Role of SiNx Barrier Layer on the Performances of Polyimide Ga2O3-doped ZnO p-i-n Hydrogenated Amorphous Silicon Thin Film Solar Cells

In this study, silicon nitride (SiN_x) thin films were deposited on polyimide (PI) substrates as barrier layers by a plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) system. The gallium-doped zinc oxide (GZO) thin films were deposited on PI and SiN_x/PI substrates at room temperature (RT), 100 and 200 °C by radio frequency (RF) magnetron sputtering. The thicknesses of the GZO and SiN_x thin films were controlled at around 160 ± 12 nm and 150 ± 10 nm, respectively. The optimal deposition parameters for the SiN_x thin films were a working pressure of 800 × 10⁻³ Torr, a deposition power of 20 W, a deposition temperature of 200 °C, and gas flowing rates of SiH₄ = 20 sccm and NH₃ = 210 sccm, respectively. For the GZO/PI and GZO-SiN_x/PI structures we had found that the GZO thin films deposited at 100 and 200 °C had higher crystallinity, higher electron mobility, larger carrier concentration, smaller resistivity, and higher optical transmittance ratio. For that, the GZO thin films deposited at 100 and 200 °C on PI and SiN_x/PI substrates with thickness of ~000 nm were used to fabricate p-i-n hydrogenated amorphous silicon (α-Si) thin film solar cells. 0.5% HCl solution was used to etch the surfaces of the GZO/PI and GZO-SiN_x/PI substrates. Finally, PECVD system was used to deposit α-Si thin film onto the etched surfaces of the GZO/PI and GZO-SiN_x/PI substrates to fabricate α-Si thin film solar cells, and the solar cells’ properties were also investigated. We had found that substrates to get the optimally solar cells’ efficiency were 200 °C-deposited GZO-SiN_x/PI.     

Genotype-phenotype correlation and molecular heterogeneity in pyruvate kinase deficiency

Pyruvate kinase (PK) deficiency is a rare recessive congenital hemolytic anemia caused by mutations in the PKLR gene. This study reports the molecular features of 257 patients enrolled in the PKD Natural History Study. Of the 127 different pathogenic variants detected, 84 were missense and 43 non-missense, including 20 stop-gain, 11 affecting splicing, five large deletions, four in-frame indels, and three promoter variants. Within the 177 unrelated patients, 35 were homozygous and 142 compound heterozygous (77 for two missense, 48 for one missense and one non-missense, and 17 for two non-missense variants); the two most frequent mutations were p.R510Q in 23% and p.R486W in 9% of mutated alleles. Fifty-five (21%) patients were found to have at least one previously unreported variant with 45 newly described mutations. Patients with two non-missense mutations had lower hemoglobin levels, higher numbers of lifetime transfusions, and higher rates of complications including iron overload, extramedullary hematopoiesis, and pulmonary hypertension. Rare severe complications, including lower extremity ulcerations and hepatic failure, were seen more frequently in patients with non-missense mutations or with missense mutations characterized by severe protein instability. The PKLR genotype did not correlate with the frequency of complications in utero or in the newborn period. With ICCs ranging from 0.4 to 0.61, about the same degree of clinical similarity exists within siblings as it does between siblings, in terms of hemoglobin, total bilirubin, splenectomy status, and cholecystectomy status. Pregnancy outcomes were similar across genotypes in PK deficient women. This report confirms the wide genetic heterogeneity of PK deficiency.     

The role of cardiac CT in women

Due to the discrepancy between higher symptom burden and lower disease prevalence, the diagnosis of coronary artery disease (CAD) in women is challenging. Cardiac CT can be particularly useful in CAD diagnosis and risk stratification in women. In this review, we explore cardiac CT in women with and without symptoms and for adjudication of functional tests. Novel CT technologies such as fractional flow reserve and stress perfusion imaging and their potential for usefulness in women are also examined.     

Cyclophosphamide plus granulocyte‐colony stimulating factor for hematopoietic stem cell mobilization in patients with multiple myeloma

We retrospectively reviewed the results of cyclophosphamide (3 g/m²), doxorubicin and dexamethasone plus granulocyte‐colony stimulating factor (G‐CSF) (ID‐CY/DOX group), low‐dose cyclophosphamide (2 g/m²) plus G‐CSF (LD‐CY group) and G‐CSF alone (G‐CSF group) for stem cell mobilization in patients with multiple myeloma. A total of 89 patients with 93 mobilizations were included. Apheresis was started when total white blood cell (WBC) count >10 × 10⁹/L for ID‐CY/DOX and LD‐CY groups and after eight doses of G‐CSF (5 μg/kg twice daily) for G‐CSF group. For five mobilizations in ID‐CY/DOX group, the rate of successful mobilization (≥4.0 × 10⁶/kg CD34+ cells) was 80%. For 78 mobilizations in LD‐CY group, the successful rate was 80.8%. For 10 mobilizations in the G‐CSF group, the successful rate was 50%. The mean yield of CD34+ cells was higher in ID‐CY/DOX and LD‐CY groups as compared with that in G‐CSF group (P = 0.026 and 0.020, respectively). There was no difference in the yield of CD34+ cells between ID‐CY/DOX and LD‐CY groups (P = 0.831). After autologous stem cell transplantation, the days to neutrophil and platelet engraftment were similar in these three groups (P = 0.713 and 0.821, respectively). In conclusion, we observed that ID‐CY/DOX and LD‐CY plus G‐CSF for stem cell mobilization resulted in a higher successful rate and higher stem cell yields than G‐CSF alone and their engraftment time were similar. Total WBC count >10 × 10⁹/L can be used as a guide to start apheresis in CY‐based stem cell mobilization. J. Clin. Apheresis 31:423–428, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Development of a chip-based multiplexed immunoassay using liposomal nanovesicles and its application in the detection of pathogens causing female lower genital tract infections

ObjectiveCervicovaginitis is a highly prevalent disease that is a burden on healthcare globally. Immediate and adequate treatment can eradicate the infection and block subsequent complications. The feasibility of achip-based multiplexed immunoassay using liposomal nanovesicles was tested.Materials and MethodsA multiplexed immunoassay chip containing five antibodies for five pathogens (Chlamydia trachomatis, Escherichia coli, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Streptococcus agalactiae, and Candida albicans) was established and tested. Four patients with spiking of candidiasis were enrolled. The difference between positive and negative readings was evaluated using the paired Student t test.ResultsThe detection threshold of Candida in this microarray was 100,000 CFU/mL in a vaginal sample, and the time required for the whole procedure was 3 hours. The testing of the four patients showed 100% for both sensitivity and specificity.ConclusionThis microarray chip was a rapid, easy, inexpensive and sensitive tool for detecting female lower genital tract Candida infection in a one-time vaginal sampling process, although the data on the four other pathogens were still unavailable. A larger population study is encouraged to test the validity of this multiplexed immunoassay chip.