome and can lead to spontaneous abortion. Few studies, however, have addressed the impact of gestational stress, particularly auditory stress, on behavioural performance and pregnancy outcome in mice. This study aimed to examine the effect of two types of gestational stress on uterus receptivity and behavioural performance. Pregnant C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned to either auditory or physical stress conditions or a control condition from gestational days 12-16. The auditory stress regimen used loud 3000 Hz tone, while the physical stressor consisted of restraint and exposure to an elevated platform. Three behavioural tests were performed in the dams after weaning. Uterine receptivity was investigated by counting the number of sites of implantation and fetal resorption. Also, the offspring survival rates during the early postnatal period were calculated. Auditory stress caused an increase in anxiety-like behaviour, reduced time spent exploring new object/environment, and reduced balance when compared to the physical stress and control groups. Auditory stress also caused higher rates of resorbed embryos and reduction of litter size. Our results suggest that the adverse effect of noise stress is stronger than physical stress for both uterus receptivity and behavioural performance of the dams. © 2017 The Author(s)

Design and modeling of a transistor vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser

A multiple quantum well (MQW) transistor vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (T-VCSEL) is designed and numerically modeled. The important physical models and parameters are discussed and validated by modeling a conventional VCSEL and comparing the results with the experiment. The quantum capture/escape process is simulated using the quantum-trap model and shows a significant effect on the electrical output of the T-VCSEL. The parameters extracted from the numerical simulation are imported into the analytic modeling to predict the frequency response and simulate the large-signal modulation up to 40 Gbps

Menstrual cycle phase does not predict political conservatism

Recent authors have reported a relationship between women's fertility status, as indexed by menstrual cycle phase, and conservatism in moral, social and political values. We conducted a survey to test for the existence of a relationship between menstrual cycle day and conservatism. 2213 women reporting regular menstrual cycles provided data about their political views. Of these women, 2208 provided information about their cycle date, 1260 provided additional evidence of reliability in self-reported cycle date, and of these, 750 also indicated an absence of hormonal disruptors such as recent hormonal contraception use, breastfeeding or pregnancy. Cycle day was used to estimate day-specific fertility rate (probability of conception); political conservatism was measured via direct self-report and via responses to the "Moral Foundations” questionnaire. We also recorded relationship status, which has been reported to interact with menstrual cycle phase in determining political preferences. We found no evidence of a relationship between estimated cyclical fertility changes and conservatism, and no evidence of an interaction between relationship status and cyclical fertility in determining political attitudes. Our findings were robust to multiple inclusion/exclusion criteria and to different methods of estimating fertility and measuring conservatism. In summary, the relationship between cycle-linked reproductive parameters and conservatism may be weaker or less reliable than previously thought

Incidence, mortality, and burden of malaria and its geographical distribution in Iran during 2002-2015

Background: This study aimed at estimating the incidence, mortality, burden, and geographical distribution of malaria between 2002 and 2015 in Iran. Methods: DALYs index was used to estimate the burden of malaria. DALYs-related malaria was calculated using a method developed by (WHO) for investigating the Global Burden of Disease (GBD); it was calculated through adding Years of Life Lost (YLLs) due to premature death to Years Lived with Disability (YLDs).The data on the incidence and mortality were collected from the malaria surveillance system in the Center for Communicable Diseases Control (CCDC), Ministry of Health and Medical Education (MOHME). Results: The incidence of malaria had a decreasing trend over the studied period and it reduced from 15378 cases in 2002 to 777 cases in 2015. Overall, 28 cases of mortality were observed between 2002 and 2015. In addition, disease burden decreased from 90.78 DALYs in 2002 to 22.38 DALYs in 2015.Overall, there were 949.2 DALYs due to malaria from 2002 to 2015. The incidence and burden of malaria were not equally distributed among all the provinces in Iran and some areas were suffering from the highest burden of the disease. Conclusion: The incidence and burden of malaria have had a decreasing trend over the years of the study and Iran has little to do in order to eradicate malaria. Since the disease is not equally distributed among various provinces of Iran, health policymakers must direct health resources towards specific areas of the country (Sistan and Baluchistan, Kerman, and Hormozgan) with high concentration of cases of malaria. © 2019, Iranian Journal of Public Health. All rights reserved