Synthesis and characterization of gold nanoparticles doped zinc oxide nanostructures for ultraviolet photodetector application

Zinc oxide nanostructures (ZONSs) doped with different noble metallic nanoparticles (NPs) with customized structures, morphologies and optical characteristics have immense fundamental and applied interests. The potential of the gold nanoparticles (AuNPs)-doped with ZONSs for the photodetectors and solar cells applications have rarely been explored. Based on these facts, in this study, a series of AuNPs-doped ZONSs were prepared and characterized systematically via diverse analytical techniques. The effects of the substrates type, thickness, and growth parameters on the structural, morphological and optical properties of the proposed AuNPs-doped ZONSs were determined. In addition, the optimum sample from each series was selected to fabricate the metal-semiconductor-metal (MSM) ultraviolet (UV) photodetector. First, the ZONSs were deposited (at a rate of 0.3 A°/sec) on the borosilicate glass and three types of n-Si (100) (plain, polished and etched with surface treatment) substrates using the versatile radio frequency (RF) sputtering method operated at 300°C, RF power of 100 W, Argon flow of 10 sccm and pressure of (-5) millibar. The layer of thickness of the deposited ZONSs on both substrates were varied in the range of 100 to 400 nm. The optimum substrate was found to be the etched n-Si (n-ESi) with the thickness of 300 nm. Next, the colloidal AuNPs were synthesized inside deionized water (DW) using the laser ablation in liquid technique. In this process, a gold target was ablated using the Nd-YAG laser (1064 nm) operated for 6 minutes at different energies (96.6, 226, 286 and 336 mJ) and fixed frequency of 6 Hz. The formation of the AuNPs inside DW was verified using the high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HrTEM), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and UV absorption spectroscopy. The AuNPs colloidal suspension prepared at laser energy of 286 mJ was the optimum one and selected for doping into ZONSs. Later, the droplets of the optimum AuNPs colloidal suspension were soaked (both at dark and room temperature for 48 hours) on the deposited optimal ZONSs film to achieve the best AuNPs-doped ZONSs useful for the photodetector fabrication, Finally, the silver (Ag) electrodes were deposited on the AuNPs-doped ZONSs film using the RF sputtering to design the MSM (Ag/n-ESi/ZONSs- AuNPs/Ag) UV photodetector. The current-voltage (I-V) characteristics of the obtained photodetector were measured in the dark and under UV light (380 nm) illumination. The photoluminescence spectra of the optimum AuNPs-doped ZONSs showed an intense near band edge UV peak at 380 nm corresponding to the band gap energy of 3.26 eV. The best MSM UV photodetector revealed a very high responsivity (3.05 A/W), good photosensitivity (1044.5), fast response time (0.29 s) and very short recovery time (0.26s). It was demonstrated that the UV photodetector performance of the ZONSs can remarkably be improved via the AuNPs doping. Additionally, carefully adjusting the nature of the substrates, growth parameters of the RF sputtering and laser ablation technique the structures, morphologies, optical and electrical traits of AuNPsdoped ZONSs can tailor the UV photoreactor productions for different applications. The proposed MSM UV photodetectors may be advantageous for various optoelectronic applications

Behavior of High Strength Concrete Columns Intersected by Normal Strength Concrete Beams

Under axial compression stress, ten column specimens were investigated, one of which was an isolated column specimen, while the others were beam-column specimens with varying concrete strengths intersected with normal strength concrete. The column axial strength and behaviour were studied with the following parameters: different ratios of column concrete strength to beam concrete strength ( / ) (1, 1.58 and 1.89), different confinement ratios (ties) at the column location that intersected with the beam (0, 0.0049, and 0.0098), and the effects of confining beam-column joint by beams on two sides of the column. The experimental results demonstrated that the strength of the inner beam-column joint depends on the confining of the beam-column joint by ties. The ties change the failure location from the beam-column joint to the upper and lower column. The existence of ties overcomes the problem of normal concrete strength between high strength concrete (HSC). The proposed method is compared with ACI and CSA equations to show the efficiency of the models. ACI model gave significantly underestimated results

Twice-daily insulin glargine for patients with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Insulin glargine is recombinant human insulin analog that is commonly used in patients with type 2 diabetes as well as those with type 1 diabetes. Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamics studies of insulin glargine had shown that it has an onset of action that ranged from 1.2 to 1.8 h while its duration of action is 18 to 26 h. Because of its long duration of action insulin glargine is usually prescribed once daily. However, several reports have shown that the administration of insulin glargine once daily is not enough to achieve adequate glucose control in some patients requiring a twice daily dosing. The first report on using insulin glargine twice daily was published shortly after its availability. It described a patient with type 1 diabetes who had consistently elevated bedtime glucose values on once daily insulin glargine administered in the evening. There was significant improvement in glucose values after changing the frequency of insulin glargine to twice daily as a split dose every 12 h. Albright and colleagues found that twice daily glargine therapy was required in patients with type 1 diabetes who developed morning hypoglycemia and/or afternoon hyperglycemia while on once daily therapy; the twice daily regimen was associated with a significant reduction in HbA1c levels compared to patients who were on once daily therapy

The Judicial Control over the Constitutionality of Laws in the State of Palestine

This article aimed to explore the judicial control over the constitutionality of laws in the State of Palestine. The article problem was represented in the authority involved with judicial control over the constitutionality of laws in Palestine, and what is the legal effect of ruling on the unconstitutionality of specific legislation? The judicial control is meant the constitutional judiciary undertakes to examine the constitutionality of laws and regulations issued by the Legislative Council or the President of State, to determine whether they are in conformity with the constitution or are in violation of it. This article uses normative legal research with using legislation approach and doctrinal approach. The importance of this article is that it has been discussed the legal framework governing judicial control of the constitutionality of laws in Palestine, and sheds light on the concept of judicial control, its mechanisms, nature, and effects to ensure the protection and consolidation of constitutional texts..In order to achieve the objective of this study, the socio-legal research using the qualitative approach was engaged to describe and analyse the opinions of jurists, legal texts, and rulings of constitutional courts in Palestine. Among the most important results that the author reached is that the state of law cannot be established without adopting the principle of judicial control over the constitutionality of laws to protect the legal texts that exist within the constitution, which is the supreme law within the legislative hierarch

Parametric study for optimizing fiber-reinforced concrete properties

Concrete with fiber reinforcement is stronger and more ductile than concrete without reinforcement. Significant efforts have been made to demonstrate the properties and enhancements of concrete after reinforcement with various types and shapes of fibers. However, the issue of optimization in the reinforcement process is still unanswered. There is no academic study in the literature now available that can pinpoint the ideal fiber type, quantity, and shape and, more crucially, the overall technical viability of the reinforcement. The parametric analysis in this study determines the ideal shape, size, and proportion of fibers. The input and output parameters were separated from the optimization design variables. Input parameters included assessment of samples of fresh and mechanical concrete properties and the influence of type, length, and percentage of fiber on concrete performance. The aim was to establish the most efficient relationship between fiber dose and dimension to optimize the combined responses of workability and splitting tensile, flexural, and compressive strength. The mechanical and fresh properties of concrete reinforced with four different fibers, PFRC-1, PFRC-2, SFRC-1, and SFRC-2, were tested. The analysis showed that SFRC-2-20 mm-1%, with compressive, split tensile, flexural, and workability values of 44.7 MPa, 3.64 MPa, 5.3 MPa, and 6.5 cm respectively, was the most effective combination among the materials investigated. The optimization technique employed in this study offers new, important insights into how input and output parameters relate to one another

Intraventricular Hemorrhage in Preterm Infants, Review Article

Intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) or germinal matrix (GM) in other words, is a condition that can occur in premature births and can lead to long-term medical and developmental effects. While GM/IVH can happen in full-term infants, the hemorrhage in this group of infants is different from periventricular hemorrhage (PVH)/IVH in premature infants. Family members and caregivers of preterm infants and those at risk of preterm birth are confronted with two significant uncertainties concerning these newborns: Is the survival of this child likely? Will the child experience long-term sequelae, particularly developmental sequelae, if they survive? The significance of these questions lies in their potential to impact future medical decisions, including the level of intensity in the care provided. Infants born prematurely can suffer from various acquired lesions in the central nervous system (CNS), leading to long-term disability. These lesions include GM/IVH, periventricular white matter injury, hemorrhage, and diffuse injury to the developing brain. GM/IVH continues to be a major contributor to both illness and death in premature newborns.  GM/IVH is primarily diagnosed by brain imaging techniques, typically cranial ultrasonography, as depicted below. Screening and serial examinations are essential for diagnosing GM/IVH, as it can occur without any noticeable clinical indications

Photo-electrochemically synthesized light emtting nanoporous silicon based UV photodetector: influence of current density

Nanoporous silicon (n-PSi) with diverse morphologies was prepared on silicon (Si) substrate via photo-electrochemical etching technique. The role of changing current density (15, 30 and 45 mA cm−2) on the structure, morphology and optical properties was determined. As-prepared samples were systematically characterized using XRD, FESEM, AFM and photoluminescence measurements. Furthermore, the achieved n-PSi sample was used to make metal–semiconductor–metal (MSM) UV photodetector. The performance of these photodetectors was evaluated upon exposing to visible light of wavelength 530 nm (power density 1.55 mW cm−2), which exhibited very high sensitivity of 150.26 with a low dark current. The achieved internal photoconductive gain was 2.50, the photoresponse peak was 1.23 A W−1 and the response time was 0.49 s and the recovery time was 0.47 s. Excellent attributes of the fabricated photodetectors suggest that the present approach may provide a cost effective and simple way to obtain n-PSi suitable for sundry applications

Hepatotoxicity induced by horse ATG and reversed by rabbit ATG: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The use of antilymphocyte agents has improved patient and graft survival in hematopoietic stem cell and solid organ transplantation but has been associated with the development of short-term toxicities as well as long-term complications.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>We report a young female with Fanconi anemia who received antithymocyte globulin as part of the conditioning regimen prior to her planned allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre in Riyadh. She developed sudden and severe hepatotoxicity after receiving the first dose of horse antithymocyte globulin, manifested by marked elevation of serum transaminases and mild elevation of serum bilirubin level. Immediately after withdrawal of the offending agent and shifting to the rabbit form of antithymocyte globulin, the gross liver dysfunction started to subside and the hepatic profile results returned to the pre-transplant levels few weeks later. The patient had her allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant as planned without any further hepatic complications. After having a successful allograft, she was discharged from the stem cell transplant unit. During her follow up at the outpatient clinic, the patient remained very well and no major complication was encountered.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Hepatotoxicity related to the utilization of antithymocyte globulin varies considerably in severity and may be transient or long standing. There may be individual or population based susceptibilities to the development of side effects and these adverse reactions may also vary with the choice of the agent used. Encountering adverse effects with one type of antithymocyte agents should not discourage clinicians from shifting to another type in situations where continuation of the drug is vital.</p

The interrelationship and accumulation of cardiometabolic risk factors amongst young adults in the United Arab Emirates: The UAE Healthy Future Study.

INTRODUCTION: Similar to other non-communicable diseases (NCDs), people who develop cardiovascular disease (CVD) typically have more than one risk factor. The clustering of cardiovascular risk factors begins in youth, early adulthood, and middle age. The presence of multiple risk factors simultaneously has been shown to increase the risk for atherosclerosis development in young and middle-aged adults and risk of CVD in middle age. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to address the interrelationship of CVD risk factors and their accumulation in a large sample of young adults in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). METHODS: Baseline data was drawn from the UAE Healthy Future Study (UAEHFS), a volunteer-based multicenter study that recruits Emirati nationals. Data of participants aged 18 to 40 years was used for cross-sectional analysis. Demographic and health information was collected through self-reported questionnaires. Anthropometric data and blood pressure were measured, and blood samples were collected. RESULTS: A total of 5126 participants were included in the analysis. Comorbidity analyses showed that dyslipidemia and obesity co-existed with other cardiometabolic risk factors (CRFs) more than 70% and 50% of the time, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis of the risk factors with age and gender showed that all risk factors were highly associated with each other. The strongest relationship was found with obesity; it was associated with four-fold increase in the odds of having central obesity [adjusted OR 4.70 (95% CI (4.04-5.46)], and almost three-fold increase odds of having abnormal glycemic status [AOR 2.98 (95% (CI 2.49-3.55))], hypertension (AOR 3.03 (95% CI (2.61-3.52))] and dyslipidemia [AOR 2.71 (95% CI (2.32-3.15)]. Forty percent of the population accumulated more than 2 risk factors, and the burden increased with age. CONCLUSION: In this young population, cardiometabolic risk factors are highly prevalent and are associated with each other, therefore creating a heavy burden of risk factors. This forecasts an increase in the burden of CVD in the UAE. The robust longitudinal design of the UAEHFS will enable researchers to understand how risk factors cluster before disease develops. This knowledge will offer a novel approach to design group-specific preventive measures for CVD development

Impact of opioid-free analgesia on pain severity and patient satisfaction after discharge from surgery: multispecialty, prospective cohort study in 25 countries

Background: Balancing opioid stewardship and the need for adequate analgesia following discharge after surgery is challenging. This study aimed to compare the outcomes for patients discharged with opioid versus opioid-free analgesia after common surgical procedures.Methods: This international, multicentre, prospective cohort study collected data from patients undergoing common acute and elective general surgical, urological, gynaecological, and orthopaedic procedures. The primary outcomes were patient-reported time in severe pain measured on a numerical analogue scale from 0 to 100% and patient-reported satisfaction with pain relief during the first week following discharge. Data were collected by in-hospital chart review and patient telephone interview 1 week after discharge.Results: The study recruited 4273 patients from 144 centres in 25 countries; 1311 patients (30.7%) were prescribed opioid analgesia at discharge. Patients reported being in severe pain for 10 (i.q.r. 1-30)% of the first week after discharge and rated satisfaction with analgesia as 90 (i.q.r. 80-100) of 100. After adjustment for confounders, opioid analgesia on discharge was independently associated with increased pain severity (risk ratio 1.52, 95% c.i. 1.31 to 1.76; P &lt; 0.001) and re-presentation to healthcare providers owing to side-effects of medication (OR 2.38, 95% c.i. 1.36 to 4.17; P = 0.004), but not with satisfaction with analgesia (beta coefficient 0.92, 95% c.i. -1.52 to 3.36; P = 0.468) compared with opioid-free analgesia. Although opioid prescribing varied greatly between high-income and low- and middle-income countries, patient-reported outcomes did not.Conclusion: Opioid analgesia prescription on surgical discharge is associated with a higher risk of re-presentation owing to side-effects of medication and increased patient-reported pain, but not with changes in patient-reported satisfaction. Opioid-free discharge analgesia should be adopted routinely