Thermal shock protection with scalable heat-absorbing aerogels.

Improving thermal insulation is vital for addressing thermal protection and energy efficiency challenges. Though silica aerogel has a record-low thermal conductivity at ambient pressure, its high production cost, due to its nanoscale porous structure, has hindered its widespread use. In this study, we introduce a cost-effective and mild method that enhances insulation by incorporating phase change materials (PCMs) into a micron-porous framework.

High-Efficiency Thermal-Shock Resistance Enabled by Radiative Cooling and Latent Heat Storage.

Radiative cooling technology is well known for its subambient temperature cooling performance under sunlight radiation. However, the intrinsic maximum cooling power of radiative cooling limits the performance when the objects meet the thermal shock. Here, a dual-function strategy composed of radiative cooling and latent heat storage simultaneously enabling the efficient subambient cooling and high-efficiency thermal-shock resistance performance is proposed.

MXene-Integrated Solid-Solid Phase Change Composites for Accelerating Solar-Thermal Energy Storage and Electric Conversion.

The high thermal storage density of phase change materials (PCMs) has attracted considerable attention in solar energy applications. However, the practicality of PCMs is often limited by the problems of leakage, poor solar-thermal conversion capability, and low thermal conductivity, resulting in low-efficiency solar energy storage. In this work, a new system of MXene-integrated solid-solid PCMs is presented as a promising solution for a solar-thermal energy storage and electric conversion system with high efficiency and energy density.

Realizing the Ultralow Lattice Thermal Conductivity of CuSbSe Compound via Sulfur Alloying Effect.

CuSbSe is a potential p-type thermoelectric material, distinguished by its earth-abundant, inexpensive, innocuous, and environmentally friendly components. Nonetheless, the thermoelectric performance is poor and remains subpar. Herein, the electrical and thermal transport properties of CuSbSe were synergistically optimized by S alloying.

Persistent neuroinflammation of the right insular cortex in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis: a proton MRS study.

Objective: The aim of this study of children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) was to use proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (H-MRS) to compare the levels of five neurometabolites in the right and left insular cortexes of subjects in three groups: JIA-active, JIA-inactive, and healthy controls (HCs).

Methods: Two inflammation markers and five psychometric scores were determined. H-MRS was used to measure the levels of total N-acetylaspartate (NAA), total choline (Cho), myo-inositol (mI), and glutamate (Glu), and the complex of glutamine and glutamate (Glx) relative to total creatine (tCr) in the right and left insular cortexes of participants.

Evidence of persistent glial cell dysfunction in the anterior cingulate cortex of juvenile idiopathic arthritis children: a proton MRS study.

Background: This study aims to investigate whether the neurometabolites of the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) were distinct in patients with active and inactive juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) using the proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

Methods: We measured the levels of total N-acetylaspartate (tNAA), choline (Cho), myo-inositol (ml), glutamate (Glu) and the complex of glutamate and glutamine (Glx) relative to total creatine (tCr) in ACC of each participant.

Results: Compared with the healthy controls, a significant decrease of total Cho/tCr and Glx/tCr ratio in ACC occurred in active and inactive JIA group.

Phase-change materials reinforced intelligent paint for efficient daytime radiative cooling.

Passive cooling of buildings has become increasingly important for green and low-carbon development, especially in the near decade where daytime radiative cooling technology (DRCT) has drawn attention with big breakthroughs. However, irresistibly importing heat from sunlight and surroundings results in notable temperature rise, thus limiting the cooling effect. Here, we report a radiative paint with latent heat storage capacity to store imported heat by coupling randomly-distributed phase-change materials (PCMs) based microcapsules with acrylic resin to enhance cooling performance.

The Brain Structural-Functional Vulnerability in Drug-Naive Children With Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: Insights From the Hippocampus.

Objective: Leveraging an integrative multimodal MRI paradigm to elaborate on the hippocampus-derived structural and functional changes in children and adolescents with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and to explore potential correlations within the "joint-inflammation-brain" axis during the period of central neural system (CNS) development.

Methods: Twenty-one patients with JIA all completed the multimodal MRI scanning, laboratory tests, and neuropsychological assessments; meanwhile, 23 matched controls were recruited. We then harnessed the spherical harmonics with a point distribution model (SPHARM-PDM) and the ROI-to-voxel functional connectivity (FC) to measure the hippocampal shape and hippocampo-cortical FC patterns.

Association between intrahepatic triglyceride content in subjects with metabolically healthy abdominal obesity and risks of pre-diabetes plus diabetes: an observational study.

Objective: We aimed to evaluate the association of intrahepatic triglyceride (IHTG) content in subjects with metabolically healthy abdominal obesity (MHAO) on risks of pre-diabetes plus diabetes.

Design: Cross-sectional survey.

Setting: Lianqian community, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, China.

Whole brain volume and cortical thickness abnormalities in Wilson's disease: a clinical correlation study.

Wilson's disease (WD) is an inherited autosomal recessive disorder of copper metabolism, and its neurological and neuropsychiatric manifestations are associated with copper accumulation in brain. A few neuroimaging studies have shown that gray matter atrophy in WD affects both subcortical structures and cortex. This study aims to quantitatively evaluate the morphometric brain abnormalities in patients with WD in terms of whole brain volume and cortical thickness and their associations with clinical severity of WD.

The assessment of mild encephalopathy with a reversible splenial lesion (MERS) using high b-value DWI.

Introduction: Mild encephalitis/encephalopathy with a reversible splenial lesion (MERS) was shown to have a transient reduction in diffusion. Such changes would be used as an early detection to reduce excessive treatments and promote recovery without sequelae. The current research evaluated the high b-value (b = 3000 s/mm) diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) assessment in MERS.

Preoperative grading of supratentorial nonenhancing gliomas by high b-value diffusion-weighted 3 T magnetic resonance imaging.

The purpose of this study was to determine the difference in discrimination between high- and low-grade supratentorial nonenhancing gliomas (HGGs and LGGs, respectively) when using apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values with high or standard b-value. Thirty-nine patients underwent conventional magnetic resonance imaging and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) with standard and high b-values (b = 1000 and 3000 s/mm, respectively). Minimum, maximum, and mean ADC values (ADC, ADC, and ADC, respectively) were measured from ADC maps with both b-values.

Effects of Moderate and Vigorous Exercise on Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a prevalent risk factor for chronic liver disease and cardiovascular disease.

Objective: To compare the effects of moderate and vigorous exercise on intrahepatic triglyceride content and metabolic risk factors among patients with NAFLD.

Design, Setting, And Participants: In this randomized clinical trial, participants with central obesity and NAFLD were recruited from community-based screening in Xiamen, China, from December 1, 2011, through December 25, 2013.

A comparison of high b-value vs standard b-value diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging at 3.0 T for medulloblastomas.

Objective: To investigate the utility of diffusion-weighted (DW) MRI using high b-value vs standard b-value for patients with medulloblastoma (MB). Minimum apparent diffusion coefficient (ADCMIN) values were also compared with tumour cellularity.

Methods: High and standard b-value DW images were obtained for 17 patients with MB.

Use of a high b-value for diffusion weighted imaging of peritumoral regions to differentiate high-grade gliomas and solitary metastases.

Background: To determine whether apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values obtained using a b-value of 3000 s/mm(2) can be used to differentiate high-grade glioma (HGG) from solitary metastases (SM).

Methods: Forty patients underwent conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and standard and high b-value diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI). Minimum, maximum, and mean ADC values (ADCMIN , ADCMAX , and ADCMEAN , respectively) were measured from ADC maps obtained for the two b-values for each subject.

Irisin is inversely associated with intrahepatic triglyceride contents in obese adults.

Background & Aims: Obesity is closely related to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which has become an important public health problem because of its high prevalence and association with metabolic syndromes. Irisin was recently identified as a novel peptide to improve obesity and glucose homeostasis, and considered to be therapeutic for human metabolic diseases. The aim of this study was to examine the association of serum irisin concentration and liver triglyceride contents in obese Chinese adults.