Mentoring in Times of Crisis and Beyond Halabi, Nabil M.; Milić, Jovana V.; Kaafarani, Bilal R.
Angewandte Chemie,
June 20, 2022, Letnik:
61, Številka:
25
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
During the global crisis triggered by the COVID‐19 pandemic, university programs, meetings, and conferences have moved to virtual settings, with consequent erosion of mentorship opportunities for ...students and early‐career professionals. This calls for mentorship platforms that are adapted to the new landscape in order to bring about a positive change. Our Viewpoint Article shares the perspective of the Transformative Education program and Mentorship Talks initiative at the American University of Beirut in Lebanon, with the aim of providing insights that could stimulate other mentorship platforms.
As teaching, meetings, and conferences move to virtual settings during the global COVID‐19 pandemic, students, and early‐career professionals are deprived of mentorship opportunities. This suggests that the mentorship platforms need to be adapted to bring a positive change and this Viewpoint Article shares insights from the perspective of Transformative Education and Mentoring Talks programs.
Layered hybrid perovskites comprising adamantyl spacer (A) cations based on the A
2
FA
n
−1
Pb
n
I
3
n
+1
(
n
= 1-3, FA = formamidinium) compositions have recently been shown to act as promising ...materials for photovoltaic applications. While the corresponding perovskite solar cells show performances and stabilities that are superior in comparison to other layered two-dimensional formamidinium-based perovskite solar cells, the underlying reasons for their behaviour are not well understood. We provide a comprehensive investigation of the structural and photophysical properties of this unique class of materials, which is complemented by theoretical analysis
via
molecular dynamics simulations and density functional theory calculations. We demonstrate the formation of well-defined structures of lower compositional representatives based on
n
= 1-2 formulations with (1-adamantyl)methanammonium spacer moieties, whereas higher compositional representatives (
n
> 2) are shown to consist of mixtures of low-dimensional phases evidenced by grazing incidence X-ray scattering. Furthermore, we reveal high photoconductivities of the corresponding hybrid perovskite materials, which is accompanied by long charge carrier lifetimes. This study thereby unravels features that are relevant for the performance of FA-based low-dimensional hybrid perovskites.
Structural properties and photophysics of layered perovskites comprising adamantyl (A) cations in A
2
FA
n
−1
Pb
n
I
3
n
+1
(
n
= 1-3, FA = formamidinium) composition are studied by a combination of theoretical and experimental techniques to unravel unique features.
Layered hybrid perovskites are based on organic spacers separating hybrid perovskite slabs. We employ arene and perfluoroarene moieties based on 1,4-phenylenedimethylammonium (PDMA) and its ...perfluorinated analogue (F-PDMA) in the assembly of hybrid layered Dion-Jacobson perovskite phases. The resulting materials are investigated by X-ray diffraction, UV-vis absorption, photoluminescence, and solid-state NMR spectroscopy to demonstrate the formation of layered perovskite phases. Moreover, their behaviour was probed in humid environments to reveal nanoscale segregation of layered perovskite species based on PDMA and F-PDMA components, along with enhanced stabilities of perfluoroarene systems, which is relevant to their application.
Arene-perfluoroarene moieties are used to assemble Dion-Jacobson perovskite phases, revealing nanosegregation and enhanced environmental stabilities relevant to their application.
Studies on the interactions between SARS‐CoV‐2 and humoral immunity are fundamental to elaborate effective therapies including vaccines. We used polychromatic flow cytometry, coupled with ...unsupervised data analysis and principal component analysis (PCA), to interrogate B cells in untreated patients with COVID‐19 pneumonia. COVID‐19 patients displayed normal plasma levels of the main immunoglobulin classes, of antibodies against common antigens or against antigens present in common vaccines. However, we found a decreased number of total and naïve B cells, along with decreased percentages and numbers of memory switched and unswitched B cells. On the contrary, IgM+ and IgM− plasmablasts were significantly increased. In vitro cell activation revealed that B lymphocytes showed a normal proliferation index and number of dividing cells per cycle. PCA indicated that B‐cell number, naive and memory B cells but not plasmablasts clustered with patients who were discharged, while plasma IgM level, C‐reactive protein, D‐dimer, and SOFA score with those who died. In patients with pneumonia, the derangement of the B‐cell compartment could be one of the causes of the immunological failure to control SARS‐Cov2, have a relevant influence on several pathways, organs and systems, and must be considered to develop vaccine strategies.
Through Principal Component Analysis combining clinical data with those regarding B cells, we identify important factors that tip the balance toward patient discharge or death. The window of opportunity represents the moment in which therapies that blocks IL‐6 pathway and acts on different cell types can be used.
Various H-bond acceptor groups were evaluated for their propensity to induce conformational switching between the kite and vase forms of diquinone-diquinoxaline resorcin4arene cavitands upon redox ...interconversion. The H-bond acceptors were placed on the quinoxaline walls with the purpose of stabilizing the vase form only in the reduced hydroquinone state of the cavitand by forming H-bonds with the hydroquinone OH groups. Design guidelines for successful acceptors were derived. The carboxamide acceptor was shown to be the best candidate. Based on this moiety, a redox-switchable triptycene-based basket that can completely sterically encapsulate a guest in its closed vase conformation was prepared. The basket binds small molecule guests with association constants of up to 104 M–1 in mesitylene-d 12 and exhibits slow guest exchange kinetics with a half-life for guest release in the order of 104 s.
•This study evaluated 2333 individuals at hospital-based COVID-19 recovery clinics.•Older adults are more likely to report long-COVID symptoms.•The most common long-COVID symptoms among older adults ...are fatigue and dyspnea.•Older age does not correlate with long-COVID fatigue or dyspnea.•Obesity is an independent risk factor for both long-COVID fatigue and dyspnea.
To describe long-COVID symptoms among older adults and to assess the risk factors for two common long-COVID symptoms: fatigue and dyspnea.
This is a multicenter, prospective cohort study conducted in Israel, Switzerland, Spain, and Italy. Individuals were included at least 30 days after their COVID-19 diagnosis. We compared long-COVID symptoms between elderly (aged >65 years) and younger individuals (aged 18-65 years) and conducted univariate and multivariable analyses for the predictors of long-COVID fatigue and dyspnea.
A total of 2333 individuals were evaluated at an average of 5 months (146 days 95% confidence interval 142-150) after COVID-19 onset. The mean age was 51 years, and 20.5% were aged >65 years. Older adults were more likely to be symptomatic, with the most common symptoms being fatigue (38%) and dyspnea (30%); they were more likely to complain of cough and arthralgia and have abnormal chest imaging and pulmonary function tests. Independent risk factors for long-COVID fatigue and dyspnea included female gender, obesity, and closer proximity to COVID-19 diagnosis; older age was not an independent predictor.
Older individuals with long-COVID have different persisting symptoms, with more pronounced pulmonary impairment. Women and individuals with obesity are at risk. Further research is warranted to investigate the natural history of long-COVID among the elderly population and to assess possible interventions aimed at promoting rehabilitation and well-being.
Hybrid halide perovskites have become one of the leading materials in the new generation photovoltaics. While their performances are rapidly increasing, the stability under operating conditions ...remains a limiting factor to their application. There is an ongoing effort to overcome the performance and stability limitations by designing new perovskite materials as well as modifying their structure through various molecular modulators that affect their crystal structure, defect chemistry, and optoelectronic properties. It is desirable to control the properties of materials and devices without compromising their stabilities, and host-guest complexation has recently provided a powerful strategy to achieve that goal. This article provides an overview of the host-guest complexation strategies and their utility in hybrid perovskite optoelectronics, along with the emerging perspectives for future applications.
Combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) dramatically improved survival in people living with HIV (PLWH) but is associated with weight gain (WG), raising concern for a possible obesity epidemic in ...PLWH. This scoping review aims to identify the gaps in the existing evidence on WG in PLWH and generate a future research agenda.
This review was conducted according to the methodology for scoping studies and reported according to the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Review checklist. Articles published in English in the last 10 years indexed in Pubmed, WHO Global Index Medicus, or Embase were searched using specific queries focused on WG in PLWH.
Following the selection process, 175 included articles were reviewed to search for the available evidence on four specific topics: (I) definition of WG in PLWH, (II) pathogenesis of WG in PLWH, (III) impact of ART on WG, (IV) correlation of WG with clinical outcomes. A summary of the data enabled us to identify gaps and clearly define the following research agenda: (I) develop a data-driven definition of WG in PLWH and define noninvasive assessment methods for body weight and fat composition; (II) further investigate the interaction between HIV/cART and immunity, metabolism, and adipose tissue; (III) establish the specific role of individual drugs on WG; (IV) clarify the independent role of WG, cART, HIV, and metabolic factors on clinical events.
The proposed research agenda may help define future research and fill the knowledge gaps that have emerged from this review.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
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