Abstract Infrared (IR) detectors play crucial roles in various applications. A significant milestone in advancing the next-generation low-cost silicon technology is the enhancement of hyperdoped ...black silicon (b-Si) photodetectors, particularly within the IR wavelength range. In this study, highly selenium (Se)-doped b-Si photodetectors. Through the optimization of laser parameters and the application of SiO 2 passivation, significant enhancements were achieved in responsivity ( R ), external quantum efficiency, and specific detectivity ( D *) within the long-wave IR range, culminating in a D * of 1.3 × 10 12 Jones at 9.5 μ m. Additionally, the Se: b-Si photodetectors maintain a D * of approximately 1.3 × 10 11 Jones at critical optical telecommunications wavelengths of 1.3 μ m and 1.5 μ m. These results significantly contribute to the advancement of IR photodetector technology and provide a foundation for the development of highly efficient, low-cost, and broadband IR detectors for Si photonic applications.
In this study, saturated flow boiling characteristics of deionized water in single rectangular minichannels are investigated experimentally. A special attention is paid to the effect of aspect ratio ...(channel width to depth, W
ch
/H
ch
) on the heat transfer and total pressure drop. Experiments are conducted for various values of the mass flux and the wall heat flux. Flow visualization is used as a complementary technique for a deeper physical understanding of flow phenomena. The results show that the channel aspect ratio has a significant effect on both the local two-phase heat transfer coefficient and the total pressure drop. In general manner, the aspect ratio of 1 presents the highest heat transfer coefficients, while the aspect ratio of 0.25 demonstrates the lowest ones. On the other hand, the lowest values of the pressure drop are obtained at the extreme values of the aspect ratio (0.25 and 4).
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
BFBNIB, DOBA, GIS, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Social media can be an innovative communication method between patients and physicians that help to overcome time limitation in outpatient clinics. In this study, we investigated how patients with ...rheumatic diseases (RD) and physicians use and are willing to use social media platforms to communicate with each other. We used a face-to-face survey that provides information on current social media habits and communication methods of rheumatology patients and physicians. We studied 399 (135 M/262 F) patients with RD with a median age of 45 (IQR: 34) years. We also studied 55 (30 M/25F) rheumatologists with a median age of 37 (IQR:34–44) years. Among patients with RD, 288 (72%) used at least one social media site within the previous month. Facebook was the most preferred social media platform, whereas Twitter and Instagram were favored by males and higher educated patients. While 17% of the patients with RD could communicate with their physicians outside of the hospital, 94% expressed that they would like to. Most patients (74%) defined social media as a reliable source for health-related information, yet 90% declared that they would like to obtain information about their disease using face-to-face communication. Forty-two (83%) rheumatologists were using social media and reported that they already communicate or would like to communicate with their patients outside of the hospital. Internet-based mobile applications and social media platforms are promising communication and educational tools for rheumatology patients.
BACKGROUNDThird molars have the highest prevalence of impaction in teeth and can cause pathological damage on the adjacent second molars. This study aims to evaluate the effects of factors related to ...impacted third molars on external root resorption (ERR) in adjacent second molars using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT).MATERIAL AND METHODSIn CBCTs, the effect of impacted third molars on the root surface of adjacent second molars was investigated. Inclusion criteria for subjects were being older than 16 and younger than 55, presence of at least one impacted third molar and adjacent second molar. Exclusion criteria were pathology, a follicle gap greater than 5 mm, crowned second molar, severe decay, an artifact on a radiologic image, and previous surgery on the second or third molars. The investigations were made based on age range, gender, tooth inclination, Pell-Gregory classification, retention type, contact area, root formation, pericoronal width, and tooth absence on the same quadrant for potential risk factors. The collected data were statistically analyzed with R software. The Chi-Square test was used to find out any significant difference. Logistic regression analyses were done for potential risk factors for ERR.RESULTSA total of 437 impacted third molars and adjacent second molars were investigated using CBCT. Of these, 381 met the inclusion criteria. Mesioangular and horizontal inclination, Pell-Gregory Class B-C, contact area, and retention type were found the statistically potential risk factors for ERR.CONCLUSIONSThe impacted third molar with horizontal or mesioangular position, and osseous retention, with Pell and Gregory Class B and C, are more likely to cause external root resorption in adjacent second molars.
Introduction
Hypertension (HTN) is prevalent in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and causes early cardiovascular aging and progression of renal and cardiac disease. The aim of this ...longitudinal retrospective study was to evaluate the prevalence of HTN, the follow-up blood pressure trends, and risk factors for HTN in a population-based cohort with childhood-onset SLE (cSLE).
Methods
Demographic and clinical data of consecutive visits from the baseline to the last visit were extracted from electronic medical records of patients with cSLE.
Results
A total of 110 patients with cSLE were identified with a median follow-up duration of 29.5 months; 19% had lupus nephritis (LN) at diagnosis. Further, 29% and 23% had HTN and preHTN at the baseline visit. Compared to those without HTN, patients with HTN had higher disease activity, obesity, more frequent LN, and lower eGFR. In multivariate analysis, the presence of LN, obesity, and high extra-renal disease activity were independent predictors of HTN at baseline.
Conclusions
While HTN is a known feature of LN, HTN is common and persistent in cSLE without LN, with about one-third of patients having uncontrolled elevated blood pressure almost three years after the onset of lupus. In addition to LN, obesity and high overall disease activity were independent predictors of HTN.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Introduction
The gut microbiome may contribute to the development of obesity. So far, the extent of microbiome variation in people with obesity has not been determined in large cohorts and for a wide ...range of body mass index (BMI). Here, we aimed to investigate whether the faecal microbial metagenome can explain the variance in several clinical phenotypes associated with morbid obesity.
Methods
Caucasian subjects were recruited at our hospital. Blood pressure and anthropometric measurements were taken. Dietary intake was determined using questionnaires. Shotgun metagenomic sequencing was performed on faecal samples from 177 subjects.
Results
Subjects without obesity (n = 82, BMI 24.7 ± 2.9 kg m−2) and subjects with obesity (n = 95, BMI 38.6 ± 5.1 kg m−2) could be clearly distinguished based on microbial composition and microbial metabolic pathways. A total number of 52 bacterial species differed significantly in people with and without obesity. Independent of dietary intake, we found that microbial pathways involved in biosynthesis of amino acids were enriched in subjects with obesity, whereas pathways involved in the degradation of amino acids were depleted. Machine learning models showed that more than half of the variance in body fat composition followed by BMI could be explained by the gut microbiome, composition and microbial metabolic pathways, compared with 6% of variation explained in triglycerides and 9% in HDL.
Conclusion
Based on the faecal microbiota composition, we were able to separate subjects with and without obesity. In addition, we found strong associations between gut microbial amino acid metabolism and specific microbial species in relation to clinical features of obesity.
To develop and test the feasibility and initial effectiveness of the Treatment and Education Approach for Childhood-onset Lupus (TEACH) protocol, a 6-session cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) ...intervention for adolescents and young adults (AYA) with childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (cSLE).
Females with cSLE (n = 14; ages 13-19 years, M = 16.21 years) presenting to a pediatric rheumatology clinic subsequently completed the protocol, which was iteratively modified based on participant/interventionist feedback. Upon intervention completion, participants provided qualitative data on feasibility, acceptability, potential modifications, and perceived effectiveness of the program via a semi-structured interview, which was analyzed for shared themes. Participants also completed measures of fatigue, psychological distress, and pain intensity before and after the intervention. Nonparametric statistics were conducted to examine changes in outcome measures following the intervention.
During the study, several protocol modifications were employed to better address the unique needs of individuals with cSLE (e.g., separate content for adolescents versus young adults). Results suggest that TEACH is feasible, acceptable, and potentially effective in the management of cSLE symptoms. Following the intervention, there was a statistically significant reduction in fatigue (Z = - 2.81, p < .01) and depressive symptoms (Z = - 2.69, p < .01). Reductions in pain and anxiety symptoms were marginal.
TEACH, a tailored CBT protocol for AYA with cSLE, is a feasible and potentially effective intervention for the management of fatigue and depressive symptoms. Future directions include testing the protocol in a larger controlled study.
•STR model accounts for anisotropy of normal Reynolds stresses.•STR model predicts Oxygen profiles in Cz 8″ Silicon crystals with 10% accuracy.•Computer simulation predicted the Oxygen reduction by ...13% in Cz Si crystal growth.
Modeling of oxygen transport during Czochralski (Cz) silicon crystal growth still is a big challenge due to oxygen evacuation from the melt free surface, affected by strong anisotropy of turbulent mass transport. To predict the crystal oxygen concentration and crystallization front geometry with reasonable accuracy usually a 3D unsteady LES or DNS approach is required which demands significant computation resources and time. We present a new steady turbulence model using the extended hypothesis for modeling the Reynolds stress tensor, which accounts for different mechanisms of Reynolds stresses anisotropy and can be used in fast 2D engineering calculations. Several 8″ silicon crystals were grown in EKZ 3500 furnace with varying operating parameters. Wafers have been cut from different parts of the crystals and analyzed using the Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) for oxygen concentration in facilities of Fraunhofer CSP and iTechSolar. The comparison between experimental and calculated results, which include oxygen concentration and interface deflection, is discussed in details. Time-averaged Reynolds stress tensor components as well as the turbulent heat fluxes components are compared between unsteady LES and steady RANS approaches.
Residual stresses in cold extruded parts play an important role in both component lifetime and succeeding in manufacturing performance. When a cold extruded part is used directly, the lifetime of the ...part depends on the residual stresses induced during cold extrusion. On the other hand, if the part is exposed to post operations such as machining, residual stresses may cause distortions. Despite their importance, there are only a few residual stress measurement methods to assess axial residual stresses in full cylindrical thick components of massive forming. As high-energy X-ray and neutron diffraction methods are less available and considerably expensive, the contour method may be an alternative providing the accurate assessment of residual stresses without requiring specialized facilities. In the present work, residual stresses in cold extruded rods are determined via the contour method for various extrusion ratios. The finite element analyses for the same conditions are also carried out to provide the comparison to the contour method. The results indicate that the contour method can be a valuable candidate for the measurement of axial residual stresses in cold extruded thick components.
Fused pyrimidines, especially pyrazolo3,4‐dpyrimidines, are among the most preferred building blocks for pharmacology studies, as they exhibit a broad spectrum of biological activity. In this study, ...new derivatives of pyrazolo3,4‐dpyrimidine were synthesized by alkylation of the N1 nitrogen atom. We synthesized 3‐iodo‐1H‐pyrazolo3,4‐dpyrimidin‐4‐amine 2 from commercially available aminopyrazolopyrimidine 1 using N‐iodosuccinimide as an iodinating agent. The synthesis of compound 2 started with nucleophilic substitution of 3‐iodo‐1H‐pyrazolo3,4‐dpyrimidin‐4‐amine with R–X (X: –OMs, –Br, –Cl), affording N‐alkylated pyrazolo3,4‐dpyrimidine. We performed this synthesis using a weak inorganic base and the mild temperature was also used for a two‐step procedure to generate N‐alkylated pyrazolo3,4‐dpyrimidine derivatives. Also, all compounds were tested for their ability to inhibit acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and the human carbonic anhydrase (hCA) isoforms I and II, with Ki values in the range of 15.41 ± 1.39–63.03 ± 10.68 nM for AChE, 17.68 ± 1.92–66.27 ± 5.43 nM for hCA I, and 8.41 ± 2.03–28.60 ± 7.32 nM for hCA II. Notably, compound 10 was the most selective and potent CA I inhibitor with a significant selectivity ratio of 26.90.
New derivatives of pyrazolo3,4‐dpyrimidine were synthesized by alkylation of the N1 nitrogen atom. All compounds were tested for their inhibitory activity against acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and human carbonic anhydrase (hCA) isoforms I and II, showing Ki values in the range of 15.41 ± 1.39–63.03 ± 10.68 nM for AChE, 17.68 ± 1.92–66.27 ± 5.43 nM for hCA I, and 8.41 ± 2.03–28.60 ± 7.32 nM for hCA II. Compound 10 was the most selective and potent CA I inhibitor.
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