Limits to Hole Mobility and Doping in Copper Iodide.

Over one hundred years have passed since the discovery of the p-type transparent conducting material copper iodide, predating the concept of the "electron-hole" itself. Supercentenarian status notwithstanding, little is understood about the charge transport mechanisms in CuI. Herein, a variety of modeling techniques are used to investigate the charge transport properties of CuI, and limitations to the hole mobility over experimentally achievable carrier concentrations are discussed.

Strong electron-phonon coupling driven pseudogap modulation and density-wave fluctuations in a correlated polar metal.

There is tremendous interest in employing collective excitations of the lattice, spin, charge, and orbitals to tune strongly correlated electronic phenomena. We report such an effect in a ruthenate, CaRuO, where two phonons with strong electron-phonon coupling modulate the electronic pseudogap as well as mediate charge and spin density wave fluctuations. Combining temperature-dependent Raman spectroscopy with density functional theory reveals two phonons, B and B, that are strongly coupled to electrons and whose scattering intensities respectively dominate in the pseudogap versus the metallic phases.

Enhanced contrast in X-ray microtomographic images of the membranous labyrinth using different X-ray sources and scanning modes.

The vestibular system, located in the inner ear, plays a crucial role in balance and gaze stabilisation by sensing head movements. The interconnected tubes with membranous walls of the vestibular system are located in the skull bone (the 'membranous labyrinth'). Unfortunately, these membranes are very hard to visualise using three-dimensional (3D) X-ray imaging techniques.

Eardrum and columella displacement in single ossicle ears under quasi-static pressure variations.

Although most birds encounter large pressure variations during flight, motion of the middle ear components as a result of changing ambient pressure are not well known or described. In the present study, motion of the columella footplate and tympanic membrane (extrastapedius) in domestic chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus) under quasi-static pressure conditions are provided. Micro-CT scans were made of cadaveric heads of chickens under positive (0.

Do high sound pressure levels of crowing in roosters necessitate passive mechanisms for protection against self-vocalization?

High sound pressure levels (>120dB) cause damage or death of the hair cells of the inner ear, hence causing hearing loss. Vocalization differences are present between hens and roosters. Crowing in roosters is reported to produce sound pressure levels of 100dB measured at a distance of 1m.

Sound attenuation in the ear of domestic chickens () as a result of beak opening.

Because the quadrate and the eardrum are connected, the hypothesis was tested that birds attenuate the transmission of sound through their ears by opening the bill, which potentially serves as an additional protective mechanism for self-generated vocalizations. In domestic chickens, it was examined if a difference exists between hens and roosters, given the difference in vocalization capacity between the sexes. To test the hypothesis, vibrations of the columellar footplate were measured with laser Doppler vibrometry (LDV) for closed and maximally opened beak conditions, with sounds introduced at the ear canal.

Deformation of avian middle ear structures under static pressure loads, and potential regulation mechanisms.

Static pressure changes can alter the configuration and mechanical behavior of the chain of ossicles, which may affect the acoustic transfer function. In mammals, the Eustachian tube plays an important role in restoring ambient middle ear pressure, hence restoring the acoustic transfer function and excluding barotrauma of the middle and inner ear. Ambient pressure fluctuations can be potentially extreme in birds and due to the simple structure of the avian middle ear (one ossicle, one muscle), regulation of the middle ear pressure via reflexive opening of the pharyngotympanic tube appears all the more important.

Quasi-static and dynamic motions of the columellar footplate in ostrich (Struthio camelus) measured ex vivo.

The nature of the movement of the columellar footplate (CFP) in birds is still a matter of ongoing debate. Some sources claim that rocking motion is dominant, while others propose a largely piston-like motion. In this study, motions of the CFP are experimentally investigated in the ostrich using a post-mortem approach.

The effect of craniokinesis on the middle ear of domestic chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus).

The avian middle ear differs from that of mammalians and contains a tympanic membrane, one ossicle (bony columella and cartilaginous extra-columella), some ligaments and one muscle. The rim of the eardrum (closing the middle ear cavity) is connected to the neurocranium and, by means of a broad ligament, to the otic process of the quadrate. Due to the limited number of components in the avian middle ear, the possibilities of attenuating the conduction of sound seem to be limited to activity of the stapedius muscle.

Pulmonary vascular effects of pulsed inhaled nitric oxide in COPD patients with pulmonary hypertension.

Introduction: Severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is often associated with secondary pulmonary hypertension (PH), which worsens prognosis. PH can be lowered by oxygen, but also by inhaled nitric oxide (NO), which has the potential to improve the health status of these patients. NO is an important mediator in vascular reactions in the pulmonary circulation.

Functional respiratory imaging to assess the interaction between systemic roflumilast and inhaled ICS/LABA/LAMA.

Background: Patients with COPD show a significant reduction of the lobar hyperinflation at the functional residual capacity level in the patients who improved >120 mL in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) after 6 months of treatment with roflumilast in addition to inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs)/long-acting beta-2 agonists (LABAs)/long-acting muscarinic antagonists (LAMAs).

Methods: Functional respiratory imaging was used to quantify lobar hyperinflation, blood vessel density, ventilation, aerosol deposition, and bronchodilation. To investigate the exact mode of action of roflumilast, correlations between lobar and global measures have been tested using a mixed-model approach with nested random factors and Pearson correlation, respectively.

Systematic review: the perceptions, diagnosis and management of irritable bowel syndrome in primary care--a Rome Foundation working team report.

Objective: To review studies on the perceptions, diagnosis and management of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in primary care.

Methods: Systematic searches of PubMed and Embase.

Results: Of 746 initial search hits, 29 studies were included.

The effects of extrafine beclometasone/formoterol (BDP/F) on lung function, dyspnea, hyperinflation, and airway geometry in COPD patients: novel insight using functional respiratory imaging.

Background: The efficacy of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) in moderately severe COPD patients remains unclear. At the same time, the use of extrafine particles in COPD patients is a topic of ongoing research.

Objectives: This study assessed the effect of ICS in steroid-naïve mild COPD patients and the effect of reducing the ICS dose in more severe COPD patients previously using ICS when switching to an extrafine particle BDP/F formulation (Foster using Modulite technology, Chiesi Pharmaceutici, Parma, Italy).

Effect of high-dose N-acetylcysteine on airway geometry, inflammation, and oxidative stress in COPD patients.

Background: Previous studies have demonstrated the potential beneficial effect of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, the required dose and responder phenotype remain unclear. The current study investigated the effect of high-dose NAC on airway geometry, inflammation, and oxidative stress in COPD patients.

Acute effects of intrapulmonary percussive ventilation in COPD patients assessed by using conventional outcome parameters and a novel computational fluid dynamics technique.

Objective: Chest physiotherapy enhances sputum evacuation in COPD patients. It can be applied as a single technique or as a combination of techniques including intrapulmonary percussive ventilation (IPV). Recently developed assessment techniques may provide new insights into the effect of airway clearance techniques.

Functional imaging using computer methods to compare the effect of salbutamol and ipratropium bromide in patient-specific airway models of COPD.

Background: Salbutamol and ipratropium bromide improve lung function in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, their bronchodilating effect has not yet been compared in the central and distal airways. Functional imaging using computational fluid dynamics offers the possibility of making such a comparison.

Relationships of proactive behaviour with job-related affective well-being and anticipated retirement age: an exploration among older employees in Belgium.

Developed countries throughout the world are challenged with the ageing of their labour force. In these societal contexts, low employment rates and early labour market exits of older employees are at stake, as well as arrangements for retirement, financial household considerations and mutual obligations between generations. Although proactive behaviour has been extensively studied, no research has addressed the proactive behaviour of older employees themselves when facing (re)hiring and retention versus early retirement.

Validation of computational fluid dynamics in CT-based airway models with SPECT/CT.

Purpose: To compare the results obtained by using numerical flow simulations with the results of combined single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and computed tomography (CT) and to demonstrate the importance of correct boundary conditions for the numerical methods to account for the large amount of interpatient variability in airway geometry.

Materials And Methods: This study was approved by all relevant institutional review boards. All patients gave their signed informed consent.

Sleep-disordered breathing, obesity, and airway inflammation in children and adolescents.

Background: To investigate the relationship between obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) and exhaled nitric oxide (eNO) in overweight children and adolescents without asthma or atopy and to assess whether obesity per se is associated with increased airway inflammation.

Methods: Consecutive overweight subjects without symptoms of asthma or allergy were recruited at a pediatric obesity clinic. A normal-weight control group without OSAS and asthma or allergy was also recruited.

Dopamine receptor-mediated regulation of RGS2 and RGS4 mRNA differentially depends on ascending dopamine projections and time.

RGS2 and RGS4 mRNAs are regulated in the rat striatum by dopaminergic agents. The present study further characterizes this regulation in three experiments. First, dopamine type 1 (receptor) (D1)- and dopamine type 2 (receptor) (D2)-mediated regulator of G-protein signalling (RGS) gene regulation was investigated in animals with deleted ascending dopaminergic pathways.

Elevated plasminogen activator inhibitor levels in cyclosporin-treated renal allograft recipients.

Atherosclerosis and thrombosis, two major causes of morbidity and mortality in renal transplant recipients, share the same clinical risk factors including decreased fibrinolysis and lipid disturbances. In a cross-sectional study we have determined parameters of fibrinolysis in control subjects (n = 23) and stable renal allograft recipients without cyclosporin (CsA) (n = 10) and with CsA (n = 87) in their immunosuppressive treatment. In CsA-treated patients, tissue-type plasminogen activator was moderately increased compared to patients without CsA (8.

Triflusal versus acetylsalicylic acid: a double-blind study for the prophylaxis of deep vein thrombosis after hip surgery.

The authors report the results of a randomised double-blind study comparing the antithrombotic activity of a new anti-platelet drug (Triflusal) with that of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA). 99 patients who underwent hip surgery were included in the study (total hip replacement, osteosynthesis of a pertrochanter fracture or Moore's prosthesis for intracapsular fracture of the femoral neck). Of the 48 patients having received Triflusal, 7 (14.

Concentrations of ofloxacin in serum and cerebrospinal fluid of patients without meningitis receiving the drug intravenously and orally.

The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) penetration of ofloxacin given orally or or intravenously was studied in cancer patients without meningitis. Each patient was assigned to a different sampling time to assess the relation between time and penetration. Ofloxacin was measured in serum and CSF by high-pressure liquid chromatography and bioassay.

Sex-related differences in the relationships between self-rated depression and biological markers.

Gender-related differences in self-reported depression, in biological factors putatively related to depression and in the associations between severity of illness and biological factors were investigated. To this end the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), the ratio L-tryptophan/valine + leucine (L-TRP/CAA) and basal cortisol in serum at 8 a.m.