Flexible and Semi-Transparent Silicon Solar Cells as a Power Supply to Smart Contact Lenses.

Supplying electric power to wearable IoT devices, particularly smart contact lenses (SCLs), is one of the main obstacles to widespread adoption and commercialization. In the present study, we have successfully designed, fabricated, and characterized semi-transparent, self-supported, and flexible single crystalline silicon solar cells using a single-sided micromachining procedure. Optical, mechanical, and electrical simulations, together with the practical measurements, verify the application of our developed solar cells to be mounted on a limited-footprint and flexible SCL.

Research Participants' Attitudes towards Receiving Information on Genetic Susceptibility to Arsenic Toxicity in Rural Bangladesh.

Background: In human genetics research, it has become common practice for researchers to consider returning genetic information to participants who wish to receive it. Research participants in lower-resource settings may have barriers or competing interests that reduce the benefit or relevance of such information. Thus, the decision to return genetic information in these settings may involve special considerations of participants' interests and preferences.

Association between number of children and carotid intima-media thickness in Bangladesh.

Previous studies on the association between number of children and carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) were limited to Western populations. Pregnancy in women is associated with physiologic changes that may influence the risk of cardiovascular disease. Comparing the association between number of children and cIMT in men and women can provide insights on whether the association may be due to pregnancy.

A study of telomere length, arsenic exposure, and arsenic toxicity in a Bangladeshi cohort.

Background: Chronic arsenic exposure is associated with increased risk for arsenical skin lesions, cancer, and other adverse health outcomes. One potential mechanism of arsenic toxicity is telomere dysfunction. However, prior epidemiological studies of arsenic exposure, telomere length (TL), and skin lesion are small and cross-sectional.

Arsenic Exposure from Drinking Water and Urinary Metabolomics: Associations and Long-Term Reproducibility in Bangladesh Adults.

Background: Chronic exposure to inorganic arsenic from drinking water has been associated with a host of cancer and noncancer diseases. The application of metabolomics in epidemiologic studies may allow researchers to identify biomarkers associated with arsenic exposure and its health effects.

Objective: Our goal was to evaluate the long-term reproducibility of urinary metabolites and associations between reproducible metabolites and arsenic exposure.

Polarization-maintaining low-loss porous-core spiral photonic crystal fiber for terahertz wave guidance.

A polarization-maintaining porous-core spiral photonic crystal fiber is proposed for efficient transmission of polarization-maintaining terahertz (THz) waves. The finite element method with perfectly matched layer boundary conditions is used to characterize the guiding properties. We demonstrate that by creating artificial asymmetry in the porous core, an ultrahigh birefringence of 0.

Dyspnoea as a predictor of cause-specific heart/lung disease mortality in Bangladesh: a prospective cohort study.

Background: The spectrum of mortality outcomes by cause in populations with/without dyspnoea has not been determined. The study aimed to evaluate whether dyspnoea, a symptom, predicts cause-specific mortality differences between groups. The hypothesis was that diseases that result in chronic dyspnoea, those originating from the heart and lungs, would preferentially result in heart and lung disease mortality in those with baseline dyspnoea (relative to no dyspnoea) when followed over time.

Betel quid use and mortality in Bangladesh: a cohort study.

Objective: To evaluate the potential effects of betel quid chewing on mortality. (A quid consists of betel nut, wrapped in betel leaves; tobacco is added to the quid by some users).

Methods: Prospective data were available on 20 033 individuals aged 18-75 years, living in Araihazar, Bangladesh.

Gene-arsenic interaction in longitudinal changes of blood pressure: Findings from the Health Effects of Arsenic Longitudinal Study (HEALS) in Bangladesh.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide and mounting evidence indicates that toxicant exposures can profoundly impact on CVD risk. Epidemiologic studies have suggested that arsenic (As) exposure is positively related to increases in blood pressure (BP), a primary CVD risk factor. However, evidence of whether genetic susceptibility can modify the association between As and BP is lacking.

Dipstick proteinuria as a predictor of all-cause and cardiovascular disease mortality in Bangladesh: A prospective cohort study.

Objective: Baseline, persistent, incident, and remittent dipstick proteinuria have never been tested as predictors of mortality in an undeveloped country. The goal of this study was to determine which of these four types of proteinuria (if any) predict mortality.

Methods: Baseline data was collected from 2000 to 2002 in Bangladesh from 11,121 adults.

Association between Arsenic Exposure from Drinking Water and Longitudinal Change in Blood Pressure among HEALS Cohort Participants.

Background: Cross-sectional studies have shown associations between arsenic exposure and prevalence of high blood pressure; however, studies examining the relationship of arsenic exposure with longitudinal changes in blood pressure are lacking.

Method: We evaluated associations of arsenic exposure in relation to longitudinal change in blood pressure in 10,853 participants in the Health Effects of Arsenic Longitudinal Study (HEALS). Arsenic was measured in well water and in urine samples at baseline and in urine samples every 2 years after baseline.

Association of major dietary patterns and blood pressure longitudinal change in Bangladesh.

Background: Observational studies and clinical trials have shown associations of diet and high blood pressure (BP). However, prospective studies on the association between dietary patterns and longitudinal BP change are lacking, especially in low-income populations.

Method: We evaluated the association of dietary patterns and food groups with longitudinal change of BP in 10 389 participants in the Health Effects of Arsenic Longitudinal Study, with a median of 6.

A prospective study of arm circumference and risk of death in Bangladesh.

Background: Epidemiological studies have observed protective effects of mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) against all-cause mortality mostly in Western populations. However, evidence on cause-specific mortality is limited.

Methods: The sample included 19 575 adults from a population-based cohort study in rural Bangladesh, who were followed up for an average of 7.

Association between arsenic exposure from drinking water and hematuria: results from the Health Effects of Arsenic Longitudinal Study.

Arsenic (As) exposure has been associated with both urologic malignancy and renal dysfunction; however, its association with hematuria is unknown. We evaluated the association between drinking water As exposure and hematuria in 7843 men enrolled in the Health Effects of Arsenic Longitudinal Study (HEALS). Cross-sectional analysis of baseline data was conducted with As exposure assessed in both well water and urinary As measurements, while hematuria was measured using urine dipstick.

A prospective study of variability in systolic blood pressure and mortality in a rural Bangladeshi population cohort.

Objective: Limited studies suggest that blood pressure variability over time is a risk factor of long-term cardiovascular outcomes. However, most of these were in populations with pre-existing cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and studies in general population are lacking.

Methods: The study included 11,153 participants in a population-based, prospective cohort study in Araihazar, Bangladesh.

Arsenic exposure and impaired lung function. Findings from a large population-based prospective cohort study.

Rationale: Exposure to arsenic through drinking water has been linked to respiratory symptoms, obstructive lung diseases, and mortality from respiratory diseases. Limited evidence for the deleterious effects on lung function exists among individuals exposed to a high dose of arsenic.

Objectives: To determine the deleterious effects on lung function that exist among individuals exposed to a high dose of arsenic.

A prospective study of arsenic exposure, arsenic methylation capacity, and risk of cardiovascular disease in Bangladesh.

Background: Few prospective studies have evaluated the influence of arsenic methylation capacity on cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk.

Objective: We evaluated the association of arsenic exposure from drinking water and arsenic methylation capacity with CVD risk.

Method: We conducted a case-cohort study of 369 incident fatal and nonfatal cases of CVD, including 211 cases of heart disease and 148 cases of stroke, and a subcohort of 1,109 subjects randomly selected from the 11,224 participants in the Health Effects of Arsenic Longitudinal Study (HEALS).

A prospective study of tobacco smoking and mortality in Bangladesh.

Background: Limited data are available on smoking-related mortality in low-income countries, where both chronic disease burden and prevalence of smoking are increasing.

Methods: Using data on 20,033 individuals in the Health Effects of Arsenic Longitudinal Study (HEALS) in Bangladesh, we prospectively evaluated the association between tobacco smoking and all-cause, cancer, and cardiovascular disease mortality during ∼7.6 years of follow-up.

Arsenic exposure from drinking water and QT-interval prolongation: results from the Health Effects of Arsenic Longitudinal Study.

Background: Arsenic exposure from drinking water has been associated with heart disease; however, underlying mechanisms are uncertain.

Objective: We evaluated the association between a history of arsenic exposure from drinking water and the prolongation of heart rate-corrected QT (QTc), PR, and QRS intervals.

Method: We conducted a study of 1,715 participants enrolled at baseline from the Health Effects of Arsenic Longitudinal Study.

Prospective investigation of major dietary patterns and risk of cardiovascular mortality in Bangladesh.

Background: Dietary pattern analysis is emerging as a practical, effective tool for relating comprehensive dietary intake to risk of cardiovascular disease mortality. However, no studies have applied this technique to a population outside of the developed world.

Methods: We conducted prospective cohort analyses in 11,116 participants enrolled in the Health Effects of Arsenic Study in Araihazar, Bangladesh, measuring deaths attributable to disease of circulatory system, heart disease, and cerebrovascular disease.

Betel quid chewing in rural Bangladesh: prevalence, predictors and relationship to blood pressure.

Background: Betel quid is chewed by 600 million people worldwide and it has been linked to obesity and cardiovascular disease. The purpose of our study was to examine the prevalence and predictors of betel quid chewing in a rural area of Bangladesh, and determine its effects on body mass index (BMI) and blood pressure.

Methods: In this population-based prospective study, we analysed data on 19 934 Bangladeshi adults.

Arsenic exposure from drinking water and dyspnoea risk in Araihazar, Bangladesh: a population-based study.

Bangladesh has high well water arsenic exposure. Chronic arsenic ingestion may result in diseases that manifest as dyspnoea, although information is sparse. Baseline values were obtained from an arsenic study.

A prospective study of arsenic exposure from drinking water and incidence of skin lesions in Bangladesh.

Elevated concentrations of arsenic in groundwater pose a public health threat to millions of people worldwide. The authors aimed to evaluate the association between arsenic exposure and skin lesion incidence among participants in the Health Effects of Arsenic Longitudinal Study (HEALS). The analyses used data on 10,182 adults free of skin lesions at baseline through the third biennial follow-up of the cohort (2000-2009).