Synthesis of Ultra-Thin Superionic Cu2Se and New Aspects of the Low-Temperature Crystal Configurations

Superionic conductors offer unique advantages for novel technological devices in various fields, such as energy storage and neuromorphic computing. Above 414 K, Cu2Se turns into a well-known superionic conductor via a phase transition, and it is demonstrated to exhibit peculiar electrical and thermoelectric properties in bulk. Here, we report a large-area synthesis of ultra-thin single crystalline Cu2Se using the chemical vapor deposition method. We demonstrate that Cu2Se crystals exhibit optically and electrically controllable robust phase reconfiguration below 414 K. Moreover, our results show that the mobility of the liquid-like Cu ion vacancies in Cu2Se causes macroscopic fluctuations in the Cu ordering. Consequently, phase variations are not dictated by the diffusive motion of the ions but by the local energy minima formed due to the interplay between the extrinsic and the intrinsic material parameters. As a result, long-range ordering of the crystal below 414 K is optically observable at a micrometer scale. Our results show that Cu2Se could find applications beyond thermoelectric such as smart optical coatings, optoelectronic switching, and ionic transistors

Second Harmonic Generation in Chemical Vapor Deposition Synthesized CuS Crystals

Copper sulfide (CuS) has garnered significant attention in various fields of application due to its unique electronic, optical, and catalytic features. In this study, we present the chemical vapor deposition (CVD)-based synthesis of ultrathin CuS crystals as thin as 14 nm with lateral sizes up to 60 um. The structure, morphology, and composition of the as-synthesized CuS crystals were thoroughly characterized. Among our results, we measured the first-order temperature coefficients of Raman shifts of CuS. Moreover, we showed that CuS crystals exhibited an unexpected second harmonic generation (SHG), which is attributed to the presence of defects in the CuS lattice. Our results suggest that single crystalline CuS possesses a considerable potential for nonlinear optical applications in conjunction with its current applications in electronics and catalysis

Problems of medical ethics from the view points of the specialist physicians in Qom

Background and Objectives: Medical ethics has a long history worldwide; although it is a new scientific discipline. Also, it is not just for a specific single group or discipline in a treatment team; it is the entire medical community who benefits from it. Given the importance of this issue, this study examined the viewpoints of the specialist physicians in Qom province on the most common issues in medical ethics, with the hope to take a step forward through identifying common problems and solving them. Methods: This descriptive study used the Delphi Method in which the views of the specialist physicians on the medical ethics were analyzed through two questionnaires. The first questionnaire contained some open questions, and the second one was designed to rank and rate the titles of medical ethics problems in terms of their prevalence. Results: The most common problems in medical ethics derived from the first questionnaire based on the order of priority were: secrecy, doctor-patient relationship, justice, telling the truth, privacy, informed consent, relationship with colleagues, patient's participation in treatment methods, dealing with improper treatment and interaction between the physician and treatment authorities. Conclusion: By identifying the common and more important problems based on the viewpoints of the specialist physicians in Qom province, it seems necessary to pay more attention on training in order to solve these problems

SD1000: High Sustained Viral Response Rate in 1361 Patients With Hepatitis C Genotypes 1, 2, 3, and 4 Using a Low-cost, Fixed-dose Combination Tablet of Generic Sofosbuvir and Daclatasvir: A Multicenter, Phase III Clinical Trial

Background. The combination of sofosbuvir and daclatasvir is a potent, pangenotypic regimen suitable for mass-scale hepatitis C treatment, especially in resource-limited countries where newer, expensive combinations are not available. This combination has been widely tested on genotype 4. However, Phase III trials of this combination in other genotypes have been cost prohibitive. With the introduction of generic, low-cost sofosbuvir and daclatasvir, large-scale studies in resource-limited countries are now possible. Methods. Sofosbuvir at 400 mg and daclatasvir at 60 mg were coformulated into a fixed-dose combination (FDC) tablet (Sovodak, Rojan Pharma, Tehran, Iran). Patients from 46 centers were dosed for 12 or 24 weeks with or without ribavirin, in line with existing guidelines. Responses to treatment were evaluated 12 weeks after the end of treatment (for a sustained virological response at Week 12; SVR12). Results. There were 1361 patients recruited. Overall, the patients were 21% female, with a mean age of 50 years; 39% were cirrhotic; 22% were treatment-experienced; 47% were genotype 1, 41% were genotype 3, and 2% were other genotypes. The genotype was not known in 10% of the patients. The intention-to-treat and per-protocol SVR12 rates were 94.7% and 98.8%, respectively. The safety profile was unremarkable, treatment was well tolerated, and compliance with the single-tablet regimen was excellent. Conclusions. The treatment with FDC of sofosbuvir and daclatasvir achieved high SVR12 rates, equivalent to those seen in Phase III trials of other pangenotypic options, and has been conducted at a similar scale in a representative, real-world population at a cost of under $100 per patient, which makes this combination suitable for elimination protocols in resource-limited countries. Keywords:sofosbuvir; daclatasvir; Hepatitis C; sustained virological response; generic drug