Seed-Layer Free Zinc Tin Oxide Tailored Nanostructures for Nanoelectronic Applications: Effect of Chemical Parameters

POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007688Semiconductor nanowires are mostly processed by complex, expensive, and high temperature methods. In this work, with the intent of developing zinc tin oxide nanowires (ZTO NWs) by low-cost and low-complexity processes, we show a detailed study on the influence of chemical parameters in the hydrothermal synthesis of ZTO nanostructures at temperatures of only 200 degrees C. Two different zinc precursors, the ratio between zinc and tin precursors, and the concentration of the surfactant agent and of the mineralizer were studied. The type and the crystallinity of the nanostructures were found to be highly dependent on the used precursors and on the concentration of each reagent. Conditions for obtaining different ZTO nanostructures were achieved, namely, Zn2SnO4 nanoparticles and ZnSnO3 nanowires with length similar to 600 nm, with the latter being reported for the first time ever by hydrothermal methods without the use of seed layers. Optical and electrical properties were analyzed, obtaining band gaps of 3.60 and 3.46 eV for ZnSnO3 and Zn2SnO4, respectively, and a resistivity of 1.42 k Omega.cm for single ZnSnO3 nanowires, measured using nanomanipulators after localized deposition of Pt electrodes by e-beam assisted gas decomposition. The low-temperature hydrothermal methods explored here proved to be a low-cost, reproducible, and highly flexible route to obtain multicomponent oxide nanostructures, particularly ZTO NWs. The diversity of the synthesized ZTO structures has potential application in next-generation nanoscale devices such as field effect nanotransistors, nanogenerators, resistive switching memories, gas sensors, and photocatalysis.proofpublishe

Ultrasonography Reliability in the Detection of Inflammatory and Structural Abnormalities: An Exercise in Multiple Joints

Background Ultrasonography is an image technique that allows rheumatologists to visualize structural and inflammatory changes within a joint. The objective of this study was to assess the interobserver and intraobserver reliability of musculoskeletal ultrasound (US) in the detection of inflammatory and destructive joint changes in patients with polyarthritis. Methods A Delphi exercise was undertaken to standardize and adapt the EULAR-OMERACT elementary US definitions of inflammatory lesions (effusion, synovial hypertrophy, power Doppler, bone erosions, and synovitis) for each joint. Fifteen patients were analyzed, and video clips of 600 joints were collected. Each joint was scored for the presence of each elementary component, on 2 separate occasions, by 6 examiners. Interobserver and intraobserver agreement analysis was assessed through Fleiss κ coefficient (κ). Results Considering all patients and all joints, the interobserver values were highest for erosions and lowest for effusion (κ = 0.7314 and κ = 0.6044, respectively). When analyzing different regions, the highest interobserver agreement was for tibiotalar joint (κ = 0.8043) and the lowest for wrist (κ = 0.6767). Intraobserver reliability was excellent for each and all elementary components and anatomical region. Conclusions The present study showed either a good or excellent US interobserver and intraobserver reliability in elementary elements and anatomical region. This kind of US reliability exercises are important for standardization of exploration in everyday practice by reducing the variability associated with this imaging technique, and ensuring a greater degree of homogeneity and future comparability in the assessment of disease activity in polyarthritis patients.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

High UV and sunlight photocatalytic performance of porous ZnO nanostructures synthesized by a facile and fast microwave hydrothermal method

Funding Information: Funding: This work is funded by National Funds through FCT-Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology, reference UIDB/50025/2020-2023 and FCT/MCTES. This work also received funding from the European Community’s H2020 program under grant agreement No. 787410 (ERC-2018-AdG DIGISMART), No. 716510 (ERC-2016-StG TREND) and No. 952169 (SYNERGY, H2020-WIDESPREAD-2020-5, CSA). S. H. F. acknowledges FCT for the AdvaMTech PhD program scholarship PD/BD/114086/2015 and IDS-FunMat-INNO-2 project FPA2016/EIT/EIT RawMaterials Grant Agreement 17184. M.J.O. acknowledges FCT for the scholarship SFRH/BD/132057/2017 and MIT Portugal PhD Program.The degradation of organic pollutants in wastewaters assisted by oxide semiconductor nanostructures has been the focus of many research groups over the last decades, along with the synthesis of these nanomaterials by simple, eco-friendly, fast, and cost-effective processes. In this work, porous zinc oxide (ZnO) nanostructures were successfully synthesized via a microwave hydrothermal process. A layered zinc hydroxide carbonate (LZHC) precursor was obtained after 15 min of synthesis and submitted to different calcination temperatures to convert it into porous ZnO nanostructures. The influence of the calcination temperature (300, 500, and 700 °C) on the morphological, structural, and optical properties of the ZnO nanostructureswas investigated. All ZnO samples were tested as photocatalysts in the degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) under UV irradiation and natural sunlight. All samples showed enhanced photocatalytic activity under both light sources, with RhB being practically degraded within 60 min in both situations. The porous ZnO obtained at 700 °C showed the greatest photocatalytic activity due to its high crystallinity, with a degradation rate of 0.091 and 0.084 min-1 for UV light and sunlight, respectively. These results are a very important step towards the use of oxide semiconductors in the degradation of water pollutants mediated by natural sunlight.publishersversionpublishe

Towards Sustainable Crossbar Artificial Synapses with Zinc-Tin Oxide

UIDB/50025/2020-2023In this article, characterization of fully patterned zinc-tin oxide (ZTO)-based memristive devices with feature sizes as small as 25 µm2 is presented. The devices are patterned via lift-off with a platinum bottom contact and a gold-titanium top contact. An on/off ratio of more than two orders of magnitude is obtained without the need for electroforming processes. Set operation is a current controlled process, whereas the reset is voltage dependent. The temperature dependency of the electrical characteristics reveals a bulk-dominated conduction mechanism for high resistance states. However, the charge transport at low resistance state is consistent with Schottky emission. Synaptic properties such as potentiation and depression cycles, with progressive increases and decreases in the conductance value under 50 successive pulses, are shown. This validates the potential use of ZTO memristive devices for a sustainable and energy-efficient brain-inspired deep neural network computation.publishersversionpublishe

Walkability Index for Elderly Health: A Proposal

Nowadays, the elderly tend to make more trips: Health benefits resulting from their daily walking routines are an important topic in the context of urban renewal processes. Many health organizations and researchers have demonstrated the influence of the urban environment on walkability levels. This article aims to design a multifactor Walkability Index for Elderly Health (WIEH), capable of associating both the adequacy level of public spaces to elderly walkability, and physical exercise benefits while walking. The methodological approach comprised two main parts: Firstly, a literature review of main reports, legislation, and scientific articles was conducted at the intersection of 'gerontology and physical exercise' with 'urban design and mobility', leading to the selection of four aging-related studies as main contributors to the design of the WIEH; and, secondly, the development of the WIEH was undertaken, based on two premises and designed according to four steps. The first premise defined three systematic areas (urban tissue, urban scene, and safety), variables, and criteria to classify the pedestrian network; and the second premise focused on slopes and stairs in public spaces. The WIEH is divided in four steps: (1) Analyzing public spaces and characterizing their quality for walking, (2) considering the existence of slopes and stairs, (3) calculating different routes for the elderly in their daily routines, or when going to points of interest, and (4) selecting the "heart-friendly route" for elderly people. Adequate walking paths for the elderly can be identified through this innovative approach, with the aim of achieving direct health benefits during their daily routines. Ultimately, the WIEH is capable of supporting decision makers and designers in creating inclusive and age-friendly spaces

A case of infliximab-induced lupus in a patient with ankylosing spondylitis: is it safe switch to another anti-TNF-α agent?

Abstract Anti-TNF-α therapies are the latest class of medications found to be associated with drug-induced lupus, a distinctive entity known as anti-TNF-α-induced lupus (ATIL) (Williams et al., Rheumatology (Oxford) 48:716-20, 2009; De Rycke et al., Lupus 14:931-7, 2005; De Bandt et al., Clin Rheumatol 22:56-61, 2003). With the widespread use of these agents, it is likely that the incidence of ATIL will increase. The onset of ATIL in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn's disease has been described, but the literature regarding the occurrence of this entity in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is scarce (De Bandt et al., Clin Rheumatol 22:56-61, 2003; Ramos-Casals et al., Autoimmun Rev 9:188-93, 2010; Perez-Garcia et al., Rheumatology 45:114-116, 2006). To our knowledge, few reports of switching anti-TNF-α therapy after ATIL in AS have been reported (Akgül et al., Rheumatol Int, 2012). Therefore, it is not clear whether the development of ATIL should prohibit switch to another therapy, since patients may respond to another anti-TNF-α agent (Akgül et a

going beyond BASDAI

This work was supported by a Research Grant from the InvestigatorInitiated Studies program of Merck Sharp & Dohme (Grant No. 56078). The sponsor did not interfere with the study question, analysis or interpretation of results. AS is supported by a doctoral grant from Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (Foundation for Science and Technology) (SFRH/BD/108246/2015).OBJECTIVES: To compare definitions of high disease activity of the Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS) and Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) in selecting patients for treatment with biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs). METHODS: Patients from Rheumatic Diseases Portuguese Register (Reuma.pt) with a clinical diagnosis of axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) were included. Four subgroups (cross-tabulation between ASDAS (≥2.1) and BASDAI (≥4) definitions of high disease activity) were compared regarding baseline characteristics and response to bDMARDs at 3 and 6 months estimated in multivariable regression models. RESULTS: Of the 594 patients included, the majority (82%) had both BASDAI≥4 and ASDAS ≥2.1. The frequency of ASDAS ≥2.1, if BASDAI<4 was much larger than the opposite (ie, ASDAS <2.1, if BASDAI≥4): 62% vs 0.8%. Compared to patients fulfilling both definitions, those with ASDAS ≥2.1 only were more likely to be male (77% vs 51%), human leucocyte antigen B27 positive (79% vs 65%) and have a higher C reactive protein (2.9 (SD 3.5) vs 2.1 (2.9)). Among bDMARD-treated patients (n=359), responses across subgroups were globally overlapping, except for the most 'stringent' outcomes. Patients captured only by ASDAS responded better compared to patients fulfilling both definitions (eg, ASDAS inactive disease at 3 months: 61% vs 25% and at 6 months: 42% vs 25%). CONCLUSION: The ASDAS definition of high disease activity is more inclusive than the BASDAI definition in selecting patients with axSpA for bDMARD treatment. The additionally 'captured' patients respond better and have higher likelihood of predictors thereof. These results support using ASDAS≥2.1 as a criterion for treatment decisions.publishersversionpublishe

Is the reason to switch relevant?

57763]. AS is supported by a doctoral grant from “Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia” (SFRH/BD/108246/2015).Background: To investigate whether the reason to discontinue the first TNF inhibitor (TNFi) affects the response to the second TNFi in axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). Methods: Patients with axSpA from the Rheumatic Diseases Portuguese Register (ReumaPt), who discontinued their first TNFi and started the second TNFi between June 2008 and May 2018, were included. Response was assessed by the Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS) clinically important improvement (ASDAS-CII), major important improvement (ASDAS-MI), low disease activity (ASDAS-LDA), and inactive disease (ASDAS-ID). The reason for discontinuation of the first TNFi was defined, according to ASDAS-CII as primary failure (no response ≤ 6 months), secondary failure (response ≤ 6 months but lost thereafter), adverse events, and others. The association between the reason for discontinuation of the first TNFi and response to the second TNFi over time was assessed in multivariable generalized equation (GEE) models. Results: In total, 193 patients were included. The reason for discontinuation of the first TNFi did not influence the response to the second TNFi, according to the ASDAS-CII. However, a difference was found with more stringent outcomes, e.g., there was a higher likelihood to achieve ASDAS-ID with the second TNFi for patients discontinuing the first TNFi due to secondary failure (OR 7.3 [95%CI 1.9; 27.7]), adverse events (OR 9.1 [2.5; 33.3]), or other reasons (OR 7.7 [1.6; 37.9]) compared to primary failure. Conclusion: Patients with axSpA with secondary failure to their first TNFi, compared to those with primary failure, have a better response to the second TNFi according to stringent outcomes.publishersversionpublishe