Coral reef rehabilitation following Hurricane Irma using nano-engineered artificial reefs in Sint Maarten.

Artificial reefs are being increasingly deployed as a coral reef restoration strategy. Additional reef habitats made from conventional substrates (., metal, concrete, .

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on burnout levels among healthcare workers: A comparative analysis of the pandemic period and post-pandemic period.

Emotional burnout among physicians is a serious problem that can affect their health and the quality of medical care. This condition occurs when physicians experience excessive stress and pressure at work, often due to high demands and expectations imposed on them by patients. This study aims to assess the experience and factors associated with emotional burnout among health workers who deal with COVID-19-positive patients.

Public perceptions of families affected by pediatric cancer and educational work in pediatric oncology.

Background: This study aims to explore how Russian society perceives children with cancer and their families to determine its potential as a tool for solving the social struggles of cancer-affected youth.

Methods: The study took place between 2019 and 2020 and involved 237 parents of cancer-affected children enrolled for inpatient treatment in 5 pediatric oncology clinics in the North Caucasus Federal District (Russia). The study exploits a specially designed questionnaire survey as its main research method.

From superhydrophilicity to superhydrophobicity: high-resolution neutron imaging and modeling of water imbibition through porous surfaces treated with engineered nano-coatings.

This paper reports on a superhydrophilic to superhydrophobic transformation of TiO nanoparticles doped zinc phosphate coating systems when a hydrophobic agent is applied. The objective of the reported research was to demonstrate the feasibility of a neutron imaging technique for evaluating the performance of the proposed nano-coating system and reveal the differences in water ingress mechanisms which are specific to plain, superhydrophilic, overhydrophobic, and superhydrophobic specimens. The engineered nano-coatings were designed to improve hydrophobic response with inducing the required roughness pattern and introducing the photocatalytic performance.

Accessibility and quality of medical care for patients with chronic noncommunicable diseases during COVID-19 pandemic.

The purpose of this study is to conduct a comparative analysis of the impact of the accessibility and quality of medical care provided to patients with chronic noncommunicable diseases (CNCDs) during COVID-19 pandemic on the course and outcome of COVID-19 infection. The study included 132 patients hospitalized with a diagnosis of COVID-19 and having one or more concomitant CNCDs. The patients were divided into two groups based on the quality of the initial CNCD therapy they received.

Top-Down Production of Nano-Seeds from Activated Fly Ash Tuned for Enhancing the Early Strength in Blended Cements.

To achieve the new level of blended cement performance, the slurries of Class C and F fly ash were mechano-chemically activated in a vibro-mill with superplasticizer and nanosilica. The resulting activated products were tested in mortars replacing up to 30% portland cement. The activation process resulted in the formation of nano-seed clusters and micronized ash particles that both significantly improve the early strength of mortars as well as allow for the replacement of portland cement with industrial by-products.

Towards Ultrahigh Performance Concrete Produced with Aluminum Oxide Nanofibers and Reduced Quantities of Silica Fume.

Ultrahigh performance concrete (UHPC), which is characterized by dense microstructure and strain hardening behavior, provides exceptional durability and a new level of structural response to modern structures. However, the design of the UHPC matrix often requires the use of high quantities of supplementary cementitious materials, such as silica fume, which can significantly increase the cost and elevate the production expenses associated with silica fume handling. This paper demonstrates that a fiber-reinforced composite with properties similar to conventional UHPC can be realized with very low quantities of silica fume, such as 1% by mass of cementitious materials.

Dynamics of droplet impact on hydrophobic/icephobic concrete with the potential for superhydrophobicity.

The ability of superhydrophobic surfaces to resist wetting and repel impinging water droplets is not less important for practical applications than the contact angle and contact angle hysteresis. Here we study novel hydrophobic concrete (with the potential for superhydrophobicity) and its ability to repel incoming droplets (e.g.

Self-assembling particle-siloxane coatings for superhydrophobic concrete.

We report here, for the first time in the literature, a method to synthesize hydrophobic and superhydrophobic concrete. Concrete is normally a hydrophilic material, which significantly reduces the durability of concrete structures and pavements. To synthesize water-repellent concrete, hydrophobic emulsions were fabricated and applied on portland cement mortar tiles.

From superhydrophobicity to icephobicity: forces and interaction analysis.

The term "icephobicity" has emerged in the literature recently. An extensive discussion took place on whether the icephobicity is related to the superhydrophobicity, and the consensus is that there is no direct correlation. Besides the parallel between the icephobicity and superhydrophobicity for water/ice repellency, there are similarities on other levels including the hydrophobic effect/hydrophobic interactions, mechanisms of protein folding and ice crystal formation.

Utilization of waste glass in ECO-cement: strength properties and microstructural observations.

Waste glass creates a serious environmental problem, mainly because of the inconsistency of the waste glass streams. The use of waste glass as a finely ground mineral additive (FGMA) in cement is a promising direction for recycling. Based on the method of mechano-chemical activation, a new group of ECO-cements was developed.

Sustainable development of the cement industry and blended cements to meet ecological challenges.

The world production of cement has greatly increased in the past 10 years. This trend is the most significant factor affecting technological development and the updating of manufacturing facilities in the cement industry. Existing technology for the production of cement clinker is ecologically damaging; it consumes much energy and natural resources and also emits pollutants.