Capability of TEM and XRD to reveal scale-bridging information about the microstructure of non-monodisperse quantum dots is illustrated on the CdSe quantum dots synthesized using an automated hot-injection method.

Translation of a manual process to high throughput for research and development requires special consideration. One important and often unreported aspect is the establishment of an efficient cleaning routine. This becomes significant, as precious time and, in particular, material would be lost, that is, when low-quality highthroughput experimentation is involved. We present a fully automated cleaning routine of the challenging synthesis of cadmium selenide quantum dots. Manual, semiautomated, and fully automated cleaning protocols were executed and compared in terms of spectral similarities of the synthesized colloids. Only the fully automated protocol enabled true 24/7 operation.

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Background: The optimal surgical technique for lumbar spondylolithesis remains debated. Although posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) theoretically offers more advantages than posterolateral lumbar fusion (PLF), the evidence remains inconclusive. Aim: The aim of this study is to compare the clinical and functional outcomes of PLIF versus PLF in patients with lumbar spondylolithesis. Patients and Methods: We enrolled 38 patients with lumbar spondylolithesis (degenerative and isthmic) who underwent PLIF (N = 19) or PLF (N = 19). We collected operative data and performed follow-up for 12 months after the surgery. The collected data were analyzed using the SPSS software to detected significant differences between both groups. Results: The PLF and PLIF groups exhibited similar pre-operative characteristics between both groups in terms of age (p = 0.57), sex (p = 0.73), clinical presentation (p = 1), required levels of fixation (p = 1), pre-operative VAS score (p = 0.43) or muscle weakness (p = 1). However, the PLIF group had significantly more blood loss and longer operative time than the PLF group. Moreover, both groups had similar levels of postoperative pain (up to six months after surgery), and post-operative complications. The rates of arthrodesis were higher in PLIF group than PLF group within six months while no significant difference within 12 months of follow-up. Conclusion: In our comparative study, we achieved comparison between pedicle screw fixation with posterolateral fusion alone (PLF) in compare with pedicle screw fixation with posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF). Results indicate better results of fusion rate in PLIF as regards arthrodesis with slightly more rate of complication than PLF. So we recommend PLIF in cases of lumbar spondylolithesis than PLF.

Cadmium selenide nanocrystals (CdSe NCs) are frequently used in optoelectronic devices, as they possess unique optoelectronic properties that are highly sensitive to their size, shape and microstructure. Due to the high sensitivity of the properties to the microstructure features, the structure and microstructure of CdSe NCs must be controlled precisely during the synthesis. The CdSe NCs crystallize in thermodynamically stable wurtzitic structure (space group 𝑃6 3 𝑚𝑐), in metastable zinc blende structure (space group 𝐹4 ̅ 3𝑚) and in a mixture of both structures [1]. As a result, another critical issue of the CdSe NCs synthesis is the control of phase composition and formation of microstructural defects, as both issues affect the optoelectronic properties additionally [2,3].