Publications by authors named "Ugarte D"

Bimetallic nanoparticles are used in numerous applications in catalysis, plasmonics or fuel cell technology. The addition of the second metal to the nanoparticles allows enhancing and fine-tuning their properties by choosing their composition, size, shape and environment. However, the crucial additional parameter of chemical structure within the particle is difficult to predict and access experimentally, even though segregated core-shell structures and random alloys can have drastically different physicochemical properties.

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Despite the interest in improving the sensitivity of optical sensors using plasmonic nanoparticles (NPs) (rods, wires, and stars), the full structural characterization of complex shape nanostructures is challenging. Here, we derive from a single scanning transmission electron microscope diffraction map (4D-STEM) a detailed determination of both the 3D shape and atomic arrangement of an individual 6-branched AuAg nanostar (NS) with high-aspect-ratio legs. The NS core displays an icosahedral structure, and legs are decahedral rods attached along the 5-fold axes at the core apexes.

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The association of scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) and detection of a diffraction pattern at each probe position (so-called 4D-STEM) represents one of the most promising approaches to analyze structural properties of materials with nanometric resolution and low irradiation levels. This is widely used for texture analysis of materials using automated crystal orientation mapping (ACOM). Herein, we perform orientation mapping in InP nanowires exploiting precession electron diffraction (PED) patterns acquired by an axial CMOS camera.

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Introduction: Increasing engagement in HIV care among people living with HIV, especially those from Black/African American and Hispanic/Latinx communities, is an urgent need. Mobility data that measure individuals' movements over time in combination with sociostructural data (eg, crime, census) can potentially identify barriers and facilitators to HIV care engagement and can enhance public health surveillance and inform interventions.

Methods And Analysis: The proposed work is a longitudinal observational cohort study aiming to enrol 400 Black/African American and Hispanic/Latinx individuals living with HIV in areas of the USA with high prevalence rates of HIV.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on surgical volumes for pediatric patients in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), highlighting a significant reduction in surgeries.
  • A survey, conducted among pediatric surgeons in sub-Saharan Africa and Ecuador, revealed that public hospitals had longer wait times, with a median waitlist of 90 patients and an average wait of 2 months for elective surgeries.
  • The findings indicate that long surgical wait times persist in LMICs, adversely affecting surgical access, and underline the need for resource scaling and monitoring strategies to address these delays, especially in the wake of COVID-19.
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Introduction: Public health efforts to reduce the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have been plagued by vaccine hesitancy and misinformation. Social media has contributed to spreading misinformation by creating online environments where people find information or opinions that reinforce their own. Combating misinformation online will be essential to prevent and manage the spread of COVID-19.

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Background Pain among young adult patients with sickle cell disease (PWSCD) is a highly significant public health problem associated with reduced quality of life. Due to issues uniquely affecting PWSCD, including distrust of research, challenging life situations, debilitating pain, stigma, and logistical challenges (e.g.

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Objective: A 6-week study was conducted to test the effectiveness of the Harnessing Online Peer Education (HOPE) intervention on anxiety, help seeking (requests for electronic resources [e-resources] on anxiety reduction), and online engagement.

Methods: Three hundred participants with moderate to severe anxiety (i.e.

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Article Synopsis
  • Vaccine hesitancy is a significant issue in the U.S., particularly among healthcare workers, making the promotion of COVID-19 vaccine information vital during the pandemic.
  • A study tested the effectiveness of a 4-week online, peer-led intervention called Harnessing Online Peer Education, where 120 participants were randomly divided into intervention and control groups using Facebook.
  • Results showed that 6 out of 50 participants in the intervention group requested vaccine information compared to none in the control group, indicating that peer support may encourage vaccine inquiry among hesitant individuals.
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Analytical studies of nanoparticles (NPs) are frequently based on huge datasets derived from hyperspectral images acquired using scanning transmission electron microscopy. These large datasets require machine learning computational tools to reduce dimensionality and extract relevant information. Principal component analysis (PCA) is a commonly used procedure to reconstruct information and generate a denoised dataset; however, several open questions remain regarding the accuracy and precision of reconstructions.

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Aim: This study evaluates Vickers microhardness and surface roughness in Biodentine cement (M1) and glass-ionomer cement Fuji IX (M2), both immersed in mouthwash.

Materials And Methods: Fifty-four samples were randomly distributed in distilled water (S1), Listerine Cool Mint (S2), and Colgate Plax (S3). Each sample was put in a flask with mouthwash for 2 min, under vibration, twice a day for 21 days.

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Background: The incidence of urinary complications in transplantation is 2% to 20%, which can be decreased with the use of a double-J catheter. The objective of this study was to determine the association between the use of the catheter and the probability of urinary tract infection (UTI).

Methods: We studied a retrospective cohort of 1038 patients divided into 2 groups: those treated with vs without a double-J catheter.

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This cross-sectional study examines public beliefs about the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in response to President Trump’s social media posts during and after his infection with the virus.

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Background: Evidence from past pandemics suggests that fear, uncertainty, and loss of control during large-scale public health crises may lead to increased pandemic-related information seeking, particularly among persons predisposed to high anxiety. In such groups, a greater consumption of information pertaining to the COVID-19 pandemic may increase anxiety.

Objective: In this study, we examine the association between online activity and Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 (GAD-7) scores in the United States.

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Background: Despite computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) technology improving prosthesis fit, errors inherent to digital workflow still exist.

Purpose: To measure scanning/milling errors, and identify factors influencing marginal (MD) and internal discrepancy (ID).

Materials And Methods: After scanning, 22 conical abutments in 5 master casts, 6 suprastructures with more than 2 implants (3, 4, and 6) were CAD designed.

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We report on the existence of two different regimes in one-step Ag-seeded InP nanowire growth. The vapor-liquid-solid-mechanism is present at larger In precursor flows and temperatures, ∼500 °C, yielding high aspect ratio and pure wurtzite InP nanowires with a semi-spherical metal particle at the thin apex. Periodic diameter oscillations can be achieved under extreme In supersaturations at this temperature range, showing the presence of a liquid catalyst.

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Semiconductor nanowires oriented along the [211] direction usually present twins parallel to their axis. For group IV nanowires this kind of twin allows the formation of a catalyst-nanowire interface composed of two equivalent {111} facets. For III-V nanowires, however, the twin will generate two facets with different polarities.

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Understanding the mechanical properties of nanoscale systems requires new experimental and theoretical tools. In particular, force sensors compatible with nanomechanical testing experiments and with sensitivity in the nN range are required. Here, we report the development and testing of a tuning-fork-based force sensor for in situ nanomanipulation experiments inside a scanning electron microscope.

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We report the observation of light emission on wurtzite InP nanowires excited by fast electrons. The experiments were performed in a scanning transmission electron microscope using an in-house-built cathodoluminescence detector. Besides the exciton emission, at 850 nm, emission above the band gap from 400 to 800 nm was observed.

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We have observed that thin InP nanowires generated by vapor-liquid-solid growth display spontaneous periodic diameter oscillations when large group III supersaturations are used. Diameter variations are associated with a large number of stacking faults and crystallographic phase changes(wurtzite/zinc-blende); also the axial distance between oscillations depends on the indium precursor flow used during the run. We attribute the morphology changes to a substantial deformation of the triple phase line (vapor-liquid-solid) at the catalyst nanoparticle edge originated from multistep nucleation during growth.

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We have performed a detailed study of the lattice distortions of InP wurtzite nanowires containing an axial screw dislocation. Eshelby predicted that this kind of system should show a crystal rotation due to the dislocation induced torque. We have measured the twisting rate and the dislocation Burgers vector on individual wires, revealing that nanowires with a 10-nm radius have a twist up to 100% larger than estimated from elasticity theory.

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InP nanowire polytypic growth was thoroughly studied using electron microscopy techniques as a function of the In precursor flow. The dominant InP crystal structure is wurtzite, and growth parameters determine the density of stacking faults (SF) and zinc blende segments along the nanowires (NWs). Our results show that SF formation in InP NWs cannot be univocally attributed to the droplet supersaturation, if we assume this variable to be proportional to the ex situ In atomic concentration at the catalyst particle.

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Recently, Lagos et al. [Nature Nanotech. 4, 149 (2009)] reported the discovery of the smallest possible Ag nanotube with a square cross section.

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Face centered cubic metals deform mainly by propagating partial dislocations generating planar fault ribbons. How do metals deform if the size is smaller than the fault ribbons? We studied the elongation of Au and Pt nanorods by in situ electron microscopy and ab initio calculations. Planar fault activation barriers are so low that, for each temperature, a minimal rod size is required to become active for releasing elastic energy.

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The origin of long interatomic distances in suspended gold atomic chains formed from stretched nanowires remains the object of debate despite the large amount of theoretical and experimental work. Here, we report new atomic resolution electron microscopy observations acquired at room and liquid-nitrogen temperatures and theoretical results from ab initio quantum molecular dynamics on chain formation and stability. These new data are suggestive that the long distances are due to contamination by carbon atoms originating from the decomposition of adsorbed hydrocarbon molecules.

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