Hierarchical Porous Polybenzimidazole Microsieves: An Efficient Architecture for Anhydrous Proton Transport via Polyionic Liquids

Liquid-induced phase-separation micromolding (LIPSµM) has been successfully used for manufacturing hierarchical porous polybenzimidazole (HPBI) microsieves (42-46% porosity, 30-40 µm thick) with a specific pore architecture (pattern of macropores: ~9 µm in size, perforated, dispersed in a porous matrix with a 50-100 nm pore size). Using these microsieves, proton-exchange membranes were fabricated by the infiltration of a 1H-3-vinylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide liquid and divinylbenzene (as a cross-linker), followed by in situ UV polymerization. Our approach relies on the separation of the ion conducting function from the structural support function. Thus, the polymeric ionic liquid (PIL) moiety plays the role of a proton conductor, whereas the HPBI microsieve ensures the mechanical resistance of the system. The influence of the porous support architecture on both proton transport performance and mechanical strength has been specifically investigated by means of comparison with straight macroporous (36% porosity) and randomly nanoporous (68% porosity) PBI counterparts. The most attractive results were obtained with the poly[1-(3H-imidazolium)ethylene]bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide PIL cross-linked with 1% divinylbenzene supported on HPBI membranes with a 21-µm-thick skin layer, achieving conductivity values up to 85 mS cm-1 at 200 °C under anhydrous conditions and in the absence of mineral acids

Healthcare workers' perspectives and practices regarding the disclosure of HIV status to children in Malawi: A cross-sectional study

Background: In 2011 the World Health Organisation recommended that children with a diagnosis of HIV be gradually informed about their HIV status between the ages of 6 and 12 years. However, to date, literature has focused mainly on primary caregiver and child experiences with HIV disclosure, little is known about healthcare workers' perspectives and practices of HIV status disclosure to children. The aim of this study was to assess healthcare workers' perspectives and practices regarding the disclosure of HIV status to children aged between 6 and 12 years in Malawi. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was used to collect data from 168 healthcare providers working in antiretroviral clinics in all government District and Tertiary Hospitals in Malawi. Participants were asked questions regarding their knowledge, practice, and barriers to HIV disclosure. Data were analysed using binary logistic regression. Results: Almost all healthcare workers (98%) reported that it was important to disclose HIV status to children. A significant proportion (37%) reported that they had never disclosed HIV status to a child and about half estimated that the rate of HIV disclosure at their facility was 25% or less. The main barriers to disclosure were lack of training on disclosure (85%) and lack of a standard tool for disclosure (84%). Female healthcare workers (aOR) 2.4; 95% CI: 1.1-5.5) and lack of training on disclosure (aOR 7.7; 95% CI: 3.4-10.7) were independently associated with never having disclosed HIV status to a child. Conclusions: This study highlights the need for providing appropriate training in HIV disclosure for healthcare workers and the provision of standardised disclosure materials

Predictors of high sensitivity cardiac troponin T in chronic kidney disease patients: A cross-sectional study in the chronic renal insufficiency cohort (CRIC)

Background: Cardiac troponin T is independently associated with cardiovascular events and mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Serum levels of high sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-TnT) reflect subclinical myocardial injury in ambula