Construction of 0D/2D Schottky Heterojunctions of ZnO and Ti3C2 Nanosheets with the Enriched Transfer of Interfacial Charges for Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution

The development of cost-effective co-catalysts of high photocatalytic activity and recyclability is still a challenge in the energy transformation domain. In this study, 0D/2D Schottky heterojunctions, consisting of 0D ZnO and 2D Ti₃C₂, were successfully synthesized by the electrostatic self-assembling of ZnO nanoparticles on Ti₃C₂ nanosheets. In constructing these heterojunctions, Ti₃C₂ nanosheets acted as a co-catalyst for enhancing the transfer of excitons and their separation to support the photocatalytic response of ZnO. The as-prepared ZnO/Ti₃C₂ composites demonstrate an abbreviated charge transit channel, a huge interfacial contact area and the interfacial electrons’ transport potential. The extended optical response and large reactive area of the ZnO/Ti₃C₂ composite promoted the formation of excitons and reactive sites on the photocatalyst’s surface. The ZnO/Ti₃C₂ Schottky heterojunction showed significantly high photocatalytic activity for hydrogen production from a water–ethanol solution under the light illumination in the visible region. The hydrogen evolution overoptimized the ZnO/Ti₃C₂ composition with 30 wt.% of Ti₃C₂, which was eight times higher than the pristine ZnO. These findings can be helpful in developing 0D/2D heterojunction systems for photocatalytic applications by utilizing Ti₃C₂ as a low-cost co-catalyst.     

National Scale Real-Time Surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 Variants Dynamics by Wastewater Monitoring in Israel

In this report, we describe a national-scale monitoring of the SARS-CoV-2 (SC-2) variant dynamics in Israel, using multiple-time sampling of 13 wastewater treatment plants. We used a combination of inclusive and selective quantitative PCR assays that specifically identify variants A19/A20 or B.1.1.7 and tested each sample for the presence and relative viral RNA load of each variant. We show that between December 2020 and March 2021, a complete shift in the SC-2 variant circulation was observed, where the B.1.1.7 replaced the A19 in all examined test points. We further show that the normalized viral load (NVL) values and the average new cases per week reached a peak in January 2021 and then decreased gradually in almost all test points, in parallel with the progression of the national vaccination campaign, during February–March 2021. This study demonstrates the importance of monitoring SC-2 variant by using a combination of inclusive and selective PCR tests on a national scale through wastewater sampling, which is far more amendable for high-throughput monitoring compared with sequencing. This approach may be useful for real-time dynamics surveillance of current and future variants, such as the Omicron (BA.1, BA.2) and other variants.     

CO Oxidation over Pd Catalyst Supported on Porous TiO2 Prepared by Plasma Electrolytic Oxidation (PEO) of a Ti Metallic Carrier

A porous TiO₂ layer was prepared with the plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) of Ti. In a further step, Pd was deposited on the TiO₂ surface layer using the adsorption method. The activity of the Pd/TiO₂/Ti catalyst was investigated during the oxidation of CO to CO₂ in a mixture of air with 5% CO. The structure of the catalytic active layer was studied using a scanning electron microscope equipped with an energy dispersive spectrometer (SEM-EDS), time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS), inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The PEO process provided a porous TiO₂ layer with a uniform thickness in the range of 5–10 µm, which is desirable for the production of Pd-supported catalysts. A TOF-SIMS analysis showed the formation of Pd nanoparticles after the adsorption treatment. The conversion of CO to CO₂ in all samples was achieved at 150–280 °C, depending on the concentration of Pd. The composition of Pd/ TiO₂/Ti was determined using ICP-MS. The optimum concentration of Pd on the surface of the catalyst was approximately 0.14% wt. This concentration was obtained when a 0.4% PdCl₂ solution was used in the adsorption process. Increasing the concentration of PdCl₂ did not lead to a further improvement in the activity of Pd/ TiO₂/Ti.     

Tomonaga–Luttinger Spin Liquid and Kosterlitz–Thouless Transition in the Spin-1/2 Branched Chains: The Study of Topological Phase Transition

In the present work, we provide a comprehensive numerical investigation of the magnetic properties and phase spectra of three types of spin-1/2 branched chains consisting of one, two and three side spins per unit block with intra-chain interaction and a uniform inter-chain interaction in the presence of an external magnetic field. In a specific magnetic field interval, the low-temperature magnetization of these chains shows a step-like behavior with a pronounced plateau depending on the strength and the type of intra-chain interaction being ferromagnetic or antiferromagnetic. We demonstrate that when inter-chain interaction J1 is antiferromagnetic and intra-chain interaction J2 is ferromagnetic, the magnetization of the models manifests a smooth increase without a plateau, which is evidence of the existence of a Luttinger-like spin liquid phase before reaching its saturation value. On the other hand, when J1 is ferromagnetic and J2 is antiferromagnetic, the low-temperature magnetization of the chain with two branches shows an intermediate plateau at one-half of the saturation magnetization that breaks a quantum spin liquid phase into two regions. The magnetization of the chain with three branches exhibits two intermediate plateaus and two regions of a quantum spin liquid. We demonstrate that the chains with more than one side spin illustrate in their ground-state phase diagram a Kosterlitz–Thouless transition from a gapful phase to a gapless spin liquid phase.     

Monitoring of Ion Mobility in the Cement Matrix to Establish Sensitivity to the ASR Caused by External Sources

The possibility of the formation of an alkali–silicate reaction (ASR) is a crucial issue for the service life of concrete. The coexistence of key parameters such as the presence of alkalis, reactive SiO₂, humidity, and temperature predetermine the possibility of its formation and application. When an ASR gel forms, it results in the concreting cracking and spalling as well as in the deterioration of its overall properties. The risk of ASR depends on the concentration of alkalis and their mobility, which influence their ability to penetrate the concrete. The objective of this study was to determine the ionic mobility of not only Na⁺ and K⁺, but Ca²⁺ as well, from external sources (0.5 and 1.0 mol/L solutions of Na/K carbonate, nitrate, and hydroxide) to a cementitious matrix as the precursor for ASR. The concentrations of ions in both the immersion solutions (ICP) and the cementitious matrix itself (SEM-EDX) were studied as a function of time, from 0 to 120 days, for leaching, and according to temperature (25 and 40 °C). The reaction products were characterized using SEM-EDX. Different diffusion rates and behavior were observed depending on the anion type of the external alkali source. Both sodium and potassium ions in all the three environments studied, namely carbonate, hydroxide, and nitrate, penetrated into the composite and further into its structure by different mechanisms. The action of hydroxides, in particular, transformed the original hydration products into calcium-silicate-hydrate (CASH) or ASR gel, while nitrates crystallized in pores and did not cause any changes in the hydration product. The driving force was the increased temperature of the experiment as well as the increased concentration of the solution to which the test specimen was exposed.     

Repetitive milrinone therapy in ambulatory advanced heart failure patients

BackgroundAdvanced heart failure (HF) patients usually poorly tolerate guideline‐directed HF medical therapy (GDMT) and suffer high rates of morbidity and mortality. The use of continuous inotropes in the outpatient settings is hampered by previous data showing excess morbidity. We aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of repetitive, intermittent, short‐term intravenous milrinone therapy in advanced HF patients with an intention to introduce and up‐titrate GDMT and improve functional class.HypothesisRepetitive, intermittent milrinone therapy may assist with the stabilization of advanced HF patients.MethodsAdvanced HF patients treated with beta‐blockers and implanted with defibrillators were initiated with repetitive, intermittent short‐term intravenous milrinone therapy at our HF outpatient unit. Patients were prospectively followed with defibrillator interrogation, functional class assessment, B‐natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels, and echocardiography parameters.ResultsThe cohort included 24 patients with a mean 330 ± 240 days of milrinone therapy exposure. Mean age was 73 ± 6 years with male predominance (96%). Following milrinone therapy, median BNP levels decreased significantly (882 [286−3768] to 631 [278−1378] pg/ml, p = .017) with a significant reduction in the number of patients with New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class III and IV (p = .012, 0.013) and an increase in number of patients on GDMT. Importantly, the number of total sustained ventricular tachycardia events and HF hospitalizations did not change.ConclusionsIn this small cohort of advanced HF, repetitive, intermittent, short‐term milrinone therapy was found to be safe and potentially efficacious.     

Should There Be Gender Differences in the Guidelines for Colorectal Cancer Screening?

Colorectal cancer screening guidelines are identical for men and women despite reported differences in epidemiology, endoscopy performance, screening preferences, and screening uptake. High-quality research is needed to determine whether gender aspects may in real world increase acceptance and overcome screening barriers, which may lead to better use of limited resources allocated for public health.     

Aged Residential Care Health Utilisation Study (ARCHUS): a randomised controlled trial to reduce acute hospitalisations from residential aged care

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: For residents of long term care, hospitalisations can cause distress and disruption, and often result in further medical complications. Multi-disciplinary team interventions have been shown to improve the health of Residential Aged Care (RAC) residents, decreasing the need for acute hospitalisation, yet there are few randomised controlled trials of these complex interventions. This paper describes a randomised controlled trial of a structured multi-disciplinary team and gerontology nurse specialist (GNS) intervention aiming to reduce residents' avoidable hospitalisations. METHODS: This Aged Residential Care Healthcare Utilisation Study (ARCHUS) is a cluster- randomised controlled trial (n = 1700 residents) of a complex multi-disciplinary team intervention in long-term care facilities. Eligible facilities certified for residential care were selected from those identified as at moderate or higher risk of resident potentially avoidable hospitalisations by statistical modelling. The facilities were all located in the Auckland region, New Zealand and were stratified by District Health Board (DHB).InterventionThe intervention provided a structured GNS intervention including a baseline facility needs assessment, quality indicator benchmarking, a staff education programme and care coordination. Alongside this, three multi-disciplinary team (MDT) meetings were held involving a geriatrician, facility GP, pharmacist, GNS and senior nursing staff.OutcomesHospitalisations are recorded from routinely-collected acute admissions during the 9-month intervention period followed by a 5-month follow-up period. ICD diagnosis codes are used in a pre-specified definition of potentially reducible admissions. DISCUSSION: This randomised-controlled trial will evaluate a complex intervention to increase early identification and intervention to improve the health of residents of long term care. The results of this trial are expected in early 2013.Trial registrationAustralian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: ACTRN 12611000187943.