Template-Assisted Preparation of Micrometric Suspended Membrane Lattices of Photoluminescent and Non-Photoluminescent Polymers by Capillarity-Driven Solvent Evaporation: Application to Microtagging

In this work, the bottom-up template-assisted preparation of high-density lattices (up to 11 · 10(6) membranes/cm(2)) of suspended polymer membranes with micrometric size (in the order of few μm(2)) and sub-micrometric thickness (in the order of hundreds of nm) is demonstrated for both photoluminescent and non-photoluminescent polymers by capillarity-driven solvent evaporation. Solvent evaporation of low concentration polymer solutions drop-cast on an array of open-ended micropipes is shown to lead to polymer membrane formation at the inlet of the micropipes thanks to capillarity. The method is proven to be robust with high-yield (>98%) over large areas (1 cm(2)) and of general validity for both conjugated and non-conjugated polymers, e.g. poly(9,9-di-n-octylfluorene-alt-benzothiadiazole (F8BT), poly[2-methoxy-5-(3',7'-dimethyloctyloxy)-1,4-phenylenevinylene] (MDMO-PPV), polystyrene (PS), thus breaking a new ground on the controlled preparation of polymer micro and nanostructures. Angle dependence and thermal stability of photoluminescence emission arising from F8BT membrane lattices was thorough investigated, highlighting a non-Lambertian photoluminescence emission of membrane lattices with respect to F8BT films. The method is eventually successfully applied to the preparation of both photoluminescent and non-photoluminescent micro Quick Response (μQR) codes using different polymers, i.e. F8BT, MDMO-PPV, PS, thus providing micrometric-sized taggants suitable for anti-counterfeiting applications

Robot assisted laparoscopic excision of a paraganglioma: new therapeutic approach

The Paraganglioma is the most common extra-adrenal pheochromocytoma arising from neural crest (1) (It will better to write: The paraganglioma is an extra-adrenal pheocromocytoma arising from the neural crest. 10% of pheocromocytomas are extra-adrenal and can arise form chromaffin tissue derived from primitive neuroectoderm). Minimally invasive techniques allow surgeons to perform the procedure without wide exposure and mobilization of intra abdominal organs. To our knowledge we present the third case of robotic excision of a retroperitoneal paraganglioma (2,3)

Nanoscale Photoluminescence Manipulation in Monolithic Porous Silicon Oxide Microcavity Coated with Rhodamine-Labeled Polyelectrolyte via Electrostatic Nanoassembling

Porous silicon (PSi) is a promising material for future integrated nanophotonics when coupled with guest emitters, still facing challenges in terms of homogenous distribution and nanometric thickness of the emitter coating within the silicon nanostructure. Herein, it is shown that the nanopore surface of a porous silicon oxide (PSiO2) microcavity (MC) can be conformally coated with a uniform nm-thick layer of a cationic light-emitting polyelectrolyte, e.g., poly(allylamine hydrochloride) labeled with Rhodamine B (PAH-RhoB), leveraging the self-tuned electrostatic interaction of the positively-charged PAH-RhoB polymer and negatively-charged PSiO2 surface. It is found that the emission of PAH-RhoB in the PSiO2 MC is enhanced (≈2.5×) and narrowed (≈30×) at the resonant wavelength, compared with that of PAH-RhoB in a non-resonant PSiO2 reference structure. The time-resolved photoluminescence analysis highlights a shortening (≈20%) of the PAH-RhoB emission lifetime in the PSiO2 MC at the resonance versus off-resonance wavelengths, and with respect to the reference structure, thereby proving a significant variation of the radiative decay rate. Remarkably, an experimental Purcell factor Fp = 2.82 is achieved. This is further confirmed by the enhancement of the photoluminescence quantum yield of the PAH-RhoB in the PSiO2 MC with respect to the reference structure. Application of the electrostatic nanoassembling approach to other emitting dyes, nanomaterials, and nanophotonic systems is envisaged

Robot assisted laparoscopic excision of a paraganglioma: new therapeutic approach

The Paraganglioma is the most common extra-adrenal pheochromocytoma arising from neural crest (1) (It will better to write: The paraganglioma is an extra-adrenal pheocromocytoma arising from the neural crest. 10% of pheocromocytomas are extra-adrenal and can arise form chromaffin tissue derived from primitive neuroectoderm). Minimally invasive techniques allow surgeons to perform the procedure without wide exposure and mobilization of intra abdominal organs. To our knowledge we present the third case of robotic excision of a retroperitoneal paraganglioma (2,3)

C-Si hybrid photonic structures by full infiltration of conjugated polymers into porous silicon rugate filters

Loading of one-dimensional (1-D) porous silicon photonic crystals (PS-PhCs), known as rugate filters, with luminescent materials is generally limited by the potential for (undesired) “pore clogging,” in relation to the size of the nanoparticles (e.g. quantum dots) or molecular species, and so far mainly restricted to small molecular weight materials or small nanocrystals, or in situ polymerized dyes. Here we report the infiltration 1-D PS-PhCs with a green-emitting commercial luminescent polymer (F8BT, poly[(9,9-di-n-octylfluorenyl-2,7-diyl)-alt-(benzo[2,1,3]thiadiazol-4,8-diyl)]), with a molecular weight of approximately 46 kDa across their whole depth (approximately 7.5 μm), thereby showing that pore clogging is not a concern for these structures. We also characterize the modification of the photoluminescence (PL) and decay rates, and investigate the detailed inner morphology of the filters with the help of (scanning) transmission electron microscopy. We observe both suppression (in the stop-band) and enhancement (at the high-energy band-edge) of the PL. We also find that the photonic stop-band is red-shifted after polymer infiltration, due to the increased effective refractive index of the polymer-infiltrated nanostructured system. The presence of just one unbroadened peak in the reflectance spectra after infiltration confirms that infiltration extends for the whole depth of the rugate filters

Frailty in Elderly Patients with Covid-19: A Narrative Review

Introduction: The SARS CoV-2 pandemic still generates a very high number of affected patients and a significant mortality rate. It is essential to establish objective criteria to stratify COVID-19 death risk. Frailty has been identified as a potential determinant of increased vulnerability in older adults affected by COVID-19, because it may suggest alterations of physical performance and functional autonomy. Methods: We have conducted a narrative review of the literature on the evidences regarding COVID-19 and the frailty condition. Thirteen observational studies were included. Conclusion: Data emerging from the studies indicate that older COVID-19 patients with a frailty condition have an increased risk of mortality compared with non-frail patients, and this association is independent of other clinical and demographic factors. A frailty evaluation is required to help clinicians to better stratify the overall risk of death for older patients with COVID-19