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A Comparative Study of Conductive 3D Printing Filaments for Electrochemical Sensing Applications Pretreated by Alumina Polishing, Electrochemical Activation, and Electrodeposition of Au Nanoparticles
No full text3D-printed electrochemical devices have gained tremendous attention recently because they are highly customizable platforms for analysis and energy storage that can be produced using simple, inexpensive components in a wide variety of settings. 3D-printed electrochemical sensors, fabricated from carbon-loaded conductive thermoplastics, enable decentralized production of electrochemical devices that, if optimized, could be widely distributed. Achieving this goal requires a comprehensive understanding of the electrochemical behavior of these filaments. Here, we investigated how the electrochemical behavior of three commercial filaments was affected by alumina polishing, electrochemical activation in 0.5 M NaOH, and electrodepositing Au nanoparticles (NPs). The goal of this study is to characterize if/how these commonly used pretreatments affect different filaments. The study is not an exhaustive combination of all filaments and pretreatment options. We characterized the physical properties of each filament/pretreatment using thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy, and Raman microscopy measurements. We then benchmarked the background electrochemical processes (capacitance and solvent window), the peak current response versus scan rate, and the peak potential separation of two common outer-sphere redox species (ruthenium hexamine and ferrocene methanol) for each filament under each pretreatment (i.e., nine total conditions). We subsequently investigated how the filaments responded to inner-sphere redox couples that were surface sensitive (ferrocyanide oxidation), dependent on surface adsorption (dopamine oxidation), and sensitive to surface oxides (Fe2+ oxidation). The data collectively underline the complexity of electrodes fabricated from conductive 3D printing filaments and highlight several important considerations that should be addressed when interpreting the electrochemistry of such materials. First, we present evidence that these materials behave as partially blocked electrodes, which complicates interpretations of electrochemical data. We also found that the outer-sphere electrochemical reactivity on a given filament was largely consistent regardless of pretreatment. The important variable for assessing outer-sphere electron transfer was the uncompensated resistance (Ru), which varies depending on the filament material, electrode size, and contact method. Finally, we observed that the selected filaments do not respond to pretreatments identically when tested against inner-sphere redox species, suggesting that a variety of treatments should be evaluated when assessing conductive 3D-printed filament electrodes.<br/
Interactions between cultural honor and coping style in the onset of depression and anxiety in British South Asians
No full textBritish South Asians can be thought of as belonging to honor cultures. Concealment/ pretense is a common means of coping with stressors and identity threats associated with cultural honor. Drawing on stress theory and identity process theory, this cross-sectional survey study examines the effects of the concealment/ pretense coping style upon associations between the social stressor of perceived parental pressure to maintain cultural honor and identity threat due to cultural honor and depression and anxiety. A moderated Generalized Linear Model was constructed using data from 304 British South Asians. There was a direct effect of identity threat, but not parental pressure, on depression and anxiety. Concealment/ pretense coping moderated the associations between parental pressure and identity threat and depression and anxiety. Participants who reported higher parental pressure or identity threat and higher concealment/ pretense coping exhibited higher depression and anxiety than those who reported lower parental pressure or identity threat and lower concealment/ pretense coping. Interventions to enhance mental health among British South Asians who face honor pressures should facilitate access to more adaptive, sustainable, and effective coping strategies that might militate against depressive and anxious symptomatology
PrEP acceptability and self-efficacy in men who have sex with men:the roles of identity, trust and knowledge
No full textThis study investigates psychosocial and structural predictors of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) acceptability and self-efficacy, addressing the need for targeted interventions to improve PrEP uptake in the United Kingdom (UK). A cross-sectional, online survey was conducted among UK-based men who have sex with men not currently using PrEP (N = 246). Participants completed validated measures assessing identity resilience, LGBTQ+ connectedness, outness, medical mistrust, perceptions of the NHS, and HIV knowledge. Structural equation modelling (SEM) was used to examine the relationships between these psychosocial factors and PrEP acceptability and self-efficacy, while controlling for age, previous sexually transmitted infection diagnosis, and condomless sex. The SEM demonstrated excellent model fit. PrEP acceptability was positively associated with LGBTQ+ connectedness and negatively associated with medical mistrust. Conversely, PrEP self-efficacy was positively associated with identity resilience, outness, NHS perceptions, and HIV knowledge. Findings show that the predictors of PrEP acceptability and self-efficacy are different, which should help inform interventions for promoting PrEP use. Enhancing LGBTQ+ connectedness and reducing medical mistrust may increase PrEP acceptability, while fostering identity resilience, outness, and positive perceptions of the NHS could strengthen PrEP self-efficacy. This study identifies distinct yet complementary predictors of PrEP acceptability and self-efficacy, emphasising the necessity for tailored interventions.</p
Quinoline-Based Neuropilin-1 Antagonists Exhibit a Pure Antagonist Profile and Block Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-Induced Pain
No full textNociceptive pain, resulting from tissue injury or inflammation, affects a large portion of the global population. This type of pain is commonly treated by small molecules that are associated with a variety of drawbacks, including addiction and potential liver or kidney damage, highlighting the need for new therapeutic strategies. Here, we report the design, synthesis, and characterization of EG01449 (12h), a quinoline-based neuropilin-1 (NRP1) antagonist with analgesic effects in vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-induced pain models. Neuropilin-1 is a critical coreceptor mediating VEGF signaling. In models of VEGF-induced pain, the VEGFA165a isoform increases currents through voltage-gated sodium and calcium channels in dorsal root ganglia sensory neurons. Notably, this effect was mitigated upon the inhibition of NRP1 by 12h, while 12h alone showed no discernible impact on sodium currents. Compound 12h also attenuated sensitivity to mechanical stimuli and cold-induced allodynia. Unlike the previously reported NRP1-targeting compounds that may activate intracellular signaling, 12h did not activate p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase and exhibited a purely inhibitory pharmacological profile. Structural comparison using X-ray crystallography revealed an additional hydrogen bond that contributes to the increased stabilization of the 12h/NRP1 complex. These findings demonstrate that the NRP1 inhibitor 12h elicits an antinociceptive effect and highlight the impact of subtle structural modifications on biological outcomes. NRP1 antagonism thus represents a promising new modality for the treatment of chronic pain conditions
wedding: listed, present
No full textThis poem uses material found in Mass Observation Autumn Directive 1998’s “Wedding Presents (continued)” and “Family Wedding Presents”The poem was crafted using a method of drafting then gathering feedback from Claude.AI 3.5 Sonnet
The Water Remembers
No full textThe Water Remembers was awarded a Commendation in the 2025 Brighton & Hove Arts Council Poetry Competition. The poem was selected as one of the competition winners and published online as part of the BHAC's annual poetry showcase. It explores themes of memory, water, and relational attunement through lyrical for
Enhancing Interprofessional Communication through Simulation: Forum Theatre and Fish Bowl Approaches in Nursing and Radiography Education Our first time running an interprofessional simulation event with radiography and nursing students in a large lecture theatre
No full textHere:this mawkishly sentimental adaptation has lost the brilliance of Richard McGuire’s graphic novel
No full textTough Love: The Dark Heart of Valentine's Day
Get PDFA 1200-word commissioned article on the history of mock, mocking 'vinegar' valentine cards for Who Do You Think You Are (Britain's bestselling family history magazine) in a special February 2025 edition, free for Apple News subscribers
An Open-Source algorithm for automatic geometrical optimization of extruded liquid cold plates for enhanced thermal management in railway electronics
Get PDFThis paper presents the development and application of an optimization algorithm for determining the geometric parameters of an extruded Liquid Cold Plate (LCP) with internally finned channels. The entire workflow operates within a fully open-source environment, offering a comprehensive and accessible solution for optimizing LCP geometric parameters for efficient thermal management in railway power electronics as well as other industrial applications. In particular, the aim is to minimize the maximum temperature and the temperature gradient at the interface between the LCP and an electronic device for electric trains that dissipates heat. The algorithm explores a defined range of geometric parameters and automatically generates combinations and performs Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations, using the open-source C++ toolbox OpenFOAM. Implemented in a bash script, the algorithm not only automates the simulation process but also provides a geometry of the LCP that is easy to manufacture and cost-effective. The correct value of parameters, such as the distance between the fins bottom surface and the channel base (gap), along with others, has shown a significant impact, leading to a reduction in both the maximum interface temperature (8 K) and the temperature gradient (25 K/m) within the system