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Background : Dementia is a priority public health issue globally. Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) lead to low quality of life (QoL) for people living with dementia and can also cause distress amongst their caregivers. To date, the effectiveness of pharmacological treatments for dementia have had limited. Animal assisted intervention (AAI) has become a popular non-pharmacological therapy and psychosocial intervention, and can have positive effects on mood, social behavior, physical activity and QoL of people living with dementia. The factors influencing the delivery of AAI remain underexplored. The aim of this review is to synthesize qualitative research regarding stakeholders' perceptions and experiences of AAI for people living with dementia in community settings. Methods : We will systematically search nine databases/platforms. Two reviewers will independently screen the titles, abstracts and full texts; the process will be reported following PRISMA guidance. Data from included studies will be extracted according to a specifically designed form. Three reviewers will independently appraise the methodological quality of studies using the Critical Appraisal Skills Program qualitative checklist. We will analyze data following thematic synthesis. GRADE-CERQual will be applied to assess confidence in the findings. The research team will engage in reflexivity throughout all review stages of process through regular meetings/discussions. A Public and Patient Involvement (PPI) contributor will be included to oversee and provide advice on the QES process. Discussion: AAI is a potentially valuable for improving mood and reducing BPSD for people living with dementia. However, the perceptions and experiences of stakeholders and factors influencing the implementation of AAI for people living with dementia are not clear. This qualitative evidence synthesis will significantly contribute to the evidence base. It will identify factors and recommendations for AAI guidance, and have clinical and social implications of improving the well-being of people living with dementia and their caregivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

NaNbO 3 is explored as a potential candidate for catalysis due to its excellent piezoelectricity. However, its photocatalysis is significantly limited for the inherent characteristics of wide band gap. In this work, NaNbO 3 and Ag dots-modified NaNbO 3 micron-sized powders are prepared and applied in piezo-photocatalysis to explore the coupling effects. The results show that the piezocatalysis degradation efficiency of RhB solution (the initial concentration C 0 = 5 mg/L) reaches 92.3% within 30 min, and the rate constant k is 0.0889 min−1. The efficiency of piezo-photocatalysis degradation reaches 92.7% in 25 min, and the rate constant k is 0.11 min−1 for NaNbO 3. The rate constant k of Ag dots-modified NaNbO 3 for piezo-photocatalytic degradation of RhB (C 0 = 5 mg/L) is increased to 0.16314 min−1. The optical and electrochemical activities of NaNbO 3 -0.75hAg are studied to reveal the role of Ag nanoparticles. The band gap of NaNbO 3 is 3.59 eV, which is decreased to 3.36 eV after the modification with Ag dots. The lower band gap means that e− in the valence band is more easily excited to shift the conduction band, which is beneficial to the photocatalytic reaction process. In addition, NaNbO 3 -0.75hAg has a higher photogenerated carrier density, a faster electron-hole pair separation and transfer rate, which are beneficial to the catalytic oxidation process. The work provides a useful means to decease the band gap of NaNbO 3 and achieve outstanding piezo-photocatalysis for degradation of hazardous organic dyes in contaminated water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Bi single atoms and nanoparticles dual-sites are presented on TiO 2 for the first time. • A reverse etching route was firstly used to achieve confined dual-sites. • The porous dual-Bi/TiO 2 catalyst achieves a CH 4 generation rate of 103.89 μmol·g−1·h−1 with an impressive selectivity of 96.87 %. Synchronizing the directional photogenerated transfer of electrons and regulating the CO 2 photocatalytic reduction process are key to achieving the efficient and highly selective photocatalytic reduction of CO 2. The design of highly-dispersed active sites and the efficient collaboration of multiple sites are of great importance in attaining the above target. Herein, a reverse etching route was first proposed to confine Bi single atoms and nanoparticles as dual-sites for assisting CO 2 photoreduction on TiO 2 , avoiding the mutual masking of the active sites. The Synergism of the dual-sites achieves the hydrodeoxygenation of * COOH and ushers the directional conversion of CO 2 to CH 4. Highly dispersed single Bi atoms could induce the transfer of photogenerated electrons, enhance CO 2 absorption, and further provide active sites for reducing CO 2 to *COOH intermediates. Besides, appropriate Bi nanoparticles could promote the separation and transfer of photogenerated and inhibit the formation of hydroxyl groups; more importantly, they could promote the release of protons, which would further accelerate the conversion of *COOH to CH 4. After being integrated, the optimized dual-Bi/TiO 2 catalyst achieves a CH 4 generation rate of 103.89 μmol·g−1·h−1 with an impressive selectivity of 96.87 % as well as remarkable durability for photocatalytic CO 2 reduction. This work provides new insights into developing robust catalysts through the artful design of synergistic catalytic sites for efficient photocatalytic CO 2 conversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A combined strategy of defects and tunable hydroxyl radical was designed for CO 2 photoreduction. • Highly dispersed Bi 2 Ti 2 O 7 was introduced in defective TiO 2 via an in situ topochemical reactions etching route. • CO 2 photoreduction rate for CH 4 of optimized heterophase is 7.9 times higher than that of P25. A well-designed photocatalyst with excellent activity and selectivity is crucial for photocatalytic CO 2 conversion and utilization. TiO 2 is one of the most promising photocatalysts. However, its excessive surface oxidation potential and insufficient surface active sites inhibit its activity and photocatalytic CO 2 reduction selectivity. In this work, highly dispersed Bi 2 Ti 2 O 7 was introduced into defective TiO 2 to adjust its oxidation potential and the generation of radicals, further inhibiting reverse reactions during the photocatalytic conversion of CO 2. Moreover, an in situ topochemical reaction etching route was designed, which achieved defective surfaces, a contacted heterophase interface, and an efficient electron transfer path. The optimized heterophase photocatalyst exhibited 93.9% CH 4 selectivity at a photocatalytic rate of 6.8 μmol·g−1·h−1, which was 7.9 times higher than that of P25. This work proposes a feasible approach to fabricating photocatalysts with well-designed band structures, highly dispersed heterophase interfaces, and sufficient surface active sites to effectively modulate the selectivity and activity of CO 2 photoreduction by manipulating the reaction pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In previous studies, it has been shown that phosphorus and phosphate can improve the conductivity, change the electronic structure, and accept electrons from catalysts. In this study, we obtained phosphorylated NiAl-layered double hydroxide (P-LDH) nanosheets and used them as a novel cocatalyst in photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. After assembly with g-C 3 N 4 via an in situ process, these noble-metal-free composite photocatalysts showed superior photocatalytic hydrogen evolution activity. It was also found that the efficiency of H 2 production on the optimal composite was 1.5 times that of Pt-modified g-C 3 N 4. Characterization of the photocatalysts revealed that the effects of P-LDH were different from those of other bimetallic LDHs, showing a lower overpotential and faster reaction kinetics of H 2 evolution. Moreover, it was found that P-LDH has a higher surface work function than that of g-C 3 N 4 , leading to the formation of an interfacial electric field from CN toward P-LDH. Therefore, modifying P-LDH can efficiently improve the interfacial charge transfer rate, suppress photogenerated charge recombination, and lower the surface overpotential of g-C 3 N 4. This study serves as guidance on the design of more effective cocatalysts for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution reactions. • Novel phosphorylated NiAl-layered double hydroxide nanosheets were synthesized. • The P-LDH can act as a cocatalyst for photocatalytic hydrogen production. • The formation and effects of P-LDH were studied and verified in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the lack of comprehensive understanding of the formation mechanism, the preparation of carbon onions by arc discharge is still an uncontrollable process, which restrains their massive and stable production. Taking advantage of the transient nature of the arc discharge, we successfully captured the nanoparticle morphology in each growing stage during the carbon onion formation process in a large discharge furnace with chamber radius of 22.5 cm. Scanning electron microscope images of raw soot show that massive spherical aggregations are enriched in nanoparticles, and high-resolution transmission electron microscope images reveal fairly heterogeneous nanoparticles which are corresponding to varying growing stages of carbon onions. It is proposed that the change from the well-ordered graphite to another ordered polyhedral and nickel-encapsulated carbon onions is via a non-crystalline intermediate state, and carbon onions begin to deposit through a novel sector mechanism, i.e. the inner and outer carbon shells are simultaneously precipitated and grow away from or along the catalyst surface to form a polyhedral or metal encapsulated carbon onion, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of lead-free ferroelectric ceramics exhibiting a high Curie point is regarded as a key aspect of improving the overall performance of high temperature sensing devices. Two-layer Dion-Jacobson phases have great potential for these applications, but the dielectric properties of many of these compounds have not been investigated and several are still erroneously considered to be non-polar. RbPrNb 2 O 7 , a two-layer Dion-Jacobson phase, has previously been identified as being non-polar at room temperature, with an orthorhombic crystal structure in space group Imma. Here, the structure of RbPrNb 2 O 7 is re-examined and its ferroelectric (FE) character confirmed through ferroelectric, dielectric and piezoelectric measurements, using dense bulk ceramics. In addition, the microstructure and phase evolution of the compound were analysed by transmission electron microscopy, variable temperature X-ray powder diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry. RbPrNb 2 O 7 is a ferroelectric at room temperature, exhibiting orthorhombic symmetry in space group I 2 cm. It undergoes a reversible FE ↔ FE phase transition at around 260 °C, with evidence for a diffuse apolar transition between 800 and 900 °C. Details of the subtle structural changes occurring at these transitions are discussed. RbPrNb 2 O 7 possesses a high Curie point of ~1090 °C, making it a potential candidate for use in high temperature piezoelectric sensing. Image, graphical abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose a cascaded plasmonic nanorod antenna for large broadband electric near-field enhancement. The structure has one big gold nanorod on each side of a small two-wire antenna which consists of two small gold nanorods. For each small nanorod, the enhanced and broadened optical response can be obtained due to the efficient energy transfer from its adjacent big nanorod through strong plasmonic near-field coupling. Thus, the electric field intensity of the cascaded antenna is significantly larger and broader than that of the individual small two-wire antenna. The resonant position, field intensity enhancement, and spectral width of the cascaded antenna are highly tunable by varying the geometry of the system. The quantum efficiency of the cascaded antenna is also greatly enhanced compared with that of the small antenna. Our results are important for the applications in field-enhanced spectroscopy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Revealed the role of surface K+ for promoting the conversion of bridge *CO to -CHO on TiO 2. • Highly dispersed K+ was introduced on the surface of ultrathin TiO 2 nanosheets via an in situ topochemical reactions etching route. • The photoreduction rate for CH 4 of optimized photocatalyst is 3.39 times higher than that of P25 and the selectivity for methane was 96.02%. The photoreduction rate for CH 4 of optimized photocatalyst is superior to that of most of the reported TiO 2 -based photocatalysts. The efficient conversion of CO 2 to carbon-neural fuels by photocatalysts can effectively address the increasingly prominent challenges of environmental pollution and energy shortage. TiO 2 is considered a promising photocatalyst. However, its disadvantages, such as poor adsorption of CO 2 and low carrier separation efficiency, inhibit its performance and selectivity in photocatalytic CO 2 reduction. Herein, K+-modified anatase TiO 2 ultrathin nanosheet photocatalysts were obtained via a reverse etching method using K 2 Ti 8 O 17 as the precursor. The selectivity of the optimized photocatalyst for methane was 96.02% in a gas–solid system without additives, with an excellent photocatalytic rate of 42.3 μmol·g−1·h−1, which was 3.39 times higher than that of P25. The effects of K+ on photocatalytic behaviors and the selectivity of CH 4 was systematically investigated. The test results showed that during treatment with formic acid, a large amount of K+ from the layered K 2 Ti 8 O 17 were removed and the original structure was destroyed. Therefore, highly dispersed TiO 2 nanosheets were obtained, with a small amount of K+ remaining on the TiO 2 surface. The well-defined rectangular shapes of TiO 2 reduce the transmission distance of photogenerated carriers, whereas the presence of K+ increase the chemisorption of CO 2 molecules, thereby activating CO 2 , promoting the conversion of bridge *CO to -CHO, and increasing CH 4 production. This study provides insightful references for the preparation and modification of traditional photocatalysts for photocatalytic CO 2 reduction reactions. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In this paper, a water soluble hydantion epoxy resin (ER) was employed to prepare zirconia green bodies with high mechanical strength via epoxy gel-casting (EGC) for dental applications. The rheological properties and gelation behaviors of the suspensions, and the microstructure and mechanical strength of zirconia were systematically studied. The results revealed that solid loadings of up to 52.0 vol% could be achieved with the addition of 0.8 wt% dispersant. When the concentration of ER in the 52.0 vol% suspensions increased from 10.0 to 25.0 wt%, the mechanical strength of the resulting green bodies was enhanced from 40.96 ± 5.20 to 51.22 ± 12.01 MPa. A rough sketch of a pre-sintered zirconia crown was soft-machined from the green body consolidated from a 52.0 vol% suspension containing 10.0 wt% ER. The sintered body had a high mechanical strength of 942.77 ± 95.61 MPa. Highlights • The hydantion epoxy resin was employed to prepare zirconia green body with high mechanical strength for dental application. • The mechanical strength of zirconia green body was reach to 51.22 ± 12.01 MPa. • Pre-sintered zirconia crown was soft-machined and the sintered body had a high mechanical strength of 942.77 ± 95.61 MPa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Polymer‐based capacitors with high energy density have attracted significant attention in recent years due to their wide range of potential applications in electronic devices. However, the obtained high energy density is predominantly dependent on high applied electric field, e.g., 400–600 kV mm−1, which may bring more challenges relating to the failure probability. Here, a simple two‐step method for synthesizing titanium dioxide/lead zirconate titanate nanowire arrays is exploited and a demonstration of their ability to achieve high discharge energy density capacitors for low operating voltage applications is provided. A high discharge energy density of 6.9 J cm−3 is achieved at low electric fields, i.e., 143 kV mm−1, which is attributed to the high relative permittivity of 218.9 at 1 kHz and high polarization of 23.35 µC cm−2 at this electric field. The discharge energy density obtained in this work is the highest known for a ceramic/polymer nanocomposite at such a low electric field. The novel nanowire arrays used in this work are applicable to a wide range of fields, such as energy harvesting, energy storage, and photocatalysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dielectric materials with high energy storage density are attracting scientific and commercial interest due to the prospect of application in advanced electronic devices and electric power systems. Ceramic/polymer composite is one of the most promising materials to obtain high energy density because it combines high permittivity from ceramic and high breakdown strength as well as flexibility from polymer matrix. However, the homogeneous dispersion and compatibility of nanoparticles in polymers matrix are still of great challenges due to the different surface energy between inorganic fillers and organic polymer matrix. Interfaces modification for ceramic fillers is an effective way to ease the mentioned problems. Herein, we proposed a low-cost and environmentally friendly route to prepare a core–shell structure by paraffin engineer the BaTiO 3 nanoparticles. The modified BaTiO 3 nanoparticles exhibited homogeneous dispersion in the ferroelectric polymer poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (P(VDF-HFP)) matrix and strong interfacial adhesion with the polymer matrix. The nanocomposites prepared in this work showed notably enhanced energy storage density. The maximum storage energy density of the nanocomposite with 50 vol% BaTiO 3 increased to 21.1 J/cm 3 at 150 kV/mm. These results indicate that paraffin is an effective modifier to prepare high energy storage density capacitor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mars has similar natural environments to Earth and is regarded as a potential candidate for human migration. Exploration to Mars has been a hotspot in major aerospace countries, and therefore bringing the national flag to Mars is an inevitable demand. A self-deployable mechanism inspired by the ancient papyrus scroll to demonstrate the national flag dynamically is proposed in this paper. The release device made of shape memory polymer composites, as the functional part, is analysed thoroughly from the perspective of material design, fabrication and experiments. Firstly, the mechanical properties of woven fabric composites are predicted theoretically, and the thickness of laminates is determined according to the mechanical requirement, fabrication technique and shape moulding method. Tensile and three-point bending tests were carried out to validate the analytical prediction and provide parameters for numerical simulation. Besides, shape fixation and recovery properties were studied by both simulation and experiments with consistent results. Additionally, the shape moulding method was modified by reheating and sustaining a high-temperature period after bending to obtain the designed pattern. This world's first application of shape memory polymer composites in Mars explorations is a milestone for both deep space exploration and advanced smart materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of Rhodococcus, designated strain MZ-3, which could degrade acetochlor efficiently were isolated and identified. The isolate could degrade and utilize acetochlor as the sole source of carbon, nitrogen, and energy for growth. The optimal conditions for the degradation and growth of MZ-3 were pH 7.0 and 30°C. Under these conditions, this strain could completely degrade 200 mg/L of acetochlor within 12 h of incubation. During the biodegradation process, the enantioselectivity of the strain was investigated using a chiral high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) system. However, no obvious enantioselectivities were found. 2-chloro-N-(2-methyl-6-ethylphenyl) acetamide (CMEPA) was detected as the intermediate using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analyses. Our results suggest that strain MZ-3 might be a promising microorganism for the bioremediation of acetochlor-contaminated environments because of its acetochlor-degrading performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synchronous deployments for symmetrical structures such as solar arrays and antennas are desired because they are conducive to subsequent attitude stabilization. In this work, we propose a synchronous deployed mechanism triggered by shape memory polymer composites (SMPCs). Firstly, the material design was developed according to the fibre microbuckling behaviour of unidirectional carbon fibre reinforced laminates undergoing flexural deformation to balance high mechanical requirements and large deploy/fold ratio desirements. Then, two resins with different glass transition temperatures (Tg s) from a similar shape memory epoxy system were used for fabrication. These laminates with different fibre volume fractions, thicknesses, matrices and fibre distributions were tested by three-point bending tests to evaluate their mechanical performance. Recovery tests were carried out under different environmental temperatures. In addition, the recovery stimulated by resistor heaters in vacuum endowed the mechanism with good recovery robustness. Finally, functional validation on an aluminium prototype showed good synchronization. This design concept has the advantage of being lightweight, low-impact and highly reliable. It is expected to provide a reasonable and robust solution for synchronous deployments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The influences of different inclined planes on the measurement of medium height, reflection and transmission attenuation are analyzed and compared. • The conversion coefficient of transmission attenuation from paraffin wax to carbon-containing fly ash at the same measurement height is defined. • The interference of different inclined planes on the measurement of carbon content in fly ash are quantitative analyzed. Microwave attenuation method has been one of the possible methods to measure the carbon content in fly ash online with high accuracy in recent years. However, the uncertainty of the shape of fly ash accumulation in waveguide brings many errors to the measurement of carbon content. To correct the errors, based on the study of ash level measurement, the influences of different inclined planes on the measurement of medium height and transmission attenuation are compared. Then, a model was established to quantify the influence of slope degree on carbon content of fly ash. Finally, the interference of different inclined planes on the measurement of carbon content in fly ash is analyzed. The result shows that with the increase of the inclination angle of the dielectric top slope in the waveguide, the transmission attenuation effect gradually increases. This will lead to the large measured value of carbon content in fly ash. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Functionally graded piezoelectric material (FGPM) has attracted great attention as sensors and actuators due to its improved reliability and performance. This paper aims at the study of fracture behavior relating to FGPM. In this paper, electroelastic field concentration near electrodes for a FGPM under anti-plane shear deformation is obtained. The Fourier transform technique is applied to reduce the boundary value problem to a pair of dual integral equations, and then to singular integral equation with Cauchy kernel. The resulting singular integral equations are solved by Lobatto-Chebyshev quadrature method. The field intensity factors such as electric displacement and stress intensity factors have been obtained numerically. The influences of nonhomogeneity and geometry parameters on the field intensity factors have been discussed. Theoretical analysis reveals a linear relationship between stress intensity factors and the electric displacement intensity factors. Moreover, the nonhomogeneous parameter should be properly selected to balance the intensity factors on the top and bottom surface electrodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A new processing technique was proposed for preparing aluminum nitride (AlN)/Hydantion interpenetrating network composites. The technique comprised gelcasting AlN green bodies, degreasing, and infiltrating Hydantion epoxy resin and hardener into the AlN skeleton under a vacuum condition. The effects of AlN contents on the viscosities of AlN slurries and the flexural strength, thermal conductivity, dielectric constant of the AlN/Hydantion composites were evaluated. The highest thermal conductivity and flexural strength of the AlN/Hydantion composites reached 3.56W/mK and 101.3MPa, respectively. The fracture surface of the composite revealed that an interpenetrating polymer network in the AlN ceramic skeleton was formed. The AlN/Hydantion composite exhibited the dielectric constant of 7.3 at 1MHz. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Hydantion epoxy resin with excellent water solubility and low toxicity which are important factors in aqueous gelcasting of ceramics in air condition was firstly developed. The effect of Hydantion epoxy resin on the rheological property, gelation behavior and mechanical property was presented using Al2O3 as the model system. The results showed that the idle time of Al2O3 suspensions with the addition of Hydantion epoxy resin is sufficient for casting at room temperature. With the addition of 15wt% Hydantion epoxy resin, the flexural strength of Al2O3 green body reached 43.4MPa, which is the highest so far among the existing gelling systems and is 2.6 times higher than the result in reported water-soluble epoxy resin systems. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A novel route combining the conventional freeze casting and gel casting was proposed for the fabrication of aligned pore structures. In comparison with the conventional freeze casting, the utilization of a water-soluble Hydantoin epoxy resin in the freeze casting promoted the gelation process and led to a higher compressive strength of the green body. After sintering, the freeze gelcast samples exhibited a twice higher compressive strength and 15.6% higher porosity at the same time than those of conventional freeze cast sample. The improvements were attributed to the combination of gelation of Hydantoin epoxy resin and the aligned ice growth, which led to the coexistence of aligned cylindrical and lamellar pore structures. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Non‐pharmacological interventions (NPIs) are important in cognitive decline prevention in individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). However, the dose‐response relationship remains unclear. Design: Systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomised controlled trials. Methods: Seven databases were searched until April 2020. RCTs of NPIs in individuals with MCI were eligible for inclusion. Hedge's g was used to calculate the effect size. A random‐effect meta‐analysis was used to explore the impact of NPIs on cognition. Subgroup analysis was used to investigate the moderates. The dose was measured by prescription (frequency, intensity, type, time and volume) and intervention characteristics (period, energy expenditure, delivery mode and setting) in NPIs. Results: Forty‐two studies with 4401 participants were included. In the NPIs, cognitive intervention (g = 0.167), physical exercise (g = 0.536) and multicomponent intervention (g = 0.386) had significant effect on cognition in individuals with MCI. Dose‐response results showed cognition could be significantly improved in 1–2 times/week (p <.05), 60–120 min/session (p <.05), ≥12 weeks (p <.05), supervised (p <.05), clinical setting (p <.05) in cognitive intervention. In physical exercise, cognition could be improved in ≥3 times/week (p <.05), vigorous‐intensity (p <.05), muscle‐strengthening activity (p <.05), 30–60 min/session (p <.05), 6–12 weeks (p <.05), unsupervised (p <.05), community setting (p <.05). In the multicomponent intervention, cognition could be improved in 1–2 times/week (p <.05), 30–60 min/session (p <.05), 8–16 weeks (p <.05), clinical (p <.05). In nutrition intervention, cognition could be better improved DHA (p <.05), >1000 mg/day (p <.05). Conclusions: The effectiveness of cognitive intervention is significantly influenced by frequency, time, period, delivery mode and setting. The effectiveness of physical exercise is significantly influenced by frequency, intensity, type, time, period, delivery mode and setting. The effectiveness of multicomponent intervention is significantly influenced by frequency, time, period and setting. The effectiveness of nutrition intervention is significantly influenced by dose and type. Relevance to Clinical Practice: The research summarised the evidence to guide the best prescription of NPIs and helped clinicians design more effective interventions in individuals with MCI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In this study, we first described the two configurations of cephalosporins by cefozopran, then determined their molecular structure and finally evaluated the stability and biological activity of the two configurations. Our results showed that cefozopran existed as two different configurations in the aqueous solution with acetonitrile. Using mass spectrometry with liquid chromatography, nuclear magnetic resonance with liquid chromatography and optical rotation detection technology, we determined the spatial structures of both configurations and the detailed mechanism for change. By molecular docking and determining their antimicrobial activities, we showed that the biological activity of cis-isomer was stronger than that of trans-isomer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Commercial glass frits (lead borosilicate glasses) were employed as the sintering aids to reduce the sintering temperatures of BST ceramics. The effects of the glass content and the sintering temperature on the microstructures, dielectric properties and tunabilities of BST ceramics have been investigated. Densification of BST ceramics of 5wt% glass content becomes significant from sintering temperature of 1000°C. The glass content shows a strong influence on the Curie temperature T c, permittivity and the diffuse transition. X-ray results show all BST ceramics exhibit a perovskite structure and also the formation of a secondary phase, Ba2TiSi2O8. The shift of BST diffraction peaks towards higher angle with increasing the glass content indicates the substitution of Pb2+ in Ba2+ site, which mainly accounts for the diffuse transition observed in these BST ceramics. BST ceramics with 10wt% glass additives possess the highest tunability at all four sintering temperatures. A tunability of 12.2% at a bias field of 1kV/mm was achieved for BST ceramics with 10wt% glass content sintered at 900°C. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In order to reduce agglomeration and overcome the low packing density issues of working with nano-sized powders, a colloidal processing route has been chosen in this study. Commercial BaTiO3 (BT) powders with a particle size in the range of 50nm have been dispersed in the aqueous media. Rheological properties have been analyzed on suspensions with different solids loading, dispersant concentration, and pH conditions. Optimum dispersing conditions were obtained for suspensions prepared at basic pH (pH 10) with 0.646wt% ammonium poly (acrylic acid) (NH4PAA) as a dispersant. Suspensions have been centrifugally cast to obtain the green body, and the sintering conditions have been investigated by examining the phase evolution, microstructures and electrical properties of the sintered samples through XRD, SEM and dielectric measurements, respectively. The results show that for a 45vol% suspension sintered at 1325°C, the density of bulk ceramic can reach 5.85g/cm3, nearly 97.0% of the theoretical density. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper discusses the effects of cation substitutions on the structural (and linked electronic) transition which has been observed in Na0.63CoO2. The effects of the following substitutions are reported: Ca on the Na site; Fe and Ni on the Co site. Ca doping suppresses the transition and is suggested to interfere with the Na ordering and hence causes a variation in the electronic structure. Fe and Ni doped samples all show transitions, but the transition temperature decreases with the dopant cation concentration. This implies that the replacement of Co by Fe and Ni may enhance the instability in the low-temperature regime. The influence of the substitution is also reflected in the structure and magnetic behaviour of the doped samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global greening over the past 30 years since 1980s has been confirmed by numerous studies. However, a single-dimensional indicator and non-spatial modelling approaches might exacerbate uncertainties in our understanding of global change. Thus, comprehensive monitoring for vegetation's various properties and spatially explicit models are required. In this study, we used the newest enhanced vegetation index (EVI) products of Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Collection 6 to detect the inconsistency trend of annual peak and average global vegetation growth using the Mann–Kendall test method. We explored the climatic factors that affect vegetation growth change from 2001 to 2018 using the spatial lag model (SLM), spatial error model (SEM) and geographically weighted regression model (GWR). The results showed that EVImax and EVImean in global vegetated areas consistently showed linear increasing trends during 2001–2018, with the global averaged trend of 0.0022 yr−1 (p < 0.05) and 0.0030 yr−1 (p < 0.05). Greening mainly occurred in the croplands and forests of China, India, North America and Europe, while browning was almost in the grasslands of Brazil and Africa (18.16% vs. 3.08% and 40.73% vs. 2.45%). In addition, 32.47% of the global vegetated area experienced inconsistent trends in EVImax and EVImean. Overall, precipitation and mean temperature had positive impacts on vegetation variation, while potential evapotranspiration and vapour pressure had negative impacts. The GWR revealed that the responses of EVI to climate change were inconsistent in an arid or humid area, in cropland or grassland. Climate change could affect vegetation characteristics by changing plant phenology, consequently rendering the inconsistency between peak and mean greening. In addition, anthropogenic activities, including land cover change and land use management, also could lead to the differences between annual peak and mean vegetation variations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Tunable capacitor elements for microwave phase shifter applications have been fabricated by screen printing barium strontium titanate (BST) films on alumina substrates. A Ba0.70Sr0.30TiO3 composition was chosen for the initial devices as it has been shown to exhibit high tunability at room temperature. A vertical capacitor test structure involving a Pt lower electrode, BST film and Ag top electrode has been used throughout the work. The tunability and figure of merit (phase shift/dB of insertion loss) at 2–3GHz were found to be strongly dependent on the sintering temperature of the BST layers, with properties improving as the sintering temperature was increased. However, for sintering temperatures >1280°C, the device properties could not be measured, possibly indicating a problem with the lower Pt electrodes. In order to reduce the sintering temperature required for densification, test structures have also been fabricated using other BST compositions to which sintering aids have been added. Finally, a reflection-type phase shifter (RTPS) based on the capacitor test structure and optimised processing conditions is presented with microwave measurements results. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In this paper, a soft moulding method involving the use of elastomeric poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) moulds is described for micropatterning and microfabrication of ceramic components for microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) applications. The properties and microstructure of the green bodies have a direct effect on the ability to carry out some of the moulding procedures, as well as affecting the properties of the final sintered microcomponents. High packing density and mechanical strength are required for maintaining structural integrity and resisting the demoulding forces. Centrifuging force and appropriate binder systems have been introduced in the soft moulding process, and shown to be helpful in achieving uniform and dense green microcomponents with feature sizes of ≤100μm and high aspect ratio structures (<10). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports the preparation of highly concentrated aqueous alumina suspensions for demonstrating the microfabrication of ceramics by using soft molds of Poly(dimethyl siloxane) (PDMS) instead of the traditional solid molds. Zeta potential measurements showed very good dispersing effects of the dispersant NH4PAA. The rheological properties of concentrated aqueous alumina suspensions have been characterized with varying pH, NH4PAA concentration, solids loading and ultrasonic processing time. The intrinsic pH of the suspension was found suitable for molding. The optimum dispersant concentration is 0.14 wt.% and viscosities increase with more NH4PAA. A stable and easily processable suspension of 84.0 wt.% was achieved and suitable for soft-molding with viscosity of 0.30 Pa s at 100 s−1. Embossing and microtransfer molding have been used for soft-molding microfabrication and finally, crack-free and dense microstructures have been fabricated successfully with feature sizes of ∼30 μm. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The transforming-growth-factor-β-activated kinase TAK1 is a member of the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase family, which couples extracellular stimuli to gene transcription. The in vivo function of TAK1 is not understood. Here, we investigated the potential involvement of TAK1 in cardiac hypertrophy. In adult mouse myocardium, TAK1 kinase activity was upregulated 7 days after aortic banding, a mechanical load that induces hypertrophy and expression of transforming growth factor β. An activating mutation of TAK1 expressed in myocardium of transgenic mice was sufficient to produce p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphorylation in vivo, cardiac hypertrophy, interstitial fibrosis, severe myocardial dysfunction, 'fetal' gene induction, apoptosis and early lethality. Thus, TAK1 activity is induced as a delayed response to mechanical stress, and can suffice to elicit myocardial hypertrophy and fulminant heart failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the era of information, emerging hardware security primitives, i.e., hardware random number generators and physically unclonable functions, hold profound promise for the establishment of exceptionally secure network information systems. Nonetheless, these potential solutions are constrained by inherent drawbacks, including the need for additional error correction circuits or algorithms, heightened susceptibility to environmental interference, and limited data density. This paper demonstrates the extremely high‐density, physical‐unclonable cryptographic keys by harnessing stochastically ferroelectric domain polarizations in Aurivillius ferroelectric material CaBi2Nb2O9 (CBNO). Ferroelectric polarization of CBNO nanodomains can serve as a robust source of physical unclonable entropy. Through the application of high‐speed voltage pulses, the inherent randomness of ferroelectric polarizations can be enhanced, thereby yielding cryptographic keys characterized by remarkable uniformity, uniqueness, and negligible environmental sensitivity. More importantly, the voltage pulse operations facilitate the configurability of the ferroelectric cryptographic keys with no correlation. An unprecedented data density of 435 Gbit µm−2 is therefore achievable with a miniaturized CBNO of less than 1 um2. Notably, the reconfigured keys successfully pass the National Institute of Standards and Technology random number tests without requiring additional post‐processing steps. Emanating from the inherent attributes of the material, these high‐density ferroelectric keys confer intrinsic advantages to information security, evincing substantial resistance to duplication or cloning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ubiquitous noise pollution has been associated with significant negative impacts on human health. However, current porous sound‐absorbing materials encounter considerable obstacles such as thick density, narrow absorbing band, and limited function. Here, a facile‐producing method for lightweight and efficiently sound‐absorbing aerogels made from bacterial cellulose (BC) and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) is presented. The fabricated anisotropic aerogels with directional pores exhibit a minimum density as low as 11.3 mg cm−3. Meanwhile, the lamellar aerogels with low areal density (20.89 mg cm−2) exhibit remarkable noise attenuation performance with the noise reduction coefficient of 0.51.Furthermore, the BC‐PVA‐Ba0.85Ca0.15Zr0.9Ti0.1O3 (BCZT) aerogels show enhanced sound absorption performance, and these aerogels are self‐powered sensors to monitor vehicle collisions and human gestures. The algorithm yields high accuracy in human gesture recognition (100%) based on the deep‐learning model. These aerogels offer an encouraging application prospect in the automobile field to realize car weight reduction and vehicle's intelligent control system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The strong covalent bonding of SiC makes it difficult to be fully sintered using conventional sintering techniques. Therefore, electrical current-assisted sintering techniques such as spark plasma sintering are needed to sinter SiC. The finite numerical simulations have been generally used to predict and guide sintering processes of ceramics (i.e.TiC,AlO 3). In this work, the numerical simulations of the temperature distribution, electrical field and thermal field on the porous SiC cylindrical samples by Comsol were investigated in details. The influence of porosity on the temperature distribution and electrical field distribution of the SiC samples were analyzed. Both the maximum current density (1.19 × 107A/m2) and the maximum temperature (2030 °C) of the SPS device occurred at the punch/spacer interface. The temperature values at the centre of the samples were proportional to the porosity, and the temperatures at the center of the samples increased from ∼1960 °C to ∼2010 °C at t = 2000s, with the porosity increasing from 1% to 60%. The uniformity of the temperature distribution deteriorated as the porosity increases, and the temperature gradients between the center and edge of the samples with the porosity of 1% and 60%, were ∼80 °C and ∼130 °C at t = 2000s, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, lead-free (K 0.485 Na 0.485 Li 0.03)Nb 0.8 Ta 0.2 O 3 composition was designed to control the orthorhombic-tetragonal phases boundary near the room temperature as confirmed by Rietveld analysis, high-angle annular dark field scanning transmission electron microscopy, and temperature dependent dielectric constant. A comparative study of the direct and indirect synthesis methods was carried out and their functional properties were optimized as a function of sintering temperature (T s) and dwell time. Here, we achieved a large dynamic piezoelectric constant (d 33 *) of 510 pm/V under a very low electric field of 15–30 kV/cm. Moreover, an enhanced static piezoelectric constant (d 33) of 335 pC/N was obtained with a high Curie temperature (T C) of 315 °C. The large d 33 and d 33 * simultaneously with high T C in a single composition are promising results in lead-free polycrystalline ceramics. The strategic design of this work opens a new door for the possible development of novel functional materials for device applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Powder‐based piezo‐catalysis, as an effective approach to degrade wastewater and produce hydrogen from water splitting, has been widely used in the field of energy conservation and pollution reduction. However, these hard‐to‐recycle powders pose a challenge of secondary pollution in the environment. As a result, this paper provides an alternative strategy based on the manufacture of porous ceramics as a green chemistry approach to replace ferroelectric powders currently used in traditional piezo‐catalysis. The piezo‐catalytic properties of Ba0.75Sr0.25TiO3 (BST) ceramics prepared using freeze casting and direct ink writing techniques are investigated in detail. The positive effect of introducing micro‐ and macro‐pores is explored and discovered, where a BST ceramic with hierarchical pore channels is prepared by a combination of direct ink writing and freeze casting and exhibts the highest first‐order kinetic rate constant per mass of catalysts, k, of up to 2.91 min−1 kg−1 compared to bulk BST ceramics. This study therefore provides the first report for the benefits of hierarchical porous ferroelectric ceramics used in water splitting, with an average H2 production rate reaching 848.88 nmol g−1 h−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study represents an initial attempt to examine environmental justice on inequalities in access to ecological attractions that provide top cultural ecosystem services at a national scale. With big data from social media, billions of anonymized samples were analysed via an experimental procedure to capture the behavioral characteristics of visitors who accessed China's Five-A ecological attractions. The results indicate that (1) social equity can be achieved in the context of ecosystem services in China, especially at the individual level; and (2) although China's vulnerable groups do not appear to have been treated unfairly, market mechanisms may exacerbate the inequitable development of ecosystem services among different regions. To address the problem of inequality and uneven development on ecosystem services that may result from the capital, the government should take measures to reduce the accessibility threshold and consider providing appropriate green infrastructure for different social groups apart from Five-A ecological attractions. Image 1 • A big data method to re-visit access of top ecological spaces at a national scale. • Vulnerable groups were not unequally treated on environment recreation in China. • The equality of accessibility frequency appears much greater than distance. • People-based measures of accessibility are more reliable than place-based measures. • Age, income, and hukou rate were unrelated to accessibility at a national scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Rapid changes in anthropogenic land use threaten ecological security. • A land use/cover prediction framework embedded with ecological security was developed. • Habitat quality, ecosystem services, and landscape connectivity were considered. • Ecological security source areas in Yangtze River Delta (YRD) were identified. • Land use/cover in YRD for 2030 were predicted via FLUS model. Rapid changes in anthropogenic land use threaten ecological security; thus, it is vital to determine future land use structures and spatial layouts for ecological security and sustainable development. Studies on scenario-based land use simulations have taken insufficient account of land use in terms of ecological security and this prevented the realization of ecological civilization. Therefore, in this study, we developed a land use/cover prediction framework that incorporates ecological security. Focusing on ecological security objectives, we integrated habitat quality, the importance of ecosystem services and landscape connectivity to identify the ecological security source areas (ESSA) as a minimum protection area in the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) region. We then set up ESSA-based ecological protection (EP) and natural growth (NG) scenarios to predict land use/cover in the YRD region for 2030 using the future land use simulation (FLUS) model. The results show that the total area of the ESSA is 64,911 km2, accounting for 32.51% of the YRD, mainly in southern Anhui and western Zhejiang provinces. Under the NG scenario, construction land shows the highest growth proportion by 2.10% of the total area of YRD, while the farmland area decreases by 1.73%, followed by woodland (0.27%). Under ESSA-based EP, the areas of woodland and construction land increase by 1.11% and 0.7%, respectively. Through the delineation of ESSA, 159 km2 of woodland, 150 km2 of orchard, 523 km2 of water area and 98 km2 of wetland are protected; in addition, the growth of the construction land slows down and all new construction land is located outside the ESSA under ESSA-based EP. The findings of this study can provide fundamental scientific guidance for land spatial planning given an ecological security premise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lead-free piezoelectric 0.8625NaNbO 3 -0.1BaTiO 3 -0.0375SrZrO 3 (0.8625NN-0.1BT-0.0375SZ) ceramics were prepared by templated grain growth method with NaNbO 3 templates. High orientation degree of 88.42% was achieved in the textured ceramics, which showed excellent piezoelectric performance with the quality factor Q m of 48.14 and the piezoelectric coefficient d 33 of 315 pC/N after poling. The grain morphology, crystal structure, P - E hysteresis loop, domain structures, frequency dependence of dielectric constant and loss tangent of conventional and textured 0.8625NN-0.1BT-0.0375SZ ceramics were systematically studied. It is indicated that ceramic texturing can effectively improve the piezoelectric performance of the NN-based lead-free piezoelectric ceramics, which provides a promising and broad prospect for the urgent development and practical applications of NN-based systems. • A highly oriented 0.8625NN-0.1BT-0.0375SZ textured ceramic is obtained. • The NN template excels in inducing grain growth of texture ceramics. • The dwelling time evidently affect the orientation of textured ceramics. • The texture process effectively improve the piezoelectric properties of ceramics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porous Al2O3–ZrO2 composites with homogeneous and long-range ordered channels were produced by an ice template method. An increase of the initial solids loading from 40 to 70wt.% caused the final porosity to decrease from 74% to 35%, while the compressive strength increased from 15 to 81MPa. The sample obtained from the 80wt.% suspension was not porous, and a critical velocity model is employed to explain this phenomenon. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Deployable solar arrays can improve the potential utilization of CubeSats by generating sustainable energy. This paper presents an ultra-light release device integrated with screen-printed heaters to latch and release CubeSat's solar arrays in the sequence of structure and material design, fabrication, and experimental verification. Finite element analysis of interference fit gives the locking force and maximum Von Mises stress variation with the interference and thickness, which provides the selection basis for geometrical parameters of the release device. Tensile and fracture toughness tests have been conducted to verify improved toughness for spandex fiber reinforced shape memory polymer composites (SMPCs). And the fine denier fiber shows a better toughness improvement performance. DMA tests have been performed to give the temperature sensitivity of the materials. Besides, locking forces obtained from finite element analysis and experiments show good consistency. Moreover, recovery tests confirm the release device with good shape recovery properties and excellent adaptability to energizing conditions. Finally, experiments on a CubeSat prototype qualify the release device with good feasibility, reliable locking performance and satisfactory reusability. This work is expected to provide an effective miniaturized hold-release mechanism for deployable structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of barium zirconate modified potassium sodium niobate-based lead-free piezoelectric ceramics [(0.97-x)(K0.45Na0.55)(Nb0.97Sb0.03)O3-0.03Bi0.5K0.075Na0.425ZrO3-xBaZrO3, KNNS–BKNZ–xBZ, x = 0 ~ 0.02] were prepared by the traditional solid-state method. The effect of BZ on the phase structure and electrical properties was systematically studied. Rhombohedral–orthorhombic–tetragonal multiphase coexistence structure can be observed for the whole ceramic system while the addition of BZ leads to the reduction in the orthorhombic phase content and increase in the rhombohedral and tetragonal phase content. At the critical composition with x = 0.01, the ceramics show the optimized electrical properties with the piezoelectric constant d33 of 265 pC/N, unipolar strain Suni of 0.168%, inverse piezoelectric coefficient d33* of 480 pm/V, room-temperature dielectric constant εr of 1634, and Curie temperature TC of 282 °C. Moreover, enhanced temperature stability was achieved in the x = 0.01 ceramics, presenting the variation of d33 less than 15% within the temperature range of 20–100 °C and the Suni remained above 80% until the elevated temperature of 175 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) composite films were prepared by fused deposition modeling, and the effects of ionic liquid (IL) content on the printability, crystallization behavior, and electrical properties of melted PVDF were systematically investigated. The results show that the addition of IL increased the temperature sensitivity of melted PVDF and decreased its viscosity, while IL acted as a plasticizer to lower the melting point of PVDF and improve its FDM printability. The imidazole cations in IL had electrostatic interactions with the -CF2- groups in PVDF, which promoted the transformation of the nonpolar phase to the polar phase in PVDF; thus, the addition of IL was beneficial to the increase in the polar β phase. The PVDF with 20 wt.% IL contained the highest proportion of β phase content (32.59%). Moreover, the increase in polar β-phase content also increased the polarization strength of PVDF and improved its ferroelectric properties. PVDF with 10 wt.% IL had the highest residual polarization strength (16.87 μC/m2). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"Perovskite/carbon" interface is a bottle‐neck for hole‐conductor‐free, carbon‐electrode basing perovskite solar cells due to the energy mismatch and concentrated defects. In this article, in‐situ healing strategy is proposed by doping octylammonium iodide into carbon paste that used to prepare carbon‐electrode on perovskite layer. This strategy is found to strengthen interfacial contact and reduce interfacial defects on one hand, and slightly elevate the work function of the carbon‐electrode on other hand. Due to this effect, charge extraction is accelerated, while recombination is obviously reduced. Accordingly, power conversion efficiency of the hole‐conductor‐free, planar perovskite solar cells is upgraded by ≈50%, or from 11.65 (± 1.59) % to 17.97 (± 0.32) % (AM1.5G, 100 mW cm−2). The optimized device shows efficiency of 19.42% and open‐circuit voltage of 1.11 V. Meanwhile, moisture‐stability is tested by keeping the unsealed devices in closed chamber with relative humidity of 85%. The "in‐situ healing" strategy helps to obtain T80 time of >450 h for the carbon‐electrode basing devices, which is four times of the reference ones. Thus, a kind of "internal encapsulation effect" has also been reached. The "in situ healing" strategy facilitates the fabrication of efficient and stable hole‐conductor‐free devices basing on carbon‐electrode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxygen vacancies are found to have significant effects on the piezo-photocatalytic performance. For this reason, Molar-like and Bamboo-like BaTiO 3 with the same tetragonal phase are synthesized by a two-step hydrothermal method. Molar-like BaTiO 3 exhibits a superior piezo-photocatalytic performance by degrading the organic dye indigo carmine (IC), whose kinetic constant of 0.099 min−1 is 1.80 times higher than that of Bamboo-like BaTiO 3. The same conclusion is drawn while the differences in specific surface areas are eliminated. There are more oxygen vacancies in Molar-like BaTiO 3 compared to Bamboo-like BaTiO 3 , as shown in XPS results. The oxygen vacancies are favorable for light adsorption and O 2 activation, thus an excellent photocatalytic performance is achieved. XRD refinements show that Molar-like BaTiO 3 has a slightly higher content of piezoelectric tetragonal phase and stronger lattice distortion than Bamboo-like BaTiO 3. However, the piezoelectric polarization of Molar-like BaTiO 3 is weakened and the number of effective carriers is reduced due to more oxygen vacancies. The presented work provides a profound reference for the structural design of catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Various experimental studies demonstrated that atorvastatin exerted additive effects with anticancer drugs to impair tumor growth, delay relapse, and prolong survival time in lung cancer. However, it is indistinct whether there are survival benefits of atorvastatin in the treatment of small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) patients with dyslipidemia. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of atorvastatin plus first-line standard chemotherapy in SCLC combined dyslipidemia. Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of 91 eligible SCLC patients with dyslipidemia registered at the First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from October 2018 to October 2022. SCLC patients with confirmed dyslipidemia were assigned to the treatment group to receive atorvastatin plus first-line standard chemotherapy (n = 45) or to the control group to accept chemotherapy (n = 46) until disease progression or unmanageable toxicity occurred. The clinicopathological parameters and survival data were collected and analyzed. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to investigate the prognostic significance of SCLC. The median progression-free survival (mPFS) was considered to be the pivotal symbol as the primary endpoint. The second endpoints were recognized as the median overall survival (mOS) and toxicity. Results: In the total of 91 enrolled patients, the curative effect can be evaluated in all patients. Research results showed that atorvastatin added to first-line standard chemotherapy was associated with a significant improvement in survival (mPFS: 7.4 vs 6.8 months, P = 0.031; mOS: 14.7 vs 13.2 months, P = 0.002). Conclusion: Atorvastatin added to first-line standard chemotherapy achieved prospective efficacy and manageable safety in SCLC combined dyslipidemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon onions have shown potential applications in many fields due to their low density, tunable conductivity, excellent thermal and chemical stability. In this study, we report an efficient method for synthesis of gram-scale hollow carbon onions (HCNOs). A chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process was carried out at 700 °C with magnesium oxide supported cobalt as catalyst. Abundant HCNOs were obtained by leaching the CVD product in hydrochloric acid when the precursor weight ratio of cobalt and magnesium oxide is 5%. Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy images indicate the sample is composed of hollow polyhedral particles with diameter of 10–50 nm. The thermogravimetric analysis indicates the purity of HCNOs is about 99%. X-ray diffraction and Raman spectra demonstrates a moderate graphitization of HCNOs in which graphite carbon and defective carbon both present. The graphite carbon can provide good conduction that is beneficial to introduce the microwave, while the defects can provide abundant polarization center to stimulate the formation of multiple dielectric resonances. The calculated reflection loss curve of HCNOs with a thin thickness of 2 mm exhibit wide absorption bandwidth at high frequency (13.5–16.9 GHz), indicating an excellent microwave absorption performance at high frequency. Image 10171 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The µW‐level power density of flexible piezoelectric energy harvesters (FPEHs) restricts their potential in applications related to high‐power multifunctional wearable devices. To overcome this challenge, a hierarchical design strategy is proposed by forming porous piezoceramics with an optimum microstructure into an ordered macroscopic array structure to enable the construction of high performance FPEHs. The porous piezoceramic elements allows optimization of the sensing and harvesting Figure of merit, and the array structure causes a high level of effective strain under a mechanical load. The introduction of a network of polymer channels between the piezoceramic array also provides increased device flexibility, thereby allowing the device to attach and conform to the curved contours of the human body. The unique hierarchical piezoceramic array architecture exhibits superior flexibility, a high open circuit voltage (618 V), high short circuit current (188 µA), and ultrahigh power density (19.1 mW cm−2). This energy density value surpasses previously reported high‐performance FPEHs. The ultrahigh power flexible harvesting can charge a 0.1 F supercapacitor at 2.5 Hz to power high‐power electronic devices. Finally, the FPEH is employed in two novel applications related to fracture healing monitoring and self‐powered wireless position tracking in extreme environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a promising lead-free high-temperature piezoelectric material, BiFeO 3 –BaTiO 3 (BF-BT) is still under debate on its crystal structure, especially for the compositions in the morphotropic phase boundary (MPB). Herein, the crystal structure of (1- x)BF- x BT ceramics near the MPB with x = 0.20–0.33 was analyzed by X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. With the addition of BT, the phase transition from distorted rhombohedral to pseudo-cubic structure was determined by Rietveld refinement. Raman analysis showed the weakening interactions between the A-site cations and BO 6 octahedron, as well as the degenerated distortions of BO 6 octahedron. Intriguingly, the results of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy suggested the inhibition of Fe3+ reduction and decrease in oxygen vacancy concentration by the incorporation of BT. In terms of the electrical properties, the significant decline in Curie temperature, improvement in permittivity, and reduction in high-temperature dielectric loss can be observed with the increase of BT content. The increased remnant polarization, enhanced dielectric response and decreased coercive field were helpful for the piezoelectric performance. The maximum room-temperature piezoelectric coefficient of ∼160 pC/N and high-temperature piezoelectric coefficient of ∼324 pC/N were acquired in the x = 0.30 ceramics. This work provides a clear scope for further research on the structural transformation and high-temperature piezoelectric applications of BF-BT system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is still a problem of low energy storage density in dielectric capacitors which is a core component of power systems. For the improvement of the energy storage density, the linear dielectric material CaTiO 3 (CT) was introduced in Na 0.5 Bi 0.5 TiO 3 (NBT) ceramics in this paper. By modifying the A site, a new relaxor ferroelectric ceramic was successfully synthesized and attained a recoverable density (W rec) of 2.34 J/cm3 at x = 0.18. Moreover, the preparation process was optimized in this paper. Through the viscous polymer process (VPP) route, the energy density (W A) of 82NBT-18CT VPP ceramic further reaches 6.45 J/cm3 at 340 kV/cm, with efficiency (η) up to 75% and a W rec of 4.82 J/cm3. At the same time, the change of W rec is small at temperature (30–150 °C) and frequency (1 Hz–300 Hz), which demonstrates its excellent stability. The discharge power density reaches about 180 MW/cm3 and the discharge time is 0.117 μs, which indicates its excellent pulse discharge performance. The results show that 82NBT-18CT lead-free relaxation ferroelectric material is expected to become ideal for high-energy storage applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]