Enhancing Dielectric Properties of (CaCuTiO NWs-Graphene)/PVDF Ternary Oriented Composites by Hot Stretching.

Using high-dielectric inorganic ceramics as fillers can effectively increase the dielectric constant of polymer-based composites. However, a high percentage of fillers will inevitably lead to a decrease in the mechanical toughness of the composite materials. By introducing high aspect ratio copper calcium titanate (CaCuTiO) nanowires (CCTO NWs) and graphene as fillers, the ternary poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF)-based composites (CCTO NWs-graphene)/PVDF with a significant one-dimensional orientation structure were prepared by hot stretching.

Preparation of High-k Polymeric Composites Based on Low-k Boron Nitride Nanosheets with High-Connectivity Lamellar Structure.

Typically, the basic method to enhance the dielectric response of polymer-based composites is to fill giant dielectric ceramic fillers, such as BaTiO and CaCuTiO, into the polymer matrix. Here, by using low-k boron nitride (BN) with well-controlled microstructure and surface, we successfully prepared a high-k polymeric composite, where the improvement in the dielectric constant of the composite even exceeds that of composites containing BaTiO and CaCuTiO particles at the same weight percent. First, a lamellar boron nitride nanosheet (BNNS) aerogel was prepared by bidirectional freezing and freeze drying, respectively, and then the aerogel was calcined at 1000 °C to obtain the lamellar BNNS skeleton with some hydroxyl groups.

G Protein-Coupled Receptor 120 Mediates Host Defense against Infection through Regulating NOD-like Receptor Family Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Inflammasome Activation.

is a major cause of infectious foodborne disease, frequently associated with the consumption of raw and undercooked food. Despite intensive studies on clarifying pathogenesis, the molecular mechanisms of host-pathogen interactions remain poorly understood. In soft tissue and mucosal infection models, mice, G protein-coupled receptor 120 (GPR120), are more susceptible to infection.

[Closed reduction and internal fixation versus transtarsal sinus small incision internal fixation for Sanders type II calcaneal fractures].

Objective: To compare the clinical effects of closed reduction and internal fixation with limited transtarsal sinus incision in the treatment of Sanders type II calcaneal fractures.

Methods: From June 2015 to February 2018, 60 patients with Sanders type II calcaneal fractures were treated by minimally invasive method. According to the different treatment methods, they were divided into two groups: closed prying reduction and internal fixation with hollow nails(group A) and limited transtarsal sinus incision internal fixation (group B).

[Effect of anti-androgen and progesterone on development of regrowth antlers in 6 year old sika deer].

To investigate the effects of anti-androgen drugs and melengestrol acetate (MGA) on development of regrowth antlers in 6 year old sika deer, twenty healthysika deerwith similar body weight and antler weightwere randomly divided into five groups by using single factor test design: flutamide (=4), bicalutamide (=4), progesterone acetate (CPA, =4), melengestrol acetate (MGA, =4), control(=4). All deer were fed with same diets and were housed outside together in an opened fence of 15 m×30 m with free access to water and feed. Treatment groups were injected subcutaneously sustained-release agents of the four drugs respectively when two-branched antlers were harvested.

Vanillin Protects Dopaminergic Neurons against Inflammation-Mediated Cell Death by Inhibiting ERK1/2, P38 and the NF-κB Signaling Pathway.

Neuroinflammation plays a very important role in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD). After activation, microglia produce pro-inflammatory mediators that damage surrounding neurons. Consequently, the inhibition of microglial activation might represent a new therapeutic approach of PD.

Regulated dielectric loss of polymer composites from coating carbon nanotubes with a cross-linked silsesquioxane shell through free-radical polymerization.

We report a synthetic strategy for coating multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) with cross-linked octa-methacrylate-polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (MA-POSS) by direct, in situ free-radical polymerization in a controlled manner. This strategy resulted in a core-shell structure with an MWCNT center. The shell thickness could be varied from ∼ 7 nm to 40 nm by choosing different initiators, solvents, and weight ratios of MWCNT and octa-MA-POSS.

Selective self-assembly of surface-functionalized fullerenes in PS-PEO on different substrates.

Polystyrene-functionalized C60 (C60-PS) was synthesized by atom-transfer radical polymerization. The structure of the hybrid was characterized by gel permeation chromatography and thermal gravimetric analysis. The self-assembly of polystyrene-block-poly(ethylene oxide) (PS-PEO)/C60-PS film in annealing solvents was studied on a silicon wafer and at the air/water interface by transmission electron microscopy.

Long-term outcomes of percutaneous retrogasserian glycerol rhizotomy in 3370 patients with trigeminal neuralgia.

Aim: To assess the long-term outcomes of percutaneous retrogasserian glycerol rhizotomy (PRGR) in patients with medically unresponsive idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia.

Material And Methods: A total of 3370 patients undergoing PRGR between 1983 and 2003 in our hospital were followed up for 13.1 years (range 3-23 years), and the outcomes were investigated.

Arthroscopically assisted ankle fusion in patients with end-stage tuberculosis.

Purpose: Our purpose was to evaluate the clinical outcomes of arthroscopically assisted ankle fusion in patients with end-stage tuberculosis.

Methods: Ten patients, all with end-stage tuberculosis, were operated on by arthroscopically assisted ankle fusion, and a half-ring sulcated external fixator was used. Partial weight-bearing was started on the fourth day.

Controlled functionalization of multiwalled carbon nanotubes with various molecular-weight poly(L-lactic acid).

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNT) were functionalized with poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) with different molecular weights using a "grafting to" technique. The oxidized MWNT (MWNT-COOH) were converted to the acyl-chloride-functionalized MWNT (MWNT-COCl) by treating them with thionyl chloride (SOCl2) and reacting them with PLLA to prepare the MWNT-g-PLLA. FTIR and Raman spectroscopy revealed that the PLLA was covalently attached to the MWNT, and the weight gain due to the functionalization was determined by thermogravimetric analyses (TGA).