A room temperature acetone sensor based on synthesized tetranitro-oxacalix[4]arenes: Thin film fabrication and sensing properties

Tetranitro-oxacalix[4]arenes were prepared to determine their thin film fabrication and gas sensing applications. Firstly, tetranitro-oxacalix[4]arenes (1-3) were synthesized via nucleophilic aromatic sub-stitution reaction (SNAr) using substituted resorcinol derivatives and 1,5-difluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene with moderate to high yields. Later, successfully synthesized materials were utilized to construct thin films using the spin coating method and the characterization of the deposited films was performed with UV-vis and surface plasmon resonance (SPR). Characterization results indicated that high-quality spin coated thin films were prepared using these materials. The sensing abilities of the spin-coated thin films of tetranitro-oxacalix[4]arenes (1-3) were tested using the SPR method for volatile organic vapours of acetone, chloroform, toluene, ethanol and benzene. High concentration sensitivity values of 0.0700 x 10(-3), 0.1001 x 10(-3) and 0.8653 x 10(-3) with normalized response/ppm unit for acetone vapour were obtained for thin films (1-3), respectively. The sensors obtained using especially thin films 1 and 3 showed high responses toward acetone even at low concentration ranges between 3.8-15.2 ppm. These sensors have the advantages of high sensitivity, reusability and reproducibility of results which make them compatible for practical acetone-detection applications. (c) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.TUBITAK [113Z706]We thank Cansu OZKAYA for valuable contributions to this study. We are grateful to TUBITAK (Project No 113Z706) for financial support for the synthesis of studied molecules (1-3)

Humidity effect on real-time response of tetranitro-oxacalix[4] arene-based surface plasmon resonance (SPR) acetone sensor at room temperature

We report the effect of humidity on the acetone sensitivity of nano-sized thin films obtained by spin coating the oxacalix[4]arenes(1,3) molecules on suitable substrates in this work. The surface morphologies and volatile organic compound (VOC) sensor properties of spin-coated thin films were examined using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and surface plasmon resonance (SPR), respectively. It was determined that the sensitivities calculated from the measurements performed using a mixture of acetone and water vapor were 14% and 11% incorrect for the 1 and 3 thin film sensors, respectively, compared to those performed with dry air and acetone mixture

Global wealth disparities drive adherence to COVID-safe pathways in head and neck cancer surgery

Peer reviewe

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Anatomical Course of the Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve and Its Relationship with the Surrounding Structures: A Prospective Surgical Study

Background: Despite all the advances in thyroid surgery, thyroidectomy remains an operation open to complications due to the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) which the thyroid gland is closely surrounded by. This study aims to investigate the anatomical relationship of the RLN with the surrounding structures and define the relationships between these structures. Methods: In this prospective study, the relationship of the RLN with the surrounding anatomical structures, which consist of Berry’s ligament, inferior thyroid artery, tracheoesophageal groove, and the inferior constrictor muscle, and the presence of extralaryngeal branching were evaluated during thyroid surgery performed on 91 patients. Results: A total of 151 thyroid lobectomies were performed, which included 75 right and 76 left lobectomies. One patient presented a nonRLN on the right side, and of the remaining 150 thyroid lobectomy materials, 40 (26.7%) demonstrated a nerve passing anterior to, 93 (62%) passing inside, and 17 (11.3%) passing posterior to the tracheoesophageal groove. Evaluation of the relationship between the nerve and Berry’s ligament revealed that the nerve was located on the lateral side of Berry’s ligament in 114 lobectomies (76%). The nerve passed anterior to the inferior thyroid artery in 29 lobectomies (19.3%), between its branches in 17 (11.3%), and posterior to the artery in 104 (69.4%). The nerve was found to penetrate the crico-pharyngeal part of the inferior pharyngeal constrictor muscle in 8 lobectomies (5.3%), while it entered the larynx immediately under the muscle fibers in 142 (94.7%). The RLN demonstrated branching before entering the larynx in a total of 9 cases (6%). It was determined that the relationship of the nerve and the associated anatomical structures did not cause a significant difference in either side

The effect of bony obliteration on quality of life after tympano‐mastoidectomy surgery: A prospective observational controlled cohort study

Abstract Objectives The study's primary objective was to compare the quality of life (QoL) and external auditory canal (EAC) hygiene among patients who underwent bony mastoid obliteration or meatoplasty after canal wall down (CWD) mastoidectomy. Methods A prospective, observational, controlled cohort study was conducted at our tertiary referral university hospital. Twenty‐eight patients older than 16 years of age with chronic otitis media who underwent CWD mastoidectomy were included. Two cohorts were followed: CWD mastoidectomy followed by mastoid obliteration (Group 1, n = 14) and CWD mastoidectomy followed by meatoplasty (Group 2, n = 14). The main outcome measures of total COMBI score (postoperative 6‐month QoL) and EAC hygiene were compared between the groups. Results The average age of the patients was 36.14 (12. 22) years; 15 (53.6%) were female and 13 (46.4%) were male. There were no differences in demographic variables, preoperative findings, or COMQ‐12 (preoperative QoL) scores between groups. The average COMBI score of Group 1 (49.0 [8.66]) was not significantly different from Group 2 (46.79 [7.76]) (p = .482). Poor EAC hygiene was observed in eight (57.1%) patients in Group 2 and three (21.4%) patients in Group 1 (p = .06). In Group 1, no resorption of graft material was observed in 10 (71.4%) patients, minor resorption was observed in three (21.4%) patients, and significant resorption was observed in one (7.1%) patient. There were no significant differences in audiological findings between groups (p > .05). Conclusion There were no significant differences regarding short‐term postoperative QoL, EAC hygiene, or hearing outcomes between patients who underwent bony mastoid obliteration or meatoplasty after CWD mastoidectomy. Level of Evidence 1b (individual prospective cohort study)