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• The application of patient-centered care bundle significantly reduced incidence of perioperative respiratory complications. • Age-Adjusted Charlson Comorbidity Index score was related, but only weakly, to length of stay and the number of perioperative complications. • We presented evidence that the patient-centered care bundle might be a more suitable care modality for patients ≥80 with hip fracture. This study was designed as a pilot test to analyze the effect of patient-centered care (PCC) bundle intervention on perioperative respiratory complications and other outcomes in hip fracture patients aged ≥80. Between Jan 2018 and Dec 2019, 198 patients comprised the routine care group and 187 comprised the PCC bundle group. After propensity score matching, 151 remained in each group. Incidence of perioperative respiratory complications in the PCC bundle group was significantly lower than in the routine care group (all P < 0.05). Furthermore, significant reductions were observed in surgery delay, length of stay, incidence of arrhythmia, hypoproteinemia, and electrolyte disturbance (all P < 0.05) in the PCC bundle group. Age-Adjusted Charlson Comorbidity Index score was related, but only weakly, to length of stay and the number of perioperative complications. These results suggested that the PCC bundle might be a more suitable care modality for patients ≥80 with hip fracture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insulating films such as sodium chloride (NaCl) are ideal platforms for studying single atoms and single molecules as decoupling layers. The NaCl dissolution process has been extensively studied, and has become an increasingly important scientific problem. However, the understanding of defect dynamics in the NaCl dissolution process at the atomic scale is still in the exploratory stage. Here we imaged the dissociation process of bilayer NaCl islands on an Au (111) surface at the atomic scale using a low-temperature scanning tunneling microscope. We found that water molecules preferentially combined with Na+, and formed Na+ hydrates accompanied by Na+ vacancy defects. First-principles calculations revealed a small diffusion barrier of Na+ hydrates, which contributed to the migration of Na+ vacancy defects. The defect density of Na+ vacancies increased with extension of the water exposure time, which resulted in a reduction of binding energy of the NaCl system. Calculations revealed that when the number of Na+ vacancy defects in a local area reached 35, the binding energy of the NaCl system dropped to zero. Then the NaCl in this area would completely dissociate. This work aids understanding of the NaCl dissolution process at the atomic level, and offers some references for the application and design of insulating films. [Display omitted] • Defect dynamics in the NaCl dissolution process are observed at the atomic scale. • Na + vacancy defects migrate randomly due to small diffusion barriers of Na + hydrates. • Defect density of Na + vacancies increases with extension of water exposure time. • Extension of water exposure time reduces binding energy of the NaCl system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the miniaturization and motility of artificial nanomotors made them popular tools for exploring novel and innovative biomedical cancer treatment strategies, the integration of multiple functions on the small motor bodies is key to achieve further progress but remains unresolved. Here, we propose a dual-source powered Janus nanomotor whose composition integrates multiple photo-theranostic functions such as surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) sensing, fluorescence imaging/photoacoustic imaging (PAI), photodynamic therapy (PDT), and photothermal therapy (PTT). This nanomotor can be fabricated by sputtering a thin gold layer onto one side of mesoporous silica (mSiO 2) combined with surface modification by photo-sensitizer, Raman reporter, and catalase. Upon illumination with 808 nm near-infrared light, the half-coated gold nanoshell serves as PAI/PTT agent, and by upconverting NIR to visible light, the pre-loaded photosensitizer can be excited by the upconverted light of UCNPs to convert the dissolved oxygen (O 2) into reactive oxygen species for efficient PDT. Furthermore, ratiometric SERS signal can be captured to quantitatively detect the tumor marker, H 2 O 2 , in cellular microenvironments. The immobilized catalase as a nano-engine can catalyze endogenous H 2 O 2 to O 2. This function not only improves the hypoxic tumor microenvironment and therefore enhances PDT efficiency, but also provides a thrust force for deep penetration. As a proof of concept for the in vivo trial we performed cancer photo-theranostics where our nanomotors successfully treated a mouse breast tumor in a subcutaneous tumor model. The results are promising and encourage the use of an integrated nanomotor platform that could be further developed into a photo-theranostic agent for superficial cancer treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Based on the systematic study of electropolishing process, an improved tungsten STM probe fabrication technique has been presented. The proper combination of pulse current and the electrolyte concentration is explored for the elimination of impurities and achieves high quality probes with ultra-smooth surfaces. An optimized immersion depth of tungsten wire in electrolyte is proposed for the purpose of realizing the probe with sharp apex as well as high aspect ratio structure. A control strategy for determining the power-off instant during the procedure of electropolishing is developed which will facilitate the fabrication of probe with exponential contour as well as ultrasharp tip. The proposed technique and process are experimentally confirmed to have advantages for the STM probe fabrication of the stabilized stylus contour, typically with apex radius of 30nm and the yield rate reaches as high as 85%. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

[Display omitted] • A novel 3DOM Ag 2 S-CoO x /NC had been developed by integrating ultrafine Ag 2 S QDs on the surface of 3DOM CoO x /NC. • The 3DOM Ag 2 S-CoO x /NC composite exhibited remarkable performances for the photocatalytic conversion of CO 2 and H 2 O vapor to fuels. • There were dual Z-scheme charge transfer pathways in the 3DOM Ag 2 S-CoO x /NC. • The key role of Ag 2 S QDs was served as an auxiliary to improve the electronic structure and facilitate adsorption/activation capacity of CO 2 and H 2 O. • The multiple photocatalytic mechanisms of CO 2 reduction were further identified by in situ DRIFTS. Rational design of advanced architectural photocatalysts with efficient separation and transfer of photoinduced charge carriers, and well solar light absorption ability is of critical significance for solar energy utilization and CO 2 -to-fuel conversion. Herein, a novel three-dimensional (3D) ordered hollow-wall hybrid composite (3DOM Ag 2 S-CoO x /NC) has been developed by integrating ultrafine Ag 2 S quantum dots (QDs) on the surface of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs)-derived hierarchically ordered macroporous nitrogen-doped carbon skeletons with implanted CoO x nanoclusters (3DOM CoO x /NC). Compared with pristine 3DOM CoO x /NC and traditional ZIF-67-derived CoO x /NC, the constructed 3DOM Ag 2 S-CoO x /NC composite exhibits remarkable performances toward the photocatalytic conversion of CO 2 and H 2 O vapor without any sacrifice reagents to fuels (CO-66.00 μmol g−1h−1, CH 4 -1.21 μmol g−1h−1 and C 2 H 4 -2.33 μmol g−1h−1) and a higher C 2 H 4 selectivity (16.47%) in the gas–solid system under light irradiation (λ > 420 nm). Impressively, dual Z-scheme charge transfer pathways in the 3DOM Ag 2 S-CoO x /NC can provide good channels for boosting electron transfer and charge separation. Experimental characterizations combined with density functional theory (DFT) calculations further elucidate that the key role of Ag 2 S QDs is served as an auxiliary in the 3DOM Ag 2 S-CoO x /NC catalyst to improve the electronic structure and further facilitate adsorption/activation capacity of CO 2 and H 2 O. Moreover, the multiple photocatalytic mechanisms including related key intermediates and conversion process of CO 2 molecules are further identified by in-situ diffuse reflectance infrared fourier transform spectra (DRIFTS). This innovation provides a novel strategy to design well-designed hierarchically porous hybrid structures for photocatalytic CO 2 reduction to high-value fuels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The performance of constructed wetland (CWs) systems should improve through the electrochemistry of microorganisms, with the help of conductive fillers. To explore the strengthening mechanism of the CWs, three comparative experiments, including Co CWs (electro-conductive materials coke as filler), Co-P CWs (coke as filler with pickerel weed (Pontederia cordata L)), and QS-P CWs (quartz sand as filler with pickerel weed (Pontederia cordata L)), were tested to investigate the influence of the clogging process on the purification capacity from the electrochemical characteristics and the community of microorganisms in domestic sewage. The results showed that coke, as an electro-conductive filler, had the best organic removal and high electric output, even with solid particle accumulation. Co-P CWs were the most stable and had the best removal efficiency of COD (chemical oxygen demand) in urban sewage, with an average removal rate of 74.9% at 7 weeks, which was 14 and 7.3% higher than those of the QS-P CWs and Co CWs, respectively. The power generation performance of the Co-P CWs was also the best. During operation, the voltage remained the highest (377.9–222.0 MV). The microbial community diversity, richness, and utilization rate of the six categories of carbon sources of Co-P CWs were the highest, with the dominant genera being organic matter aerobic degrading bacteria, electrochemically active bacteria, and ammonia-oxidizing bacteria. The microbial richness in coke CWs exhibited high microbial activity in the entire bed, not only at the inlet. This indicates that the system transfers electrons to the conductive material by relying on the metabolism of microorganisms; electrons generated at the bottom of the bed are directly transmitted to the bed surface through the conductive material, resulting in a uniform distribution of electrons throughout the bed and high microbial activity. Therefore, the conductivity-enhanced CWs effectively alleviated the reduction in wetland purification capacity. [Display omitted] • Coke filler has the best organic removal and high electric output. • Microbial richness in coke CW does not depend on the carbon source concentration. • Coke CW exhibits high microbial activity in the whole bed. • The surface and bottom layer show different types of carbon source metabolism. • Plants can enhance the zonal enrichment of functional microorganisms in coke CW. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• An environmental protection clean high-efficiency strong permeability and moistening material was developed. • Micro wetting dynamic characteristics of the new material were proved. • The dust reduction effect of the new dust suppression material is significantly better than that of the traditional surfactant. To further reduce the concentration of dust in coal mining, improve the working environment, ensure the occupational safety and health of miners, and improve the safety construction level of intelligent mines, in this study, alginate from Enteromorpha prolifera was extracted by plant extraction technology to prepare sodium alginate. Then, the extracted sodium alginate was modified by free radical polymerization graft copolymerization theory combined with micro-wetting mechanism to develop a strong permeability and moisturizing material suitable for specific coal types, and the characteristics of the material were tested and characterized. Through molecular dynamics simulation of the highly permeable and moistening material, the wetting mechanism of the material is clarified, and the diffusion coefficient of water molecules in gas coal is 1.37×10−4 cm2/s, It provides theoretical support for the technical system of mine dust prevention and control. Finally, the synthetic material is applied to the coal seam water injection process of the Qiwu coal mine so that the average dust reduction rate of total dust and exhalation dust before and after application is increased from approximately 50% when using the conventional surfactant to approximately 80% when using the strong permeability and moistening synthetic material. The effect is obviously better than that of the conventional surfactant, and the application effect is more remarkable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The most prevalent serotype of S. suis isolated from healthy pigs in this study belongs to serotype 29. • Multidrug resistance was observed in 98.7 % of S. suis isolates. • The multidrug resistance gene optrA was detected on the plasmid of S. suis for the first time. • The coexistence of pathogenicity island (PAI) and optrA in 3 S. suis isolates. Streptococcus suis is a pig pathogen and a vector of zoonotic diseases that can cause severe systemic infection in humans. S. suis can colonize the nasal cavity, tonsils, and upper respiratory, genital, and digestive tracts in healthy pigs. Here, to determine prevalence, serotype distribution, and antimicrobial susceptibility of S. suis in healthy pigs, we collected 1813 nasal cavity samples from healthy pigs raised on 17 independent farms in six Chinese provinces between 2016 and 2018. We obtained 223 S. suis isolates (12.3 %) and the antimicrobial susceptibility to a panel of 11 antimicrobial agents was measured by microbroth dilution. Most S. suis isolates (98.7 %) were resistant to at least three classes of antimicrobial agents. The optrA gene conferring resistance to oxazolidinones and phenicols was identified in the chromosome of 27 isolates and on a ∼40-kb plasmid in one isolate; to the best of our knowledge, this was the first report of plasmid-borne optrA gene in S. suis. The genetic environment of optrA showed substantial diversity and could be divided into eleven different types. Interestingly, some fragments of the 89 K pathogenicity island (PAI) were observed together with optrA in 3 isolates, which warrants further attention. Capsular serotypes of S. suis isolates were determined by multiplex PCR. Serotype 29 was the most prevalent, followed by serotype 7 and serotype 2. The presence of highly virulent serotype 2 strains may pose a threat to public health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]