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A rational strategy for preparing effective electrode materials is crucial for high-performance electrochemical energy storage devices. Herein, a facile route to construct hierarchical composite electrodes (NiCoLDH@NiCoSe2@MnO2) consisting of hydrothermally synthesized NiCo-layered double hydroxide (NiCoLDH) nanoneedle arrays decorated with alternately electrodeposited NiCoSe2 and MnO2 nanocrystals on carbon fibers was developed. The NiCoLDH nanoneedles are designed to facilitate the one-step electrodeposited growth of NiCoSe2 nanoparticles for 60 s and also strengthen the interfacial contact between the NiCoSe2 film and the conductive fiber substrate. While the secondary electrodeposition of MnO2 layers for 40 s further enhances the electrochemical performance and cycling stability of composite electrodes, such composite electrodes display a high area specific capacitance of 1051.3 mF cm−2 at 1 mA cm−2, with obviously superior capacitance retention (∼80%) to that of NiCoLDH@NiCoSe2 (∼49%) after 5000 cycles. Then, the corresponding fiber-shaped supercapacitors provide an energy density of 45.00 μW h cm−2 at a power density of 800.00 μW cm−2 while having good stability. Notably, this fabrication strategy is also available for other conductive substrates (e.g., metal fibers/wires). This work presents a low cost, simple operation and efficient way for the in situ preparation of high-performance electrode materials for electrochemical energy storage applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pyrolytic carbon of polymer adsorbent resin (SAP) is used as a waste carbon source, which can be used as a porous carbon network via pyrolysis to remove surface sodium carbonate and other substances. In this paper, a ZnFe2O4/nitrogen-doped porous carbon composite was prepared using the template method. Through the high-temperature carbonization of a polymer and crystallization of inorganic elements, the morphology of the composite showed uniform load characteristics. This well-defined structure and morphology facilitate the transport of Li+, enhance the effective contact area with the electrolyte, and provide a wealth of active sites. For the SAP-Fe/Zn anode, at a high current density of 0.1 A g−1, the reversible capacity of the anode reached 753 mAh g−1 after 200 cycles, showing excellent magnification performance. The final modified SAP-Fe/Zn&NC electrode had a reversible capacity of 205.6 mAh g−1 after 1000 cycles at the high current density of 2 A g−1, and the cycle retention rate was as high as 80.7%. The enhanced electrochemical performance can be attributed to the abundant active sites and shortened diffusion pathway of the composite. This ensures adequate conversion reactions during the Li-litization process between Zn, Fe, and Li+, alleviates volume expansion, and prevents comminution/aggregation during long cycles at high current densities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, Direction of arrival estimation (DOA) in coprime array is investigated, and an advanced method for DOA estimation is presented with extended coprime array (ECA). Specifically, we use Discrete Fourier Transform (DFT) to obtain initial DOA estimation with large difference co-arrays generated by ECA, then perform Taylor series approximation and total least squares (TLS) method around the initial estimation to compensate the estimation offset. Compared to conventional DFT method, the proposed method enjoys better estimation accuracy with fewer computational burden since it avoids extra searches and benefits more from large difference co-array. Besides, in contrast to spatial smoothing based methods which halve array aperture, the proposed method avoids the process of spatial smoothing and fully utilises uniform degrees of freedom (DOFs). In this case, the proposed method has advantages on estimation accuracy and computational efficiency with multiple impinging signals, especially under the condition of large difference co-array. Furthermore, the proposed method is applicable to other types of advanced coprime array. The superiority of the proposed method has been proved by numerical simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sleep abnormalities frequently occur in intensive care unit (ICU) patients, and the consequences of sleep abnormalities in patients who undergo off‐pump coronary artery bypass graft (OPCABG) surgery are particularly significant. Although many interventions have been reported to improve sleep, few sleep promotion protocols have been designed specifically for patients in cardiac ICUs. Aims and objectives: This study aimed to explore the effects of an evidence‐based sleep promotion protocol on patients who underwent OPCABG in a cardiac ICU. Design: A quasi‐experimental study was conducted in a comprehensive hospital in Shandong province of China. Methods: Overall, 67 participants were recruited (37 in the control group and 30 in the intervention group). An evidence‐based sleep promotion protocol was developed by a 10‐member interprofessional collaborative team and then applied. Sound levels, light intensity, and the number of nocturnal interventions were compared between groups. The Chinese version of the Richards−Campbell Sleep Questionnaire (RCSQ) was used to compare intergroup sleep status on two consecutive postoperative nights. Results: No significant differences were found for demographics or disease severity between the groups. In the intervention group, sound levels and light intensity were significantly lower at various times, and nocturnal interventions were significantly less frequent over the two consecutive nights. RCSQ scores were significantly higher in the intervention group for both nights. Conclusions: The sleep promotion protocol reduced sound levels, night‐time light intensity, the number of nocturnal interventions, and improved sleep among OPCABG patients in a cardiac ICU. Relevance to clinical practice: Evidence‐based practice can help to promote good quality of care, improve patient outcomes, and advance nursing in clinical settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Melioidosis is a severe and fatal tropical zoonosis, which is triggered by Burkholderia pseudomallei. To better understand the host’s response to infection of B. pseudomallei, an RNA-Seq technology was used to confirm differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in RAW264.7 cells infected with B. pseudomallei. In total, 4668 DEGs were identified across three time points (4, 8, and 11 hours after infection). Short Time-Series Expression Miner (STEM) analysis revealed the temporal gene expression profiles and identified seven significant patterns in a total of 26 profiles. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) was utilized to confirm significantly enriched immune process-associated pathways, and 10 DEGs, including Ccl9, Ifnb1, Tnfα, Ptgs2, Tnfaip3, Zbp1, Ccl5, Ifi202b, Nfkbia, and Nfkbie, were mapped to eight immune process-associated pathways. Subsequent quantitative real-time PCR assays confirmed that the 10 DEGs were all upregulated during infection. Overall, the results showed that B. pseudomallei infection can initiate a time-series upregulation of immune process-associated DEGs in RAW264.7 macrophage cells. The discovery of this article helps us better understand the biological function of the immune process-associated genes during B. pseudomallei infection and may aid in the development of prophylaxis and treatment protocols for melioidosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To analyze the application effect of health failure mode and effect analysis (HFMEA) model in patients with artificial airways in the cardiovascular surgery intensive care unit (CSICU) by establishing a HFMEA project team, and to develop targeted improvement measures and processes., Methods: The patients undergoing cardiovascular surgeries and with established artificial airways in the Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University were recruited from October 2021 to March 2022. The enrolled patients were divided into the conventional management group and the HFMEA model management group according to random number table method. The conventional management group applied the conventional procedures for monitoring the air bag pressure. The HFMEA model management group used the HFMEA model to implement and improve the airbag pressure monitoring process. The efficacy of HFMEA was assessed by comparing the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), the pass rate of airbag pressure monitoring, the duration of endotracheal intubation and the length of CSICU stay between two groups. The practicability of HFMEA model was evaluated by analyzing the theoretical assessment scores and practical skill scores of nurses and their satisfaction scores with HFMEA., Results: Compared with the conventional management group, the patients in the HFMEA mode management group had a significantly higher rate of passing airbag pressure monitoring [94.99% (2 994/3 152) vs. 69.97% (1 626/2 324), P < 0.01], shorter duration of endotracheal intubation and length of CSICU stay [duration of endotracheal intubation (hours): 6 (7, 12) vs. 6 (8, 13), length of CSICU stay (hours): 40 (45, 65) vs. 41 (46, 85), both P < 0.05], but the incidences of VAP between the two groups were similar. The theoretical assessment scores and practical skill scores of nurses were significantly higher (theoretical assessment score: 44.47±2.72 vs. 37.59±6.56, practical skill score: 44.56±2.66 vs. 40.03±4.32, total score: 89.03±3.07 vs. 77.63±9.56, all P < 0.05) in the HFMEA mode management group. And the satisfaction scores with airbag pressure management were also significantly higher in the HFMEA mode management group (7.72±1.11 vs. 6.44±1.32, P < 0.05)., Conclusions: The application of the HFMEA can improve the airbag pressure measures and standardize the monitoring procedures in patients with artificial airways, and reduce the risk of clinical nursing. It is safe and effective for patients with invasive mechanical ventilation in the CSICU.