Search

In spite of the competitive performance at room temperature, the development of sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs) is still hindered by sluggish electrochemical reaction kinetics and unstable electrode/electrolyte interphase under subzero environments. Herein, a low‐concentration electrolyte, consisting of 0.5M NaPF6 dissolving in diethylene glycol dimethyl ether solvent, is proposed for SIBs working at low temperature. Such an electrolyte generates a thin, amorphous, and homogeneous cathode/electrolyte interphase at low temperature. The interphase is monolithic and rich in organic components, reducing the limitation of Na+ migration through inorganic crystals, thereby facilitating the interfacial Na+ dynamics at low temperature. Furthermore, it effectively blocks the unfavorable side reactions between active materials and electrolytes, improving the structural stability. Consequently, Na0.7Li0.03Mg0.03Ni0.27Mn0.6Ti0.07O2//Na and hard carbon//Na cells deliver a high capacity retention of 90.8 % after 900 cycles at 1C, a capacity over 310 mAh g−1 under −30 °C, respectively, showing long‐term cycling stability and great rate capability at low temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to identify self-report data for hysterectomy prevalence and to explore its correlated factors among women with physical and mobility disabilities in Taiwan. This paper was part of a larger study, "Survey on Preventive Health Utilizations of People with Physical and Mobility Disability in Taiwan," which is a cross-sectional survey conducted in 2009. We recruited 502 women aged [greater than or equal to] 15 years who were officially registered as having physical and mobility disabilities. The results show that 11.3% of women with physical and mobility disabilities accepted hysterectomy surgery and that hysterectomy prevalence was increasing by age: 7% (45-49 years), 9.7% (50-54 years), 26.3% (55-59 years), 31% (60-64 years) and 17.6% ([greater than or equal to] 65 years). Multilevel logistic regression analyses revealed that being [greater than or equal to] 50 years or older (OR=4.65, 95% CI=1.79-12.064), having had cervical cancer (OR=17.2, 95% CI=3.5-84.47) and not having a Pap smear test within the last 3 years (OR=2.79, 95% CI=1.194-6.561) were more likely to accept a hysterectomy operation than their counterparts. This study suggests that future studies should analyze hospital data and assesses long-term changes to understand an area's hysterectomy profile and correlated factors for these types of vulnerable populations. (Contains 1 figure and 4 tables.)

The study aims to explore knowledge and attitudeSs regarding cervical cancer screening and to examine its determinants based on the perspectives of Taiwanese women with physical disabilities living in the community. A cross-sectional survey was employed in the study, and we recruited 498 women aged more than 15 years who were officially registered as having physical disabilities in Taipei County, Taiwan, in March 2009. A mail-out structured questionnaire designed to collect data concerning the participants' demographics, reported use, health experience and perception (understanding and attitudes) of cervical cancer screening among women with physical disabilities. We used a scoring system (range 0-10) to categorize the study subjects' awareness of screening (low vs. high). The results showed that 77.3% of subjects reported a low level of awareness (score [less than or equal to] 7), whereas 22.7% were in the high awareness level group (score greater than 7). The logistic regression model revealed that married women (OR = 3.30, 95%CI = 1.25-8.71), those with a higher educational level (OR = 2.88, 95%CI = 1.51-5.53), and those with a high familiarity with Pap smear resources (OR = 5.31, 95%CI = 2.82-9.98) had a significantly higher perception level of cervical cancer screening among women with physical disabilities. This study highlights the necessity of increasing the knowledge and awareness of cervical cancer screening and reducing the barriers to cervical cancer screening experienced by women with disabilities. (Contains 6 tables.)

The present paper aims to explore awareness and acceptability of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination and to identify factors influencing HPV acceptability among women with physical disabilities in Taiwan. The study participants were 438 adult women with physical disabilities, aged 18-69 years. The participants were all officially registered as having physical disabilities in Taipei County, Taiwan, in March 2009. The major findings were that 54.5% of the participants had previously heard about the HPV vaccine and that vaccine acceptability was very low (3.2%) if the participants would have had to pay for the vaccine but would increase to 60% if the government were to provide the vaccine for free. We found that those participants who had had a Pap smear test within the past 1 year or 3 years were significantly more likely to be aware of and willing to receive the HPV vaccine than those who had not. To increase the HPV vaccination rate among women with physical disabilities, the study suggests that the current health care system in Taiwan should consider implementing free immunization for this group of women. (Contains 1 figure and 6 tables.)

This three-year study, based on the Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Disease (GRID), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) Biobank, was conducted in 36 COPD patients to estimate whether changes in levels of leukocytes, erythrocytes, hemoglobin, and platelets were related to changes in air pollutant concentration. Daily NO 2 levels exhibited significant differences between baseline years and the 2010 Asian Game period. We observed significant reductions in leukocyte and neutrophils counts levels, by 15.51% and 23.01%, from pre-Asian Games to during-Asian Games, respectively. In the post-Asian Game period, most pollutants approximated pre-Asian Game period levels, and similar effects were demonstrated in leukocyte and neutrophil counts. For both items, we identified significant increases resulting from elevated NO 2 at lag days 0-2/5-6. We concluded that reductions in pollutants during the intervention period were associated with inactivation of hematological events in COPD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cobalt‐free and spinel LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 (LNMO) cathodes commonly suffer from undesirable solvent decomposition, serious transition‐metal dissolution, and unstable cathode electrolyte interphase (CEI) layers, incurring rapid capacity decay at high voltages and low temperatures. Herein, these issues are well addressed by utilizing fluorinated solvents with a low coordination number and ethyl propionate with a low melting point. A Li2CO3/LiF‐rich heterostructured CEI layer, which possesses good electron blocking capability of LiF, fast Li+ transport kinetics of Li2CO3 and good mechanical stability, is generated by the synergistic decomposition of hybrid solvents. The robust, homogeneous, and well‐balanced CEI layers subsequently prevent catalyzed parasitic side reactions, prohibit transition‐metal dissolution, and ensure fast interfacial reaction kinetics crossover to the LNMO cathode, thus improving its cycling stability. Consequently, the LNMO cathode delivers a high‐capacity retention of 95.8% over 500 cycles at 25 °C and 97.5% after 180 cycles at −20 °C. This work provides an encouraging alternative to design the high‐voltage and low‐temperature electrolyte for pushing the ongoing research to stabilize Co‐free LNMO materials toward practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In spite of the competitive performance at room temperature, the development of sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) is still hindered by sluggish electrochemical reaction kinetics and unstable electrode/electrolyte interphase under subzero environments. Herein, a low-concentration electrolyte, consisting of 0.5M NaPF 6 dissolving in diethylene glycol dimethyl ether solvent, is proposed for SIBs working at low temperature. Such an electrolyte generates a thin, amorphous, and homogeneous cathode/electrolyte interphase at low temperature. The interphase is monolithic and rich in organic components, reducing the limitation of Na + migration through inorganic crystals, thereby facilitating the interfacial Na + dynamics at low temperature. Furthermore, it effectively blocks the unfavorable side reactions between active materials and electrolytes, improving the structural stability. Consequently, Na 0.7 Li 0.03 Mg 0.03 Ni 0.27 Mn 0.6 Ti 0.07 O 2 //Na and hard carbon//Na cells deliver a high capacity retention of 90.8 % after 900 cycles at 1C, a capacity over 310 mAh g -1 under -30 °C, respectively, showing long-term cycling stability and great rate capability at low temperature., (© 2024 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

The response of leaf functional traits to forest fire is one of the research hotspots in the forest fire ecology. Studying post-fire changes in leaf functional traits of Pinus tabuliformis can reveal its growth strategies to adapt to fire environment and provide reference for the post-fire recovery. We analyzed the changes of leaf functional traits in burned areas with different fire severities (unburned, light burn and moderate burn) in Qinyuan County burned area of Shanxi Province, and studied the variation characteristics of leaf economic spectrum in different burned areas. The results showed that there were significant differences in burned areas with different fire severities for all leaf functional traits except N/P. Among them, the difference of leaf area was the most obvious, which was the most sensitive trait. With the increases of fire severity in burned areas, leaf area, leaf thickness, leaf dry matter content, leaf nitrogen content and leaf phosphorus content increased, while specific leaf area and leaf organic carbon content decreased. There were significant correlations among some leaf functional traits, with the correlations being distinct in burned areas with different fire severities. The leaf economic spectrum moved from 'unburned-light burn-mode-rate burn' to the resource trade-off strategy of 'rapid investment-return type' along the fire environment. The recovery of P. tabuliformis would be accelerated in burned area with low fire severity.