Valence band and core-level analysis of highly luminescent ZnO nanocrystals for designing ultrafast optical sensors

Highly luminescent ZnO:Na nanocrystals of size ~2 nm were synthesized using a improved sol-lyophilization process. The surface analysis such as survey scan, core-level and valence band spectra of ZnO:Na nanocrystals were studied using x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) to establish the presence of Na+ ions. The observed increase in band gap from 3.30 (bulk) to 4.16 eV (nano), is attributed to the quantum confinement of the motion of electron and holes in all three directions. The photoluminescence and decay measurements have complemented and supported our study to design an efficient and ultrafast responsive optical sensing device.Comment: 10 Pages, 5 Figure

Effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor and angiotensin receptor blocker initiation on organ support-free days in patients hospitalized with COVID-19

IMPORTANCE Overactivation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) may contribute to poor clinical outcomes in patients with COVID-19. Objective To determine whether angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) initiation improves outcomes in patients hospitalized for COVID-19. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS In an ongoing, adaptive platform randomized clinical trial, 721 critically ill and 58 non–critically ill hospitalized adults were randomized to receive an RAS inhibitor or control between March 16, 2021, and February 25, 2022, at 69 sites in 7 countries (final follow-up on June 1, 2022). INTERVENTIONS Patients were randomized to receive open-label initiation of an ACE inhibitor (n = 257), ARB (n = 248), ARB in combination with DMX-200 (a chemokine receptor-2 inhibitor; n = 10), or no RAS inhibitor (control; n = 264) for up to 10 days. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary outcome was organ support–free days, a composite of hospital survival and days alive without cardiovascular or respiratory organ support through 21 days. The primary analysis was a bayesian cumulative logistic model. Odds ratios (ORs) greater than 1 represent improved outcomes. RESULTS On February 25, 2022, enrollment was discontinued due to safety concerns. Among 679 critically ill patients with available primary outcome data, the median age was 56 years and 239 participants (35.2%) were women. Median (IQR) organ support–free days among critically ill patients was 10 (–1 to 16) in the ACE inhibitor group (n = 231), 8 (–1 to 17) in the ARB group (n = 217), and 12 (0 to 17) in the control group (n = 231) (median adjusted odds ratios of 0.77 [95% bayesian credible interval, 0.58-1.06] for improvement for ACE inhibitor and 0.76 [95% credible interval, 0.56-1.05] for ARB compared with control). The posterior probabilities that ACE inhibitors and ARBs worsened organ support–free days compared with control were 94.9% and 95.4%, respectively. Hospital survival occurred in 166 of 231 critically ill participants (71.9%) in the ACE inhibitor group, 152 of 217 (70.0%) in the ARB group, and 182 of 231 (78.8%) in the control group (posterior probabilities that ACE inhibitor and ARB worsened hospital survival compared with control were 95.3% and 98.1%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In this trial, among critically ill adults with COVID-19, initiation of an ACE inhibitor or ARB did not improve, and likely worsened, clinical outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT0273570

Acute liver failure caused by ‘fat burners’ and dietary supplements: A case report and literature review

Globally, people are struggling with obesity. Many effective, non-conventional methods of weight reduction, such as herbal and natural dietary supplements, are increasingly being sought. Fat burners are believed to raise metabolism, burn more calories and hasten fat loss. Despite patient perceptions that herbal remedies are free of adverse effects, some supplements are associated with severe hepatotoxicity. The present report describes a young healthy woman who presented with fulminant hepatic failure requiring emergent liver transplantation caused by a dietary supplement and fat burner containing usnic acid, green tea and guggul tree extracts. Thorough investigation, including histopathological examination, revealed no other cause of hepatotoxicity. The present case adds to the increasing number of reports of hepatotoxicity associated with dietary supplements containing usnic acid, and highlights that herbal extracts from green tea or guggul tree may not be free of adverse effects. Until these products are more closely regulated and their advertising better scrutinized, physicians and patients should become more familiar with herbal products that are commonly used as weight loss supplements and recognize those that are potentially harmful

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Not AvailableA survey was undertaken during the year 2019 to assess the quality of groundwater for irrigation in various mandals of Chittoor district, Andhra Pradesh. A total of 358 samples were collected and GPS locations of sampling points were recorded. The water samples were analyzed for various chemical properties viz., pH, EC, Ca+2, Mg+2, Na+ and K+; CO3-2, HCO3-, Cl- and SO4-2. The pH, EC, SAR and RSC in groundwater ranged from 5.5-8.8, 0.2-13.5 (dSm-1), 0.26-20.4 (mmol l-1)1/2, -37.6-9.4 (me l-1). The concentration of cations viz., Ca+2, Mg+2, Na+ and K+ varied from 0.8-26.4, 0-15.6, 0.25-91.31 and 0.001-2.64 me l-1 with mean values of 5.13, 3.64, 6.58 and 0.11 me l-1 respectively. Concentration of anions viz., CO3-2, HCO3-, Cl- and SO4-2 varied from 0-5.6, 0.2-14.6, 0.8-85.2 and 0-45 me l-1 with an average values of 0.84, 6.46, 5.84 and 2.03 me l-1 respectively. The relative abundance of ions for most of the water samples were Na+ > Ca+2 > Mg+2 > K+ for cations and HCO3- > Cl- > SO4-2 > CO3- for anions. According to CSSRI classification of irrigation water, 65.64, 25.69, 0.27, 6.7, 1.11 and 0.55 per cent samples were good, marginally saline, High SAR Saline, marginally alkaline, alkali and highly alkali, respectively. Spatial variability maps of EC, SAR, RSC of ground water used for irrigation in the district and groundwater quality map were also generated. Yields of major crops grown with poor quality groundwater (saline/ alkali) were assessed. Yield losses (7.7 to 53.3%) under seven different crops due to poor quality irrigation were estimated by comparing those yields with good quality ground water areas. Soil and crop management practices were suggested to overcome the crop yield losses in poor quality soil and water environment in the district.ICA