An assembly and interaction of upconversion and plasmonic nanoparticles on organometallic nanofibers: enhanced multicolor upconversion, downshifting emission and the plasmonic effect.

We present novel inorganic-organic hybrid nanoparticles (HNPs) constituting inorganic NPs, NaY0.78Er0.02Yb0.2F4, and organometallic nanofiber, Tb(ASA)3Phen (TAP). X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared absorption and transmission electron microscopy analyses reveal that prepared ultrafine upconversion NPs (UCNPs (5-8 nm)) are dispersed on the surface of the TAP nanofibers. We observe that the addition of TAP in UCNPs effectively limits the surface quenching to boost the upconversion (UC) intensity and enables tuning of UC emission from the green to the red region by controlling the phonon frequency around the Er3+ ion. On the other hand, TAP is an excellent source of green emission under ultraviolet exposure. Therefore prepared HNPs not only give enhanced and tunable UC but also emit a strong green color in the downshifting (DS) process. To further enhance the dual-mode emission of HNPs, silver NPs (AgNPs) are introduced. The emission intensity of UC as well as DS emission is found to be strongly modulated in the presence of AgNPs. It is found that AgNPs enhance red UC emission. The possible mechanism involved in enhanced emission intensity and color output is investigated in detail. The important optical properties of these nano-hybrid materials provide a great opportunity in the fields of biological imaging, drug delivery and energy devices.

Host-Sensitized NIR Quantum Cutting Emission in Nd(3+) Doped GdNbO4 Phosphors and Effect of Bi(3+) Ion Codoping.

Host-sensitized near-infrared quantum cutting (QC) emission has been demonstrated in Nd(3+) doped Gd(1-x)Nd(x)NbO4 phosphors for various x values. Further, the effect of Bi(3+) ion addition as a sensitizer on near-infrared QC is studied in detail. X-ray diffraction confirms a monoclinic structure for pure and Nd(3+) doped phosphors. Pulsed laser excitation at 266 nm of Gd(1-x)Nd(x)NbO4 and Gd(0.99-x)Nd(x)Bi(0.01)NbO4 causes efficient room-temperature energy transfer from the NbO4(3-) to the Nd(3+) ions and the NbO4(3-) and Bi(3+) ions to the Nd(3+) ions, respectively, which emits more than one near-infrared photon for single impinging ultraviolet photon. The emission band of Nd(3+) shows unusual character where the intensity of the (4)F(3/2)-(4)I(9/2) transition at 888 nm is higher than the intensity of the transition (4)F(3/2)-(4)I(11/2) at 1064 nm, due to energy transfer from GdNbO4 host to Nd(3+) ion. Using photoluminescence lifetime studies, the quantum cutting efficiencies are found to be the maximum 166% and 172% for Gd(0.95)Nd(0.05)NbO4 and Gd(0.94)Nd(0.05)Bi(0.01)NbO4, respectively. The present study could establish Nd(3+) ion as an alternative of Yb(3+) ion for near-infrared quantum cutting. This work facilitates the probing of Nd(3+) ions doped phosphor materials for next generation Si-solar cells.

Utility of chest radiography on admission for initial triaging of COVID-19 in symptomatic patients.

A Likert score based on chest radiography of symptomatic patients of #COVID19 can be used as a diagnostic and triaging tool in the emergency room to help physicians identify patients with likelihood of COVID-19 and triage them appropriately https://bit.ly/3gDxzDK.

Clinical practice guidelines 2019: Indian consensus-based recommendations on influenza vaccination in adults.

Influenza, a common cause of acute respiratory infections, is an important health problem worldwide, including in India. Influenza is associated with several complications; people with comorbidities and the elderly are at a higher risk for such complications. Moreover, the influenza virus constantly changes genetically, thereby worsening therapeutic outcomes. Vaccination is an effective measure for the prevention of influenza. Despite the availability of global guidelines on influenza vaccination in adults, country-specific guidelines based on regional variation in disease burden are required for better disease management in India. With this aim, the Indian Chest Society and National College of Chest Physicians of India jointly conducted an expert meeting in January 2019. The discussion was aimed at delineating evidence-based recommendations on adult influenza vaccination in India. The present article discusses expert recommendations on clinical practice guidelines to be followed in India for adult influenza vaccination, for better management of the disease burden.

Clinical practice guidelines 2019: Indian consensus-based recommendations on pneumococcal vaccination for adults.

Similar to the global scenario, pneumococcal diseases are a significant health concern in India. Pneumococcal diseases occur frequently among adults and are largely preventable through vaccines. Globally, several guidelines and recommendations are available for pneumococcal vaccination in adults. However, owing to wide variations in the disease burden, regulatory landscape, and health-care system in India, such global guidelines cannot be unconditionally implemented throughout the country. To address these gaps, the Indian Chest Society and National College of Chest Physicians of India jointly conducted an expert meeting in January 2019. The aim of the discussion was to lay down specific evidence-based recommendations on adult pneumococcal vaccination for the country, with a view to further ameliorate the disease burden in the country. This article presents an overview of the closed-door discussion by the expert members on clinical practice guidelines to be followed for adult pneumococcal vaccination in India.

Lanthanide doped ultrafine hybrid nanostructures: multicolour luminescence, upconversion based energy transfer and luminescent solar collector applications.

We herein demonstrate novel inorganic-organic hybrid nanoparticles (HNPs) composed of inorganic NPs, NaY0.78Er0.02Yb0.2F4, and an organic ß-diketonate complex, Eu(TTA)3Phen, for energy harvesting applications. Both the systems maintain their core integrity and remain entangled through weak interacting forces. HNPs incorporate the characteristic optical behaviour of both the systems i.e. they give an intense red emission under UV excitation, due to Eu3+ in organic complexes, and efficient green upconversion emission of Er3+ in inorganic NPs for NIR (980 nm) excitation. However, (i) an energy transfer from Er3+ (inorganic NPs) to Eu3+ (organic complex) under NIR excitation, and (ii) an increase in the decay time of 5D0 → 7F2 transition of Eu3+ for HNPs as compared to the Eu(TTA)3Phen complex, under different excitation wavelengths, are added optical characteristics which point to an important role of the interface between both the systems. Herein, the ultra-small size (6-9 nm) and spherical shape of the inorganic NPs offer a large surface area, which improves the weak interaction force between both the systems. Furthermore, the HNPs dispersed in the PMMA polymer have been successfully utilized for luminescent solar collector (LSC) applications.

Revelation of the Technological Versatility of the Eu(TTA)3Phen Complex by Demonstrating Energy Harvesting, Ultraviolet Light Detection, Temperature Sensing, and Laser Applications.

We synthesized the Eu(TTA)3Phen complex and present herein a detailed study of its photophysics. The investigations encompass samples dispersed in poly(vinyl alcohol) and in ethanol in order to explore the versatile applicability of these lanthanide-based materials. Details upon the interaction between Eu, TTA, and the Phen ligands are revealed by Fourier transform infrared and UV-visible absorption, complemented by steady state and temporally resolved emission studies, which provide evidence of an efficient energy transfer from the organic ligands to the central Eu(3+) ion. The material produces efficient emission even under sunlight exposure, a feature pointing toward suitability for luminescent solar concentrators and UV light sensing, which is demonstrated for intensities as low as 200 nW/cm(2). The paper further promotes the complex's capability to be used as luminescence-based temperature sensor demonstrated by the considerable emission intensity changes of ∼4.0% per K in the temperature range of 50-305 K and ∼7% per K in the temeperature range 305-340 K. Finally, increasing the optical excitation causes both spontaneous emission amplification and emission peak narrowing in the Eu(TTA)3Phen complex dispersed in poly(vinyl alcohol) - features indicative of stimulated emission. These findings in conjunction with the fairly large stimulated emission cross-section of 4.29 × 10(-20) cm(2) demonstrate that the Eu(TTA)3Phen complex dispersed in poly(vinyl alcohol) could be a very promising material choice for lanthanide-polymer based laser architectures.