Family Experiences of Loss and Bereavement in Palliative Care Units during the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Interpretative Phenomenological Study.

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly interrupted the grieving experiences of bereaved families and drastically changed their ways of dealing with loss. Our study aims to gain an in-depth understanding of the experience of bereaved relatives of patients who died in palliative care units during the COVID-19 pandemic. The phenomenological research design included sixteen family members of hospitalized palliative patients who died from November 2021 to June 2022.

Multichannel AC Biosusceptometry System to Map Biodistribution and Assess the Pharmacokinetic Profile of Magnetic Nanoparticles by Imaging.

In this paper, the application of a technique to evaluate in vivo biodistribution of magnetic nanoparticles (MNP) is addressed: the Multichannel AC Biosusceptometry System (MC-ACB). It allows real-time assessment of magnetic nanoparticles in both bloodstream clearance and liver accumulation, where a complex network of inter-related cells is responsible for MNP uptake. Based on the acquired MC-ACB images, we propose a mathematical model which helps to understand the distribution and accumulation pharmacokinetics of MNP.

Expanding research on decentering as measured by the Portuguese version of the experiences questionnaire.

For long decentering has been regarded as a crucial process for well-being and health. Thus, reliable measures are needed to assess decentering. This study aimed at examining the psychometric characteristics of the Portuguese version of the Experiences Questionnaire (EQ), and to contribute to gather new evidence on the role of this particular measure of decentering on the well-known relationship between rumination and depressive symptoms.

Autonomous spacecraft landing through human pre-attentive vision.

In this work, we exploit a computational model of human pre-attentive vision to guide the descent of a spacecraft on extraterrestrial bodies. Providing the spacecraft with high degrees of autonomy is a challenge for future space missions. Up to present, major effort in this research field has been concentrated in hazard avoidance algorithms and landmark detection, often by reference to a priori maps, ranked by scientists according to specific scientific criteria.

Charge partitioning at gas-solid interfaces: humidity causes electricity buildup on metals.

Isolated metals within Faraday cages spontaneously acquire charge at relative humidity above 50%: aluminum and chrome-plated brass become negative, stainless steel is rendered positive, and copper remains almost neutral. Isolated metal charging within shielded and grounded containers confirms that the atmosphere is an electric charge reservoir where OH(-) and H(+) ions transfer to gas-solid interfaces, producing net current. The electricity buildup dependence on humidity, or hygroelectricity, acts simultaneously but in opposition to the well-known charge dissipation due to the increase in surface conductance of solids under high humidity.

Nanostructured alumina-coated implant surface: effect on osteoblast-related gene expression and bone-to-implant contact in vivo.

Purpose: The use of nanotechnology to enhance endosseous implant surfaces may improve the clinical control of interfacial osteoblast biology. This study investigated the influence of a nanostructure-coated implant surface on osteoblast differentiation and its effects on bone-to-implant contact (BIC) and removal torque values.

Materials And Methods: Titanium disks were machined (M) or machined and subsequently treated by acid etching (Ac) or by dipping in an aluminum oxide solution (Al2O3).

The effects of implant surface nanoscale features on osteoblast-specific gene expression.

This study investigated the influence of nanoscale implant surface features on osteoblast differentiation. Titanium disks (20.0 x 1.