Metal-free polymer/MWCNT composite fiber as an efficient counter electrode in fiber shape dye-sensitized solar cells

Highly aligned multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) as fiber were modified with a conducting polymer via a simple dip coating method. Modified MWCNT exhibited admirable improvement in electrocatalytic activity for the reduction of tri-iodide in dye sensitized solar cells. Scanning electron microscopy images confirm the successful deposition of polymer on MWCNT. Cyclic voltammetry, square wave voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy studies were carried out to investigate the inner mechanism for the charge transfer behaviour. Results from bare and modified electrodes revealed that the MWCNT/(poly (3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) (

PEDOT

PSS) composite electrode is much better at catalysing the [Formula: see text] redox couple compared to the pristine fiber electrode. The photoelectric conversion efficiency of 5.03% for the modified MWCNT electrodes was comparable with that of the conventional Pt-based electrode. The scientific results of this study reveal that MWCNT/PEDOT:PSS may be a better choice for the replacement of cost intensive electrode materials such as platinum. Good performance even after bending up to 90° and in-series connection to enhance the output voltage were also successfully achieved, highlighting the practical application of this novel device.

Correlation- and covariance-supported normalization method for estimating orthodontic trainer treatment for clenching activity

In this study, electromyography signals sampled from children undergoing orthodontic treatment were used to estimate the effect of an orthodontic trainer on the anterior temporal muscle. A novel data normalization method, called the correlation- and covariance-supported normalization method (CCSNM), based on correlation and covariance between features in a data set, is proposed to provide predictive guidance to the orthodontic technique. The method was tested in two stages: first, data normalization using the CCSNM; second, prediction of normalized values of anterior temporal muscles using an artificial neural network (ANN) with a Levenberg-Marquardt learning algorithm. The data set consists of electromyography signals from right anterior temporal muscles, recorded from 20 children aged 8-13 years with class II malocclusion. The signals were recorded at the start and end of a 6-month treatment. In order to train and test the ANN, two-fold cross-validation was used. The CCSNM was compared with four normalization methods: minimum-maximum normalization, z score, decimal scaling, and line base normalization. In order to demonstrate the performance of the proposed method, prevalent performance-measuring methods, and the mean square error and mean absolute error as mathematical methods, the statistical relation factor R2 and the average deviation have been examined. The results show that the CCSNM was the best normalization method among other normalization methods for estimating the effect of the trainer.

Two cases of 9p deletion syndrome and a case of partial trisomy 8 and partial monosomy 9p

Two cases of 9p deletion syndrome anda case of partial trisomy 8 and partial monosomy 9p: We report 3 girls with mental retardation (MR), distinctive malformations of the skull and facial region, including trigonocephaly, small palpebral fissures, and unusually midface hypoplasia, congenital heart defects which are characteristics of monosomy 9p. We performed GTG banding and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) method in all cases. By using cytogenetic methods, three terminal deletions of the short arm of the chromosome 9 were identified and in 2 patients the deletion was de novo, and one patient inherited deletion. FISH analysis showed 46,XX,del(9)(pter-p22).ish del(9)(pter-->p22) in two patients and 46,XX,-9,+der(9)t(8;9)(q24.3;p22)pat.ish der(9)t(8;9)(q24.3;p22)pat (305J7-T7x1,wcp8+,wcp9+) in the third patient. This report compares the symptoms and features of our patients with previously reported patients with a 9p deletion syndrome.

Photovoltaic characterization of hybrid solar cells using surface modified TiO(2) nanoparticles and poly(3-hexyl)thiophene

We report on the photovoltaic performance of bulk heterojunction solar cells using novel nanoparticles of 6-palmitate ascorbic acid surface modified TiO(2) as an electron acceptor embedded into the donor poly(3-hexyl)thiophene (P3HT) matrix. Devices were fabricated by using P3HT with varying amounts of red TiO(2) nanoparticles (1:1, 1:2, 1:3 w-w ratio). The devices were characterized by measuring current-voltage characteristics under simulated AM 1.5 conditions. Incident photon to current efficiency (IPCE) was spectrally resolved. The nanoscale morphology of such organic/inorganic hybrid blends was also investigated using atomic force microscopy (AFM).

Targeting of tumor cells expressing the prostate stem cell antigen (PSCA) using genetically engineered T-cells

BACKGROUND

Curative therapeutic options for minimal residual disease or advanced tumor stages in prostate cancer (PCa) are still missing. Adoptive transfer of cytotoxic T-cells that have been polyclonally rendered tumor-specific by genetic engineering appears to be a promising immunotherapeutic strategy. Among the numerous prostate tissue/tumor antigens identified during the last years, the "prostate stem cell antigen" (PSCA) is an attractive immunotherapeutic target. It is broadly expressed on the surface of primary PCa cells as well as on PCa metastases.

METHODS

To generate a chimeric T-cell receptor (TCR) recognizing PSCA, a monoclonal anti-PSCA antibody was raised and a single-chain fragment (scFv) was prepared. The resulting anti-PSCA scFv 7F5 was fused to the beta2 constant region derived from the beta-chain of a TCR and to the CD3zeta-signaling domain.

RESULTS

The chimeric alpha-PSCA-beta2/CD3zeta-TCR, expressed in Jurkat cells, was phosphorylated in the ITAMs of the CD3-zeta chain upon cross-linking by insolublized PSCA. When transduced into a mouse cytotoxic T-cell line, the chimeric receptor specifically activated cytotoxicity against PSCA-positive tumor cells.

CONCLUSIONS

We developed a functional chimeric TCR against PSCA for treatment of PCa. The chimeric alpha-PSCA-beta2/CD3zeta-TCR might now be used for arming human cytotoxic T-cells for further studies towards a clinical treatment of PCa.

Nuclear localization of Survivin renders HeLa tumor cells more sensitive to apoptosis by induction of p53 and Bax

Clinical studies have shown that nuclear expression of the inhibitor of apoptosis protein Survivin in tumor cells predicted a favorable prognosis whereas cytosolic-localized protein caused a decreased overall survival. Therefore Survivin's subcellular localization may be important for its anti-apoptotic capacity. To address this question, we investigated localization and function of Survivin in normal human lung fibroblasts (NHLFs) and HeLa tumor cells. NHLFs of early passages expressed Survivin in the nucleus and were highly sensitive to C2 ceramide, which induces the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. In contrast, NHLFs at higher passages relocated Survivin to the cytosol and became more resistant to C2 ceramide. Blocking nuclear export of Survivin by leptomycin B in HeLa cells increased susceptibility to C2 ceramide. In addition, transduction of HeLa cells with Survivin fused to a nuclear localization signal augmented basal expression levels of p53 and Bax and enhanced sensitivity for intrinsic apoptosis. Those findings suggest that a predominant nuclear localization of Survivin increases the sensitivity for pro-apoptotic stimuli, whereas nuclear export enables Survivin to fulfill its inhibitor of apoptosis function. A therapeutic intervention which holds Survivin in the nucleus of tumor cells might improve cancer therapy.

[Acute and chronic effects of UDCG 115 BS (pimobendan) in patients with advanced myocardial failure]

In a double-blind, placebo-controlled cross-over study acute hemodynamic effects of oral UDCG 115 BS (5 and 10 mg) were investigated in myocardial heart failure before (n = 16) and after (n = 13) chronic treatment (4 weeks). Before chronic treatment, UDCG 115 BS induced a similar increase in cardiac index with both doses (5 mg: from 2.4 +/- 0.7 to 3.5 +/- 0.7 l/min/m2, p less than 0.001; 10 mg: from 2.5 +/- 0.6 to 3.6 +/- 0.9 l/min/m2, p less than 0.001). Both right atrial pressure and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure were clearly reduced (p less than 0.001). Heart rate increased slightly only after 5 mg (p less than 0.05). Systemic vascular resistance was reduced (p less than 0.001), whereas mean blood pressure did not change. After chronic treatment (2 x 5 or 2 x 10 mg/d) and cessation of medication for 24 h there was no difference for control hemodynamic values as compared to placebo. Acute hemodynamic effects were considerably attenuated in comparison with the results obtained before chronic treatment. NYHA-classification, however, clearly (p less than 0.05) improved during administration of UDCG 115 BS as compared to placebo. Two patients died on placebo, whereas no patient expired on verum. This might indicate a therapeutic longterm effect of UDCG 115 BS, despite the observed development of partial tolerance.