Formation of a schottky barrier between eutectic Ga,In and thiophene oligomers

The formation of a Schottky barrier between an eutectic (Ga,In) alloy and a highly doped thiophene oligomer is followed as a function of time using current density–voltage and capacitance–voltage measurements. Within 1 h, the diode characteristics change from almost nonrectifying, leaky behavior into a rectification ratio of 104 with a considerably reduced leakage current. Measurements and energy band diagram calculations show that the depletion width increases with time due to a decrease in the ionizable acceptor density of the semiconductor at the Schottky interface. This is probably caused by a chemical reaction between the in-diffusing metals and the doped oligomer

How primary health care physicians make sick listing decisions: The impact of medical factors and functioning

Abstract Background The decision to issue sickness certification in Sweden for a patient should be based on the physician's assessment of the reduction of the patient's work capacity due to a disease or injury, not on psychosocial factors, in spite of the fact that they are known as risk factors for sickness absence. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of medical factors and functioning on sick listing probability. Methods Four hundred and seventy-four patient-physician consultations, where sick listing could be an option, in general practice in Örebro county, central Sweden, were documented using physician and patient questionnaires. Information sought was the physicians' assessments of causes and consequences of the patients' complaints, potential to recover, diagnoses and prescriptions on sick leave, and the patients' view of their family and work situation and functioning as well as data on the patients' former and present health situation. The outcome measure was whether or not a sickness certificate was issued. Multivariate analyses were performed. Results Complaints entirely or mainly somatic as assessed by the physician decreased the risk of sick listing, and complaints resulting in severe limitation of occupational work capacity, as assessed by the patient as well as the physician, increased the risk of sick listing, as did appointments for locomotor complaints. The results for patients with infectious diseases or musculoskeletal diseases were partly similar to those for all diseases. Conclusion The strongest predictors for sickness certification were patient's and GP's assessment of reduced work capacity, with a striking concordance between physician and patient on this assessment. When patient's complaints were judged to be non-somatic the risk of sickness certification was enhanced.</p

Panel 7: otitis media:treatment and complications

Objective: We aimed to summarize key articles published between 2011 and 2015 on the treatment of (recurrent) acute otitis media, otitis media with effusion, tympanostomy tube otorrhea, chronic suppurative otitis media and complications of otitis media, and their implications for clinical practice. Data Sources: PubMed, Ovid Medline, the Cochrane Library, and Clinical Evidence (BMJ Publishing). Review Methods: All types of articles related to otitis media treatment and complications between June 2011 and March 2015 were identified. A total of 1122 potential related articles were reviewed by the panel members; 118 relevant articles were ultimately included in this summary. Conclusions: Recent literature and guidelines emphasize accurate diagnosis of acute otitis media and optimal management of ear pain. Watchful waiting is optional in mild to moderate acute otitis media; antibiotics do shorten symptoms and duration of middle ear effusion. The additive benefit of adenoidectomy to tympanostomy tubes in recurrent acute otitis media and otitis media with effusion is controversial and age dependent. Topical antibiotic is the treatment of choice in acute tube otorrhea. Symptomatic hearing loss due to persistent otitis media with effusion is best treated with tympanostomy tubes. Novel molecular and biomaterial treatments as adjuvants to surgical closure of eardrum perforations seem promising. There is insufficient evidence to support the use of complementary and alternative treatments. Implications for Practice: Emphasis on accurate diagnosis of otitis media, in its various forms, is important to reduce overdiagnosis, overtreatment, and antibiotic resistance. Children at risk for otitis media and its complications deserve special attention

Crystallographic Analyses of Site-Directed Mutants of the Photosynthetic Reaction Center from Rhodobacter sphaeroides

Seven site-directed mutants of the bacterial photosynthetic reaction center (RC) from the 2.4.1 and WS 231 wild-type strains of Rhodobacter sphaeroides have been crystallized and their X-ray diffraction analyzed to resolutions between 3.0 and 4.0 Å. The mutations can be divided into four distinct categories: (1) mutations altering cofactor composition that affect electron transfer and quantum yield, His M202 → Leu (M202HL), His L173 → Leu (L173HL), and Leu M214 → His (M214LH); (2) a mutation in the proposed pathway of electron transfer altering electron-transfer kinetics, Tyr M210 → Phe (M210YF); (3) a mutation around the non-heme iron resulting in an iron-less reaction center, His M219 → Cys (M219HC); and (4) mutations around the secondary electron acceptor, a ubiquinone, affecting proton transfer and quinone turnover, Glu L212 → Gin (L212EQ) and Asp L213 → Asn (L213DN). Residues L173 and M202 are within bonding distance of the respective magnesiums of the two bacteriochlorophylls of the BChl special pair, while M214 is close to the bacteriopheophytin on the active A branch of the RC. The L173HL and M202HL crystal structures show that the respective bacteriochlorophylls are replaced with bacteriopheophytins (i.e., loss of magnesium) without significant structural perturbations to the surrounding main-chain or side-chain atoms. In the M214LH mutant, the bacteriopheophytin has been replaced by a bacteriochlorophyll, and the side chain of His M214 is within ligand distance of the magnesium. The M210YF, L212EQ, and L213DN mutants show no significant tertiary structure changes near the mutation sites. The M219HC diffraction data indicate that the overall tertiary structure of the reaction center is maintained in the absence of the non-heme iron

Crystallographic Analyses of Site-Directed Mutants of the Photosynthetic Reaction Center from Rhodobacter sphaeroides

Seven site-directed mutants of the bacterial photosynthetic reaction center (RC) from the 2.4.1 and WS 231 wild-type strains of Rhodobacter sphaeroides have been crystallized and their X-ray diffraction analyzed to resolutions between 3.0 and 4.0 Å. The mutations can be divided into four distinct categories: (1) mutations altering cofactor composition that affect electron transfer and quantum yield, His M202 → Leu (M202HL), His L173 → Leu (L173HL), and Leu M214 → His (M214LH); (2) a mutation in the proposed pathway of electron transfer altering electron-transfer kinetics, Tyr M210 → Phe (M210YF); (3) a mutation around the non-heme iron resulting in an iron-less reaction center, His M219 → Cys (M219HC); and (4) mutations around the secondary electron acceptor, a ubiquinone, affecting proton transfer and quinone turnover, Glu L212 → Gin (L212EQ) and Asp L213 → Asn (L213DN). Residues L173 and M202 are within bonding distance of the respective magnesiums of the two bacteriochlorophylls of the BChl special pair, while M214 is close to the bacteriopheophytin on the active A branch of the RC. The L173HL and M202HL crystal structures show that the respective bacteriochlorophylls are replaced with bacteriopheophytins (i.e., loss of magnesium) without significant structural perturbations to the surrounding main-chain or side-chain atoms. In the M214LH mutant, the bacteriopheophytin has been replaced by a bacteriochlorophyll, and the side chain of His M214 is within ligand distance of the magnesium. The M210YF, L212EQ, and L213DN mutants show no significant tertiary structure changes near the mutation sites. The M219HC diffraction data indicate that the overall tertiary structure of the reaction center is maintained in the absence of the non-heme iron