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Research has shown that the risk for violent victimisation, including various forms of abuse and sexual violence, is high among individuals forced to leave their homes due to wars, humanitarian emergencies, and violent conflicts. Unfortunately, little is known about such critical issue as domestic violence within the home, as most research on humanitarian crises covers violence outside the home. Given that the home remains one of the most dangerous places for vulnerable individuals during wartime, it is crucial to address who is most vulnerable to becoming a victim of domestic violence in current war-torn societies such as Ukraine. Further, it is imperative to understand the characteristics of domestic violence at the “intersection” of war and a global pandemic. We use primary, self-reported survey data from an international research project entitled “A Cross-National Study of the Global Pandemic, Deviance and Health” to provide a snapshot of domestic violence in the current Ukrainian society and analyse the characteristics of self-reported domestic violence, both psychological and physical, which has been taking place during the Russian invasion of Ukraine and a global pandemic. Specifically, this study addresses the following research questions: What are the levels of domestic violence (both physical and psychological abuse) when it happens at the time of “intersection” between war and a pandemic? Who is the most likely to become a victim of domestic violence in this unique situation? Results from logistic regression models reveal that, compared to single individuals in Ukraine, people who cohabitate with their partners are at a higher risk of psychological abuse, while being married emerges as a “protective” factor against physical abuse. Additionally, having a higher SES significantly reduces the risk of psychological abuse from an intimate partner. Notably, in contrast with prior research, our results show that men’s odds of experiencing physical abuse are higher. Explanations for these unique findings and suggestions for future research are discussed.

Studies done by the previous researchers in Concrete Filled Steel Tubes (CFST) have a significant focus on the bond performance of CFST. This paper includes studies on the evaluation of critical parameters such as interface condition, interface length, infilled concrete strength, and end friction and cross-section dimension in these members. It is found that the effect of interface length had very little impact on the bond stress as it shows a promising value when the interface length is in the range of 200-800 mm and after that, it gets shifted and reduced for larger interface length. But this decrease in the bond stress is affiliated with other parameters, like macro-locking, infilled concrete compressive strength distinctly affects the mean interface bond strength for the sample in the regular condition, the interface bond strength for the most part increases with infilled concrete strength. It is spotted that the friction coefficient of 0.15 is used at both column ends to provide the fixity and it becomes clear that the local buckling pattern of the stub column is independent of the end friction. In both categories of columns, the bond strength among the steel tube and infilled concrete reduced extraordinarily with increased cross-sectional dimension.

The development of high-precision large-area optical coatings and devices comprising low-dimensional materials hinges on scalable solution-based manufacturability with control over exfoliation procedure-dependent effects. As such, it is critical to understand the influence of technique-induced transition metal dichalcogenide (TMDC) optical properties that impact the design, performance, and integration of advanced optical coatings and devices. Here, we examine the optical properties of semiconducting MoS2 films from the exfoliation formulations of four prominent approaches: solvent-mediated exfoliation, chemical exfoliation with phase reconversion, redox exfoliation, and native redox exfoliation. The resulting MoS2 films exhibit distinct refractive indices (n), extinction coefficients (k), dielectric functions (ε1 and ε2), and absorption coefficients (α). For example, a large index contrast of Δn ≈ 2.3 is observed. These exfoliation procedures and related chemistries produce different exfoliated flake dimensions, chemical impurities, carrier doping, and lattice strain that influence the resulting optical properties. First-principles calculations further confirm the impact of lattice defects and doping characteristics on MoS2 optical properties. Overall, incomplete phase reconfiguration (from 1T to mixed crystalline 2H and amorphous phases), lattice vacancies, intraflake strain, and Mo oxidation largely contribute to the observed differences in the reported MoS2 optical properties. These findings highlight the need for controlled technique-induced effects as well as the opportunity for continued development of, and improvement to, liquid phase exfoliation methodologies. Such chemical and processing-induced effects present compelling routes to engineer exfoliated TMDC optical properties toward the development of next-generation high-performance mirrors, narrow bandpass filters, and wavelength-tailored absorbers.

doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.39.2.7398 How to cite this: Shah FA, Jawaid SA. The h-Index: An Indicator of Research and Publication Output. Pak J Med Sci. 2023;39(2):315-316. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.39.2.7398 This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.39.1.7236 How to cite this: Jawaid SA. Improving the quality of Peer Review and accelerating the peer review process. Pak J Med Sci. 2023;39(1):1-3. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.39.1.7236 This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.38.7.6920 How to cite this:Jawaid SA. Publication audit & ever increasing problems faced by editors of Biomedical Journals. Pak J Med Sci. 2022;38(7):---------. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.38.7.6920 This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

The development of high-precision large-area optical coatings and devices comprising low-dimensional materials hinges on scalable solution-based manufacturability with control over exfoliation technique-induced effects. As such, it is critical to understand the influence of technique-induced transition metal dichalcogenide (TMDC) optical properties that impact the design, performance, and integration of advanced optical coatings and devices. Here, we examine the optical properties of semiconducting MoS2 films from the exfoliation formulations of four prominent approaches: solvent-mediated exfoliation, chemical exfoliation with phase reconversion, redox exfoliation, and native redox exfoliation. The resulting MoS2 films exhibit distinct refractive indices (n), extinction coefficients (k), dielectric functions (ε1 and ε2), and absorption coefficients (α). For example, a large index contrast of Δn ≈ 2.3 is observed. These exfoliation procedures and related chemistries produce different exfoliated flake dimensions, chemical impurities, carrier doping, and lattice strain that influence the resulting optical properties. First principles calculations further confirm the impact of lattice defects and doping characteristics on MoS2 optical properties. Overall, incomplete phase reconfiguration (1T to 2H), lattice vacancies, intraflake strain, and Mo oxidation largely contribute to the observed differences in the MoS2 optical properties. These findings highlight the need for controlled technique-induced effects as well as the opportunity for continued development of, and improvement to, liquid phase exfoliation methodologies. Such chemical and processing-induced effects present compelling routes to engineer exfoliated TMDC optical properties toward the development of next-generation high-performance mirrors, narrow bandpass filters, and wavelength-tailored absorbers.

doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.38.8.7047 How to cite this:Jawaid SA. Women physicians, their social issues & Barriers to their success in Academic Medicine. Pak J Med Sci. 2022;38(8):2049-2052. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.38.8.7047 This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

The growing prevalence of human monkeypox infection has developed an alarming situation worldwide. Monkeypox virus was first time found in 1958 in monkeys and later spread to humans. The first case of human monkeypox was reported in September 1970 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Human monkeypox was found outside Africa in the year 2003 in United States. More recently, from May 7 2022 to June 29, 2022, the monkeypox cases are swiftly spread worldwide, involving over 50 countries, and affecting 5115 people in Europe, the United Kingdom, North America, and South America, Asia, Australia, and the Middle East. The confirmed monkeypox cases in the United Kingdom from May 7, 2022 to June 29, 2022, are 1076 (21.03%); Germany 874 (17.08%); Spain 800 (15.64%); France 440 (8.60%); Portugal 391 (7.62%); United States 350 (6.84); Canada 276 (5.39%); Netherlands 257 (5.02%); Italy 159 (3.10); Belgium 117 (1.59%); Switzerland 81 (1.58%); Israel 33 (0.64%), Ireland, and 31 (0.64%). However, in about 35 countries, the cases are less than 20 in each country. The epidemiological trends of the human monkeypox infection are swiftly shifting from endemic regions to non-endemic countries. The global health authorities must take priority-based preventive measures to stop the outbreaks of monkeypox disease across the globe. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.38.6.6775 How to cite this:Meo SA, Jawaid SA. Human Monkeypox: Fifty-Two Years based analysis and Updates. Pak J Med Sci. 2022;38(6):---------. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.38.6.6775 This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

The stability of polymer thin films is crucial to a broad range of technologies, including sensors, energy storage, filtration, and lithography. Recently, the demonstration of rapid deposition on solid substrates of ordered monolayers of polymer grafted nanoparticles (PGN) has increased potential for inks to additively manufacture such components. Herein, enhanced stability against dewetting of these self-assembled PGN films (gold nanoparticle functionalized with polystyrene (AuNP-PS)) is discussed in context to linear polystyrene (PS) analogues using high throughput surface gradients: surface energy (20–45 mN/m) and temperature (90–160 °C). PGNs exhibit a lower surface (γp) and interfacial (γsp) energy relative to linear polymers, which results in increased thermal and energetic stability by 10–25 °C and 5–15 mN/m, respectively. This enhanced wetting–dewetting transition is qualitatively consistent with the behavior of star macromolecules and depends on the architecture of the polymer canopy. Increased f...

The versatile property suite of two-dimensional MXenes is driving interest in various applications, including energy storage, electromagnetic shielding, and conductive coatings. Conventionally, MXenes are synthesized by a wet-chemical etching of the parent MAX-phase in HF-containing media. The acute toxicity of HF hinders scale-up, and competing surface hydrolysis challenges control of surface composition and grafting methods. Herein, we present an efficient, room-temperature etching method that utilizes halogens (Br2, I2, ICl, IBr) in anhydrous media to synthesize MXenes from Ti3AlC2. A radical-mediated process depends strongly on the molar ratio of the halogen to MAX phase, absolute concentration of the halogen, the solvent, and temperature. This etching method provides opportunities for controlled surface chemistries to modulate MXene properties.

Atomically thin 2D materials, currently being at the forefront of scientific and technological interest, can be categorized as metallic, semimetallic, semiconducting, insulating, or superconducting...

Liquid processing of layered transition metal dichalcogenides (LTMDs) is enabling a variety of applications, ranging from catalysts and coatings, to electronics, flexible sensors, and optical filte...

The understanding of the nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of photonic materials is relevant and necessary for basic studies and technological developments. Among the materials with high optical n...

Controlling the surface chemistry of nanoparticles is crucial and affects everything from performance to synthesis, processability, and toxicity. Many times, however, stability requirements during ...

doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.38.ICON-2022.5757 How to cite this:Jawaid SA. Contributions to medical literature by Indus Hospital Health Network through Research. Pak J Med Sci. 2022;38(2):331-332. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.38.ICON-2022.5757 This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.37.7.5208 How to cite this:Jawaid SA, Jawaid M. Achievement of another landmark during 2020 by Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences. Pak J Med Sci. 2021;37(7):1715-1718. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.37.7.5208 This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Short open-ended pipe piles are frequently used in lowlands. During installation of short open-ended pipe piles, the formation of soil plug leads to modify its load-carrying capacity. Free soil intrusion is reported in open-ended pipe piles up to the length to diameter ratio of 20–35 and such piles are termed as unplugged. The parametric study of short open-ended unplugged pipe piles based on Winkler approach is documented in this paper. On the basis of the parametric study, it is found the length to diameter ratio, modular ratio and soil friction angle has a greater influence on load-carrying capacity of unplugged open-ended short pipe pile.

The present most modern and highly advanced 21’st century is the era of science and technology. In human history, universities are the basic birthplace of higher education, research, and innovation and play a significant role in the countries’ performance, prosperity, and economic progress. Worldwide, there is a swift shift in the pattern of biological, environmental, economic, and educational systems. This broader change is rotating around the higher academia and its allied innovative research impact. The leading universities develop a culture and curricula as per need and demand and produce knowledge and skills-based professional graduates. The universities prepare graduates to keep in view their country’s requirements and compete with their peers at international levels.Moreover, worldwide, universities are transforming towards higher doctorate degrees (D.Sc / S.Dc) to provide an elevated helipad to the applicant to compete in this modern and highly advanced era. The higher doctoral degree, D.Sc, is earned 6-8 years after the post Ph.D. The candidates with higher academic titles, professional skills, and innovative research could compete and achieve top-ranked positions worldwide. Many universities worldwide, including the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand, promote D.Sc degree programs in various science disciplines, including medical sciences. This manuscript explores the dynamics of a higher doctorate and its significance, need, and demand in academia to compete globally. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.37.7.5119 How to cite this:Meo SA, Jawaid SA, Naseem N. Doctor of Science (D.Sc.): Time to move towards Higher Doctorate Degrees. Pak J Med Sci. 2021;37(7):---------. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.37.7.5119 This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

The COVID-19 pandemic has fundamentally changed the world and inevitably influenced people's behaviors including the likelihood of crime and deviance. Emerging empirical evidence suggests a decline in certain crimes (e.g., theft, robbery, and assault) but also proliferation of different violent behaviors and cybercriminal activity during the pandemic. To explain those trends, we draw on existent theories and elaborate on how crime and violence have been affected by the changes in people's daily routines and accumulated stressful conditions. However, as recent crime trends appear to be largely inconsistent and vary across social groups and contexts, we argue that social scientists need to pay particular attention to the differential experiences related to crime and violence during this global crisis. Specifically, because of the disproportionate experience of violence by vulnerable groups including minorities and women as well as the unique cross-national variations in deviance, more nuanced approaches to understanding causes of crime are warranted. We also discuss the limitations of present research and provide recommendations for the development of comparative and multi-disciplinary studies on criminal and deviant behaviors that are influenced by human crisis situations.

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Nonlinear optical characterization of nanostructured layered transition metal dichalcogenides (LTMDs) is of fundamental interest for basic knowledge and applied purposes. In particular, second-order optical nonlinearities are the basis for second harmonic generation as well as sum or difference frequency generation and have been studied in some 2D TMDs, especially in those with a semiconducting character. Here we report, for the first time, on the second-order nonlinearity of the semi-metallic ZrTe2 monolayer in acetonitrile suspension (concentration of 4.9 × 1010 particles per cm3), synthesized via a modified redox exfoliation method and characterized using the Hyper-Rayleigh scattering technique in the nanosecond regime. The orientation-averaged first-hyperpolarizability was found to be β(2ω) = (7.0 ± 0.3) × 10-24 esu per ZrTe2 monolayer flake, the largest reported so far. Polarization-resolved measurements were performed in the monolayer suspension and indicate the dipolar origin of the generated incoherent second harmonic wave.

The goal of this retrospective cohort study was to determine whether stressors related to military service, determined by a diagnosis of chronic post-traumatic stress disorder (cPTSD) or receiving a Purple Heart (PH), are associated with an increased risk of vascular risk factors and disease, which are of great concern for veterans, who constitute a significant portion of the aging US population. The Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 16 administrative database was searched for individuals 65 years or older between October 1, 1997 to September 30, 1999 who either received a PH but did not have cPTSD (PH+/cPTSD−; n = 1499), had cPTSD without a PH (PH−/cPTSD+; n = 3593), had neither (PH−/cPTSD−; n = 5010), or had both (PH+/cPTSD+; n = 153). In comparison to the control group (PH−/cPTSD−), the PH+/cPTSD− group had increased odds ratios for incidence and prevalence of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia. The PH−/cPTSD+ group had increased odds ratios for prevalence of diabetes mellitus and for the incidence and prevalence of hyperlipidemia. The PH−/cPTSD+ and PH+/cPTSD− groups were associated with ischemic heart disease and cerebrovascular disease, but not independently of the other risk factors. The PH+/cPTSD+ group was associated only with an increase in the incidence and prevalence of hyperlipidemia, though this group’s much smaller sample size may limit the reliability of this finding. We conclude that certain physical and psychological stressors related to military service are associated with a greater incidence of several vascular risk factors in veterans aged 65 years or older, which in turn are associated with greater rates of ischemic heart disease and cerebrovascular disease.

Many innovative soil improvement techniques have been developed in the last few decades, and dynamic compaction using heavyweight tampers is one of those. It is performed by repeatedly dropping a heavyweight on a grid pattern prepared on the ground surface. In this study, a circular shaped tamper is designed indigenously for the dynamic compaction of alluvial deposits. The improvement in alluvial deposits in terms of in situ density and depth of improvement has been monitored using static cone penetration test (SCPT). This study is an attempt to analyze the effectiveness of tamper in compaction of loose alluvial deposits. Based on this study, it is found that the dynamic compaction is a useful method of ground improvement and can be used as an effective technique for mitigation of earthquake in such deposits.

The North India's lowlands consist of soft alluvial deposits, which are saturated throughout the year. The construction of the conventional shallow foundation is very difficult in this area due to high groundwater table. A short open-ended steel pipe pile with soil plug is being proposed for this region. By using shear stress–displacement response for alluvial deposits, the proposed foundation is analyzed. Parametric studies are carried out to study the effects of length to diameter ratio (L/do), diameter ratio (d/do), and angle of shearing resistance of core plug (φsp) on the load sharing and the settlement of the proposed foundation.

Childhood trauma (CT) can have persistent effects on the brain and is one of the major risk factors for neuropsychiatric diseases in adulthood. Recent advances in the field of epigenetics suggest that epigenetic factors such as DNA methylation and histone modifications, as well as regulatory processes involving non-coding RNA are associated with the long-term sequelae of CT. This narrative review summarizes current knowledge on the epigenetic basis of CT and describes studies in animal models and human subjects examining how the epigenome and transcriptome are modified by CT in the brain. It discusses psychological and pharmacological interventions that can counteract epigenetic changes induced by CT and the need to establish longitudinal assessment after CT for developing more effective diagnostics and treatment strategies based on epigenetic targets. ISSN:0149-7634 ISSN:1873-7528

doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.37.4.4603 How to cite this:Meo SA, Jawaid SA. Performance of Pak Universities in Global Science. Pak J Med Sci. 2021;37(4):927-930. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.37.4.4603 This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Background Accumulating evidence suggests that the COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted the mental health of individuals. However, the susceptibility of individuals to be impacted by the pandemic is variable, suggesting potential influences of specific factors related to participants’ demographics, attitudes, and practices. Objective We aimed to identify the factors associated with psychological symptoms related to the effects of the first wave of the pandemic in a multicountry cohort of internet users. Methods This study anonymously screened 13,332 internet users worldwide for acute psychological symptoms related to the COVID-19 pandemic from March 29 to April 14, 2020, during the first wave of the pandemic amidst strict lockdown conditions. A total of 12,817 responses were considered valid. Moreover, 1077 participants from Europe were screened a second time from May 15 to May 30, 2020, to ascertain the presence of psychological effects after the ease down of restrictions. Results Female gender, pre-existing psychiatric conditions, and prior exposure to trauma were identified as notable factors associated with increased psychological symptoms during the first wave of COVID-19 (P Conclusions This study highlights the significant impact of the COVID-19 pandemic at the worldwide level on the mental health of internet users and elucidates prominent associations with their demographics, history of psychiatric disease risk factors, household conditions, certain personality traits, and attitudes toward COVID-19.

The versatile property suite of two-dimensional MXenes is driving interest in various applications, including energy storage, electromagnetic shielding, and conductive coatings. Conventionally, MXenes are synthesized by a wet-chemical etching of the parent MAX-phase in HF-containing media. The acute toxicity of HF hinders scale-up, and competing surface hydrolysis challenges control of surface composition and grafting methods. Herein, we present an efficient, room-temperature etching method that utilizes halogens (Br

The liquefaction analyses proposed by various researchers such as Seed et al. (1971) and Seed and Idriss (1985) are based on Cyclic Stress Ratio (CSR) and Cyclic Resistance Ratio (CRR). The Cyclic Resistance Ratio (CRR) is dependent on corrected SPT blow count N60. Since hammer energy efficiency in India is different in comparison to the USA, it is necessary to develop an energy correction factor for India as the same was carried out by China and Japan. In this paper, the I.S. code procedure of liquefaction evaluation as well as energy correction factor developed for various countries were reviewed, and it is found that there is a need to develop one such energy correction factor for India.

Die Frage nach der Vererbbarkeit von epigenetischen Veränderungen, also von Änderungen nicht der Gene selbst, sondern ihrer Aktivität, wird schon lange und sehr kontrovers diskutiert. In ihrem Beitrag stellen Ali Jawaid und Isabelle M. Mansuy den gegenwärtigen Stand der Forschung zu generationsübergreifenden Auswirkungen von Traumata dar und diskutieren deren Bedeutung für Individuen und Gesellschaft. Traumata definieren sie als überwältigenden Stress, der die physische und psychische Gesundheit von Betroffenen dauerhaft schädigen und bspw. zu einer erhöhten Krankheitsanfälligkeit und posttraumatischen Belastungsstörungen führen könne. Die biologische Basis der Vererbung der Folgen psychischer Traumata liegt dem Autorenteam zufolge in der Übertragung epigenetischer Veränderungen auf die Fortpflanzungsorgane und die Keimbahn durch die traumabedingte Aktivierung bestimmter Signalwege. Ali Jawaid und Isabelle M. Mansuy fassen ihren Beitrag folgendermaßen zusammen: „Die Vorstellung, dass psychologische Traumata zu Effekten führen, die potenziell vererbbar sind, ist von großer Bedeutung für die Gesellschaft, wenn man bedenkt, wie viele Individuen durch gegenwärtige und jüngste menschliche Konflikte traumatisiert wurden. Dieses Kapitel diskutiert das Konzept der epigenetischen Vererbung im Zusammenhang mit Merkmalen, die aus einer solchen Traumaexposition resultieren, sowie deren Auswirkungen auf das Leben eines Individuums und auf die Gesellschaft. Es gibt einen Überblick über Studien an Tieren und Menschen zur inter- und transgenerationalen Weitergabe der Auswirkungen psychologischer Traumaexpositionen, indem es die Frage behandelt, wie Traumaexposition und damit verbundene emotionale und kognitive Störungen Spuren in der Keimbahn hinterlassen können. Auch die Frage nach ‚Gelegenheitsfenstern‘ in verschiedenen Lebensabschnitten, von der Kindheit bis zum Erwachsenenalter, in denen die Vererbung von Traumafolgen verhindert werden kann, wird diskutiert. Insbesondere arbeitet das Kapitel die Implikationen der Forschung über die Vererbung von Traumafolgen im Zusammenhang mit politischen und ethnischen Konflikten heraus. Dabei geht es auch darum, was Menschen, die langfristig Frieden sichern wollen (‚peace builder‘), aus dem Gebiet der epigenetischen Vererbung lernen können und wie sie mit Wissenschaftler*innen zusammenarbeiten können, um Strategien und politische Entscheidungen mit biologischen Erkenntnissen zu bereichern und den Frieden zu fördern“ (S. 278–279).

Electronic circuits, the backbone of modern electronic devices, require precise integration of conducting, insulating, and semiconducting materials in two- and three-dimensional space to control the flow of electric current. Alternative strategies to pattern these materials outside of a cleanroom environment, such as additive manufacturing, have enabled rapid prototyping and eliminated design constraints imposed by traditional fabrication. In this work, a transformative manufacturing approach using laser processing is implemented to directly realize conducting, insulating, and semiconducting phases within an amorphous molybdenum disulfide thin film precursor. This is achieved by varying the incident visible (514 nm) laser intensity and raster-scanning the thin film a-MoS2 sample (900 nm thick) at different speeds for micro-scale control of the crystallization and reaction kinetics. The overall result is the transformation of select regions of the a-MoS2 film into MoO2, MoO3, and 2H-MoS2 phases, exhibiting conducting, insulating, and semiconducting properties, respectively. A mechanism for this precursor transformation based on crystallization and oxidation is developed using a thermal model paired with a description of the reaction kinetics. Finally, by engineering the architecture of the three crystalline phases, electrical devices such as a resistor, capacitor, and chemical sensor were laser-written directly within the precursor film, representing an entirely transformative manufacturing approach for the fabrication of electronic circuitry.

SummaryExtra-cellular accumulation of Amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques is causatively associated with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, mechanisms that mediate the pre-pathological state of amyloid plaque formation remain elusive. Here, using paired RNAi and kinase inhibitor screens, we discovered that AKT-mediated insulin/nutrient signaling suppresses lysosomal clearance of Aβ and promotes amyloid formation. This mechanism is cell-autonomous and functions in multiple systems, including iPSC-derived human neurons andin vivo.Nutrient signaling regulates amyloid formation via distinct lysosomal functional mechanisms, while enhanced amino acid signaling promotes amyloid formation by transcriptionally suppressing lysosome biogenesis, and high intracellular cholesterol levels suppress lysosomal clearance of amyloid by increasing the number of non-functional lysosomes. The nutrient signaling pathway, present in both neurons and microglia, regulates lysosomal clearance of amyloid and microglia mediated synapse loss, bothin vitroandin vivo.Clinically, older hyperlipidemic patients showed less synapse loss through microglia and performed better in cognitive tests. Thus, our results reveal a bi-partite cellular quality control system regulated by the insulinnutrient signaling that in neurons regulates Aβ peptide clearance and in microglia regulates synaptic loss, both processes causally associated with AD. Our results also caution against reducing amyloid through such processes as this might also result in synapse loss.

doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.36.6.3154 How to cite this:Jawaid SA, Jawaid M. Some useful tips to detect Gift Authorship. Pak J Med Sci. 2020;36(6):1145-1146. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.36.6.3154

Background: The emergence of Corona virus disease (COVID-19) and wide-spread counter-measures, such as quarantine and social distancing, can have a significant impact on mental health of individuals. Methods: This online study anonymously screened 13,332 individuals worldwide for acute psychological symptoms related to Corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic from March 29th to April 14th, 2020. A total of n=12,817 responses were considered valid. n=1077 participants from Europe were screened a second time during May 15th to May 30th to longitudinally ascertain the persistence of psychological effects. Results: Female gender, pre-existing psychiatric condition, and prior exposure to trauma were identified as notable factors associated with increased acute psychological symptoms during COVID-19. The same factors, in addition to, being related to someone who demised due to COVID-19 and using social media more than usual predicted persistence of psychological disturbances. Optimism, ability to share concerns with family and friends like usual, positive prediction about COVID-19, and daily exercise predicted fewer acute and persistent psychological symptoms. Conclusions: Females, psychiatric patients, and individuals with previous exposure to trauma are at increased risk of being persistently psychologically affected by COVID-19.

Semiconducting transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) continue to attract attention as components of optical devices due to remarkable refractive indices (e.g., n ≥ 4 for MoS2) from ultraviolet to near-infrared wavelengths. In recent years, TMD synthetic processes have advanced to provide sonication- and surfactant-free exfoliation methods. Such methods provide better access to high-yields of oxidatively-resistant TMDs as stable colloidal dispersions. However, inconsistent optical constants (i.e., refractive indices, n, and extinction coefficients, k) have been reported throughout the literature without clear attribution to TMD origin, exfoliation technique, or film processing procedures. Here, we offer insight toward understanding the nature of these reported discrepancies. As such, we derive broadband optical constants of redox exfoliated TMD films from 250nm – 20µm using variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometry. These data illustrate continuation of high n and low k values into the long-wavelength infrared regime. However, all the optical features (250nm – 20µm) are heavily dependent on both the selected raw material source (synthetic or natural) and accompanying post-processing conditions. These experimental optical features show significant changes in n ranging from 2.4 – 3.3. While the intrinsic lattice defect density is most likely to dominate TMD optical properties, residual species critical for exfoliation (i.e., polyoxometalates) are also suspected to contribute to variations in reported optical constants (e.g., extrinsic chemical dopant effects). Understanding such intrinsic and extrinsic optical property dependencies further expands the utility of redox exfoliated TMDs to expedite the development of next-generation optical devices.

The possibility that parental life experiences and environmental exposures influence mental and physical health across generations is an important concept in biology and medicine. Evidence from animal models has established the existence of a non-genetic mode of inheritance. This form of heredity involves transmission of the effects of parental exposure to the offspring through epigenetic changes in the germline. Studying the mechanisms of epigenetic inheritance in humans is challenging because it is difficult to obtain multigeneration cohorts, to collect reproductive cells in exposed parents, and to exclude psychosocial and cultural confounders. Nonetheless, epidemiological studies in humans exposed to famine, stress/trauma, or toxicants have provided evidence that parental exposure can impact the health of descendants, in some cases, across several generations. A few studies have also started to reveal epigenetic changes in the periphery and sperm after certain exposures. This article reviews these studies and evaluates the current evidence for the potential contribution of epigenetic factors to heredity in humans. The challenges and limitations of this fundamental biological process, its implications, and its societal relevance are also discussed.

This study anonymously examined 2,734 psychiatric patients worldwide for worsening of their pre-existing psychiatric condition during the COVID-19 pandemic. Valid responses mainly from 12 featured countries indicated self-reported worsening of psychiatric conditions in 2/3rd of the patients assessed that was validated through their significantly higher scores on scales for general psychological disturbance, post-traumatic stress disorder, and depression. Female gender, feeling no control of the situation and reporting dissatisfaction with the response of the state during the COVID-19 pandemic, and reduced interaction with family and friends increased the worsening of pre-existing psychiatric conditions, whereas optimism, ability to share concerns with family and friends and using social media like usual were associated with less worsening. An independent clinical investigation from the USA confirmed worsening of psychiatric conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic based on identification of new symptoms that necessiated clinical interventions such as dose adjustment or starting new medications in more than half of the patients. Funding Statement: The authors worked voluntarily for this project and have no funding source to disclose. AJ is supported by an International Research Agenda (MAB) grant by Foundation for Polish Science (FNP). Declaration of Interests: The authors declare no competing interests. Ethics Approval Statement: The study procedures were reviewed and approved by University of Zurich Research Office for Scientific Integrity and Cantonal Ethics Commission for the canton of Zurich (Switzerland; Appendix 3), Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Warsaw (Poland; Appendix 4), and the Faculty of Medicine, University of Tuzla, Tuzla (Bosnia and Herzegovina; Appendix 5).

This study anonymously screened 13,332 individuals worldwide for psychological symptoms related to Corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic from March 29th to April 14th, 2020. A total of n=12,817 responses were considered valid with responses from 12 featured countries and five WHO regions. Female gender, pre-existing psychiatric condition, and prior exposure to trauma were identified as notable risk factors, whereas optimism, ability to share concerns with family and friends like usual, positive prediction about COVID-19, and daily exercise predicted fewer psychological symptoms. These results could aid in dynamic optimization of mental health services during and following COVID-19 pandemic.

Low temperature synthesis of high quality two-dimensional (2D) materials directly on flexible substrates remains a fundamental limitation towards scalable realization of robust flexible electronics possessing the unique physical properties of atomically thin structures. Herein, we describe room temperature sputtering of uniform, stoichiometric amorphous MoS2 and subsequent large area (>6.25 cm2) photonic crystallization of 5 nm 2H-MoS2 films in air to enable direct, scalable fabrication of ultrathin 2D photodetectors on stretchable polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) substrates. The lateral photodetector devices demonstrate an average responsivity of 2.52 μW A−1 and a minimum response time of 120 ms under 515.6 nm illumination. Additionally, the surface wrinkled, or buckled, PDMS substrate with conformal MoS2 retained the photoconductive behavior at tensile strains as high as 5.72% and over 1000 stretching cycles. The results indicate that the photonic crystallization method provides a significant advancement in incorporating high quality semiconducting 2D materials applied directly on polymer substrates for wearable and flexible electronic systems.

doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.36.3.2278 How to cite this:Jawaid SA. Plight of Dentistry in Pakistan. Pak J Med Sci. 2020;36(3):299-302. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.36.3.2278 This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.