Search Results (342)

Post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 have been associated with an elevated risk of thromboembolism and adverse cardiovascular events (CVEs). We aim to evaluate whether alterations in poorly studied hemostatic and endothelial proteins are associated with CVEs in patients previously admitted to the ICU and evaluated one year post-discharge. We carried out a cross-sectional study involving 63 COVID-19 patients previously admitted to the ICU one year post-discharge. Plasma levels of factor IX (coagulation factor), protein C, protein S (natural anticoagulant), and von Willebrand factor (VWF, an endothelial marker) were measured using a Luminex 200™ analyzer. Generalized linear models (GLMs) were used to assess the association of these coagulation proteins with CVEs and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP). We found that lower levels of factor IX (p = 0.011), protein C (p = 0.028), and protein S (p = 0.008) were associated with CVEs one year after ICU discharge. Additionally, at the one-year follow-up, we found lower levels of factor IX (p = 0.002) and higher levels of VWF (p = 0.006) associated with higher levels of NT-proBNP, underscoring the involvement of both hemostatic imbalance and persistent endothelial dysfunction. Our findings revealed a gender-specific pattern of associations with NT-proBNP levels. These findings highlight the significant role of persistent hemostatic imbalance and endothelial dysfunction in the development of cardiovascular abnormalities among COVID-19 survivors discharged from the ICU. Full article

Approximately 10% of the US Black diaspora were born either in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) or Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), projected to account for a third of the Black US diaspora by 2060. Yet, details on foreign-born Black women’s labor and delivery (L&D) characteristics, such as the type of birth attendant, remain scarce. We used the National Center for Health Statistics 2016 to 2020 Natality data (n = 2,041,880). The associations between detailed maternal nativity (DMN) and the type of attendant at birth (i.e., physician, certified nurse-midwife (CNM), certified professional midwife (CPM)) among US-born, LAC-born, and SSA-born Black women were examined using multivariate multinomial regression. The study revealed that LAC-born women were more likely to have a CNM during birth than US-born Black women, but Haitian-born and Jamaican-born women had lower odds of having a certified professional midwife (CPM) at birth. When compared to US-born Black women, Cameroonian-born women had decreased odds of having either a CNM or CPM during birth. Findings suggest that DMN could be an indicator of cultural preferences in maternity care. There is a need for further investigation beyond DMN and comprehensive data collection methods for future research to understand the specific needs and preferences of different ethnocultural groups to improve maternity care and prevent adverse maternal health outcomes. Full article

The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) is a measurement method for characterizing bio-recognition events of a sensor, such as field-effect transistor-based biosensors (BioFETs). Due to the lack of portable impedance spectroscopes, EIS applies mainly in laboratories preventing application-oriented use in the field. This work presents a portable impedance analyzer (PIA) providing a 4-channel EIS of BioFETs. It performs the analysis of the recorded spectra by determining the charge transfer resistance ${\mathrm{R}}_{\mathrm{ct}}$ with a power-saving algorithm. Therefore, a circle is fitted into the Nyquist representation of the Randles circuit, from whose zero crossings ${\mathrm{R}}_{\mathrm{ct}}$ can be determined. The introduced algorithm was evaluated on 100 simulated spectra of Randles circuits. To analyze the overall system, an adjustable reference circuit was developed that simulates configurable Randles circuits. Additional measurements with pH-sensitive ion-sensitive field-effect transistors (ISFETs) demonstrate the application of the measurement system with electrochemical sensors. Using simulated spectra, the circular fitting is able to detect ${\mathrm{R}}_{\mathrm{ct}}$ with a median accuracy of $1.2\%$ at an average nominal power of 40 mW and 3054 µs computing time. The PIA with the embedded implementation of the circuit fitting achieves a median error for R_ct of 4.2% using the introduced Randles circuit simulator (RCS). Measurements with ISFETs show deviations of 6.5 ± 2.8% compared to the complex non-linear least squares (CNLS), but is significantly faster and more efficient. The presented system allows a portable, power-saving performance of EIS. Future optimizations for a specific applications can improve the presented system and enable novel low-power and automated measurements of biosensors outside the laboratory. Full article

Carbon-based nanomaterials have emerged as a promising strategy for bitumen modification to enhance the mechanical and thermal performance of pavements. This review evaluates the present advancements in the inclusion of coke and carbon nanomaterials (CNMs) such as carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene into bituminous systems. The findings and limitations of recent experiments in synthesis procedures along with dispersion methods are deeply explored to determine their impact on the rheological properties of bitumen as well as aging resistance and durability characteristics. Petroleum coke enhances bitumen softening points by 10–15 °C and causes up to 30% improvement in rutting resistance while simultaneously prolonging material fatigue life and aging resistance. Bitumen modification through petroleum coke faces challenges in addition to mixing difficulties due to its high viscosity. Moreover, the incorporation of CNTs and graphene as CNMs shows significant enhancements in rutting resistance with improved tensile strength, lower additive requirements, and enhanced dispersion. Both the superior mechanical properties of carbon nanomaterials and processing advancements in nano-enhanced bitumen have the capability to solve technical issues including material costs and specialized mixing processes. Combining coke with CNMs to enhance performance is a future research direction, which could result in economic and scalability considerations. This review comprehensively explores insights into physicochemical interactions, performance outcomes, and processing techniques, crucial for the development of sustainable, high-performance bitumen composites tailored for next-generation infrastructure applications. Full article

Incessant urbanization and industrialization have resulted in several pollutants being increasingly produced and continuously discharged into the environment, altering its equilibrium, with a high risk for living organisms’ health. To restore it, new advanced materials for remediating gas streams, polluted soil, water, wastewater, groundwater and industrial waste are continually explored. Carbon-based nanomaterials (CNMs), including quantum dots, nanotubes, fullerenes and graphene, have displayed outstanding effectiveness in the decontamination of the environment by several processes. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs), due to their nonpareil characteristics and architecture, when included in absorbents, filter membranes, gas sensors, etc., have significantly improved the efficiency of these technologies in detecting and/or removing inorganic, organic and gaseous xenobiotics and pathogens from air, soil and aqueous matrices. Moreover, CNT-based membranes have displayed significant potential for efficient, fast and low-energy water desalination. However, despite CNTs serving as very potent instruments for environmental detoxification, their extensive utilization could, paradoxically, be highly noxious to the environment and, therefore, humans, due to their toxicity. The functionalization of CNTs (F-CNTs), in addition to further enhancing their absorption capacity and selectivity, has increased their hydrophilicity, thus minimizing their toxicity and carcinogenic effects. In this scenario, this review aims to provide evidence of both the enormous potential of CNTs in sustainable environmental remediation and the concerning hazards to the environment and living organisms that could derive from their extensive and uncontrolled utilization. To this end, an introduction to CNTs, including their eco-friendly production from biomass, is first reported. Several literature reports on CNTs’ possible utilization for environmental remediation, their potential toxicity due to environmental accumulation and the challenges of their regeneration are provided using several reader-friendly tools, to better capture readers’ attention and make reading easier. Full article

Photothermal therapy combines the effects of near-infrared laser (NIR laser) and strong light-absorbing materials to combat pathogens and unwanted biofilms. Graphene derivatives have a negative effect on microorganisms, and the combination of NIR laser irradiation and carbon nanomaterials (CNMs) can enhance their antibacterial effect. This investigation is devoted to the determination of the expression level of bacterial stress response genes (soxS and rpoS) under graphene oxide (GO), reduced graphene oxide (rGO), and NIR laser irradiation (1270 nm). GO, rGO and NIR laser irradiation separately and irradiation in the presence of graphene derivatives cause an increase in the expression level of rpoS associated with the general stress response of bacteria. GO and rGO do not change the expression level of soxS associated with the cell response to oxidative stress, and decrease it in the presence of a strong oxidizing agent paraquat (PQ). The expression of soxS increases under laser irradiation, but decreases under NIR laser irradiation in combination with graphene derivatives. The effect of GO, rGO, and NIR laser irradiation on the formation and eradication of E. coli biofilms was studied. NIR laser with GO and rGO suppresses the metabolic rate and decreases the intracellular ATP content by 94 and 99.6%, respectively. CNMs are shown to reduce biofilm biomass and the content of extracellular polymeric substances (EPSs), both exopolysaccharides and protein in the biofilm matrix. Graphene derivatives in combination with NIR laser irradiation may be an effective means of combating emerging and mature biofilms of Gram-negative bacteria. Full article

The impact of adding 1%, 3%, and 5% by mass of kaolin residue (KR) was investigated regarding the mechanical, thermomechanical, and morphological properties, as well as the non-isothermal crystallization and melting kinetics of poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL). The processing to obtain the PCL/KR composites was carried out through extrusion in a twin-screw extruder, followed by injection molding. This study investigated the events of first melting, fusion crystallization, and second melting using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), with heating rates ranging from 5 to 25 °C/min. Additionally, models for the expanded Prout–Tompkins equation (BNA), the nth-order reaction with m-power autocatalysis by product (Cnm), and the Sestak and Berggren equation (SB) were tested. The PCL/KR composites exhibited an increase in the elastic modulus and the heat deflection temperature (HDT) compared to the pure PCL. Furthermore, high ductility was observed, as evidenced by the impact strength and elongation at break. The good distribution of KR in the PCL matrix was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), which contributed to a more efficient crystallization process. The increase in KR content in the PCL matrix shifted the crystallization sigmoids to higher temperatures, acting as a nucleating agent, which reduced the energy barriers and increased the crystallization temperature by up to 5 °C. The melting events did not show significant changes with the addition of the KR. The results are important for the plastics processing industry, mainly due to the opportunity to add value to the waste and use it as an additive. Full article

Lab on Printed Circuit Boards (Lab-on-PCB) technology has emerged as a promising platform, offering miniaturization, integration, and cost-effective fabrication for a wide range of sensing applications. This review explores the most common optical detection techniques implemented on printed circuit boards (PCBs), including absorbance, fluorescence, and chemiluminescence, discussing their working principles, advantages, and limitations in the context of PCB-based sensing. Additionally, evanescent wave generation is considered as an alternative optical approach with benefits for specific applications. Elements such as excitation sources, photodetectors, and the distinguishing characteristics of each method are analyzed to provide a comprehensive, but concise, overview of the field. Emphasis is placed on how the PCB platform influences the performance, sensitivity, and feasibility of these detection methods, highlighting relevant design considerations. This work aims to provide a solid foundation for researchers interested in optical sensing within this technology, serving as a reference for future developments and applications in PCB-based optical detection. Full article

This study investigates the effects of different carbon nanomaterials (CNMs), namely, carbon nanotubes (CNTs), carbon nanofibers (CNFs), graphene, and graphite nanoplatelets (GNP) on the mechanical, electrical, and fractural characteristics of cement composites. The electrical conductivity results indicated that CNT- and CNF-added composites exhibited percolation threshold ranges of 0.1% to 0.3% and 0.3% to 1.0%, respectively. Regarding the mechanical properties tests, the composite with a 1.0% CNF showed the best results. Furthermore, fractural characteristics results indicated that even additions of the smallest dosage, i.e., 0.1% of CNM, exhibited positive results. Overall, the study highlighted the potential of CNM-added cement composites. Full article

Among the models of romantic relationships, consensual non-monogamy (CNM) is one in which several affective and/or sexual relationships are allowed simultaneously. This type of relationship, still considered non-normative, has experienced a considerable increase in recent years. However, research is still limited, and studies on the subject in Spain are scarce. To better understand the differences and similarities between monogamous and CNM relationships, this study investigated both relational models, divided by sex, for four factors concerning romantic relationships: relationship satisfaction, sexual desire, jealousy, and conflict resolution styles. In a sample of 210 persons, the results showed that CNM females reported significantly higher levels of consensus and dyadic sexual desire than monogamous females. Jealousy levels were similar in both types of relationships. People in CNM relationships displayed greater conflict resolution skills through negotiation and compromise, whereas monogamous females reported using the non-constructive style of conflict engagement more than CNM females and monogamous males. CNM males indicated a greater use of withdrawal compared to CNM females. Overall, females showed more passionate jealousy than males. This investigation highlights the importance of studying romantic relationships and their different models. Full article

Nanotubes (NTs) are nanosized tube-like structured materials made from various substances such as carbon, boron, or silicon. Carbon nanomaterials (CNMs), including carbon nanotubes (CNTs), graphene/graphene oxide (G/GO), and fullerenes, have good interatomic interactions and possess special characteristics, exploitable in several applications because of the presence of sp2 and sp3 bonds. Among NTs, CNTs are the most studied compounds due to their nonpareil electrical, mechanical, optical, and biomedical properties. Moreover, single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) have, in particular, demonstrated high ability as drug delivery systems and in transporting a wide range of chemicals across membranes and into living cells. Therefore, SWNTs, more than other NT structures, have generated interest in medicinal applications, such as target delivery, improved imaging, tissue regeneration, medication, and gene delivery, which provide nanosized devices with higher efficacy and fewer side effects. SWNTs and multi-walled CNTs (MWCNTs) have recently gained a great deal of attention for their antibacterial effects. Unfortunately, numerous recent studies have revealed unanticipated toxicities caused by CNTs. However, contradictory opinions exist regarding these findings. Moreover, the problem of controlling CNT-based products has become particularly evident, especially in relation to their large-scale production and the nanosized forms of the carbon that constitute them. Important directive rules have been approved over the years, but further research and regulatory measures should be introduced for a safer production and utilization of CNTs. Against this background, and after an overview of CNMs and CNTs, the antimicrobial properties of pristine and modified SWNTs and MWCNTs as well as the most relevant in vitro and in vivo studies on their possible toxicity, have been reported. Strategies and preventive behaviour to limit CNT risks have been provided. Finally, a debate on regulatory issues has also been included. Full article

‘Marriage equality’ has been a widely used slogan and mobilizing concept for LGBTQ+ rights’ movements across the globe striving for formal recognition for ‘same-sex’ or ‘same-gender’ marriages. In this article, we critically interrogate the terminology and political rationality that have given shape to ‘marriage equality’ campaigns. We demonstrate the structural erasure of non-monogamous relations and populations from the changes hoped for and envisioned in these mobilizations. The lack of any genuine and substantial concern with consensual non-monogamies (CNMs) from most of the literature in the field highlights the close entanglement of marriage with monogamy. As a result, ideas are scarce about how meaningful and adequate legal recognition and social policy provisions for a wide range of intimate, sexual, familial, and/or caring bonds or constellations on the CNM continuum could look like. We argue that the critique of the mononormativity inherent to marriage is fundamental to understanding the role of this in the 21st century. We identify the roots of the mononormativity of marriage in its governmental role as a necropolitical and biopolitical technology, evidenced by its ‘civilizing’ function in white settler colonial projects. Because of this, an expansion of the call for equality to include non-monogamous populations does not resolve but rather aggravates the problem. We conclude that any truly queer politics of CNM consequently needs to be anti-marriage. Full article

Vacuum membrane distillation (VMD) is a promising process for water desalination. However, it suffers some obstacles, such as fouling and wetting, due to the inadequate hydrophobicity of the membrane and high vacuum pressure on the permeate side. Therefore, improving surface hydrophobicity and roughness is important. In this study, the effect of 1H,1H,2H,2H-Perfluorodecyltriethoxysilane (PFTES) on the morphology and performance of CNM/PAC/PVDF membranes at various concentrations was investigated for the first time. Membrane characteristics such as FTIR, XRD, FE-SEM, EDX, contact angle, and hydrophobicity before and after modification were analyzed and tested using VMD for water desalination. The results showed that the membrane coated with 1 wt.% PFTES had a higher permeate flux and lower rejection than the membranes coated with the 2 wt.% PFTES. The 2 wt.% PFTES enhanced the contact angle to 117° and increased the salt rejection above 99.9%, with the permeate flux set to 23.2 L/m²·h and at a 35 g/L NaCl feed solution, 65 °C feed temperature, a 0.6 L/min feed flow rate, and 21 kPa (abs) vacuum pressure. This means that 2 wt.% PFTES-coated PVDF membranes exhibited slightly lower permeate flux with higher hydrophobicity, salt rejection, and stability over long-term operation. These outstanding results indicate the potential of the novel CNM/PAC/PVDF/PFTES membranes for saline water desalination. Moreover, this study presents useful guidance for the enhancement of membrane structures and physical properties in the field of saline water desalination using porous CNM/PAC/PVDF/PFTES membranes. Full article

Sulfur hexafluoride (SF₆), the strongest greenhouse gas, has great challenges in degradation because of its stable structure, posing significant environmental concerns. Photocatalysis offers an environmentally friendly, low-energy solution, but the fluoride deposition on catalysts reduces their activity, thus limiting their large-scale application. To prevent catalyst fluoride poisoning, we report a thin-layer graphitic carbon nitride (CN) material loaded with MoO_x (CNM) that resists fluoride deposition for long-term SF₆ degradation. By combining molecular structure design and nanostructure regulation, we construct a photocatalyst with enhanced charge carrier mobility and reduced transport distances. We find that the CNM exhibits a high specific surface area, increased contact between reactants and active sites, and efficient electron–hole separation due to the Mo-N bonds, achieving an SF₆ degradation efficiency of 1.73 mmol/g after one day due to the prolonged catalytic durability of the catalyst, which is eight times higher than pristine g-C₃N₄ (0.21 mmol/g). We demonstrate the potential of CNMs for low-energy, high-efficiency SF₆ degradation, offering a new approach to mitigate the environmental impact of this potent greenhouse gas. We envision that this study will inspire further research into advanced photocatalytic materials for environmental remediation, contributing to global efforts in combating climate change. Full article

Considerable attention has been given to addressing side-channel attacks to improve the security of cryptographic hardware implementations. These attacks encourage the exploration of various countermeasures across different levels of abstraction, through masking and hiding techniques, mainly. In this paper, we introduce a novel hiding countermeasure designed to mitigate Correlation Power Analysis (CPA) attacks without significant overhead. The new countermeasure interferes with the processed data, minimizing the power correlation with the secret key. The proposed method involves using a Correlated-Power-Noise Generator (CPNG). This study is supported by experimental results using CPA attacks on a SAKURA-G board with a SPARTAN-6 Xilinx FPGA. An Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) cipher with 128/256-bit key size is employed for this purpose. The proposed secure design of AES has an area overhead of 29.04% compared to unprotected AES. After conducting a CPA attack, the acquisition of information about the private key has been reduced drastically by 44.5%. Full article