In Situ and Real-Time Inspection of Nanoparticle Average Size in Flexible Printed Sensors

Nanoparticles play an integral part for the production of contacts and active sensing layers in the fast-developing printed electronic technology on flexible devices. Unfortunately, all currently available techniques for nanoparticle characterization are limited to ex situ and/or off-line processing. Here, we describe a new approach composed of two complementary parts for in situ and real-time estimation of the nanoparticles’ effective diameter on flexible substrates. The first part of the approach is based on measurements of electrical resistance of the device in response to strain, and correlation of the response with the nanoparticles’ diameter. The second part takes place only when measuring the electrical resistance is unfeasible. It is based on UV–vis absorption of the device and correlation of the absorption peak with the nanoparticle diameter based on previous calibration data from strain sensitivity. The new approach shows excellent estimations of the nanoparticle diameter (2.5–20 nm) on the substrate with the advantages of being online, in situ, and inexpensive. In addition, the estimated nanoparticle diameter is in excellent agreement with atomic force microscopy (AFM) measurements. These capabilities are expected to improve the process of “quality control” of the nanoscale-enabled flexible devices, which, until now, has been considered to be one of the most annoying issues that inhibits the commercialization of nanotechnology-based flexible products

Tunable Touch Sensor and Combined Sensing Platform: Toward Nanoparticle-based Electronic Skin

In this paper, we present touch (or pressure) flexible sensors based on monolayer-capped nanoparticles (MCNPs) that are potentially inexpensive, could allow low-voltage operation, and could provide a platform for multifunctional applications. We show that modifying the mechanical and geometrical properties of the flexible substrates, on which the MCNP films are deposited, allows measuring a large span of loads ranging between tens of mg to tens of grams. All flexible sensors exhibited repeatable responses even after a large number of bending cycles. In addition, we show that modified platforms of those touch (or pressure) sensors allow precise detection and monitoring of environmental temperature and humidity. Relying on their superior characteristics, we were able to build an MCNP-based prototype allowing simultaneous detection and monitoring of multiple environmental parameters of touch (or pressure), humidity, and temperature. The excellent temperature (resolution higher than 1 °C and average error of ∼5%) and relative humidity (resolution higher than 1% RH and average error of ∼9%) sensitivities and the possibility to integrate those sensing abilities makes the suggested platform interesting for potentially inexpensive and low-voltage multifunctional <i>electronic-skin</i> applications

Κατασκευή και επαλήθευση μοντέλων “Minimax”

Purpose: Variations in the degree of hirsutism among women of different ethnic backgrounds may stem from multiple etiologies. Shorter length of the polymorphic CAG repeats of the androgen receptor (AR) gene may be associated with increased activity of the receptor leading to hirsutism. We hypothesized that there are ethnic differences in the degree of hirsutism that is unrelated to androgen levels among Israeli women, and that the CAG repeats length may contribute to these differences. Anti-androgenic therapies, such as spironolactone, could be suggested if a shorter CAG repeats length is found to affect the difference in the degree of hirsutism between the ethnic groups. Methods: Healthy Israeli Jewish women aged 18-45 years of Ashkenazi and non-Ashkenazi origin were invited to participate. Hirsutism was assessed using the simplified Ferriman-Gallwey (sFG) score, and serum total testosterone levels were measured as well. The CAG repeats length was determined by PCR. Methylation-sensitive methods were used to detect the fractional activity of each allele, and the weighted mean was calculated for the CAG repeats length. Results: One-hundred and eight women were recruited (49 Ashkenazi and 59 non-Ashkenazi). The Ashkenazi women had a significantly lower degree of hirsutism (P<0.01), lower mean BMI (P=0.003), total testosterone levels (P=0.017), and longer weighted bi-allelic CAG repeats mean (P=0.015) compared to non-Ashkenazi women. For the group as a whole, there was a significant negative correlation between the number of CAG repeats in the AR gene and the sFG score, while the number of repeats was not related to testosterone levels. Stepwise logistic regression revealed that ethnic origin and the CAG repeats length were the strongest factors affecting hirsutism (P<0.001, P=0.03, respectively). Conclusions: There is a significant difference in the degree of hirsutism between Ashkenazi and non-Ashkenazi women in Israel that is partially explained by CAG repeats length

Data from: The effect of CAG repeats length on differences in hirsutism among healthy Israeli women of different ethnicities

Purpose: Variations in the degree of hirsutism among women of different ethnic backgrounds may stem from multiple etiologies. Shorter length of the polymorphic CAG repeats of the androgen receptor (AR) gene may be associated with increased activity of the receptor leading to hirsutism. We hypothesized that there are ethnic differences in the degree of hirsutism that is unrelated to androgen levels among Israeli women, and that the CAG repeats length may contribute to these differences. Anti-androgenic therapies, such as spironolactone, could be suggested if a shorter CAG repeats length is found to affect the difference in the degree of hirsutism between the ethnic groups. Methods: Healthy Israeli Jewish women aged 18-45 years of Ashkenazi and non-Ashkenazi origin were invited to participate. Hirsutism was assessed using the simplified Ferriman-Gallwey (sFG) score, and serum total testosterone levels were measured as well. The CAG repeats length was determined by PCR. Methylation-sensitive methods were used to detect the fractional activity of each allele, and the weighted mean was calculated for the CAG repeats length. Results: One-hundred and eight women were recruited (49 Ashkenazi and 59 non-Ashkenazi). The Ashkenazi women had a significantly lower degree of hirsutism (P<0.01), lower mean BMI (P=0.003), total testosterone levels (P=0.017), and longer weighted bi-allelic CAG repeats mean (P=0.015) compared to non-Ashkenazi women. For the group as a whole, there was a significant negative correlation between the number of CAG repeats in the AR gene and the sFG score, while the number of repeats was not related to testosterone levels. Stepwise logistic regression revealed that ethnic origin and the CAG repeats length were the strongest factors affecting hirsutism (P<0.001, P=0.03, respectively). Conclusions: There is a significant difference in the degree of hirsutism between Ashkenazi and non-Ashkenazi women in Israel that is partially explained by CAG repeats length

Statistics for MS

Complete stat for M

Incidence and Clinical Features of Early Stent Thrombosis in the Era of New P2y12 Inhibitors (PLATIS-2).

Early stent thrombosis (EST) (≤ 30 days after stent implantation) is a relatively rare but deleterious complication of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Administration of newer P2Y12 inhibitors (prasugrel and ticagrelor) combined with aspirin has been shown to reduce the incidence of sub-acute and late stent thrombosis, compared with clopidogrel. We investigated the "real life" incidence of EST in patients from a large acute coronary syndrome (ACS) national registry, where newer P2Y12 inhibitors are widely used. Patients were derived from the ACS Israeli Survey (ACSIS), conducted during 2006, 2008, 2010 and 2013. Major adverse cardiac events (MACE) at 30days were defined as all-cause death, recurrent ACS, EST and stroke.Of the 4717 ACS patients who underwent PCI and stenting, 83% received clopidogrel and 17% newer P2Y12 inhibitors. The rate of EST was similar in both groups (1.7% in the newer P2Y12 inhibitor group vs. 1.4% in the clopidogrel-treated patients, p = 0.42). Results were consistent after multivariate analysis (adjusted HR = 1.06 [p = 0.89]). MACE occurred in 6.4% in the newer P2Y12 inhibitor group compared with 9.2% in the clopidogrel group (P<0.01). However, multivariate logistic regression modeling showed that treatment with newer P2Y12 inhibitors was not significantly associated with the secondary endpoint of MACE when compared with clopidogrel therapy [OR = 1.26 95%CI (0.93-1.73), P = 0.136]. The incidence of "real life" EST at 1month is relatively low, and appears to be similar in patients who receive newer P2Y12 inhibitors as well as in those who receive clopidogrel

Secondary end points at 30 days.

<p>Secondary end points at 30 days.</p

Patients' baseline characteristics prior to medical therapy following the index ACS.

<p>Patients' baseline characteristics prior to medical therapy following the index ACS.</p

Patients' enrollment flow chart.

<p>Patients' enrollment flow chart.</p

Antiplatelet distribution and stent thrombosis rate per year.

<p>Antiplatelet distribution and stent thrombosis rate per year.</p