Large On-Off Enhancement of Au Nanocatalyst Contacts to ZnO Nanowires with Bulk and Surface Oxygen Modification.

Schottky diodes have been a fundamental component of electrical circuits for many decades, and intense research continues to this day on planar materials with increasingly exotic compounds. With the birth of nanotechnology, a paradigm shift occurred with Schottky contacts proving to be essential for enabling nanodevice inventions and increasing their performance by many orders of magnitude, particularly in the fields of piezotronics and piezoelectric energy harvesting. ZnO nanomaterials have proven to be the most popular materials in those devices as they possess high piezoelectric coefficients, high surface sensitivity, and low resistivity due to the high native n-type doping and low hole concentration.

A Meta-Analysis to Evaluate Implant Survival and Benefits of the Use of Dual Mobility Constructs in Total Hip Replacement Following Hip Fracture.

Total hip replacement (THR) is commonly performed to treat hip fractures. Dual-mobility constructs (DMCs) are increasingly used for this indication. The aim of this study was to use evidence synthesis techniques to estimate net all-cause construct survival for THR with DMC performed for hip fracture.

Does arthroscopic or open washout in native knee septic arthritis result in superior post-operative function? A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials and observational studies.

Aims: Septic arthritis (SA) of the native knee joint is associated with significant morbidity. This review compared post-operative functional outcomes (patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) and range of movement (ROM)) following arthroscopic washout (AW) and open washout (OW) amongst adult patients with SA of the native knee. The need for further operative intervention was also considered.

Modelling the dynamic interaction of systemic inflammation and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis during and after cardiac surgery.

Major surgery and critical illness produce a potentially life-threatening systemic inflammatory response. The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is one of the key physiological systems that counterbalances this systemic inflammation through changes in adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol. These hormones normally exhibit highly correlated ultradian pulsatility with an amplitude modulated by circadian processes.

A Facile Method for the Non-Covalent Amine Functionalization of Carbon-Based Surfaces for Use in Biosensor Development.

Affinity biosensors based on graphene field-effect transistor (GFET) or resistor designs require the utilization of graphene's exceptional electrical properties. Therefore, it is critical when designing these sensors, that the electrical properties of graphene are maintained throughout the functionalization process. To that end, non-covalent functionalization may be preferred over covalent modification.

A randomized controlled trial of arthroscopic capsular release versus hydrodilatation in the treatment of primary frozen shoulder.

Background: Arthroscopic capsular release (ACR) and hydrodilatation (HD) have been developed for the management of frozen shoulder refractory to conservative treatment. To date no randomized trial has directly compared the efficacy of both interventions. The aim of this trial was to determine whether the Oxford Shoulder Score (OSS) differs between patients with frozen shoulder randomized to treatment with ACR or HD.

Investigation into the effects of surface stripping ZnO nanosheets.

ZnO nanosheets are polycrystalline nanostructures that are used in devices including solar cells and gas sensors. However, for efficient and reproducible device operation and contact behaviour the conductivity characteristics must be controlled and surface contaminants removed. Here we use low doses of argon bombardment to remove surface contamination and make reproducible lower resistance contacts.

Alzheimer disease genetic risk factor APOE e4 and cognitive abilities in 111,739 UK Biobank participants.

Background: the apolipoprotein (APOE) e4 locus is a genetic risk factor for dementia. Carriers of the e4 allele may be more vulnerable to conditions that are independent risk factors for cognitive decline, such as cardiometabolic diseases.

Objective: we tested whether any association with APOE e4 status on cognitive ability was larger in older ages or in those with cardiometabolic diseases.

Moderate chemical modifications of WAY-100635 improve the selectivity for 5-HT1A versus D4 receptors.

The selectivity for 5-HT(1A) versus D(4) receptors is significantly increased when the basic side chain of WAY-100635 is replaced by a 4-phenylpiperazine (3e) or a 4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine moiety (3i). The 4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine compounds (3i-l) have a higher affinity for 5-HT(1A) receptors than do the corresponding unsubstituted phenylpiperazine analogues (3e-h). Compounds 3e and 3i appear to be selective for 5-HT(1A) receptors over other relevant receptors and still behave as neutral antagonists.

Synthesis and receptor profiling of Stemona alkaloid analogues reveal a potent class of sigma ligands.

Reported biological activities of Stemona natural products, such as antitussive activity, inspired the development of synthetic methods to access several alkaloids within this family and in so doing develop a general route to the core skeleta shared by the class of natural products. The chemistry was subsequently adapted to afford a series of analogue sets bearing simplified, diverse Stemona-inspired skeleta. Over 100 of these analogues were subjected to general G protein-coupled receptor profiling along with the known antitussive compound, neostenine; this led to the identification of hit compounds targeting several receptor types.

Plasma MMP-9 and MMP-2 following acute myocardial infarction in man: correlation with echocardiographic and neurohumoral parameters of left ventricular dysfunction.

Background: Left ventricular dilatation and elevated plasma natriuretic peptide levels predict adverse prognosis and the development of congestive heart failure after myocardial infarction. Altered matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity has been implicated in the structural changes associated with development of heart failure after myocardial injury. The aims of this study were to investigate plasma MMP-2, MMP-9, and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1 concentrations following acute myocardial infarction and their relationships with measures of left ventricular function.

Screening the receptorome to discover the molecular targets for plant-derived psychoactive compounds: a novel approach for CNS drug discovery.

Because psychoactive plants exert profound effects on human perception, emotion, and cognition, discovering the molecular mechanisms responsible for psychoactive plant actions will likely yield insights into the molecular underpinnings of human consciousness. Additionally, it is likely that elucidation of the molecular targets responsible for psychoactive drug actions will yield validated targets for CNS drug discovery. This review article focuses on an unbiased, discovery-based approach aimed at uncovering the molecular targets responsible for psychoactive drug actions wherein the main active ingredients of psychoactive plants are screened at the "receptorome" (that portion of the proteome encoding receptors).

In vitro receptor screening of pure constituents of St. John's wort reveals novel interactions with a number of GPCRs.

Rationale: Hypericum perforatum L. (St. John's wort; SJW) is one of the leading psychotherapeutic phytomedicines and great effort has been devoted to clarifying its mechanism of action.