Developed performance of rGO/p-Si Schottky junction solar cells

Graphene in combination with Si has been extensively used to prepare efficient and stable p-graphene/n-Si Schottky junction solar cells. In contrast, there is a difficulty in including graphene within the fabrication process of efficient and stable n-graphene/p-Si Schottky junction solar cells. The reason for this is that there is a challenge in achieving an effective and stable n-doping process for graphene or rGO due to the ambient environment. In this work, a novel approach is introduced for preparing more efficient, stable, larger and simpler n-rGO/p-Si Schottky junction solar cells. The n-rGO rather than graphene, which has been successfully developed using NH3 molecules, is included in the fabrication process of n-rGO/p-Si Schottky junction solar cells. Accordingly, the power conversion efficiency of 9.7 was obtained for prepared devices after applying ammonia treatment for 3 h. For the first time, the developed n-rGO layers are also excellently employed to prepare large n-rGO/p-Si Schottky junction solar cells with ideal J-V curves. The improved efficiency of 12.6 % is reached for n-rGO/p-Si Schottky junction solar cells prepared with an active area of 0.6 cm2. To improve the stability, devices are coated with PMMA as an encapsulated layer, leading to an improvement in the stability for 2 months in the ambient air. Additionally, a recorded efficiency of 13.8 % is achieved. We attribute this development to the chemisorption of ammonia molecules on rGO, which effectively develops the performance of devices

Concurrent Proinflammatory and Apoptotic Activity of a Helicobacter pylori Protein (HP986) Points to Its Role in Chronic Persistence

Helicobacter pylori induces cytokine mediated changes in gastroduodenal pathophysiology, wherein, the activated macrophages at the sub-mucosal space play a central role in mounting innate immune response against the antigens. The bacterium gains niche through persistent inflammation and local immune-suppression causing peptic ulcer disease or chronic gastritis; the latter being a significant risk factor for the development of gastric adenocarcinoma. What favors persistence of H. pylori in the gastric niches is not clearly understood. We report detailed characterization of a functionally unknown gene (HP986), which was detected in patient isolates associated with peptic ulcer and gastric carcinoma. Expression and purification of recombinant HP986 (rHP986) revealed a novel, ∼29 kDa protein in biologically active form which associates with significant levels of humoral immune responses in diseased individuals (p<0.001). Also, it induced significant levels of TNF-α and Interleukin-8 in cultured human macrophages concurrent to the translocation of nuclear transcription factor-κB (NF-κB). Further, the rHP986 induced apoptosis of cultured macrophages through a Fas mediated pathway. Dissection of the underlying signaling mechanism revealed that rHP986 induces both TNFR1 and Fas expression to lead to apoptosis. We further demonstrated interaction of HP986 with TNFR1 through computational and experimental approaches. Independent proinflammatory and apoptotic responses triggered by rHP986 as shown in this study point to its role, possibly as a survival strategy to gain niche through inflammation and to counter the activated macrophages to avoid clearance

Candida dubliniensis: An Appraisal of Its Clinical Significance as a Bloodstream Pathogen

A nine-year prospective study (2002–2010) on the prevalence of Candida dubliniensis among Candida bloodstream isolates is presented. The germ tube positive isolates were provisionally identified as C. dubliniensis by presence of fringed and rough colonies on sunflower seed agar. Subsequently, their identity was confirmed by Vitek2 Yeast identification system and/or by amplification and sequencing of the ITS region of rDNA. In all, 368 isolates were identified as C. dubliniensis; 67.1% came from respiratory specimens, 11.7% from oral swabs, 9.2% from urine, 3.8% from blood, 2.7% from vaginal swabs and 5.4% from other sources. All C. dubliniensis isolates tested by Etest were susceptible to voriconazole and amphotericin B. Resistance to fluconazole (≥8 µg/ml) was observed in 2.5% of C. dubliniensis isolates, 7 of which occurred between 2008–2010. Of note was the diagnosis of C. dubliniensis candidemia in 14 patients, 11 of them occurring between 2008–2010. None of the bloodstream isolate was resistant to fluconazole, while a solitary isolate showed increased MIC to 5-flucytosine (>32 µg/ml) and belonged to genotype 4. A review of literature since 1999 revealed 28 additional cases of C. dubliniensis candidemia, and 167 isolates identified from blood cultures since 1982. In conclusion, this study highlights a greater role of C. dubliniensis in bloodstream infections than hitherto recognized

Perforator-Related Risk Factors for Perfusion-Related Complications in DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction

SUMMARY: Introduction: Despite the advancements in deep inferior epigastric artery perforator (DIEP) flap breast reconstruction, perfusion-related complications (PRCs) remain a concern. Such complications can negatively impact the aesthetic outcome, necessitate revisional surgery and delay adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of perforator diameter, perforator row, and the shortest distance between the perforator and flap edge on the development of PRCs in DIEP flap breast reconstruction. Methods: This cohort study prospectively analysed the stored data for consecutive patients who underwent unilateral DIEP flap breast reconstruction from January 2008 to January 2023. Variables with p<0.25 in univariate analysis were included in multivariate logistic regression analysis to identify the risk factors for PRCs. p<0.05 was deemed statistically significant. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was conducted to identify the critical distance between the perforator and flap edge distinguishing the PRCs. Results: V Overall, 292 cases of unilateral DIEP flap breast reconstruction were identified, with a mean patient age of 52.6 years. PRCs occurred in 72 cases (24.7%). Multivariate logistic regression identified the shortest distance between the perforator and flap edge that has a significant impact on PRC incidence. ROC curve analysis found the critical shortest distance between the perforator and flap edge distinguishing PRCs to be 42.5 mm. Conclusions: This study showed that the shortest distance between the perforator and flap edge is a strong predictor for PRCs in DIEP flap breast reconstruction. As several perforator characteristics are considered when designing and performing DIEP flap breast reconstruction, these findings can guide surgeons in this decision-making process

P4-16-01: Proteomic Analysis of Patient Plasma Identifies Parathyroid Hormone Related Protein (PTHrP12-48) as a Potential Biomarker of Breast Cancer Bone Metastasis.

Abstract Background: Bone metastasis is a devastating and often incurable phase of breast cancer progression that significantly compromises patient morbidity and mortality. Despite the well-characterized issues associated with tumor progression, there is currently no reliable method to detect or predict which patients have or are at increased risk for developing bone metastasis. In this study a validated plasma-based proteomic profile for the diagnosis of breast cancer bone metastasis was developed and a highly discriminatory protein component of the profile identified as a novel fragment of parathyroid hormone related protein (PTHrP). Materials and Methods: Plasma samples were collected from a total of 110 breast cancer patients. The training set consisted of 38 breast cancer patients with clinical evidence of bone metastasis and 38 with no evidence of a bone metastasis from time of diagnosis to clinical outcome. The independent validation cohort consisted of 34 breast cancer patients with an unknown bone metastasis classification. The training set was analyzed using surface enhanced laser desorption time-of-flight mass spectrometry (SELDI-TOF MS) and 13 discriminatory protein peaks that contributed to a homogeneous partitioning of the training set (n = 76) in multiple statistical, bioinformatics, and machine learning modeling scenarios were identified and used to construct a RandomForest classifier for the detection of breast cancer bone metastasis (sensitivity: 100%, specificity: 100%). Results: The diagnostic profile identified was then independently confirmed in a blinded fashion using the validation cohort (sensitivity: 97%; specificity: 82%). Importantly, the most discriminatory protein peak (m/z 4260.92 Da) in the plasma of bone metastasis patients was subsequently identified using specific immunodepletion, tryptic peptide mapping and peptide sequencing as a unique proteolytic PTHrP fragment, PTHrP(12-48). Ongoing studies are determining the biogenesis and biological activity of this unique PTHrP peptide. Discussion: Our discovery of PTHrP(12-48) as a novel plasma biomarker of breast cancer bone metastasis validates our plasma proteomic approach and provides the first direct evidence for the existence of a circulating PTHrP biomarker in breast cancer patient plasma that is associated with bone metastasis. Citation Information: Cancer Res 2011;71(24 Suppl):Abstract nr P4-16-01.</jats:p