It is indicated how the dynamics of root hydraulics contributes to many integrated plant nutritional and growth functions. For instance, the heterogeneity of soil water and nutrient availability and the heterogeneity of root hydraulic properties feed each other and play critical roles in root transport functions. Another important aspect is the integration

of root hydraulics within the mutual interactions of roots Napabucasin price and shoots, for co-ordinated growth and water-saving responses to drought.”
“A two-step sintering process has been adopted to produce NiZn ferrite with composition of (NiO)(0.35)(ZnO)(0.57)(CuO)(0.08)(Fe2O3). The densification, microstructure, and magnetic properties of the ferrite have been investigated and compared with those of ferrites produced by the traditional buy BIX 01294 final-stage sintering process. It was found that the sample produced by a two-step sintering process with a high temperature of 1200 degrees C and a lower temperature of 1100 degrees C attained more than 96% of the theoretical density and had a uniform microstructure with a small average grain size. It also exhibited good performances

in terms of permeability and Q-factor. Hence, this would seem to be an effective method for producing dense ferrites with a microstructure composed of small and even grains, which is a very effective strategy for improving the magnetic properties of ferrites. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi: 10.1063/1.3535418]“
“There is increasing interest in imaging techniques such as magnetic resonance and ultrasound amongst

pelvic floor surgeons, as evidenced by the number of workshops and conference presentations in this field. Ultrasound is employed more commonly, due to much lower costs, greater accessibility and practicability. Consequently, this review focuses on sonography. At this time, imaging is probably under-utilised in urogynaecology and female urology, although it has the potential to greatly benefit our patients. In this review, I will outline the main uses of imaging in the work-up of women with urinary incontinence, before and after treatment, and focus on areas in which this benefit 4EGI-1 chemical structure to patients and clinicians is most evident.”
“The phytohormone abscisic acid (ABA) plays a central role in plant development and in plant adaptation to both biotic and abiotic stressors. In recent years, knowledge of ABA metabolism and signal transduction has advanced rapidly to provide detailed glimpses of the hormone’s activities at the molecular level. Despite this progress, many gaps in understanding have remained, particularly at the early stages of ABA perception by the plant cell. The search for an ABA receptor protein has produced multiple candidates, including GCR2, GTG1, and GTG2, and CHLH.

The difference in effectiveness between the 2 IOLs ranged from 32% to 12%. With newer action spectra, differences in effectiveness between the tinted IOL and the lenses of a Selleck RG-7112 young standard observer and a 30- to 39-year-old were age dependent (+7% to -10% and +6% to -13%, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS: The tinted IOL was significantly more effective for photoentrainment of the circadian rhythm with newer action spectra. The computational results suggest that the effectiveness of the tinted IOL in

60- to 85-year-old patients would be within +6% to -13% of that in 30 to 39 year olds. Both tinted and untinted IOLs are expected to be effective for melatonin suppression under average household illumination.”
“In this study, a new approach for in situ monitoring of the monomer conversion based on the chemical interaction of a fluoroprobe, pyranine (8-hydroxypyrene-1,3,6-trisulfonic acid, trisodium salt), with polymer chains during the free radical crosslinking copolymerization of acrylamide/bisacrylamide system (AAm/Bis) has been developed. Recently, we have shown that the pyranine fluoroprobes added to the prepolymerization solution in trace amounts bind covalently to the vinyl groups of the growing polymer chains via OH group by radical addition when the free radical polymerization of acrylamide (AAm) is initiated. This covalent SNDX-275 binding results in a considerable blue shift in the emission spectrum of the pyranine,

from 515 to similar to 420 nm. In this study 0.5, 0.7, and 1.0 mol L(-1) linear and crosslinked polymers including trace amounts of pyranine were synthesized. The change in the emission spectra of pyranine during polymerization and gelation were monitored as function of time. Here, we showed that both by theoretically and by comparing the fluorescence data with gravimetric measurements, the fluorescence intensity of pyranine monitored during the polymerization process can be used for in situ monitoring of the monomer conversion with great sensitivity. (C) 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 115: 2455-2459,

2010″
“With advances in pediatric cardiology and cardiac surgery, the population of adults with congenital heart disease (CHD) has increased. In the current era, there are more adults with CHD than children. This population has many selleck screening library unique issues and needs. Since the 2001 Canadian Cardiovascular Society consensus conference report on the management of adults with CHD, there have been significant advances in the field of adult CHD. Therefore, new clinical guidelines have been written by Canadian adult CHD physicians in collaboration with an international panel of experts in the field. The present introductory section is a summary of the epidemiology and scope of adult CHD in Canada, the structure of the Canadian health care system and adult congenital cardiac health services in Canada. The recommendations for antibiotic prophylaxis and genetic evaluation in this population are included.

Preliminary institutional experience suggests a tumor recurrence rate

of see more 11% in 91 patients with HCC who received liver transplants between 1996 and 2008.

Conclusions: Liver transplantation offers an opportunity for long-term survival in patients with HCC and chronic cirrhosis whose tumor cannot be resected. Criteria for patient selection for this modality of treatment continue to be upgraded and refined.”
“Purpose of review

Blockade of costimulatory signalling is a promising approach to inhibit T-cell responses and consequently allograft rejection. The last decade was marked by progress in understanding the details of various costimulatory pathways and by the development of biologicals targeting these pathways with the aim of selectively and efficiently modulating T-cell responses.

Recent findings

Here we focus on the clinically relevant costimulatory pathways CD28:CD80/86, CD40:CD154 (CD40L), CD2:LFA-3 and ICAM:LFA-1. We will give a short overview of the physiologic function of these pathways and discuss

Rabusertib chemical structure results from preclinical and clinical studies of costimulation blockers targeting these pathways.

Summary

The development of costimulation blockers for clinical application in the field of organ transplantation was delayed by several setbacks. However, belatacept has recently been approved as first in class for renal transplantation. Several additional costimulation blockers are under development with some having already entered into clinical trials. Costimulation blockers are a new class of rationally designed immunosuppressive drugs with considerable potential for improving outcome of organ transplantation.”
“Background: Locoregional treatments of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have evolved over the past 20 years. Interventional radiologists have developed an important role in the

palliative and curative treatment of the disease. This review summarizes commonly used interventional radiological treatment protocols to assist practitioners in understanding the techniques used to treat HCC.

Methods: Various searches were performed to evaluate recent publications regarding systemic treatments of HCC as well as transplant/surgery, chemoembolization, yttrium-90 radioembolization, percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA), https://www.selleckchem.com/products/mi-503.html cryoablation, and percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI).

Results: No standard for chemoembolization was found. Two studies evaluating survival with chemoembolization vs medical therapy found benefits with the former. PEI offers favorable outcomes in small HCC but has increased recurrence and decreased long-term survival compared with RFA. Local recurrence, response rates, and mortality from RFA rival surgical resection in HCC < 3 cm. Cryoablation appears to be effective, and yttrium-90 radioembolization is an additional tool.

8% compared with 8.9%, p = 0.8).

Conclusions: On the basis on this review, the reduction of high-grade spondylolisthesis potentially improves overall spine biomechanics by correcting the local

kyphotic deformity Adavosertib ic50 and reducing vertebral slippage. Reduction was not associated with a greater risk of developing neurologic deficits compared with arthrodesis in situ. Both procedures were associated with good clinical outcomes.”
“We report phase transitions from ferroelectric to paraelectric states that are induced in poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene) by electric field cycles. The transitions are systematically characterized electrically and structurally by using ferroelectric capacitors. The top electrodes of the Selleckchem Combretastatin A4 capacitors can be peeled off from the surfaces of ferroelectric layers; this enables us to obtain clear x-ray diffraction patterns with adequate strength. The diffraction patterns clearly indicate the emergence of the stable phase, in which copolymer molecules are aligned with their b-axis perpendicular to the substrate. The dipoles become nonswitchable without changing the molecular structure. The new field-cycle-induced

phase, which has high permittivity in the out-of-plane direction due to anisotropic molecular structures, is identified as the main mechanism of polarization fatigue. (C) 2010 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3429079]“
“The polymerizations of N,N’-bismaleimide-4,4′-diphenylmethane (BMI) initiated by barbituric acid (BTA) carried out in a variety of solvents at 130 degrees C were studied. The nitrogen-containing cyclic solvents such as N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone acted as a catalyst to promote the formation of the three-dimensional crosslinked network structure. By contrast, the polymerization in a cyclic solvent that did not contain nitrogen such as gamma-butyrolactone resulted in nil gel content. The higher the solvent basicity, the larger the amount of insoluble polymer species formed. The molar ratio

of BTA to BMI also played an important role in the polymerizations. buy Navitoclax The resultant polymers, presumably having a hyper-branched structure, exhibited much narrower molecular weight distributions than those prepared by conventional free radical polymerizations. The BMI polymerizations using BTA as the initiator could not be adequately described by conventional free radical polymerization mechanisms. A polymerization mechanism that took into account the generation of a ketone radical pair between BTA and BMI and the subsequent initiation, propagation and termination reactions was proposed. It was concluded that the nitrogen-containing cyclic solvents were capable of participating in the ketone radical pair formation process, thereby increasing the extent of polymer crosslinking reactions. (C) 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 117: 596-603, 2010″
“Objective.

Further data are needed in this regard; however, results suggest that earlier implantation would provide benefit for a longer period and increase cost-effectiveness.”
“Poly(ethylene glycol)/polylactic acid (PEG/PLA) nanoparticles (NPs) containing the hydrophobic antifungal itraconazole (ITZ) were developed to provide a controlled release pattern of ITZ as well as to improve its aqueous dispersibility and hence enhance its antifungal action. Two PEG/PLA copolymers (PEGylated PLA polymers) were https://www.selleckchem.com/products/apo866-fk866.html used in this study; branched PEGylated polymer in which PEG was grafted on PLA backbone at 7% (mol/mol of lactic acid monomer), PEG7%-g-PLA, and multiblock copolymer of PLA and

PEG, (PLA-PEG-PLA)n with nearly similar PEG insertion ratio and similar PEG chain length. ITZ-loaded PLA NPs were also prepared and included in this study as a control. ITZ-NPs were prepared from a 1:1 w/w blend of PLA and each PEGylated polymer either PEG7%-g-PLA or (PLA-PEG-PLA)n using an oil-in-water emulsion evaporation method. The NPs morphology, size and size distribution, zeta potential, loading efficiency, release profile and antifungal activity were characterized. All ITZ-NPs were nearly spherical with smooth surface and showed less aggregating tendency

with a size range of 185-285 nm. All ITZ-NPs measured nearly neutral Acalabrutinib inhibitor zeta potential values close to 0 mV. The % LE of ITZ was similar to 94% for PEG7%-g-PLA NPs and similar to 83% for (PLA-PEG-PLA)n at 15.3% w/w theoretical loading. PEG/PLA NPs were stable over time regarding size and Ispinesib Cytoskeletal Signaling inhibitor size distribution and % ITZ loading efficiency (% LE). ITZ release showed an initial burst followed by a gradual release profile for ITZ-NPs over 5 days. (PLA-PEG-PLA)n NPs exhibited faster release rates than PEG7%-g-PLA NPs particularly at the last 2 days. Differential scanning calorimetry and powder X-ray diffractometry

data confirmed that ITZ exists in an amorphous state or a solid solution state into the NPs matrix. Fourier transform infrared revealed the possibility of chemical interaction between ITZ and the NPs matrix polymer indicating the successful entrapment of ITZ inside the particles. In haemolysis test, ITZ-NPs caused mild haemolysis over the concentration range (5-20 mg/mL) compared to free ITZ, indicating better safety profile of ITZ-NPs. ITZ-loaded PEG/PLA NPs inhibited fungal growth more efficiently than either free ITZ or ITZ-loaded PLA NPs. Our results suggest that PEG/PLA-ITZ could be used efficiently as a nanocarrier to improve the aqueous dispersibility of ITZ, control its release over time and, thereby, enhance its antifungal efficacy.”
“Collaborative practice between obstetrician-gynecologists and certified nurse-midwives has been successful at the Family Beginnings obstetric unit at Group Health for at least three reasons. Each provider group is able to practice independently and thus give the kind of maternity and women’s health care sought by the local community.

Voluven (Fresenius Kabi, Germany), previously regarded as the least

coagulopathic due to ACY-738 cost its low molecular weight (MW) and degree of substitution (DS), is a saline-based HES. Hextend (Biotime, United States) is a new type of HES with physiologic pH and balanced electrolytes, including calcium, which is beneficial to coagulation. Studies comparing the coagulopathy of Hextend and Voluven are rare. Therefore, coagulation, pH/electrolyte changes, and blood loss using Hextend and Voluven in patients undergoing PLIF were compared.

Methods. Fifty-four patients scheduled for PLIF involving 3 vertebrae or less were randomly assigned to the Voluven or the Hextend group. Of each solution 15 mL/kg was administered during surgery. Blood loss, coagulation, and electrolyte profiles were checked before infusion and 5 minutes, 3 hours, and 24 hours after the end of infusion.

Results. The Hextend group showed slightly better electrolyte balance, however, more coagulation impairment and postoperative transfusion (37% vs. 11%) compared with the Voluven group. The effect of Hextend on coagulation lasted until 24 hours after infusion.

Conclusion. If coagulopathy 3-MA solubility dmso is a concern during PLIF, then, a HES with low MW/DS in a saline-based medium (Voluven) may be a better alternative

than a HES with high MW/DS in a balanced salt medium (Hextend).”
“Despite substantial improvements in treatment for chronic heart failure, morbidity and mortality for acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) remain high. Treatment of ADHF is focused on controlling symptoms rather than improving long-term outcomes. The vasodilators nitroglycerin (NTG) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) have been used in ADHF for decades, but, since the development of nesiritide 10 years ago, interest in new vasodilators has grown. Therapies that improve not only hemodynamics and symptoms but also long-term outcomes are in high demand, and numerous new vasodilatory agents have been investigated, including various natriuretic peptides, soluble guanylyl cyclase agents, renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system-modifying agents, and

others. A review of the literature shows that few of them rise to the challenge set by NTG and SNP.”
“Previous studies in Tourette syndrome have reported lateralized abnormalities of neurotransmitters and microstructure of the cortico-striato-thalamo-cortical https://www.selleckchem.com/products/BMS-754807.html circuit. The authors analyzed the relationship between serotonin synthesis and microstructural changes in the subcortical structures structures (caudate nucleus, lentiform nucleus, and thalamus) related to this circuit, using alpha-[C-11]methyl-L-tryptophan positron emission tomography (PFT) and diffusion tensor imaging, respectively, in 16 children With Tourette syndrome. Correlations between diffusion tensor imaging and alpha-[C-11]methyl-L- tryptophan PET asymmetry values were found in the caudate nucleus.

2, 76.1 and 207.7, respectively. The scavenging properties of cocoa powder against the superoxide anion, H(2)O(2), HClO, and peroxynitrite were also determined. The lCso (mu g/mL) values in the hypoxanthine/xanthine oxidase test were 77.5, 12.3 and 10.3, for A, B and C, respectively, while as an HOCl scavenger the IC(50) (mu g/mL)

values were 225.4, 73.2 and 21.5. As a peroxynitrite anion scavenger, only extract C had a relevant effect, with IC(50) (mu g/mL) values of 76.1 or 110.0 in the absence or presence of bicarbonate. None of the extracts tested showed activity in the hydrogen peroxide test, but B and C significantly increased the deoxyribose degradation in the absence of ascorbate. Likewise, none of the extracts inhibited KPT-8602 the ferrous or copper chelating activity at 100 mu g/mL, but they inhibited the lipid peroxidation in brain homogenates and human plasma through non-enzymatic

generation systems, with extract C giving the best IC(50) (mu g/mL) values: 17.4 and 8.1 against lipid peroxidation in brain homogenates and human plasma, respectively. In conclusion, if the extractive protocol is well characterized, defined and optimized, cocoa could constitute a source of polyphenols for enriching foods, nutraceuticals and alimentary supplements. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Background-

Brugada syndrome (BrS) is an arrhythmogenic disorder that has been linked to mutations in SCN5A, the gene encoding for the pore-forming alpha-subunit of the cardiac sodium channel. Typically, BrS mutations in SCN5A result in a reduction of sodium current with some mutations even exhibiting a dominant-negative selleck screening library effect on wild-type (WT) channels, thus leading to an even more prominent decrease in current amplitudes. However, there is also a category of apparently benign (atypical) BrS SCN5A mutations that in vitro demonstrates only minor biophysical defects. It is therefore not clear how these mutations produce a BrS phenotype. We hypothesized Fosbretabulin purchase that similar to dominant-negative

mutations, atypical mutations could lead to a reduction in sodium currents when coexpressed with WT to mimic the heterozygous patient genotype.

Methods and Results-

WT and atypical BrS mutations were coexpressed in Human Embryonic Kidney-293 cells, showing a reduction in sodium current densities similar to typical BrS mutations. Importantly, this reduction in sodium current was also seen when the atypical mutations were expressed in rat or human cardiomyocytes. This decrease in current density was the result of reduced surface expression of both mutant and WT channels.

Conclusions-

Taken together, we have shown how apparently benign SCN5A BrS mutations can lead to the ECG abnormalities seen in patients with BrS through an induced defect that is only present when the mutations are coexpressed with WT channels. Our work has implications for risk management and stratification for some SCN5A-implicated BrS patients.

Of these, nearly 85% are located in the neck. These lesions rarely occur in the salivary glands. Clinically, CD can be divided into unicentric and multicentric forms. We report an unusual case with unicentric CD presenting as a parotid tumor in a 34-year-old woman. The lesion was found coincidentally during routine cranial magnetic resonance imaging in the absence of symptoms such as swelling or a mass in the parotid region.”
“In addition to its extracellular roles as a neurotransmitter/sensory

molecule, glutamate serves important intracellular signaling functions via its metabolism through glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH). GDH is a mitochondrial matrix enzyme that catalyzes the oxidative deamination of glutamate to alpha-ketoglutarate in a limited number of tissues in Danusertib humans, including the liver, the kidney, the brain, and the pancreatic islets. GDH activity is subject to complex regulation by negative (GTP, palmitoyl-coenzyme A) and positive ( ADP,

leucine) allosteric effectors. This complex regulation allows GDH activity to be modulated LY2090314 research buy by changes in energy state and amino acid availability. The importance of GDH regulation has been highlighted by the discovery of a novel hypoglycemic disorder in children, the hyperinsulinism-hyperammonemia syndrome, which is caused by dominantly expressed, activating mutations of the enzyme that impair its inhibition by GTP. Affected children present in infancy with hypoglycemic seizures after brief periods of fasting or the ingestion of a high-protein meal. Patients have characteristic persistent 3- to 5-fold elevations of blood ammonia concentrations but do not display the usual neurologic symptoms of hyperammonemia. The mutant GDH enzyme shows impaired responses to GTP inhibition. Isolated islets from mice that express the mutant GDH in pancreatic beta cells show an increased rate of glutaminolysis, increased insulin release in response to glutamine, and increased sensitivity to leucine-stimulated insulin secretion. The novel hyperinsulinism-hyperammonemia syndrome indicates that GDH-catalyzed glutamate metabolism

plays important roles in 3 tissues: Blebbistatin in beta cells, the regulation of amino acid-stimulated insulin secretion; in hepatocytes, the modulation of amino acid catabolism and ammoniagenesis; and in brain neurons, the maintenance of glutamate neurotransmitter concentrations. Am J Clin Nutr 2009;90(suppl):862S-6S.”
“In this report, we describe a 31-year-old man in whom acute pancreatitis was the initial feature of a subsequently diagnosed pancreatic adenocarcinoma with multiple metastases. He initially presented at our hospital with acute pancreatitis. Abdominal ultrasonography revealed a mildly dilated pancreatic duct and an enlarged pancreatic head. Although a follow-up abdominal ultrasonography revealed a progressively dilated pancreatic duct and a progressively enlarged pancreatic head, he refused further investigation and was lost to follow-up.

Two relaxation processes (marked as A and B) of the Sr(0.09)Pr(0.01)TiO(3) ceramics PD173074 inhibitor were investigated by analyzing the E(a) values obtained from the Arrhenius law. Colossal dielectric constant (CDC) was first obtained in Sr(0.09)Pr(0.01)TiO(3) ceramics, whose permittivity

was up to 3000 (1 kHz, room temperature), greater than that of pure SrTiO(3) ceramics and samples with more Pr addition (x =0.02 and 0.03). This CDC behavior was related to the internal barrier layer capacitance mechanism. (C) 2010 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3359715]“
“A better understanding of high-cost kidney transplant patients would be useful for informing value-based purchasing strategies by payers. This retrospective cohort study was based on the Medicare Provider Analysis and Review (MEDPAR) files from 2003 to 2006. The focus of this analysis was high-cost kidney transplant patients (patients that qualified for Medicare outlier payments

and 30-day readmission payments). Using regression techniques, we explored relationships Prexasertib between high-cost kidney transplant patients, center-specific case mix, and center quality. Among 43 393 kidney transplants in Medicare recipients, 35.2% were categorized as high-cost patients. These payments represented 20% of total Medicare payments for kidney transplantation and exceeded $200 million over the study period. Case mix was associated with these payments and was an important factor underlying variation in hospital payments high-cost patients. Hospital quality was also a strong determinant of future Medicare payments for high-cost patients. Compared to high-quality centers, low-quality centers cost Medicare an additional $1185 per kidney transplant.

Payments for high-cost patients represent a significant proportion of the total costs of kidney transplant surgical care. Quality improvement may be an important strategy for reducing the costs of kidney transplantation.”
“Intelligence is associated with performance on a wide range of cognitive tasks and is a reliable predictor for educational and professional success. Therefore, the development of effective training regimens that aim to Improve intelligence is of high interest. In recent years, Selleck BAY 73-4506 there has been accumulating evidence that certain interventions have a positive impact on intelligence. The aim of the present paper is to provide a literature review on such studies. Despite promising results, we conclude that there are still many unknown variables and that the mechanisms that underlie improvements in intelligence are not well understood. More work is needed in order to disentangle these involved processes and to further refine existing training regimens.”
“n-Hexane extract antioxidant properties from broccoli, sesame leaves, tomatos, black beans, coriander, and peels of apples, red grapes, carrots, and sweet potatos were determined in corn oil heated at 60 and 140 degrees C.

Sensory analysis was conducted on the Idaho trial site samples only. All data were pooled for analyses. Feeding zilpaterol hydrochloride increased carcass muscle deposition (P < 0.01) of both steer and heifer carcasses. However,

carcass percentage fat of steers and heifers was not affected (P > 0.11) by the zilpaterol treatment. In heifer carcasses, carcass moisture percentage was increased (P = 0.04) and bone percentage was decreased (P = 0.02), whereas LY294002 in steer carcasses, carcass moisture and bone percentage were not affected (P > 0.10). In heifer carcasses, carcass ash percentage was not affected (P = 0.61) by zilpaterol, whereas in steer carcasses, carcass ash percentage tended (P = 0.07) to be increased. The protein-to-bone ratio was increased (P < 0.001) by zilpaterol hydrochloride treatment in both steers and heifers, whereas the protein-to-fat ratio was not affected (P = 0.10). Cooking loss of the LM GS-9973 cost was not affected (P = 0.41) by zilpaterol treatment of steers or heifers. However, LM Warner-Bratzler

shear force was increased (P = 0.003) on average (3.3 vs. 4.0 kg) due to zilpaterol hydrochloride treatment of both steers and heifers. In both steers and heifers, LM sensory panel scores of overall juiciness (6.2 vs. 6.0), tenderness (6.2 vs. 6.0), and flavor intensity (6.2 vs. 6.0) tended (P = 0.06) to be decreased in cattle supplemented with zilpaterol. Zilpaterol hydrochloride Selleckchem Dactolisib is a repartitioning agent that seems to affect carcass composition primarily through protein deposition. However, zilpaterol treatment can adversely affect tenderness and other palatability traits.”
“We report on suspended single-layer graphene deposition by a transfer-printing approach based on polydimethylsiloxane stamps. The transfer printing method allows the exfoliation of graphite flakes from

a bulk graphite sample and their residue-free deposition on a silicon dioxide substrate. This deposition system creates a “”blistered”" graphene surface due to strain induced by the transfer process itself. Single-layer-graphene deposition and its blistering on the substrate are demonstrated by a combination of Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and atomic-force microscopy measurements. Finally, we demonstrate that blister-like suspended graphene are self-supporting single-layer structures and can be flattened by employing a spatially resolved direct-lithography technique based on electron-beam induced etching. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3633260]“
“Background: Engagement in cognitively stimulating activities (CA) and leisure time physical activity (PA) have been associated with maintaining cognitive performance and reducing the likelihood of cognitive decline in older adults. However, neural mechanisms underlying protective effects of these lifestyle behaviors are largely unknown.