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The performance of a three-dimensional electrocoagulation process operated at a batch recirculation mode for treating petroleum refinery wastewater using aluminium as a sacrificial anode, stainless steel as a cathode, and granular activated carbon with metal impregnated carbon (GACMI (Al: Fe)) with mass ratio (2:1) as a third particle electrode was investigated. Effects of operating factors such as the applied voltage (15-30 v), flow rate (50-175 mL/min), pH (4-10), and GACMI dosage (5-10) g/L on the chemical oxygen demand removal were investigated. Using Box-Behnken design (BBD), a mathematical model relating the essential operational parameters to chemical oxygen demand (COD) reduction was constructed. Results showed that the effect of GACMI dosage on the efficiency of COD removal was the major one, where COD removal increased as GACMI dosage increased. However, increasing applied voltage would enhance the performance of the electrocoagulation reaction. Experimental chemical oxygen demand removal of 96.25 % was attained at the optimized conditions (applied voltage=27.7 v, flow rate=128 mL/min, pH=5.6, GACMI dosage= 8.7 g/L). BET-specific surface area, total pore volume, X-ray fluorescence (XRF), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were employed for the characterization of GACMI particle electrodes.

Activated carbon prepared from date stones by chemical activation with ferric chloride (FAC) was used an adsorbent to remove phenolic compounds such as phenol (Ph) and p-nitro phenol (PNPh) from aqueous solutions. The influence of process variables represented by solution pH value (2-12), adsorbent to adsorbate weight ratio (0.2-1.8), and contact time (30-150 min) on removal percentage and adsorbed amount of Ph and PNPh onto FAC was studied. For PNPh adsorption,( 97.43 %) maximum removal percentage and (48.71 mg/g) adsorbed amount was achieved at (5) solution pH,( 1) adsorbent to adsorbate weight ratio, and (90 min) contact time. While for Ph adsorption, at (4) solution pH, (1.4) absorbent to adsorbate weight ratio, and (120 min) contact time gave maximum removal percentage( 86.55 %) and (43.27 mg/g) adsorbed amount. Equilibrium adsorption data of PNPh and Ph onto FAC were well represented by Langmuir isotherm model, showing maximum adsorbed amounts of (185.84 mg/g) and (159.27 mg/g) for PNPh and Ph, respectively.

Introduction: Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) have suggested that BTK inhibitors (BTKis) might increase infectious disease (ID) risk. Systematic analysis of this topic as derived from RCTs and clinical practice is needed. Areas covered: An extensive Medline, Embase, and Cochrane search of peer-reviewed sources reporting on ID morbidity in patients on BTKis was performed (1 January 2014 - 31 December 2013). Contribution of intrinsic immune defects in indolent B-cell lymphomas to this morbidity was carefully considered. Expert opinion: Patients with indolent B-cell lymphomas display a wide range of innate and adaptive immune defects. In addition, BTKi use is linked with an increased signal of upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) and pneumonias, mainly grade 1–2. These agents also increase the risk of rare invasive fungal infections (IFIs), mainly due to Cryptococcus and Aspergillus spp. with a peak within several months after the start of therapy. More than half of these IFIs are fatal. Research suggests a similar ID risk across 1st, 2nd and 3rd generations of BTKis, all causing B-cell dysfunction due to BTK inhibition, along with off-target functional neutrophil/macrophage alterations. Expanding the knowledge base on ID morbidity in patients on BTKis would facilitate timely diagnosis and treatment, and improve clinical outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have demonstrated a green aqueous synthesis of rod-shaped MoO3 material, [MoVI3O9{K(H2O)4}(CH3COO)]·H2O (2) intercalating potassium–aqua-complex acetate into its lamellar space, simply by ion-exchange of Co(II)–aqua-complex in compound [MoVI4O12(CH3COO)2{CoII(H2O)6}]·2H2O (1) by {K(H2O)4}+ in an aqueous solution of 1 and KCl. Compound 2 acts as a potential storage system of alkali metal ions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a comparative study on the effect of statistical dopant fluctuations on threshold voltage ( $V_{th}$ ) of emerging and conventional metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) field-effect (FET) transistors (MOSFETs). In this context, three ${n}$ -channel MOSFET structures representing three different complementary MOS (CMOS) technologies at the 20 nm node are considered. The structures represent a conventional device with symmetric halo or pocket regions around the $n^{+}$ source-drain formed by a single ${p}$ -type dopant implantation; a second conventional device with symmetric ${p}$ -type halo regions around the $n^{+}$ source-drain formed by multiple ${p}$ -type dopant implantations; and an emerging epitaxial-channel device with symmetric ${p}$ -type halo regions around the $n^{+}$ source-drain where the halo regions are formed by up-diffusion of multiple ${p}$ -type buried layers from the bulk-substrate during epitaxy. For these devices, the values of $V_{th}$ variance and mismatch are computed as a function of device dimensions. The results show that the multiple-halo devices, in general, offer significantly lower $V_{th}$ variance and mismatch compared to the conventional single-halo devices whereas, the emerging epitaxial-channel multiple-halo MOSFETs offer the lowest $V_{th}$ variability compared to the conventional devices at the same technology node. And, the value of the mismatch coefficient for the emerging technology is about 0.68 mV $\times \mu \text{m}$ compared to that of 1.33 and 1.07 mV $\times \mu \text{m}$ for the conventional single-halo and multiple-halo technologies, respectively. This study, clearly, demonstrates the benefit of the emerging epitaxial-channel buried-halo MOSFETs in significantly reducing the effect of statistical dopant fluctuations on $V_{th}$ at the advanced planar CMOS technology nodes.

Objective: To describe new and unusual endocrinopathies in children with de novo 18q deletion (18q-) syndrome. Methods: We describe 2 patients who have atypical thyroid conditions and 1 who also developed symptomatic hypocalcemia. Results: The first patient developed hyperthyroidism at the age of 3 years, with a free thyroxine level of 3.9 (range, 0.8-1.8) ng/dL. Thyroid peroxidase antibodies were 262 (range, 0-32) IU/mL, and thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulin antibodies were 384% (range, 0-139%). On low-dose methimazole treatment, she developed hypothyroidism. Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) level was 163 (range, 0.4-4.5) mIU/mL. Moreover, she later developed growth hormone deficiency. The second patient developed hypothyroidism at the age of 4 years, with a TSH level of 46 mIU/mL. However, TSH remained elevated at levels of 10 to 24 mIU/mL for 3 years, despite appropriate treatment, suggesting TSH resistance. She then developed hypocalcemic seizures and was diagnosed with pseudohypoparathyroidism. Her total calcium level was 6.6 (range, 8.5-10.5) mg/dL and parathyroid hormone level was 432 (range, 15-65) pg/dL. Conclusion: The first patient had a mixed picture of autoimmune hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, requiring a combination of methimazole and levothyroxine to achieve a euthyroid state. For the second patient, the mild TSH resistance was possibly the early suggestion of a parathyroid hormone resistant state. Although growth hormone deficiency and hypothyroidism are common in patients with 18q- syndrome, the occurrence of hyperthyroidism due to Graves’ disease with the coexistence of Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism is rare. Pseudohypoparathyroidism has not yet been reported in patients with 18q- syndrome.

While the majority of population-level genome sequencing initiatives claim to follow the principles of informed consent, the requirements for informed consent have not been-well defined in this context. In fact, the implementation of informed consent differs greatly across these initiatives - spanning broad consent, blanket consent, and tiered consent among others. As such, this calls for an investigation into the requirements for consent to be “informed” in the context of population genomics. One particular strategy that claims to be fully informed and to continuously engage participants is called “dynamic consent”. Dynamic consent is based on a personalised communication platform that aims to facilitate the consent process. It is oriented to support continuous two-way communication between researchers and participants. In this paper, we analyze the requirements of informed consent in the context of population genomics, review various current implementations of dynamic consent, assess whether they fulfill the requirement of informed consent, and, in turn, enable participants to make autonomous and informed choices on whether or not to participate in research projects.

This Special Issue is assembled from a selection of highly-rated technical papers presented at the 2020 IEEE Electron Devices Technology and Manufacturing Conference that took place April 6-21, 2020.

This article presents a systematic study on the analog and radio-frequency (RF) performance of type-II staggered heterostructure p-channel tunnel field-effect transistors (pTFETs) with Ge (Germanium) channel and different compound semiconductor source. In order to study the figure-of-merits (FOMs) of analog and RF performances, various Ge-channel pTFETs are designed with Ge, GaAsP, SiGe, and InAlAs sources. The numerical simulation data show an improvement in the FOMs of analog performance such as drain current (Ids), transconductance (gm), transconductance-generation-factor (gm/Ids), and intrinsic gain (gmRo) of the devices with compound semiconductor source compared to Ge-source pTFET devices. Similarly, an improvement in the RF FOMs such as gate-to-source (Cgs) and gate-to-drain (Cgd) capacitances, maximum frequency of oscillation (fMAX), and cutoff frequency (fT) is observed for the devices with GaAsP, SiGe, and InAlAs source compared to Ge-source pTFETs. The simulation results also show that the common-source amplifiers, designed with Ge-heterostructure pTFETs, exhibit a significant enhancement in gain and Gain-Bandwidth product of the circuit.

Purpose: To analyze the overall clinical outcomes of Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) in 600 consecutive cases. Methods: Retrospective, consecutive interventional case series operated by a single surgeon. Six hundred consecutive eyes of 524 patients with endothelial dysfunctions of different etiologies scheduled for DMEK were included in this study. All donor tissues were prepared by the operating surgeon during the procedure, using McCarey Kaufman medium or Cornisol-preserved cornea with endothelial cell density (ECD) of ≥2500 cells/mm2. Indications, postoperative best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA), ECD, endothelial cell loss (ECL), and complications were analyzed postoperatively between 3 months and 2 years. Results: The commonest indication was post-cataract corneal edema/bullous keratopathy in 262 (43.7%) eyes followed by Fuchs' endothelial corneal dystrophy 218 (36.3%). Vision affected comorbidities were present in 91 (15.2%) eyes. In phakic eyes with cataract (222; 37%), DMEK was combined with cataract surgery (Triple-DMEK). BSCVA of ≥20/25 was achieved in 41.0%, 46.4%, 49.2%, and 48.7% of eyes at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months, respectively and stabilized at 6 months (P = 0.54). Mean ECD decreased from 2884 ± 178 cells/mm2 (n = 600) before surgery to 2223 ± 321 (n = 597), 2099 ± 354 (n = 524), 1918 ± 373 (n = 374), and 1772 ± 439 cells/mm2 (n = 158) at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months respectively. The corresponding mean ECL was 22.9 ± 11.4%, 27.2 ± 12.4%, 33.5 ± 13.0%, and 38.6 ± 14.3%, respectively (P < 0.05 for all-time points). The commonest complication was DM detachment in 59 (9.8%) eyes of which 23 (3.8%) eyes required rebubbling. Three (0.5%) eyes had primary graft failure. Endothelial rejection occurred in 7 (1.2%) eyes until the last follow-up. Conclusion: DMEK is a safe and effective procedure in different types of endothelial diseases with encouraging surgical and clinical outcomes. Complications are less and ECL percentage up to 2 years is acceptable.

Usage of chemicals for the protection of food grains in crop plants creates huge contamination to the environment. Chlorpyrifos is an organophosphate insecticide having potential in suppression of insects and pests and thus is a part of many commercial pesticides. From the present experimental observations, it became clear that the chlorpyrifos containing commercial pesticide is able to promote chromosomal alteration in Allium cepa root cells. This result strongly advocates that chlorpyrifos not only destroys the cell but also interacts with Deoxyribonuclei acid (DNA) and results in damage. DNA fragmentation is also exhibited during White blood cells (WBC) interaction with chlorpyrifos. The UV–visual studies of DNA-chlorpyrifos interaction confirmed hyperchromism occurs in Calf Thymus (CT)-DNA molecules. From the Circular Dichrosim (CD) analysis it became clear that change in DNA structure is caused by 0.156 mg/ml of chlorpyrifos pesticide. The structural change in DNA ultimately leads to mutation in organism. So, from the experiment it confirmed that chlorpyrifos pesticides have potentiality to cause genotoxicity among the exposed organisms.

Objectives: The main objectives of this study were to examine the prevalence of workplace violence (WPV), its associated factors and explore the experiences of healthcare workers.Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study design used a nationally representative sample of 1,081 healthcare workers covering eight administrative divisions of Bangladesh. Logistic regression analysis was employed to estimate the adjusted effect of independent factors on WPV among healthcare workers.Results: Of the participants, 43% (468) experienced some form of WPV. Of those, 84% reported experiencing nonphysical violence, and 16% experienced physical violence in the past year. About 65% of victims claimed no action was taken to investigate the incident, and 44% reported no consequence for perpetrators. Four factors: being married (AOR = 1.63; CI: 1.12–2.39); public sector healthcare worker (AOR = 2.74; CI:1.99–3.76); working in an emergency department (AOR = 2.30; CI:1.03–5.12); and undertaking shift work (AOR = 1.52; CI: 1.10–2.11) were found to be significantly associated with WPV. One-third of the participants were worried about violence in their workplace.Conclusion: WPV is highly prevalent among healthcare workers in Bangladesh. Formal guidelines for reporting and managing WPV are urgently needed at the individual, hospital, and national levels.

Objective: To describe the rare occurrence of pediatric Hashimoto encephalopathy in 3 patients. Methods: The patients, 9 to 13 years of age, presented with new-onset seizures and other neurologic symptoms, including hemiplegia, aphasia, and memory loss. Thyroid function tests and thyroid antibodies were measured. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain, cerebrospinal fluid analysis, and electroencephalography were also performed. Results: The first patient had a thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) level of 60 μIU/mL (range, 0.4-4.5), free T4 of 0.28 ng/dL (range, 0.7-1.6), and thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPO Ab) of 1243 IU/mL (range