A Low-Cost IEEE 802.15.7 Communication System Based on Organic Photodetection for Device-to-Device Connections.

In this article, we compare two different kinds of commercial light-emitting diodes (LEDs) in transmission and organic photodetectors based on poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and a phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) blend used as active layer in reception. Photovoltaic cells based on massive heterojunctions of semiconductor polymers have focused the attention of researchers due to their several potential advantages over their inorganic counterparts, such as their simplicity, low cost, and ability to process large area devices, even on flexible substrates. Furthermore, in logistics, storage management systems require the implementation of technological solutions that allow the control of merchandise in real time by means of light-emitting diode signals that send information about the product. However, the slow response time of these organic photodetectors should not be critical for this application, where the light intensity changes are very slow, which limits the speed of data transmission compared to inorganic based systems that use wireless optical communications. Finally, we show a low-cost visible light communication system based on organic photodetectors with a frame based on on-off keying with Manchester encoding to support device-to-device connections.

Towards a greener photovoltaic industry: Enhancing efficiency, environmental sustainability and manufacturing costs through solvent optimization in organic solar cells.

The energy sector is a major contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions, necessitating a transition to renewable energy sources. The photovoltaic industry plays a crucial role in this transition by harnessing solar energy, a clean and abundant resource. However, the high cost of solar panels remains a challenge. Organic solar cells (OSCs) offer a promising alternative to conventional silicon-based cells due to their low production costs and flexibility. In this study, we focus on optimizing the performance of OSCs by investigating the influence of solvent volume in the hole transport layer. By gradually increasing the volume of dimethylformamide (DMF), dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), and tetrahydrofuran (THF) in the PEDOT:PSS layer, we analyse the impact on power conversion efficiency (PCE) and assess the economic and environmental implications. Our results demonstrate the potential for enhancing the PCE of OSCs through solvent optimization, thereby advancing the greening of the photovoltaic industry while considering economic viability and environmental sustainability.

Reduced Graphene Oxide Inserted into PEDOT:PSS Layer to Enhance the Electrical Behaviour of Light-Emitting Diodes.

In this study, poly(9-vinylcarbazole) (PVK)-based LEDs doped with reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and cadmium sulphide (CdS) nanocrystals were fabricated by spin-coating. The hybrid LED structure was a layer sequence of glass/indium tin oxide (ITO)/PEDOT:PSS|rGO/PVK/Al. rGO was included in the poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) layer due to its energy bands being close to PEDOT:PSS bands, and the possibility of using water for dispersing both polymer and flakes. Optical properties such as photoluminescence and UV-Vis absorption were not affected by the addition of rGO to the PEDOT:PSS solution. However, PVK-based LEDs with rGO showed increased current density compared to those without rGO in the hole transporting layer. Higher electroluminescence intensities were observed for rGO-enriched LEDs, although the shape of the spectrum was not modified. LEDs including CdS nanocrystals in the poly(9-vinylcarbazole) emissive layer did not show such dependence on the rGO presence. Though the addition of rGO to PEDOT:PSS still produces a slightly higher current density in CdS doped LEDs, this growth is no longer proportional to the rGO load.

Phenotypical features of the p.R120W mutation in the GDAP1 gene causing autosomal dominant Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.

Mutations in the ganglioside-induced-differentiation-associated protein 1 gene (GDAP1) can cause Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease with demyelinating (CMT4A) or axonal forms (CMT2K and ARCMT2K). Most of these mutations present a recessive inheritance, but few autosomal dominant GDAP1 mutations have also been reported. We performed a GDAP1 gene screening in a clinically well-characterized series of 81 index cases with axonal CMT neuropathy, identifying 17 patients belonging to 4 unrelated families in whom the heterozygous p.R120W was found to be the only disease-causing mutation. The main objective was to fully characterize the neuropathy caused by this mutation. The clinical picture included a mild-moderate phenotype with onset around adolescence, but great variability. Consistently, ankle dorsiflexion and plantar flexion were impaired to a similar degree. Nerve conduction studies revealed an axonal neuropathy. Muscle magnetic resonance imaging studies demonstrated selective involvement of intrinsic foot muscles in all patients and a uniform pattern of fatty infiltration in the calf, with distal and superficial posterior predominance. Pathological abnormalities included depletion of myelinated fibers, regenerative clusters and features of axonal degeneration with mitochondrial aggregates. Our findings highlight the relevance of dominantly transmitted p.R120W GDAP1 gene mutations which can cause an axonal CMT with a wide clinical profile.

Expanded Electroluminescence in High Load CdS Nanocrystals PVK-Based LEDs.

Immiscibility between dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and polar solvents used for poly(N-vinylcarbazole) (PVK) solutions, leads to failed light-emitting diodes when colloidal cadmium sulfide (CdS) nanoparticles capped with thiophenol are incorporated to their active layer. To prevent this, a heat treatment is applied to the CdS nanoparticles in order to evaporate DMSO solvent. After evaporation most of the nanoparticles increased their size, and some of them show hexagonal crystalline structure instead of the original cubic zinc-blende observed in colloidal pre-treated nanoparticles. Nevertheless, enhanced electronic properties are measured in light-emitting devices when DMSO-free nanoparticles are embedded in the poly(N-vinylcarbazole) active layer. Light emission from these hybrid devices comprises the whole visible range of wavelengths as searched for white LEDs. Moreover, electroluminescence from both types of CdS nanoparticles (smaller cubic and bigger hexagonal) has been discriminated and interpreted through Gaussian deconvolution.

[Arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy. Patterns of ventricular involvement using cardiac magnetic resonance]. / Resonancia magnética cardiaca en miocardiopatía arritmogénica. Tipos de afección y patrones de realce tardío de gadolinio.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Biventricular arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy and left dominant arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy forms had recently been included in the spectrum of arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy. The aim of the study was to describe, using cardiovascular magnetic resonance, the patterns of ventricular involvement as well as late gadolinium enhancement in these conditions. METHODS: Medical databases and records from the cardiology units of 3 hospitals were reviewed to obtain data from patients with arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy. RESULTS: Twenty-six consecutive patients were included (40 [16] years, 16 males). Right ventricle involvement was present in 19 patients (73%). Among them, 13 patients (50%) had volumes over the upper limit of normality, 11 (42%) patients had late gadolinium enhancement in right ventricle and 6 patients (23%) had just mild involvement with wall motion abnormalities or microaneurysms. Left ventricle involvement was present in 24 patients (92%), all of them with late gadolinium enhancement. In 15 patients (57%) left ventricular systolic dysfunction was observed, and dilatation in 3 patients (11%). Late gadolinium enhancement was more frequent in the inferior, lateral, and inferolateral walls (65%, 57%, and 61% of patients, respectively) while septum was seldom affected (26% of cases). The pattern of late gadolinium enhancement was mainly subepicardial (46% of patients) or transmural (19%), and was intramyocardial in only 12% of the cases. CONCLUSIONS: In this sample, left ventricle involvement is very common. The most frequent finding was left ventricular late gadolinium enhancement, while the least frequent was dilatation. The pattern of late gadolinium enhancement was more frequently subepicardial and located in the inferior and inferolateral walls.

Resonancia magnética cardiaca en miocardiopatía arritmogénica. Tipos de afección y patrones de realce tardío de gadolinio / Arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy. Patterns of ventricular involvement using cardiac magnetic resonance

Introducción y objetivos. La miocardiopatía arritmogénica biventricular y la miocardiopatía arritmogénica izquierda han sido incluidas recientemente en el espectro de la miocardiopatía arritmogénica. El objetivo del estudio es describir con cardiorresonancia magnética el tipo de afección observada y describir los patrones de realce tardío de gadolinio. Métodos. Se revisaron las bases de datos y la historia clínica informatizada de tres hospitales, para obtener datos de enfermos consecutivos con miocardiopatía arritmogénica. Resultados. Se incluyó a 26 pacientes consecutivos, con una media de edad de 40 ± 16 años, de los que 16 eran varones (67%). Se observó afección de ventrículo derecho en 19 pacientes (73%), con volúmenes aumentados en 13 pacientes (50%), 11 pacientes (42%) con realce tardío de gadolinio en ventrículo derecho y 6 (23%) presentaban únicamente alteraciones de la contractilidad segmentaria. Se observó afección de ventrículo izquierdo en 24 pacientes (92%), todos con realce tardío de gadolinio; 15 pacientes (57%) presentaron disfunción sistólica ventricular izquierda. En 3 pacientes (11%) se observó dilatación de ventrículo izquierdo y ninguno de ellos fue diagnosticado de miocardiopatía arritmogénica izquierda. La localización del realce tardío de gadolinio fue predominantemente inferior (65%), inferolateral (61%) y lateral (57%), mientras que la localización septal fue menos frecuente (26%). El patrón de realce tardío de gadolinio fue fundamentalmente epicárdico (46%) y transmural (19%), raramente intramiocárdico (12%). Conclusiones. En esta muestra, la afección del ventrículo izquierdo es muy frecuente; el hallazgo observado en el mayor número de pacientes fue el realce tardío de gadolinio y el menos frecuente, la dilatación. El patrón de realce tardío de gadolinio es subepicárdico y afecta a territorios inferior, inferolateral y lateral (AU)

Introduction and objectives. Biventricular arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy and left dominant arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy forms had recently been included in the spectrum of arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy. The aim of the study was to describe, using cardiovascular magnetic resonance, the patterns of ventricular involvement as well as late gadolinium enhancement in these conditions. Methods. Medical databases and records from the cardiology units of 3 hospitals were reviewed to obtain data from patients with arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy. Results. Twenty-six consecutive patients were included (40 [16] years, 16 males). Right ventricle involvement was present in 19 patients (73%). Among them, 13 patients (50%) had volumes over the upper limit of normality, 11 (42%) patients had late gadolinium enhancement in right ventricle and 6 patients (23%) had just mild involvement with wall motion abnormalities or microaneurysms. Left ventricle involvement was present in 24 patients (92%), all of them with late gadolinium enhancement. In 15 patients (57%) left ventricular systolic dysfunction was observed, and dilatation in 3 patients (11%). Late gadolinium enhancement was more frequent in the inferior, lateral, and inferolateral walls (65%, 57%, and 61% of patients, respectively) while septum was seldom affected (26% of cases). The pattern of late gadolinium enhancement was mainly subepicardial (46% of patients) or transmural (19%), and was intramyocardial in only 12% of the cases. Conclusions. In this sample, left ventricle involvement is very common. The most frequent finding was late gadolinium enhancement, while the least frequent was dilatation. The pattern of late gadolinium enhancement was more frequently subepicardial and located in the inferior and inferolateral walls (AU)

Hematoma epidural cervical espontáneo: a propósito de un caso y revisión de la bibliografía / Spontaneous cervical epidural hematoma: a case report and review of the literature

Presentamos el caso de una paciente de 78 años de edad con un hematoma epidural espinal espontáneo que debutó con dolor interescapular brusco junto con hemiparesia izquierda y mejoría significativa a los 15 minutos. Inicialmente diagnosticada de angor, la persistencia de dolor en raquis cervicodorsal aconseja la realización de una resonancia magnética (RM). Esta muestra una lesión en el conducto raquídeo, de localización epidural, desde C3 hasta D2, de señal heterogénea, con áreas hiperintensas en secuencias T1 y áreas hipointensas en eco de gradiente y sin signos de mielopatía compresiva. Diagnosticada de hematoma epidural, debido a la evolución favorable de la clínica se optó por un tratamiento conservador. En la segunda RM se observó reabsorción completa del hematoma epidural (AU)

Descripción de una familia con síndrome de Alport / Description of a family with Alport's syndrome

Introducción: El síndrome de Alport es una nefritis hereditaria que cursa con hematuria persistente e insuficiencia renal crónica en personas jóvenes, estando asociada a menudo a sordera neurosensorial y alteraciones oculares. La herencia de este síndrome es fundamentalmente ligada al cromosoma X debido a mutaciones en el gen COL4A5, aunque existen otras formas de transmisión genética de tipo autosómico dominante y autosómico recesivo. Observación clínica: Presentamos 4 casos de una familia, la madre, dos hijos y una hija, con Síndrome de Alport y herencia dominante ligada al cromosoma X. En los 2 varones descritos existe una rápida progresión de la enfermedad hacia insuficiencia renal crónica, acompañándose de alteraciones auditivas desde edades tempranas, mientras en las hembras el curso clínico es más lento y benigno. Se realizó biopsia en uno de los hermanos presentando alteraciones en microscopia electrónica típicas de esta nefropatía. Conclusión: La presencia de hematuria y alteraciones de la función renal en edades tempranas debe hacer pensar en las distintas formas de nefropatías hereditarias y dentro de este grupo en el síndrome de Alport (AU)