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Elderly patients who undergo pancreaticoduodenectomy (PPPD) or distal pancreatectomy (DP) experience not only a reduction in protein intake but also a decrease in protease secretion, leading to impaired protein digestion and absorption. This increases the risk of malnutrition and creates a dual burden of sarcopenia. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial examined the impact of protein supplements on the nutritional status and quality of life (QoL) of elderly patients after PPPD and DP surgeries. For six weeks, the case group (CG; n = 23) consumed protein supplements containing 18 g of protein daily, while the placebo group (PG; n = 18) consumed a placebo with the same amount of carbohydrate. In elderly patients where protein digestion and intake were compromised, the CG showed significantly higher protein intake (77.3 ± 5.3 g vs. 56.7 ± 6.0 g, p = 0.049), improved QoL, better nutritional status, and faster walking speed compared to the PG. Protein intake was positively correlated with muscle mass and phase angle. Protein supplementation may not only increase protein intake but also improve clinical outcomes such as walking speed, nutritional status, and QoL in elderly post-surgical patients at high risk of sarcopenia. Further studies are needed to determine the optimal dosage and long-term effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the realm of modern healthcare, digital health solutions are poised to transform patient care, particularly in surgical interventions such as Total Hip Arthroplasty. Through a scoping review of 40 studies, this paper identifies six categories of digital interventions tailored for pre- and post-operative care in THA, spanning (Tele-)Rehabilitation, (Tele-)Monitoring and -Communication, Mobile Applications and Patient Portals, Digital Patient Assessment and Outcome Measurement, as well as Biomechanics and Robotics. These solutions, ranging from AI-driven communication tools to weight-shifting robot control systems, promise a more patient-centered, efficient, and accessible healthcare model. The paper concludes by advocating for continued exploration and development of digital health solutions to improve surgical outcomes and patient experiences across various medical contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Semi-transparent (ST) solar cells are attracting a lot of attention among researchers as they can effectively utilize solar energy in various fields such as building-integrated solar power generation and portable solar chargers. Here, we introduce an ST solar cell composed of triethylenetetramine (TETA)-doped graphene (Gr), WS2, and LaVO3. The device not only harvests solar energy thanks to its high light absorption in the ultraviolet-visible range but is also translucent due to its thin film composition. The photovoltaic parameters and average visible transmittance (AVT) of TETA-Gr/WS2/LaVO3 solar cells are highly dependent on the LaVO3 film thickness (t). Considering the correlation between efficiency and visual effects, the device has power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 5.07% and 35% AVT at t = 200 nm, suggesting that it is suitable for ST solar cells. To maximize the translucent properties of the device, the PCE of the device was further improved to 5.64% by using an Al reflective mirror. The durability of the cell was confirmed to maintain 91 and 84% of the original PCE even under continuous illumination of 1 Sun at 60 °C temperature (Ta) and 30% relative humidity (RH) and 80 °C Ta/50% RH for 1000 h. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amorphous gallium/titanium (Ga,Ti) co-doped indium oxide (In2O3) (GTiIO) films present significant potential as transparent conducting electrodes for use in flexible electronic devices. Amorphous GTiIO films were grown on silicon and glass substrates using linear-facing target sputtering and various oxygen flow rates. Transmittance was as high as 80% in the visible range for O2 flow rates of 0.3, 0.7, and 1.0 SCCM. The lowest resistivity was obtained at f(O2) = 0.3 SCCM with 0.47 mΩ cm. Dielectric functions were determined, and optical gap energies were estimated as close to 3.4 eV using a Tauc formula. We show that Drude tail amplitude is proportional to the carrier density. An electronic transition was found at 2.7 eV from the optical spectra of the thin film at f(O2) = 0 SCCM; this transition was designated to be an inter-conduction band transition from the first to the second conduction band. Using Hall parameters and Drude tail amplitudes in dielectric functions, the effective mass of GTiIO films was determined as 0.398 m0 at f(O2) = 0.3 SCCM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A heterostructure composed of a combination of semi-metallic graphene (Gr) and high-absorption LaVO3 is ideal for high-performance translucent photodetector (PD) applications. Here, we present multilayer Gr/LaVO3 vertical-heterostructure semitransparent PDs with various layer numbers (L n ). At L n = 2, the PD shows the best performance with a responsivity (R) of 0.094 A Wâˆ'1 and a specific detectivity (D *) of 7.385 × 107 cm Hz1/2 Wâˆ'1 at 532 nm. Additionally, the average visible transmittance of the PD is 63%, i.e. it is semitransparent. We increased photocurrent (PC) by approximately 13%, from 0.564 to 0.635 ÎĽ A cmâˆ'2 by using an Al reflector on the semitransparent PD. The PC of an unencapsulated PD maintains about 86% (from 0.571 to 0.493 ÎĽ A cmâˆ'2) of its initial PC value after 2000 h at 25 °C temperature/30% relative humidity, showing good stability. This behavior is superior to that of previously reported graphene-based PDs. These results show that these PDs have great potential for semitransparent optoelectronic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]