Publications by authors named "Dockx K"

Graphene has garnered significant interest in optoelectronics due to its unique properties, including broad wavelength absorption and high mobility. However, its weak stability in ambient conditions requires encapsulation for practical applications. In this study, we investigate graphene CVD-grown field-effect transistors fabricated on Si/SiOwafers, encapsulated with aluminum oxide (AlO) of different thicknesses.

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Research on liver-related conditions requires a robust and efficient method to purify viable hepatocytes, lymphocytes and all other liver resident cells, such as Kupffer or liver sinusoidal endothelial cells. Here we describe a novel purification method using liver enzymatic digestion, followed by a downstream optimized purification. Using this enzymatic digestion protocol, the resident liver cells as well as viable hepatocytes could be captured, compared to the classical mechanical liver disruption method.

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We present the electrical characterization of wafer-scale graphene devices fabricated with an industrially-relevant, contact-first integration scheme combined with AlOencapsulation via atomic layer deposition. All the devices show a statistically significant reduction in the Dirac point position,Vcnp, from around +47 V to between -5 and 5 V (on 285 nm SiO), while maintaining the mobility values. The data and methods presented are relevant for further integration of graphene devices, specifically sensors, at the back-end-of-line of a standard CMOS flow.

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The presented paper discusses the production of radioactive ion beams of francium, radium, and actinium from thick uranium carbide (UC ) targets at ISOLDE, CERN. This study focuses on the release curves and extractable yields of francium, radium and actinium isotopes. The ion source temperature was varied in order to study the relative contributions of surface and laser ionization to the production of the actinium ion beams.

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Article Synopsis
  • Millions of people develop chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections each year, despite available vaccines, due to dysfunctional immune responses in chronic cases.
  • Researchers have created an mRNA vaccine using lipid nanoparticles to target HBV antigens, aiming to elicit a strong immune response in chronic HBV patients.
  • In mouse models, the vaccine showed promising results, inducing strong T cell responses and reducing HBV surface antigens, but did not impact the virus levels in the liver, suggesting the need for further optimization.
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At CERN-ISOLDE, high-purity radioactive ion beams of Fr and RaF were investigated with α-decay spectroscopy at the CRIS and ASET experiments in the course of three different experimental campaigns. The half-life of At, α-decay daughter of Fr, is measured to be 36.3(3)[9]μs, and that of Ra was determined to be 26.

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Background: Suppression of HBV DNA, inhibition of HBV surface (HBsAg) production and therapeutic vaccination to reverse HBV-specific T-cell exhaustion in chronic HBV patients are likely required to achieve a functional cure. In the AAV-HBV mouse model, therapeutic vaccination can be effective in clearing HBV when HBsAg levels are low. Using a single-cell approach, we investigated the liver immune environment with different levels of HBsAg and sustained HBsAg loss through treatment with a GalNAc-HBV-siRNA followed by therapeutic vaccination.

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A major barrier to HIV-1 cure is caused by the pool of latently infected CD4 T-cells that persist under combination antiretroviral therapy (cART). This latent reservoir is capable of producing replication-competent infectious viruses once prolonged suppressive cART is withdrawn. Inducing the reactivation of HIV-1 gene expression in T-cells harboring a latent provirus in people living with HIV-1 under cART may result in depletion of this latent reservoir due to cytopathic effects or immune clearance.

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Terbium-152 is one of four terbium radioisotopes that together form a potential theranostic toolbox for the personalised treatment of tumours. As  Tb decay by positron emission it can be utilised for diagnostics by positron emission tomography. For use in radiopharmaceuticals and for activity measurements by an activity calibrator a high radionuclide purity of the material and an accurate and precise knowledge of the half-life is required.

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[Formula: see text]Ac is a radio-isotope that can be linked to biological vector molecules to treat certain distributed cancers using targeted alpha therapy. However, developing [Formula: see text]Ac-labelled radiopharmaceuticals remains a challenge due to the supply shortage of pure [Formula: see text]Ac itself. Several techniques to obtain pure [Formula: see text]Ac are being investigated, amongst which is the high-energy proton spallation of thorium or uranium combined with resonant laser ionization and mass separation.

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Background  Despite high prevalence of psychopathology, the use of mental health services by asylum seekers seems low. Barriers to care may play an important role in this. Aim  To explore the barriers in mental health care for adult and adolescent asylum seekers and their care providers in high-income countries.

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This work reports the production cross-section data for seventy-one radionuclides produced by 0.3 GeV-1.7 GeV protons impinging on thin tantalum targets.

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Background: Public health strategies in the context of respiratory droplet-transmissible diseases (such as influenza or COVID-19) include intensified hand hygiene promotion, but a review on the effectiveness of different ways of promoting hand hygiene in the community, specifically for this type of infections, has not been performed. This rapid systematic review aims to summarize the effectiveness of community-based hand hygiene promotion programs on infection transmission, health outcomes and behavioral outcomes during epidemic periods in the context of respiratory droplet-transmissible diseases. We also included laboratory-confirmed health outcomes for epidemic-prone disease during interepidemic periods.

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The CERN-MEDICIS (MEDical Isotopes Collected from ISolde) facility has delivered its first radioactive ion beam at CERN (Switzerland) in December 2017 to support the research and development in nuclear medicine using non-conventional radionuclides. Since then, fourteen institutes, including CERN, have joined the collaboration to drive the scientific program of this unique installation and evaluate the needs of the community to improve the research in imaging, diagnostics, radiation therapy and personalized medicine. The facility has been built as an extension of the ISOLDE (Isotope Separator On Line DEvice) facility at CERN.

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This work presents the production cross-sections of Ce, Tb and Dy radionuclides produced by 300 MeV to 1.7 GeV proton-induced spallation reactions in thin tantalum targets as well as the related Thick Target production Yield (TTY) values and ratios. The motivation is to optimise the production of terbium radionuclides for medical applications and to find out at which energy the purity of the collection by mass separation would be highest.

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Trauma-exposed individuals are at risk of developing mental health problems, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). As an exposed individual's friend or family member may be the first person to provide posttrauma relief, informing and training laypeople in psychosocial first aid may benefit mental health outcomes of trauma-exposed individuals. We aimed to (a) collect the best available evidence on communication as a first aid intervention in assisting individuals following traumatic events and (b) formulate practical recommendations.

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Background: First aid training is a cost-effective way to decrease the burden of disease and injury in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). Since evidence from Western countries has shown that children are able to learn first aid, first aid training of children in LMIC may be a promising way forward. Hence, our project aim was to develop contextualized materials to train sub-Saharan African children in first aid, based on the best available evidence.

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Background And Objectives: The deferral policy for blood donation after dental care is based on the precautionary principle. The aim of this systematic review is to give an overview of the scientific evidence concerning the risk of transfusion transmissible infections (TTIs) after dental care.

Materials And Methods: Four databases were searched: Medline, the Cochrane Library, Embase and Web of Science.

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Nearly 90% of diarrhea-related mortalities are the result of unsafe drinking water, poor sanitation, and insufficient hygiene. Although "Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene" (WASH) interventions may significantly reduce the risk of diarrheal disease, it is currently unclear which interventions are the most effective. In this study, we aim to determine the importance of contextualizing a WASH intervention to the local context and the needs for increasing impact (Clinicaltrials.

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Aims: To summarize the best available evidence on the effectiveness of physical counterpressure manoeuvers (PCM) for vasovagal syncope management compared to a control intervention. Control interventions included either a PCM, no intervention, or other interventions feasible in a lay setting.

Methods: A systematic literature search (March 21st 2018) was performed in the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE, and Embase.

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Freezing of gait (FOG) is a powerful determinant of falls in Parkinson's disease (PD). Automatic postural reactions serve as a protective strategy to prevent falling after perturbations. However, differences in automatic postural reactions between patients with and without FOG in response to perturbation are at present unclear.

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The tau spreading hypothesis provides rationale for passive immunization with an anti-tau monoclonal antibody to block seeding by extracellular tau aggregates as a disease-modifying strategy for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and potentially other tauopathies. As the biochemical and biophysical properties of the tau species responsible for the spatio-temporal sequences of seeding events are poorly defined, it is not yet clear which epitope is preferred for obtaining optimal therapeutic efficacy. Our internal tau antibody collection has been generated by immunizations with different tau species: aggregated- and non-aggregated tau and human postmortem AD brain-derived tau fibrils.

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Aggregation of tau protein and spreading of tau aggregates are pivotal pathological processes in a range of neurological disorders. Accumulating evidence suggests that immunotherapy targeting tau may be a viable therapeutic strategy. We have previously described the isolation of antibody CBTAU-22.

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Misfolding and aggregation of tau protein are closely associated with the onset and progression of Alzheimer's Disease (AD). By interrogating IgG memory B cells from asymptomatic donors with tau peptides, we have identified two somatically mutated V5-51/V4-1 antibodies. One of these, CBTAU-27.

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