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This thesis aims to expand on the fundamental knowledge of crystal growth, selectively focusing on the area of particle-seeded nanowire growth in the III-V materials system. The growth process is complex. It typically occurs via the vapor-liquid-solid method, wherein growth material is supplied in the vapor phase, but the solidification process occurs dynamically, layer by layer, via an intermedia
Epigenetic mechanisms may contribute to idiopathic scoliosis (IS). We identified 8 monozygotic twin pairs with IS, 6 discordant (Cobb angle difference >10°) and 2 concordant (Cobb angle difference ≤2°). Genome‐wide methylation in blood was measured with the Infinium HumanMethylation EPIC Beadchip. We tested for differences in methylation and methylation variability between discordant twins and tes
Industrial catalysts are often comprised of nanoparticles supported on high-surface-area oxides, in order to maximise the catalytically active surface area and thereby utilise the active material better. These nanoparticles expose steps and corners that, due to low coordination to neighboring atoms, are more reactive and, as a consequence, are often assumed to have higher catalytic activity. We ha
The outer membrane protein A (OmpA) family contains an evolutionary conserved domain that links the outer membrane in Gram-negative bacteria to the semi-rigid peptidoglycan (PG) layer. The clinically significant pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa carries several OmpA family proteins (OprF, OprL, PA0833, and PA1048) that share the PG-binding domain. These proteins are important for cell morphology, me
BACKGROUND: Fish is a primary source of protein and n-3 PUFA but also contains methylmercury (MeHg), a naturally occurring neurotoxicant to which, at sufficient exposure levels, the developing fetal brain is particularly sensitive. OBJECTIVES: To examine the association between prenatal MeHg and maternal status of n-3 and n-6 PUFA with neurodevelopment, and to determine whether PUFA might modify p
Different ZnO nanostructures can be grown using low-cost chemical bath deposition. Although this technique is cost-efficient and flexible, the final structures are usually randomly oriented and hardly controllable in terms of homogeneity and surface density. In this work, we use colloidal lithography to pattern (100) silicon substrates to fully control the nanorods' morphology and density. Moreove
Three-dimensional growth of nanostructures can be used to reduce the threading dislocation density that degrades III-nitride laser performance. Here, nanowire-based hexagonal GaN microprisms with flat top and bottom c-facets are embedded between two dielectric distributed Bragg reflectors to create dislocation-free vertical optical cavities. The cavities are electron beam pumped, and the quality (
Background: This study aimed to explore associations between various elements of primary care, patient satisfaction, and loyalty. Methods: This cross-sectional study used a modified version of the Primary Care Assessment Tool (PCAT), which was adapted for Japan. We distributed the PCAT questionnaire to patients aged 20 years or older at five rural primary care centres in Japan. We confirmed the va
Modeling diffusion of nonspherical particles presents an unsolved and considerable challenge, despite its importance for the understanding of crowding effects in biology, food technology and formulation science. A common approach in experiment and simulation is to map nonspherical objects on effective spheres to subsequently use the established predictions for spheres to approximate phenomena for
Here we report on the experimental results and advanced self-consistent real device simulations revealing a fundamental insight into the non-linear optical response of n+-i-n+ InP nanowire array photoconductors to selective 980 nm excitation of 20 axially embedded InAsP quantum discs in each nanowire. The optical characteristics are interpreted in terms of a photogating mechanism that results from
Through the optimization of the perovskite precursor composition and interfaces to selective contacts, we achieved a p-i-n-type perovskite solar cell (PSC) with a 22.3% power conversion efficiency (PCE). This is a new performance record for a PSC with an absorber bandgap of 1.63 eV. We demonstrate that the high device performance originates from a synergy between (1) an improved perovskite absorbe
Importance: Preterm birth has been associated with increased risk of heart failure (HF) early in life, but its association with new-onset HF in adulthood appears to be unknown. Objective: To determine whether preterm birth is associated with increased risk of HF from childhood into mid-adulthood in a large population-based cohort. Design, Setting, and Participants: This national cohort study was c
High-performance polymer donors when paired with nonfullerene acceptors are mainly limited to flanking halogenated benzodithiophene (BDT)-based π-conjugated copolymers, which however involve complex synthetic procedures. Herein, a series of halogen-free polymer donors that link BDT moiety with two highly electron-deficient benzodithiophene-dione (BDD) and diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP) units with vari
The surface area of a building that could potentially be used for Building Integrated Photovoltaics would increase dramatically with the availability of transparent solar cells that could replace windows. The challenge is to capture energy from outside the visible region (UV or IR) while simultaneously allowing a high-quality observation of the outside world and transmitting sufficient light in th
Background: Continuous monitoring of seasonal influenza vaccine effectiveness (SIVE) is needed due to the changing nature of influenza viruses and it supports the decision on the annual update of vaccine composition. Age-specific SIVE was evaluated against different influenza sub-types in the hospitalized population in Lithuania during four influenza seasons. Methods: A test-negative case-control
Aim: To improve consistency between register studies in Sweden and ensure valid comparisons of possible changes in alcohol-related disorders and diseases (ARDDs) over time, we propose a definition of ARDDs. Based on this definition, we examined Sweden’s incidence rates of ARDDs from 1970 to 2018 in non-primary healthcare settings (inpatient and outpatient). Methods: Swedish Society of Epidemiology
Surface segregation phenomena dictate core-shell preference of bimetallic nanoparticles and thus play a crucial role in the nanoparticle synthesis and applications. Although it is generally agreed that surface segregation depends on the constituent materials' physical properties, a comprehensive picture of the phenomena on the nanoscale is not yet complete. Here we use a combination of molecular d
Using grazing incidence X-rays and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy during the mass transfer limited catalytic oxidation of CO, the long-range surface structure of Pd(100) was investigated. Under the reaction conditions of 50:4 O2 to CO, 300 mbar pressure, and temperatures between 200 and 450 °C, the surface structure resulting from oxidation and the subsequent oxide reduction was elucidated. The
DNA damage and unrepaired or insufficiently repaired DNA double-strand breaks as well as telomere shortening contribute to the formation of structural chromosomal aberrations (CAs). Non-specific CAs have been used in the monitoring of individuals exposed to potential carcinogenic chemicals and radiation. The frequency of CAs in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) has been associated with cancer ri
