Electroluminescent light sources via soft lithography

Purpose: Microcontact printing is a process used to print high resolution protein arrays for biosensors. We investigate using these techniques to print electrically conductive fine line structures for electroluminescent (E/L) light sources. Approach: The viability of using microcontact printing as a process for electronics fabrication is investigated. Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) stamps inked with alkanethiol compounds form Self Assembled Monolayers (SAM) on substrate surfaces, acting as the resist to subsequent etching processes. The printed lines are characterized with regard to their performance as high electric field generators in electroluminescent displays. Findings: It has been demonstrated that microcontact printing is a cheap, repeatable process for fabricating electronic devices. The results demonstrate the viability of the process to fabricate electric field generator structures for E/L light sources with reduced driving voltages. Value: It has been demonstrated that microcontact printing can produce electrically conductive fine-line structures with high resolution, confirming its viability in printed electronics manufacture

A Pyrrole-Based Triazolium-Phane with Nh and Cationic Ch Donor Groups as a Receptor for Tetrahedral Oxyanions that Functions in Polar Media

The pyrrole-based triazolium-phane 1(4+)center dot 4BF(4)(-) has been prepared via the tetraalkylation of a macrocycle originally prepared via click chemistry. It displays a high selectivity for tetrahedral oxyanions relative to various test monoanions and trigonal planar anions in mixed polar organic-aqueous media. This selectivity is solvent dependent and is less pronounced in acetonitrile. Theoretical calculations were carried out in with the chloride anion in an effort to understand the influence of solvent on the intrinsic hydrogen bonding ability of the donor groups (pyrrole N-H, benzene C-H and triazolium C-H). The host-guest interactions between receptor 1(4+)center dot 4BF(4)(-) and representative tetrahedral oxyanions were further analysed by H-1 NMR spectroscopy, and the findings proved consistent with the differences in the intrinsic strength of the various H-bond donor groups inferred from the electronic structure calculations carried out in methanol, namely that (CH)(+)-anion interactions are less important in an energetic sense than neutral CH-anion interactions in polar media. Single crystal X-ray diffraction analyses of the mixed salts 1(4+)center dot HP2O73-center dot BF4- and 31(4+)center dot 4H(2)PO(4)(-)center dot 8BF(4)(-) confirmed that receptor 1(4+) can bind the pyrophosphate and phosphate anions in the solid state.Cai, Jiajia, Benjamin P. Hay, Neil J. Young, Xiaoping Yang, and Jonathan L. Sessler. "A pyrrole-based triazolium-phane with NH and cationic CH donor groups as a receptor for tetrahedral oxyanions that functions in polar media." Chemical Science 4, no. 4 (Jan., 2013): 1560-1567.Chemistr

Rapid turnover of the recirculating lymphocyte pool in vivo

Lymphocytes are unique among blood cells in their capacity to continually recirculate between blood and the tissues via the lymph. Previous estimates of lymphocyte lifespan in vivo and the turnover of the recirculating lymphocyte pool have been deduced from indirect labeling techniques. Using the fluorescent dye PKH-26, individual labeled cells have been tracked in sheep for periods >2 months. By direct measurement their lifespan was calculated. This label was found to be stable in vivo, allowing long-term analysis of the characteristics of the recirculating lymphocyte pool. It Is possible to calculate the rate of turnover of cells of the recirculating pool based on the rate at which labeled cells disappear from the lymphatic circulation. The recirculating lymphocyte pool was found to repopulate itself every 16.5 ± 3.0 days. Using this label, it was estimated that recirculating lymphocytes divide on average once every 29.8 ± 6.8 days. Labeled erythrocytes were also examined and found to have an average lifespan of 153 days, demonstrating no dye loss over the 2 month period of observation. These data suggest that the recirculating lymphocyte pool is a highly dynamic compartment, with a high rate of turnover and peripheral cell division in vivo. This is the first report of the direct measurement of the in vivo turnover of recirculating lymphocyte pools, and this method may now be used to further analyze the lifespan of individual lymphocyte subsets and the in vivo lifespan of other cell types in viv

Is acupuncture a useful adjunct to physiotherapy for older adults with knee pain?: The "Acupuncture, Physiotherapy and Exercise" (APEX) study [ISRCTN88597683]

BACKGROUND: Acupuncture is a popular non-pharmacological modality for treating musculoskeletal pain. Physiotherapists are one of the largest groups of acupuncture providers within the NHS, and they commonly use it alongside advice and exercise. Conclusive evidence of acupuncture's clinical effectiveness and its superiority over sham interventions is lacking. The Arthritis Research Campaign (arc) has funded this randomised sham-controlled trial which addresses three important questions. Firstly, we will determine the additional benefit of true acupuncture when used by physiotherapists alongside advice and exercise for older people presenting to primary care with knee pain. Secondly, we will evaluate sham acupuncture in the same way. Thirdly, we will investigate the treatment preferences and expectations of both the participants and physiotherapists participating in the study, and explore the effect of these on clinical outcome. We will thus investigate whether acupuncture is a useful adjunct to advice and exercise for treating knee pain and gain insight into whether this effect is due to specific needling properties. METHODS/DESIGN: This randomised clinical trial will recruit 350 participants with knee pain to three intervention arms. It is based in 43 community physiotherapy departments in 21 NHS Trusts in the West Midlands and Cheshire regions in England. Patients aged 50 years and over with knee pain will be recruited. Outcome data will be collected by self-complete questionnaires before randomisation, and 6 weeks, 6 months and 12 months after randomisation and by telephone interview 2 weeks after treatment commences. The questionnaires collect demographic details as well as information on knee-related pain, movement and function, pain intensity and affect, main functional problem, illness perceptions, self-efficacy, treatment preference and expectations, general health and quality of life. Participants are randomised to receive a package of advice and exercise; or this package plus real acupuncture; or this package plus sham acupuncture. Treatment details are being collected on a standard proforma. Interventions are delivered by experienced physiotherapists who have all received training in acupuncture to recognised national standards. The primary analysis will investigate the main treatment effects of real or sham acupuncture as an adjunct to advice and exercise. DISCUSSION: This paper presents detail on the rationale, design, methods, and operational aspects of the trial

On‐demand treatment of bleeds in haemophilia patients with inhibitors: strategies for securing and maintaining predictable efficacy with recombinant activated factor VII

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/90042/1/j.1365-2516.2011.02612.x.pd

Tracking dendritic cells: use of an in situ method to label all blood leukocytes

Here we describe an in situ procedure with a labeling index (percent of labeled blood leukocytes) >98%, which is high enough to permit the direct tracking of dendritic cell (DC) precursors from blood into lymphoid tissues, while circumventing the pitfalls associated with in vitro labeling. DC and lymphocytes have similar blood to afferent lymph migratory capabilities. This method has additional applications in tracking other rare cell populations in both normal and pathological state

Phenotypic and functional analyses show stem cell-derived hepatocyte-like cells better mimic fetal rather than adult hepatocytes

Background & Aims: Hepatocyte-like cells (HLCs), differentiated from pluripotent stem cells by the use of soluble factors, can model human liver function and toxicity. However, at present HLC maturity and whether any deficit represents a true fetal state or aberrant differentiation is unclear and compounded by comparison to potentially deteriorated adult hepatocytes. Therefore, we generated HLCs from multiple lineages, using two different protocols, for direct comparison with fresh fetal and adult hepatocytes. Methods: Protocols were developed for robust differentiation. Multiple transcript, protein and functional analyses compared HLCs to fresh human fetal and adult hepatocytes. Results: HLCs were comparable to those of other laboratories by multiple parameters. Transcriptional changes during differentiation mimicked human embryogenesis and showed more similarity to pericentral than periportal hepatocytes. Unbiased proteomics demonstrated greater proximity to liver than 30 other human organs or tissues. However, by comparison to fresh material, HLC maturity was proven by transcript, protein and function to be fetal-like and short of the adult phenotype. The expression of 81% phase 1 enzymes in HLCs was significantly upregulated and half were statistically not different from fetal hepatocytes. HLCs secreted albumin and metabolized testosterone (CYP3A) and dextrorphan (CYP2D6) like fetal hepatocytes. In seven bespoke tests, devised by principal components analysis to distinguish fetal from adult hepatocytes, HLCs from two different source laboratories consistently demonstrated fetal characteristics. Conclusions: HLCs from different sources are broadly comparable with unbiased proteomic evidence for faithful differentiation down the liver lineage. This current phenotype mimics human fetal rather than adult hepatocytes