CPAS: the UK’s national machine learning-based hospital capacity planning system for COVID-19

Machine Learning - The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) global pandemic poses the threat of overwhelming healthcare systems with unprecedented demands for intensive care resources. Managing...     

Synthesis,structural and morphological characteristics,magnetic and optical properties of Co doped ZnO nanoparticles

Zn_1−xCo_xO (x==0.05, 0.10, 0.15) nanoparticles have been synthesized by an alternative wet-chemical synthesis route using the SimAdd technique. The as-obtained powders were investigated by FT-IR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and thermal analysis correlated with evolved gas analysis (TG–DTA–FT-IR) in order to determine their chemical nature, crystalline structure and to establish the decomposition sequences. The precipitates are generally amorphous, but low-intensity reflection peaks assigned both to the zinc oxalate dihydrate, and zinc hydroxide can be observed in the recorded patterns, indicating that hydroxy-oxalate precipitates were obtained. The structure, morphology and magnetic properties of the thermally treated samples have been investigated by X-ray diffraction, FT-IR, HRTEM, SAED, UV–vis and EPR. XRD studies reveal a hexagonal wurtzite-type structure for all Zn_1−xCo_xO samples. TEM investigations show particle size between 28 and 37 nm, with spherical and polyhedral shapes and with tendency to form aggregates. The presence of a Co₃O₄ secondary phase was evidenced by XRD, UV–vis and EPR for the Zn_0.85Co_0.15O sample. The ferromagnetic behavior of the samples was revealed. The paper highlights that by varying the cobalt concentration it is possible to modulate the structural, morphological, optical and magnetic properties.     

Structural and magnetic properties of Li2O–Fe2O3 ceramic nanostructures

xLi₂O–(1−x)α-Fe₂O₃ (x=0.1, 0.3, 0.5, and 0.7) nanoparticle systems were successfully synthesized by mechanochemical activation of Li₂O and α-Fe₂O₃ mixtures for 0–12 h of ball milling time. The study aims at exploring the formation of magnetic oxide semiconductors at the nanoscale, which is of crucial importance for catalysis, sensing and electrochemical applications. X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Mössbauer spectroscopy and magnetic measurements were used to study the phase evolution of xLi₂O–(1−x)α-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticle systems under the mechanochemical activation process. Rietveld refinement of the XRD patterns yielded the values of the particle size as function of composition and milling times and indicated the presence of Li-substituted hematite and tetra lithium iron oxide LiFeO₂, along with the formation of multiple phases for large x values and long milling times. The Mössbauer studies showed that the spectrum of the mechanochemically activated composites evolved from a sextet for hematite to sextets and a doublet upon duration of the milling process with lithium oxide. Magnetic measurements recorded at 5 K to room temperature (RT) in an applied magnetic field of 50,000 Oe showed that the magnetization of the milled samples is larger at low temperatures than at RT and increases with decreasing particle size. Zero field cooling measurements made possible the determination of the blocking temperatures of the specimens as function of ball milling time and evidenced the occurrence of superparamagnetism in the studied samples. This result correlates well with the observed presence of a quadrupole-split doublet in the Mössbauer spectra.     

‘Generation rent’ and the emotions of private renting: self-worth,status and insecurity amongst low-income renters

Abstract

The UK private-rented sector is increasingly accommodating a diverse range of households, many of whom are young people struggling to access other forms of housing. For those at the bottom end of the sector, who typically have limited economic resources, it is a precarious housing tenure due to its expense and insecurity, yet few studies have explored qualitatively the emotional consequences of this for well-being. We address this gap in the ‘generation rent’ literature by focusing attention on those voices that have been less prominent in the literature. Informed by the theoretical lens of ‘residential alienation’, our study illustrates the emotional toll of private renting upon low-income groups in a national context where state regulation is more limited. In doing so, we add nuance to the literature surrounding socio-economic differentiation within the UK private-rented sector. Our arguments are also relevant to an international audience given global concerns about housing precarity and the politics of housing.     

Processing–formulation–performance relationships of polypropylene/short flax fiber composites

This work is a comprehensive study of the effect of extrusion process parameters and formulation on the properties of polypropylene (PP)/short flax fiber composites. The parameters that were varied during the twin‐screw extrusion process were screw configuration, revolutions per minute (rpm), extrusion temperature, and flow rate. The effect of the feeding zone location of cellulosic fiber was also considered. This study investigates the effect of the formulation, cellulosic fiber content, the presence of a coupling agent, and of a reactive additive on composite performance. The composites were characterized in terms of morphology and microstructure, fiber length, rheological, thermal, and mechanical properties. Sensibility to humidity and recyclability were also considered. When compared with as‐received PP, the tensile strength of injection‐molded parts increased with cellulosic content by up to 40 vol %, and the tensile modulus increased 3.5 times when a combination of coupling and reactive agents was used. Exposed to controlled humidity of 50% during 1 year, these composites exhibited a very low level of humidity uptake around 0.85 wt %. The processability of these materials using a cast film line and the mechanical properties of extruded sheets are also presented. Furthermore, these materials demonstrate a good recyclability using injection molding by keeping the integrality of their mechanical properties after five reprocessing cycles. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 41528.     

Biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles in collagen gel improves their medical use in periodontitis treatment

Silver nanoparticles (AgNP) suspensions were biosynthesized by silver ions reduction in the presence of collagen, a nontoxic, organic polymer, intending to improve their medical use in periodontitis treatment. Spectrophotometric measurements showed a time- and concentration-dependent increase of AgNP formation in each suspension variant. Transmission electron microscopy revealed spherical morphology of AgNP in collagen and their mean diameter size was around 30?nm. The particle size distribution and zeta potential values of AgNP in collagen were determined by dynamic light scattering measurements. The surface charge of AgNP in collagen was positive, while commercial AgNP stabilized in citrate had negative surface charge. In vitro cytotoxicity testing of AgNP in collagen showed that they were biocompatible with human gingival fibroblasts in a wider range of concentrations than commercial nanoparticles. The antibacterial activity of AgNP in collagen against two pathogenic strains present in the periodontal pocket was dose-dependent and higher than that of AgNP in citrate. All these results demonstrated that AgNP prepared in collagen gel had improved properties, like small diameter, positive surface charge, high biocompatibility in human gingival fibroblasts, efficiency against bacterial growth and, thus, better therapeutic potential in periodontal disease treatment.     

Novel self-assembled mesalamine–sucralfate complexes: preparation,characterization, and formulation aspects

Two well-known active agents, mesalamine (MES) and sucralfate (SUC), were investigated for possible utilization as fixed-dose combination product. The anti-inflammatory action of MES in association with bioadhesiveness and mucosal healing properties of SUC were considered promising for the development of a new compound containing both molecules, aimed as an improved treatment of ulcerative colitis. The present study investigates the capacity of the two active agents to interact and generate a new and stable entity via self-assembling. Spray-drying was used to co-process the two active principles from an aqueous mixture where the ratio MES:SUC was in the range 25:75, 50:50, and 75:25. The structural data (X-Ray, FTIR, SEM, DSC, and ¹H NMR) have shown that MES and SUC are interacting leading to complexes with properties differing from those of each separate active agent and from their physical blends. ¹H NMR results indicated that complexation occurred when the aqueous suspensions of drugs were mixed, prior to spray-drying. Drug–drug self-assembling was the driving mechanism in the formation of the new entity. Based on the structural data, a hypothetical structure of the complex was proposed. Co-processing of MES and SUC represents a simple and useful procedure to prepare new self-assembled compounds by valorizing the ionic interactions between the two entities. Preliminary studies with oral solid dosage forms based on MES–SUC complexes tested in vitro have shown a controlled MES release, opening the perspective of a new colon-targeted delivery system and a novel class of compounds with therapeutic application in inflammatory bowel diseases.