Versatile Electroluminescence Color-Tuning Strategy of an Efficient Light-Emitting Electrochemical Cell (LEC) by an Ionic Additive.

The color-tuning strategies of solid-state light-emitting devices (ss-LEDs) are mainly focused on engineering molecular structures. In this paper, for the first time, we developed a facile strategy for tuning the electroluminescence (EL) color from orange to green through the addition of the ionic additive TBAP (tetrabutylammonium perchlorate). To achieve the active ionic emissive compound for use in a light-emitting electrochemical cell (LEC), the neutral biscyclometalated bromo tetrazole iridium(III) [Ir(ppy)2(BrTz)] was exchanged to its cationic complex, [Ir(ppy)2(BrTz-Me)]ClO4 (ppy = 2-phenyl pyridine, BrTz = 4-bromo-2-pyridine tetrazole, BrTz-Me = 4-bromo-2-pyridine methyl tetrazole) with a new synthetic strategy. This method allows employing neutral Ir-cyclometalated complexes, which are ruled out for use in LECs because of their non-ionic behaviors. In the following, an LEC based on the new cationic [Ir(ppy)2(BrTz-Me)]ClO4 as the emissive layer was fabricated between the FTO (fluorine-doped tin oxide) anode and Ga:In alloy cathode without using any additive or polymers, which makes this configuration the simplest ss-LED so far. By adding the ionic additives, the electroluminescence characteristics of [Ir(ppy)2(BrTz-Me)]ClO4 were dramatically increased, including luminance (L) from 162.8 cd/m2 for the device with an additive to 212.9 and 355.9 cd/m2 for devices containing LiTFSI (bis(trifluoromethane)sulfonamide lithium salt) and TBAP, respectively. In particular, when TBAP was added to the [Ir(ppy)2(BrTz-Me)]ClO4 complex, the irradiance was significantly increased from 166.4 to 220.8 µW/cm2 with an efficacy of 1.78 cd/A and external quantum efficiency (EQE) value of 2.14%. The obtained EL results clearly showed that adding TBAP and LiTFSI significantly improved the electroluminescence characteristics and tuned the electroluminescence color.

The effects of flaxseed supplementation on metabolic syndrome parameters, insulin resistance and inflammation in ulcerative colitis patients: An open-labeled randomized controlled trial.

The present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of flaxseed supplementation in the management of metabolic syndrome (MetS)-related parameters among the patients with mild-to-moderate ulcerative colitis (UC). A randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted on 70 patients with UC. Participants were randomized in the intervention group, which received 30 g/day ground flaxseed powder or control group. Anthropometric and biochemical variables were assessed at the beginning and end of 12 weeks of intervention. Of the 70 patients enrolled in this study, 64 subjects were included in the final analysis. From baseline to 12 weeks' intervention, flaxseed supplementation resulted in a significant reduction in the serum concentration of insulin (p < .001), HOMA-IR (p < .001), triglyceride (p = .001), total cholesterol (p < .001), and significant increase in the serum levels of HDL (p = .008). Also, we found a significant improvement in the SCCAI score (p < .001), TNF-α (p = .03), and CRP (p < .001) following the flaxseed supplementation. However, we not observed any significant differences between two groups regarding the body weight, BMI, waist circumferences, systolic, and diastolic blood pressure (p > .05). Overall, 12 weeks of flaxseed supplementation resulted in greater improvement in the some MetS-related parameters.

The effects of flaxseed supplementation on gene expression and inflammation in ulcerative colitis patients: An open-labelled randomised controlled trial.

AIMS: Inflammatory bowel disease, a chronic inflammatory disorder of the intestinal mucosa, is a clinical presentation of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis (UC). This study investigated the effect of grounded flaxseed (GF) and flaxseed oil (FO) on clinical biomarkers, quality of life and diseases activity in patients with UC. This research was conducted among 90 patients with UC for 12 weeks using an open-labelled randomised controlled trial design. METHODS: The participants were randomly assigned into two intervention groups supplemented with GF (30 gr/day) and FO (10 gr/day) as well as a control group. The participants' data were collected prior to and 12 weeks after the intervention. The one-way analysis of variance was run to compare variables. RESULTS: A total of 75 patients completed the study. After the intervention, hs-CRP (P < .001) and Mayo score (P < .001) were reduced significantly, but quality of life was increased significantly (P < .001) in the GF and FO groups compared with the control. A significant increase was observed in IL-10 concentration in the FO group, but no significant change was found in serum levels of IL-10 in the control group. Moreover, the decrease in Mayo score was greater in patients at more severe stages of the disease (P < .05). No difference was observed between the intervention groups and control group in mRNA expression level of TLR4 at the 12th week. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, grounded flaxseed and FO attenuated systemic inflammation and improved disease severity in UC patients.

Effects of flaxseed and flaxseed oil supplement on serum levels of inflammatory markers, metabolic parameters and severity of disease in patients with ulcerative colitis.

OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to evaluate the possible effect of grounded flaxseed and flaxseed oil on serum levels of inflammatory markers, metabolic parameters, and the severity of disease in patients with UC. METHODS: In this open-labeled randomized controlled trial, 90 UC patients were randomly assigned to one of the 3 groups for 12 weeks: grounded flaxseed (GF; 30 g/day), flaxseed oil (FO; 10 g/day) and control group. The weight, waist circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, serum inflammatory markers (interleukin-6 (IL-6), interferon gamma (INF-γ), transforming growth factor beta (TGF-ß), and Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR)), and fecal calprotectin were measured at the baseline and end of the study. RESULTS: Totally, 75 patients (43 men and 32 women) with a mean age of 31.54 ±â€¯9.84 years participated in the present study. Comparing the change of the variables indicated a significant decrease in fecal calprotectin (P < 0.001), Mayo score (P < 0.001), ESR (P < 0.001), INF-γ (P < 0.001), IL-6 (P < 0.001), waist circumference (P = 0.02), Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP) (P < 0.001), and Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP) (P < 0.001) and a significant increase in TGF-ß (P < 0.001) and Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire-Short form (IBDQ-9) score (P < 0.001) in the GF and FO groups compared to the control. No difference was obvious between the FO and GF groups except for TGF-ß. CONCLUSION: The present study showed that both flaxseed and flaxseed oil, attenuate inflammatory markers, disease severity, blood pressure, and WC. However, the effect of flaxseed on weight and BMI was not evident.

Polypyridyl ligands as a versatile platform for solid-state light-emitting devices.

The replacement of inorganic semiconductors with molecule-based compounds for applications in current-to-light conversion has led to a significant increase in interdisciplinary collaborations worldwide, affording new improved organic-light emitting diodes (OLEDs) ripe for commercial applications, as well as light-emitting electrochemical cells (LECs) that have recently started to head to the market. This review highlights the role that transition metal coordination complexes (TMCs) have played in advancing the field of molecular electronics, from early conception to the advanced development of several polypyridyl complexes currently pursued for both OLED and LEC concepts. In this context, the design and synthesis of Ir(iii), Pt(ii), Cu(i) and Ag(i) complexes as the emissive components of OLEDs and LECs are thoughtfully presented. We discuss how molecular design is pivotal for fine-tuning color and optimizing power efficiencies, highlighting the key roles of the metal, cyclometalate, and ancillary polypyridyl ligands. We provide insight into the strategies exploited for the development of new, improved emitters and their fabrication into OLEDs/LECs with high external quantum efficiencies and stabilities. In addition, we have surveyed the remarkable photophysical properties of third generation TMCs capable of undergoing thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF). Since previous reviews of TADF materials are strongly biased towards organic-based systems, this overview compliments other synopses of light emitting TADF materials. Finally, we shed light onto the conceptual challenges that still need to be overcome to advance the rational design of TMC-based TADF emitters with tunable ligands and the subsequent fabrication of OLEDs/LECs, which are tailor-made for each specific application.

Association between dietary glycemic index and glycemic load with depression: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: A combination of genetic and environmental factors is involved in depression etiology. During the last years, the prevalence of depression has increased in both developed and developing countries. Several studies indicated an association between dietary glycemic index (GI) and glycemic load (GL) with risk of depression. This systematic review was undertaken to summarize the effect of these diet indicators in depression pathogenesis. METHODS: A comprehensive search strategy was performed in the Pubmed, Embase, Cochrane Library and Scopus databases from 1966 to March 2017. Finally, six studies (three prospective cohort studies and three cross-sectional) were ultimately selected for inclusion in the systematic review. RESULTS: 75298 adults and elderly entered the reviewed studies. All of the included studies had high methodological quality. The present study indicated that the intake of foods with higher GI is associated with disease risk. However, the relationship was found to be inverse for GL, though the association was rather weak. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the findings indicated that a diet with lower dietary glycemic index may be effective to reduce the risk or risk of depression.