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Polymer dielectrics have gained significant usage in electrical engineering due to their unique merits, such as good flexibility, easy processing, and low cost. However, it is a huge challenge that polymer dielectrics maintain high breakdown strength meanwhile high permittivity for enhanced energy density. Here, sandwiched polymer films are constructed for enhanced energy density. Increased permittivity has been achieved via blending BaTiO3@polyfluorosiloxane with a polymer as the top and bottom layer. Furthermore, the neat polymer as the middle layer is without critically sacrificing breakdown strength. The energy storage density increases from 7.8 J/cm3 of the neat polymer to 10.41 J/cm3 of the sandwich structure at 460 MV/m. This research offers a feasible route for fabricating capacitive films with enhanced energy density. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ursolic acid (UA) exists in a variety of medicinal plants. UA exhibits antimicrobial activity against several microorganisms; however, little is known regarding the potential antifungal effect of UA on Cryptococcus neoformans (C. neoformans). The antifungal and antibiofilm activities of UA on C. neoformans H99 were evaluated in this study. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of UA against C. neoformans H99 was determined by microdilution technique, and its action mode was elucidated by clarifying the variations in cell membrane integrity, capsule, and melanin production. Moreover, the inhibition and dispersal effects of UA on biofilm formation and mature biofilms by C. neoformans H99 were evaluated using crystal violet (CV) assay, optical microscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy. The results indicated that the MIC value of UA against C. neoformans H99 was 0.25 mg/mL. UA disrupted the cell membrane integrity, inhibited the capsule and melanin production of C. neoformans H99 in a concentration-dependent manner. Further, UA presented the inhibitory effect on biofilm formation and dispersed mature biofilms, as well as compromised the cell membrane integrity of C. neoformans H99 cells within biofilms. Together, these results indicate that UA might be a potential therapeutic option for the treatment of C. neoformans-related infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]