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The developments of high-efficiency thermoelectric materials are extremely exigent for energy harvesting. In this study, a novel MWCNTs/Ag2Se (MCAS) composite was successfully fabricated by a typical one-pot hydrothermal method and its thermoelectric properties were discussed in the temperature range of 300-420 K. The SEM patterns revealed that the microparticle diameter of Ag2Se for MCAS was about 10 times smaller than that of pure Ag2Se, which contributed to the intimate contact and mutual effect at the MCAS interfaces. The thermoelectric measurements indicated that 1%MCAS obtained the optimal thermoelectric figure of merit (ZT) value, ascribed to the outstanding electrical conductivity of the MWCNTs and the declining thermal conductivity of the 1%MCAS. The electrical conductivity of 1%MCAS was 3.0 times higher than that of Ag2Se, and the lattice thermal conductivity was decreased by 55.3% at 300 K. This study provides a new strategy for designing Ag2Se-based thermoelectric materials and promoting thermoelectric performance.

The indispensable condition for laser frequency-doubling crystal materials is that they crystallize in the noncentrosymmetric (NCS) structures. Here, ternary NCS Ba6In2S10 (1) and Ba6In2Se10 (2) (P...

This paper presents a novel optical proximity sensor behind a display panel based on silicon nanowires. Since silicon nanowires have high photoresponsivity, they can sense the distance even when placed under the display, without using a large current for driver operation. In addition, the dark leakage current generated by silicon nanowires can be removed through the read-out integrated circuit (ROIC) in the proposed optical proximity sensor. The ROIC has a resistive-feedback transimpedance amplifier (TIA) to provide a constant voltage to silicon nanowires and to convert the photocurrent of the silicon nanowires. The auto-zeroing technique reduces the ROIC’s offset and 1/f noise. The bias sampling is applied to a 12-bit single-slope analog-digital converter to reduce noise generated in the bias circuit of the ramp generator. The digital back-end cancels the offset due to dark leakage current through the correlated double sampling technique. The proximity sensor is fabricated in a $0.18~\mu \text{m}$ CMOS process and the ROIC occupies an area of 0.18 mm2. It draws an average current of $139.4~\mu \text{A}$ from a 3 V supply, and $60.2~\mu \text{A}$ from a 1.8 V supply when the conversion time is set to 50 ms, and the current of the vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) driver is set to 12 mA. The proximity sensor is tested under a display panel with a light transmission of 6 %. It has an input-referred root mean square noise of 323 pA. The VCSEL driving current can be varied to 7 mA, 10 mA, and 12 mA, and the optical proximity sensor can detect an object that is closer than 40 mm in all three cases.

Objective To obtain evidence-based conclusions about the effect of acupuncture on pain relief in women undergoing oocyte retrieval, the results of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that met the criteria were assessed on the Pain Assessment Scale and pregnancy indicators. Search Methods References were retrieved in MEDLINE, EMBASE, CNKI database, CBM database, VIP database, and Wanfang database from inception to June 26, 2021. Unpublished ongoing trials were searched in the Clinical Trials Registries. This review included RCTs that investigated the acupuncture analgesic effects during oocyte retrieval in women undergoing in vitro fertilization. Results Fourteen RCTs (2503 women in total) with six types of comparisons were finally included. The quality of concluding evidence was generally low or very low. Performance bias and outcome assessment bias was the main risk of bias of the included studies. Acupuncture combined with conscious sedation and analgesia (CSA) was associated with less intraoperative (SMD=−1.03; 95% CI: −1.71 to −0.36) and postoperative (SMD = −1.11; 95% CI: −1.51 to −0.71) pain compared to receive CSA alone in oocyte retrieval. Acupuncture with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) was more effective than using NSAIDs alone for postoperative analgesia (MD = −1.76; 95% CI: −2.08 to −1.44). Conclusion Acupuncture complex analgesic therapy is more effective than utilizing CSA or NSAIDs alone. Furthermore, there is no significant consensus on whether there is an analgesic effect of applying acupuncture alone during oocyte retrievals, which needs further research. The overall results should be interpreted with caution due to the high risk of bias/low-GRADE scores among these studies. Protocol and Registration PROSPERO registration number: CRD42020170095.

Synthesis methods of composites materials can tailor individual materials properties and make the composite possess more superior performance than individual materials. Herein, by combining –NH2 group in graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) and a facile electrolytic route, g-C3N4-bridging reduced graphene oxide nanocomposite (g-C3N4/r-GO) was successfully prepared to construct chemical sensor for detection of Pb2+. Because g-C3N4 contains a large amount of –NH2 group, covalent bonds as bridges between GO and g-C3N4 could be successfully formed by successively electrolyzing, which simultaneously induced removal of electron withdrawing group in r-GO. Such bridges could shorten the planar distance between GO and g-C3N4 in comparison with the conventional π-π stacking, improving the electrochemical performance of r-GO and g-C3N4. Moreover, the above unique chemical structure of g-C3N4/r-GO not only exhibited excellent electrical conductivity but also provided plenty active sites to chelate Pb2+ from solution. Therefore, the prepared g-C3N4/r-GO ensured chemical sensor for Pb2+detection with wide linear range (1.0–300 μg/L) and low detection limit (0.15 μg/L at S/N = 3). This simple method could also be extended to preparation of other elements-contained nanomaterials functionalized oxide graphene for improve its properties and widen its potential applications.

We report enhancement-mode ${p}$ -channel heterojunction field-effect transistors (HFETs) without gate recess on a standard ${p}$ -GaN/AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) platform. The ${p}$ -GaN in the gate region was partially passivated by a low-power hydrogen plasma treatment process, and the remaining active ${p}$ -GaN and the underlying AlGaN formed the ${p}$ -channel. The device showed a record low off-state leakage of $ A/mm and subthreshold swing ( SS ) of 123.0 mV/dec with a threshold voltage ( ${V} _{\text {th}}$ ) of −0.6 V and high-temperature stability up to 200 °C. These results indicate that the hydrogen plasma treatment is beneficial for suppressing leakages and preserving excellent material quality in the ${p}$ -channel. With the success of the ${p}$ -HFETs, the ${p}$ -GaN/AlGaN/GaN platform can enable the monolithic integration of GaN ${n}$ - and ${p}$ -channel transistors without the need for regrowth. This work represents a significant step towards the implementation of the GaN CMOS technology.

pH plays a crucial role in cells, especially mitochondria, an important organelle. Developing probes with well-performance for pH detection is still in great demand. Therefore, we first synthesized an indole-based probe (MC-ID-OL) to detect mitochondrial pH changes. The emission wavelength of MC-ID-OL is 649 nm, which does not reach the near-infrared region (650-900 nm). To further enlarge the emission wavelength, probe MC-BI-OL was developed by replacing indolenine with benzoindole. As expected, the emission wavelength changed from 649 to 656 nm. MC-BI-OL probes could also detect pH changes and mitochondria's highly reversible proportional fluorescence localization. In addition, the fluorescence imaging of the MC-BI-OL in HeLa cells demonstrated that this probe could sense changes in the pH of mitochondria in cells.

Multiple new variants of SARS-CoV-2 have been identified as the COVID-19 pandemic spreads across the globe. However, most epidemic models view the virus as static and unchanging and thus fail to address the consequences of the potential evolution of the virus. Here, we built a competitive susceptible-infected-removed (coSIR) model to simulate the competition between virus strains of differing severities or transmissibility under various virus control policies. The coSIR model predicts that although the virus is extremely unlikely to evolve into a “super virus” that causes an increased fatality rate, virus variants with less severe symptoms can lead to potential new outbreaks and can cost more lives over time. The present model also demonstrates that the protocols restricting the transmission of the virus, such as wearing masks and social distancing, are the most effective strategy in reducing total mortality. A combination of adequate testing and strict quarantine is a powerful alternative to policies such as mandatory stay-at-home orders, which may have an enormous negative impact on the economy. In addition, building Mobile Cabin Hospitals can be effective and efficient in reducing the mortality rate of highly infectious virus strains. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11071-021-06705-8.

Purpose The purpose of this study is to improve the accuracy of a fused deposition modeling three-dimensional (3D) printer by identifying and compensating for position-independent geometric errors using a face-diagonal length test featuring a designed artifact and a Vernier caliper. Design/methodology/approach An artifact that does not require support when printing was designed and printed to allow performance of the face-diagonal length test. A Vernier caliper was used to measure the lengths of diagonals in the XY, YZ and ZX planes of the printed artifact specimen; this completed the face-diagonal length test. The relationships between position-independent geometric errors of the linear axes X, Y and Z and the measured diagonal lengths of the three planes were determined to identify geometric errors. Findings The approach was applied to a commercial fused deposition modeling 3D printer, and three position-independent geometric errors were rapidly identified. The artifact was re-printed after model-based compensation for these errors and the diagonal lengths were re-measured. The results were verified via coordinate measuring machine measurement of a simple test piece without and with model-based compensation for identified geometric errors. Furthermore, the proposed approach was applied to a commercial 3D printer. Research limitations/implications The measured diagonal lengths of the printed artifacts varied greatly. Thus, further studies should investigate the effects of printing materials and parameters on the length discrepancies of 3D printed artifacts. Practical implications A software-based compensation of identified position-independent geometric errors has to be used at commercial 3D printers for accuracy improvements of printed parts. Originality/value Thus, the approach is of practical utility; it can be periodically used to identify position-independent geometric errors and ensure that the 3D printer is consistently accurate.

Here, a flexible electrode based on three-dimensional melamine foam-derived macroporous carbon (3D-FC) loading graphene oxide (GO), Schiff base polymer (SPB) foam-derived carbon (CNDS), and polyaniline (PANI) arrays are employed for supercapacitors. The commercial melamine foam is prepared into ultralight and flexible 3D-FC by high-temperature carbonization, and then the GO is uniformly distributed into 3D-FC to form 3D-FC/GO, which avoid the aggregation of GO. The SPB foam is grown on 3D-FC/GO and subsequently is transformed into CNDS by carbonization for loading PANI. The uniformly distributed GO connected the fibers of 3D-FC to improve the electrical conductivity. The macropores of 3D-FC/GO/CNDS/PANI enhance the mass transfer. The PANI is vertically arrayed on 3D-FC/GO/CNDS to form flexible 3D-FC/GO/CNDS/PANI. The as-prepared 3D-FC/GO/CNDS/PANI as electrode materials exhibits a rapid electron transport and good performance with a specific capacitance of 2814.5 F g−1 at the current density of 0.5 A g−1.

Background. In recent years, there have been many clinical reports on acupuncture treatment of cough-variant asthma, but no researcher has objectively analysed and evaluated the efficacy and safety of acupuncture treatment of cough-variant asthma from the perspective of evidence-based medicine. Objective. To systematically evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of acupuncture in treating cough-variant asthma and to provide reference values for clinical decision-making. Methods. The comprehensive computer retrieval Chinese journal full-text database (CNKI), Chinese science and technology periodical database (VIP), ten thousand data knowledge service platform (WanFang Data), PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library were used to collect literature for relevant randomized controlled trials (RCT) of acupuncture treatment of cough-variant asthma, as well as to retrieve papers and add reference retrieval after literature review, in accordance with the standard of literature filtering, data extraction, and quality evaluation. The data were meta-analysed using ReviewManager5.3 software recommended by Cochrane. Results. A total of 11 randomized controlled clinical studies were screened and included, comprising 929 patients. The results of the meta-analysis showed that, compared with the control group, acupuncture intervention on CVA could enhance the total clinical effectiveness rate, reduce the relapse rate of drug withdrawal, relieve symptoms of cough, phlegm, and diaphragmatic congestion, and improve lung function-related indicators and immune inflammation indicators. There were statistically significant differences in all efficacy evaluation criteria. Conclusion. The clinical curative effect of acupuncture treatment for cough-variant asthma is precise and has certain advantages in relieving symptoms and reducing the recurrence rate. However, the low quality of the evaluation in the RCT research literature is a problem, and more high-quality clinical randomized controlled trials are needed to further verify the comprehensive clinical efficacy and safety of this treatment. Registration number: PROSPERO (no. CRD42020155244) (https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/).

Background. Although fixed-volume conventional fluid preloading protocol fails to attenuate postspinal hypotension during cesarean delivery, the effect of goal-directed fluid therapy (GDFT) remains less explored. Continuous noninvasive finger cuff arterial pressure monitoring using devices such as the ClearSight System can provide the noninvasive stroke volume value, enabling clinicians to perform GDFT before spinal anesthesia; however, the efficacy of GDFT requires further elucidation. Method. In total, 71 consecutive full-term pregnant women were randomly divided into a control group ( n = 34 ) and a GDFT group ( n = 37 ). Before spinal anesthesia, the control group received a fixed dose (1000 mL) of crystalloid fluid, but the GDFT group received repeated 3 mL/kg body weight of crystalloid fluid challenges within 3 minutes with a 1-minute interval between each fluid challenge based on the stroke volume incremental changes obtained using the ClearSight System (targeting a stroke volume increase of ≥5% after a fluid challenge). The primary outcome was the incidence of postspinal hypotension. The secondary outcomes were total fluid volume, vasopressor dosage, hemodynamic parameter changes, maternal adverse effects, and neonatal profiles. Result. Women in the GDFT group received more fluid than did those in the control group ( 1132 ± 108 vs. 1247 ± 202 mL; p = 0.0044 ), but the incidence of postspinal hypotension (79.4% vs. 73.0%,; p = 0.5864 ) and norepinephrine dose ( 12.5 ± 10.6 vs. 15.1 ± 12.8 mcg, respectively; p = 0.3512 ) was comparable between the two groups. Fewer women in the GDFT group experienced nausea (61.76% vs. 35.14%; p = 0.0332 ). Neonatal outcomes (Apgar score and umbilical blood analysis) were comparable and typical in both groups. Conclusion. ClearSight-guided GDFT did not ameliorate postspinal hypotension but may reduce nausea. This trial is registered with NCT03013140.

We report an experimental demonstration of GaN-based vertical-channel junction field-effect transistors (VC-JFETs). A p-GaN regrowth by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) and a subsequent self-planarization process were developed to fabricate the GaN VC-JFETs. Fin-like channel regions were patterned by electron beam lithography (EBL) and aligned to ${m}$ -plane or ${a}$ -plane. The electrical properties of lateral and vertical p-n junctions were characterized to verify the effectiveness of the p-GaN regrowth. Both VC-JFETs with ${m}$ -plane and ${a}$ -plane channels show decent gate modulation. We further discussed important factors that may affect the device performance including interfacial impurities and nonuniform acceptor distribution. This work highlights the successful demonstration of GaN VC-JFETs and lateral p-n junctions by an etch-then-regrow process, providing valuable information and reference for the further development of GaN power electronics.

A tetrathiotungstate-intercalated NiAl layered double hydroxide (LDH) was synthesized and then calcined under N2 at various temperatures to prepare a series of NiW presulfurized hydrotreating catalysts. Upon calcination, WS42– in the interlayer decomposes into WS3 and then WS2, releasing sulfur to sulfurize nickel in the sheets. The property and activities of catalysts for hydrodesulfurization (HDS) of dibenzothiophene and hydrodearomatization (HDA) of tetralin are dependent on the calcination temperature. At 300 °C, WS3 can be well maintained, offering highly active hydrogenation sites S22– and superior HDA activity. As the temperature increases up to 500 °C, WS3 converts into WS2, while nickel sulfides migrate to the edge of WS2 to form NiWS phases with high HDS activity. LDH-based presulfurized catalysts can achieve fully sulfurized and well-dispersed tungsten species even at high tungsten loadings and can retain more WS3 even at high temperatures because of the peculiar properties of LDHs. Therefore, they show better HDS and superior HDA activities over an oxidic NiW LDH-based catalyst (LDO) and an alumina-supported NiWS presulfurized catalyst (NiWS/Al2O3). The optimized catalyst shows 1.59 and 1.05 times higher HDS activity than LDO and NiWS/Al2O3 while 2.05 and 1.77 times higher HDA activity than LDO and NiWS/Al2O3, respectively. It also shows better HDS and HDA activity for a real diesel than a NiCoMoW/Al2O3 commercial catalyst.

OBJECTIVE Women with placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) having an unplanned delivery may have worse outcome compared with women with a planned delivery. The primary objective of this study was to compare severe maternal morbidity among women with PAS who had a planned scheduled delivery versus an unplanned delivery. Secondary objective was to compare neonatal outcomes. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective cohort study at two tertiary centers (January 2009 to June 2019) of all women who underwent a hysterectomy with a histologic proven PAS. Primary outcome was severe maternal morbidity which defined as any of the following: transfusion of ≥4 RBC units or ureter/bowel injury. Neonatal outcome was a composite neonatal morbidity defined as any of the following: Apgar score's < 5 at 5 minutes, mechanical ventilation, or respiratory distress syndrome. Maternal demographic, clinical, and sonographic characteristics were compared between the two groups (planned vs. unplanned). Descriptive statistics were used as appropriate, and a statistical significance was established if p-value was < 0.05. RESULTS Of 109 women who underwent cesarean hysterectomy for PAS, 41 (37.6%) had an unplanned delivery. There was no significant difference in the number of previous cesarean deliveries or ultrasound findings between the two groups. Women with an unplanned delivery were more likely to bleed during pregnancy than those that had a planned delivery (p = 0.04). Women with unplanned delivery had lower gestational age at delivery (30.3 vs. 33.8 weeks, p = 0.001) had a 75% higher rate of the primary outcome (63 vs. 36%, p = 0.007) and had a higher rate of intensive care unit admissions (39 vs. 17.7%, p = 0.01) compared with women with a planned delivery. The neonatal morbidity did not differ between the two groups. CONCLUSION Since unplanned cesarean hysterectomy among women with PAS occurs in 40% and is associated with significantly higher morbidity, interventions are needed to mitigate the rate of adverse outcomes. KEY POINTS · Only 60% of women with PAS reached planned delivery at 34 weeks.. · PAS unplanned delivery is associated with high morbidity.. · Some women with PAS may need a scheduled earlier delivery..

OBJECTIVE To compare composite maternal and neonatal adverse outcomes among women with at least a bachelor's degree by racial and ethnic groups. METHODS This was a retrospective cohort study using the U.S. vital statistics data sets. We included women with at least a bachelor's degree who delivered a nonanomalous live singleton neonate at 24-40 weeks. The primary outcome, composite maternal adverse outcome, included admission to intensive care unit, maternal transfusion, ruptured uterus, unplanned hysterectomy, or unplanned operating room procedure after delivery. The secondary outcome, composite neonatal adverse outcome, included 5-minute Apgar score less than 5, assisted ventilation for more than 6 hours, neonatal seizure, birth injury, or neonatal death. Multivariable regression models were used to estimate the association between maternal race and adverse outcomes. RESULTS Of 11.8 million live births, 2.2 million (19%) met the inclusion criteria; 81.5% were to non-Hispanic white women, 8.5% to non-Hispanic black women, and 10% Hispanic women. The overall rate of composite maternal adverse outcome was 5.3 per 1,000 live births. Compared with non-Hispanic white women, the risk of the composite maternal adverse outcome was significantly higher among non-Hispanic black women (adjusted relative risk [aRR] 1.20; 95% CI 1.13-1.27), but lower among Hispanic women (aRR 0.69; 95% CI 0.64-0.74), a pattern which varied among different gestational age groups. The overall rate of composite neonatal adverse outcome was 11.6 per 1,000 live births. The risk of composite neonatal adverse outcome was significantly higher among neonates with non-Hispanic black mothers (aRR 1.25; 95% CI 1.20-1.30), but lower among neonates with Hispanic mothers (aRR 0.71; 95% CI 0.68-0.75), compared with neonates delivered by non-Hispanic white mothers and varied across gestational age. CONCLUSION Among women with at least a bachelor's degree, small but measurable racial and ethnic disparities in composite maternal and neonatal adverse outcomes.

This study aimed to compare the maternal and neonatal adverse outcomes among singletons delivered at 36 weeks or later with cerclage during index pregnancy versus those without cerclage.This retrospective cohort study utilized the U.S. vital statistics datasets from 2011 to 2013. Inclusion criteria were women with nonanomalous singletons, with and without cerclage placement, without diabetes or hypertensive disorders, and delivered at 36 to 41 weeks. The coprimary outcomes were composite maternal and neonatal adverse outcomes. Composite maternal adverse outcome included admission to intensive care unit, maternal transfusion, ruptured uterus, unplanned hysterectomy, or unplanned operating room procedure. Composite neonatal adverse outcome included Apgar score less than 5 at 5 minutes, assisted ventilation for more than 6 hours, neonatal seizure, birth injury, or neonatal death. Secondary outcomes were chorioamnionitis and cesarean delivery. Multivariable Poisson's regression models with error variance were used while adjusting for confounders. Adjusted relative risk (aRR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated.Of the 8,508,228 women who met inclusion criteria, 0.2% had a cerclage and reached 36 weeks. Composite maternal (aRR: 2.04; 95% CI: 1.76-2.36) and neonatal (aRR: 1.28; 95% CI: 1.11-1.47) adverse outcomes were significantly higher among those with cerclage than those without cerclage. Chorioamnionitis (aRR: 1.47; 95% CI: 1.30-1.67) and cesarean delivery (aRR: 1.10; 95% CI: 1.08-1.12) were also significantly higher in women with cerclage than those without cerclage.There is an association between increased composite maternal and neonatal adverse outcomes among women with cerclage who delivered at 36 to 41 weeks as compared with those without cerclage.· Cerclage is associated with increased composite maternal adverse outcome in women at 36-41 weeks.. · Cerclage is associated with increased composite neonatal adverse outcome in women at 36-41 weeks.. · Increased chorioamnionitis and cesarean delivery rates are associated with cerclage in women at 36-41 weeks..

Objective Late preterm births (delivery at 34–36 weeks) account for nearly three quarters of the preterm births and among them there is a knowledge gap about an important aspect of infant care: breast versus formula feeding. The aim of this study was to assess factors associated with formula feeding in late preterm neonates. Study Design Secondary analysis of a multicenter randomized trial of antenatal corticosteroids for women at risk for late preterm birth. All women with a singleton pregnancy who delivered at 340/7 to 366/7 weeks were included. Women with no information on neonatal feeding or known fetal anomalies were excluded. The outcome evaluated was the type of neonatal feeding during hospital stay. Maternal and neonatal characteristics were compared among women who initiated breast versus formula feeding. Adjusted relative risks (aRRs) for formula feeding with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. Results Of the 2,831 women in the parent trial, 2,329 (82%) women met inclusion criteria and among them, 696 (30%) were formula feeding. After multivariable regression, the following characteristics were associated with an increased risk of formula feeding: maternal age 12 years (aRR: 0.81, 95% CI 0.69–0.96), and nulliparity (aRR 0.71, 95% CI: 0.62–0.82) were associated with a reduced risk for formula feeding. Conclusion In this geographically diverse cohort of high-risk deliveries, 3 out 10 late preterm newborns were formula fed. Smoking cessation was a modifiable risk factor that may diminish the rate of formula feeding among late preterm births. Key Points

The g-C3N4/ZnO nanorods were prepared by simple hydrothermal, grinding and calcination methods. The characterization of g-C3N4/ZnO nanorods was done by different analytical techniques such as SEM, TEM, XRD, XPS, FT-IR and UV–Vis. g-C3N4/ZnO nanorods with heterostructures have been successfully synthesized without changing the structure between the monomers, which broadens the visible light response range and improves several major pollutants in water degradation rate. Photocatalytic studies were done for the degradation of MB, RhB, Cr(VI) and eosin which are almost fully degraded. The experimental results show that the photocatalytic performance of the nanorods is much better than others. The g-C3N4/ZnO photocatalyst has excellent stability and repeated cycle performance. Basing on the results of comprehensive free radical trapping test and ESR tests, it is proposed that the main active substance of the catalyst for degrading dyes is ·02-, and ·OH played significant roles in the degradation process. A good photocatalytic mechanism has been proven.

Urea, as a prospective energy source, is rarely utilized for lack of effective catalysts to overcome its sluggish kinetics during its electrolysis. Exploiting low-cost and high-efficiency catalysts to accelerate the urea oxidation reaction (UOR) does make sense as it can relieve not only energy shortage but also the water contamination problems. In this work, the Ni₃S₂ nanosheets grown on the Ni foam with different amounts of Mn²⁺ doping were developed as useful electrocatalysts toward UOR. The experimental and computational methods were performed to explore the properties of obtained samples. We found that the doping of Mn²⁺ could distinctly regulate the charge distribution of Ni₃S₂ by which the performance was observably optimized. We also compared the behaviors of obtained catalysts with various dopant concentrations of Mn²⁺. Especially, Ni₃S₂ grown on the Ni foam with the addition of 0.2 mmol of Mn²⁺ exhibits splendid properties with a lower potential and superior longevity, which can achieve a current density of 100 mA cm–² at a voltage of only 1.397 V (vs reversible hydrogen electrode) in 1.0 M KOH containing 0.5 M urea solution, indicating that our findings can serve as promising electrocatalysts for urea electrolysis.

Objective This study aimed to assess the risk of adverse outcomes among low-risk pregnancies at 39 to 41 weeks, stratified by birth weight percentile. Study Design This retrospective cohort study utilized the U.S. vital statistics datasets (2013–2017) and evaluated low-risk women with nonanomalous cephalic singleton gestations who labored and delivered at 39 to 41 weeks, regardless of ultimate mode of delivery. Newborns were categorized as small (90th percentile), or appropriate (10–90th percentile) for gestational ages (SGA, LGA, and AGA, respectively). The primary outcome, composite neonatal adverse outcome (CNAO), included Apgar's score 6 hours, seizure, or neonatal death. The secondary outcome, composite maternal adverse outcome (CMAO), included intensive care unit admission, blood transfusion, uterine rupture, or unplanned hysterectomy. Multivariable Poisson's regression was used to estimate the association (using adjusted relative risk [aRR] and 95% confidence interval [CI]). Results Of 19.8 million live births during the study interval, approximately 8.9 million (44.9%) met the inclusion criteria, with 9.9% being SGA, 9.2% being LGA, and 80.9% being AGA. SGA newborns delivered at 40 (aRR = 1.17; 95% CI: 1.12–1.23) and at 41 weeks (aRR = 1.55; 95% CI: 1.45–1.66) had a higher risk of CNAO than at 39 weeks. Similarly, LGA newborns delivered at 40 (aRR = 1.13; 95% CI: 1.07–1.19) and 41 weeks (aRR = 1.44; 95% CI: 1.35–1.54) and AGA newborns delivered at 40 (aRR = 1.24; 95% CI: 1.21–1.26) and 41 weeks (aRR = 1.57; 95% CI: 1.53–1.61) also had a higher risk of CNAO than at 39 weeks. CMAO was also significantly higher at 40 and 41 weeks than at 39 weeks, regardless of whether the mothers delivered SGA, LGA, or AGA newborns. Conclusion Among low-risk pregnancies, the risks of composite neonatal and maternal adverse outcomes increase from 39 through 41 weeks' gestation, irrespective of whether newborns are SGA, LGA, or AGA.

Background The protective effect of diabetes on the prevalence and growth rate in abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) has been shown in several recent studies. Whether the benefits of diabetes exist in patients following AAA repair is unknown. The aim of this review is to analyze the effects of diabetes on long-term mortality following AAA repair. Methods PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched to retrieve relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies which explored the influence of diabetes on long-term mortality following AAA repair. The outcome of interest was long-term mortality. A random effects model was applied to pool hazard ratio with 95% confidence interval regardless of heterogeneity. Results A post hoc analysis of RCTs and 11 cohort studies involving 20,210 patients were included in this review. A significantly higher long-term mortality was found in diabetic patients following AAA repair (hazard ratio 1.25, 95% confidence interval 1.11–1.42, I2 = 29.3%). Conclusions The present review demonstrated that a higher long-term mortality was present in diabetic patients following AAA repair. More attention should be paid to diabetes and related complications for patients following AAA repair.

Objective To assess whether racial and ethnic disparities in adverse infant and maternal outcomes exist among low-risk term pregnancies. Methods This population-based retrospective cohort study used U.S. vital statistics data from 2014 to 2017. Women with low-risk, nonanomalous singleton pregnancies who labored and delivered at 37-41 weeks of gestation were included and categorized by maternal race and ethnicity: non-Hispanic white (white), non-Hispanic black (black), Hispanic, and non-Hispanic Asian (Asian). Multivariable Poisson regression models were used to estimate the associations of composite neonatal adverse outcome (Apgar score less than 5 at 5 minutes, assisted ventilation for more than 6 hours, neonatal seizure, or neonatal death), infant mortality, and composite maternal adverse outcome (blood transfusion, admission to the intensive care unit, uterine rupture, or unplanned hysterectomy) with maternal race and ethnicity. Results Of 9,205,873 women included, 55.5% were white, 13.7% were black, 24.3% were Hispanic, and 6.5% were Asian. Risk for the composite neonatal adverse outcome was higher among neonates of black women (unadjusted relative risk [uRR] 1.16, 95% CI 1.13-1.18; adjusted relative risk [aRR] 1.07, 95% CI 1.05-1.10), and lower for neonates of Hispanic and Asian women compared with neonates of white women. A similar pattern of disparity was observed for infant mortality; the risk for infants of black women was significantly increased (uRR 1.89, 95% CI 1.81-1.98; aRR 1.33, 95% CI 1.26-1.39). For the composite maternal adverse outcome, the risk was highest for Asian mothers (uRR 1.09, 95% CI 1.03-1.14; aRR 1.12, 95% CI 1.06-1.18), lowest for Hispanic mothers, and similar for black mothers when compared with white mothers after adjustment for confounders. Conclusion Among low-risk term pregnancies, the risk for adverse outcomes varied by maternal race and ethnicity. Infants of black women were at the highest risk for neonatal morbidity and infant mortality, and Asian mothers were most likely to experience maternal adverse outcomes.

This paper presents a read-out integrated circuit (ROIC) for PM1, PM2.5, and PM10 airborne particle detector with a laser diode. The ROIC has a monitoring photodiode, which provides negative feedback through an automatic power control circuit. This adjusts the driving current to the laser diode, and thus stabilizes the illumination level. Offset compensation circuit in analog front-end eliminates the large offset voltage introduced by stray light reaching the measuring photodiode. A digital back-end analyses each pulse to determine the corresponding particle size, and also linearizes the response, which would otherwise drop off for smaller particles. The ROIC was fabricated in a $0.18~\mu \text{m}$ CMOS process. It has an area of 6.27 mm2 and draws 10 mW at 5 V. The ROIC is incorporated in a particle detector which is tested against an aerosol spectrometer. For particle concentrations up to $100~\mu \text{g}/\text{m}^{{3}}$ , this detector was found to have an accuracy of $\pm ~10~\mu \text{g}/\text{m}^{{3}}$ for PM10 and PM2.5, and $\pm ~15~\mu \text{g}/\text{m}^{{3}}$ for PM1. At higher concentrations, up to $1000~\mu \text{g}/\text{m}^{{3}}$ , the corresponding accuracies are ± 5 % and ± 10 %. Within the temperature range of 0 °C to 50 °C, the effective resolution of the detector changes only from 8.78 bits to 8.97 bits.

In this work, a laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) detection system built in a modular assembling mode was developed based on commercial LEGO blocks and 3D printed blocks. We designed and fabricated a variety of 3D printed building blocks fixed with optical components, including laser light source, filters, lens, dichroic mirror, photodiode detector, and control circuits. Utilizing the relatively high positioning precision of the plug-in blocks, a modular construction strategy was adopted using the flexible plug-in combination of the blocks to build a highly sensitive laser-induced fluorescence detection system, LIFGO. The LIFGO system has a simple structure which could be constructed by inexperienced users within 3 h. We optimized the structure and tested the performance of the LIFGO system, and its detection limits for sodium fluorescein solution in 100 μm i.d. and 250 μm i.d. capillaries were 7 nM and 0.9 nM, respectively. Based on the LIFGO system, we also built a simple capillary electrophoresis (CE) system and applied it to the analysis of DNA fragments to demonstrate its application possibility in biochemical analysis. The separation of 7 fragments in DL500 DNA markers were completed in 600 s. Because of the features of low cost (less than $100) and easy-to-build construction, we introduced the LIFGO system to the experimental teaching of instrumental analysis for undergraduate students. The modular construction form of the LIF detection system greatly reduces the threshold of instrument construction, which is conducive to the popularization of the LIF detection technique in routine laboratories as well as the reform of experimental teaching mode.

Antifungal drugs have already been established as an effective treatment option for Candida parapsilosis infections, but there is no universal consensus on the ideal target for clinical efficacy and safety of antifungal drugs for the treatment of C. parapsilosis infections. Few studies have directly compared the efficacies of antifungal drugs for the treatment of C. parapsilosis infections. We hypothesize that different antifungal drugs offer differing clinical efficacy and safety for the treatment of C. parapsilosis infections. We performed a comprehensive network meta-analysis on different strategies for C. parapsilosis infection treatment and compared the clinical efficacy and safety of antifungal drugs as interventions for C. parapsilosis infections. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Medline, Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Technology of Chongqing VIP database, Wan Fang Data, and SinoMed databases were searched to identify appropriate randomized trials. Among the extracted C. parapsilosis cases, the survival and death rates with treatment of C. parapsilosis infection were compared among groups treated with different antifungal drugs. According to the evidence-network analysis, echinocandins were a better choice than other drugs for treating C. parapsilosis infections, and more importantly, caspofungin showed a more preferable effect for decreasing the risk of 30 day mortality. In conclusion, this study systematically evaluated the effectiveness and safety of antifungal drugs for the purpose of helping clinicians choose the most appropriate antifungal drugs. Future studies with larger samples are needed to evaluate the effects of patient factors on the clinical efficacy and safety of antifungal drugs for C. parapsilosis infections.

Novel thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU)/multi walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) conductive nanocomposites were fabricated by direct solution compounding method for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) sensors applications. The results of field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and electrical conductivity test showed that MWCNTs formed ideal conductive networks in TPU matrix. The volume conductivity of TPU/MWCNTs nanocomposites increased from 10-12 to 10-4 S/mm, and the percolation value was 4.76 wt%. The size parameters of MWCNTs did not show obvious effects on the formation of conductive networks based on our comparative investigation. XRD and FTIR tests showed that MWCNTs enhanced the short range ordered structure in amorphous region of TPU due to the physical entanglement. The characteristic stretching of TPU showed no obvious change because of weak chemical interaction between MWCNTs and TPU. Moreover, MWCNTs effectively enhanced the thermal stability of the nanocomposites, as verified by TG analysis. The gas sensing property tests showed that the gas sensing response of TPU/MWCNTs nanocomposites mainly came from the resistance changes due to the disconnection of conductive networks, as a result of VOCs adsorption-swelling effects. The prepared nanocomposites showed superior selectivity, especially to benzene vapor when compared with formaldehyde and other gases. The parameters and contents of MWCNTs have a certain influence on the gas sensing response speed and recovery ability of the nanocomposites. In addition, the prepared TPU/MWCNTs nanocomposites displayed excellent repeatability and fast response to the change of electrical resistance (in seconds) after cyclic exposure to VOCs and pure dry air.

The rotating strapdown inertial navigation system (RSINS) has been studied on the basis of traditional system structure. The gyroscopes and accelerometers are installed on the rotating base, thus their non-stochastic errors could be eliminated by the integral calculation in strapdown navigation algorithm. Considering the structural characteristics of the RSINS, a novel initial alignment method based on fuzzy adaptive Kalman filter algorithm is proposed, which can rapidly estimate the platform misalignment errors. In this paper, the error mathematical model of the navigation system is established, according to which the state equations and observation equations are derived. The verifications based on fuzzy adaptive Kalman filter are given via digital simulation. Finally, based on a certain type of IMU with fiber optic gyroscopes (FOGs) and Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) accelerometers, the algorithm performance of the practical navigation system is further verified through a rotating experiment on a high-precision rotating platform. The results show that, the proposed alignment method has comparatively high alignment performance for low and medium precision FOG RSINS, thus having certain engineering application value in aviation-related field.

Background Postoperative pneumonia is the main infectious complication following cardiac surgery and is associated with significant increases in morbidity, mortality and health care costs. The aim of this study was to identify potential risk factors related to the occurrence of postoperative pneumonia in adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery and to develop a predictive system. Methods Adult patients who underwent open heart surgery in our institution between 2016 and 2019 were enrolled in this study. Preoperative and intraoperative variables were collected and analyzed. A multivariate prediction model for evaluating the risk of postoperative pneumonia was established using logistic regression analysis via forward stepwise selection, and points were assigned to significant risk factors based on their regression coefficient values. Results Postoperative pneumonia occurred in 530 of the 5,323 patients (9.96%). Prolonged stays in the postoperative intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital, as well as higher mortality (25.66% versus 0.65%), were observed in patients with postoperative pneumonia. Multivariate analysis identified 13 independent risk factors including patient demographics, comorbidities, cardiac function, cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) duration, and blood transfusion. The prediction model showed good discrimination (C-statistic: 0.80) and was well calibrated (Hosmer-Lemeshow χ2=7.907, P value =0.443). A 32-point risk score was generated, and then three risk intervals were defined. Conclusions We derived and validated a prediction model for postoperative pneumonia after cardiac surgery incorporating 13 easily discernible risk factors. The scoring system may be helpful for individualized risk estimations and clinical decision-making.

Objective In an effort to reduce the primary cesarean delivery (CD) rate, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommended new labor guidelines in 2014 that allow longer duration of labor times. There are little data on the impact of these guidelines on CD rates and pregnancy outcomes in a predominantly Hispanic population. This study aimed to compare the primary CD rates and maternal and neonatal outcomes in patients undergoing primary CD for arrest of labor before and after implementation of the 2014 guidelines. Study design This was a retrospective cohort study of term patients who underwent a CD for an arrest disorder between January 2011 and April 2017 at a county teaching hospital. Our primary outcome was the composite maternal and neonatal morbidities (CMM and CNM, respectively). Differences in the demographic and clinical characteristics, CMM, and CNM stratified by time period (pre- vs. postimplementation) were examined. Results There were 4,976 deliveries in the study period: 525 (11%) underwent primary CD for arrest disorder; 298 (6%) prior to 2014, and 227 (5%) after 2014 (p = 0.62). There was no significant difference in the rate of CD between the two periods (13.4 vs. 13.3%, p = 0.81). In patients undergoing CD for arrest of dilation (n = 389), the CMM and CNM did not significantly change between both groups (63.3 vs. 56%, p = 0.15). In patients who had a CD for arrest of descent (n = 136), the rate of CMM significantly increased from 50 to 75% (p = 0.02) with no significant change in the CNM (13.2 vs. 20%, p = 0.3). Conclusion Despite significant changes in labor management after the publication of the 2014 guidelines, our primary CD rate was not reduced, and we noticed an increase in CMM in patients who had CD for arrest of descent. A randomized controlled trial is needed to further evaluate the effect of these guidelines nationally. Key points · The Obstetric Care Consensus statement aims to decrease the rate of cesarean delivery (CD).. · We observed an increase in morbidity in CD if done for arrest of descent (pre/post the consensus).. · A randomized controlled trial is needed to further assess the impact of the guidelines on morbidity..

Two-dimensional(2D) materials with a high density and low power consumption have become the most popular candidates for next-generation semiconductor electronic devices. As a prototype 2D material, graphene has attracted much attention owing to its stability and ultrahigh mobility. However, zero band gap of graphene leads to very low on-off ratios and thus limits its applications in electronic devices, such as transistors. Although some new 2D materials and doped graphene have nonzero band gaps, the electronic mobility is sacrificed. In this study, to open the band gap of graphene with high electronic mobility, the structure and property of BN-doped graphene were evaluated using first-principles calculations. The formation energies indicate that the six-membered BN rings doped graphene has the most favorable configuration. The band structures show that the band gaps can be opened by such type of doping. Also, the Dirac-cone-like band dispersion of graphene is mostly inhibited, ensuring high electronic mobility. Therefore, codoping BN into graphene might provide 2D materials with nonzero band gaps and high electronic mobility.

Graphene-based supercapacitors have attracted tremendous attention owing to their outstanding electro-chemical performance. In terms of material, nitrogen(N)-doped graphene(NDG) displays enhanced specific capaci- tance and rate performance compared with bare graphene used as a supercapacitor electrode. However, it still remains a challenge to develop a facile and simple method of NDG in cost-effective manner. Here, we used a simple direct laser writing technique to accomplish the simultaneous photoreduction and N-doping of graphene oxide(GO) using urea as a N source. The N content of the resultant reduced N-doped graphene oxide(NGO) reached a maximum value of 6.37%. All reduced NGO(NRGO)-based supercapacitors exhibited a higher specific capacitance than those based on pure reduced GO(RGO). Interestingly, the electrochemical performance of NRGO-based supercapacitors varied with different contents of N species. Therefore, we can control the properties of the obtained NRGOs by adjusting the doping ratios, an important step in developing effective graphene-based energy storage devices.

A simple method for the preparation of patterned graphene electrodes by applying patterned copper film as the masking layer is demonstrated. As-prepared graphene pattern shows well-defined and straight boundary line. High-quality patterned graphene electrode possesses a low average sheet resistance of 556 Ω/sq meanwhile its transmittance exceeds 96% at 550 nm. The 4 × 2 organic light-emitting diodes array with patterned graphene electrode further proves the practical application of this simple patterned technology. Corresponding device exhibits a maximum luminance of 44 k cd/m2 at 15 V and current efficiency of 24 cd/A at 6 V. This patterned graphene electrodes also have great potential in application of flexible printed electronics and display.

The magnetic properties of commercially available GdBCO-coated conductor (CC) tapes which were fabricated on Hastelloy and stainless steel (SS) substrates and which have different reinforcing/stabilizing layers (Ag-stabilized CC tape with SS substrate, brass-laminated CC tape with SS substrate, and Cu-plated CC tape with Hastelloy substrate) were investigated by a magnetometer magnetization method using Physical Property Measurement System. The background magnetic moment m values of the CC tapes with Hastelloy substrate are nearly zero, compared with those with SS substrate. The measurement of magnetic moment m(H) for the three CC tapes was carried out at temperatures between 10 and 90 K in fields up to 7.0 T. The magnetization loss of the CC tapes with SS substrate is much larger than that with Hastelloy substrate at the temperature range used in this study. The irreversibility magnetic moment Δm irr was obtained by measuring the m(H) curves. The critical current density J c values have been estimated from the Δm irr (H) data, using Bean's model. Brass-laminated CC tape with SS substrate was found to have larger J c and higher irreversibility field Hirr than Cu-plated CC tape with Hastelloy substrate.

Objectives: Delirium is a common acute cognitive impairment syndrome among intensive care unit (ICU) patients. This study was aimed to investigate the incidence, risk factors, and cumulative risk of delirium among ICU patients. Methods: A case-control study including clinical records of 452 patients were retrospectively analyzed. Delirium was assessed using the Confusion Assessment Method for the ICU and Richmond Agitation–Sedation Scale. Results: We found that 163 out of the 452 patients (36.1%) had delirium. Multivariate analysis showed that use of sedatives, length of ICU hospitalization, and physical restraint were independent risk factors for delirium. The additive effect of all three factors resulted to an odds ratio of 30.950. Conclusion: The incidence of delirium remained high. Thus, nurses shall strengthen the monitoring of delirium, regularly access the patient's level of calmness, and limit the use of physical restraint. Keywords: Delirium, Intensive care units, Risk factors, Cumulative risk, Case-control studies

Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) can reduce inflammation and slow progression of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). It remains unknown what impact DMARDs may have on dementia, where inflammation also plays a critical role in pathogenesis. Patients without a prior history of dementia who were newly diagnosed with RA between 2000 and 2005 were identified from Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research Database. The participants were stratified by age and gender. The outcome of interest was all-cause dementia, and Cox regression models were used to estimate the hazard ratio (HR) of dementia. The cumulative DMARD dosage was stratified by quartiles of defined daily doses. A total of 20,707 patients were diagnosed with RA, and 62,121 non-RA individuals aged 20 years or older were included. Cox proportional hazard regression analysis revealed that the RA cohort was 37% less likely to develop dementia compared with the non-RA cohort [adjusted HR 0.63, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.55–0.72]. Further decreased risk was noted in DMARD users (adjusted HR 0.48, 95% CI 0.39–0.58) with dose-dependent effect. Subgroup analysis identified DMARD use as having a protective effect against developing dementia in female and younger patients. Also, in male and older patients, DMARD use further reduced the risk. These observations suggest that DMARDs may reduce the risk of developing dementia, and its effect is further increased at high cumulative dosages. These findings warrant further examination in randomized control trials.

This letter reports the observation of threshold switching and memory behaviors of epitaxially regrown GaN-on-GaN vertical p-n diodes. This mechanism was ascribed to the conductive path formed by traps in the insulating layer at the regrowth interface after soft breakdown. The device can reliably switch more than 1000 cycles at both room temperature and 300°C with small fluctuation on the set and reset voltage. The set voltage increased with the increasing temperature due to the enhanced thermal detrapping effect that made it harder to form conductive path at high temperatures. Besides, the device showed memory behaviors when the reset voltage was higher than 4.4 V. This letter can serve as an important reference to further developing GaN-based memory devices and integrated circuits.

In this letter, a sapphire fiber Bragg grating (SFBG) is fabricated by a femtosecond laser line-by-line scanning method. A third-order fiber Bragg grating is obtained in a single crystal sapphire fiber with a diameter of 60 μ m. Compared to the SFBG written by a point-by-point method, the SFBG written by the line-by-line method has a higher reflectivity and grating with about 15% reflectivity is achieved when the track length is about 40 μ m. The temperature sensing characteristics of this SFBG from a room temperature to 1600 °C are studied, and the temperature sensitivity of SFBG is 34.96 pm/°C from 1000 °C to 1600 °C. The strain characteristics are also tested at the temperature of 26 °C, 500 °C, 1000 °C, and 1600 °C, and the strain sensitivities are 1.42, 1.42, 1.44, and 1.45 pm/μϵ, respectively. These characteristics show that this SFBG has potential applications in a harsh environment structural health monitoring.

In the present study, we developed a highly sensitivity electrochemical acetylcholinesterase (AChE, E.C.3.1.1.7) biosensor for organophosphorous pesticides (OPs) detection on the basis of three dimensional graphene-copper oxide nanoflowers nanocomposites (3DG-CuO NFs). The 3DG-CuO NFs nanocomposites with network-like structure not only increase the effective specific surface area, but also provide a favorable microenvironment for AChE loading, which could improve the biosensor performance. The electrochemical performance of the AChE-CS/3DG-CuO NFs/GCE biosensor was thoroughly investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), amperometry (i–t) and square wave voltammetry (SWV). Under the optimal detection conditions, the AChE-CS/3DG-CuO NFs/GCE biosensor exhibits advantages such as a wide linear relationship to malathion ranging from 1 ppt to 15.555 ppb (3 pM-46.665 nM). The theoretical detection limit was calculated to be 0.31 ppt (0.92 pM) with good selectivity and ideal stability. Most importantly, satisfactory recoveries were achieved in real samples analysis, indicating that our developed biosensor has great potential to be an effective platform for pesticides detection.

The wind turbine blades used in lower quality wind resources have been recently designed. The designed blades for low wind speed areas are scaled version of blades used in high wind speed sites with longer blade lengths, same chord length and same airfoils series. A discrete optimization method for wind turbine blade used in low wind speed sites is proposed. In the optimization process, both aerodynamic and structural parameters are considered as design variables. The airfoil design is also considered in the optimization process to improve the aerodynamic and structural performance by the method of airfoil integrated theory. The Blade Element Momentum theory is used to evaluate the blade aerodynamic performance and the Classical Laminate Theory is used to estimate the stiffness and mass per unit of each blade section. Finally, a Finite Element Method structural analysis is used to verify the strength under the extreme loading conditions. To prove the efficiency and robustness of the design, a commercial 2.1 megawatt HAWT blade is used as a case study. The results show that the aerodynamic and structural performance of the new blade is improved compared with that of the original one.

Extensive concerns have been focused on the emerging contaminants including nicotine in the aquatic system recently. Graphene oxide (GO) and modified graphene oxides (GO-COOH and defective GO-COOH) are used as effective adsorbents to remove nicotine from aqueous solution. The adsorption isotherms and kinetics of the adsorbents all fit well with Langmuir model and pseudo-second-order model, respectively. The thermodynamic studies show that the adsorption is an exothermic and spontaneous process. The influence of pH and ionic solution strength on the adsorbents is also investigated. The maximum adsorption capacity can be observed at pH value of ca. 8. The adsorption capacities of nicotine are decreased upon the increase of sodium ion concentration. Among all the adsorbents, the defective GO-COOH adsorbents possess the maximum adsorption capacity of nicotine of 196.5 mg g−1 obtained from Langmuir isotherm. In regeneration experiments, the defective GO-COOH adsorbents can maintain 95.1% of adsorption capacity after five times of cyclic adsorption-desorption processes. The adsorbents are identified by Fourier transform infrared, 13C solid-state magic-angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance, X-ray photoelectron and Raman spectroscopies to determine the adsorption mechanisms and structure on the adsorbents. It can be deduced that the surpassing performance of defective GO-COOH may be ascribed to the unique adsorption mechanism of defects, the enhanced π–π interaction and cation-π bonding. The highly-efficient and stable features enable the defective GO-COOH a promising adsorbent to eliminate nicotine from water.

Recent researches have shown the potential benefits of using Lagrangian coordinates in modeling mobile sensor data such as GPS, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and cellphone probe data. Research shows the numeri...

Acupuncture-type interventions (such as moxibustion and acupuncture) at Bladder 67 (BL67, Zhiyin point) have been proposed to have positive effects on breech presentation. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of moxibustion and acupuncture in correcting breech presentation. We searched PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), the Chinese Electronic Periodical Services (CEPS), and databases at ClinicalTrials.gov to identify relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs). In this study, sixteen RCTs involving 2555 participants were included. Compared to control, moxibustion significantly increased cephalic presentation at birth (RR = 1.39; 95% CI = 1.21–1.58). Moxibustion also seemed to elicit better clinical outcomes in the Asian population (RR = 1.42; 95% CI = 1.21–1.67) than in the non-Asian population (RR = 1.20; 95% CI = 1.01–1.43). The effects of acupuncture on correcting breech presentation after sensitivity analysis were inconsistent relative to control. The effect of moxibustion plus acupuncture was synergistic for correcting breech presentation (RR = 1.53; 95% CI = 1.26–1.86) in one RCT. Our findings suggest that moxibustion therapy has positive effects on correcting breech presentation, especially in the Asian population.

Background Some Western medicine schools in China established standardized patient (SP) programs for medical education. However, SP programs are rarely applied to the education of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). In this study, we evaluated the effectiveness of using standardized patient traditional Chinese medicine (SP-TCM) to improve clinical competency among TCM medical students. Methods This study was a prospective, 2-group, parallel-training randomized trial over the course of 5 years. Data were collected from September 2016 to December 2020. Participants in each year were randomly allocated into the traditional-method training group or the SP-TCM training group (1:1) for a 3-month curriculum. Measurement of clinical competency among all trainees was based on a standardized examination composed of scores of medical record documentation, scores of TCM syndrome differentiation and therapeutic regimen, and checklist assessment from both SP-TCMs and TCM professionals. Feedback was collected using semi-constructive questionnaires from both groups. Results Compared with those assigned to traditional-method training, those assigned to SP-TCM training demonstrated significantly greater post-training improvement in medical record documentation and TCM syndrome differentiation and therapeutic regimen. Moreover, SP-TCM trainees outscored those assigned to traditional training in the assessment for encounter performance given by independent SP-TCMs and TCM professionals. The SP-TCM method gained higher satisfaction of training efficacy and test performance than the traditional method. Conclusion This SP-TCM program demonstrated great benefits for improving clinical competency among TCM medical students.

Objective To compare the neonatal and maternal adverse outcomes among women with cerclage and prepregnancy body mass index (BMI) > 30 kg/m2 Study Design This retrospective cohort study utilized the U.S. Vital Statistics Datasets from 2011−2013. Inclusion criteria were women with non-anomalous singletons, with cerclage placement, without diabetes or hypertensive disorders, and who delivered at 20–41 weeks. The primary outcome was the composite neonatal adverse outcome (Apgar score below 5 at 5 min, birth injury, assisted ventilation for more than 6 h, neonatal seizure, or neonatal death). The secondary outcomes included the composite maternal adverse outcome (admission to intensive care unit, maternal transfusion, ruptured uterus, unplanned hysterectomy, or unplanned operating room procedure), chorioamnionitis, and cesarean delivery. Multivariable Poisson regression models with robust error variance were used, while adjusting for confounders. Adjusted relative risk with 95 % confidence intervals were calculated. Results Of the 22,466 live births that met the inclusion criteria during the study period, 6427 (28.6 %) had cerclage and prepregnancy BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2. The composite neonatal adverse outcome was significantly increased (aRR 1.45; 95 % CI 1.33−1.60) among women with cerclage and BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 when compared to those with BMI Conclusion Among pregnancies with cerclage and delivery at 20–41 weeks, the risk of the composite neonatal adverse outcome was modestly increased in newborns delivered by women with BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 than those delivered by women with BMI

Stator-slot circumferentially magnetized PM machines (SSCMPMMs) have high fault-tolerant capability. In this paper, the SSCMPMMs with full-pitched windings and different stator slot/rotor pole numbers are investigated, together with the influence of key geometric parameters. It shows that the 12 stator-slots 7 rotor-poles (12S7R) machine delivers the highest torque. It is then compared with the SSCMPMM with tooth-coil windings. The results show that when they have the same active length, the 12S7R machine delivers significantly higher torque and higher efficiency. Furthermore, when the machine length is over around 140 mm, the 12S7R machine is more advantageous in producing high torque and high efficiency. A prototype is manufactured and tested to validate the theoretical analyses.

Due to the rapid evolution of the next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology, the sequence of an individual's genome can be determined from billions of short reads at a decreasing cost, which has advanced the fields of medical research and precision medicine with the ability to correlate mutations between genomes. Analysis of genome sequences, especially variant calling, is exceedingly computationally intensive, as it demands large storage capacity, computing power, and high-speed network to reduce the processing time. In the case of DeepVariant, an open-source software package which employs a deep neural network (DNN) to calls genetic variants, it took four hours to complete the analysis on a workstation with a high-performance GPU device to accelerate the DNN. Therefore, we profiled the performance of DeepVariant and refactored the code to reduce the time and cost of the NGS pipeline with a series of code optimization works. As a result, our distributed version of DeepVariant can finish the same job within 8 minutes on 8 dual-CPU nodes and 8 GPUs, which outperforms commercial versions in the market.