Scientific Research Research Articles

Publication trends of Leber congenital amaurosis researches: a bibliometric study during 2002-2022

AIM: To analyze the changes in scientific output relating to Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA) and forecast the study trends in this field. METHODS: All of the publications in the field of LCA from 2002 to 2022 were collected from Web of Science (WOS) database. We analyzed the quantity (number of publications), quality (citation and H-index) and development trends (relative research interest, RRI) of published LCA research over the last two decades. Moreover, VOSviewer software was applied to define the co-occurrence network of keywords in this field. RESULTS: A total of 2158 publications were ultimately examined. We found that the focus on LCA kept rising and peaked in 2015 and 2018, which is consistent with the development trend of gene therapy. The USA has contributed most to this field with 1162 publications, 56 674 citations and the highest H-index value (116). The keywords analysis was divided into five clusters to show the hotspots in the field of LCA, namely mechanism-related, genotype-related, local phenotype-related, system phenotype-related, and therapy-related. We also identified gene therapy and anti-retinal degeneration therapy as a major focus in recent years. CONCLUSION: Our study illustrates historical research process and future development trends in LCA field. This may help to guide the orientation for further clinical diagnosis, treatment and scientific research.

Клинические и гистологические особенности быстропрогрессирующего гломерулонефрита у детей

Rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis (RPGN) associated with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) is complicated in children due to the severity of the disease and the lack of clear consensus on treatment. The purpose of this research was to analyze the course of RPGN and its outcomes in children depending on the morphological basis after the results of nephrobiopsy. Materials and methods used: a single-center cohort retrospective study had been carried out as medical records’ analysis of patients diagnosed with RPGN aged 1 to 18 y/o who were observed at the Nephrology Department of the Scientific Research Institute of Pediatric Nephrology and Urology with the National Medical Research Center for Children’s Health (Moscow, Russia) in 2015-2024. Renal survival was assessed for different clinical and morphological options, the Renal Risk Score was assessed then. Results: 18 (7 m/11 f) were identified of Me age of diagnosis 14.1 [9.9; 15.5] y/o. ANCA was detected in all patients: pANCA in 12 (66.7%, 95% CI 40.9-86.7) and cANCA in 6 (33.3%, 95% CI 13.3-59.0) plus a single patient had a rare combination of dual positivity for anti-GBM and MPO-ANCA. Extrarenal manifestations were described in 10 (55.6%, 95% CI 30.8-78.5). Morphological subclassification of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis was detected in 5 (31.3%, 95% CI 11-58.7), extracapillary proliferation in 8 (50%, 95% CI 24.7-75.4), sclerosing in a single patient (6.3%, 95% CI 0.2-30.2) and the mixed one in 2 cases (12.5%, 95% CI 1.6-38.4). The median follow-up period was 21.6 [12.6-35.3] months, the outcome of stage 5 chronic kidney disease (CKD) was observed in 4, overall renal survival after 12 months was 94.4% (95% CI 84.4-100.0) and 86.6% (95% CI 70.6-100.0) after 36 months. An increase in the relative risk of achieving stage 5 CKD in patients with extrarenal (general) manifestations was detected as 1.67 times (95% CI 1.01-2.77) and 10.5 times (95% CI 1.46-75.42) in those receiving dialysis. Differences in the median glomerular filtration rate at onset were revealed in patients with extrarenal manifestations and isolated glomerulonephritis (p=0.004). Conclusion: when choosing treatment tactics for RPGN in children and assessing renal prognosis, it is necessary to take into consideration the results of a morphological study and the degree of damage to the renal tissue.

Exploring the role of dreams: insights from recent studies.

Dreaming has only recently become a topic of scientific research. This review updates current findings on dream studies, emphasizing recent research on the neural mechanisms of dreaming. Additionally, it summarizes new evidence on the functional role of dreams, including insights from studies on dreams and nightmares during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Recent advances on the neural basis of mental activity during sleep have shifted towards dream-related phenomena, such as dream experiences in relation to parasomnias and hypnagogic hallucinations. Although some findings are consistent with the main models explaining dream recall (i.e., continuity hypothesis; activation hypothesis), some results contrast with the role of parieto-occipital region in dream experience. Moreover, recent findings - related to COVID-19 pandemic - underlined that dream experiences could express emotion regulation processes as well as provide a simulation of reality to prepare for future dangerous or social interactions. Overall, we highlighted the intricate interplay between brain regions in dreaming and suggest that dreams serve multiple functions, from reflecting waking-life experiences to simulating adaptive responses to threats. Understanding the neural bases and functions of dreaming can provide valuable insights into human mental health, nevertheless, further research is needed.

Show and tell: scaffolding practices in lower secondary social science classrooms

ABSTRACT Inquiry and teaching with high levels of student activity are central to social science education, and research has shown the importance of scaffolding and other expressions of supportive structures in teaching (Christensen, 2021; Mathé, 2020). Nevertheless, there have been few studies documenting how actual teaching takes place and whether a teacher’s activities support the work of their students. This article, part of QUINT—Quality in Nordic Teaching, drew on video observations from 16 lower secondary social science classrooms in Denmark and Norway. We began by using the Protocol for Language Arts Teaching Observation (PLATO; Grossman, 2019) to identify the extent of teacher scaffolding practices. From this, we analysed the scaffolding to understand what kinds can be observed in social science education, with a specific focus on inquiry-based teaching. Although we identified scaffolding in a minority of lesson segments, what we did observe was related to a number of skills and strategies, both generic and specific to social science education. We concluded by identifying the strong potential in developing scaffolding practices related to social science inquiry further, before discussing implications and opportunities based on our findings.

Chromatographic fingerprinting of epiphytic fungal strains isolated from Withania somnifera and biological evaluation of isolated okaramine H.

Medicinal plants are "goldmines" of natural products, and continue to provide key scaffolds for drug development. They have immense therapeutic potential, encapsulating a plethora of metabolites within them, which have yet to be explored. Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal is one such medicinal plant known since time immemorial for its therapeutic activity in the Ayurveda system of medicine. Studies have revealed Nature's marvel of these medicinal plants harbouring endophytic and epiphytic microorganisms from phyllosphere to rhizosphere. Chromatographic fingerprinting was carried out using HPTLC and HPLC on five epiphytic strains isolated from the leaves, stem and fruits of Withania somnifera. Out of five filamentous fungi, one fungus identified as Aspergillus aculeatus S20 was well explored. An indole alkaloid, okaramine H, was isolated using systematic chromatographic investigation at a retention time of 26.278 min showing λmax at 206, 236, 284 and 370 nm. Confirmation was achieved using NMR and mass spectrometry (MS) as analytical techniques. Structure elucidation was done by studying the fragmentation pattern using MS/MS and an accurate mass was determined using HR-ESI-QTOF-MS showing m/z of 521.2546 [M + H]+. The percentage purity of isolated okaramine H was found to be >90. Well known for its insecticidal activity, okaramine H was explored for its antileishmanial activity against the Leishmania donovani parasite for the first time. Under in vitro conditions, the compound showed an inhibitory effect on Leishmania donovani promastigotes with an IC50 of 147 μg mL-1.

Research progress on the evaluation mechanism of scientific research teams in the digital economy era

PurposeIn today’s digital economy, it is very important to cultivate digital professionals with advanced interdisciplinary skills. The purpose of this paper is that universities play a vital role in this effort, and research teams need to use the synergistic effect of various educational methods to improve the quality and efficiency of personnel training. For these teams, a powerful evaluation mechanism is very important to improve their innovation ability and the overall level of talents they cultivate. The policy of “selecting the best through public bidding” not only meets the multi-dimensional evaluation needs of contemporary research, but also conforms to the current atmosphere of evaluating scientific and technological talents.Design/methodology/approachNonetheless, since its adoption, several challenges have emerged, including flawed project management systems, a mismatch between listed needs and actual core technological needs and a low rate of conversion of scientific achievements into practical outcomes. These issues are often traced back to overly simplistic evaluation methods for research teams. This paper reviews the literature on the “Open Bidding for Selecting the Best Candidates” policy and related evaluation mechanisms for research teams, identifying methodological shortcomings, a gap in exploring team collaboration and an oversight in team selection criteria.FindingsIt proposes a theoretical framework for the evaluation and selection mechanisms of research teams under the “Open Bidding for Selecting the Best Candidates” model, offering a solid foundation for further in-depth studies in this area.Originality/valueResearch progress on the Evaluation Mechanism of Scientific Research Teams in the Digital Economy Era from the Perspective of “Open Bidding for Selecting the Best Candidates.”

Unlocking Fe(III) Ions Improving Oxygen Evolution Reaction Activity and Dynamic Stability of Anodized Nickel Foam.

Fe has been reported to play a crucial role in improving the catalytic activity and stability of Ni/Co-based electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), while the Fe effect remains intangible. Here, we design several experiments to identify the activity and stability improvement using porous anodized nickel foam (ANF) as the electrode and 1.0 M KOH containing 1000 μM Fe(III) ions as the electrolyte. Systematic investigations reveal that Ni sites serve as hosts to capture Fe ions to create active FeNi-based intermediates on the surface of ANF to improve the OER activity significantly, and Fe ions regulate catalytic equilibrium and maintain the stability for a long time. The system exhibits 242 and 343 mV overpotentials to reach 10 and 1000 mA cm-2 current densities and a robust stability of 360 h at an industrially suitable current density (1000 mA cm-2). This work expands insights into the Fe(III) catalysis effect on the OER efficiency of Ni-based catalysts and provides an economical and practical way to commercial application.

Dysfunction of the magnocellular subdivision of the visual thalamus in developmental dyslexia.

Developmental dyslexia (DD) is one of the most common learning disorders, affecting millions of children and adults worldwide. To date, scientific research has attempted to explain DD primarily based on pathophysiological alterations in the cerebral cortex. In contrast, several decades ago, pioneering research on five post-mortem human brains suggested that a core characteristic of DD might be morphological alterations in a specific subdivision of the visual thalamus - the magnocellular LGN (M-LGN). However, due to considerable technical challenges in investigating LGN subdivisions non-invasively in humans, this finding was never confirmed in-vivo, and its relevance for DD pathology remained highly controversial. Here, we leveraged recent advances in high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at high field strength (7 Tesla) to investigate the M-LGN in DD in-vivo. Using a case-control design, we acquired data from a large sample of young adults with DD (n = 26; age 28 ± 7 years; 13 females) and matched control participants (n = 28; age 27 ± 6 years; 15 females). Each participant completed a comprehensive diagnostic behavioral test battery and participated in two MRI sessions, including three functional MRI experiments and one structural MRI acquisition. We measured blood-oxygen-level-dependent responses and longitudinal relaxation rates to compare both groups on LGN subdivision function and myelination. Based on previous research, we hypothesized that the M-LGN is altered in DD and that these alterations are associated with a key DD diagnostic score, i.e., rapid letter and number naming (RANln). The results showed aberrant responses of the M-LGN in DD compared to controls, which was reflected in a different functional lateralization of this subdivision between groups. These alterations were associated with RANln performance, specifically in male DD. We also found lateralization differences in the longitudinal relaxation rates of the M-LGN in DD relative to controls. Conversely, the other main subdivision of the LGN, the parvocellular LGN (P-LGN), showed comparable blood-oxygen-level-dependent responses and longitudinal relaxation rates between groups. The present study is the first to unequivocally show that M-LGN alterations are a hallmark of DD, affecting both the function and microstructure of this subdivision. It further provides a first functional interpretation of M-LGN alterations and a basis for a better understanding of sex-specific differences in DD with implications for prospective diagnostic and treatment strategies.

Knowledge and Attitude of Undergraduate Dental Students towards Research in a private dental institute, karachi

Abstract: Background: Scientific research in healthcare is crucial for maintaining oral health and for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of oral disorders. Actually, it is regarded as a basic skill and one of the important areas in the medical education curriculum related to health care. The objective of this study was to evaluation the knowledge and attitude of undergraduate students towards research Methodology: A cross sectional study was conducted from BDS students using non probability convenient sampling technique. Study was conducted from a private dental institute from December 2023-may 2024. The estimated sample size was 160 using Open epi version 3.01, after inserting the prevalence 88.2% participants feel that they can plan and prepare research, with 95% confidence interval and 5% margin of error. Results: The research was conducted on 168 students from different BDS years. The majority of participants were in the age group of 20-25years (73.8%). Of the students, 40.5% were familiar with the literature review procedure; the majority of participants were from BDS's second and third years. About 42.8% of students expressed interest in pursuing this research as part of their dental profession. Reasons given by students for not being interested in doing research, 27% of the student recommended lack of time and lack of resources as the limitation in pursing research study. Conclusion: Research culture needs to be promoted since it benefits patients' health and the community that students will serve in addition to their career paths. It takes a foundational understanding of research methodology to practice medicine and dentistry competently. Engagement in research is the most effective means of achieving this familiarity Keywords: biomedical research, curriculum, students, evidence based medicine, research design, developing countries

How Tea Plant Defends Against Blister Blight Disease: Facts Revealed and Unexplored Horizons.

Tea (Camellia sinensis [L.] O. Kuntze) is cultivated as a beverage crop. Despite being a hardy perennial, the tea plant is susceptible to various biotic stresses. Among them, the foliar disease blister blight (BB) is considered the most serious threat to the tea industry, particularly in Asia. BB caused by Exobasidium vexans (Basidiomycetes) was first reported from Northern India in 1868 and gradually established in other tea-growing countries. The fungus E. vexans attacks young harvestable shoots and causes 20 to 50% crop loss. Over the past 150 years, scientific research has delved into various aspects of BB disease, including pathogen biology, disease cycle, epidemiology, disease forecasting, crop loss assessment, and disease management strategies. In a recent shift in research focus, scientists have begun to investigate the resistance mechanisms of tea plants against BB and apply this knowledge to commercial tea cultivation. Although progress has been significant in understanding the fundamental aspects of BB resistance, the detailed molecular mechanisms driving this resistance remain under investigation. This paper focuses on the current understanding of defense mechanisms employed by tea plants against E. vexans and, conversely, how E. vexans overcomes these defenses. Furthermore, we discuss the application of plant resistance strategies in commercial tea cultivation. Lastly, we identify existing research gaps and propose future research directions in the field.

The Role of Cannabinoids in Advancing Cancer Treatment: Insights from Evidence-Based Medicine.

This document critically examines the role of cannabinoids in cancer care during an era marked by rapid advancements in oncology and changing perceptions on cannabis. It traces the historical context of cannabis in medicinal use, navigating its journey from widespread acceptance, subsequent criminalization, to its resurgence in modern therapeutic applications, particularly within the framework of Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM). Anchored in EBM principles, this study synthesizes current research from clinical trials, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses to evaluate the efficacy and safety of cannabinoids in oncology. The focus is on their palliative effects, considering the nuances of effectiveness, risk assessment, and challenges inherent in translating these findings into clinical guidelines. The study seeks to bridge the gap between scientific research and clinical practice, offering insights to inform future oncological therapies and symptom management strategies involving cannabinoids. The potential benefits and risks of cannabinoid use in cancer treatment are assessed to guide clinicians and researchers in developing comprehensive, evidence-based approaches to patient care.

Breaking the Silence: The Role of Health Professionals in the Gaza Crisis

Having the opportunity to write something in this moment, I would use it to raise my voice on behalf of the health professional community for the people of Gaza. As mentioned by Sualeha Shekhani and Dr. Aamir Jafarey, doctors represent the moral voice of their era. However, in light of the events of October 7, 2023, and the subsequent armed assault by Israeli forces on Gaza, which has led to a significant humanitarian crisis, the response from the global bioethics community seems muted (Shekhani & Jafarey, 2024). This silence can be partly explained by editorial restraints that may prevent a more robust response from the health community towards the Gaza crisis. Health professionals are uniquely positioned to influence policy decisions and advocate for equitable healthcare. They possess specialized knowledge of medical ethics and healthcare structures, enabling them to champion the causes of the vulnerable and reduce disparities across society. Physicians, trained in evidence-based medicine, can ensure that policy decisions are grounded in scientific research rather than political expediency (Fernandes, 2024). The medical community's silence regarding the Gaza crisis is troubling. Healthcare workers in Gaza are targeted, and doctors work without essential medicines and resources, risking their lives for the population they serve. The current health sector in Gaza is at a breaking point, exacerbating the public health crisis and psychological trauma experienced by the residents (Fernandes, 2024).

Evidence-based scientific thinking and decision-making in everyday life.

In today's knowledge economy, it is critical to make decisions based on high-quality evidence. Science-related decision-making is thought to rely on a complex interplay of reasoning skills, cognitive styles, attitudes, and motivations toward information. By investigating the relationship between individual differences and behaviors related to evidence-based decision-making, our aim was to better understand how adults engage with scientific information in everyday life. First, we used a data-driven exploratory approach to identify four latent factors in a large set of measures related to cognitive skills and epistemic attitudes. The resulting structure suggests that key factors include curiosity and positive attitudes toward science, prosociality, cognitive skills, and openmindedness to new information. Second, we investigated whether these factors predicted behavior in a naturalistic decision-making task. In the task, participants were introduced to a real science-related petition and were asked to read six online articles related to the petition, which varied in scientific quality, while deciding how to vote. We demonstrate that curiosity and positive science attitudes, cognitive flexibility, prosociality and emotional states, were related to engaging with information and discernment of evidence reliability. We further found that that social authority is a powerful cue for source credibility, even above the actual quality and relevance of the sources. Our results highlight that individual motivating factors toward information engagement, like curiosity, and social factors such as social authority are important drivers of how adults judge the credibility of everyday sources of scientific information.

Phenotype identification and genome-wide association study of ear-internode vascular bundles in maize (Zea mays).

The vascular bundle in the ear-internode of maize is a key conduit for transporting photosynthetic materials between "source" and "sink", making it critically important to examine its micro-phenotypes and genetic architecture to identify advantageous characteristics and cultivate high-yielding and high-quality varieties. Unfortunately, the limited observation methods and scope of study precludes any comprehensive and systematic investigations into the microscopic phenotypes and genetic mechanisms of vascular bundle in maize ear-internode. In this study, 47 phenotypic traits were extracted in 495 maize inbred lines using micro computed tomography (Micro-CT) scanning technology and a deep learning-based phenotype acquisition method for stem vascular bundle, which included stem slice-related, epidermis zone-related, periphery zone-related, inner zone-related and vascular bundles-related traits. Phenotypic analysis indicated that there was extensive phenotypic variation of vascular bundle traits in ear-internode, especially that in the inner zone. Of these, 30 phenotypic traits with heritability greater than 0.70 were conducted for GWAS, and a total of 4,225 significant SNPs and 416 candidate genes with detailed functional annotations were identified. Furthermore, 20 genes were highly expressed in stem-related tissues, especially in maize internodes. Functional analysis of candidate genes indicated that the pathways obtained for candidate genes of different trait groups were distinct, mainly involved in vitamin synthesis and metabolism, transport of substances, carbohydrate derivative catabolic process, protein transport and localization, and anatomical structure development. The results of this study will help to further understand the phenotypic traits of stem vascular bundles and provide a reference for revealing the genetic mechanism of maize ear-internode vascular bundles.

Research on the evolutionary patterns and control of surrounding rock superimposed stress field local area loading in double-layer Island face main roadway

Double-layer island working face main roadway coal pillars are affected by complex mining stress superposition, when different coal pillar width combinations, the surrounding rock stress field will produce different degrees of regional loading increase effect; the study of the surrounding rock stress field regional superposition loading increase law is meaningful to explaining the failure mode of the roadway and determining the critical control area. This study combines numerical simulation with on-site monitoring and other methods and draws the following conclusions: The superimposed loading increase law (“decreasing” → “increasing”) of the abutment pressure and deviatoric stress in the lower coal seam of the double-layer island working face during the mining; the type of the principal stress deflection in the advance working face region; and by obtaining the three types of development morphology of the deviatoric stress peak zone of the roadway and its corresponding nine evolution modes (one type of circular tube → four types of inverse hyperbolic body → four types of hyperbolic body) in the double-layered island working face mining. Indicated the critical reinforcement area corresponding to the main roadway when at different combinations of coal pillar widths; determined the main track roadway protective coal pillars width for 40 m and the shape of the roadway peak deviatoric stress zone is the inverse class hyperbolic body mode; according to the evolution mode of the peak deviatoric stress zone, determined the synergistic failure control program for the asymmetric critical zone of the roadway surrounding rock which is a targeted scientific support method; after the feedback of on-site monitoring and, the support program is reasonable and effective.

Framing water–energy–food–ecosystem (WEFE) nexus interactions in the Tana-Beles Sub-basin of Ethiopia

The water–energy–food–ecosystems (WEFE) provide vital resources that are essential to human existence. Exploring synergies and trade-offs in these systems has been of interest in recent years to increase economic gain while sustaining the environment. The Tana-Beles Sub-basin of Ethiopia is challenged by population density, climate change, and ecosystem degradation that requires a WEFE Nexus thinking. To understand the current WEFE nexus interactions in the basin, a systematic review of 102 scientific research articles published from 1991 to 2021 was undertaken. Additionally, the systematic review is complemented by spatial data analysis to identify synergies and trade-offs among the WEFE nexus indicators. The analysis revealed the dominance of food–water–ecosystem interdependencies in WEFE nexus research for the Tana-Beles Sub-basin. This dominance is driven by extensive food production activities, which lead to substantial water abstraction and hydrological alterations to meet the intensive water demands of crop cultivation. Simultaneously, the energy-ecosystem interactions are critical due to excessive biomass utilization that exceeds the biomass production potential of the area. Furthermore, the available vegetation cover of the area is very limited to supplement the growing fuel wood demands, which is exerting extreme land degradation and threatening the ecosystem in the sub-basin. This study identifies gaps in WEFE understanding, highlights specific challenges and opportunities within the basin, and calls for coordinated stakeholder action for sustainable resource management through a Nexus approach.

Development of an amperometric biosensor that can determine the amount of glucose in the blood using the glucose oxidase enzyme: Preparation of polyaniline-polypyrrole-poly(sodium-4-styrenesulfonate) film.

In this study, a new amperometric biosensor was developed for glucose determination. For this purpose, polyaniline-polypyrrole-poly(sodium-4-styrenesulfonate) film was prepared by electropolymerization of aniline and pyrrole with poly(sodium-4-styrenesulfonate) on a platinum plate. The best working conditions of the polyaniline-polypyrrole-poly(sodium-4-styrenesulfonate) film were determined. The glucose oxidase enzyme was immobilized by the entrapment method in polyaniline-polypyrrole-poly(sodium-4-styrenesulfonate) film. Glucose determination was made based on the oxidation of hydrogen peroxide, which is formed as a result of the enzymatic reaction on the surface of the prepared biosensor at +0.40V. The working range for the glucose determination of the biosensor was determined. The effects of pH and temperature on the response of the glucose biosensor were investigated. The reusability and shelf life of the biosensor were determined. The effects of interference in biological environments on the response of the biosensor were investigated. Glucose determination was made in the biological fluid (blood) with the prepared biosensor. This study has a feature that sheds light on biosensor studies to be developed for the detection of substances in the human body, such as glucose, uric acid, and urea. This article will set an example for future scientific research on the development of a sensor for other biological fluids in the human body, such as the sensor developed for blood samples. In addition, this developed sensor provides an innovation that improves the quality of life of patients by allowing them to constantly monitor their glucose levels and intervene when necessary.

The "Working Group Land of Fires" Platform for emergency management, data sharing and dissemination.

Over the last decades, the Campania Region in Italy has faced an environmental crisis due to the widespread illegal dumping and burning of waste. This has led to the area being notoriously known as the Land of Fires (Terra dei Fuochi - TdF), sparking serious concerns about public health and threatening the region's agricultural sector, one of its economic mainstays. In such a context, a timely, accurate, and reliable flow of information, aimed both at the population and at stakeholders, is crucial for establishing a proper dialogue between institutions and people, driving the empowerment of citizens. To address this crisis, the Italian Government introduced Law 6 of 2014, establishing a multidisciplinary Working Group tasked with identifying and mapping the sites affected by spills and illegal disposal in the territory. The TdF-WG defined a scientific methodology for classifying these sites in terms of prohibition on the cultivation of specific crops, consequently allowing the adoption of appropriate clean up and restoration measures for the impacted sites. This paper describes the data collection process and the IT platform commissioned by the Government to the IZS-TE and used by the TdF-WG to exchange data, knowledge, and technology, thereby fostering efficient and effective crisis management.

Nonideality in Arrayed Carbon Nanotube Field Effect Transistors Revealed by High-Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy.

High density and high semiconducting-purity single-walled carbon nanotube array (A-CNT) have recently been demonstrated as promising candidates for high-performance nanoelectronics. Knowledge of the structures and arrangement of CNTs within the arrays and their interfaces to neighboring CNTs, metal contacts, and dielectrics, as the key components of an A-CNT field effect transistor (FET), is essential for device mechanistic understanding and further optimization, particularly considering that the current technologies for the fabrication of A-CNT wafers are mainly laboratory-level solution-based processes. Here, we conduct a systematic investigation into the microstructures of A-CNT FETs mainly via cross-sectional high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and tentatively establish a framework consisting of up to 11 parameters which can be used for structure-side quality evaluation of the A-CNT FETs. The parameter ensemble includes the diameter, length (or terminal), and density distribution of CNTs, radial deformation of CNTs, array alignment defects, surface crystallography facets of contact metal, thickness distribution of high-k dielectrics (HfO2), and the contact ratios for the CNT-CNT, CNT-metal, CNT-dielectric, and CNT-substrate interfaces. Enriched array alignment defects, i.e., bundle, stacking, misorientation, and voids, are observed with a total ratio sometimes up to ∼90% in pristine A-CNTs and even up to ∼95% after the device fabrication process. Thus, they are suggested as the prevalent performance-limiting factors for A-CNT FETs. Complex interfacial structures are observed at the CNT-CNT, CNT-metal contact, and CNT-high-k dielectric interfaces, making the local environment and the property of each component CNT involved in an A-CNT FET distinct from others in terms of the diameters, radial deformation, and interactions with the local surroundings (mainly through van der Waals interactions). The present study suggests further improvements on the fabrication technology of A-CNT wafers and devices and mechanistic investigations into the impacts of complex array alignment defects and interface structures on the electrical performance of A-CNT FETs as well.

Reviving Ancient Wisdom: Evidence-Based Study of Unani Medicines on Management of Migraine and Arthritis.

Unani medicine, rooted in Greco-Arabic traditions, offers a holistic approach to healthcare, focusing on the balance of bodily humors and natural medications from plants, minerals, and animals. Unani medicine's holistic perspective emphasizes comprehensive care by addressing the root causes of diseases, particularly in chronic conditions like cancer and neurological disorders. The system's emphasis on Mizaj, preventive measures, and health promotion reflects its relevance in contemporary healthcare. Integrating traditional knowledge with modern scientific validation, Unani medicine offers valuable insights into alternative approaches to health management. This review article explores the management of migraine and arthritis using Unani medicine, drawing insights from various case reports. The objective is to evaluate the efficacy of Unani treatments in providing relief and improving the quality of life for patients suffering from these conditions. The review analyzes multiple case reports detailing the use of specific Unani formulations and therapies. Key findings indicate that Unani medicine, with its holistic approach and reliance on natural medications, has shown promising results in managing both migraine and arthritis.Unani medicine offers a valuable alternative approach to managing migraine and arthritis, aligning traditional knowledge with modern therapeutic needs.