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Objective To summarize the clinical application of micro-double-port endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy in treatment of primary palmar hyperhidrosis. Methods Clinical data of 25 patients with primary palmar hyperhidrosis undergoing sympathectomy in our department from April 2021 to March 2022 were collected and retrospectively analyzed. They were 9 males and 16 females, at an age of 23.0±5.1 (15, 35) years. During the operation, two 0.5-cm incisions were made at the anterior axillary line and the mid-axillary line of the 3rd or 4th intercostal space, then two 5-mm trocars were placed, and a 5-mm needle-type thoracoscope was used to establish an artificial pneumothorax. R3 and R4 thoracic sympathetic chains were transected. Results All 25 patients successfully received the operation and were discharged upon recovery. One patient developed a small amount of pneumothorax on the right side after operation, and re-examination with chest X-ray filming showed that the pneumothorax was absorbed in 12 d after operation. The symptoms of hyperhidrosis on the hands all disappeared, and hand temperature was increased as expected. The operation time was 23.2±4.7 min, the intraoperative blood loss was 4.2±2.3 mL, the postoperative hospital stay was 0.6±0.4 d, and the postoperative pain score was 1.0±0.6. The treatment effective rate was 100%, and the satisfaction of outcome was 100%. Fifteen patients had mild compensatory hyperhidrosis postoperatively. Conclusion In treatment of primary palmar hyperhidrosis, micro-double-port endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy is characterized by small incision, safe and easy operation, short operation time and postoperative hospital stay, and no obvious pain and more satisfying outcomes.

In order to explore the influence of cold heading equipment based on polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) polymer sensing material on steel ball stamping, a new method was proposed to reflect the defects of cold heading forming of steel ball by load signal. PVDF piezoelectric film is used as the sensor design of force and support structure of steel ball cold heading electromechanical sensor model. PVDF piezoelectric thin film force sensor is used for the structural optimization and simulation. The structural parameters affecting the natural frequency are numerically analyzed by MATLAB software. The mapping relationship between the external load and the output load of the sensor is obtained by using ANSYS software, and the simulation curve of the natural frequency of the sensor is compared with the theoretical curve to verify the factors affecting the natural frequency. The results show that the nonlinear error of sensors refers to the measured curve and the maximum deviation between the fitting line and the percentage of full-scale output.

BACKGROUND RESULTS CONCLUSION The main edible part of the Lou onion is the pseudostem, which is highly valued for its distinctive flavour. However, harvesting decisions for the pseudostem are often based on size and market price, with little consideration given to flavour. By clarifying the growth of flavour in pseudostems, farmers and consumers may benefit from evidence‐based insights that help optimize harvesting time and maximize flavour quality.This study employed amino acid analysis and gas chromatography–ion migration spectroscopy (GC–IMS) to elucidate the compounds of the pseudostem across different growth phases, and 17 amino acids and 61 volatile substances. Subsequently, analysis revealed that 18 compounds, including arginine (Arg), aspartic acid (Asp), glutamic acid (Glu), valine (Val), (E)‐2‐nonenal, decanal, 2,4‐nonadienal, 2‐octenal, (Z)‐4‐decenal, 2,4‐decadienal benzeneacetaldehyde, linalool, eugenol, (Z)‐6‐nonen‐1‐ol, methyl anthranilate, 2‐acetylpyridine, 3‐sec‐butyl‐2‐methoxypyrazine, and 2,6‐dichlorophenol, were the key compounds in determining the flavour characteristics of the pseudostems, as assessed by taste activity value and relative odour activity value calculations. In addition, correlation analysis, focusing on five amino acids and 38 volatile compounds with variable importance for predictive components scores of >1, identified anisaldehyde, eugenol, (Z)‐6‐nonen‐1‐ol, 2,4‐decadienal, 3‐sec‐butyl‐2‐methoxypyrazine, Arg, Asp, and Val as the key differentiators and contributors to the pseudostems flavour profile.During the rapid growth of Lou onions just before the emergence of flower stems, the pseudostem exhibited the most prominent flavour, making this stage most suitable for harvesting compared to the regreening growth stage and the rapid growth period of the aerial bulbs. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Incorporating nano-dispersions into thermoelectric (TE) materials is an effective approach to enhance the TE properties. Herein, the TE performance of Cu2Se thin film is significantly enhanced by incorporating highly dispersed SnSe nano-inclusions. The high power factor (PF, ∼11.0 μW cm−1 K−2, 310 K) at near room temperature is achieved mainly due to the enhanced energy filtering effect that originated from the potential barrier difference. The total thermal conductivity is decreased owing to the simultaneously reduced electrical conductivity and enhanced phonon scattering. As a result, a high zT value (∼0.59 at 375 K) is achieved, which is about 12 times of pristine Cu2Se film. Remarkably, the calculated average zT values of Cu2Se/SnSe films from 310 to 375 K greatly exceed those of the pristine Cu2Se film, as well as the most state-of-the-art studies. High room-temperature PF and average zT value are crucial for expanding the practical application of Cu2Se at near room temperature. This work provides a feasible strategy to optimize the zT values of some other TE films by introducing nano-dispersions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The layered ternary PbBi2Te4 is regarded as a promising thermoelectric material due to its intricate crystal structure. However, current research on PbBi2Te4 primarily focuses on theoretical calculations and predictions, with limited investigations conducted on its actual thermoelectric transport properties. In this study, we synthesized the single-phase PbBi2Te4 compound using the high-temperature melting method. The research findings indicate that PbBi2Te4 exhibits significant anisotropic thermoelectric properties and a pronounced bipolar diffusion effect, which can be attributed to its unique layered crystal structure and relatively narrow bandgap. This bipolar diffusion effect remarkably exacerbates the Seebeck coefficient of PbBi2Te4 and amplifies its thermal conductivity. To address these challenges, we effectively manipulated the electronic band structure of PbBi2Te4 and enlarged the bandgap through the incorporation of Se alloying. The thermoelectric performance of PbBi2Te4 has been significantly enhanced as a result of the increase in Seebeck coefficient and reduction in thermal conductivity. Ultimately, a superior ZT value of ∼0.52 at 673 K is achieved in PbBi2(Te0.85Se0.15)4, representing an impressive improvement of ∼ 49% compared to the pure PbBi2Te4. These results demonstrate the promising potential of ternary PbBi2Te4 as a thermoelectric material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Motivated by the recently discovered superconductivity in Sr-doped nickelate oxides NdNiO2 reduced from NdNiO3 in experiments, we predict a Mott multiferroic BiNiO2 that may be obtained from BiNiO3. There is a ferroelectric structural transition for BiNiO2 from the nonpolar phase to the polar phase with the P4mm space group, which is driven by the lone pair on Bi. The lowest energy ground-state for polar BiNiO2 is a Hubbard Mott insulator with the G-type antiferromagnetic spin configurations. The replacement of Nd by Bi serves as a connecting link between a parent compound of high-temperature superconductor and a Mott multiferroic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to investigate the effect of the different frame type on the aroma components and the sensory quality of a grape cultivar 'Nantaihutezao',the 6-year-old 'Nantaihutezao' grape was cultivated by sloping trellis and '...' type (CK)in the greenhouse, and the fruit characters and volatile aroma of the different fruiting parts(the front part of inclined trellis, C1;the middle of inclined trellis,C2;the rear of inclined trellis,C3) with the different frame types were evaluated. The aroma compounds were determined for the ripe berries in 'Nantaihutezao' using FlavourSpec® analyzer(gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometre,GC-IMS), a series of physical and chemical indexes were determined, the aroma compounds and the berries quality were evaluated. The results showed that, compared with other bearing parts of the trellis and CK, the fruit branch base diameter of 'Nantaihutezao' cultivated by inclined trellis increased successively from front part of inclined trellis (C1), and the sugar to acid ratio of C1 was suitable,the anthocyanin content of C1 was 438.69 mg · L-1, which was 21.4%, 108.1% and 8.9% higher than that of C2, C3 and CK, respectively. The total amount of esters, alcohols and aldehydes in each bearing part of the scaffold were higher than CK, and the ester aroma of C1 was the highest, reaching 4 944.24 μg · L-1, which was 1.5%, 21.9% and 37.9% higher than that of C2, C3 and CK, respectively;the alcohols value of C1 was the highest, reaching 15 930.07 μg · L-1, which was increased by 5.8%, 7.7% and 1.3% compared with C2,C3 and CK, respectively, however, there was no significant difference between the result parts and CK (P>0.05);the total amount of aldehydes in C1 was the highest, reaching 8 865.41 μg · L-1, which was increased by 1.5%, 6.6% and 17.2% compared with C2, C3 and CK, respectively. The odor activity values of methyl butyrate, (E)-2-hexenol and alpha-pinene at C1 were the highest, which could be used as the main aroma substances of grape. There were more volatile aroma types in C1, C3 and CK berries, and the aroma was more prominent,C1 was more typical and intense in sweet flavor. 'Nantaihutezao' grapes of different rack types and different bearing parts showed different aroma characteristics and flavors, which could provide a theoretical reference for the selection of the frame type and the formation of flavor mechanism of 'Nantaihutezao' grape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to eliminate the accuracy deviation of the optical diameter measurement system (ODM) induced by glue and dust buildup, a filter rod cleaning unit was designed and fixed on the input component of the ODM. The unit is composed of a seat and a cover, which define an annular chamber and an annular jet. After being introduced into the annular chamber, the compressed air flows out of the annular jet, forms an air stream flowing in the opposite direction of the moving filter rod. A simulation model of the cleaning unit was created with Comsol software, and the dimensions of the unit were optimized to allow the air stream evenly swept over the surface of the filter rod at maximum flow velocity. The designed unit was tested on three KDF4 filter rod makers in Qujing Cigarette Factory of HongyunHonghe Tobacco (Group). The results showed that the filter rod moved stably, and the average value and standard deviation of the filter rod circumference were not affected. The monthly average number of ODM cleaning reduced from 64 to 5 per KDF4 filter rod maker. This technology supports the improvement of the operating efficiency of filter rod makers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]