Single crystal field-effect transistors based on an organic selenium-containing semiconductor

We report on the fabrication and characterization of single crystal field-effect transistors (FETs) based on diphenylbenzo diselenophene (DPh-BDSe). These organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) function as p-channel accumulation-mode devices. At room temperature, for the best devices, the threshold voltage is less than -7V and charge carrier mobility is nearly gate bias independent, ranging from 1cm2/Vs to 1.5 cm2/Vs depending on the source-drain bias. Mobility is increased slightly by cooling below room temperature and decreases below 280 K

The role of smoking and body mass index in mortality risk assessment for geriatric hip fracture patients

Background Smoking, obesity, and being below a healthy body weight are known to increase all-cause mortality rates and are considered modifiable risk factors. The purpose of this study is to assess whether adding these risk factors to a validated geriatric inpatient mortality risk tool will improve the predictive capacity for hip fracture patients. We hypothesize that the predictive capacity of the Score for Trauma Triage in the Geriatric and Middle-Aged (STTGMA) tool will improve. Methodology Between October 2014 and August 2021, 2,421 patients \u3e55-years-old treated for hip fractures caused by low-energy mechanisms were analyzed for demographics, injury details, hospital quality measures, and mortality. Smoking status was recorded as a current every-day smoker, former smoker, or never smoker. Smokers (current and former) were compared to non-smokers (never smokers). Body mass index (BMI) was defined as underweight (\u3c18.5 kg/

Volumetric laser endomicroscopy and its application to Barrett's esophagus: results from a 1,000 patient registry.

Volumetric laser endomicroscopy (VLE) uses optical coherence tomography (OCT) for real-time, microscopic cross-sectional imaging. A US-based multi-center registry was constructed to prospectively collect data on patients undergoing upper endoscopy during which a VLE scan was performed. The objective of this registry was to determine usage patterns of VLE in clinical practice and to estimate quantitative and qualitative performance metrics as they are applied to Barrett's esophagus (BE) management. All procedures utilized the NvisionVLE Imaging System (NinePoint Medical, Bedford, MA) which was used by investigators to identify the tissue types present, along with focal areas of concern. Following the VLE procedure, investigators were asked to answer six key questions regarding how VLE impacted each case. Statistical analyses including neoplasia diagnostic yield improvement using VLE was performed. One thousand patients were enrolled across 18 US trial sites from August 2014 through April 2016. In patients with previously diagnosed or suspected BE (894/1000), investigators used VLE and identified areas of concern not seen on white light endoscopy (WLE) in 59% of the procedures. VLE imaging also guided tissue acquisition and treatment in 71% and 54% of procedures, respectively. VLE as an adjunct modality improved the neoplasia diagnostic yield by 55% beyond the standard of care practice. In patients with no prior history of therapy, and without visual findings from other technologies, VLE-guided tissue acquisition increased neoplasia detection over random biopsies by 700%. Registry investigators reported that VLE improved the BE management process when used as an adjunct tissue acquisition and treatment guidance tool. The ability of VLE to image large segments of the esophagus with microscopic cross-sectional detail may provide additional benefits including higher yield biopsies and more efficient tissue acquisition. Clinicaltrials.gov NCT02215291

Ação da temperatura no controle de fungos causadores de doenças pós-colheita em mamão.

As doenças pós-colheita são fatores limitantes para estocagem e exportação de mamão e é crescente o interesse por métodos alternativos de controle. O tratamento hidrotérmico tem se mostrado como método promissor podendo ser integrado a outros. O objetivo deste trabalho foi verificar o efeito in vitro do tratamento térmico nos principais fungos causadores de podridão na pós-colheita do mamão: Fusarium solani, Alternaria alternata, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, Phoma caricae-papayae e Lasiodiplodia theobromae, bem como determinar os binômios temperaturas e tempos letais de cada um deles. Discos de micélio foram colocados em bolsas de gaze simples e estéril, depois foram imersas em água destilada estéril em um balão de três bocas contendo um agitador e um termômetro digital, para cada combinação de tempo e temperatura. Após o tratamento térmico os discos de micélio, foram imersos em água gelada, plaqueados em meio BDA e incubados a 25°C. Avaliou-se diariamente o crescimento micelial dos fungos. Observou-se que P. caricae-papayae é o mais sensível deles, com letalidade nas combinações 52°C/60s, 54°C/40s, 56°C/25s, 58°C/20s e 60°C/15s. A. alternata apresenta letalidade nas combinações 52°C/150s, 54°C/100s, 56°C/40s, 58°C/30s e 60°C/10s. C. gloesporioides apresenta termoresistência intermediária sendo letais os seguintes binômios: 52°C/280s, 54°C/150s, 56°C/80s, 58°C/40s e 60°C/30s. L. theobromae apresenta elevada termoresistência com letalidade nas combinações: 52°C/350s, 54°C/140s, 56°C/80s, 58°C/60s, 60°C/30s e 62°C/20s. F. solani é o mais termoresistente dentre eles com letalidade nas combinações: 60°C/300s, 65°C/200s, 70°C/100s e 75°C/80s. Observou-se que, para a maioria dos fungos estudados, em temperaturas mais altas, a partir de 60°C, curtos periodos de tempos (de 10 a 30 segundos) são letais. Postharvest diseases are limiting factors for the storage and export of papaya, and the interest for alternative methods of control is increasing. Hydrothermal treatment has shown to be a promising method and can be integrated with others. The objective of this work was to evalute the in vitro effect of the heat treatment on the main papaya post-harvest rotting fungi: Fusarium solani, Alternaria alternata, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, Phoma caricae-papayae and Lasiodiplodia theobromae, as well as to determine the lethal time and temperature binomials for each of them. Mycelial discs were placed into sterile and simple gauze bags, and then immersed in sterile distilled water in a three-necked flask containing a stirrer and a digital thermometer, for each time and temperature combination. After the heat treatment, the disks were immersed in cold water, plated in BDA medium and incubated at 25°C. Mycelial growth was measured daily. It was observed that P. caricae-papayae is the most sensitive of them, with lethality on the combinations 52°C/60s, 54°C/40s, 56°C/25s, 58°C/20s and 60°C/15s. A. alternata shows lethality in the combinations 52°C/150s, 54°C/100s, 56°C/40s, 58°C/30s and 60°C/10s. C. gloesporioides shows intermediate thermoresistance being lethal in the following binomials: 52°C/280s, 54°C/150s, 56°C/80s, 58°C/40s and 60°C/30s. L. theobromae has a high thermoresistance with lethality in the combinations: 52°C/350s, 54°C/140, 56°C/80s, 58°C/60, 60°C/30s and 62°C/20s. F. solani is the most thermoresistant among them with lethality in the combinations: 60°C/300s, 65°C/200s, 70°C/100s and 75°C/80s. It was observed that for all of fungi studied, at higher temperatures, from 60 °C, short periods (from 10 to 30 s) are lethal

Efeito da irradiação ultravioleta C no controle de Aspergillus flavus link da castanha-do-brasil.

A castanha-do-brasil, produto do extrativismo vegetal não madeireiro, importante para a economia e exportação nacional, tem apresentado alta taxa de contaminação por fungos toxigênicos, em especial o Aspergillus flavus, que sintetiza a aflatoxina, apresentando potencial carcinogênico. Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar o controle de A. flavus e de outros contaminantes bacterianos e bolores em castanha-do-brasil pelo uso da irradiação ultravioleta C (UVC). Foram realizados dois experimentos, sendo que no primeiro avaliou-se a eficiência da irradiação UVC no controle de contaminantes naturais presentes em castanhas in natura, sem ter passado por nenhum tratamento pós-colheita, enquanto que no segundo experimento as castanhas passaram por uma esterilização prévia com óxido de etileno, sendo em seguida inoculadas com o A. flavus. Avaliaram-se as doses de 1,0; 2,0; 3,0; 4,0 e 5,0 kJm-2. Depois da irradiação as castanhas permaneceram em repouso por 24 h e, em seguida, foram trituradas e plaqueadas, e avaliadas após 72 h de incubação. O delineamento foi inteiramente casualizado com 11 repetições. Com relação à contaminação bacteriana, todas as doses de irradiação avaliadas diferiram significativamente da testemunha. O melhor controle foi obtido na dose de 3 kJ m-2, em torno de 73%. Para bolores as doses de 4 e 5 kJ m-2 foram eficientes no controle, sendo que a dose de 5 kJ m-2 apresentou um controle ao redor de 51% de Unidades Formadoras de Colônias (UFC) de fungos contaminantes. Em castanhas artificialmente inoculadas observou-se um controle completo de A. flavus a partir da dose se 1,0 kJ m-2. Conclui-se que a irradiação UVC é viável no controle de A. flavus em castanha-do-brasil. Brazil nut, product of non-timber plant extractivism, important product for the national economy and exports, has shown a high rate of contamination by toxigenic fungi, especially Aspergillus flavus, which synthesizes aflatoxin, presenting carcinogenic potential. The objective of this work was to evaluate the control of A. flavus and other fungal and bacterial contaminants in Brazil nuts using ultraviolet C (UVC) irradiation. Two experiments were carried out. The first one evaluated the efficiency of UVC irradiation to the control of natural contaminants present in natura nuts, without having undergone any post-harvest treatment, whereas in the second experiment the nuts underwent previous sterilization with ethylene oxide, and then inoculated with A. flavus. The doses of 1.0; 2.0; 3.0; 4.0 and 5.0 kJ m-2 were evaluated. After irradiation the nuts were storaged for 24 h and then powdered and plated, and after being evaluated after 72 h incubation. The trials were laid out in completely randomized design with 11 replications. Regarding bacterial contamination, all evaluated doses differed significantly from the control. The best result was obtained at the dose of 3 kJ m-2, around 73%. For molds, the doses of 4 and 5 kJ m-2 were efficient, and the dose of 5 kJ m-2 showed a reduction around 51% of Colony Forming Units (CFU) of contaminating fungi. In artificially inoculated nuts the UV-C irradiation promoted a complete control of A. flavus from the dose if 1.0 kJ m-2. It was concluded that UVC irradiation is feasible in the control of A. flavus in Brazil nuts

Asymmetric intergroup bullying: the enactment and maintenance of societal inequality at work

What does inequality mean for dysfunctional organizational behaviours, such as workplace bullying? This article argues that workplace bullying can be understood as a manifestation of intergroup dynamics originating beyond the organization. We introduce the construct of asymmetric intergroup bullying: the disproportionate mistreatment of members of low status groups, with the intended effect of enhancing the subordination of that group in society at large. Analysis of data from 38 interviews with public and private sector workers in Turkey depicts a pattern of asymmetric intergroup bullying, undertaken to achieve organizational and broader sociopolitical goals. Respondents reported bullying acts used to get rid of unwanted personnel, with the goal of avoiding severance pay, or of removing supporters of the former government from positions of political and economic influence. Bullying was also described as working towards the dominance of the sociocultural worldview of one political group over another. We discuss asymmetric intergroup bullying as one mechanism through which acute intergroup hierarchy in the broader society corrupts management practice and employee interactions, in turn exacerbating economic inequality along group lines