Intercrossed ZnS nanostructures doped with Ga (ZnS:Ga nanowalls) have been synthesized in high yield from mixed powders in a vacuum furnace. ZnS:Ga nanowalls were grown vertically on the substrate with the size in the range of several micrometers and the thickness down to ∼15 nm and have very rough edges. Due to the high surface area and distinctive morphology of ZnS:Ga nanowalls, the photocatalytic activity and the photoresponse show superior properties compared to ZnS:Ga films. The increased conductivity of metal−semiconductor−metal (Ag−ZnS:Ga nanowalls−Ag) Schottky photodetectors under light illumination is attributed to the photogenerated electron−hole pairs, the desorption of oxygen molecules on the ZnS:Ga surface, and the lowering of the Schottky barrier height. The results indicate that ZnS:Ga nanowalls are promising candidate materials for photocatalysts and applicable as photodetectors, optical switches, and sensors in the visible light region.

Objective Despite the increased availability of biologic treatments indicated for severe asthma, patient and physician preferences for these medications remains largely unknown. The purpose of this study was to understand perceptions of biologic therapies, barriers to care with biologic medications, and preferences for biologic therapy attributes. Methods This mixed-methods study involved quantitative surveys and qualitative telephone interviews with patients and physicians from the United States. Participants described preferences for relevant attributes, and barriers to use of biologic medications. Participants rated, ranked, and indicated importance of preferences for different levels of key attributes including: mode of administration, administration setting, dosing frequency, number of injections, and time to onset of effect. Other attributes unique to each group were also included. Results A total of 47 patients and 25 physicians participated. Patients ranked out-of-pocket costs, mode of administration, time to onset of efficacy, and administration setting as the most important attributes. Physicians ranked mode of administration, time to onset of efficacy, dosing frequency, and insurance reimbursement/access as most important. Both groups expressed preferences for less frequent administrations (Q8W over Q4W or Q2W) (all P <0.01) and subcutaneous (SC) over intravenous injection (both P <0.0001). Key patient barriers to biologic medications include location of treatment, administration time, scheduling, cost/insurance coverage, number of injections, and mode of administration. Physicians identified patient candidacy, convincing patients, administration setting, mode of administration, cost, and administrative burden as key barriers to initiating therapy; and efficacy, speed of onset, convenience of administration, cost, and patient compliance as barriers to staying on therapy. Conclusions Patients and physicians expressed strong preferences for less frequent dosing, SC administration, and faster onset. Cost/insurance coverage and convenience issues were key barriers to use. Increased awareness and understanding of preferences and barriers may be useful in facilitating physician-patient conversations with the goal of individualizing treatment.

Background: Despite the low prevalence for all patients with asthma, those with severe disease account for a disproportionately large economic burden. Objective: To evaluate current direct health care and productivity loss costs associated with patients with asthma receiving Global Initiative for Asthma Step 4/5 therapy ("G4/5 asthma") in the United States. Methods: Asthma patients aged 12 years or older were identified in the IBM MarketScan Research Databases between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2015. Patients were indexed on their earliest medical claim for asthma and were required to have at last 2 years of continuous eligibility. The G4/5 asthma classification required 1 or more medium-or high-dosage inhaled corticosteroids (ICS)/long-acting beta-agonist (LABA) claims, 1 or more omalizumab claims, or systemic corticosteroids covering at least 50% of the 12-month baseline period. The European Respiratory Society/American Thoracic Society criteria for severe uncontrolled asthma were modified for claims data and used to identify patients with exacerbations or high rescue medication use ("Ex/R 00 ). Direct health care costs and productivity loss costs attributable to workplace absence or short-term or long-term disability were measured during the 12-month post-index period.

No abstract

Low-resistivity TiSi2 nanowires were synthesized on silicon with TiF4 precursor and without catalysts. The growth was found to follow vapor−solid mechanism. The single crystalline nanowires are of C54−TiSi2 phase with the diameters and lengths being 20−50 nm and 1−2 micrometers, respectively. The field emission properties of the TiSi2 nanowires were measured, and the turn on voltage is 8 V/μm when the current density attained 1 μA/cm2. The field enhancement factor is about 800 with the measured work function of 4.6 eV. In addition, long term stability of field emission was found. The resistivity of the TiSi2 nanowire was measured to be 30 μΩ cm by the two-probe measurement. The metallic TiSi2 nanowires exhibited a failure current density of as high as 3 × 108 A/cm2. The low resistivity, high failure current density, and high field emission stability of the TiSi2 nanowires indicate that they are potentially applicable in the interconnecting electronic architectures and silicon-based field emission devices.