Disentangling the intrinsic relaxivities of highly purified graphene oxide.

The chemistry of contrast agents (CAs) for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) applications is an active area of research and, in recent work, it was shown that CA-based graphene oxide (GO) has valuable properties for biomedical uses. GO has a potential as MRI CAs thanks to several functionalities, like its ability to penetrate tissues and cell membranes, as well as easy coupling with therapeutic agents, therefore showing the potential for both a diagnostic and therapeutic role. In this study, we performed a thorough cleaning of the GO sample (synthesized using a modified Hummers method), minimizing the amount of residual manganese down to 73 ppm.

Procedure, management, and outcome of subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator extraction in clinical practice.

Aims: Subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (S-ICD) therapy is expanding rapidly. However, there are few data on the S-ICD extraction procedure and subsequent patient management. The aim of this analysis was to describe the procedure, management, and outcome of S-ICD extractions in clinical practice.

Reduction in inappropriate therapies through device programming in subcutaneous implantable defibrillator patients: data from clinical practice.

Aims: In subcutaneous implantable cardioverter defibrillator (S-ICD) recipients, the UNTOUCHED study demonstrated a very low inappropriate shock rate on programming a conditional zone between 200 and 250 bpm and a shock zone for arrhythmias >250 bpm. The extent to which this programming approach is adopted in clinical practice is still unknown, as is its impact on the rates of inappropriate and appropriate therapies.

Methods And Results: We assessed ICD programming on implantation and during follow-up in a cohort of 1468 consecutive S-ICD recipients in 56 Italian centres.

Intermuscular technique for implantation of the subcutaneous implantable defibrillator: a propensity-matched case-control study.

Aims: A previous randomized study demonstrated that the subcutaneous implantable cardioverter defibrillator (S-ICD) was noninferior to transvenous ICD with respect to device-related complications and inappropriate shocks. However, that was performed prior to the widespread adoption of pulse generator implantation in the intermuscular (IM) space instead of the traditional subcutaneous (SC) pocket. The aim of this analysis was to compare survival from device-related complications and inappropriate shocks between patients who underwent S-ICD implantation with the generator positioned in an IM position in comparison with an SC pocket.

Hydrogen Production Mechanism in Low-Temperature Methanol Decomposition Catalyzed by NiSn Intermetallic Compound: A Combined Operando and Density Functional Theory Investigation.

Hydrogen production from methanol decomposition to syngas (H + CO) is a promising alternative route for clean energy transition. One major challenge is related to the quest for stable, cost-effective, and selective catalysts operating below 400 °C. We illustrate an investigation of the surface reactivity of a NiSn catalyst working at 250 °C, by combining density functional theory, operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy.

"Shift and cover technique": conservative management of complications for the rescue of S-ICD subcutaneous implantable defibrillator systems.

Background: The risk of complications has been shown to be lower with subcutaneous implantable defibrillator (S-ICD) than with conventional ICDs. Given the low frequency of complications, experience of how to manage them is limited. In this paper, we describe generator- and lead-related complications recorded in a series of S-ICD patients, and we propose our conservative approach to managing them.

Tin Diselenide (SnSe) Van der Waals Semiconductor: Surface Chemical Reactivity, Ambient Stability, Chemical and Optical Sensors.

Tin diselenide (SnSe) is a layered semiconductor with broad application capabilities in the fields of energy storage, photocatalysis, and photodetection. Here, we correlate the physicochemical properties of this van der Waals semiconductor to sensing applications for detecting chemical species (chemosensors) and millimeter waves (terahertz photodetectors) by combining experiments of high-resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy with density functional theory. The response of the pristine, defective, and oxidized SnSe surface towards H, HO, HS, NH, and NO analytes was investigated.

Efficient Hydrogen Evolution Reaction with Bulk and Nanostructured Mitrofanovite PtTe.

Here, we discuss the key features of electrocatalysis with mitrofanovite (PtTe), a recently discovered mineral with superb performances in hydrogen evolution reaction. Mitrofanovite is a layered topological metal with spin-polarized topological surface states with potential applications for spintronics. However, mitrofanovite is also an exceptional platform for electrocatalysis, with costs of the electrodes suppressed by 47% owing to the partial replacement of Pt with Te.

The "Defibrillation Testing, Why Not?" survey. Testing of subcutaneous and transvenous defibrillators in the Italian clinical practice.

Background: Defibrillation testing (DT) can be omitted in patients undergoing transvenous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (T-ICD) implantation, but it is still recommended for patients at risk for a high defibrillation threshold and for ICD generator changes. Moreover, DT is still recommended on implantation of subcutaneous ICD (S-ICD). The aim of the present survey was to analyze the current practice of DT during T-ICD and S-ICD implantations.

Contact-Force Guided Posterior Wall Isolation as an Adjunctive Ablation Strategy for Persistent Atrial Fibrillation.

Background: The efficacy of posterior wall isolation (PWI) on top of pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) in patients affected by persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) is still controversial and little is known about the impact of contact-force (CF) technology.

Objective: In this retrospective study, we present our experience with PWI using CF sensing catheters and its efficacy and safety as an adjunctive ablation strategy on top of PVI for management of patients with persistent and longstanding persistent AF.

Methods: A total of 73 consecutive patients (20.

Patient acceptance of subcutaneous versus transvenous defibrillator systems: A multi-center experience.

Background: The subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (S-ICD) is an effective alternative to the transvenous ICD. No study has yet compared S-ICD and transvenous ICD by assessing patient acceptance as a patient-centered outcome.

Objective: To evaluate the patient acceptance of the S-ICD and to investigate its association with clinical and implantation variables.

Lead Abandonment and Subcutaneous Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator (S-ICD) Implantation in a Cohort of Patients With ICD Lead Malfunction.

When an implantable-cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) lead becomes non-functional, a recommendation currently exists for either lead abandonment or removal. Lead abandonment and subcutaneous ICD (S-ICD) implantation may represent an additional option for patients who do not require pacing. The aim of this study was to investigate the outcomes of a strategy of lead abandonment and S-ICD implantation in the setting of lead malfunction.

Emerging oxidized and defective phases in low-dimensional CrCl.

Two-dimensional (2D) magnets such as chromium trihalides CrX (X = I, Br, Cl) represent a frontier for spintronics applications and, in particular, CrCl has attracted research interest due its relative stability under ambient conditions without rapid degradation, as opposed to CrI. Herein, mechanically exfoliated CrCl flakes are characterized at the atomic scale and the electronic structures of pristine, oxidized, and defective monolayer CrCl phases are investigated employing density functional theory (DFT) calculations, scanning tunneling spectroscopy (STS), core level X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS), and valence band XPS and ultraviolet photoemission spectroscopy (UPS). As revealed by atomically resolved transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis, the CrCl flakes show spontaneous surface oxidation upon air exposure with an extrinsic long-range ordered oxidized O-CrCl structure and amorphous chromium oxide formation on the edges of the flakes.

First-line therapy: insights from a real-world analysis of cryoablation in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Aims: Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) using cryoballoon ablation (CBA) is mainly reserved for patients with drug-refractory or drug-intolerant symptomatic atrial fibrillation. We evaluated a large cohort of patients treated in a real-world setting and examined the safety and efficacy profile of CBA when applied as a first-line treatment for atrial fibrillation.

Methods: In total, 249 patients (23% women; 56 ± 13 years; mean left atrial diameter 41 ± 7 mm; 73.

Acute shock efficacy of the subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator according to the implantation technique.

Background: The traditional technique for subcutaneous implantable cardioverter defibrillator (S-ICD) implantation involves three incisions and a subcutaneous (SC) pocket. An intermuscular (IM) 2-incision technique has been recently adopted.

Aims: We assessed acute defibrillation efficacy (DE) of S-ICD (DE ≤65 J) according to the implantation technique.

Determination of the refractive index and wavelength-dependent optical properties of few-layer CrCl within the Fresnel formalism.

Based on previous reports on the optical microscopy contrast of mechanically exfoliated few layer CrCl transferred on 285 nm and 270 nm SiO on Si(100), we focus on the experimental determination of an effective mean complex refractive index via a fitting analysis based on the Fresnel equations formalism. Accordingly, the layer and wavelength-dependent absorbance and reflectance are calculated. Layer and wavelength-dependent optical contrast curves are then evaluated demonstrating that the contrast is significantly high only around well-defined wavelength bands.

Sustainable Liquid-Phase Exfoliation of Layered Materials with Nontoxic Polarclean Solvent.

Liquid-phase exfoliation is the most suitable platform for large-scale production of two-dimensional materials. One of the main open challenges is related to the quest of green and bioderived solvents to replace state-of-the-art dispersion media, which suffer several toxicity issues. Here, we demonstrate the suitability of methyl-5-(dimethylamino)-2-methyl-5-oxopentanoate (Rhodiasolv Polarclean) for sonication-assisted liquid-phase exfoliation of layered materials for the case-study examples of WS, MoS, and graphene.

Implantation technique and optimal subcutaneous defibrillator chest position: a PRAETORIAN score-based study.

Aims: The traditional technique for subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (S-ICD) implantation involves three incisions and a subcutaneous pocket. Recently, a two-incision and intermuscular (IM) technique has been adopted. The PRAETORIAN score is a chest radiograph-based tool that predicts S-ICD conversion testing.

Exciton-phonon coupling and power dependent room temperature photoluminescence of sulphur vacancy doped MoSvia controlled thermal annealing.

Via experiments performed by varying the doping level of single-layer mechanically exfoliated MoSvia post exfoliation thermal annealing in the 200-300 °C temperature range, we study the power dependent room temperature (RT) photoluminescence (PL), which is dominated by A type excitons. The PL spectral yields of the as-exfoliated and annealed samples show sub-linear behaviour as a function of the excitation laser power. The PL signal of the 200 °C annealed sample is dominated by the charged exciton (trion) related peak, while the PL signal of the 300 °C annealed sample is dominated by the neutral exciton related peak, and the PL spectral weight of excitons is tunable in this temperature range.

Enhancement of the Magnetic Coupling in Exfoliated CrCl Crystals Observed by Low-Temperature Magnetic Force Microscopy and X-ray Magnetic Circular Dichroism.

Magnetic crystals formed by 2D layers interacting by weak van der Waals forces are currently a hot research topic. When these crystals are thinned to nanometric size, they can manifest strikingly different magnetic behavior compared to the bulk form. This can be the result of, for example, quantum electronic confinement effects, the presence of defects, or pinning of the crystallographic structure in metastable phases induced by the exfoliation process.

Two-Step Exfoliation of WS for NO, H and Humidity Sensing Applications.

WS exfoliated by a combined ball milling and sonication technique to produce few-layer WS is characterized and assembled as chemo-resistive NO, H and humidity sensors. Microstructural analyses reveal flakes with average dimensions of 110 nm, "aspect ratio" of lateral dimension to the thickness of 27. Due to spontaneous oxidation of exfoliated WS to amorphous WO, films have been pre-annealed at 180 °C to stabilize WO content at ≈58%, as determined by X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), Raman and grazing incidence X-ray Diffraction (XRD) techniques.