Imaging surface structure and premelting of ice Ih with atomic resolution.

Ice surfaces are closely relevant to many physical and chemical properties, such as melting, freezing, friction, gas uptake and atmospheric reaction. Despite extensive experimental and theoretical investigations, the exact atomic structures of ice interfaces remain elusive owing to the vulnerable hydrogen-bonding network and the complicated premelting process. Here we realize atomic-resolution imaging of the basal (0001) surface structure of hexagonal water ice (ice Ih) by using qPlus-based cryogenic atomic force microscopy with a carbon monoxide-functionalized tip.

A Compact-Sized Fully Self-Powered Wireless Flowmeter Based on Triboelectric Discharge.

Flow sensing exhibits significant potential for monitoring, controlling, and optimizing processes in industries, resource management, and environmental protection. However, achieving wireless real-time and omnidirectional sensing of gas/liquid flow on a simple, self-contained device without external power support has remained a formidable challenge. In this study, a compact-sized, fully self-powered wireless sensing flowmeter (CSWF) is introduced with a small size diameter of down to less than 50 mm, which can transmit real-time and omnidirectional wireless signals, as driven by a rotating triboelectric nanogenerator (R-TENG).

Structure Discovery in Atomic Force Microscopy Imaging of Ice.

The interaction of water with surfaces is crucially important in a wide range of natural and technological settings. In particular, at low temperatures, unveiling the atomistic structure of adsorbed water clusters would provide valuable data for understanding the ice nucleation process. Using high-resolution atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning tunneling microscopy, several studies have demonstrated the presence of water pentamers, hexamers, and heptamers (and of their combinations) on a variety of metallic surfaces, as well as the initial stages of 2D ice growth on an insulating surface.

Nanoscale one-dimensional close packing of interfacial alkali ions driven by water-mediated attraction.

The permeability and selectivity of biological and artificial ion channels correlate with the specific hydration structure of single ions. However, fundamental understanding of the effect of ion-ion interaction remains elusive. Here, via non-contact atomic force microscopy measurements, we demonstrate that hydrated alkali metal cations (Na and K) at charged surfaces could come into close contact with each other through partial dehydration and water rearrangement processes, forming one-dimensional chain structures.

The effect of surface hydrophobicity and hydrophilicity on ion-ion interactions at water-solid interfaces.

Condensation and arrangement of ions at water-solid interfaces are of great importance in the formation of electrical double layers (EDL) and the transport of ions under a confined geometry. So far, the microscopic understanding of interfacial ion configurations is still far from complete, especially when the local ion concentration is high and ion-ion interactions become prominent. In this study, we directly visualized alkali metal cations within the hydrogen-bonding network of water on graphite and Cu(111)-supported graphene surfaces, using qPlus-based noncontact atomic force microscopy (NC-AFM).

Association of prothrombin complexe concentrate with venous thrombosis after cardiac surgery: a case-control study.

Background: Prothrombin complex concentrate (PCC) enhances coagulation and controls bleeding. We aimed to assess whether perioperative infusion of PCC is associated with venous thrombosis after cardiac surgery.

Methods: We conducted a case-control study of patients undergoing cardiac surgery at our hospital in 2021.

Preoperative prognostic nutrition index can independently predict the 6-month prognosis of elderly patients undergoing neurosurgical clipping for aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

The number of elderly patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) is increasing annually. The prognostic nutritional index (PNI) is used as a novel and valuable prognostic marker for various neoplastic diseases and other critical illnesses. This study aimed to identify the short-term prognostic value of preoperative PNI in elderly patients who underwent neurosurgical clipping for aSAH.

Associations of MTHFR gene polymorphism with lipid metabolism and risk of cerebral infarction in the Northwest Han Chinese population.

Objective: Genetic variation in the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene may contribute to the development of cerebral infarction (CI); however, results have been inconsistent across studies with different populations, including studies of the Chinese population. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of MTHFR gene polymorphism on serum lipid and homocysteine levels among patients with CI in the Northwest Chinese Han population.

Patients And Methods: A total of 521 CI patients and 524 non-CI controls were enrolled in the study.

Visualizing Eigen/Zundel cations and their interconversion in monolayer water on metal surfaces.

The nature of hydrated proton on solid surfaces is of vital importance in electrochemistry, proton channels, and hydrogen fuel cells but remains unclear because of the lack of atomic-scale characterization. We directly visualized Eigen- and Zundel-type hydrated protons within the hydrogen bonding water network on Au(111) and Pt(111) surfaces, using cryogenic qPlus-based atomic force microscopy under ultrahigh vacuum. We found that the Eigen cations self-assembled into monolayer structures with local order, and the Zundel cations formed long-range ordered structures stabilized by nuclear quantum effects.

Density of Surface States: Another Key Contributing Factor in Triboelectric Charge Generation.

The triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) has been invented as a technology for harvesting mechanical energy, as well as for allocating quantized charge for scientific instruments. The charge generation of the TENG is mainly related to the triboelectric effect or contact electrification (CE) as usually described by the potential-well-electron-cloud model, while the triboelectric charge transfer is related to the difference in the occupied energy levels of electrons. However, in our experiment, we observed an abnormal triboelectric charge generation phenomena between ternary materials, which cannot be explained by the occupied energy level difference only.

Ultra-selective molecular-sieving gas separation membranes enabled by multi-covalent-crosslinking of microporous polymer blends.

High-performance membranes exceeding the conventional permeability-selectivity upper bound are attractive for advanced gas separations. In the context microporous polymers have gained increasing attention owing to their exceptional permeability, which, however, demonstrate a moderate selectivity unfavorable for separating similarly sized gas mixtures. Here we report an approach to designing polymeric molecular sieve membranes via multi-covalent-crosslinking of blended bromomethyl polymer of intrinsic microporosity and Tröger's base, enabling simultaneously high permeability and selectivity.

Effect of three different proteases on horsemeat tenderness during postmortem aging.

In this study, the semitendinosus of horse meat was used as the raw material. The study assessed the variation of the tenderness of horse meat during postmortem aging through the injection of papain, bromelain and fungal protease. The cooking loss of the horse meat became worse during postmortem aging.

Safety Analysis of Simultaneous Cranioplasty and Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Placement.

Aim: To investigate the safety of combined cranioplasty (CP) and ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) placement. Furthermore, we investigated whether the sequence of these procedures affects the postoperative complication rates associated with staged CP and VPS placement.

Material And Methods: We retrospectively investigated patients who developed communicating hydrocephalus after decompressive craniectomy and subsequently underwent VPS placement and CP at the hospital at which this study was performed between January 2009 and December 2019.

Boosting the Output Performance of the Triboelectric Nanogenerator through the Nonlinear Oscillator.

The rapid development of the internet of things and autonomous vehicles requires plenty of sensors to monitor environmental conditions continuously. Hence, the high energy density and reliable power supply are demanded. The nonlinear oscillator has been widely utilized to enhance the output performance of piezoelectric and electromagnetic energy harvesters, which can operate in high-energy orbits under proper excitation frequencies.

Achieving Ultrahigh Output Energy Density of Triboelectric Nanogenerators in High-Pressure Gas Environment.

Through years of development, the triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) has been demonstrated as a burgeoning efficient energy harvester. Plenty of efforts have been devoted to further improving the electric output performance through material/surface optimization, ion implantation or the external electric circuit. However, all these methods cannot break through the fundamental limitation brought by the inevitable electrical breakdown effect, and thus the output energy density is restricted.

Multifunctional Self-Powered Switch toward Delay-Characteristic Sensors.

With the development of the internet of things (IoT) and 5th generation communication technology, construction of smart cities is making a great progress. However, the IoT system needs millions of sensing nodes; therefore, it is rather challenging to power various sensors. Here, we design an electrostatic force-based switch (EFS) that can work as either an optical or an electrical switch.

Fluid-Structure Coupling Model and Experimental Validation of Interaction Between Pneumatic Soft Actuator and Lower Limb.

Pneumatic soft actuators (PSAs) are components that produce predesigned motion or force in different end-use devices. PSAs are lightweight, flexible, and compatible in human-machine interaction. The use of PSAs in compression therapy has proven promising in proactive pressure delivery with a wide range of dosages for treatment of chronic venous insufficiency and lymphedema.

Dynamic Interface Pressure Monitoring System for the Morphological Pressure Mapping of Intermittent Pneumatic Compression Therapy.

Intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) is a proactive compression therapeutic technique in the prophylaxis of deep vein thrombosis, reduction of limb edema, and treatment of chronic venous ulcers. To appropriately detect and analyze biomechanical pressure profiles delivered by IPC in treatment, a dynamic interface pressure monitoring system was developed to visualize and quantify morphological pressure mapping in the spatial and temporal domains in real time. The system comprises matrix soft sensors, a smart IPC device, a monitoring and analysis software, and a display unit.

Human amniotic epithelial stem cells inhibit microglia activation through downregulation of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β and matrix metalloproteinase-12 in vitro and in a rat model of intracerebral hemorrhage.

Background Aims: The molecular mechanisms by which stem cell transplantation improves functional recovery after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) are not well understood. Accumulating evidence suggests that microglia cells are activated shortly after ICH and that this activation contributes to secondary ICH-induced brain injury. We studied the effect of human amniotic epithelial stem cells (HAESCs) on microglia activation.

Transplantation of bone marrow stromal cells enhances nerve regeneration of the corticospinal tract and improves recovery of neurological functions in a collagenase-induced rat model of intracerebral hemorrhage.

The reorganization of brain structures after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) insult is crucial to functional outcome. Although the pattern of neuronal rewiring is well-documented after ischemic stroke, the study of brain plasticity after ICH has been focusing on the enhancement of dendritic complexity. Here we hypothesized that functional restoration after ICH involves brain reorganization which may be favorably modulated by stem cell transplantation.

X-linked recessive combined pituitary hormone deficiency is mapped to Xp22.3-Xp11 in a Chinese family.

Genetic mutations have been identified in a modest proportion of patients with combined pituitary hormone deficiency (CPHD). We reported a 3-generation family consisting of 18 members, including 5 affected males (the proband, his 2 brothers, his cousin, and his maternal uncle; III1-III4, II8) suffered with CPHD. MRI of the pituitary gland showed hypoplasia of the pituitary gland in affected members.

Peripheral precocious puberty: a retrospective study for six years in Hangzhou, China.

Aim: To evaluate the clinical and aetiopathogenesis of peripheral precocious puberty (PPP) in Chinese children.

Methods: A total of 91 PPP children were reviewed. Clinical features including age, gender, stage of pubertal development, presenting symptoms, features and aetiopathogenesis were investigated.

Design of an integrated sensor for in vivo simultaneous electrocontractile cardiac mapping.

While there is extensive mapping of the spread of electrical activity in the heart, there have been no measurements of electrical and localized mechanical, or contractile, activity. Yet the development of effective treatments for diseases like chronic heart failure and cardiac hypertrophy depend on the ability to quantify improvements in electrocontractile function. In this paper, we present a sensor that is capable of making simultaneous, electrocontractile measurements.