Cold Sintered ZnO-Polystyrene (PS) Composites with Modified Interfacial Structures and Properties.

Lightweight and integrated electronic devices with high performance have become an inevitable trend in the development of power electronic systems. However, it is challenging to obtain lightweight and miniaturized varistors due to the low threshold electric field. Herein, (1 - )ZnO-PS composites with a high threshold electric field are prepared through a cold sintering process at 220 °C for 50 min, utilizing lightweight PS to modulate the grain boundary structures of ZnO varistors.

Induced Electron Traps via the PCBM in P(VDF-HFP) Composites to Enhance Dielectric and Energy Storage Performance.

Polymer-based composites with excellent dielectric properties are essential for advanced energy storage applications. In this work, the [6,6]-phenyl-C-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) as a filler was incorporated into the poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (P(VDF-HFP)) composite to improve its dielectric performance. P(VDF-HFP) composite films with varying PCBM concentrations were prepared via solution casting and their dielectric, energy storage, and charge-discharge properties were characterized.

Investigation of eye movement characteristics during free throws at varying intensities among basketball players and its correlation with free throw percentage.

Background: Free throws serve as a crucial scoring mechanism in basketball games. As the level of basketball and the intensity of competition continue to improve, the frequency of free throw attempts gradually rises. However, with heightened game intensity, maintaining a consistent free throw success rate becomes increasingly challenging.

Social participation classification and activities in association with health outcomes among older adults: Results from a scoping review.

Aims: The aim of this study is to summarize the characteristics of social participation classification and examine the association between activities and health outcomes among older adults.

Design: Scoping review.

Data Sources: Eight databases (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, The Cochrane Library, Embase, ProQuest, Psychological Information Database, PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science) were searched.

Construction of a multi-tissue compound-target interaction network of Qingfei Paidu decoction in COVID-19 treatment based on deep learning and transcriptomic analysis.

The Qingfei Paidu decoction (QFPDD) is a widely acclaimed therapeutic formula employed nationwide for the clinical management of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). QFPDD exerts a synergistic therapeutic effect, characterized by its multi-component, multi-target, and multi-pathway action. However, the intricate interactions among the ingredients and targets within QFPDD and their systematic effects in multiple tissues remain undetermined.

Effect of Inorganic Fillers on Electrical and Mechanical Properties of Ceramizable Silicone Rubber.

Ceramizable silicone rubber (CSR) composed of silicone rubber matrix and inorganic fillers can be transformed into a dense flame-retardant ceramic upon encountering high temperatures or flames. Conventionally, CSR can be sintered into a dense ceramic at temperatures above 1000 °C, which is higher than the melting point of a copper conductor used in a power cable. In this study, the vulcanization process and mass ratio of inorganic fillers of CSR were studied to lower its ceramization temperature to 950 °C.

GenBase: A Nucleotide Sequence Database.

The rapid advancement of sequencing technologies poses challenges in managing the large volume and exponential growth of sequence data efficiently and on time. To address this issue, we present GenBase (https://ngdc.cncb.

Predictors of Inadequate Serum Urate Response to Low-Dose Febuxostat in Male Patients with Gout.

Objective: This study aimed to understand predictors of inadequate response (IR) to low-dose febuxostat treatment based on clinical variables.

Methods: We pooled data from 340 patients of an observational cohort and two clinical trials who received febuxostat 20 mg/day for at least 3 months. IR was defined as failure to reach the target serum urate level (sUA<6 mg/dL) at any time point during 3 months treatment.

The Effect of Respiratory Muscle Training on Swallowing Function in Patients With Stroke: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: The improvement of swallowing function after stroke is a significant challenge faced by patients and health care professionals. However, the current evidence synthesis of the effects of respiratory muscle training (RMT) on swallowing function is limited.

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of RMT on swallowing recovery in patients undergoing stroke.

Cold-Sintered ZnO Ceramic Composites Co-Doped with Polytetrafluoroethylene and Oxides.

Grain boundaries play a significant role in determining the performance of ceramic-based materials. The modulation of interfacial structures provides a promising approach to improve the physicochemical and electrical properties of ceramic materials. In this work, the grain boundary structures of ZnO-based ceramics were manipulated by incorporating polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and metal oxides through the cold sintering process (CSP).

Care models for patients with heart failure at home: A systematic review.

Aims: The aim of this study is to evaluate the relative merits of various heart failure models of care with regard to a variety of outcomes.

Design: Systematic review.

Data Sources: Five databases including PubMed, Web of Science, Medline, Embase and Science Direct were searched from the inception date of databases to August 20, 2022.

Empirical study on visual attention characteristics of basketball players of different levels during free-throw shooting.

Background: Visual attention is very important in basketball shooting, which is a prerequisite for forming good muscle proprioception and improving the shooting rate. The ability of visual instant searching information in the process of free throw plays an important role in the mobilization of free throw percentage. The aim of this study is to explore the fixation characteristics of athletes at different levels in the process of free throw shooting and to provide scientific basis for improving the free throw training of basketball players.

Taxonomic and Phylogenetic Studies of Two Brackish Species (Protista, Ciliophora, Scuticociliatia) from Subtropical Coastal Waters of China, with Report of a New Species.

The genus Dujardin, 1841, with nearly 40 morphospecies, is one of the largest genera in the well-known subclass Scuticociliatia. In the present study, two species were collected from subtropical coastal waters of the East China Sea. The morphology and molecular phylogeny were investigated using modern standard methods.

Structural Changes and Very-Low-Frequency Nonlinear Dielectric Response of XLPE Cable Insulation under Thermal Aging.

The structural changes and very-low-frequency (VLF) nonlinear dielectric responses are measured to evaluate the aging state of cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) in power cables under various thermal aging conditions. For this purpose, the accelerated thermal aging experiments were performed on XLPE insulation materials at 90 °C, 120 °C and 150 °C with different durations of 240 h, 480 h and 720 h, respectively. The Fourier transform infrared spectrum (FTIR) characterization and differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) were tested to analyze the influence of different aging on physicochemical properties of XLPE insulation.

Association Between Vitamin D Levels and the Atherogenic Index of Plasma Among Chinese with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Purpose: The relationship between atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) values and 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH] D) was examined in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Patients And Methods: Six hundred and ninety-eight T2DM patients were included. Patients were allocated to two groups, namely, the vitamin D-deficient and non-deficient groups (threshold of 20 ng/mL).

Effect of Surface Dispersion of Fe Nanoparticles on the Room-Temperature Flash Sintering Behavior of 3YSZ.

Arc floating in surface flashover can be controlled by reducing the interfacial charge-transfer resistance of ceramics. However, thus far, only a few studies have been conducted on methods of treating ceramic surfaces directly to reduce the interfacial charge-transfer resistance. Herein, we explore the flash sintering behavior of a ceramic surface (3 mol% yttria-stabilized zirconia (3YSZ)) onto which loose metal (iron) powder was spread prior to flash sintering at room temperature (25 °C).

Effectiveness of telehealth interventions on psychological outcomes and quality of life in community adults during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Physical distancing and contact restrictions have been implemented in most countries and territories due to the rapid spread of SARS-CoV-2. This has caused physical, emotional, and psychological distress for adults living in the community. Diversified telehealth interventions have been widely applied in health care and have proven to be cost-effective and well accepted by patients and health professionals.

A global perspective on risk factors for frailty in community-dwelling older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Frailty has become an important determinant of a series of adverse health outcomes. We explored the risk factors for frailty in older adults in the community from a global perspective and explore whether there are ethnic differences in these risk factors.

Methods: The systematic review and meta-analysis (PROSPERO registration number: CRD42022323342) was searched using six electronic databases, including PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, PsycINFO (EBSCO) and CINAHL (EBSCO) from inception to October 2021.

Cold Sintering of LiLaZrTaO/PEO Composite Solid Electrolytes.

Ceramic/polymer composite solid electrolytes integrate the high ionic conductivity of in ceramics and the flexibility of organic polymers. In practice, ceramic/polymer composite solid electrolytes are generally made into thin films rather than sintered into bulk due to processing temperature limitations. In this work, LiLaZrTaO (LLZTO)/polyethylene-oxide (PEO) electrolyte containing bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI) as the lithium salt was successfully fabricated into bulk pellets via the cold sintering process (CSP).

Monocyte/High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Ratio Predicts Vitamin D Deficiency in Male Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between monocyte/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (MHR) and 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH) D] level in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), the risk factors for vitamin D deficiency, and the clinical value of MHR as a predictor of vitamin D deficiency in this population.

Patients And Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of 260 patients with T2DM from May 2021 to October 2021. Based on internationally used criteria for defining vitamin D levels, the patients were divided according to sex and levels of vitamin D into the following four groups: Group A1 (male patients with vitamin D levels <20 ng/mL), group A2 (male patients with vitamin D levels ≥20 ng/mL), group B1 (female patients with vitamin D levels <20 ng/mL), and group B2 (female patients with vitamin D levels≥20 ng/mL).

Roles of AlO@ZrO Particles in Modulating Crystalline Morphology and Electrical Properties of P(VDF-HFP) Nanocomposites.

Polymer materials with excellent physicochemical and electrical properties are desirable for energy storage applications in advanced electronics and power systems. Here, AlO@ZrO nanoparticles (A@Z) with a core-shell structure are synthesized and introduced to a P(VDF-HFP) matrix to fabricate P(VDF-HFP)/A@Z nanocomposite films. Experimental and simulation results confirm that A@Z nanoparticles increase the crystallinity and crystallization temperature owing to the effect of the refined crystal size.

The relationship between estimated glucose disposal rate and bone turnover markers in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Purpose: To investigate the relationship between estimated glucose disposal rate (eGDR) and bone turnover markers in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Materials And Methods: This is a cross-sectional study, which recruited 549 patients with T2DM. The eGDRs of patients were calculated based on the presence of hypertension, glycated hemoglobin, and body mass index.

Benchmarking spatial and single-cell transcriptomics integration methods for transcript distribution prediction and cell type deconvolution.

Spatial transcriptomics approaches have substantially advanced our capacity to detect the spatial distribution of RNA transcripts in tissues, yet it remains challenging to characterize whole-transcriptome-level data for single cells in space. Addressing this need, researchers have developed integration methods to combine spatial transcriptomic data with single-cell RNA-seq data to predict the spatial distribution of undetected transcripts and/or perform cell type deconvolution of spots in histological sections. However, to date, no independent studies have comparatively analyzed these integration methods to benchmark their performance.

A machine learning-assisted model for renal urate underexcretion with genetic and clinical variables among Chinese men with gout.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to develop and validate a prediction model for renal urate underexcretion (RUE) in male gout patients.

Methods: Men with gout enrolled from multicenter cohorts in China were analyzed as the development and validation data sets. The RUE phenotype was defined as fractional excretion of uric acid (FE) <5.

A Case Study of the Morphological and Molecular Variation within a Ciliate Genus: Taxonomic Descriptions of Three Species (Ciliophora, Cyrtophoria), with the Establishment of a New Species.

Three species, Claparède & Lachmann, 1859; Faria et al., 1922; and n. sp.