Search

Compared with commercial polyolefin membranes, electrospun polymeric membranes have the advantages of higher porosity and better electrolyte wettability, but their poor mechanical performance limits their industrial use as battery separators. In this work, a layer-to-layer electrospinning is used for fabrication of PVdF@PMMA membranes, in which fibers in adjacent layers are arranged at a certain angle (0[degrees], 30[degrees], 60[degrees], 90[degrees]). The as-electrospun membranes are further hot-pressed to boost their mechanical strength. Various techniques are employed to evaluate the membranes, such as scanning electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, contact angle measurement, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and linear sweep voltammetry. The results show that polymethyl methacrylate partially melts during the hot-pressing treatment, causing adjacent fibers in the membranes to bridge. The obtained membranes show different tensile strength values with the various angles between fibers. When the angle is 30[degrees], the tensile strength can reach 22.09 MPa and higher porosity (74.68%), greater liquid electrolyte absorption (612.36%) than that of commercial polyolefin membrane are harvested. The lithium-ion cell assembly with the membrane separator exhibits a discharge capacity reaching 142 mAh [g.sup.-1] and an excellent capacity retention of 90.7%. This present study provides an innovative and promising approach for the fabrication of high-performance battery separator by electrospinning. Highlights * PVdF@PMMA membranes are prepared by a layer-to-layer electrospinning. * In the membranes, fiber orientation in adjacent layers is kept at a certain angle. * Hot-pressing further boosts mechanical performance of the membranes. * Membranes with different angle of fibers show various mechanical strengths. KEYWORDS coaxial electrospinning, hot-pressing, lithium-ion battery separator, mechanical reinforcement, 1 | INTRODUCTION Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) find extensive applications in diverse sectors, particularly the electronics domain, owing to their remarkable attributes encompassing high-energy density, prolonged lifespan, and good for environmental [...]

BackgroundRehabilitation for schizophrenia typically relies on pharmacological interventions， yet their efficacy in improving social function and quality of life remains limited. In recent years， non-pharmacological approaches have shown promise in enhancing rehabilitation outcomes. However， research on the effectiveness of psychomotor therapy specifically for young and middle-aged schizophrenic inpatients is limited.ObjectiveTo explore the effects of psychomotor therapy on the rehabilitation of young and middle-aged schizophrenic inpatients， and to provide a reference for treatment strategies.MethodsA total of 104 young and middle-aged schizophrenic inpatients who met the International Classification of Diseases，tenth edition （ICD-10） diagnostic criteria and hospitalized in the Fourth People's Hospital of Wuhu from June 2021 to June 2022 were selected. Patients were randomly divided into two groups of 52 each using random number table method. Both groups received treatment with risperidone tablets （2~4 mg/d） ， along with routine nursing care. Additionally， the research group received an extra 45~55 minutes of psychomotor therapy 2~3 times per week for 12 weeks. The control group received the same psychomotor therapy after the study. Positive and Negative Symptom Scale （PANSS）， Scales of Social-skills for Psychiatric Inpatient （SSPI） and Insight and Treatment Attitude Questionnaire （ITAQ） were used to assess the patients before the intervention and at 4th， 8th and 12th week after the intervention.ResultsThe main effects of intervention at different time points for PANSS positive symptoms， negative symptoms and general psychopathology subscale scores， PANSS total score， SSPI score and ITAQ score were all statistically significant （F=33.989， 204.245， 82.817， 279.596， 26.144， 7.463， P

Objective To investigate the relationship of neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR) with early renal damage in pre-eclampsia (PE) patients. Methods A total of 98 PE patients (PE group) and 113 patients with gestational hypertension (GH, GH group) admitted to our hospital from January 2020 to February 2022 were recruited, and another 68 healthy pregnant women who underwent regular pregnancy examination in our hospital were enrolled as control group. Serum NLR, PLR, and renal function indicators [urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine (Scr), cystatin C (Cys-C) and estimate glomerular filtration rate (eGFR)] were recorded in the 3 groups. According to whether renal injury occurred, the patients of the PE group were divided into non-renal injury subgroup (56 cases) and renal injury group (42 cases). The relationships of NLR and PLR with renal function indicators were analyzed, and the results were further analyzed for the risk factors. The predictive values of NLR and PLR for early renal injury in PE patients were analyzed. Results The levels of NLR, BUN, Scr, Cys-C and 24-h urine protein were significantly higher in the GH group and the PE group than the control group(P < 0.05), and those in the PE group were obviously higher than those in the GH group (P < 0.05). The levels of PLR and eGFR were statistically lower in the GH group and PE group than those in the the control group, and that in the PE group was decreased than that in the GH group (P < 0.05). Pearson correlation analysis showed that NLR was positively correlated with BUN, Scr, Cys-C and 24-h urine protein, and negatively with eGFR, while PLR was negatively correlated with above renal function indicators, and positively with eGFR. Multivariate analysis indicated that severe PE, NLR, PLR, 24-h urine protein and eGFR were the main risk factors for early renal injury in PE patients (P < 0.05). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed that the cut-off values of NLR and PLR for predicting early renal injury in PE patients were 2.71 and 103.26, the area under the curve value was 0.896 and 0.809, the sensitivity was 93.28 % and 90.81 %, and the specificity was 80.17% and 80.01%, respectively. Conclusion Elevated levels of NLR and PLR are associated with early renal damage in PE patients, and they are risk factors and have high predictive values for early kidney damage in PE patients.

BackgroundThe schizophrenia is majorly treated with drug and through physical therapy. However， both treatments would lead to adverse reactions， which could affect therapy adherence and treatment efficacy. Previous studies have shown that aerobic exercise can help alleviate cognitive function in patients with Alzheimer's disease and depressive disorder. At present， little research has been done on such alleviation in schizophrenia patients.ObjectiveTo explore the effect of aerobic exercise on cognitive function in male patients with chronic schizophrenia， so as to provide references for relevant treatments.MethodsA total of 76 male patients with chronic schizophrenia hospitalized in the Fourth People's Hospital of Wuhu between December 2022 and April 2023 were selected as the study subjects and， in accordance with random number table， divided into study group （n=36） and control group （n=40）. Both groups received conventional drug treatment. On this basis， the study group received a 60-minute aerobic exercise 5 times a week for 8 weeks as intervention. Before and after intervention， assessment of cognitive function was performed by using MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery （MCCB） and Stroop Color Word Test （SCWT）.ResultAfter intervention， compared with the control group， the study group spent less time on finishing the Trail Making Test and scored higher in both the spatial span test and maze test （Z=-2.070， -2.306， -2.375， P

In this study, commercial films with different permeabilities (polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC), BXD3C, BXD4C and CRM1C) were selected for packaging treatment of postharvest Agaricus bisporus to investigate the changes in the storage quality and respiratory metabolism of Agaricus bisporus at 4 ℃. The results showed that CRM1C had the greatest permeability among the four films, BXD3C and BXD4C were in the middle, and the permeability of PVDC was worst. On the 15th day of storage, compared with BXD3C, BXD4C, and PVDC packaging, CRM1C packaging could effectively inhibit the respiration rate of postharvest Agaricus bisporus, reduce malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation and intracellular electrolyte leakage, maintain vitamin C content, and inhibit the increase of browning index. Meanwhile, CRM1C packaging could maintain the activities of rate-limiting enzymes in glycolysis (pyruvate kinase (PK) and phosphofructokinase (PFK)), the tricarboxylic acid cycle and the electron transport chain (α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase (α-KGDH) and succinate dehydrogenase (SDH)) as well as cellular energy charge in Agaricus bisporus, and increase the activity of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthase, ensuring energy supply in Agaricus bisporus in the late storage period and delaying postharvest browning. The results of this study can provide a reference for the post-harvest preservation of Agaricus bisporus.

Herein, a robust and fluorescent nanocomposite hydrogel polyvinyl alcohol/ poly(N-methylol acrylamide)/graphene quantum dots (PVA/PNMA/GQDs) with interpenetrating polymer network was made-up by in-situ radical polymerization and freeze-thaw method simultaneously. Because of GQDs trapped within the gel matrix as a result of the potent hydrogen bonds generated among PVA, PNMA, and GQDs, the nanocomposite hydrogel with an interpenetrating polymer network displayed strong fluorescence and enhanced mechanical properties. The obtained nanocomposite hydrogel could emit stable bright blue fluorescence at 365 nm radiation. Moreover, the obtained nanocomposite hydrogels were selective to [Fe.sup.3+] ions and demonstrated a rapid and consistent response to [Fe.sup.3+] ions ranging from 20 to 120 [micro]mol/L. Meanwhile, the PVA/PNMA/GQDs hydrogel showed excellent mechanical properties. The compressive strength and strain of the nanocomposite hydrogel were 20.39 MPa and 94.53%, respectively. The tensile fracture strength was 303.06 kPa and the corresponding fracture strain was 198%. Additionally, the gel also possessed extreme fatigue resistance and could tolerate repeated compression without cracking. Therefore, these robust and fluorescent nanocomposite hydrogels have potential applications in flexible sensors for certain metal ions detection and information storage. KEYWORDS fluorescence, graphene quantum dots, interpenetrating polymer networks, mechanical property, nanocomposite hydrogel, 1 | INTRODUCTION Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) are widely employed in chemical sensing, biological fluorescent probes, lightemitting devices, photocatalysis, and nonlinear optical devices because of their distinctive optical property, strong [...]

Background Method Results Conclusions People diagnosed with Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) often have severe dietary restrictions and avoidance due to the uncertainty of intestinal symptoms. Inadequate dietary intake may increase the risk of malnutrition and result in impaired food‐related quality of life (FRQoL). Few studies investigated factors influencing FRQoL in patients with IBD. This study aimed to synthesize the existing evidence regarding FRQoL among patients with IBD, including the current situation, measurement instruments, and related influencing factors.The comprehensive literature search was conducted in databases including PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, PsycInfo, Cochrane Library, as well as the most commonly used Chinese databases (CNKI, Wanfang and CBM). Studies published between January 2015 and December 2023 on FRQoL in patients with IBD were included. The Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal checklist was utilized to evaluate the methodological quality of the selected studies.Finally, only five studies met the inclusion criteria were reviewed, including three cross‐sectional studies and two case‐control studies. The Food‐related quality of life‐29 Scale (FR‐QoL‐29) with a total core of 145 was the most used instrument measuring FRQoL in patients with IBD. The mean scores of FRQoL ranged from 69.9 to 102.3 in adult patients with IBD and 94.3 in children. A diverse range of factors were associated with FRQoL, including socio‐demographic, clinical, psychological, diet‐related, and nutrient intake factors.The main influencing factors of FRQoL among patients with IBD included disease activity status, severe symptoms, history of IBD surgery, negative emotion reaction, and restrictive eating behaviour. Clinicians should work in concert with dietitians, keeping an eye on the disease status, nutrition intake, and restrictive eating habits, assessing FRQoL and providing personalized dietary recommendation for the patients with IBD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel CuO/Cu2O/CuS/ZnO quaternary heterojunction photocatalyst was constructed through a facile microwave technique. The structure, morphology and optical properties were characterized and explored. The photocatalytic activity of CuO/Cu2O/CuS/ZnO quaternary composite was assessed by antibiotic sulfamethoxazole under the simulated solar light irradiation. The quaternary composite manifested more excellent photocatalytic performance than the pristine ZnS and CuO/Cu2O. Moreover, the effects of ascorbic acid concentration on removal efficiency of sulfamethoxazole were discussed, revealing the importance of Cu2O in sulfamethoxazole removal. Particularly, as the ascorbic acid was 0.50 M, the total removal efficiency of sulfamethoxazole at an initial concentration of 20 mg/L was approximately 99.17 %, and the fitted pseudo‐first‐order kinetic rate constant reached 0.0380/min, which were 1.73 and 6.91 times of that in the absence of ascorbic acid, respectively. A double Z‐scheme charge transfer mechanism was confirmed by the reactive species trapping tests, which demonstrated that superoxide radicals and holes were the major reactive species responsible for sulfamethoxazol degradation. CuO/Cu2O/CuS/ZnO nanocomposite provided an interesting perspective for a highly efficient quaternary photocatalyst that could be employed for remediation antibiotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Open-cathode air-cooled proton exchange membrane fuel cell stack relies on air fans both for fuel supply and stack cooling. Inappropriate stack thermal management and non-uniform temperature distribution can lead to compromised stack performance, reduced lifespan, and even thermal runaway. Thus, temperature distribution measurement, investigation and analysis are essential for air-cooled PEMFC's optimized operation and performance. This study uses a multi-zone temperature measurement approach to investigate the impact of air supply method, airflow, and output current on stack temperature distributions. The experimental results reveal that the highest stack temperature occurs at the cathode channel outlet, while the lowest temperature is near the hydrogen inlet. At a 75A load, the maximum temperature difference between the inlet and outlet is 17°C. Increasing fan speed from 4500 to 8800 r/min reduces temperature non-uniformity in cell 10, the most uneven among the 19 cells, by 11.2%. Comparing blowing and suction air supply modes, blowing enhances stack output performance by 2.1%, with smaller temperature differences. Specifically, cell 10 experiences a 7.5°C lower difference at 4500 r/min and a 3.6°C lower difference at 8800 r/min airflow. Under blowing air supply, temperature non-uniformity decreases by 36.95% at 4500 r/min and 29.2% at 8800 r/min. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Larvae of the beetle subfamily Rutelinae are poorly described in the literature. Notably, the morphology of the larvae of Callistethus plagiicollis Fairmaire has not previously been analyzed. Here, we report for the first time that these larvae feed on the tubers and roots of Gastrodia elata Blume, an important traditional Chinese herbal medicine, which causes a reduction in the yield and economic value of G. elata. We employed scanning electron microscopy and light microscopy to investigate the morphology and occurrence regularity of egg, larvae, pupae, and adult specimens of C. plagiicollis collected from the G. elata planting base in Guizhou Province, China, with a focus on the ultrastructure of mature larvae. The results revealed one generation of C. plagiicollis per year in the study area and three instar stages of larvae. Mature larvae were identified by the following characteristics: raster without palidia with a large number of hamate setae, antennal apex containing seven sensilla basiconica, larval haptomerum containing eight sensilla styloconica and four enlarged heli, and seven longitudinally arranged stridulatory teeth on the stipes of the maxilla. The combination of scanning electron and light microscopy effectively revealed the difference between membranous and sclerotized structures, ensuring accurate identification of C. plagiicollis larvae. By determining the feeding characteristics and occurrence regularity of C. plagiicollis, this study has implications for improved pest management in G. elata crops. Research Highlights: We identified C. plagiicollis as a new pest of G. elata, a traditional Chinese medicineScanning electron and light microscopy were combined to analyze the morphology of the mature larvae of C. plagiicollis for the first timeWe determined the feeding characteristics and occurrence regularity of C. plagiicollis, which can be used to develop effective pest management strategies [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]