Effects of small specimen tilt and probe convergence angle on ADF-STEM image contrast of Si(0.8)Ge(0.2) epitaxial strained layers on (100) Si.

The effects of specimen tilt and probe convergence angle on annular dark field (ADF) image contrast of Si(0.8)Ge(0.2) heteroepitaxial strained layers on (100) Si were investigated in a 200 kV scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM) for a TEM specimen thickness of 195 nm.

Syntheses, phase behavior, supramolecular chirality, and field-effect carrier mobility of asymmetrically end-capped mesogenic oligothiophenes.

A novel series of asymmetrically end-capped mesogenic oligothiophenes, with various oligothiophene core lengths, alkoxy tail lengths, and molecular polarities through introducing alkylsulfanyl or alkylsulfonyl functionalities as the terminal group, have been synthesized by palladium-catalyzed Suzuki cross-coupling and Kumada cross-coupling reactions as key steps. For the single end-capped oligothiophenes, C(m)O-Ar-OT(4)-H in which m=10, 12, 14, 16, and 18, all of these oligomers exhibited a broad temperature range of highly ordered smectic E and enantiotropic nematic phases, apart from the one with the longest octadecyloxy tail. For the double end-capped series C(10)O-Ar-OT(n)-R, R=Ph-SC(6) or Ph-SO(2)C(6) in which n=1, 2, 3, and 4, oligomers with more than one thiophene ring exhibited smectic A and smectic C phases, various crystal polymorphs and/or unusual low-temperature condensed phases.

Changes in expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and its receptors in neonatal hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a potent mitogen with angiogenic and vasoactive properties. VEGF can bind to two types of receptors. VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR2) is mainly responsible for the dilator response to VEGF through nitric oxide (NO) release, whereas VEGFR1 may sequestrate the ligand.

Neuropsychological functioning in early- and late-onset obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Significant relationships have been noted between age of onset and demographics, clinical characteristics, and cerebral metabolic activity in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The authors investigated whether patients with early (N=21) and late (N=17) onset OCD differ with respect to neuropsychological functioning. Results revealed that the late onset OCD group obtained poorer scores on measures of executive function and auditory attention than the early onset group.

Role of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1 and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 in the vasodilator response to vascular endothelial growth factor in the neonatal piglet lung.

Objective: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) regulates vascular proliferation and causes vasodilation. In the pulmonary circulation, the vasorelaxing effect of VEGF has been attributed to nitric oxide, whereas in other vascular beds, prostacyclin and other mechanisms are also involved. This vascular effect follows binding to two receptors, VEGF receptor 1 (VEGFR1) and VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR2), the latter of which is thought to be the main receptor responsible for the vasorelaxing effect of VEGF.