The importance of chemical composition and microstructure on CO2 corrosion of carbon and low alloy steels has been widely recognized, still contradictory results can be found in the literature. The ...aim of this work is to assess the relationship between microstructure, surface condition and inhibitor efficiency in CO2 corrosion. A C-Mn steel with two different microstructures was tested in a deoxygenated 5% wt. NaCl solution saturated with CO2 at 40 deg C, pH 6. A commercial imidazoline-based inhibitor was added after different pre-corrosion periods. The results obtained showed that pre-corrosion decreases the inhibitor efficiency, but that its impact is microstructure dependent.
The oriented attachment of small nanoparticles (NPs) is recognized as an important mechanism involved in the growth of inorganic nanocrystals. However, non-oriented attachment of dissimilar NPs has ...been rarely observed in dispersion. This communication reports a welding phenomenon occurred directly between as-synthesized dispersions of single-component Au and chalcogenide NPs, which leads to the formation of asymmetric Au-chalcogenide hybrid NPs (HNPs). The welding of dissimilar NPs in dispersion is mainly driven by the ligand desorption-induced conformal contact between NPs and the diffusion of Au into chalcogenide NPs. The welding process can occur between NPs with distinct shapes or different capping agents or in different solvent media. A two-step assembly-welding mechanism is proposed for this process, based on our in situ electron spin resonance measurements and ab initio molecular dynamics simulation. The understanding of NP welding in dispersion may lead to the development of unconventional synthetic tools for the fabrication of hybrid nanostructures with diverse applications.
Brown adipose tissue (BAT) plays a role in modulating energy expenditure. People with obesity have been shown to have reduced activation of BAT. Agents such as β-agonists, capsinoids, thyroid ...hormone, sildenafil, caffeine, or cold exposure may lead to activation of BAT in humans, potentially modulating metabolism to promote weight loss.
We systematically searched electronic databases for clinical trials testing the effect of these agents and cold exposure on energy expenditure/thermogenesis and the extent to which they may impact weight loss in adults.
A total of 695 studies from PubMed, Web of Science, and Medline electronic databases were identified. After the removal of duplicates and further evaluation, 47 clinical trials were analyzed. We observed significant heterogeneity in the duration of interventions and the metrics utilized to estimate thermogenesis/energy expenditure. Changes observed in energy expenditure do not correlate with major weight changes with different interventions commonly known to stimulate thermogenesis. Even though cold exposure appears to consistently activate BAT and induce thermogenesis, studies are small, and it appears to be an unlikely sustainable therapy to combat obesity. Most studies were small and potential risks associated with known side effects of some agents such as β-agonists (tachycardia), sibutramine (hypertension, tachycardia), thyroid hormone (arrhythmias) cannot be fully evaluated from these small trials.
Though the impact of BAT activation and associated increases in energy expenditure on clinically meaningful weight loss is a topic of great interest, further data is needed to determine long-term feasibility and efficacy.
Since the beginning of 2020, worldwide attention has been focused on SARS-CoV-2, the second strain of the severe acute respiratory syndrome virus. Although advances in vaccine technology have been ...made, particularly considering the advent of mRNA vaccines, up to date, no single antigen design can ensure optimal immune response. Therefore, new technologies must be tested as to their ability to further improve vaccines. Nanosecond Pulsed Electric Field (nsPEF) is one such method showing great promise in different biomedical and industrial fields, including the fight against COVID-19. Of note, available research shows that nsPEF directly damages the cell's DNA, so it is critical to determine if this technology could be able to fragment either viral DNA or RNA so as to be used as a novel technology to produce inactivated pathogenic agents that may, in turn, be used for the production of vaccines. Considering the available evidence, we propose that nsPEF may be used to produce inactivated SARS-CoV-2 viruses that may in turn be used to produce novel vaccines, as another tool to address 20 the current COVID-19 pandemic.
Key Messages
Viral inactivation by using pulsed electric fields in the nanosecond frequency.
DNA fragmentation by a Nanosecond Pulsed Electric Field (nsPEF).
Opportunity to apply new technologies in vaccine development.
•Adensecoating on complex substrates is a challenge in physical vapor deposition.•Niobium on copper coatings are investigatedwith different sputtering techniques.•High power impulse magnetron ...sputtering with positive pulse improves film density.•Preliminary validation for superconducting radio-frequency cavities is performed.
The production of a dense and void-free thin film on large and complex substrates is still a challenge in Physical Vapor Deposition. High Power Impulse Magnetron Sputtering (HiPIMS) with voltage inversion (positive pulse) after the main negative pulse is an attractive alternative to a negatively biased substrate to improve the film properties. In this manuscript, the properties of Nb thin-films deposited on flat Cu samples at different incidence angles with respect to the sputtered Nb target are investigated for various coating techniques. In particular, the results obtained using HiPIMS with the application of a positive voltage are compared with those resulting from negatively biased substrates, using as a reference films coated with the consolidated technique of Direct Current Magnetron Sputtering. Images of the film cross section obtained with a Focused Ion Beam - Scanning Electron Microscope enable to assess film morphology and local thickness, which is compared with the value obtained from X-ray Fluorescence measurements. Differences in the film morphology are highlighted for samples placed perpendicularly to the surface of the sputtered target. A significant densification for HiPIMS in the presence of a positive pulse is observed. The application of this approach to the coatings of superconducting radio-frequency cavities is discussed.
Systematic reviews and meta-analysis are the standard methods to assess the association between prognostic markers and major events/conditions. However, the summary measures reported are not always ...explicitly presented and therefore different indirect methods of extracting estimates have been proposed. The aim of this study is to present two new alternative methods for obtaining summary statistics to be included in a meta-analysis of prognostic studies based on simulating individual patient data and to compare them with the already known generalized least squares for trend (glst) estimation method and direct method.
We have checked the performance of these methods using a between study comparison, including 122 studies, and a within study comparison, based on data from one of the studies.
The results obtained in this study show that glst estimation method appears to overestimate the effect size when reported information is incomplete. For the within-study comparison, the closest approximation to the direct estimates was obtained using the approach based on simulating individual patient data.
The proposed simulation methods are a good alternative when other well-known indirect methods cannot be used.
Research on sexual violence and related support services access has mainly focused on female victims; there is still a remarkable lack of research on men who experience sexual violence. Research ...demonstrates that people who both self-identify as men and are members of sexual-orientation minority populations are at higher risk of sexual violence. They are also less likely to either report or seek support services related to such experiences. The present study is an exploratory one aimed at filling the gap in the literature and better understanding how men, both straight and gay as well as cisgender and transgender, conceptualize, understand, and seek help related to sexual violence. A sample of 32 men was recruited on-line and participated in either a one-on-one in-depth interview (N = 19) or one of two focus group discussions (N = 13). All interviews and groups were audiotaped, professionally transcribed and coded using NVivo 9 qualitative software. The present analysis focused on barriers to and facilitators of support service access. Emergent and cross-cutting themes were identified and presented, with an emphasis on understanding what factors may prevent disclosure of a sexual violence experience and facilitate seeking support services and/or professional help. Through this analysis, the research team aims to add knowledge to inform the development of tools to increase service access and receipt, for use by both researchers and service professionals. Although this study contributes to the understanding of the issue of men’s experiences of sexual violence, more research with diverse populations is needed.
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) presents with disease severities of varying degree. In its most severe form, infection may lead to respiratory failure and multi-organ dysfunction. Here we ...study the levels and evolution of the damage associated molecular patterns (DAMPS) cell free DNA (cfDNA), extracellular histone H3 (H3) and neutrophil elastase (NE), and the immune modulators GAS6 and AXL in relation to clinical parameters, ICU scoring systems and mortality in patients (n = 100) with severe COVID-19. cfDNA, H3, NE, GAS6 and AXL were increased in COVID-19 patients compared to controls. These measures associated with occurrence of clinical events and intensive care unit acquired weakness (ICUAW). cfDNA and GAS6 decreased in time in patients surviving to 30 days post ICU admission. A decrease of 27.2 ng/mL cfDNA during ICU stay associated with patient survival, whereas levels of GAS6 decreasing more than 4.0 ng/mL associated with survival. The presence of H3 in plasma was a common feature of COVID-19 patients, detected in 38% of the patients at ICU admission. NETosis markers cfDNA, H3 and NE correlated well with parameters of tissue damage and neutrophil counts. Furthermore, cfDNA correlated with lowest p/f ratio and a lowering in cfDNA was observed in patients with ventilator-free days.
PDF
