Polyaromatic Cyclophanes Design and their Related Optical Properties.

In this article, we present several organic synthetic way to synthesize a family of five polyaromatic molecules based on a cyclophane core. Our strategies revolves around palado-catalyzed substitution on a [2.2]paracyclophane (pCp) building block.

Optical properties of a fs laser-created sphere inside a CYTOP fiber by Mueller polarimetry.

Optical elements embedded in an optical fiber can be used to shape and modulate the light transmitted within. We consistently observe, via Mueller polarimetry, that the optical properties of a femtosecond (fs) laser-created spherical cavity within a perfluorinated fiber exhibit predictable patterns. Specifically, linear birefringence is always induced at the periphery of the cavity, with its value showing a bell-shape distribution.

Carbon Dot Synthesis in CYTOP Optical Fiber Using IR Femtosecond Laser Direct Writing and Its Luminescence Properties.

Luminescent carbon dots (CDs) were locally synthesized in the core of CYTOP fibers using IR femtosecond laser direct writing (FLDW), a one-step simple method serving as a post-treatment of the pristine fiber. This approach enables the creation of several types of modifications such as ellipsoid voids. The CDs and photoluminescence (PL) distribute at the periphery of the voids.

Restrictive use of Restraints and Delirium Duration in the Intensive Care Unit (R2D2-ICU): protocol for a French multicentre parallel-group open-label randomised controlled trial.

Introduction: Physical restraint (PR) is prescribed in patients receiving invasive mechanical ventilation in the intensive care unit (ICU) to avoid unplanned removal of medical devices. However, it is associated with an increased risk of delirium. We hypothesise that a restrictive use of PR, as compared with a systematic use, could reduce the duration of delirium in ICU patients receiving invasive mechanical ventilation.

Nanometrology based control: taming radical grafting reactions with attoliter precision.

Precisely controlled micropatterning with organic moieties is a promising route for designing smart surfaces, enabling the development of microsensors and actuators with optimal usage of reactants. Such applications require fine control over the surface modification process, which in turn demands detailed knowledge about the surface modification process. As complex surface kinetics often emerge as a result of even slight modifications of the grafting entity, non-invasive, sensitive and precise closed loop control strategies are highly desirable.

LASU: An efficient and stable phthalocyanine dye with tolerable safety profile for self-disinfecting anti-COVID textiles activated by ambient light.

Background: Recent COVID crisis has demonstrated that modern society urgently needs an accessible protection against mass infections, especially viruses, as the new strains are appearing at an ever-increasing pace and cause severe harm to the population and the world economy.

Methods: We have developed an efficient phthalocyanine photosensitizer LASU, that is suitable for dyeing textiles and allows to prepare reusable self-disinfecting fabrics with strong antiviral properties. The safety profile of LASU was evaluated in accredited laboratories by several in vitro assays according to the OECD-guidelines.

surface optical nanometrology reveals diazonium salts' visible photografting mechanism.

High resolution and quantitative surface modification through photografting is a highly desirable strategy towards the preparation of smart surfaces, enabling chemical functions to be precisely located onto specific regions of inert surfaces. Although promising, the mechanisms leading to direct (without the use of any additive) photoactivation of diazonium salts using visible wavelengths are poorly understood, precluding the generalization of popular diazonium-based electrografting strategies into high resolution photografting ones. In this paper, we employ quantitative phase imaging as a nanometrology tool for evaluating the local grafting rate with diffraction-limited resolution and nanometric precision.

Effect of intravenous almitrine on intubation or mortality in patients with COVID-19 acute hypoxemic respiratory failure: A multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Background: Severe hypoxemia in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia might result from hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction, contributing to ventilation/perfusion (V/Q) mismatch. Because almitrine improves V/Q, it might reduce the risk for mechanical ventilation (MV) in such patients. Our primary objective was to determine the effect of almitrine on the need for MV at day 7.

FRET-mediated quenching of BODIPY fluorescent nanoparticles by methylene blue and its application to bacterial imaging.

High resolution and a good signal to noise ratio are a requirement in cell imaging. However, after labelling with fluorescent entities, and after several washing steps, there is often an unwanted fluorescent background that reduces the images resolution. For this purpose, we developed an approach to remove the signal from extra-cellular fluorescent nanoparticles (FNPs) during bacteria imaging, without the need for any washing steps.

A three-step support strategy for relatives of patients dying in the intensive care unit: a cluster randomised trial.

Background: In relatives of patients dying in intensive care units (ICUs), inadequate team support can increase the prevalence of prolonged grief and other psychological harm. We aimed to evaluate whether a proactive communication and support intervention would improve relatives' outcomes.

Methods: We undertook a prospective, multicentre, cluster randomised controlled trial in 34 ICUs in France, to compare standard care with a physician-driven, nurse-aided, three-step support strategy for families throughout the dying process, following a decision to withdraw or withhold life support.

Local Surface Chemistry Dynamically Monitored by Quantitative Phase Microscopy.

Surface modification by photo grafting constitutes an interesting strategy to prepare functional surfaces. Precision applications, however, demand quantitative methods able to monitor and control the amount and distribution of surface modifications, which is hard to achieve, particularly in operando conditions. In this paper, a label-free, cost-effective, all-optical method based on wavefront sensing which is able to quantitatively track the evolution of grafted layers in real-time, is presented.

Coating gold nanorods with silica prevents the generation of reactive oxygen species under laser light irradiation for safe biomedical applications.

Gold nanoparticles can produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) under the action of ultrashort pulsed light. While beneficial for photodynamic therapy, this phenomenon is prohibitive for other biomedical applications such as imaging, photo-thermal drug release, or targeted gene delivery. Here, ROS are produced in water by irradiating gold nanorods and silica-coated gold nanorods with near-infrared femtosecond laser pulses and are detected using two fluorescent probes.

Mental health and stress among ICU healthcare professionals in France according to intensity of the COVID-19 epidemic.

Background: We investigated the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on mental health of professionals working in the intensive care unit (ICU) according to the intensity of the epidemic in France.

Methods: This cross-sectional survey was conducted in 77 French hospitals from April 22 to May 13 2020. All ICU frontline healthcare workers were eligible.

Risk factors and events in the adult intensive care unit associated with pain as self-reported at the end of the intensive care unit stay.

Background: The short-term and long-term consequences of the most frequent painful procedures performed in the ICU are unclear. This study aimed to identify the risk factors associated with pain-related discomfort perceived by critically ill patients during the whole ICU stay as self-reported by patients at the end of their ICU stay.

Methods: The study involved 34 ICUs.

Fluorescent Copolymers for Bacterial Bioimaging and Viability Detection.

Novel fluorescent labels with high photostability and high biocompatibility are required for microbiological imaging and detection. Here, we present a green fluorescent polymer chain (GFPC), designed to be nontoxic and water-soluble, for multicolor bioimaging and real-time bacterial viability determination. The copolymer is synthesized using a straightforward one-pot reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer (RAFT) polymerization technique.

Controllable movement of single-photon source in multifunctional magneto-photonic structures.

Quantum dot (QD) coupling in nanophotonics has been widely studied for various potential applications in quantum technologies. Micro-machining has also attracted substantial research interest due to its capacity to use miniature robotic tools to make precise controlled movements. In this work, we combine fluorescent QDs and magnetic nanoparticles (NPs) to realize multifunctional microrobotic structures and demonstrate the manipulation of a coupled single-photon source (SPS) in 3D space via an external magnetic field.

Sedation practice and discomfort during withdrawal of mechanical ventilation in critically ill patients at end-of-life: a post-hoc analysis of a multicenter study.

Purpose: Little is known on the incidence of discomfort during the end-of-life of intensive care unit (ICU) patients and the impact of sedation on such discomfort. The aim of this study was to assess the incidence of discomfort events according to levels of sedation.

Methods: Post-hoc analysis of an observational prospective multicenter study comparing immediate extubation vs.

Self-Assembled Monolayers of Redox-Active 4d-4f Heterobimetallic Complexes.

In this work, we report the preparation of functional interfaces incorporating heterobimetallic systems consisting in the association of an electroactive carbon-rich ruthenium organometallic unit and a luminescent lanthanide ion (Ln = Eu and Yb). The organometallic systems are functionalized with a terminal hexylthiol group for subsequent gold surface modification. The formation of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) with these complex molecular architectures are thoroughly demonstrated by employing a combination of different techniques, including infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy, ellipsometry, contact angle, and cyclic voltammetry measurements.

"You helped me keep my head above water"-experience of bereavement research after loss of a loved one in the ICU: insights from the ARREVE study.

Purpose: Bereavement research has helped to improve end-of-life practices in the ICU. However, few studies have explored bereaved relatives experience of research participation in this context. We aimed to explore the experience of bereaved relatives' participation in the ARREVE study which included three telephone follow-up calls to complete several quantitative tools.

Fluorenylporphyrins functionalized by electrochromic ruthenium units as redox-triggered fluorescence switches.

Two dyads containing tris- and tetrakis-meso-fluorenyl-substituted porphyrin and ethynylruthenium units, 1 and 2, were investigated by emission spectro-electrochemical (SEC) methods for their potential use as fluorescence switches. The ruthenium group as a potential electron donor and the porphyrin as a potential electron acceptor are connected by a phenylene bridge in 1 and by a fluorenylene bridge in 2. The new fluorenyl-linked dyad 2 was probed by UV-visible, near-infrared (NIR) and infrared (IR) absorption SEC methods, and the properties interpreted with the aid of hybrid-DFT computations, for comparison with reported data for 1.

Assessment of patients' self-perceived intensive care unit discomforts: Validation of the 18-item version of the IPREA.

Background And Aims: We reported the validation of the 18-item version of the 'Inconforts des Patients de REAnimation (IPREA)' questionnaire that includes 2 new items exploring feeling depressed and shortness of breath during an intensive care unit (ICU) stay.

Methods: The validation process was integrated in a multicenter, cluster-randomized, controlled, two-parallel group study built to assess the effectiveness of a tailored multicomponent program for reducing self-perceived discomfort in the ICU. All patients aged 18 years or older who survived an ICU stay of 3 calendar days or more were eligible for inclusion.

Tailored multicomponent program for discomfort reduction in critically ill patients may decrease post-traumatic stress disorder in general ICU survivors at 1 year.

Purpose: Reducing discomfort in the intensive care unit (ICU) should have a positive effect on long-term outcomes. This study assessed whether a tailored multicomponent program for discomfort reduction was effective in reducing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms at 1 year in general ICU survivors.

Methods: This study is a prospective observational comparative effectiveness cohort study involving 30 ICUs.

Combined scanning electrochemical and fluorescence microscopies using a tetrazine as a single redox and luminescent (electrofluorochromic) probe.

The possibility of using a single electroactive and luminescent molecule both as a redox mediator and as a fluorophore in an experiment combining Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy (SECM) and epifluorescence microscopy was validated. The usual working modes of SECM, namely positive and negative feedback as well as generation-collection, were used and the fluorescence images, intensity and spectra were recorded for each configuration. The tip potential, tip-substrate distance and, in the case of a conducting substrate, the substrate potential are the parameters that are likely to control the fluorescence.

Redox-driven porphyrin based systems for new luminescent molecular switches.

In this work, we explore the possibility of tuning the fluorescence intensity of two porphyrin systems through the electrochemical oxidation of an appended ruthenium acetylide bridge. Two electrochemically switchable systems, a dyad (ZnP-Ru, 3) and a triad (ZnP-Ru-P2H, 5), were prepared and investigated. In the ZnP-Ru dyad, the fluorescence of the zinc porphyrin was switched reversibly between the ON and OFF state upon the oxidation of the ruthenium unit, the most probable quenching process involved after oxidation being the electron transfer from the singlet excited state of ZnP to the oxidized ruthenium center.