Conventional Nanoindentation in Self-Assembled Monolayers Deposited on Gold and Silver Substrates

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Ferromagnetism in bare gold nanoagglomerates produced by nanocluster deposition

Abstract Recent research has shown unconventional magnetic properties in nanosized gold systems. These effects have mostly been detected in functionalized gold nanoparticles as well as in gold nanocrystalline films. We demonstrate ferro- and superparamagnetic behaviour in assemblies of bare gold nanoclusters. This is demonstrated by the characteristic ferromagnetic hysteresis with the temperature dependent saturation magnetization, remanence and coercivity in aggregates of small clusters. The detected magnetization is caused by the interaction between the separate clusters exhibiting an core-shell structure, and dependent on the total amount of gold confined in the samples. The behaviour is analogous to that of transition metal clusters.Peer reviewe

Crystalline tungsten sulfide thin films by atomic layer deposition and mild annealing

Tungsten disulfide (WS2) is a semiconducting 2D material, which is gaining increasing attention in the wake of graphene and MoS2 owing to its exciting properties and promising performance in a multitude of applications. Herein, the authors deposited WSx thin films by atomic layer deposition using W-2(NMe2)(6) and H2S as precursors. The films deposited at 150 degrees C were amorphous and sulfur deficient. The amorphous films crystallized as WS2 by mild postdeposition annealing in H2S/N-2 atmosphere at 400 degrees C. Detailed structural characterization using Raman spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy revealed that the annealed films consisted of small (Peer reviewe

Pelvic organ prolapse surgery and quality of life-a nationwide cohort study : Nationwide cohort study

BACKGROUND: Patient satisfaction and health-related quality of life are nowadays considered as the most important outcomes of pelvic organ prolapse treatment, and large, prospective clinical studies reporting the patient-reported surgical outcomes are needed. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of female pelvic organ prolapse surgery on health-related quality of life and patient satisfaction and to determine predictors of outcome. STUDY DESIGN: This prospective nationwide cohort study consisted of 3515 women undergoing surgery for pelvic organ prolapse in 2015. The outcomes were measured by validated health-related quality of life instruments (generic 15D, Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory-20, and Patient Global Impression of Improvement) at 6 months and 2 years postoperatively. The baseline predictors of outcomes were studied with logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: In total, 2528 (72%) women were eligible for analysis at 6 months and 2351 (67%) at 2 years. The mean change in the total 15D score suggested a clinically important improvement at 6 months but not at 2 years. However, an improvement in sexual activity, discomfort and symptoms, and excretion was observed during both follow-up assessments. Altogether, 77% and 72% of the participants reported a clinically significant improvement in Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory-20 at the 6month and 2-year follow-ups, respectively. A total of 84% were satisfied with the outcome and 90% reported an improvement in comparison with the preoperative state with Patient Global Impression of ImprovementI. The strongest predictive factors for a favorable outcome were advanced apical prolapse (adjusted odds ratio, 2.06; 95% confidence interval, 1.58-2.70) and vaginal bulge (1.90, 1.30-2.80). Smoking was associated with an unfavorable outcome as measured by Patient Global Index of Improvement-I (1.69, 1.02-2.81). CONCLUSION: Pelvic organ prolapse surgery improved health-related quality of life in 7 of 10 patients over a 2-year follow-up period, and patient satisfaction was high. Apical prolapse beyond the hymen and vaginal bulge were the most consistent predictors for improvement. Our results suggest that patients should be encouraged to stop smoking to avoid an unfavorable outcome.Peer reviewe

Sexual Activity and Dyspareunia After Pelvic Organ Prolapse Surgery : A 5-Year Nationwide Follow-up Study

Background: Even though surgery generally improves sexual function and alleviates dyspareunia related to pelvic organ prolapse (POP), knowledge of the long-term effects is scarce. Objective: To describe changes in sexual activity and dyspareunia rates after POP surgery and to identify potential risk factors for the occurrence of dyspareunia. Design, setting, and participants: This was a prospective longitudinal cohort study of women aged over 18 yr undergoing POP surgery in Finland during 2015. Out of 3515 participants, sexual activity and dyspareunia data were available at baseline, 6 mo, 2 yr, and 5 yr for 79%, 68%, 63%, and 57%, respectively. Intervention: Native tissue, transvaginal mesh, and abdominal mesh repair. Outcome measurements and statistical analysis: Rates of sexual activity and dyspareunia were assessed using the Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire (PISQ-12) at baseline and at 6 mo, 2 yr, and 5 yr after surgery. As a secondary outcome, risk factors for overall, persisting, and de novo dyspareunia were assessed using logistic regression models. Results and limitations: The proportion of sexually active women increased from 40.7% to 43% after surgery. Preoperative dyspareunia resolved in >50% of cases during the first 6 mo, irrespective of the surgical approach. De novo dyspareunia rates were low at all time points (1.9–3.1%). Several potential risk factors associated with preoperative and postoperative dyspareunia were identified: younger age, lower preoperative body mass index, lower prolapse stage at baseline, either pelvic pain or dyspareunia at baseline, prior surgery (stress urinary incontinence surgery, posterior colporrhaphy, POP surgery, hysterectomy), and posterior repair. Conclusions: Dyspareunia is significantly reduced after POP repair irrespective of the surgical approach. However, multiple factors seem to be associated with persisting and de novo symptoms, which should be considered in preoperative counseling. Patient summary: Our 5-year follow-up study demonstrates that surgery to repair pelvic organ prolapse (POP) in women improves sexual activity and reduces painful intercourse. Multiple factors, such as preoperative pain, previous POP surgery, and prolapse stage, may be associated with painful intercourse after surgery.publishedVersionPeer reviewe

No evidence of autoimmunity to human OX1 or OX2 orexin receptors in Pandemrix-vaccinated narcoleptic children

Narcolepsy type 1, likely an immune-mediated disease, is characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness and cataplexy. The disease is strongly associated with human leukocyte antigen (HLA) DQB1∗06:02. A significant increase in the incidence of childhood and adolescent narcolepsy was observed after a vaccination campaign with AS03-adjuvanted Pandemrix influenza vaccine in Nordic and several other countries in 2010 and 2011. Previously, it has been suggested that a surface-exposed region of influenza A nucleoprotein, a structural component of the Pandemrix vaccine, shares amino acid residues with the first extracellular domain of the human OX2 orexin/hypocretin receptor eliciting the development of autoantibodies. Here, we analyzed, whether H1N1pdm09 infection or Pandemrix vaccination contributed to the development of autoantibodies to the orexin precursor protein or the OX1 or OX2 receptors. The analysis was based on the presence or absence of autoantibody responses against analyzed proteins. Entire OX1 and OX2 receptors or just their extracellular N-termini were transiently expressed in HuH7 cells to determine specific antibody responses in human sera. Based on our immunofluorescence analysis, none of the 56 Pandemrix-vaccinated narcoleptic patients, 28 patients who suffered from a laboratory-confirmed H1N1pdm09 infection or 19 Pandemrix-vaccinated controls showed specific autoantibody responses to prepro-orexin, orexin receptors or the isolated extracellular N-termini of orexin receptors. We also did not find any evidence for cell-mediated immunity against the N-terminal epitopes of OX2. Our findings do not support the hypothesis that the surface-exposed region of the influenza nucleoprotein A would elicit the development of an immune response against orexin receptors. © 2020 The AuthorsPeer reviewe

Critical temperature modification of low dimensional superconductors by spin doping

Ion implantation of Fe and Mn into Al thin films was used for effective modification of Al superconductive properties. Critical temperature of the transition to superconducting state was found to decrease gradually with implanted Fe concentration. it was found that suppression by Mn implantation much stronger compared to Fe. At low concentrations of implanted ions, suppression of the critical temperature can be described with reasonable accuracy by existing models, while at concentrations above 0.1 at.% a pronounced discrepancy between the models and experiments is observed.Comment: 7 figures, 18 page

Ten years of progress-improved hysterectomy outcomes in Finland 1996-2006: a longitudinal observation study

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Atomic Layer Deposition of PbS Thin Films at Low Temperatures

doi: 10.1021/acs.chemmater.0c01887Atomic layer deposition (ALD) is a viable method for depositing functional, passivating, and encapsulating layers on top of halide perovskites. Studies in that area have only focused on metal oxides, despite a great number of materials that can be made with ALD. This work demonstrates that, in addition to oxides, other ALD processes can be compatible with the perovskites. We describe two new ALD processes for lead sulfide. These processes operate at low deposition temperatures (45-155 degrees C) that have been inaccessible to previous ALD PbS processes. Our processes rely on volatile and reactive lead precursors Pb(dbda) (dbda = rac-N-2,N-3-di-tertbutylbutane-2,3-diamide) and Pb(btsa)(2) (btsa = bis(trimethylsilyl)amide) as well as H2S. These precursors produce high quality PbS thin films that are uniform, crystalline, and pure. The films exhibit p- type conductivity and good mobilities of 10-70 cm(2) V-1 s(-1). Low deposition temperatures enable direct ALD of PbS onto a halide perovskite CH3NH3PbI3 (MAPI) without its decomposition. The stability of MAPI in ambient air is greatly improved by capping with ALD PbS. More generally, these new processes offer valuable alternatives for PbS-based devices, and we hope that this study will inspire more studies on ALD of non-oxides on halide perovskites.Peer reviewe

Pelvic organ prolapse after hysterectomy: A 10-year national follow-up study

Introduction: Hysterectomy may have an effect on the pelvic floor. Here, we evaluated the rates and risks for pelvic organ prolapse (POP) surgeries and visits among women with a history of hysterectomy for benign indication excluding POP.Material and methods: In this retrospective cohort study 3582 women who underwent hysterectomy in 2006 were followed until the end of 2016. The cohort was linked to the Finnish Care Register to catch any prolapse-related diagnoses and operation codes following the hysterectomy. Different hysterectomy approaches were compared according to the risk for a prolapse, including abdominal, laparoscopic, laparoscopic-assisted vaginal and vaginal. The main outcomes were POP surgery and outpatient visit for POP, and Cox regression was used to identify risk factors (hazard ratios [HR]).Results: During the follow-up, 58 women (1.6%) underwent a POP operation, of which a posterior repair was the most common (n = 39, 1.1%). Outpatient visits for POP symptoms occurred in 92 (2.6%) women of which posterior wall prolapses (n = 58, 1.6%) were the most common. History of laparoscopic-assisted vaginal hysterectomy were associated with risk for POP operation (HR 3.0, p = 0.02), vaginal vault prolapse operation (HR 4.3, p = 0.01) and POP visits (HR 2.2, p Conclusions: Risk for POP operations and outpatient visits for POP symptoms in hysterectomized women without a preceding POP seems to be small at least 10 years after hysterectomy. History of LAVH, vaginal deliveries and concomitant stress urinary incontinence operations increased the risk for POP operations after hysterectomy. These data can be utilized in counseling women considering hysterectomy for benign indication.</p