Handwashing sinks as reservoirs of carbapenem-resistant in the intensive care unit: a prospective multicenter study.

Introduction: The extent to which sinks are contaminated by carbapenem-resistant (CRAB) in intensive care units (ICUs) and the association between these contaminated sinks and hospital-acquired CRAB infections during the non-cluster period remains largely unknown. Here, we performed a prospective multicenter study in 16 ICUs at 11 tertiary hospitals in Chengdu, China.

Methods: We sampled sinks, collected CRAB clinical isolates, and conducted whole-genome sequencing and analysis.

Identification and Evaluation of Olive Phenolics in the Context of Amine Oxidase Enzyme Inhibition and Depression: In Silico Modelling and In Vitro Validation.

The Mediterranean diet well known for its beneficial health effects, including mood enhancement, is characterised by the relatively high consumption of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), which is rich in bioactive phenolic compounds. Over 200 phenolic compounds have been associated with , and of these, only a relatively small fraction have been characterised. Utilising the OliveNet library, phenolic compounds were investigated as potential inhibitors of the epigenetic modifier lysine-specific demethylase 1 (LSD1).

Novel Conductive AgNP-Based Adhesive Based on Novel Poly (Ionic Liquid)-Based Waterborne Polyurethane Chloride Salts for E-Textiles.

The emergence of novel e-textile materials that combine the inherent qualities of the textile substrate (lightweight, soft, breathable, durable, etc.) with the functionality of micro/nano-electronic materials (conductive, dielectric, sensing, etc.) has resulted in a trend toward miniaturization, integration, and intelligence in new electronic devices.

An Intrinsic Self-Healable, Anti-Freezable and Ionically Conductive Hydrogel for Soft Ionotronics Induced by Imidazolyl Cross-Linker Molecules Anchored with Dynamic Disulfide Bonds.

Hydrogels are ideal materials for flexible electronic devices based on their smooth ion channels and considerable mechanical flexibility. A substantial volume of aqueous solution is required to enable the smooth flow of ions, resulting in the agony of low-temperature freezing; besides, long-term exposure to bending/tensile tress triggers fatigue issues. Therefore, it is a great challenge to prepare hydrogels with both freeze-resistance and long-term durability.

Recent Development of Atmospheric Water Harvesting Materials: A Review.

The lack of freshwater has been threatening many people who are living in Africa, the Middle East, and Oceania, while the discovery of freshwater harvesting technology is considered a promising solution. Recent advances in structured surface materials, metal-organic frameworks, hygroscopic inorganic compounds (and derivative materials), and functional hydrogels have demonstrated their potential as platform technologies for atmospheric water (i.e.

Cooling Kinetic Characteristics of Temperature Difference between Cadaver Temperature and Ambient Temperature.

Objectives: To study the cooling reaction kinetic characteristics of the temperature difference between cadaver temperature and ambient temperature (hereinafter referred to as "cadaver temperature difference") according to the reaction kinetics method.

Methods: Thirty rabbits were randomly divided into 5 groups with 6 rabbits in each group. The rabbits were injected with 10% potassium chloride solution intravenously.

Fe/Zr-MOFs constructed by a sunlight-responsive ligand for efficient photocatalytic nitrogen fixation under ambient condition.

Photocatalytic nitrogen fixation opens new opportunities for sustainable and healthier futures, and developing effective and inexpensive photocatalysts is the key. We use the ligand 3,3',5,5'-azomellitic acid (Habtc) to connect with Fe clusters and Zr clusters to form stable metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) Fe-abtc and Zr-abtc, both of which are responsive to visible lights for nitrogen fixation. It is worth noting that the presence of NN in the ligand makes it respond to visible lights.

Probing the effect of Cu-SrO loading on catalyst supports (ZSM-5, Y-zeolite, activated carbon, AlO, and ZrO2) for aromatics production during catalytic co-pyrolysis of biomass and waste cooking oil.

In this work, Cu-SrO bimetallic catalyst was synthesised and examined for catalytic co-pyrolysis of ironbark (IB) and waste cooking oil (WCO) using Py-GC/MS. The effect of catalyst supports (ZSM-5, Y-zeolite, activated carbon, AlO, and ZrO) on aromatic hydrocarbons yield was studied. The effect of catalyst support on the selectivity of gasoline (C8-C14), diesel (C15-C17), and heavy oil (>C20) components of bio-oil were studied.

Fluorinated Metal-Organic Coatings with Selective Wettability.

Surface chemistry is a major factor that determines the wettability of materials, and devising broadly applicable coating strategies that afford tunable and selective surface properties required for next-generation materials remains a challenge. Herein, we report fluorinated metal-organic coatings that display water-wetting and oil-repelling characteristics, a wetting phenomenon different from responsive wetting induced by external stimuli. We demonstrate this selective wettability with a library of metal-organic coatings using catechol-based coordination and silanization (both fluorinated and fluorine-free), enabling sensing through interfacial reconfigurations in both gaseous and liquid environments, and establish a correlation between the coating wettability and polarity of the liquids.

Handwashing Sink Contamination and Carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella Infection in the Intensive Care Unit: A Prospective Multicenter Study.

Background: Handwashing sinks can become contaminated by carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella (CRK), including carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) and carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella oxytoca (CRKO), but whether they are major sources of CRK infections remains unknown.

Methods: We performed a prospective multicenter study in 16 intensive care units (ICUs) (9 general and 7 neonatal) at 11 hospitals. All sinks at these locations were sampled to screen CRK.

Increasing straw surface functionalities for enhanced adsorption property.

A simple low-temperature partial-oxidation process was demonstrated as an effective technology for reed straw modification towards environmental remediation. At an optimal temperature of 180 °C, the straw materials exhibited a remarkable colour change from light yellow to dark brown, increased methylene blue (MB) uptake by 1.8 times, enhanced removal efficiency from 34.

Asymptomatic COVID-19 Patients Can Contaminate Their Surroundings: an Environment Sampling Study.

The contamination of patients' surroundings by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) remains understudied. We sampled the surroundings and the air of six negative-pressure non-intensive care unit (non-ICU) rooms in a designated isolation ward in Chengdu, China, that were occupied by 13 laboratory-confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients who had returned from overseas travel, including 2 asymptomatic patients. A total of 44 of 112 (39.

Continuous Flow Copper Laser Ablation Synthesis of Copper(I and II) Oxide Nanoparticles in Water.

Copper(I) oxide (CuO) nanoparticles (NPs) are selectively prepared in high yields under continuous flow in a vortex fluidic device (VFD), involving irradiation of a copper rod using a pulsed laser operating at 1064 nm and 600 mJ. The plasma plume generated inside a glass tube (20 mm O.D.

Vortex fluidic mediated transformation of graphite into highly conducting graphene scrolls.

Two-dimensional graphene has remarkable properties that are revolutionary in many applications. Scrolling monolayer graphene with precise tunability would create further potential for niche applications but this has proved challenging. We have now established the ability to fabricate monolayer graphene scrolls in high yield directly from graphite flakes under non-equilibrium conditions at room temperature in dynamic thin films of liquid.

Chemoselective and Continuous Flow Hydrogenations in Thin Films Using a Palladium Nanoparticle Catalyst Embedded in Cellulose Paper.

Cellulose immobilized palladium (0) nanoparticles (PdNPs) were prepared for the use in scalable catalytic reactions in flow. Preparation of the catalyst is remarkably simple and fast, where a palladium acetate solution is drop-casted onto cellulose paper and then exposed to 1 atm of hydrogen for a mere 90 s to produce embedded Pd(0) nanoparticles. This catalyst system is efficient in the hydrogenation of alkenes, nitroarenes, ketones, and enamides, with products formed in high yields, under ambient pressure and temperature.

Transparent Aluminium Oxide Coatings of Polymer Brushes.

A novel method for the preparation of transparent Al2O3 coatings of polymers is presented. An environmental-friendly sol-gel method is employed, which implies mild conditions and low costs. A thermoresponsive brush is chosen as a model surface.

Growth and physiological characteristics of E. coli in response to the exposure of sound field.

It is undeniable that environmental sonic vibration can affect our emotions and mood, but so far the study of physical stimuli provoked by audible wave on single cells has been rarely concerned. To investigate the response of E. coli to audible wave exposure, the growth status and alterations in antioxidant enzyme activity were studied in liquid culture.

Molecular organization of the nanoscale surface structures of the dragonfly Hemianax papuensis wing epicuticle.

The molecular organization of the epicuticle (the outermost layer) of insect wings is vital in the formation of the nanoscale surface patterns that are responsible for bestowing remarkable functional properties. Using a combination of spectroscopic and chromatographic techniques, including Synchrotron-sourced Fourier-transform infrared microspectroscopy (FTIR), x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) depth profiling and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GCMS), we have identified the chemical components that constitute the nanoscale structures on the surface of the wings of the dragonfly, Hemianax papuensis. The major components were identified to be fatty acids, predominantly hexadecanoic acid and octadecanoic acid, and n-alkanes with even numbered carbon chains ranging from C14 to C30.

MiR-21 down-regulation suppresses cell growth, invasion and induces cell apoptosis by targeting FASL, TIMP3, and RECK genes in esophageal carcinoma.

Background: miR-21 is overexpressed in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and is thought to be correlated with the development of the cancer. The target gene of miR-21 including FASL, TIMP3 and RECK is revealed by researchers. miR-21 may be involved in the tumorgenesis of ESCC by targeting FASL, TIMP3 and RECK.

Nanosized rigid pi-conjugated molecular heterojunctions with multi[60]fullerenes: facile synthesis and photophysical properties.

A series of large, rigid, new, well-defined, D-pi-B-A compounds with three chromophores (truxene moieties at the core, conjugated oligothiophenes as the branch bridges, and [60]pyrrolidinofullerene (C60) segments as the end-capped groups) have been facilely developed in this contribution. Oligothiophene-functionalized truxene derivatives 1-29 are prepared by the Suzuki, the Sonogashira, and the Negishi cross-coupling reactions catalyzed by Pd(PPh3)4 as well as the McMurry reaction, respectively. The 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of the oligomers with C60 and N-methylglycine yields a new family of star-shaped D-pi-B-A derivatives end-capped with pyrrolidinofullerene moieties as the active materials for photovoltaic devices in which one, two, three, or four C60 moieties are allocated at the peripheral position of well-defined compounds, respectively.

Nanosized pi-conjugated molecules based on truxene and porphyrin: synthesis and high fluorescence quantum yields.

[reaction: see text] A series of novel nanosized pi-conjugated molecules based on both truxene and porphyrin moieties with high fluorescence quantum yields have been prepared via the Suzuki cross-coupling and the Lindsey reactions. The investigation of optical properties demonstrates that various aryl groups as the antenna efficiently enhance the intramolecular and intermolecular energy transfer. These nanosized macromolecules emitting intense red light might be good candidates for photonic and electronic devices.