Electronic and magnetic properties of layered MSiTe(M = alkaline earth and transition metals).

Recently, a new layered material, MnSiTe, was identified to be a semiconductor with nodal-line topological property and ferrimagnetic ground state. In this work, we propose a series of structures, MSiTe(M = alkaline earth and transition metals), and systematically investigate their mechanical, magnetic and electronic properties, and the strain effect to enrich the family of the layered materials for practical applications. We find 13 stable MSiTe, including 5 semiconductors (M = Ca, Sr, Fe, Ru and Os) and 8 metals (M = Sc, Ti, Nb, Ta, Cr, Mo, W and Tc).

Mechanical, magnetic and electronic properties of 2D MSX (M = Ti, V, Co and Ni, X = Br and I).

Recently, two-dimensional (2D) metal sulfide halides have attracted much attention due to their unique magnetic and electronic properties. In this work, we design a family of 2D MSXs (M = Ti, V, Mn, Fe, Co, and Ni, X = Br and I) and investigate their structural, mechanical, magnetic, and electronic properties based on first-principles calculations. We find that TiSI, VSBr, VSI, CoSI, NiSBr, and NiSI are kinetically, thermodynamically, and mechanically stable.

Advances in Spin Catalysts for Oxygen Evolution and Reduction Reactions.

Searching for high effective catalysts has been an endless effort to improve the efficiency of green energy harvesting and degradation of pollutants. In the past decades, tremendous strategies are explored to achieve high effective catalysts, and various theoretical understandings are proposed for the improved activity. As the catalytic reaction occurs at the surface or edge, the unsaturated ions may lead to the fluctuation of spin.

Microstructural Characteristics and Hardness Enhancement of Super Duplex Stainless Steel by Friction Stir Processing.

In the present study, microstructural evolution and hardness of the friction stir processed (FSPed) SAF 2507 super duplex stainless steel fabricated at a rotational speed of 650 rpm and a traverse speed of 60 mm/min were investigated. A scanning electron microscope (SEM) equipped with an electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) detector was used to study the microstructure of the stir zone. The grain sizes of austenite and ferrite in the FSPed 2507 were found to be smaller (0.

Gentamicin-Containing Collagen Implant May Reduce Surgical Site Infections After Open Infrainguinal Arterial Revascularization.

Background: Deep-space surgical site infections carry significant morbidity and mortality. The evidence for gentamicin-containing collagen implants at reducing surgical site infections in open infrainguinal arterial surgery is limited. This study examined whether gentamicin-containing collagen implants reduces 30-day surgical site infections and their severity following open infrainguinal arterial surgery.

How to Prevent Surgical Site Infection in Vascular Surgery: A Review of the Evidence.

Background: This review aims to identify and review the current evidence for preventing postoperative surgical site infections in abdominal aortic aneurysm surgery or infrainguinal arterial surgery.

Methods: Extended literature review of clinical trials that examined the prevention of postoperative surgical site infections in abdominal aortic aneurysm or infrainguinal arterial surgery. Searches were conducted on Ovid MEDLINE (1950 - 13 March 2020) using key terms for vascular surgery, surgical site infections and specific preventative techniques.

Development of Perovskite Oxide-Based Electrocatalysts for Oxygen Evolution Reaction.

Perovskite oxides are studied as electrocatalysts for oxygen evolution reactions (OER) because of their low cost, tunable structure, high stability, and good catalytic activity. However, there are two main challenges for most perovskite oxides to be efficient in OER, namely less active sites and low electrical conductivity, leading to limited catalytic performance. To overcome these intrinsic obstacles, various strategies are developed to enhance their catalytic activities in OER.

Heterogeneous Associations Between Obesity and Reproductive-Related Factors and Specific Breast Cancer Subtypes Among Hong Kong Chinese Women.

Previous studies reported heterogeneous associations between obesity and reproductive-related breast cancer risk factors and breast cancer intrinsic subtypes; however, few studies have been conducted in Asian populations. Here, we aimed to examine whether risks associated with established breast cancer risk factors varied by breast cancer subtypes in Chinese women. We conducted a hospital-based case-control study in Hong Kong, including a total of 2169 Chinese women.

Cellular fate of deformable needle-shaped PLGA-PEG fibers.

Deformability of micro/nanometer sized particles plays an important role in particle-cell interactions and thus becomes a key parameter in carrier design in biomedicine application such as drug delivery and vaccinology. Yet the influence of material's deformability on the cellular fate of the particles as well as physiology response of live cells are to be understood. Here we show the cellular fate of needle shaped (high aspect ratio ~25) PLGA-PEG copolymer fibers depending on their deformability.

Online social work engagement and empowerment for young internet users: A quasi-experiment.

Background: The increasing penetration of Internet use among young people poses challenges for youth service engagement through bricks-and-mortar youth centers owing to the decline in the number of walk-ins. This study was to identify the psychosocial and behavioral outcome changes effected through online engagement and empowerment interventions offered to at-risk youths by three local social work youth service providers.

Methods: A quasi-experimental design was adopted to compare the effects of online engagement and empowerment on 182 young service users with 191 age- and gender-matched controlled participants over nine months.

Sex With Chinese Characteristics: Sexuality Research in/on 21st-Century China.

This article examines the changing contours of Chinese sexuality studies by locating recent research in historical context. Our aim is to use the literature we review to construct a picture of the sexual landscape in China and the sociocultural and political conditions that have shaped it, enabling readers unfamiliar with China to understand its sexual culture and practices. In particular, we focus on the consequences of recent changes under the Xi regime for individuals' sexual lives and for research into sexuality.

Intergenerational support, satisfaction with parent-child relationship and elderly parents' life satisfaction in Hong Kong.

Objectives: This study examines in what exchange patterns that three types of intergenerational support are associated with elderly parents' life satisfaction, and whether elderly parents' evaluation on parent-child relationship plays a mediation role on those associations.

Method: Data were drawn from Hong Kong Panel Survey for Poverty Alleviation. Respondents aged 65 and over were included ( N=504).

The Contribution of Ageing to Hospitalisation Days in Hong Kong: A Decomposition Analysis.

Background: Ageing has become a serious challenge in Hong Kong and globally. It has serious implications for health expenditure, which accounts for nearly 20% of overall government expenditure. Here we assess the contribution of ageing and related factors to hospitalisation days in Hong Kong.

Facile Synthesis of Vanadium-Doped NiS Nanowire Arrays as Active Electrocatalyst for Hydrogen Evolution Reaction.

NiS nanowire arrays doped with vanadium(V) are directly grown on nickel foam by a facile one-step hydrothermal method. It is found that the doping can promote the formation of NiS nanowires at a low temperature. The doped nanowires show excellent electrocatalytic performance toward hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), and outperform pure NiS and other NiS-based compounds.

Hydrogenation-controlled phase transition on two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides and their unique physical and catalytic properties.

Two-dimensional (2D) transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) have been widely used from nanodevices to energy harvesting/storage because of their tunable physical and chemical properties. In this work, we systematically investigate the effects of hydrogenation on the structural, electronic, magnetic, and catalytic properties of 33 TMDs based on first-principles calculations. We find that the stable phases of TMD monolayers can transit from 1T to 2H phase or vice versa upon the hydrogenation.

Effect of Doping on Hydrogen Evolution Reaction of Vanadium Disulfide Monolayer.

As cheap and abundant materials, transitional metal dichalcogenide monolayers have attracted increasing interests for their application as catalysts in hydrogen production. In this work, the hydrogen evolution reduction of doped vanadium disulfide monolayers is investigated based on first-principles calculations. We find that the doping elements and concentration affect strongly the catalytic ability of the monolayer.

A first-principles study on the hydrogen evolution reaction of VS2 nanoribbons.

Nanostructures have attracted increasing interest for applications in electrolysis of water as electrocatalysts. In this work, the edge-catalytic effects of one dimensional (1D) VS2 nanoribbons with various edge configurations and widths have been investigated based on first-principles calculations. We show that the catalytic ability of VS2 nanoribbons strongly depends on their edge structure, edge configuration, and width.

Fabrication of nano-structured HA/CNT coatings on Ti6Al4V by electrophoretic deposition for biomedical applications.

In order to improve the bone bioactivity and osteointegration of metallic implants, hydroxyapatite (HA) is often coated on their surface so that a real bond with the surrounding bone tissue can be formed. In the present study, cathodic electrophoretic deposition (EPD) has been attempted for depositing nanostructured HA coatings on titanium alloy Ti6Al4V followed by sintering at 800 degrees C. Nano-sized HA powder was used in the EPD process to produce dense coatings.

Hydroxyapatite-anatase-carbon nanotube nanocomposite coatings fabricated by electrophoretic codeposition for biomedical applications.

In order to eliminate micro-cracks in the monolithic hydroxyapatite (HA) and composite hydroxyapatite/carbon nanotube (HA/CNT) coatings, novel HA/TiO(2)/CNT nanocomposite coatings on Ti6Al4V were attempted to fabricate by a single-step electrophoretic codeposition process for biomedical applications. The electrophoretically deposited layers with difference contents of HA, TiO(2) (anatase) and CNT nanoparticles were sintered at 800°C for densification with thickness of about 7-10 μm. A dense and crack-free coating was achieved with constituents of 85 wt% HA, 10 wt% TiO(2) and 5 wt% CNT.

A comparative study of the cytotoxicity of silver-based dressings in monolayer cell, tissue explant, and animal models.

Over the past decade, a variety of advanced silver-based dressings have been developed. There are considerable variations in the structure, composition, and silver content of these new preparations. In the present study, we examined five commercially available silver-based dressings (Acticoat, Aquacel Ag, Contreet Foam, PolyMem Silver, Urgotul SSD).