Bimetallic Two-Dimensional Metal–Organic Frameworks for the Chemiresistive Detection of Carbon Monoxide

This paper describes the demonstration of a series of heterobimetallic, isoreticular 2D conductive metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) with metallophthalocyanine (MPc, M=Co and Ni) units interconnected by Cu nodes towards low-power chemiresistive sensing of ppm levels of carbon monoxide (CO). Devices achieve a sub-part-per-million (ppm) limit of detection (LOD) of 0.53 ppm toward CO at a low driving voltage of 0.1 V. MPc-based Cu-linked MOFs can continuously detect CO at 50 ppm, the permissible exposure limit required by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), for multiple exposures, and realize CO detection in air and in humid environment. Diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS), density functional theory (DFT) calculations, and comparison experiments suggest the contribution of Cu nodes to CO binding and the essential role of MPc units in tuning and amplifying the sensing response

Conductive Stimuli-Responsive Coordination Network Linked with Bismuth for Chemiresistive Gas Sensing

This paper describes the design, synthesis, characterization, and performance of a novel semiconductive crystalline coordination network, synthesized using 2,3,6,7,10,11-hexahydroxytriphenylene (HHTP) ligands interconnected with bismuth ions, toward chemiresistive gas sensing. Bi(HHTP) exhibits two distinct structures upon hydration and dehydration of the pores within the network, Bi(HHTP)-α and Bi(HHTP)-β, respectively, both with unprecedented network topology (2,3-c and 3,4,4,5-c nodal net stoichiometry, respectively) and unique corrugated coordination geometries of HHTP molecules held together by bismuth ions, as revealed by a crystal structure resolved via microelectron diffraction (MicroED) (1.00 Å resolution). Good electrical conductivity (5.3 × 10–3 S·cm–1) promotes the utility of this material in the chemical sensing of gases (NH3 and NO) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs: acetone, ethanol, methanol, and isopropanol). The chemiresistive sensing of NO and NH3 using Bi(HHTP) exhibits limits of detection 0.15 and 0.29 parts per million (ppm), respectively, at low driving voltages (0.1–1.0 V) and operation at room temperature. This material is also capable of exhibiting unique and distinct responses to VOCs at ppm concentrations. Spectroscopic assessment via X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic methods (i.e., attenuated total reflectance-infrared spectroscopy (ATR-IR) and diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transformed spectroscopy (DRIFTS)), suggests that the sensing mechanisms of Bi(HHTP) to VOCs, NO, and NH3 comprise a complex combination of steric, electronic, and protic properties of the targeted analytes

Risk factors associated with adverse fetal outcomes in pregnancies affected by Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): a secondary analysis of the WAPM study on COVID-19.

Objectives To evaluate the strength of association between maternal and pregnancy characteristics and the risk of adverse perinatal outcomes in pregnancies with laboratory confirmed COVID-19. Methods Secondary analysis of a multinational, cohort study on all consecutive pregnant women with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 from February 1, 2020 to April 30, 2020 from 73 centers from 22 different countries. A confirmed case of COVID-19 was defined as a positive result on real-time reverse-transcriptase-polymerase-chain-reaction (RT-PCR) assay of nasal and pharyngeal swab specimens. The primary outcome was a composite adverse fetal outcome, defined as the presence of either abortion (pregnancy loss before 22 weeks of gestations), stillbirth (intrauterine fetal death after 22 weeks of gestation), neonatal death (death of a live-born infant within the first 28 days of life), and perinatal death (either stillbirth or neonatal death). Logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate parameters independently associated with the primary outcome. Logistic regression was reported as odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI). Results Mean gestational age at diagnosis was 30.6+/-9.5 weeks, with 8.0% of women being diagnosed in the first, 22.2% in the second and 69.8% in the third trimester of pregnancy. There were six miscarriage (2.3%), six intrauterine device (IUD) (2.3) and 5 (2.0%) neonatal deaths, with an overall rate of perinatal death of 4.2% (11/265), thus resulting into 17 cases experiencing and 226 not experiencing composite adverse fetal outcome. Neither stillbirths nor neonatal deaths had congenital anomalies found at antenatal or postnatal evaluation. Furthermore, none of the cases experiencing IUD had signs of impending demise at arterial or venous Doppler. Neonatal deaths were all considered as prematurity-related adverse events. Of the 250 live-born neonates, one (0.4%) was found positive at RT-PCR pharyngeal swabs performed after delivery. The mother was tested positive during the third trimester of pregnancy. The newborn was asymptomatic and had negative RT-PCR test after 14 days of life. At logistic regression analysis, gestational age at diagnosis (OR: 0.85, 95% CI 0.8-0.9 per week increase; pPeer reviewe

Maternal and perinatal outcomes of pregnant women with SARS-CoV-2 infection.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the maternal and perinatal outcomes of pregnancies affected by SARS-CoV-2 infection. METHODS: This was a multinational retrospective cohort study including women with a singleton pregnancy and laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, conducted in 72 centers in 22 different countries in Europe, the USA, South America, Asia and Australia, between 1 February 2020 and 30 April 2020. Confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection was defined as a positive result on real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay of nasopharyngeal swab specimens. The primary outcome was a composite measure of maternal mortality and morbidity, including admission to the intensive care unit (ICU), use of mechanical ventilation and death. RESULTS: In total, 388 women with a singleton pregnancy tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 on RT-PCR of a nasopharyngeal swab and were included in the study. Composite adverse maternal outcome was observed in 47/388 (12.1%) women; 43 (11.1%) women were admitted to the ICU, 36 (9.3%) required mechanical ventilation and three (0.8%) died. Of the 388 women included in the study, 122 (31.4%) were still pregnant at the time of data analysis. Among the other 266 women, six (19.4% of the 31 women with first-trimester infection) had miscarriage, three (1.1%) had termination of pregnancy, six (2.3%) had stillbirth and 251 (94.4%) delivered a liveborn infant. The rate of preterm birth before 37 weeks' gestation was 26.3% (70/266). Of the 251 liveborn infants, 69/251 (27.5%) were admitted to the neonatal ICU, and there were five (2.0%) neonatal deaths. The overall rate of perinatal death was 4.1% (11/266). Only one (1/251, 0.4%) infant, born to a mother who tested positive during the third trimester, was found to be positive for SARS-CoV-2 on RT-PCR. CONCLUSIONS: SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnant women is associated with a 0.8% rate of maternal mortality, but an 11.1% rate of admission to the ICU. The risk of vertical transmission seems to be negligible. © 2020 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology

Molecular Engineering of Multifunctional Metallophthalocyanine-Containing Framework Materials

The recent development of metallophthalocyanine (MPc)-based frameworks has opened the door to a new class of promising multifunctional materials with emergent electrical, magnetic, optical, and electrochemical properties. This perspective article outlines the process of molecular engineering—which uses the strategic selection and combination of molecular components to guide the assembly of materials and achieve target function—to demonstrate how the choice of MPc-based molecular components combined with the toolkit of reticular chemistry leads to the emergence of structure–property relationships in this class of materials. The role of complexity and emergence as core principles of molecular engineering of functional materials is discussed. Subsequent illustration of the molecular design criteria that stem from the unique optical, electrical, magnetic, and electrochemical features of MPc monomers sets the stage for achieving emergent function on the basis of the underlying properties of the constituent molecular building blocks. The review of strategies available for the controlled assembly of MPc monomers employing the principles of self-assembly and reticular chemistry serves as a guide for the attainment of enhanced control over relative position, orientation, and aggregation of MPc building blocks, while creating opportunities to discover new emergent properties. The central focus on the advances in MPc-based framework materials shows how the electronic, photophysical, magnetic, and electrochemical properties in these materials emerge from molecular design principles that build on the initial properties embedded in MPc-based building blocks. Concluding remarks summarize accomplishments and pave the way for future directions

Drawing Sensors with Ball-Milled Blends of Metal-Organic Frameworks and Graphite

The synthetically tunable properties and intrinsic porosity of conductive metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) make them promising materials for transducing selective interactions with gaseous analytes in an electrically addressable platform. Consequently, conductive MOFs are valuable functional materials with high potential utility in chemical detection. The implementation of these materials, however, is limited by the available methods for device incorporation due to their poor solubility and moderate electrical conductivity. This manuscript describes a straightforward method for the integration of moderately conductive MOFs into chemiresistive sensors by mechanical abrasion. To improve electrical contacts, blends of MOFs with graphite were generated using a solvent-free ball-milling procedure. While most bulk powders of pure conductive MOFs were difficult to integrate into devices directly via mechanical abrasion, the compressed solid-state MOF/graphite blends were easily abraded onto the surface of paper substrates equipped with gold electrodes to generate functional sensors. This method was used to prepare an array of chemiresistors, from four conductive MOFs, capable of detecting and differentiating NH3, H2S and NO at parts-per-million concentrations

p Effect of Left and Right Semi-Elevated Side-Lying Positions on Feeding Performance of Preterm Infants

Objective: To determine the effect of right and left semi-elevated side-lying positions on the feeding performance and skills of bottle-fed preterm infants. Design: A single-group, crossover experimental study. Settings: Level 3 NICU of a training and research hospital in Istanbul. Participants: A total of 60 preterm infants born at 24 to 36 6/7 weeks gestation. Methods: We collected data using an infant information form, feeding observation form, and the Turkish version of the Early Feeding Skills Assessment (EFS-Turkish). For each infant, we collected data for two feeds: one in the right and one in the left semi-elevated side-lying position. Results: We found no difference between the right and left semi-elevated side-lying positions in the volume or percentage of food taken (p = .582 and p = .625, respectively), feeding duration (p = .901), or feeding efficiency (p = .423). We observed no significant differences between feedings in the left and right semi-elevated side-lying positions in mean EFS-Turkish total score (p = .251) or subscale scores (p > .05). Conclusion: Neonatal nurses can feed preterm infants in both directions of the semi-elevated side-lying position when following evidence-based feeding guidelines

Basal damage and oxidative DNA damage in children with chronic kidney disease measured by use of the comet assay

One consequence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an elevated risk for cancer. There is sufficient evidence to conclude that there is an increased incidence of at least some cancers in kidney-dialysis patients. Cancer risk after kidney transplantation has mainly been attributed to immunosuppressive therapy. There are no data evaluating DNA damage in children with CKD, in dialysis patients, or following kidney transplantation. In this study, the comet assay and the enzyme-modified comet assay - with the use of endonuclease III (Endo III) and formamidopyrimidine glycosylase (FPG) enzymes - were conducted to investigate the basal damage and the oxidative DNA damage as a result of treatment in peripheral blood lymphocytes of children. Children at various stages of treatment for kidney disease, including pre-dialysis patients (PreD) (n = 17), regular hemodialysis patients (HD) (n = 15), and those that received kidney transplants (Tx) (n = 17), comprised the study group. They were compared with age- and gender-matched healthy children (n = 20) as a control group. Our results show that the %DNA intensity, a measure of basal damage, was significantly increased in children with CKD (mean +/- SD) (5.22 +/- 1.57) and also in each of the PreD, HD, and Tx groups [(4.92 +/- 1.23), (4.91 +/- 1.35), and (5.79 +/- 1.94), respectively, vs the healthy children (2.74 +/- 2.91) (p < 0.001). Significant increases in oxidative DNA damage were only found in the FPG-sensitive sites for the PreD and Tx groups, compared with control and HD groups (p < 0.05), suggesting that basal DNA damage was more evident for the PreD, HD, and Tx groups. The findings of the present study indicate a critical need for further research on genomic damage with different endpoints and also for preventive measures and improvements in treatment of pediatric patients, in order to improve their life expectancy. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Maternal and Perinatal Outcomes of Pregnant Women with SARS-COV-2 infection

To evaluate maternal and perinatal outcomes of pregnant women affected by SARS-COV-2