Search

Background: Patients with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) show structural alterations in the subcortical and dopaminergic regions of the brain. Methylphenidate is a first-line treatment for ADHD, and it is known to affect the subcortical and dopaminergic systems. The degree of pretreatment structural alterations in patients with ADHD may be an important factor in predicting methylphenidate treatment outcomes. The present study examined whether pretreatment volumetric alterations in the subcortical and dopaminergic regions predicted treatment response in youth with ADHD. Methods: This study included 67 youth with ADHD and 25 healthy controls. Youth with ADHD received 8 weeks of methylphenidate treatment. They completed baseline (pretreatment) 7-weighted structural MRI scans and underwent clinical assessments before and after methylphenidate treatment. The healthy controls also completed baseline structural MRI scans. We assessed volumetric alterations using relative volumes (volume of each region of interest/intracranial volume). Results: Among 67 youth with ADHD, 44 were treatment responders and 23 were nonresponders based on post-treatment scores on the Clinical Global Impression Scale-Improvement. Nonresponders had larger volumes in the bilateral amygdala and right thalamus than responders. Nonresponders also had larger volumes in amygdalar subregions (i.e., the bilateral lateral nucleus and right basal nucleus) and hippocampal subregions (i.e., the right hippocampal head and right molecular layer) relative to responders. Limitations: We did not collect post-treatment structural 7,-weighted images, so volumetric changes related to methylphenidate treatment in youth with ADHD were undetermined. Conclusion: These findings suggest that pretreatment volumetric alterations in subcortical regions may serve as biomarkers for predicting methylphenidate treatment response in youth with ADHD., Introduction Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder in children and adolescents that often continues until adulthood. (1) Youth with ADHD commonly show hyperactivity, inattentiveness and impulsivity, frequently expressed [...]

Purpose: To present a sample preparation and test methodology for evaluating the fracture resistance of ceramic materials configured in a way similar to the screw-access holes found in implant-supported ceramic full-arch devices.Materials and Methods: A finite-width rectangular plate with a central hole was designed to evaluate the critical stresses of ceramic full-arch screw-access holes. Different load scenarios were investigated by comparing forces applied to BruxZir Esthetic (Glidewell Laboratories) and BruxZir Esthetic enhanced with BruxZir Steel (Glidewell Laboratories) specimens.Results: Using the proposed test method, it was found that the fracture resistance of full-arch prostheses is largely dependent on the location of the screw-access hole and the inherent mechanical properties of the material (P < .001).Conclusion: The finite-width plate model may be suitable for evaluating the fracture resistance of ceramic full-arch prostheses. The fracture resistance of 3D ceramic full-arch prostheses can be greatly improved by improving the mechanical properties of the material and/or increasing the wall thickness of the screw access hole by relocation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are now approaching their theoretical limits and the optimization of the auxiliary layers is crucial for fully exploiting the potential of perovskite materials. In this study, NiOx as a hole‐transport layer (HTL) for inverted p–i–n PSCs is focused on. Sputtered NiOx is an attractive p‐type HTL owing to its facile processing, wide energy bandgap that prevents electron transfer, high transparency, stability, and effective hole extraction. Despite substantial research on sputtered NiOx, the relationship between the carrier concentration and work function is still unclear. In this study, the use of sputtered NiOx as a widely compatible HTL and the effect of its thickness on PSC device performance are investigated. Inverted PSCs with the optimal 10 nm thick NiOx achieve a remarkable power conversion efficiency of 20.54%, which is the highest reported to date for sputtered NiOx‐based PSCs. Furthermore, PSCs with various NiOx thicknesses demonstrate similar performances, demonstrating the excellent versatility of NiOx for use with different perovskite absorbers. The devices exhibit excellent thermal and photostability, retaining 97% of their initial power conversion efficiency at 65 °C and 1 sun illumination for 350 h. Sputtered NiOx HTLs have great potential for use with diverse perovskite compositions and PSC structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past couple of decades, immense research has been carried out to understand the photo‐physics of an organic solar cell (OSC) that is important to enhance its efficiency and stability. Since OSCs undergoes complex photophysical phenomenon, studying these factors has led to designing new materials and implementing new strategies to improve efficiency in OSCs. In this regard, the invention of the non‐fullerene acceptorshas greatly revolutionized the understanding of the fundamental processes occurring in OSCs. However, such vital fundamental research from device physics perspectives is carried out on glovebox (GB) processed OSCs and there is a scarcity of research on air‐processed (AP) OSCs. This review will focus on charge carrier dynamics such as exciton diffusion, exciton dissociation, charge‐transfer states, significance of highest occupied molecular orbital‐offsets, and hole‐transfer efficiencies of GB‐OSCs and compare them with the available data from the AP‐OSCs. Finally, key requirements for the fabrication of efficient AP‐OSCs will be presented from a charge‐carrier dynamics perspective. The key aspects from the charge‐carrier dynamics view to fabricate efficient OSCs either from GB or air are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obesity is a well-established risk factor for various malignancies and emerging evidence suggests that adipokines play a pivotal role in linking excess adiposity to tumorigenesis. Adipokines are bioactive molecules secreted by adipose tissue and their altered expression in obesity contributes to a pro-inflammatory, pro-angiogenic, and growth-promoting microenvironment conducive to tumorigenesis. Leptin, a key adipokine, activates survival and proliferative signaling pathways whereas adiponectin exhibits tumor-suppressive effects by inducing apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. Visfatin has also been documented to promote tumor growth, angiogenesis, migration, and invasion. Moreover, emerging studies suggest that adipokines, such as resistin, apelin, and chemerin, which are overexpressed in obesity, may also possess oncogenic functions. Despite advancements in our understanding of the roles of individual adipokines in cancer, the intricate interplay and crosstalk between adipokines, tumor cells, and the tumor microenvironment remain complex and multifaceted. This review highlights the evolving knowledge of how adipokines contribute to obesity-related tumorigenesis, shedding light on the potential of targeting adipokine signaling pathways as a novel therapeutic approach for obesity-associated cancers. Further research on the specific mechanisms and interactions between adipokines and tumor cells is crucial for a comprehensive understanding of obesity-associated cancer pathogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]