Publications by authors named "H Contreras"

Background: Leukotriene B (LTB) plays a crucial role in carcinogenesis by inducing epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a process associated with tumor progression. The synthesis of LTB is mediated by leukotriene A hydrolase (LTAH), and it binds to the receptors BLT and BLT. Dysregulation in LTB production is linked to the development of various pathologies.

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Significance: Personalized photodynamic therapy (PDT) treatment planning requires knowledge of the spatial and temporal co-localization of photons, photosensitizers (PSs), and oxygen. The inter- and intra-subject variability in the photosensitizer concentration can lead to suboptimal outcomes using standard treatment plans.

Aim: We aim to quantify the PS spatial variation in tumors and its effect on PDT treatment planning solutions.

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(Mtb) is the causative agent of tuberculosis, the world's deadliest infectious disease. Mtb uses a variety of mechanisms to evade the human host's defenses and survive intracellularly. Mtb's oxidative stress response enables Mtb to survive within activated macrophages, an environment with reactive oxygen species and low pH.

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We demonstrate the use of [2-(9-carbazol-9-yl)ethyl]phosphonic acid (2PACz) and [2-(3,6-di--butyl-9-carbazol-9-yl)ethyl]phosphonic acid (-Bu-2PACz) as anode modification layers in metal-halide perovskite quantum dot light-emitting diodes (QLEDs). Compared to conventional QLED structures with PEDOT:PSS (poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrenesulfonate)/PVK (poly(9-vinylcarbazole)) hole-transport layers, the QLEDs made with phosphonic acid (PA)-modified indium tin oxide (ITO) anodes show an over seven-fold increase in brightness, achieving a brightness of 373,000 cd m, one of the highest brightnesses reported to date for colloidal perovskite QLEDs. Importantly, the onset of efficiency roll-off, or efficiency droop, occurs at ∼1000-fold higher current density for QLEDs made with PA-modified anodes compared to control QLEDs made with conventional PEDOT:PSS/PVK hole transport layers, allowing the devices to sustain significantly higher levels of external quantum efficiency at a brightness of >10 cd m.

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Coronavirus disease 2019 is a highly contagious respiratory illness caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. Symptoms can range from mild to severe and typically appear 2-14 days after virus exposure. While vaccination has significantly reduced the incidence of severe complications, strategies for the identification of new biomarkers to assess disease severity remains a critical area of research.

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