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Abstract Creative music therapy (CMT) has been shown to promote the development of brain function and structure in preterm infants. We aimed to investigate the effect of CMT on cerebral oxygenation and perfusion to examine how the brain reacts to CMT. Absolute levels of cerebrovascular oxygen saturation (StO2) were measured in clinically stable preterm-born neonates (n = 20, gestational age: ≥30 weeks and

Local atomic configuration, phase composition and atomic intermixing in Fe-rich Fe1−xCrx and Fe1−xMox ribbons (x = 0.05, 0.10, 0.15), of potential interest for high-temperature applications and nuclear devices, are investigated in this study in relation to specific processing and annealing routes. The Fe-based thin ribbons have been prepared by induction melting, followed by melt spinning and further annealed in He at temperatures up to 1250 °C. The complex structural, compositional and atomic configuration characterisation has been performed by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission Mössbauer spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry (TG-DSC). The XRD analysis indicates the formation of the desired solid solutions with body-centred cubic (bcc) structure in the as-quenched state. The Mössbauer spectroscopy results have been analysed in terms of the two-shell model. The distribution of Cr/Mo atoms in the first two coordination spheres is not homogeneous, especially after annealing, as supported by the short-range order parameters. In addition, high-temperature annealing treatments give rise to oxidation of Fe (to haematite, maghemite and magnetite) at the surface of the ribbons. Fe1−xCrx alloys are structurally more stable than the Mo counterpart under annealing at 700 °C. Annealing at 1250 °C in He enhances drastically the Cr clustering around Fe nuclei. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The crystallization mechanism of sol–gel-derived NaYF4:(Yb,Er) up-converting phosphors has been studied by differential scanning calorimetry analysis using both model-free and model fitting approaches. Structural and optical data have shown that the hexagonal NaYF4:(Yb,Er) phase crystallization process occurs at around 315 °C as a result of the thermal decomposition of the metal trifluoroacetates. As the annealing temperature increases, sphere-like microcrystals of about 1–2 μm size (at 300 °C) break up into smaller ones (400–500 nm size) and finally collapse at higher temperatures (600 °C); the up-conversion luminescence signal intensity increases due to the crystallinity improvement and dehydration process. The crystallization process can be described as an autocatalytic-type reaction where the accompanying cubic NaYF4 phase played a catalytic role by reducing the energy barrier against the crystallization of the hexagonal NaYF4 phase, causing its fast self-accelerated crystallization. The energy resulting from the disintegration process of the initial NaYF4 microcrystals contributed to the growth and agglomeration processes and finally the collapse of the crystalline fragments with increasing temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present work, optical, structural and morphological properties of CdS-doped phosphate films obtained by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) method were investigated. In the deposition process, a target based on a mixture composed of LiO-AlO-BaO-LaO-ZnO-PO glass and CdS powder as dopant was used. The phosphate glass target was obtained by non-conventional wet route of raw reagents processing followed by melt-quenching technique. The complex oxide composition of the glass as well as the final PLD target consisting in a mixture of glass and CdS powder followed by pressing and heat treatment represents the novelty of the work. CdS dopant particles were highlighted by X-ray diffraction analysis as well as by Raman spectroscopy. Thus, cubic CdS particles having less than 10 nm size corroborated with specific LO (longitudinal optical phonons) and 2LO CdS Raman peaks from 300 and 600 cm, respectively, certified the presence of the dopant in the deposited films. Specific vibration modes for the vitreous phosphate matrix were revealed by fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and spherulitic units characteristic to PLD technique were found by scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy analyses. A relative large luminescence band located around 430 nm was provided by UV excitation, representative for CdS nanoparticles having about 9-10 nm size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The double-perovskite Sr2FeMoO6 has been obtained by solid state method at low temperature (1060 °C) and a very short time of synthesis (up to 4h). Both, X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) confirmed the formation of Sr2FeMoO6 oxide with grain sizes around 160 mm, and a small amount of SrMoO4 as an impurity. Mossbauer spectroscopy revealed a mixed site population with Fe and Mo ions generating a structure type with population inversion. This structure has a critical influence on the magnetic properties, as confirmed by the magnetization and TC values, i.e 3.56 µB/ f.u and 415 K, respectively. The Sr2FeMoO6 behavior was interpreted in terms of ferrimagnetic couplings generated by the various distributions of local interactions between Fe and Mo neighbors while comparing the ideal structure should show antiferromagnetic coupling between the two sublattices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sol–gel route using metal alkoxides precursor and trifluoroacetic acid as in situ fluorination reagent has been used to prepare Eu3+-doped silicate xerogel, followed by thermal annealing to obtain oxyfluoride glass ceramic containing Eu3+-doped BaF2 nanocrystals. We have used Eu3+ as probe ion and we analyzed its characteristic features (photoluminescence, optical absorption and magnetic circular dichroism) to get information about the local environment around the ion during thermally activated evolution of the sol to xerogel and then glass ceramic. As the drying and annealing proceeds silica network is formed accompanied by precipitation of the nanofluoride crystalline phase; Eu3+ coordination changes gradually from a random and assymetric CF3COO- one (in the sol) to a symmetric one (in the BaF2 nanocrystals) given by the fluorine ions. Glass ceramization is based on a homogenous crystallization mechanism with BaF2 nucleation centres resulted from thermal decomposition of Ba-trifluoacetate at around 300°C followed by subsequent growth into BaF2 nanocrystals above 600°C; Eu3+-ions are incorporated during the nanocrystals growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ferrofluid samples consisting of magnetite nanoparticles (NPs) coated with oleic acid and dispersed in a non-polar organic solvent have been synthesized by chemical routes. Different volume fractions, φ, of magnetic NPs were considered. The overall structural characterization of NPs has been performed by x-ray diffractometry, with lattice parameters and average coherence lengths evaluated via Rietveld refinements. The magnetic properties of different samples have been analysed by SQUID magnetometry and temperature-dependent Mössbauer spectroscopy and finally explained by adequate magnetic relaxation mechanisms. Zero field cooling–field cooling protocols provided useful information about specific volume fraction dependent magnetic relaxation and de-freezing processes, the lack of the Verwey transition and stronger dipolar interactions at higher volume fractions. Anisotropy energies as obtained by both temperature dependent Mössbauer spectroscopy and magnetometry data are compared and a new procedure for a quantitative characterization of the dipolar interactions is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, new films containing composite materials based on blends of thermoplastic polymers of the polyurethane (TPU) and polyolefin (TPO) type, in the absence and presence of BaTiO3 nanoparticles (NPs) with the size smaller 100 nm, were prepared. The vibrational properties of the free films depending on the weight ratio of the two thermoplastic polymers were studied. Our results demonstrate that these films are optically active, with strong, broad, and adjustable photoluminescence by varying the amount of TPU. The crystalline structure of BaTiO3 and the influence of thermoplastic polymers on the crystallization process of these inorganic NPs were determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies. The vibrational changes induced in the thermoplastic polymer's matrix of the BaTiO3 NPs were showcased by Raman scattering and FTIR spectroscopy. The incorporation of BaTiO3 NPs in the matrix of thermoplastic elastomers revealed the shift dependence of the photoluminescence (PL) band depending on the BaTiO3 NP concentration, which was capable of covering a wide visible spectral range. The dependencies of the dielectric relaxation phenomena with the weight of BaTiO3 NPs in thermoplastic polymers blends were also demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tetragonal Sr2FeMoO6 powders were prepared by the sol-gel and solid-state reaction methods. The structure, microstructure and magnetic characteristics of the double perovskite Sr2FeMoO6 in the form of as-prepared powders and classical sintered ceramics were analyzed and compared. Moreover, the magnetic properties of Sr2FeMoO6 ceramics obtained by sol-gel and solid state reaction methods and sintered by the classical method were compared with those of Sr2FeMoO6 ceramics obtained by the same two methods, but sintered by the spark plasma sintering technique. The morphology of the powders obtained from the gel precursor and oxides mixture was characterized by homogeneity, as well as the grains shape and size. The powder prepared by the sol-gel method was finer (particle average size of 0.6 µm) than those obtained from oxides mixture (particle average size of 0.9 µm). Sintered ceramics with tetragonal Sr2FeMoO6 phase were prepared from the two mentioned powders by classical sintering at 1200 °C, 2 h in 5%H2/Ar. The pellets obtained from the gel powder exhibited higher magnetic characteristics than those derived from the oxides mixture. The saturation magnetization and the total magnetic moment of the samples prepared by the sol-gel method were Msat=41.18 emu/g and µexp/f.u.=3.26, respectively, while for the samples derived from the oxides mixture were Msat=40.77 emu/g and µexp/f.u=3.10. Also, Sr2FeMoO6 pellets sintered by the conventional method showed higher saturation magnetization values than those sintered by spark plasma sintering technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have undertaken a temperature-dependent, investigation of the thermodynamics, structure, morphology and magnetism of two MnAl nanocomposite alloys (Mn 60 Al 40 and Mn 55 Al 45 ). Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) studies allowed the determination of the exo-effects occurring in the structural phase transformation of MnAl, while by using temperature-dependent X-ray diffraction of synchrotron radiation we were able to monitor the phase transformation effects and the evolution with temperature of various structural phases occurring in the samples. We have shown that slight changes in stoichiometry (5 at.%) give rise to different phase structure in the as-cast state. While in Mn 60 Al 40 only hcp ε phase can be found, in Mn 55 Al 45 as-cast alloy, there is a quite complex phase structure with a mixture of γ 2 (Al 8 Mn 5 ) and ε as well as ferromagnetic MnAl τ-phase. Activation energies of about 165 kJ/mol and 290 kJ/mol have been calculated from the Ozawa-Flynn-Wall analysis of DSC experimental data. These findings are in good agreement with the results obtained from XRD. For the Mn 55 Al 45 as-cast alloy, we have confirmed by temperature-dependent synchrotron XRD that the hcp ε phase decomposes through the migration of interphase interfaces with the transformation rate controlled by boundary diffusion processes. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy have confirmed the phase structure obtained by XRD, while magnetic properties, obtained for the as-cast alloys are consistent with the multiphase character of the samples and in good agreement with previously reported results. The magnetization does not saturate for the maximum applied field of about 4 × 10 6  A/m and a marked coercivity of about 160 kA/m is obtained for the Mn 55 Al 45 as-cast alloy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Complex physico-chemical investigations have been performed on white inlaid substance used in the ornamentation of prehistoric clay artefacts from southern Romania ceramics from the Early Chalcolithic, up to the Middle/Late Bronze Age. Structural and morphological investigations of the white pigments have showed hundreds of nm up to microns size particles with calcite and hydroxyapatite (ash bone) as dominant components. The calcite was found on Early Chalcolithic pigment vessels while those where hydroxyapatite was dominant from the Middle/Late Bronze Age. FTIR spectra revealed the biogenic source of the hydroxyapatite (i.e. cremated animal bone) and the crystallinity degree values agrees with the expected temperatures of firing of the ancient furnaces; the calcite-based pigments were supposed to be filled post firing. The EPR was not able to able to provide a clear assignment of the cremated animal bones but thermoluminescence showed various sources of calcite. [Display omitted] • Incised decoration pottery (Chalcolithic to the Bronze Age) from the southern Romania were studied. • For the pigment characterization we used complex physico-chemical investigations. • The mineralogical composition of the white pigment reflected a chronological differentiation. • The calcite was the main constituent of the pigment on the Chalcolithic pottery. • The predominant ingredient used in the Middle Bronze Age was hydroxyapatite from animal bone ash. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Double perovskite Sr2FeMoO6 was prepared by two ways consisting in sol–gel technique and solid-state reaction method. The resulting powders from gel and mixed oxides precursors showed microstructures consisting of very fine grains (0.5–0.8μm) and a crystalline perovskite structure. The structural and microstructural properties of the double perovskite Sr2FeMoO6 powders as-prepared and ceramics were compared. Tetragonal Sr2FeMoO6 pellets were prepared from the two powders by spark plasma sintering at: 1000, 1100 and 1200°C and then annealing at 1200°C, 2h in 5%H2/Ar. The pellets presented different magnetic characteristics. The saturation magnetization of the samples prepared by sol–gel is close to those prepared by conventional synthesis method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Sol–gel chemistry within the pores of a polycarbonate template membrane was used for the preparation of Eosin Y–SiO2 hybrid nano- and microrods, using tetraethylorthosilicate [TEOS, Si(OC2H5)4] as the precursor in the presence of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) catalyst. The ethanolic solution of Eosin-Y was added to the silica sol to trap dye molecules inside the SiO2 gel network during the gelation. Structural and morphological characterization using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and luminescence microscopy have shown the formation of rods with 200nm and 1.2μm diameter and about 30μm length, exhibiting luminescence properties. Spectroscopic characterization has shown that the luminescence is due to Eosin-Y molecule in the xerogel porous network, surrounded by a solvation shell given mainly by the water. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Trace amounts of substitutional Mn2+ ions and shallow donors magnetic centers were identified by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) in crystalline Zn(OH)2 prepared by precipitation of a Zn-nitrate solution with NaOH. Strong changes in the Mn2+ ions spectrum, as well as a sharp increase in the concentration of the shallow donor centers were observed by EPR in the 110–140°C temperature range, during pulse annealing experiments in air up to 240°C. They reflect the decomposition of the crystalline Zn(OH)2 host lattice into nanocrystalline ZnO, confirmed by X-ray diffraction and thermal analysis measurements. Accurate spin Hamiltonian parameters of the observed paramagnetic centers were determined by lineshape simulation and fitting of the EPR spectra, to be used as reference data in further studies of nanocrystalline systems involving Zn(OH)2. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The aim of this work is to highlight the influence of UV light on the hydrolysis reaction of nifedipine (NIF) in the presence of alkaline solutions. In this context, the photodegradation of NIF in the absence of alkaline solutions caused (a) a change in the ratio between the absorbances of three bands in the UV-VIS spectra localized at 224-240 nm, 272-276 nm and 310-340 nm, assigned to the electronic transitions of -COOCH 3 groups, -NO 2 groups and a heterocycle with six atoms; (b) a red-shift of the photoluminescence (PL) band from 458 nm to 477 nm, simultaneous with an increase in its intensity; (c) a decrease in the ratio of the Raman line intensities, which peaked at 1224 cm -1 and 1649 cm -1 , associated with the vibrational modes of -C-C-O in the ester group and C=C stretching; and (d) a decrease in the ratio between the absorbances of the IR bands, which peaked at 1493 cm -1 and 1223 cm -1 , associated with the vibrational modes of the -NO 2 group and C-N stretching. These changes were explained considering the NIF photodegradation reaction, which leads to the generation of the compound 4-(2-nitrosophenyl)-2.6-dimethyl-3.5-dimethoxy carbonyl pyridine. The interaction of NIF with NaOH in the absence of UV light was demonstrated to induce changes in the vibrational mode of the -C-C-O bond in the ester group. The photodegradation of NIF after its reaction with NaOH induces significant changes highlighted in its (a) UV-VIS spectra, by the shift of the absorption band at 238 nm; (b) PL spectra, by the supraunitary value of the ratio between the emission band intensities at 394-396 nm and 450 nm; (c) Raman spectra, by the change in the ratio between the intensities of the lines that peaked at 1224 cm -1 and 1649 cm -1 from 0.61 to 0.49; and (d) FTIR spectra, by the lowered absorbance of the IR band at 1493 cm -1 assigned to the vibrational mode of the -NO 2 group as a result of the generation of the nitroso compound. These changes were explained considering the hydrolysis reaction products of NIF, as the nitroso compound is converted to a lactam-type compound. The photodegradation reaction rate constants of NIF and NIF after interaction with NaOH were also reported. The decrease in thermal stability of NIF samples after interaction with NaOH, as well as of NIF after exposure to UV light compared to NIF prior to exposure to UV light, was demonstrated by thermogravimetry, and the key fragments were confirmed by mass spectrometry.

In this study, a sol-gel film based on lead sulfide (PbS) quantum dots incorporated into a host network was synthesized as a special nanostructured composite material with potential applications in temperature sensor systems. This work dealt with the optical, structural, and morphological properties of a representative PbS quantum dot (QD)-containing thin film belonging to the Al 2 O 3 -SiO 2 -P 2 O 5 system. The film was prepared using the sol-gel method combined with the spin coating technique, starting from a precursor solution containing a suspension of PbS QDs in toluene with a narrow size distribution and coated on a glass substrate in a multilayer process, followed by annealing of each deposited layer. The size (approximately 10 nm) of the lead sulfide nanocrystallites was validated by XRD and by the quantum confinement effect based on the band gap value and by TEM results. The photoluminescence peak of 1505 nm was very close to that of the precursor PbS QD solution, which demonstrated that the synthesis route of the film preserved the optical emission characteristic of the PbS QDs. The photoluminescence of the lead sulfide QD-containing film in the near infrared domain demonstrates that this material is a promising candidate for future sensing applications in temperature monitoring.

A convenient and low-cost sol-gel approach for the one-step synthesis of ZnO-P 2 O 5 -rGO nanostructures with tuned bandgap and fluorescence was investigated. The obtained hybrid nanostructures exploit the properties of zinc oxide, graphene oxide and phosphorous oxide as promising candidates for a wide range of optoelectronic applications. A predominant amorphous structure, ZnO-P 2 O 5 -rGO, containing ZnO nanorods was evidenced by X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The estimated size of the ZnO nanorods in nanostructures with P 2 O 5 was noticed to decrease when the P 2 O 5 /ZnO ratio was increased. The presence of ZnO, P 2 O 5 and rGO was confirmed by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Raman investigation. P 2 O 5 was noticed to tune the bandgap and the fluorescence emissions of the nanostructured films, as estimated by UV-Vis-NIR and fluorescence spectroscopy, respectively. The electrical measurements performed at room temperature showed that the main influence on the film's resistivity does not come from the 1% rGO doping but from the P 2 O 5 /ZnO ratio. It was found that a 10/90 molar ratio of P 2 O 5 /ZnO decreases the resistivity almost seven-fold compared with rGO-doped ZnO films.

A wide spectrum of conditions, from life-threatening to non-urgent, can manifest with acute dyspnea, thus presenting major challenges for the treating physician when establishing the diagnosis and severity of the underlying disease. Imaging plays a decisive role in the assessment of acute dyspnea of cardiac and/or pulmonary origin. This article presents an overview of the current imaging modalities used to narrow the differential diagnosis in the assessment of acute dyspnea of cardiac or pulmonary origin. The current indications, findings, accuracy, and limits of each imaging modality are reported. Chest radiography is usually the primary imaging modality applied. There is a low radiation dose associated with this method, and it can assess the presence of fluid in the lung or pleura, consolidations, hyperinflation, pneumothorax, as well as heart enlargement. However, its low sensitivity limits the ability of the chest radiograph to accurately identify the causes of acute dyspnea. CT provides more detailed imaging of the cardiorespiratory system, and therefore, better sensitivity and specificity results, but it is accompanied by higher radiation exposure. Ultrasonography has the advantage of using no radiation, and is fast and feasible as a bedside test and appropriate for the assessment of unstable patients. However, patient-specific factors, such as body habitus, may limit its image quality and interpretability. Advances in knowledge This review provides guidance to the appropriate choice of imaging modalities in the diagnosis of patients with dyspnea of cardiac or pulmonary origin., Competing Interests: Competing interests: Ruxandra-Iulia Milos, Carmen Bartha, Benedikt H. Heidinger, Florian Prayer, Lucian Beer, Christian Wassipaul, Daria Kifjak, Martin Watzenböck – no conflict of interests to declare; Sebastian Röhrich – consulting activities contextflow GmbH; Helmut Prosch – Speaker honoria: AstraZeneca, BMS, Boehringer Ingelheim, Siemens Healthcare, Takeda. Research grants: Boehringer Ingelheim, (© 2023 The Authors. Published by the British Institute of Radiology.)

IV-VI semiconductor quantum dots embedded into an inorganic matrix represent nanostructured composite materials with potential application in temperature sensor systems. This study explores the optical, structural, and morphological properties of a novel PbS quantum dots (QDs)-doped inorganic thin film belonging to the Al 2 O 3 -SiO 2 -P 2 O 5 system. The film was synthesized by the sol-gel method, spin coating technique, starting from a precursor solution deposited on a glass substrate in a multilayer process, followed by drying of each deposited layer. Crystalline PbS QDs embedded in the inorganic vitreous host matrix formed a nanocomposite material. Specific investigations such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), optical absorbance in the ultraviolet (UV)-visible (Vis)-near infrared (NIR) domain, NIR luminescence, Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX), and atomic force microscopy (AFM) were used to obtain a comprehensive characterization of the deposited film. The dimensions of the PbS nanocrystallite phase were corroborated by XRD, SEM-EDX, and AFM results. The luminescence band from 1400 nm follows the luminescence peak of the precursor solution and that of the dopant solution. The emission of the PbS-doped film in the NIR domain is a premise for potential application in temperature sensing systems.

In this work, new optical evidences concerning the changes induced of the UV light on pantoprazole sodium (PS), in solid state and as aqueous solution, are reported by UV-VIS spectroscopy, photoluminescence (PL), Raman scattering and FTIR spectroscopy. New evidences concerning the products of the PS photodegradation pathways are reported by the correlated studies of thermogravimetry and mass spectrometry. The influence of the excipients and alkaline medium on the PS photodegradation is also studied. New aspects regarding the chemical mechanism of the PS photodegradation in the presence of the water vapor and oxygen form air and the alkaline medium are shown. Our results confirm that the PS photodegradation induced of the water vapors and oxygen from air leads to the generation of 5-difluoromethoxy-3H-benzimidazole-2-thione sodium, 5-difluoromethoxy-3H-benzimidazole sodium, 2-thiol methyl-3, 4-dimethoxypyridine and 2-hydroxymethyl-3, 4-dimethoxypyridine, while in the alkaline medium, compounds of the type of the 2-oxymethyl-3,4-dimethoxypyridine sodium salts are resulted., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

The effect of sodium thiosulfate (ST) on the photodegradation of azathioprine (AZA) was analyzed by UV-VIS spectroscopy, photoluminescence (PL), FTIR spectroscopy, Raman scattering, X-ray photoelectron (XPS) spectroscopy, thermogravimetry (TG) and mass spectrometry (MS). The PL studies highlighted that as the ST concentration increased from 25 wt.% to 75 wt.% in the AZA:ST mixture, the emission band of AZA gradual downshifted to 553, 542 and 530 nm. The photodegradation process of AZA:ST induced: (i) the emergence of a new band in the 320-400 nm range in the UV-VIS spectra of AZA and (ii) a change in the intensity ratio of the photoluminescence excitation (PLE) bands in the 280-335 and 335-430 nm spectral ranges. These changes suggest the emergence of new compounds during the photo-oxidation reaction of AZA with ST. The invoked photodegradation compounds were confirmed by studies of the Raman scattering, the FTIR spectroscopy and XPS spectroscopy through: (i) the downshift of the IR band of AZA from 1336 cm -1 to 1331 cm -1 , attributed to N-C-N deformation in the purine ring; (ii) the change in the intensity ratio of the Raman lines peaking at 1305 cm -1 and 1330 cm -1 from 3.45 to 4.57, as the weight of ST in the AZA:ST mixture mass increased; and (iii) the emergence of a new band in the XPS O1s spectrum peaking at 531 eV, which was associated with the C=O bond. Through correlated studies of TG-MS, the main key fragments of ST-reacted AZA are reported.

Aim: The purpose of the present study was to explore the experiences of a diverse group of mental health clinicians both in hospital and in the community, who were required to rapidly adopt virtual-care practices in the delivery of mental health services to children, adolescents, and their families., Methods: Mental health clinicians (N = 117) completed the Clinician Virtual-Care Experience Survey assessing the following domains: ease of technology use, client/patient-provider interaction quality, and clinician wellbeing., Results: Although over 70% of clinicians had not used virtual-care to deliver mental health services prior to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 pandemic, more than 80% felt it was easy to operate the virtual platforms. Clinicians were divided in their perceptions of the effectiveness of virtual-care, with only 42% reporting that they felt they were as effective in delivering healthcare services virtually as compared to in-person. Virtual-care was described as being more effective for specific populations, while challenges were described in building rapport and when delivering difficult or unexpected feedback., Conclusions: Clinicians felt there were some benefits of adopting virtual-care practices, while challenges were also identified. Understanding of the impact of virtual-care on service providers is essential in order to strengthen mental healthcare for children, adolescents, and their families even beyond the pandemic., (© 2021 John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.)

Rare-earth doped oxyfluoride glass ceramics represent a new generation of tailorable optical materials with high potential for optical-related applications such as optical amplifiers, optical waveguides, and white LEDs. Their key features are related to the high transparency and remarkable luminescence properties, while keeping the thermal and chemical advantages of oxide glasses. Sol-gel chemistry offers a flexible synthesis approach with several advantages, such as lower processing temperature, the ability to control the purity and homogeneity of the final materials on a molecular level, and the large compositional flexibility. The review will be focused on optical properties of sol-gel derived nano-glass ceramics related to the RE-doped luminescent nanocrystals (fluorides, chlorides, oxychlorides, etc.) such as photoluminescence, up-conversion luminescence, thermoluminescence and how these properties are influenced by their specific processing, mostly focusing on the findings from our group and similar ones in the literature, along with a discussion of perspectives, potential challenges, and future development directions.

Melt spun ribbons of Mn 53 Al 45 C 2 and Mn 52 Al 46 C 2 have been synthesized by rapid quenching of the melt with the purpose of monitoring the ε-τ phase transformation to show technologically feasible ways to increase magnetic parameters and to illustrate the viability of these alloys as the next generation of rare earth (RE)-free magnets. By differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), activation energies and temperatures of onset of the ε-τ phase transformation were obtained. Structural analysis was performed using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and the resulting XRD patterns were quantitatively assessed using full profile Rietveld-type analysis. Appropriate annealing was performed in order to enable the ε-τ phase transformation. While hcp ε-phase was found to be predominant in the as-cast samples, after appropriate annealing, the tetragonal τ-phase, the one that furnishes the relevant magnetic response, was found to be predominant with an abundance of about 90%. The data suggested a mechanism of hcp ε-phase decomposition controlled by the segregation towards the interfacial regions, having the rate of transformation governed by antiphase boundary diffusion processes. Magnetic measurements of annealed sample Mn 53 Al 45 C 2 , consisting of predominant tetragonal τ-phase, showed high values of magnetization and increased coercivity, consistent with an energy product of about 10 MGOe, similar with previously reported magnetization measurements, providing further insight into the realization of future class of RE-free low-cost permanent magnets.

This work investigates the structural, magnetic and magneto-optical properties of a new zinc phosphate-tellurite glass belonging to the 45ZnO-10Al 2 O 3 -40P 2 O 5 -5TeO 2 system. The glass was prepared by a wet method of processing the starting reagents followed by suitable melting-stirring-quenching-annealing steps. Specific parameters such as density, average molecular mass, molar volume, oxygen packaging density, refractive index, molar refractivity, electronic polarizability, reflection loss, optical transmission, band gap and optical basicity have been reported together with thermal, magnetic and magneto-optical characteristics. Absorption bands appear in the blue and red visible region, while over 600 nm the glass becomes more transparent. FTIR and Raman spectra evidenced phosphate-tellurite vibration modes proving the P 2 O 5 and TeO 2 network forming role. Magnetic measurements reveal the diamagnetic character of the Te-doped glass with an additional weak ferromagnetic signal, specific to diluted ferromagnetic oxides. Positive Faraday rotation angle with monotonous decreasing value at increasing wavelength was evidenced from magneto-optical measurements. The final product is a composite material comprising of a non-crystalline vitreous phase and Te-based nanoclusters accompanied by oxygen vacancies. The metallic-like Te colloids are responsible for the dark reddish color of the glass whereas the accompanying oxygen vacancies might be responsible for the weak ferromagnetic signal persisting up to room temperature.