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•A mild electrochemical etching method is demonstrated for preparing porous Al foil.•Enlarged surface roughness ensures optimized surface free energy and improved wettability.•Finite ...element analysis indicates boosted charge transfer involving porous Al foil.•Stronger interface adhesion and regulated current density distribution is achieved.•This strategy can be extended for surface modification of other Al-based alloys.
Desirable electron transfer via current collectors between as-supported active materials and external circuit is imperative to realize targeted electrochemistry. Enabling surface-mediated pathway of charge carriers in a controllable and efficient manner needs to be carefully addressed but remains a great challenge. Here, we present a cost-efficient strategy for surface modification on Al foils by employing mild electrochemical etching. Well-defined porous nanostructure can be established on commercial Al foils towards promoted surface free energy, which can be also applied on bulk Al-based alloys. Owing to the tailored porosity and increased roughness, desired wetting properties and more importantly, regulated distribution of current density have been realised, according to both experimental observations and simulation results. As expected, LiFePO4 cathodes loaded on porous Al foils demonstrate improved energy density and cycling stability for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs).
Primary dysmenorrhea (PDM) is cyclic menstrual pain in the absence of pelvic anomalies, and it is thought to be a sex‐hormone related disorder. Existing study has focused on the effects of menstrual ...cramps on brain function and structure, ignoring the psychological changes associated with menstrual pain. Here we examined whether pain empathy in PDM differs from healthy controls (HC) using task‐based functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Fifty‐seven PDM women and 53 matched HC were recruited, and data were collected at the luteal and menstruation phases, respectively. During fMRI scans, participants viewed pictures displaying exposure to painful situations and pictures without any pain cues and assessed the level of pain experienced by the person in the picture. Regarding the main effect of the pain pictures, our results showed that compared to viewing neutral pictures, viewing pain pictures caused significantly higher activation in the anterior insula (AI), anterior cingulate cortex, and the left inferior parietal lobule; and only the right AI exhibited a significant interaction effect (group × picture). Post‐hoc analyses confirmed that, relative to neutral pictures, the right AI failed to be activated in PDM women viewing painsss pictures. Additionally, there was no significant interaction effect between the luteal and menstruation phases. It suggests that intermittent pain can lead to abnormal empathy in PDM women, which does not vary with the pain or pain‐free phase. Our study may deepen the understanding of the relationship between recurrent spontaneous pain and empathy in a clinical disorder characterized by cyclic episodes of pain.
Our study may deepen the understanding of the relationship between recurrent spontaneous pain and empathy in a clinical disorder characterized by cyclic episodes of pain.
•Long-term air pollutant exposures may contribute to cardiac conduction abnormalities.•PM2.5 may be the most stable pollutant reflecting the associations.•People with specific characteristics are ...more susceptible to the adverse effects.
Evidence regarding the effects of long-term and high-level ambient air pollution exposure on cardiac conduction systems remains sparse.
To investigate the associations of long-term exposure to air pollution and cardiac conduction abnormalities in Chinese adults and explore the susceptibility characteristics.
In 2017, a total of 27,047 participants aged 18–80 years were recruited from the baseline survey of the Cohort Study on Chronic Disease of Communities Natural Population in Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei (CHCN-BTH). The three year (2014–2016) average pollutant concentrations were assessed by a spatial statistical model for PM2.5 and air monitoring stations for PM10, SO2, NO2, O3 and CO. Residential proximity to a roadway was calculated by neighborhood analysis. Associations were estimated by two-level generalized linear mixed models. Stratified analyses related to demographic characteristics, health behaviors, and cardiometabolic risk factors were performed. Two-pollutant models were used to evaluate the possible role of single pollutants.
We detected significant associations of long-term air pollutant exposure with increased heart rate (HR), QRS and QTc, such that an interquartile range increase in PM2.5 was associated with 3.63% (95% CI: 3.07%, 4.19%), 1.21% (95% CI: 0.83%, 1.60%), and 0.13% (95% CI: 0.07%, 0.18%) changes in HR, QRS and QTc, respectively. Compared to the other pollutants, the estimates of PM2.5 remained the most stable across all two-pollutant models. Similarly, significant associations were observed between living closer to a major roadway and higher HR, QRS and QTc. Stratified analyses showed generally greater association estimates in older people, males, smokers, alcohol drinkers, and those with obesity, hypertension and diabetes.
Long-term exposure to ambient air pollution was associated with cardiac conduction abnormalities in Chinese adults, especially in older people, males, smokers, alcohol drinkers, and those with cardiometabolic risk factors. PM2.5 may be the most stable pollutant to reflect the associations.
This article presents a W‐band preamplified power detector (PD) monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC). The chip consists of a pseudomorphic high electron mobility transistor (pHEMT) PD with ...a six‐stage low noise amplifier (LNA) in a commercial 0.1‐μm GaAs pHEMT technology. In order to reduce the high risk of oscillating in a multistage LNA, a circulator‐based method for LNA interstage stability simulation, along with the concept of loop gain, is introduced and analyzed. The simulated loop gain of each node of the LNA is calculated through the proposed method to ensure the unconditional stability for the six‐stage LNA. By incorporating the high gain LNA over 32 dB in the front‐end of the PD, the measured chip achieves a peak responsivity of 3.4 MV/W and a minimum noise equivalent power (NEP) of 95 fW/Hz1/2 both at 85 GHz. To the best of the authors' knowledge, the proposed PD exhibits the best responsivity and NEP in published W‐band GaAs PD MMICs.
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•High affinity and adsorption capacity of CHTs were in order of Zn2+>Ni2+>Cu2+.•Pseudo-second-order and Langmuir models well described kinetic and isotherm data.•The uptake process ...for Cu2+, Zn2+ or Ni2+ was spontaneous and endothermic.•The adsorbent could be used circularly 4 times efficiently.•Final removal of metal ions by reassembling hydrotalcites structures.
Although previously a variety of studies have proposed the removal of anions and organic matters from contaminated water by calcined hydroxides (CHTs), their role in uptaking potentially toxic metal ions from effluents had rarely been investigated. In the present study, simulated wastewater containing Cu2+, Zn2+ or Ni2+ was used to investigate the adsorption performance of CHTs. Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models were employed to fit the equilibrium experiments, and it was found that the Langmuir model was more appropriate to describe the adsorption isotherm. The maximum adsorption amount was higher than some other adsorbents, specifically, being 6.583, 7.535 and 6.152mmol/g for Cu2+, Zn2+ or Ni2+ under the proposed conditions. For kinetic data, the pseudo-second-order kinetic model appeared to be the best-fitting model compared to the pseudo-first-order and Elovich models. Thermodynamic analysis revealed that Cu2+, Zn2+ or Ni2+ sorption on CHTs was spontaneous and endothermic. In the reusability study, the sorption capacity of the adsorbent did not vary remarkably in the initial four sorption/calcination cycles for Cu2+, Zn2+ or Ni2+ removal. By virtue of X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electron dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), it was speculated that the adsorption mechanism for Cu2+, Zn2+ or Ni2+ consisted of two steps: First, potentially toxic metal ions formed into hydroxide precipitations and adhered to the surfaces of adsorbents with high alkalinity. Second, the hydroxides participated in the process of adsorbents reconstructed the hydrotalcites structures through isomorphous substitution.
Perovskite-type La1−xCaxMnO3 (0.1≤x≤0.4) manganites with perfect crystallinity were synthesized by a sol–gel method and used as low-cost platinum-free counter electrodes (CEs) for dye-sensitized ...solar cell (DSSCs). It is found that the performance of the cells increases with the increase in x, the highest energy conversion efficiency being 6.46% when x=0.3, which is up to 91.2% of Pt CE (7.08%). The phenomena can be ascribed to the improved conductivity of the system with Ca doping. Besides, the sol-gel method is more suitable for large-scale preparation compared to the solvothermal method and hydrothermal method. This work will open up a new way to explore CE materials for high efficiency and low cost DSSCs.
•Perovskite-type La1-xCaxMnO3(0.1≤x≤0.4) manganites with perfect crystallinity were synthesized by a sol–gel method.•The performance of DSSC increases with x, the highest energy conversion efficiency being 6.46% when x=0.3.•LCMO manganites are low-cost materials and can be produced on a large scale by a sol-gel method.
Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is the most common soft tissue sarcoma in children. The most common sites are the head and neck, followed by the genitourinary tract and the extremities. Gallbladder RMS in ...pediatric patient has rarely been reported in literature.
A 5-year-old boy presented to our clinic with right upper quadrant abdominal pain for about 2 weeks. Abdominal ultrasound (US) and contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) revealed a 2.7 × 1.8 cm mass located in the neck of gallbladder. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) confirmed the heterogeneous mass within the gallbladder without invasion of the surrounding structures, without gallbladder wall thickening, and without dilation of the biliary tree. Liver function tests, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), carcinoembryonic agent (CEA), and cancer antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) were within normal values. The patient underwent an uneventful laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The pathology analysis confirmed a botryoid rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) of the gallbladder with clear margins. No metastases were detected by postoperative positron emission tomography (PET) scan. The patient received 11 postoperative cycles of chemotherapy with vincristine, cyclophosphamide, and actinomycin-D. At one year of follow up he is well and free of disease.
Due to its rare occurrence, the preoperative diagnosis of gallbladder RMS is challenging. Gallbladder RMS should be considered in the differential diagnosis of pediatric patients who present a gallbladder mass.
•Dealcoholized red wine (DW) was reformulated with flower extracts (FEs).•FEs had no adverse effect on the chemical parameters of the DW.•FEs significantly improved the aroma profile and sensory ...quality of the DW.•Rose FE had the greatest impact on aroma compounds and sensory acceptance of the DW.
There is an increasing market share of dealcoholized wines due to rise in patronage by wine consumers. However, the aroma of such wines deteriorates the more the alcohol content is reduced. Improving the aroma with edible flowers may curb this problem. To improve the aroma of a dealcoholized Merlot red wine, extracts of peach, rose, and lily flowers (FEs) were added to develop three reconstituted dealcoholized wines (RDWS). RDWS were compared with the original wine and the dealcoholized wine (DW) based on chemical properties, aroma compounds, and sensory characteristics. The FEs had no effect on the chemical parameters of RDWS. The FEs improved the volatile composition of RDWS, especially ethyl octanoate, isoamyl octanoate, linalool, and geraniol. Sensory analysis showed that aroma intensity and fruity and floral notes improved in RDWS compared to DW. Among the FEs, rose was the best and can improve the aroma of dealcoholized Merlot red wine.
Precise regulation on interfacial electronic coupling is essential to achieve efficient catalysts with tailored electrocatalytic behaviors but remains challenging. Herein, a straightforward ...topochemical strategy is presented to realize Co‐based heterostructured nanofiber stereoassembled with PO coupled nanosheet (CoHF/PO). By constructing well‐defined metal oxide/phosphide interface, prominent electron redistribution can be established via interfacial PO coupling, which is strongly correlated with the catalytic activities. Density functional theory calculations indicate that the rational interface engineering renders accelerated charge transfer and more importantly, optimized surface adsorption/desorption behaviors, contributing to boosted kinetics for both hydrogen evolution reaction and oxygen evolution reaction. Particularly, CoHF/PO featuring promoted intrinsic activity and accessible active sites exhibits intriguing activity and stability at higher current densities in alkaline media, surpassing commercial Pt/C and Ir/C. This study is expected to demonstrate noteworthy promise of covalent coupling toward modulated electronic environment and interface chemistry for electrocatalytic applications and beyond.
Co‐based heterostructured nanofiber stereoassembled with P–O coupled nanosheet is constructed via a topochemical strategy. The regulated electronic structures and charge distribution via interfacial P–O covalent coupling are beneficial for the adsorption/desorption of intermediates in the hydrogen evolution reactio and oxygen evolution reaction process, contributing to significantly promoted overall water splitting performance.
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