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Poly(trimethylene carbonate) (PTMC) has been extensively researched as biomaterials due to its biocompatibility and biodegradability. However, its limited mechanical strength has restricted its application in various commodity materials, necessitating an enhancement through higher molecular weight. A traditional method for synthesizing high molecular weight PTMC mainly involves SnOct2 as a polymerization catalyst, conducting trimethylene carbonate (TMC) polymerization at high temperatures over several days. This approach consumes significant time and energy, making further molecular weight enhancement challenging. In this study, we polymerized TMC using the highly active catalyst La[N(SiMe3)2]3. We have successfully synthesized high molecular weight PTMC (Mn >500,000) within minutes at room temperature. The tensile test results of PTMC molding films demonstrated strain‐induced crystallization specific to high molecular weight PTMC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agarose nanofiber with a diameter of 68 ± 33 nm is first prepared by electrospinning under an optimized condition of solvents with hexafluoroisopropanol/water (92.5/7.5, v/v). The results show the control of hydrogen bonding, which is important to prepare a nanoscale agarose material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper will be devoted to the study of weighted (deformed) free Poisson random variables from the viewpoint of orthogonal polynomials and statistics of non-crossing partitions. A family of weighted (deformed) free Poisson random variables will be defined in a sense by the sum of weighted (deformed) free creation, annihilation, scalar, and intermediate operators with certain parameters on a weighted (deformed) free Fock space together with the vacuum expectation. We shall provide a combinatorial moment formula of non-commutative Poisson random variables. This formula gives us a very nice combinatorial interpretation to two parameters of weights. One can see that the deformation treated in this paper interpolates free and boolean Poisson random variables, their distributions and moments, and yields some conditionally free Poisson distribution by taking limit of the parameter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxidative stress (OS) affects men's health and impairs spermatogenesis. Micronutrient antioxidants are available for male infertility as complemental support; however, their efficacy remains debatable. This study aimed to investigate whether antioxidants can help to reduce sperm OS and improve semen analysis and quality. We included 171 male partners of couples planning to undergo assisted reproductive technology (ART). Male partners, aged 29–41 years, of couples intending to conceive were self-selected to take daily antioxidants (n = 84) containing folic acid and zinc, or not to take antioxidants (n = 52) for 6 months. We analyzed the alterations in serum oxidant levels, sperm parameters, OS, and deoxyribonucleic acid fragmentation after 3 and 6 months. Additionally, implantation, clinical pregnancy, and miscarriage rates after vitrified–warmed embryo transfer were compared between those taking antioxidants and those not taking them after 6 months. In men with high static oxidation–reduction potential (sORP), we observed a significant improvement in sperm concentration and sORP. The high-quality blastocyst rate tended to increase, and implantation and clinical pregnancy rates also significantly increased after 6 months of intervention. The micronutrient antioxidants could improve sperm function by reducing OS and improving ART outcomes. Therefore, micronutrient antioxidants may be a viable treatment option for male infertility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

So-called Z-scheme systems permit overall water splitting using narrow-bandgap photocatalysts. To boost the performance of such systems, it is necessary to enhance the intrinsic activities of the hydrogen evolution photocatalyst and oxygen evolution photocatalyst, promote electron transfer from the oxygen evolution photocatalyst to the hydrogen evolution photocatalyst, and suppress back reactions. The present work develop a high-performance oxysulfide photocatalyst, Sm2Ti2O5S2, as an hydrogen evolution photocatalyst for use in a Z-scheme overall water splitting system in combination with BiVO4 as the oxygen evolution photocatalyst and reduced graphene oxide as the solid-state electron mediator. After surface modifications of the photocatalysts to promote charge separation and redox reactions, this system is able to split water into hydrogen and oxygen for more than 100 hours with a solar-to-hydrogen energy conversion efficiency of 0.22%. In contrast to many existing photocatalytic systems, the water splitting activity of the present system is only minimally reduced by increasing the background pressure to 90 kPa. These results suggest characteristics suitable for applications under practical operating conditions.Photocatalytic water splitting systems using Sm2Ti2O5S2, a visible light-active oxysulfide, exhibited low efficiencies due to low intrinsic photoactivity and rapid back reaction. Here, the efficiency was greatly improved by refining the preparation of photocatalysts and electron mediators [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Activating metal ion‐doped oxides as visible‐light‐responsive photocatalysts requires intricate structural and electronic engineering, a task with inherent challenges. In this study, we employed a solid (template)‐molten (dopants) reaction to synthesize Bi‐ and Rh‐codoped SrTiO3 (SrTiO3 : Bi,Rh) particles. Our investigation reveals that SrTiO3 : Bi,Rh manifests as single‐crystalline particles in a core (undoped)/shell (doped) structure. Furthermore, it exhibits a well‐stabilized Rh3+ energy state for visible‐light response without introducing undesirable trapping states. This precisely engineered structure and electronic configuration promoted the generation of high‐concentration and long‐lived free electrons, as well as facilitated their transfer to cocatalysts for H2 evolution. Impressively, SrTiO3 : Bi,Rh achieved an exceptional apparent quantum yield (AQY) of 18.9 % at 420 nm, setting a new benchmark among Rh‐doped‐based SrTiO3 materials. Furthermore, when integrated into an all‐solid‐state Z‐Scheme system with Mo‐doped BiVO4 and reduced graphene oxide, SrTiO3 : Bi,Rh enabled water splitting with an AQY of 7.1 % at 420 nm. This work underscores the significance of simultaneous structural and electronic engineering and introduces the solid‐molten reaction as a viable approach for this purpose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The novel hydrophobic surface modification of hydrogel structure, referred to as organohydrogel, was firstly achieved through the utilization of poly(N -vinylamide)s hydrogels, taking advantage of the property of polycation precursor. Following the shrinkage of poly(N -acetamide- co - N -vinylformamide), only the surface moiety was subjected to hydrolysis. Subsequently, a radical initiator was chemically tethered to the amino groups on the hydrogel surface to facilitate atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of hydrophobic monomer, phenylethylacrylate. Hydrophobic layer characteristics were differentiated by varying hydrolysis time (x t) and ATRP time (y t), resulting in the creation of hydrophobic surface-modified gel (HSMgel). All HSMgels resulted in stable swelling ratio (S.R.) regardless of y t. The contact angle of water droplets increased gradually with both increasing x t and y t , from 17.6° to 91.9°, while maintaining a relatively constant S.R. The drying process of hydrophobic surface-modified HSMgels was accelerated, while that of precursor hydrophilic gels was delayed. These unique properties stemmed from the chemical structure of poly(N -vinylamide)s, which led to the formation of a chemically bound hydrophobic layer within the hydrogels. [Display omitted] • Surface modification of poly (N -vinylamide) hydrogels. • Hydrophobic modification on hydrogel. • ATRP approach enable to control hydrophobic layer on hydrogels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Purpose] The effects of multifunctional garments on neuromuscular performance have gained significant research attention in the health sciences. However, the spinal responses to different fabrics have not yet been considered. In the present study, we examined the effects of typical fabrics (cotton and polyester) on the Hoffmann reflex during local heat exposure. [Participants and Methods] Sixteen healthy males aged 20-40 years participated in this study. A heating device comprising a thermal mat, fabric, and a data logger was fabricated. The fabric was affixed to the skin as the contact surface. The temperature of the right posterior lower leg was increased to 39°C followed by 10 min for adaptation at 39-40°C. The H- and M-waves were recorded at each point, including those without heating. An identical trial was conducted seven days later using the alternative fabric. [Results] M-wave amplitude and latency were significantly decreased during heat exposure without fabric. The H-wave latency was prolonged by sustained thermal heat during the session with polyester. Interestingly, the H-wave amplitudes normalized by the maximal M-wave amplitudes decreased with prolonged heat exposure during the session with cotton. However, this index remains unchanged during the sessions using polyester. [Conclusion] During prolonged localized thermal exposure, cotton reduced spinal excitability, whereas polyester preserved spinal excitability., Competing Interests: This study has no conflicts of interest to report., (2024©by the Society of Physical Therapy Science. Published by IPEC Inc.)

The purpose of this retrospective study was to identify factors that could predict the discharge destination of oldest-old patients (patients aged ≥90 years). Information on the nutritional status, activities of daily living (ADL), nursing care needs based on nursing need degree (NND), rehabilitation therapy, and discharge destination was obtained from the medical records of 90 oldest-old patients aged ≥90 years admitted to our hospital, excluding orthopedic inpatients and short-term (≤5 days) inpatients. Of these, 64 were discharged home while 4 died during hospitalization. More than half had moderately low total lymphocyte count (<1200/μL). Home discharge was correlated with living with someone else and little need for assistance during eating and getting/standing-up at admission. The cutoff value for ability for basic movement scale (ABMS) at admission for home discharge was 18 points. Nutritional management and early mobilization are important aspects of clinical management of the oldest-olds., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest All authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

So-called Z-scheme systems permit overall water splitting using narrow-bandgap photocatalysts. To boost the performance of such systems, it is necessary to enhance the intrinsic activities of the hydrogen evolution photocatalyst and oxygen evolution photocatalyst, promote electron transfer from the oxygen evolution photocatalyst to the hydrogen evolution photocatalyst, and suppress back reactions. The present work develop a high-performance oxysulfide photocatalyst, Sm 2 Ti 2 O 5 S 2 , as an hydrogen evolution photocatalyst for use in a Z-scheme overall water splitting system in combination with BiVO 4 as the oxygen evolution photocatalyst and reduced graphene oxide as the solid-state electron mediator. After surface modifications of the photocatalysts to promote charge separation and redox reactions, this system is able to split water into hydrogen and oxygen for more than 100 hours with a solar-to-hydrogen energy conversion efficiency of 0.22%. In contrast to many existing photocatalytic systems, the water splitting activity of the present system is only minimally reduced by increasing the background pressure to 90 kPa. These results suggest characteristics suitable for applications under practical operating conditions., (© 2024. The Author(s).)