An Environmentally Friendly Superhydrophobic Wood Sponge with Photo/Electrothermal Effects Prepared from Natural Wood for All-Weather High-Viscosity Oil-Water Separation.

Rapid industrial development has led to increased crude oil extraction and oily wastewater discharge. Achieving oil-water separation and marine oil adsorption in a cost-effective, efficient, and environmentally friendly manner remains a global challenge. In this work, natural wood was chemically treated to prepare a degradable and environmentally friendly wood sponge structure.

Dynamic Modeling and Analysis of Flexible-Joint Robots with Clearance.

The coupling effects of flexible joints and clearance on the dynamics of a robotic system were investigated. A numerical analysis was undertaken to reveal the coupling effects between flexible joints and clearance. The nonlinear spring-damping model and Coulomb model were applied to characterize the contact characteristics of the clearance, and a model for the flexible joint was formulated using the equivalent spring theory.

Ultrafast Polymerization of a Self-Adhesive and Strain Sensitive Hydrogel-Based Flexible Sensor for Human Motion Monitoring and Handwriting Recognition.

Hydrogel-based flexible electronic devices have great potential in human motion monitoring, electronic skins, and human-computer interaction applications; hence, the efficient preparation of highly sensitive hydrogel-based flexible sensors is important. In the present work, the ultrafast polymerization of a hydrogel (1-3 min) was achieved by constructing a tannic acid (TA)-Fe dynamic redox system, which endowed the hydrogel with good adhesion performance (the adhesion strength in wood was 17.646 kPa).

Synergy of Organic/Inorganic and Inner/Outer Cooperative Conductive Networks in Polydimethylsiloxane-Based Porous Foam on High-Performance Flexible Sensors.

The development of low-cost and high-performance flexible sensor materials is crucial for the advancement of wearable electronic devices, medical monitoring, and human-machine interfaces. In this study, a poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS)-coated multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)-reinforced polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) composite foam with a uniform organic/inorganic and inner/outer cooperative conductive network was developed to detect tensile and compressive forces. The study demonstrates that the internally cross-linked MWCNTs and PEDOT:PSS coatings within the foam framework play a crucial role in the porous structure and sensing properties of the composite foam.

Thermoelectric Properties of One-Pot Hydrothermally Synthesized Solution-Processable PEDOT:PSS/MWCNT Composite Materials.

The combination of organic and inorganic materials has been considered an effective solution for achieving ambient thermoelectric energy harvesting and has been developing rapidly. Here, PEDOT:PSS/MWCNT (PPM) composite hydrogels were synthesized using the self-assembled gelation process of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) and the interaction between PEDOT:PSS and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) without the addition of any surfactant. After immersion in dimethyl sulfoxide and freeze-drying, the hydrogel is easily dispersed in water and used as a direct ink writing (DIW) 3D printing ink.

The Diagnostic Value of Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound and Enhanced CT Combined with Tumor Markers AFP and CA199 in Liver Cancer.

Background: Early screening and diagnosis are of great significance to the treatment and prognosis of patients with liver cancer. This study aims to explore the application value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound and enhanced CT combined with tumor markers alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and carbohydrate antigen 199 (CA199) in the diagnosis of liver cancer.

Methods: Liver cancer group ( = 256), benign disease group ( = 110), and control group ( = 50) participated in this study.

Recent Advances in Metal/Alloy Nano Coatings for Carbon Nanotubes Based on Electroless Plating.

A large number of researches on the electroless plating of carbon nanotubes and their applications after plating have emerged, which has attracted more and more attention. In this review article, the existing electroless plating methods for carbon nanotubes were briefly summarized, and the surface coatings were listed and analyzed in detail. At last, the related applications after electroless metal/alloy coatings of carbon nanotubes were discussed in detail.

Effect of Traditional Chinese Medicine Combined with Bladder Perfusion with Hydroxycamptothecin on Color Ultrasound and Clinical Efficacy in Patients with Bladder Cancer Surgery.

Objective: To observe the clinical effect of Xiaozheng Decoction combined with bladder perfusion with hydroxycamptothecin in the treatment of bladder cancer.

Methods: A total of 92 bladder cancer patients admitted to our hospital from January to December 2018 were selected and divided into an observation group and a control group according to the random number table method, with 46 cases in each group. The observation group was given Xiaozheng Decoction combined with bladder perfusion with hydroxycamptothecin, and the control group was given hydroxycamptothecin.

A Method for Preparing Superhydrophobic Paper with High Stability and Ionic Liquid-Induced Wettability Transition.

In this study, the polymer PTSPM-PMETAC with anion adsorption properties was prepared by a one-step method, then the amino-modified nano-SiO was grafted onto the polymer to improve the roughness of the surface and enhance the stability of superhydrophobic properties, and a high-stability superhydrophobic paper with ion-induced wettability transition properties was successfully prepared. The study found that the paper can realize the reversible control of surface wettability through the exchange between the anions PF and Cl adsorbed on the surface of PMETAC, and further investigation of the effect of different solvents on the ion exchange properties found that water was the poor solvent for ion exchange, while the mixtures of methanol, acetone, and methanol & water were the good solvent. On the whole, the preparation of superhydrophobic paper by this method not only simple in preparation process, low in cost and strong in universality, but also the prepared superhydrophobic paper has high transparency and good stability, which has great application potential in industrial production.

Preparation of the Temperature-Responsive Superhydrophobic Paper with High Stability.

In this paper, a method for preparing a high-stability superhydrophobic paper with temperature-induced wettability transition is proposed. First, a temperature-responsive superhydrophobic triblock polymer PHFMA-PTSPM-PNIPAAm was prepared by one-step polymerization of TSPM, HFMA, and NIPAAm in a mass ratio of 0.3:0.

Value of ultrasound combined with MRI in the diagnosis of primary and recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma.

Ultrasound (US) combined with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the diagnosis of primary hepatocellular carcinoma (PHCC) and recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma (RHCC) were compared. The clinical data of 329 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) admitted to Qingdao Women and Children's Hospital from June 2015 to December 2017 were collected. One hundred and sixty patients with PHCC were regarded as the PHCC group, and the other 169 patients with RHCC were regarded as the RHCC group.

Superhydrophobic Surfaces with pH-Induced Switchable Wettability for Oil-Water Separation.

The oily wastewater generated in the industrial field is adversely affecting the environment, while the current methods for oil-water separation are complex and costly. Therefore, it is significant to use low cost and environmentally friendly materials to prepare a smart responsive superhydrophobic coating for the effective separation of oil-water mixtures. In this paper, a fluorine-free copolymer with pH responsiveness was fabricated by a solution impregnation method, and it was compounded by silica nanoparticles/polydimethylsiloxane to prepare a superhydrophobic coating on the paper and cotton fabric.

A Printed and Flexible NO Sensor Based on a Solid Polymer Electrolyte.

Solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) is an important part of printed electrochemical gas sensors and are of value to electrochemical sensors. Here, a new type of SPE was prepared by dissolving a poly-vinylidene fluoride (PVDF) matrix in a 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) to immobilize 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([EMIM] [BF]), which was then used in a new electrochemical amperometric nitrogen dioxide sensor. The SPE was coated on a single electrode and attached to the electrode to construct a simple two-layer structure.

Imaging manifestations of B-mode ultrasound combined with CT in tuberculous pleuritis patients and the diagnostic value.

Clinical diagnostic values of B-mode ultrasound and computed tomography (CT) for tuberculous pleuritis were investigated. A total of 685 patients clinically diagnosed with tuberculous pleuritis in Yantaishan Hospital from January 2012 to August 2016 were selected as study subjects. The patients were examined by B-mode ultrasound and CT.

Comparison of the effects of nicotinic acid and nicotinamide degradation on plasma betaine and choline levels.

Aim: The present study was to compare the effects of nicotinic acid and nicotinamide on the plasma methyl donors, choline and betaine.

Methods: Thirty adult subjects were randomly divided into three groups of equal size, and orally received purified water (C group), nicotinic acid (300 mg, NA group) or nicotinamide (300 mg, NM group). Plasma nicotinamide, N-methylnicotinamide, homocysteine, betaine and choline levels before and 1.

Preeclampsia and future cardiovascular risk: A point of view from the clearance of plasma vasoactive amines.

Objective: To summarize the reported evidence on the relationship between vasoactive amines and preeclampsia.

Methods: A literature search was conducted in MEDLINE/PubMed and EMBASE.

Results: The summarized results are as follows: (1) Menstruation can effectively eliminate vasoactive amines norepinephrine, serotonin and histamine.

Vitamin paradox in obesity: Deficiency or excess?

Since synthetic vitamins were used to fortify food and as supplements in the late 1930s, vitamin intake has significantly increased. This has been accompanied by an increased prevalence of obesity, a condition associated with diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, asthma and cancer. Paradoxically, obesity is often associated with low levels of fasting serum vitamins, such as folate and vitamin D.