University of Turku

About: University of Turku is a education organization based out in Turku, Finland. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Galaxy. The organization has 16296 authors who have published 45124 publications receiving 1505428 citations. The organization is also known as: Turun yliopisto & Åbo universitet.

n- and p-Doped Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene): Two Electronically Conducting States of the Polymer

Abstract: Neutral poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) thin films can be switched to an electronically conducting form either by oxidation (p-doping) or reduction (n-doping) in anhydrous organic solvents. The maximum attainable n-conductivity is ca. 1% of the maximum p-conductivity. However, based on spectroelectrochemical and in-situ conductance measurements, the p-conductivity regime can be divided into two domains, in which either positive polarons or bipolarons and free carriers are the major charge carriers. In the n-conductivity regime, voltammetric, spectral, and conductance data suggest only the generation of negative polaron-type carriers. These results imply that the conductivity due to positive or negative polarons is of the same order of magnitude and that the higher maximum p-conductivity may be attributed to the generation of other charge carriers in the highly stable oxidized PEDOT films. The reduced form is not stable even in an extremely dry oxygen-free environment, which severely hampers the u...

Genome-wide meta-analysis identifies six novel loci associated with habitual coffee consumption.

Abstract: Coffee, a major dietary source of caffeine, is among the most widely consumed beverages in the world and has received considerable attention regarding health risks and benefits. We conducted a genome-wide (GW) meta-analysis of predominately regular-type coffee consumption (cups per day) among up to 91,462 coffee consumers of European ancestry with top single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) followed-up in ~30 062 and 7964 coffee consumers of European and African-American ancestry, respectively. Studies from both stages were combined in a trans-ethnic meta-analysis. Confirmed loci were examined for putative functional and biological relevance. Eight loci, including six novel loci, met GW significance (log10Bayes factor (BF)>5.64) with per-allele effect sizes of 0.03-0.14 cups per day. Six are located in or near genes potentially involved in pharmacokinetics (ABCG2, AHR, POR and CYP1A2) and pharmacodynamics (BDNF and SLC6A4) of caffeine. Two map to GCKR and MLXIPL genes related to metabolic traits but lacking known roles in coffee consumption. Enhancer and promoter histone marks populate the regions of many confirmed loci and several potential regulatory SNPs are highly correlated with the lead SNP of each. SNP alleles near GCKR, MLXIPL, BDNF and CYP1A2 that were associated with higher coffee consumption have previously been associated with smoking initiation, higher adiposity and fasting insulin and glucose but lower blood pressure and favorable lipid, inflammatory and liver enzyme profiles (P<5 × 10(-8)).Our genetic findings among European and African-American adults reinforce the role of caffeine in mediating habitual coffee consumption and may point to molecular mechanisms underlying inter-individual variability in pharmacological and health effects of coffee.

HL-A 27 in reactive arthritis. A study of Yersinia arthritis and Reiter's disease.

Abstract: The histocompatibility antigen HL-A 27 was identified in 43 of 49 patients with yersinia arthritis and in 36 of 40 patients with Reiter's disease, compared with 3 of 20 patients with yersinia infection without arthritis and 14% of the normal Finnish population. HL-A 2 occurred in patients with reactive arthritis in the same high frequency as did HL-A 27, but this antigen is present in 55% of Finns. HL-A 27 negative patients usually had a mild or somewhat atypical disease.