Nanostructured Indium Tin Oxides and Other Transparent Conducting Oxides: Characteristics and Applications in the THz Frequency Range

Transparent conductors are essential for optoelectronic components operating in the far-infrared or terahertz (THz) frequency range. Indium tin oxide (ITO), extensively used in the visible, is semi-transparent in the far-infrared frequency range. Other types of bulk transparent conducting oxides (TCOs), such as aluminum-doped zinc oxide (AZO) and aluminum and ytterbium-doped zinc oxide (AYZO), have not yet been explored for THz applications. Recently, biomimic nanomaterials have been shown to exhibit exotic optical properties, e.g., broadband, omnidirectional antireflective properties. Indeed, nanostructured ITO was found to exhibit the above desirable characteristics. In this chapter, we describe the fabrication and characterization of several TCOs, including ITO nanomaterials and several types of bulk TCO thin films, e.g., AZO and AYZO. Performance of THz phase shifters with ITO nanomaterials as transparent electrodes and liquid crystals for functionalities is presented

Inhibition effect of a custom peptide on lung tumors

Cecropin B is a natural antimicrobial peptide and CB1a is a custom, engineered modification of it. In vitro, CB1a can kill lung cancer cells at concentrations that do not kill normal lung cells. Furthermore, in vitro, CB1a can disrupt cancer cells from adhering together to form tumor-like spheroids. Mice were xenografted with human lung cancer cells; CB1a could significantly inhibit the growth of tumors in this in vivo model. Docetaxel is a drug in present clinical use against lung cancers; it can have serious side effects because its toxicity is not sufficiently limited to cancer cells. In our studies in mice: CB1a is more toxic to cancer cells than docetaxel, but dramatically less toxic to healthy cells

Combined effect of Cu- and ZnO- NPs on antibiotic resistance genes in an estuarine water

Most studies of whether and how nanoparticles (NPs) affect antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) focus on testing single NPs type. In this study, we determined the combined effect of Cu- and ZnO- NPs in the water samples collected from the Yangtze River Estuary and found the effect differs greatly from that produced by individual NPs. The results showed that the Cu- and ZnO- NPs co-exposure resulted in an enrichment of ARGs, whereas individual Cu- and ZnO- NPs exposure decreased the abundance of ARGs. Furthermore, the co-exposure of Cu- and ZnO- NPs induced obvious changes in the microbial communities compared to the control communities. Redundancy analysis suggested that the microbial community contributed the most (43.5%) to the ARG profiles, followed by dissolved metal ions (25.7%), MRGs, (19.4%), and MGEs (4.4%). Network analysis found several potential hosts (such as Mycobacterium and Escherichia coli) and implied the extent of the risk of ARG transmission into various environmental niches by these common microbes

Assessment of latent tuberculosis infection in psychiatric inpatients: A survey after tuberculosis outbreaks

AbstractBackground/PurposeTo investigate risk factors of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) among inpatients of chronic psychiatric wards with tuberculosis (TB) outbreaks.MethodsIn April 2013, inpatients of four all-male wards with TB outbreaks were tested for LTBI using the QuantiFERON-TB Gold in Tube (QFT) method. Based on this investigation, a retrospective study was conducted to assess risk factors for LTBI. Inpatients exposed to cluster-A or cluster-B TB cases were defined as contacts of cluster-A or cluster-B, and others, as nonclustered contacts.ResultsAmong 355 inpatients with TB exposure, 134 (38%) were QFT-positive for LTBI. Univariate analysis showed that significant predictors for QFT-positivity were age, case-days of exposure to all TB cases (TB-all) and to sputum smear positive cases, number of source cases with cough, and exposure to cluster-A TB cases. Independent risk factors for LTBI were higher age [adjusted odds ratio (OR) 1.03, 95% confidence intervals (CI: 1.01–1.05)], TB-all exposure case-days ≥ 200 [adjusted OR 2.04 (1.06–3.92)] and exposure to cluster-A TB cases [adjusted OR 2.82 (1.30–6.12)] after adjustment for the sputum smear positivity, and cough variables of the source cases. The contacts of cluster-A had a greater risk of LTBI than did those of cluster-B, especially in the younger population (≤50 years) after adjustment [adjusted OR 2.64 (1.03–6.76)].ConclusionAfter TB outbreaks, more than one third of inpatients were QFT-positive for LTBI. Our findings suggest that, beside the infectiousness of source cases, intensity of exposure, and age of contacts, exposure to TB cases in potential genotyping clusters may be predictive for LTBI in this male psychiatric population

Appropriateness of proton pump inhibitors prescription in patients admitted to a Malaysian tertiary hospital

Introduction: Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are one of the commonest drug prescribed, however it is not without risk of adverse effects especially if the usage is inappropriate. We aimed to evaluate the frequency, indications and appropriateness of PPIs prescription among the medical inpatients, Serdang Hospital, which is a tertiary hospital in Malaysia. Materials and Methods:: This is a retrospective cross sectional study consisting of 4953 patients admitted to medical ward from 1st July 2016 to 31st March 2017, and their database were further analysed by Statistical Package for the Social Sciences for Windows (IBM SPSS Statistics 17.0). Unpaired t-test was performed to analyze the data collected. P < 0.05 (two-tailed) is considered significant. Their indications were cross-referenced against the indications adapted from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Results: 23.9% (1184/4953) of inpatients were using PPIs, and 63% (746/1184) of them recently started on PPI in the ward, with mean age of 59.7 years. More male patients were commenced on PPIs during hospitalization (P value < 0.05). Based on the FDA guideline, only 21.8% patients were indicated, 32.2% were borderline indicated, and 46.0% patients were not indicated in prescribing PPIs. Stress ulcer prophylaxis was the commonest indication, while anaemia with no evidence of gastrointestinal bleed was the main non-indication in starting PPIs. Only 11% of patients had performed the oesophago-gastro-duodenoscopy (OGDS) during the hospital stay. Conclusion: A majority of inpatients were inappropriately prescribed PPIs according to FDA guideline. More efforts should be initiated to improve the current situation of PPIs overutilization in Malaysia

Appropriateness of Proton pump inhibitors prescription in patients admitted to a Malaysian tertiary hospital

Introduction Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are one of the commonest drug prescribed, however it is not without risk of adverse effects especially if the usage is inappropriate. We aimed to evaluate the frequency, indications and appropriateness of PPIs prescription among the medical inpatients, Serdang Hospital, which is a tertiary hospital in Malaysia. Methods This is a cross sectional study consisting of 1184 patients admitted to medical ward and received PPI from 1st July 2016 to 31st March 2017, and their database were further analysed by SPSS Statistics 17.0. Unpaired t-test was performed to analyze the data collected. P < 0.05 (two-tailed) is considered significant. Their indications were cross-referenced against the indications adapted from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Results About 23.9% (1184/4953) of inpatients were using PPIs, and 63.0% (746/1184) of them recently started on PPI in the ward, with mean age of 59.7 years. More male patients were commenced on PPIs during hospitalization (P value < 0.05). Based on the FDA guideline, only 21.8% patients were indicated, 32.2% were borderline indicated, and 46.0% patients were not indicated in prescribing PPIs. Stress ulcer prophylaxis was the commonest indication, while anaemia with no evidence of gastrointestinal bleed was the main non-indication in starting PPIs. Only 11% of patients had performed the oesophago-gastro-duodenoscopy (OGDS) during the hospital stay. Conclusions 46.0% of inpatients were inappropriately prescribed PPIs according to FDA guideline. More efforts should be initiated to improve the current situation of PPIs overutilization in Malaysia