To better understand the vulnerabilities of pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic, we conducted a comprehensive, retrospective cohort study to assess differences in immune responses to ...SARS-CoV-2 infection between pregnant and non-pregnant women. Nasopharyngeal swabs and serum specimens from 90 pregnant and 278 age-matched non-pregnant women were collected from 15 March 2020 to 23 July 2021 at NewYork-Presbyterian Queens Hospital in New York City. Multiplex reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, neutralizing antibody, and cytokine array assays were used to assess the incidence, viral load, antibody titers and profiles, and examine cytokine expression patterns. Our results show a lower incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnant women compared with non-pregnant women. Pregnant women infected with SARS-CoV-2 exhibited a substantially lower viral load. In addition, the levels of both anti-spike protein receptor-binding domain IgG neutralizing antibodies and anti-N Protein IgG were elevated in pregnant women. Finally, cytokine profiling revealed differential expression of leptin across cohorts. These findings suggest that pregnancy is associated with distinct immune and virological responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection, characterized by lower infection rates, substantially lower viral loads, and enhanced antibody production. Differential cytokine expression indicates unique immune modulation in pregnant women.
The Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 has become dominant in most countries and has raised significant global health concerns. As a global commerce center, New York, New York, USA, constantly faces the ...risk for multiple variant introductions of SARS-CoV-2. To elucidate the introduction and transmission of the Omicron variant in the city of New York, we created a comprehensive genomic and epidemiologic analysis of 392 Omicron virus specimens collected during November 25-December 11, 2021. We found evidence of 4 independent introductions of Omicron subclades, including the Omicron subclade BA.1.1 with defining substitution of R346K in the spike protein. The continuous genetic divergence within each Omicron subclade revealed their local community transmission and co-circulation in New York, including both household and workplace transmissions supported by epidemiologic evidence. Our study highlights the urgent need for enhanced genomic surveillance and effective response planning for better prevention and management of emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, ODKLJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
In this research work, we present the synthesis and characterization of four different TiO2 structures, such as nanotubes, nanocavities, nanosheets assembled on nanocavities and nanobowls assembled ...on nanocavities, prepared by electrochemical anodization using organic electrolytes. After synthesis, the structures were thermally annealed to pass from the amorphous phase to the anatase phase, which is one of the most important crystalline structures of TiO2 due to its high photocatalytic activity and stability. The unique morphology and topography were studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The elemental composition was determined by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The anatase phase was verified by Raman microscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD), the band gap energy was calculated by the Kubelka–Munk function, and the main defect states that generate the emission, as well as their lifetime, were determined by photoluminescence spectroscopy and time response photoluminescence (TRPL), respectively. The TiO2 nanomaterials were tested as catalysts in the photodegradation of a solution of methylene blue using a UV lamp at room temperature. The results showed complex morphologies and different surface roughness areas of these nanomaterials. Furthermore, a relationship between defect states, band gap energy, and photocatalytic activity was established. We found that the catalytic activity was improved as an effect of geometric parameters and oxygen vacancies.
•Amorphous SiGe with embedded nanocrystals as a novel thermoelectric material.•a-SiGe thin films material with ZT = 2.61 at room temperature is reported.•High electrical conductivity is achieved by ...N-type doping and thermal annealing.•Enhancement of power factor by increasing electrical conductivity up to 42.79 S/cm.•The thermal conductivity of a-SiGe around 0.53 W/mK is essential for high ZT.
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The state-of-art thermoelectric (TE) materials with high efficiency (i.e., ZT ~ 1) at room temperature require meeting essential features, such as being environmentally friendly (i.e., avoiding the use of rare and toxic elements), cheap to produce, and high ZT. However, the enhancement of ZT has always been a challenge because the Seebeck coefficient, electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, and absolute temperature are interdependent. In this work, we report the fabrication of amorphous silicon-germanium (a-SiGe) thin films deposited by low-frequency plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (LF-PECVD) with embedded nanocrystals that have a ZT of 2.61 at room temperature. The above is achieved by enhancing the thermoelectric power factor and, simultaneously, keeping the lowest thermal conductivity; both are in concordance with the phonon-glass electron-crystal (PGEC) approach. The power factor enhancement is accomplished by increasing the electrical conductivity through N-type doping and an annealing process at 500 °C to which thin films were subjected to improve their transport properties while avoiding crystallization. Therefore, the room-temperature electrical conductivity increased two orders of magnitude from 1.11E-01 up to 42.79 S/cm. In addition, the growth of nanocrystals (5–15 nm) embedded into the amorphous matrix contribute to the transport of charge carriers. The measured thickness and Seebeck coefficient of thin films were 200 nm and −1.038 mV/K, respectively. On the other side, the lowest thermal conductivity is reached because the material’s amorphous phase is kept despite the applied post-deposition thermal annealing. The experimental value for thermal conductivity was 0.53 W/m·K, almost half of the minimum thermal conductivity proposed by Slack. In summary, the structural characterization (developed by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy) shows that a-SiGe material not only has an amorphous phase despite the applied thermal annealing, but it also possesses nanocrystals, which is demonstrated by transmission electron microscopy in high-resolution mode. Therefore, the a-SiGe material obtained in this research is proposed as a novel and potential thermoelectric material because it has optimized TE properties and meets desirable features, such as being inexpensive, non-hazardous, and environmentally friendly for energy harvesting applications.
The screening of high-risk populations using dried blood spots (DBS) has allowed the rapid identification of patients with Pompe disease, mostly in Neurology departments. The aim of the study was to ...determine the prevalence of late-onset Pompe disease (LOPD) among patients not previously diagnosed or tested for this entity despite presenting possible signs or symptoms of the disease in Internal Medicine departments in Spain. This epidemiological, observational, cross-sectional, multicenter study included a single cohort of individuals with clinical suspicion of LOPD seen at Internal Medicine departments in Spain. The diagnosis of LOPD was initially established on the basis of the result of DBS. If decreased enzyme acid-alpha-1,4-glucosidase (GAA) activity was detected in DBS, additional confirmatory diagnostic measurements were conducted, including GAA activity in lymphocytes, fibroblasts, or muscle and/or genetic testing. The diagnosis of LOPD was confirmed in 2 out of 322 patients (0.6%). Reasons for suspecting LOPD diagnosis were polymyositis or any type of myopathy of unknown etiology (in one patient), and asymptomatic or pauci-symptomatic hyperCKemia (in the other). The time between symptom onset and LOPD diagnosis was 2.0 and 0.0 years. Both patients were asymptomatic, with no muscle weakness. Additionally, 19.7% of the non-LOPD cases received an alternative diagnosis. Our study highlights the existence of a hidden population of LOPD patients in Internal Medicine departments who might benefit from early diagnosis and early initiation of potential treatments.
A case of an acute purpuric eruption Hurtado-García, Roberto; Guilabert, Antonio; Devesa, Pedro ...
International journal of dermatology,
07/2012, Letnik:
51, Številka:
7
Journal Article
Built infrastructure is essential Muller, Mike; Biswas, Asit; Martin-Hurtado, Roberto ...
Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science),
08/2015, Letnik:
349, Številka:
6248
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Built water infrastructure supported the evolution of all human societies and will remain an integral part of socioeconomic development and modernization. Some postindustrial societies not only seek ...to “preserve” existing aquatic ecosystems in their otherwise transformed landscapes but also insist that others do the same. They suggest that “green infrastructure” can provide “equivalent or similar benefits to conventional (built) ‘gray’ water infrastructure” (
1
).
•High-calorie, high-protein, peptide-based oral nutritional supplements have demonstrated to reduce gastrointestinal symptoms and improve nutritional status•High-calorie, high-protein, peptide-based ...oral nutritional supplement compliance in patients with cancer has no significant difference with patients without cancer•Sex and initial nutritional status were factors affecting compliance
Compliance in outpatients with gastrointestinal (GI) malabsorption is key in nutritional treatment. The objective of this study was to assess compliance in patients with GI impairment and malnutrition taking a high-calorie, high-protein, peptide-based oral nutritional supplement (ONS-PBD).
A prospective, multicenter, observational study was conducted in 19 medical sites in Spain where ONS-PBD were prescribed as standard of care. Patients consumed ONS-PBD daily for 12 wk. Compliance was calculated as the percentage consumed of the prescribed amount of ONS per day.
A total of 90 adult patients were included in the study, of whom 64 completed the 12-wk regimine. Mean compliance was 78.8% ± 24.5%. Risk of malnutrition decreased in 56.3% of patients at 12 wk, as measured with the malnutrition universal screening tool. A reduction in abdominal pain was observed and stool consistency improved, with a mean of 54.7% and 27.5%, respectively. Improvements in quality of life and a decrease in percentage of patients with severe functional impairment were observed.
These data show that ONS-PBD compliance in malnourished patients with GI symptoms is high, reducing GI symptoms and improving patients’ nutritional status.
Energy harvesters are autonomous systems capable of capturing, processing, storing, and utilizing small amounts of free energy from the surrounding environment. Such energy harvesters typically ...involve three fundamental stages: a micro-generator or energy transducer, a voltage booster or power converter, and an energy storage component. In the case of harvesting mechanical vibrations from the environment, piezoelectric materials have been used as a transducer. For instance, PZT (lead zirconate titanate) is a widely used piezoelectric ceramic due to its high electromechanical coupling factor. However, the integration of PZT into silicon poses certain limitations, not only in the harvesting stage but also in embedding a power management electronics circuit. On the other hand, in thermoelectric (TE) energy harvesting, a recent approach involves using abundant, eco-friendly, and low-cost materials that are compatible with CMOS technology, such as silicon-based compound nanostructures for TE thin film devices. Thus, this review aims to present the current advancements in the fabrication and integration of Si-based thin-film devices for TE energy harvesting applications. Moreover, this paper also highlights some recent developments in electronic architectures that aim to enhance the overall efficiency of the complete energy harvesting system.
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