Variations in concerns reported on the Patient Concerns Inventory (PCI) in head and neck cancer patients from different health settings across the world

Background: The aim was to collate and contrast patient concerns from a range of different head and neck cancer follow-up clinics around the world. Also, we sought to explore the relationship, if any, between responses to the patient concerns inventory (PCI) and overall quality of life (QOL). Methods: Nineteen units participated with intention of including 100 patients per site as close to a consecutive series as possible in order to minimize selection bias. Results: There were 2136 patients with a median total number of PCI items selected of 5 (2-10). “Fear of the cancer returning” (39%) and “dry mouth” (37%) were most common. Twenty-five percent (524) reported less than good QOL. Conclusion: There was considerable variation between units in the number of items selected and in overall QOL, even after allowing for case-mix variables. There was a strong progressive association between the number of PCI items and QOL

Photon Synthesis of Nanometric Films Based on Transitional Metal oxides for Multi-Parameter Sensors

The reactive pulsed laser deposition (RPLD) based on a KrF laser was used for photon synthesis of nanometric iron and chromium oxides films. RPLD allows controlling the thickness and stoichiometry of deposits with definite band gap. So RPLD was used for synthesizing nanometric iron and chromium oxides films for thermo-photo-chemical sensors. We compared sensing properties of iron and chromium oxides nanometric films deposited on <100>Si substrate by RPLD. These iron and chromium oxides films have semiconductor properties with the band gaps less than 1.0 eV. The largest photosensitivity of iron and chromium oxides films was about 44 Vc/W and 2.5 Vc/W, accordingly, for white light at power density ~ 6x10-3 W/cm2. Vc is “chemical” photo e.m.f.. Maximum value of thermo electromotive force (e.m.f.) coefficient of iron and chromium oxides films was about 1.65 mV/K and 3.5-4.5mV/K, accordingly. Iron oxides films were tested as chemical sensors: the largest sensitivity of NO molecules was at the level of 7x1012 cm-3. Our results showed that nanometric iron and chromium oxides films synthesized by UV photons can be used as up-to-date materials for multi-parameter sensors operating at moderate temperature

Anti-stokes cooling in semiconductor nanocrystal quantum dots: a feasibility study

In this review, we discuss the feasibility of laser cooling of semiconductor nanocrystal quantum dots by phonon-assisted anti-Stokes photoluminescence. Taking into account recent experimental advances, in particular, the development of semiconductor nanocrystals with very high quantum yield, we analyze in detail how the various physical processes in nanocrystals might help or hinder the cooling process. Possible experimental approaches to achieve efficient optical cooling are also discussed.Science Foundation Ireland - 02/IN.1/I47; 00/PI.1/C077A.2; 07/IN.1/B186

Sputter-deposited ag nanoparticles on electrospun pcl scaffolds: Morphology, wettability and antibacterial activity

Porous scaffolds made of biocompatible and environmental-friendly polymer fibers with diameters in the nano/micro range can find applications in a wide variety of sectors, spanning from the biomedical field to textiles and so on. Their development has received a boost in the last decades thanks to advances in the production methods, such as the electrospinning technique. Conferring antimicrobial properties to these fibrous structures is a primary requirement for many of their appli-cations, but the addition of antimicrobial agents by wet methods can present a series of drawbacks. In this work, strong antibacterial action is successfully provided to electrospun polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffolds by silver (Ag) addition through a simple and flexible way, namely the sputtering deposition of silver onto the PCL fibers. SEM-EDS analyses demonstrate that the polymer fibers get coated by Ag nanoparticles without undergoing any alteration of their morphological integrity upon the deposition process. The influence on wettability is evaluated with polar (water) and non-polar (diiodomethane) liquids, evidencing that this coating method allows preserving the hydrophobic character of the PCL polymer. Excellent antibacterial action (reduction > 99.995% in 4 h) is demon-strated against Escherichia coli. The easy fabrication of these PCL-Ag mats can be applicable to the production of biomedical devices, bioremediation and antifouling systems in filtration, personal protective equipment (PPE), food packaging materials, etc

Temperature dependence of the photoluminescence properties of colloidal Cd Se ∕ Zn S core/shell quantum dots embedded in a polystyrene matrix

We report on the temperature dependence of the photoluminescence (PL) spectrum and of the PL relaxation dynamics for colloidal $\mathrm{Cd}\mathrm{Se}∕\mathrm{Zn}\mathrm{S}$ core/shell quantum dots (QDs) embedded in an inert polystyrene matrix. We demonstrate that the confinement energy in the QDs is independent of the temperature. The coupling with both acoustic and optical phonons is also studied. Quantum confinement results in a strong increase of the exciton\char21{}acoustic-phonon coupling constant, up to 71\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{eV}∕\mathrm{K}, and in a reduced exciton\char21{}longitudinal-optical (LO)-phonon coupling constant, down to $21\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{meV}$, with respect to bulk CdSe. In addition, we demonstrate that the main nonradiative process that limits the quantum efficiency of the QD at room temperature is the thermal escape from the dot assisted by scattering with four LO phonons. Thermally activated trapping in surface states is also observed at low temperature, with an activation energy of about $15\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{meV}$

SARS-CoV-2 tracheitis in laryngectomised patients: A consecutive case-series study

Key points SARS-CoV-2 is a possible cause of acute severe tracheitis in laryngectomees. In our series, the clinical picture was characterized by a haemorrhagic tracheitis with a slow resolution pattern. We observed a histological pattern of erosive inflammation of the respiratory epithelium. Planned tracheo-bronchoscopy and tracheal toilettes are recommended to prevent critical obstruction of the airway, which can be fatal in patients with associated impairment of lung function caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection. The present cases highlight the need for close interdisciplinary working and communication in the management of airway complications of COVID-19 infection

Ag Functionalization of Al-Doped ZnO Nanostructured Coatings on PLA Substrate for Antibacterial Applications

Developing smart, environmentally friendly, and effective antibacterial surfaces is fundamental to contrast the diffusion of human infections and diseases for applications in the biomedical and food packaging sectors. To this purpose, here we combine aluminum-doped zinc oxide (AZO) and Ag to grow nanostructured composite coatings on bioplastic polylactide (PLA) substrates. The AZO layers are grown by RF magnetron sputtering, and then functionalized with Ag in atomic form by RF magnetron sputtering and in form of nanoparticles by supersonic cluster beam deposition. We compare the morphology, wettability, and antimicrobial performance of the nanostructured coatings obtained by the two methods. The different growth modes in the two techniques used for Ag functionalization are found to produce some differences in the surface morphology, which, however, do not induce significant differences in the wettability and antimicrobial response of the coatings. The antibacterial activity is investigated against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus as representatives of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, respectively. A preferential antimicrobial action of Ag on the first species and of AZO on the second one is evidenced. Through their combination, we obtain a hybrid composite coating taking advantage of the synergistic dual action of the two materials deposited, with a total bacterial suppression within few minutes for the first species and few hours for the second one, thus representing a valuable solution as a wide-spectrum bactericidal device

Fretting Wear and Scratch Resistance of Cold-Sprayed Pure Cu and Ti

The paper analyses the fretting and wear behavior of pure copper and pure titanium coatings realized through cold spray. The coatings were designed and produced by employing processing conditions leading to minimum porosity and high hardness; these conditions were 700 °C and 40 bar for Ti powders and 400 °C and 30 bar for Cu ones. The low porosity and high strength materials led to high resistance to wear damaging through the optimal energy dissipation upon fretting. Due to the sprayed particles deformation mode, the sprayed materials show non-uniform hardening along the deposition distance. As a matter of fact, hardness varied in the range 3.7–4.2 GPa for Ti coatings and 1.5–2 GPa for the Cu ones depending on the distance from the substrate and on the coatings thickness. This influenced the materials properties and the response to the wear damaging. This was demonstrated by the scratch tests performed on coatings with different thicknesses. Those coatings sprayed in major thickness revealed the best wear resistance due to the deformation hardening. The harder coatings also revealed brittle fracture at the experienced highest loads

Possible alternatives to critical elements in coatings for extreme applications

Surface functionalisation and protection have been used since a long time for improving specific properties of materials such as lubrication, water repellence, brightness, and for increasing durability of objects and tools. Among the different kinds of surface treatments used to achieve the required properties, the use of coatings is fundamental to guarantee substrate durability in harsh environments. Extreme working conditions of temperature, pressure, irradiation, wear and corrosion occur in several applications, thus very often requiring bulk material protection by means of coatings. In this study, three main classes of coatings used in extreme conditions are considered: i) hard and superhard coatings for application in machining tools, ii) coatings for high temperatures (thermal barrier coatings), and iii) coatings against corrosion. The presence of critical elements in such coatings (Cr, Y, W, Co, etc.) is analysed and the possibility to use CRMs-free substitutes is reviewed. The role of multilayers and nanocomposites in tailoring coating performances is also discussed for thermal barrier and superhard coatings