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The linewidth of the resonances in the single-electron tunneling spectra has been investigated for PbSe semiconductor nanocrystals (NCs) with scanning tunneling spectroscopy at low temperature. The linewidth of the resonances corresponding to tunneling through the first conduction and valence levels is found to increase with decreasing size of the NCs. Based on theoretical calculations, this broadening is mainly induced by the coupling between the tunneling electrons and the longitudinal optical phonon mode of the NC, and by the splitting of the degenerate electronic levels between the different L-valleys in the Brillouin zone. For the smallest sizes, it is shown that the intervalley splitting is the major source of broadening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ga[sub 1-x]Mn[sub x]As layers with Mn composition of up to 6.2% are investigated by cross-sectional scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy. We identify in the tunneling spectra contributions from Mn[sup -, sub Ga] acceptor states, compensating As[sup 2+, sub Ga] donor states, and additional compensating donor states, which we suggest to be Mn[sup 2+, sub i] interstitials. On basis of the observed Fermi level shift and a charge carrier compensation analysis, we deduce the concentration of Mn[sup 2+, sub i] interstitials. Furthermore, scanning tunneling microscopy images suggest an inhomogeneous distribution of Mn dopant atoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In lung transplant patients, direct oral anticoagulants are often taken in combination with immunosuppressive drugs such as tacrolimus. Since tacrolimus is a substrate and inhibitor of the efflux protein ABCB1, also transporting direct oral anticoagulants, a possible drug-drug interaction mediated by competition for this transporter needs to be investigated., Objectives: To determine the in vitro effect of tacrolimus on ABCB1-mediated rivaroxaban transport in order to support clinician practice., Methods: Recombinant cell line models, based on human embryonic kidney 293 cells, were generated by a stable transfection process to overexpress ABCB1 or not (control cells). The impact of tacrolimus on ABCB1-mediated rivaroxaban transport was assessed by accumulation experiments., Results: ABCB1 expression decreased the cellular accumulation of rivaroxaban and tacrolimus at their respective clinically relevant concentrations when compared with control cells. This confirms the involvement of ABCB1 in the active transport of tacrolimus and rivaroxaban. However, tacrolimus had no significant influence on rivaroxaban disposition at those clinically relevant concentrations., Conclusion: Our study does not provide evidence for a possible interaction between tacrolimus and rivaroxaban when used together in practice., (© 2024 The Authors.)

Bictegravir, a key second-generation integrase strand transfer inhibitor in the treatment of HIV, is subject to active efflux transport mediated by ABCB1 (P-glycoprotein). Several coding variants of ABCB1 have been described and associated with variable effects on substrate drugs pharmacokinetics. Here, we investigated the effect of the four most common coding ABCB1 single nucleotide polymorphisms (i.e., c.1199G > A, c.1236C > T, c.2677G > T and c.3435C > T) on the intracellular accumulation of bictegravir. Using a previously validated HEK293 recombinant cell line model, we found decreased bictegravir intracellular concentrations in cell lines overexpressing ABCB1 as compared to control cell lines, in line with the known role of ABCB1 in bictegravir transport. However, we were unable to demonstrate any significant difference in bictegravir intracellular accumulation when comparing HEK293 cells overexpressing the wild type (1236C-2677G-3435C, 1199G) or the variant (1236C-2677G-3435T, 1236T-2677T-3435T or 1199A) proteins. These findings suggest that the ABCB1 c.1199G > A and c.1236C > T-c.2677G > T-c.3435C > T variants have no or at least limited impact on the active transport of bictegravir by ABCB1., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Objective: To analyze whether significant differences exist between free-hand three-dimensional (3D) planning-guided cortical bone trajectory (CBT) screw placement and 3D-printed template-guided CBT screw positioning in terms of accuracy, size of screws, and potential complications., Methods: In this retrospective study, data of adult patients in whom CBT screws were placed for lumbar degenerative pathologies were extracted from a prospectively collected database and analyzed. Patients in whom screws were placed using free-hand 3D planning-guided technique were compared with patients in whom screws were positioned using customized 3D-printed templates. Size of the screws, accuracy, clinical outcomes, and complications were analyzed., Results: The study evaluated 251 patients (1004 screws). The free-hand 3D planning-guided group included 158 patients (632 screws), and the 3D-printed template-guided group included 93 patients (372 screws). The 3D-printed template-guided group involved screws of larger size from L3 to S1. Differences between the 2 groups in terms of accuracy parameters reached statistical significance (P ≤ 0.05)., Conclusions: With the use of 3D patient-matched template guides, mean diameter and length of CBT screws could be safely increased due to improved accuracy of screw placement. Based on previous evidence regarding CBT biomechanical properties, these advantages could allow increased fixation strength over traditional convergent pedicle screw trajectories. Further biomechanics studies are needed., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: Among the many questionnaires available to evaluate low back pain (LBP) patients, the Core Outcome Measures Index (COMI) has the unique advantage to investigate five dimensions using seven short questions. The aim of this study was to explore additional properties of the questionnaire in a French-speaking non-surgical population., Methods: This study was conducted on 168 patients suffering from subacute or chronic LBP and followed up for 6 months in three French-speaking countries. In addition to basic psychometric properties (e.g., construct validity, floor and ceiling effect, reproducibility), internal validity was analyzed by a factor analysis using Cronbach's alpha. Responsiveness and sensitivity to change were assessed through minimal detectable change (MDC), effect size, and Minimal Clinically Important Improvement (MCII). We used an anchor-based method with receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis to assess MCII and the Patient Acceptable Symptom State., Results: Construct validity, reliability (Cronbach's alpha = 0.87), reproducibility and the absence of floor and ceiling effects were confirmed. Factor analysis indicated a one-dimensional construct that validates the use of a sum score. The MDC (2.1) was inferior to the MCII (2.3). The limit below which the patient claims to be in a fair condition (Patient Acceptable Symptom State) was set at 3., Conclusions: The COMI is a self-report questionnaire with the capacity to easily and quickly explore several dimensions in patients with LBP that can be then summarized in a meaningful sum score. Additional knowledge provided by our study should encourage the widespread use of the COMI among the spine community.

Arcuate line hernia is considered a surgical rarity. This type of hernia is characterized by protrusion of intraperitoneal structures in a concave parietal fold in the abdominal wall. In this report, we aim to describe the diagnostic images of 2 cases of arcuate line hernia. Laparoscopic repair using a polypropylene mesh with a preattached inflatable balloon has been illustrated as well.