Coverage-dependent adsorption sites in the K/Ru(0001) system: a low-energy electron-diffraction analysis

The two ordered phases p(2 × 2) at a coverage θ = 0.25 and (√3 × √3)R30° at θ = 0.33 of potassium adsorbed on Ru(0001) were analyzed by use of low-energy electron-diffraction (LEED). In the (√3 × √3)R30° phase, the K atoms occupy threefold hcp sites, while in the p(2 × 2) phase the fcc site is favoured. In both phases, the K hard-sphere radii are nearly the same and close to the covalent Pauling radius

Data integrity based methodology and checklist for identifying implementation risks of physiological sensing in mHealth projects

Mobile health (mHealth) technologies have the potential to bring health care closer to people with otherwise limited access to adequate health care. However, physiological monitoring using mobile medical sensors is not yet widely used as adding biomedical sensors to mHealth projects inherently introduces new challenges. Thus far, no methodology exists to systematically evaluate these implementation challenges and identify the related risks.; This study aimed to facilitate the implementation of mHealth initiatives with mobile physiological sensing in constrained health systems by developing a methodology to systematically evaluate potential challenges and implementation risks.; We performed a quantitative analysis of physiological data obtained from a randomized household intervention trial that implemented sensor-based mHealth tools (pulse oximetry combined with a respiratory rate assessment app) to monitor health outcomes of 317 children (aged 6-36 months) that were visited weekly by 1 of 9 field workers in a rural Peruvian setting. The analysis focused on data integrity such as data completeness and signal quality. In addition, we performed a qualitative analysis of pretrial usability and semistructured posttrial interviews with a subset of app users (7 field workers and 7 health care center staff members) focusing on data integrity and reasons for loss thereof. Common themes were identified using a content analysis approach. Risk factors of each theme were detailed and then generalized and expanded into a checklist by reviewing 8 mHealth projects from the literature. An expert panel evaluated the checklist during 2 iterations until agreement between the 5 experts was achieved.; Pulse oximetry signals were recorded in 78.36% (12,098/15,439) of subject visits where tablets were used. Signal quality decreased for 1 and increased for 7 field workers over time (1 excluded). Usability issues were addressed and the workflow was improved. Users considered the app easy and logical to use. In the qualitative analysis, we constructed a thematic map with the causes of low data integrity. We sorted them into 5 main challenge categories: environment, technology, user skills, user motivation, and subject engagement. The obtained categories were translated into detailed risk factors and presented in the form of an actionable checklist to evaluate possible implementation risks. By visually inspecting the checklist, open issues and sources for potential risks can be easily identified.; We developed a data integrity-based methodology to assess the potential challenges and risks of sensor-based mHealth projects. Aiming at improving data integrity, implementers can focus on the evaluation of environment, technology, user skills, user motivation, and subject engagement challenges. We provide a checklist to assist mHealth implementers with a structured evaluation protocol when planning and preparing projects

Seizure protein 6 controls glycosylation and trafficking of kainate receptor subunits GluK2 and GluK3

Seizure protein 6 (SEZ6) is required for the development and maintenance of the nervous system, is a major substrate of the protease BACE1 and is linked to Alzheimer's disease (AD) and psychiatric disorders, but its molecular functions are not well understood. Here, we demonstrate that SEZ6 controls glycosylation and cell surface localization of kainate receptors composed of GluK2/3 subunits. Loss of SEZ6 reduced surface levels of GluK2/3 in primary neurons and reduced kainate-evoked currents in CA1 pyramidal neurons in acute hippocampal slices. Mechanistically, loss of SEZ6 in vitro and in vivo prevented modification of GluK2/3 with the human natural killer-1 (HNK-1) glycan, a modulator of GluK2/3 function. SEZ6 interacted with GluK2 through its ectodomain and promoted post-endoplasmic reticulum transport of GluK2 in the secretory pathway in heterologous cells and primary neurons. Taken together, SEZ6 acts as a new trafficking factor for GluK2/3. This novel function may help to better understand the role of SEZ6 in neurologic and psychiatric diseases

Resisting Sleep Pressure:Impact on Resting State Functional Network Connectivity

In today's 24/7 society, sleep restriction is a common phenomenon which leads to increased levels of sleep pressure in daily life. However, the magnitude and extent of impairment of brain functioning due to increased sleep pressure is still not completely understood. Resting state network (RSN) analyses have become increasingly popular because they allow us to investigate brain activity patterns in the absence of a specific task and to identify changes under different levels of vigilance (e.g. due to increased sleep pressure). RSNs are commonly derived from BOLD fMRI signals but studies progressively also employ cerebral blood flow (CBF) signals. To investigate the impact of sleep pressure on RSNs, we examined RSNs of participants under high (19 h awake) and normal (10 h awake) sleep pressure with three imaging modalities (arterial spin labeling, BOLD, pseudo BOLD) while providing confirmation of vigilance states in most conditions. We demonstrated that CBF and pseudo BOLD signals (measured with arterial spin labeling) are suited to derive independent component analysis based RSNs. The spatial map differences of these RSNs were rather small, suggesting a strong biological substrate underlying these networks. Interestingly, increased sleep pressure, namely longer time awake, specifically changed the functional network connectivity (FNC) between RSNs. In summary, all FNCs of the default mode network with any other network or component showed increasing effects as a function of increased 'time awake'. All other FNCs became more anti-correlated with increased 'time awake'. The sensorimotor networks were the only ones who showed a within network change of FNC, namely decreased connectivity as function of 'time awake'. These specific changes of FNC could reflect both compensatory mechanisms aiming to fight sleep as well as a first reduction of consciousness while becoming drowsy. We think that the specific changes observed in functional network connectivity could imply an impairment of information transfer between the affected RSNs

On the nature of dense CO adlayers

We have performed Monte Carlo simulations in order to study the ordered structures formed by CO on Pt{111} at high coverage. The results are compared with LEED and infrared (IR) spectra. The calculations are based on a recently constructed potential energy surface for CO on Pt{111} and a CO–CO interaction potential deduced from the variation of the CO binding energy with coverage. Ordered adsorbate structures are obtained at θ=0.5, 0.6, 0.67, and 0.71 in the simulations. The so‐called compression structures (θ>0.5) are stabilized by the energy lowering which results when CO molecules at the high density domain walls move away from the on‐top sites because of the unbalanced repulsive CO–CO interactions. If this relaxation channel is blocked, disordered adsorbate structures occur. We present the resulting (θ, T) phase diagram and discuss its qualitative properties. The LEED data show ordered structures at θ=0.5, 0.6, and 0.71, but, in contrast to previous results, or perhaps to the interpretation thereof, not at θ=0.67. The IR data show that the compression structures still consist of CO molecules adsorbed on distinct surface sites. Finally, we discuss the changes in adsorbate structures which would result from variations in the CO–substrate potential energy surface and, in the light of these results, briefly look at the Cu{111}–CO, Ni{111}–CO, and Pd{111}–CO chemisorption systems

The adsorbate-induced removal of the Pt{100} surface reconstruction Part I: NO

The molecular adsorption of NO on both the reconstructed (hex) and unreconstructed (1 × 1) surfaces of Pt{100} has been studied using a combination of infrared reflection-absorption spectroscopy (IRAS) and low energy electron diffraction (LEED) at temperatures between 90 and 300 K. On the (1 × 1) surface at 300 K adsorbed NO gives rise to an N-O stretching band at initially 1596 cm-1 shifting to 1641 cm-1 at a coverage of θ = 0.5. The LEED pattern at this coverage is interpreted in terms of a c(4 × 2) structure in which all the molecules occupy a single type of adsorption site between the on-top and bridge positions. At temperatures below 300 K, a higher coverage disordered phase is observed, giving rise to an N-O stretching band at 1680 cm-1 associated with an on-top NO species. On the (hex) phase surface above 210 K, NO adsorption gives rise to bands characteristic of adsorption on the (1 × 1) phase indicating that the reconstruction is immediately lifted. Below 200 K initial adsorption actually occurs directly on the (hex) phase, resulting in a band at 1680 cm-1, which is assigned to on-top NO. This band increases in intensity until, at a critical coverage dependent on temperature, the (hex) → (1 × 1) surface phase transition is induced. This is indicated by the disappearance of the band at 1680 cm-1 and its replacement by bands characteristic of adsorption on islands of the (1 × 1) structure