Surface Plasmon Resonance Sensing Detection of Mercury and Lead Ions Based on Conducting Polymer Composite

A new sensing area for a sensor based on surface plasmon resonance (SPR) was fabricated to detect trace amounts of mercury and lead ions. The gold surface used for SPR measurements were modified with polypyrrole-chitosan (PPy-CHI) conducting polymer composite. The polymer layer was deposited on the gold surface by electrodeposition. This optical sensor was used for monitoring toxic metal ions with and without sensitivity enhancement by chitosan in water samples. The higher amounts of resonance angle unit (ΔRU) were obtained for PPy-CHI film due to a specific binding of chitosan with Pb2+ and Hg2+ ions. The Pb2+ ion bind to the polymer films most strongly, and the sensor was more sensitive to Pb2+ compared to Hg2+. The concentrations of ions in the parts per million range produced the changes in the SPR angle minimum in the region of 0.03 to 0.07. Data analysis was done by Matlab software using Fresnel formula for multilayer system

Mass loss from hot massive stars

Mass loss is a key process in the evolution of massive stars, and must be understood quantitatively to be successfully included in broader astrophysical applications. In this review, we discuss various aspects of radiation driven mass loss, both from the theoretical and the observational side. We focus on winds from OB-stars, with some excursions to the Luminous Blue Variables, Wolf- Rayet stars, A-supergiants and Central Stars of Planetary Nebulae. After reca- pitulating the 1-D, stationary standard model of line-driven wind, extensions accounting for rotation and magnetic fields are discussed. The relevance of the so-called bi-stability jump is outlined. We summarize diagnostical methods to infer wind properties from observations, and compare the results with theore- tical predictions, featuring the massloss-metallicity dependence. Subsequently, we concentrate on two urgent problems which challenge our present understanding of radiation driven winds: weak winds and wind- clumping. We discuss problems of measuring mass-loss rates from weak winds and the potential of NIR- spectroscopy. Wind-clumping has severe implications for the interpretation of observational diagnostics, as derived mass-loss rates can be overestimated by factors of 2 to 10 if clumping is ignored, and we describe ongoing attempts to allow for more uniform results. We point out that independent arguments from stellar evolution favor a moderate reduction of present- day mass-loss rates. We also consider larger scale wind structure, interpreted in terms of co-rotating interacting regions, and complete this review with a discussion of recent progress on the X-ray line emission from massive stars, highlighting as to how far the analysis of such X-ray line emission can give further clues regarding an adequate description of wind clumping. (Abridged abstract)Comment: Astronomy and Astrophysics Review (accepted

Geoeconomic variations in epidemiology, ventilation management, and outcomes in invasively ventilated intensive care unit patients without acute respiratory distress syndrome: a pooled analysis of four observational studies

Background: Geoeconomic variations in epidemiology, the practice of ventilation, and outcome in invasively ventilated intensive care unit (ICU) patients without acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) remain unexplored. In this analysis we aim to address these gaps using individual patient data of four large observational studies. Methods: In this pooled analysis we harmonised individual patient data from the ERICC, LUNG SAFE, PRoVENT, and PRoVENT-iMiC prospective observational studies, which were conducted from June, 2011, to December, 2018, in 534 ICUs in 54 countries. We used the 2016 World Bank classification to define two geoeconomic regions: middle-income countries (MICs) and high-income countries (HICs). ARDS was defined according to the Berlin criteria. Descriptive statistics were used to compare patients in MICs versus HICs. The primary outcome was the use of low tidal volume ventilation (LTVV) for the first 3 days of mechanical ventilation. Secondary outcomes were key ventilation parameters (tidal volume size, positive end-expiratory pressure, fraction of inspired oxygen, peak pressure, plateau pressure, driving pressure, and respiratory rate), patient characteristics, the risk for and actual development of acute respiratory distress syndrome after the first day of ventilation, duration of ventilation, ICU length of stay, and ICU mortality. Findings: Of the 7608 patients included in the original studies, this analysis included 3852 patients without ARDS, of whom 2345 were from MICs and 1507 were from HICs. Patients in MICs were younger, shorter and with a slightly lower body-mass index, more often had diabetes and active cancer, but less often chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and heart failure than patients from HICs. Sequential organ failure assessment scores were similar in MICs and HICs. Use of LTVV in MICs and HICs was comparable (42\ub74% vs 44\ub72%; absolute difference \u20131\ub769 [\u20139\ub758 to 6\ub711] p=0\ub767; data available in 3174 [82%] of 3852 patients). The median applied positive end expiratory pressure was lower in MICs than in HICs (5 [IQR 5\u20138] vs 6 [5\u20138] cm H2O; p=0\ub70011). ICU mortality was higher in MICs than in HICs (30\ub75% vs 19\ub79%; p=0\ub70004; adjusted effect 16\ub741% [95% CI 9\ub752\u201323\ub752]; p<0\ub70001) and was inversely associated with gross domestic product (adjusted odds ratio for a US$10 000 increase per capita 0\ub780 [95% CI 0\ub775\u20130\ub786]; p<0\ub70001). Interpretation: Despite similar disease severity and ventilation management, ICU mortality in patients without ARDS is higher in MICs than in HICs, with a strong association with country-level economic status. Funding: No funding

Nursing and sexuality: integrative review of papers published by the Latin-American Journal of Nursing and Brazilian Journal of Nursing

This study departs from the assumption that studies addressing sexuality in the field of nursing present changes and broaden the scope of discussion to include gender and sexual rights, although a strong tendency to link sexuality to its biological aspects is still observed. This study identifies the state-of-the-art of studies addressing sexuality published by two international journals: Latin American Journal of Nursing and The Brazilian Journal of Nursing. The sources were papers published in both periodicals over a period of ten years (from 1998 to 2007). In a universe of 1,894 searched abstracts, 29 mentioned the word ‘sexuality’. The results confirm this study’s assumption showing that the studies addressing sexuality from the perspective of nursing published by these two journals broaden the understanding on the subject as they incorporate categories such as gender, but also excessively link sexuality to its biological aspects.Esta investigación partió del supuesto de que los estudios sobre sexualidad realizados por la Enfermería presentan cambios y amplían la perspectiva sobre la realidad al incluir género y derechos sexuales, a pesar de que permanezca una fuerte tendencia en la vinculación de la sexualidad a sus aspectos biológicos. El objetivo del estudio fue identificar el estado del arte de las publicaciones sobre sexualidad en dos periódicos de circulación internacional: Revista Latino Americana de Enfermería/RLAE y Revista Brasileña de Enfermería/REBEn. Las fuentes fueron artículos publicados en ambos periódicos en el período de diez años (1998 a 2007). En un universo de 1894 resúmenes consultados fueron identificados 29 que contenían en el título, palabras clave o el resumen de la palabra sexualidad. Los resultados confirman el supuesto del estudio demostrando que la producción sobre sexualidad por la Enfermería divulgada en esos dos periódicos, al mismo tiempo en que amplía la comprensión sobre la temática al incorporar categorías como género, mantiene la vinculación excesiva de la sexualidad a sus aspectos biológicos.Esta pesquisa partiu do pressuposto de que os estudos sobre sexualidade, realizados pela Enfermagem, apresentam mudanças e ampliam o olhar sobre a realidade ao incluir gênero e direitos sexuais, embora permaneça forte tendência para a vinculação da sexualidade aos seus aspectos biológicos. O objetivo do estudo foi identificar o estado da arte das publicações sobre sexualidade em dois periódicos de circulação internacional: Revista Latino-Americana de Enfermagem/RLAE e Revista Brasileira de Enfermagem/REBEn. As fontes foram artigos publicados em ambos os periódicos, no período de dez anos (1998 a 2007). Em um universo de 1894 resumos consultados, foram identificados 29 que traziam no título, palavras-chave, ou resumo a palavra sexualidade. Os resultados confirmam o pressuposto do estudo, demonstrando que a produção sobre sexualidade pela Enfermagem, divulgada nesses dois periódicos, ao mesmo tempo em que amplia a compreensão sobre a temática ao incorporar categorias, como gênero, mantém vinculação excessiva da sexualidade aos seus aspectos biológicos