Multichannel Carbon Nanofibers: Pioneering the Future of Energy Storage.

Multichannel carbon nanofibers (MCNFs), characterized by complex hierarchical structures comprising multiple channels or compartments, have attracted considerable attention owing to their high porosity, large surface area, good directionality, tunable composition, and low density. In recent years, electrospinning (ESP) has emerged as a popular synthetic technique for producing MCNFs with exceptional properties from various polymer blends, driven by phase separation between polymers. These interactions, including van der Waals forces, covalent bonding, and ionic interactions, are crucial for MCNF production. Over time, the applications of MCNFs have expanded, making them one of the most intriguing topics in material research. MCNFs with tailored porous channels, controllable dimensions, confined spaces, high surface areas, designed architectures, and easy electrolyte access to active walls are considered optimal for electrochemical energy storage (EES) technologies. This review provides an exhaustive overview of the working principle, synthesis methods, and structural properties of MCNFs, and examines their advantages, limitations, and potential for producing multichannel architectures. Furthermore, this review explores the relationship between the composition of MCNF electrode materials for EES devices (supercapacitors and batteries) and their electrochemical performance. This review also addresses future directions and challenges in the development and utilization of MCNFs and provides insights into potential research avenues for advancing this exciting field.

Space-Confined Synthesis of Thinner Ether-Functionalized Nanofiltration Membranes with Coffee Ring Structure for Li+/Mg2+ Separation.

Positively charged nanofiltration membranes have attracted much attention in the field of lithium extraction from salt lakes due to their excellent ability to separate mono- and multi-valent cations. However, the thicker selective layer and the lower affinity for Li+ result in lower separation efficiency of the membranes. Here, PEI-P membranes with highly efficient Li+/Mg2+ separation performance are prepared by introducing highly lithophilic 4,7,10-Trioxygen-1,13-tridecanediamine (DCA) on the surface of PEI-TMC membranes using a post-modification method. Characterization and experimental results show that the utilization of the DCA-TMC crosslinked structure as a space-confined layer to inhibit the diffusion of the monomer not only increases the positive charge density of the membrane but also reduces its thickness by ≈35% and presents a unique coffee-ring structure, which ensures excellent water permeability and rejection of Mg2+. The ion-dipole interaction of the ether chains with Li+ facilitates Li+ transport and improves the Li+/Mg2+ selectivity (SLi,Mg = 23.3). In a three-stage nanofiltration process for treating simulated salt lake water, the PEI-P membrane can reduce the Mg2+/Li+ ratio of the salt lake by 400-fold and produce Li2CO3 with a purity of more than 99.5%, demonstrating its potential application in lithium extraction from salt lakes.

Advances in Liquid-Phase Assembly of Clusters into Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes.

Insight into the behaviors of molecules in confined space is highly desired for the deep understanding of the mechanism of chemical reactions in a microenvironment. Yet the direct access of molecular evolutions at atomic resolution in nanoconfinements is still challenging. Among various guests, atomically precise clusters with well-defined structures are better suited for monitoring the chemical and physical processes in nanochannels because of their visibility under electron microscopy and identical structures that ensure homogeneous interactions. Developing an efficient method for assembling clusters into a confined space is essential for advancing mechanisms of these processes. In this Perspective, we provide an overview of the assembly of clusters into single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) in the liquid phase. We begin with the introduction of assembling methodologies, followed by a discussion of mechanisms of confined assembly in liquids. The host-guest interactions between clusters and nanotubes and the molecular reactions in nanochannels revealed by transmission electron microscopy are unveiled, and the cluster@SWCNT heterostructure-based emerging applications are highlighted. At the end, we discuss the challenges and opportunities and expound our outlook in this field.

Unilamellar MnO2 nanosheets confined Ru-clusters combined with pulse electrocatalysis for biomass electrooxidation in neutral electrolytes.

The electrochemical oxidation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMFOR) in alkaline electrolyte is a promising strategy for producing high-value chemicals from biomass derivatives. However, the disproportionation of aldehyde groups under strong alkaline conditions and the polymerization of HMF to form humic substances can impact the purity of 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) products. The use of neutral electrolytes offers an alternative environment for electrolysis, but the lack of OH- ions in the electrolyte often leads to low current density and low yields of FDCA. In this study, a sandwich-structured catalyst, consisting of Ru clusters confined between unilamellar MnO2 nanosheets (S-Ru/MnO2), was used in conjunction with an electrochemical pulse method to realize the electrochemical conversion of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural into FDCA in neutral electrolytes. Pulse electrolysis and the strong electron transfer between Ru clusters and MnO2 nanosheets help maintain Ru in a low oxidation state, ensuring high activity. The increased *OH generation led to a groundbreaking current density of 47 mA/cm2 at 1.55 V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) and an outstanding yield rate of 98.7 % for FDCA in a neutral electrolyte. This work provides a strategy that combines electrocatalyst design with an electrolysis technique to achieve remarkable performance in neutral HMFOR.

Single-Crystal Perovskite for Solar Cell Applications.

The advent of organic-inorganic hybrid metal halide perovskites has revolutionized photovoltaics, with polycrystalline thin films reaching over 26% efficiency and single-crystal perovskite solar cells (IC-PSCs) demonstrating ≈24%. However, research on single-crystal perovskites remains limited, leaving a crucial gap in optimizing solar energy conversion. Unlike polycrystalline films, which suffer from high defect densities and instability, single-crystal perovskites offer minimal defects, extended carrier lifetimes, and longer diffusion lengths, making them ideal for high-performance optoelectronics and essential for understanding perovskite material behavior. This review explores the advancements and potential of IC-PSCs, focusing on their superior efficiency, stability, and role in overcoming the limitations of polycrystalline counterparts. It covers device architecture, material composition, preparation methodologies, and recent breakthroughs, emphasizing the importance of further research to propel IC-PSCs toward commercial viability and future dominance in photovoltaic technology.

Effects of Confined Microenvironments with Protein Coating, Nanotopography, and TGF-ß Inhibitor on Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Cell Migration through Channels.

Distant metastasis is the primary cause of unsuccessful treatment in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), suggesting the crucial need to comprehend this process. A tumor related to NPC does not have flat surfaces, but consists of confined microenvironments, proteins, and surface topography. To mimic the complex microenvironment, three-dimensional platforms with microwells and connecting channels were designed and developed with a fibronectin (FN) coating or nanohole topography. The potential of the transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß) inhibitor (galunisertib) for treating NPC was also investigated using the proposed platform. Our results demonstrated an increased traversing probability of NPC43 cells through channels with an FN coating, which correlated with enhanced cell motility and dispersion. Conversely, the presence of nanohole topography patterned on the platform bottom and the TGF-ß inhibitor led to a reduced cell traversing probability and decreased cell motility, likely due to the decrease in the F-actin concentration in NPC43 cells. This study highlights the significant impact of confinement levels, surface proteins, nanotopography, and the TGF-ß inhibitor on the metastatic probability of cancer cells, providing valuable insights for the development of novel treatment therapies for NPC. The developed platforms proved to be useful tools for evaluating the metastatic potential of cells and are applicable for drug screening.

Placental Mosaicism for Autosomal Trisomies: Comprehensive Follow-up of 528 Danish Cases (1983-2021): Placental mosaicism for autosomal trisomies.

BACKGROUND: Mosaicism, characterized by the presence of two or more chromosomally distinct cell lines, is detected in 2-4% of chorionic villus samples. In these cases, the aberration may be confined to the placenta or additionally present in the fetus. Fetal involvement may manifest as fetal malformations, while confined placental mosaicism poses risks such as preterm birth and low birth weight. Differentiating between true fetal mosaicism and confined placental mosaicism at the time of the chorionic villus sampling is challenging and requires follow-up by an amniocentesis and ultrasonography. OBJECTIVES: To estimate the risk of fetal involvement or adverse pregnancy outcomes for specific chromosomes after detecting mosaicism for an autosomal trisomy in a chorionic villus sample and identify high (red), intermediate (yellow) and low (green) risk chromosomes. Further, to explore possible associations with level of mosaicism and screening parameters. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective descriptive study of all singleton pregnancies with mosaicism detected in chorionic villus samples from 1983-2021 identified in the Danish Cytogenetic Central Registry and the Danish Fetal Medicine Database. RESULTS: Of 90,973 chorionic villus samples, 528 cases had mosaicism involving an autosomal trisomy and where genetic follow-up had been performed. The overall risk of fetal involvement was 13% (69/528) with extensive variations depending on which chromosome was involved (e.g., trisomy 7: 0% (0/55) or trisomy 21: 46% (19/41)). Higher levels of mosaicism in the chorionic villus sample suggested fetal involvement as mean mosaic level was 55% in true fetal mosaics vs 28% in cases confined to the placenta (p=0.0002). In cases with confined placental mosaicism (459/528), the risk of delivering small-for-gestational-age neonates was 14% (48/341). The risk of preterm birth (before 37 weeks) was 15% (51/343). The collective risk of adverse outcome was 22% (76/343) in pregnancies that continued and where information on birth weight and gestational age at birth was available. Adverse outcomes varied substantially between chromosomes. Also, multiple-of-the-median (MoM) values of pregnancy-associated plasma protein A was predictive of these issues as it was significantly lower in cases with adverse outcome compared to cases with a normal outcome (small for gestational age: 0.23 MoM vs 0.47 MoM, p<0.0001) or preterm birth: 0.25 MoM vs 0.47 MoM, p<0.0001). After the introduction of combined first trimester screening in 2004, the detection of cases with fetal involvement seemed to increase as the risk before 2004 was 9% (16/174) compared to 15% (53/354) after 2004 (risk ratio: 1.7 (95% CI: 1.0;2.8)). The risk of adverse outcome in confined placental mosaicism pregnancies increased from 16% (22/139) before 2004 to 27% (55/204) after 2004 (risk ratio 1.7 (95% CI: 1.1;2.7)) CONCLUSIONS: Introducing combined first trimester screening increased the detection of placental mosaicism with fetal involvement and confined placental mosaicism with adverse outcome. In cases of mosaicism in chorionic villus samples, the risk of fetal involvement and adverse outcomes varied considerably between chromosomes. Importantly, adverse outcomes were seen in confined placental mosaicism for many trisomies besides trisomy 16.

Nano-confined catalysis with Co nanoparticles-encapsulated carbon nanotubes for enhanced peroxymonosulfate oxidation in secondary effluent treatment: Water quality improvement and membrane fouling alleviation.

Despite widespread deployment and investigation of ultrafiltration (UF) for secondary effluent purification, the challenge of membrane fouling due to effluent organic matter (EfOM) remains formidable. This study introduced a novel pretreatment method utilizing Co nanoparticles-encapsulated carbon nanotubes activated peroxymonosulfate (Co@CNT/PMS) to degrade EfOM and mitigate membrane fouling. Characterization of Co@CNT revealed the efficient encapsulation of Co nanoparticles within nanotubes, which notably enhanced the catalytic degradation of bisphenol A and typical organics. The tube-encapsulated structure increased the concentration of reactive species within the confined nanoscopic space, thereby improving the probability of collisions with pollutants and promoting their degradation. The Co@CNT/PMS pretreatment led to substantial reductions in aromatic compounds, fluorescent components, and both high and middle molecular weight substances. These changes proved crucial in diminishing the fouling potential in subsequent UF processes, where reversible and irreversible fouling resistances decreased by 97.1 % and 72.8 %, respectively. The transition volume from pore blocking to cake filtration markedly increased, prolonging the formation of a dense fouling layer. Surface properties analysis indicated a significant reduction of pollutants on membrane surfaces after the Co@CNT/PMS pretreatment. This study underscored the efficacy of confinement-based advanced oxidization pretreatment in enhancing UF performance, presenting a viable resolution to membrane fouling.

Regulating RuxMoy Nanoalloys Anchored on Porous Nitrogen-Doped Carbon via Domain-Confined Etching Strategy for Neutral Efficient Ammonia Electrosynthesis.

Neutral electrochemical nitrate (NO3-) reduction to ammonia involves sluggish and complex kinetics, so developing efficient electrocatalysts at low potential remains challenging. Here, we report a domain-confined etching strategy to construct RuxMoy nanoalloys on porous nitrogen-doped carbon by optimizing the Ru-to-Mo ratio, achieving efficient neutral NH3 electrosynthesis. Combining in situ spectroscopy and theoretical simulations demonstrated a rational synergic effect between Ru and Mo in nanoalloys that reinforces *H adsorption and lowers the energy barrier of NO3- hydrodeoxygenation for NH3 production. The resultant Ru5Mo5-NC surpasses 92.8% for NH3 selectivity at the potential range from -0.25 to -0.45 V vs RHE under neutral electrolyte, particularly achieving a high NH3 selectivity of 98.3% and a corresponding yield rate of 1.3 mg h-1 mgcat-1 at -0.4 V vs RHE. This work provides a synergic strategy that sheds light on a new avenue for developing efficient multicomponent heterogeneous catalysts.

Rigid Ligand Confined Synthesis of Carbon Supported Dimeric Fe Sites with High-performance Oxygen Reduction Reaction Activity for Quasi-solid-state Rechargeable Zn-air Batteries.

Dimeric metal sites (DiMSs) in carbon-based single atom catalysts (SACs) offer distinct advantages in optimizing the adsorption energies of the catalytic intermediates and reaction pathways over single atom sites, and thus inspires the investigations on the rational design of DiMSs-based SACs and the accurate discernment of catalytic mechanisms. Here, dimeric Fe sites on carbon blacks (DiFe-N/CBs) are prepared using the precursor of metal-organic complex with a controlled structure, and the rigid ligand confinement secures the preservation of dimeric Fe sites during the thermal treatment. DiFe-N/CBs shows excellent electrocatalytic performance for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) with a positive half-wave potential of 0.917 V, and excellent durability with negligible activity decay. Theoretical studies reveal that the dimeric Fe sites have an optimal adsorption of OOH* with the Yeager-type binding, illustrating the advantages of DiMSs over SAs in catalyzing ORR. The rechargeable aqueous and quasi-solid-state Zn-air battery assembled using DiFe-N/CBs-based air cathodes achieve small voltage gaps after long term charge/discharge test, showing great promises for practical applications. This synthetic strategy serves a novel platform to produce a scope of catalysts incorporating multimeric metal sites, and studies on the catalytic mechanism lay the foundation for establishing cooperative effect for multidentate adsorption reactions.

Carbon monoxide-related fatalities: A fifteen-year single institution experience.

Introduction: The winter climate in Delhi is severe, with temperatures dropping below 10°C. As a result, individuals often resort to utilizing diverse heat sources such as electrical heating appliances, coal and gas geysers. Unfortunately, these sources are commonly associated with the emission of carbon monoxide (CO) which can accumulate in inadequately ventilated spaces. Exposure to this noxious gas can lead to acute lethargy and debilitation, leaving individuals in a state of helpless distress. Materials and Methods: The present study utilized a retrospective descriptive analysis to examine cases of fatal carbon monoxide exposure retrieved from the Department of Forensic Medicine archives at the esteemed All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi. Autopsy records were thoroughly examined with respect to various parameters including age, gender, seasonality of the incident, circumstances surrounding the death, source of carbon monoxide generation, post mortem observations, as well as toxicological analysis reports. Results and Discussion: This study entailed an analysis of 56 individuals who fell victim to carbon monoxide poisoning, with a staggering 95% of fatalities occurring during the winter season. The majority of the individuals affected belonged to the age bracket of 21-30 years. The most common sources of carbon monoxide exposure were linked to the use of coal-burning earthen or iron vessels for room heating, as well as structural fires. With the exception of one case, all incidents were accidental in nature. Additionally, nearly all of the victims were discovered in enclosed spaces with heating equipment in close proximity, and evidence of a struggle was noted on the crime scene or with the deceased. Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that the principal contributor to the inadvertent build-up of lethal concentrations of carbon monoxide gas is the utilization of heating appliances within inadequately ventilated, enclosed spaces. Due to the scentless and non-irritating properties of this gas, individuals who are asleep may be unable to detect its presence in their surroundings, thereby leading to a silent death. To mitigate such risks, the installation of carbon monoxide detectors is crucial. Additionally, it is of utmost importance to raise public awareness regarding the perils associated with using fire pots, coal burning and electrical heating appliances in areas with insufficient ventilation.

Multilevel Hollow-Structured Particles through Halogen-Bond Regulated Polymer Assembly under 3D Confinement.

Engineering of hollow particles with tunable internal structures often requires complicated processes and/or invasive cleavage. Halogen-bond driven 3D confined-assembly of block copolymers has shed light on the engineering of polymer organization along with the fabricating of unique nanostructures. Herein, a family of multilevel hollow-structured particles (e.g., fully porous, multi-chamber, multi-shell, and concentric multi-layer architectures) is reported via halogen-bond regulated 3D confined-assembly of amphiphilic polymer networks. To do so, polystyrene-b-poly(2-vinyl pyridine)-b-poly(ethylene oxide) (PS-b-P2VP-b-PEO) amphiphilic triblock copolymer is selected, where P2VP blocks act as halogen acceptor. Meanwhile, poly(3-(2,3,5,6-tetrafluoro-4-iodophenoxy) propyl acrylate) (PTFIPA) is employed as halogen donor. Halogen-bond driven donor-acceptor linking between PTFIPA and P2VP block presented in PS-b-P2VP-b-PEO, can lead to the formation of supramolecular polymeric networks, along with the increased P2VP domain and tunable hydrophobic volume. Therefore, an adjustable packing parameter (p) is thus anticipated, which can enable the morphology transformation sequence until an equilibrium state is reached. Moreover, computer simulations are further utilized as the tool to interpret such morphologies transition and identify the precise distribution of each component. Benefiting from the tunable hollow structure and a substantial surface for transporting purpose, these structurally novel particles open perspectives toward promising applications including encapsulation, nanoreactor, and catalyst support.

Revealing Interactions of Gut Microbiota and Metabolite in Confined Environments Using High-Throughput Sequencing and Metabolomic Analysis.

A confined environment is a special kind of extreme working environment, and prolonged exposure to it tends to increase psychological stress and trigger rhythmic disorders, emotional abnormalities and other phenomena, thus seriously affecting work efficiency. However, the mechanisms through which confined environments affect human health remain unclear. Therefore, this study simulates a strictly controlled confined environment and employs integrative multi-omics techniques to analyze the alterations in gut microbiota and metabolites of workers under such conditions. The aim is to identify metabolic biomarkers and elucidate the relationship between gut microbiota and metabolites. High-throughput sequencing results showed that a confined environment significantly affects gut microbial composition and clusters subjects' gut microbiota into two enterotypes (Bla and Bi). Differences in abundance of genera Bifidobacterium, Collinsella, Ruminococcus_gnavus_group, Faecalibacterium, Bacteroides, Prevotella and Succinivibronaceae UCG-002 were significant. Untarget metabolomics analyses showed that the confined environment resulted in significant alterations in intestinal metabolites and increased the activity of the body's amino acid metabolism and bile acid metabolism pathways. Among the metabolites that differed after confined environment living, four metabolites such as uric acid and beta-PHENYL-gamma-aminobutyric acid may be potential biomarkers. Further correlation analysis demonstrated a strong association between the composition of the subjects' gut microbiota and these four biomarkers. This study provides valuable reference data for improving the health status of workers in confined environments and facilitates the subsequent proposal of targeted prevention and treatment strategies.

GMS-YOLO: An Algorithm for Multi-Scale Object Detection in Complex Environments in Confined Compartments.

Many compartments are prone to pose safety hazards such as loose fasteners or object intrusion due to their confined space, making manual inspection challenging. To address the challenges of complex inspection environments, diverse target categories, and variable scales in confined compartments, this paper proposes a novel GMS-YOLO network, based on the improved YOLOv8 framework. In addition to the lightweight design, this network accurately detects targets by leveraging more precise high-level and low-level feature representations obtained from GhostHGNetv2, which enhances feature-extraction capabilities. To handle the issue of complex environments, the backbone employs GhostHGNetv2 to capture more accurate high-level and low-level feature representations, facilitating better distinction between background and targets. In addition, this network significantly reduces both network parameter size and computational complexity. To address the issue of varying target scales, the first layer of the feature fusion module introduces Multi-Scale Convolutional Attention (MSCA) to capture multi-scale contextual information and guide the feature fusion process. A new lightweight detection head, Shared Convolutional Detection Head (SCDH), is designed to enable the model to achieve higher accuracy while being lighter. To evaluate the performance of this algorithm, a dataset for object detection in this scenario was constructed. The experiment results indicate that compared to the original model, the parameter number of the improved model decreased by 37.8%, the GFLOPs decreased by 27.7%, and the average accuracy increased from 82.7% to 85.0%. This validates the accuracy and applicability of the proposed GMS-YOLO network.

Confinement controls the directional cell responses to fluid forces.

Our understanding of how fluid forces influence cell migration in confining environments remains limited. By integrating microfluidics with live-cell imaging, we demonstrate that cells in tightly-but not moderately-confined spaces reverse direction and move upstream upon exposure to fluid forces. This fluid force-induced directional change occurs less frequently when cells display diminished mechanosensitivity, experience elevated hydraulic resistance, or sense a chemical gradient. Cell reversal requires actin polymerization to the new cell front, as shown mathematically and experimentally. Actin polymerization is necessary for the fluid force-induced activation of NHE1, which cooperates with calcium to induce upstream migration. Calcium levels increase downstream, mirroring the subcellular distribution of myosin IIA, whose activation enhances upstream migration. Reduced lamin A/C levels promote downstream migration of metastatic tumor cells by preventing cell polarity establishment and intracellular calcium rise. This mechanism could allow cancer cells to evade high-pressure environments, such as the primary tumor.

Interfacial Engineering for Controlled Crystal Mosaicity in Single-Crystalline Perovskite Films.

Organic-inorganic hybrid perovskites have attracted significant attention for optoelectronic applications due to their efficient photoconversion properties. However, grain boundaries and irregular crystal orientations in polycrystalline films remain issues. This study presents a method for producing crystalline-orientation-controlled perovskite single-crystal films using retarded solvent evaporation. It is shown that single-crystal films, grown via inverse temperature crystallization within a confined space, exhibit enhanced optoelectronic property. Using interfacial polymer layer, this method produces high-quality perovskite single-crystalline films with varying crystal orientations. Density functional theory calculations confirm favorable adsorption energies for (110) surfaces with methylammonium iodide and PbI2 terminations on poly(3-hexylthiophene), and stronger adsorption for (224) surfaces with I and methylammonium terminations on polystyrene, influenced by repulsive forces between the thiophene group and the perovskite surface. The correlation between charge transport characteristics and perovskite single-crystalline properties highlights potential advancements in perovskite optoelectronics, improving device performance and reliability.

Quantum-Confined Tunable Ferromagnetism on the Surface of a Van der Waals Antiferromagnet NaCrTe2.

The surface of three-dimensional materials provides an ideal and versatile platform to explore quantum-confined physics. Here, we systematically investigate the electronic structure of Na-intercalated CrTe2, a van der Waals antiferromagnet, using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy and ab initio calculations. The measured band structure deviates from the calculation of bulk NaCrTe2 but agrees with that of ferromagnetic monolayer CrTe2. Consistently, we observe unexpected exchange splitting of the band dispersions, persisting well above the Néel temperature of bulk NaCrTe2. We argue that NaCrTe2 features a quantum-confined 2D ferromagnetic state in the topmost surface layer due to strong ferromagnetic correlation in the CrTe2 layer. Moreover, the exchange splitting and the critical temperature can be controlled by surface doping of alkali-metal atoms, suggesting the feasibility of tuning the surface ferromagnetism. Our work not only presents a simple platform for exploring tunable 2D ferromagnetism but also provides important insights into the quantum-confined low-dimensional magnetic states.

Assessment of psychological status by a comprehensive approach in thyroid cancer patients undergoing radionuclide therapy: A feasibility study.

This feasibility study evaluated the psychological status of patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) before, during, and 40 days after administration of I-131 radionuclide therapy (RAI). We investigated the appropriateness of providing patient a comprehensive psychological assessment in an isolation ward. Thirty consecutive patients (Study Group; SG) who received RAI were enrolled. The tools used were the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) at three different moments, and the Coping Responses Inventory (CRI) at baseline for each patient. A supportive approach was also implemented. Data were collected at the first specialist visit, at the day of admission, and at 40 days follow-up visit. A matched cohort of patients (Control Group; CG), who did not receive psycho-oncological counseling, was retrospectively studied only about their medical needs and requests. Staff exposure to radiation was also compared during SG and CG hospitalization, to assess a possible reduction of radiological risk for them. A significant difference between the basal, intermediate, and final psychological status was observed (p < 0.0001), which was found to be irrespective of the induced hypothyroidism. Patients showed a significant worsening of their status in terms of anxiety and depression after the consent, but it improved 40 days after treatment. Repeated measures analysis showed a similar trend in patients' psychological status over this period. At hospital discharge, patients showed indirect signs of increased well-being. CG required more nursing and medical interventions. Staff exposure was significantly lower during hospitalization of SG as compared to CG. This study demonstrates that timed psychological evaluation and appropriate support may help to reduce anxiety and depression of patients receiving a diagnosis of cancer and undergoing RAI. Moreover, an improvement of workplace safety was recorded.

Hydrogeochemical features, genesis, and quality appraisal of confined groundwater in a typical large sedimentary plain.

The confined groundwater of arid sedimentary plains has been disturbed by long-term anthropogenic extraction, and its hydrochemical quality is required for sustainable development. The present research investigates the hydrochemical characteristics, formation, potential health threats, and quality suitability of the confined groundwater in the central North China Plain. Results show that the confined groundwater has a slightly alkaline nature in the study area, predominantly dominated by fresh-soft Cl-Na and HCO3-Na types. Water chemistry is governed by water-rock interactions, including dissolution of evaporites and cation exchange. Approximately 97% of the sampled confined groundwaters exceed the prescribed standard for F-. It is mainly due to geological factors such as mineral dissolution, cation exchange, and competitive adsorption of HCO3 - and may also be released from compacted soils because of groundwater extraction. Enriched F- in the confined groundwater can pose an intermediate and higher non-carcinogenic risk to more than 90% of the population. It poses the greatest health threat to the population in the north-eastern part of the study area, especially to infants and children. For sustainable development, the long-term use of confined groundwater for irrigation in the area should be avoided, and attention should also be paid to the potential soil salinization and infiltration risks. In the study area, 97% of the confined groundwaters are found to be excellent or good quality for domestic purposes based on Entropy-weighted Water Quality Index. However, the non-carcinogenic health risk caused by high contents of F- cannot be ignored. Therefore, it is recommended that differential water supplies should be implemented according to the spatial heterogeneity of confined groundwater quality to ensure the scientific and rational use of groundwater resources. PRACTITIONER POINTS: The hydrochemistry quality of confined groundwater in an arid sedimentary plain disturbed by long-term anthropogenic extraction was investigated. The suitability of confined groundwater for multiple purposes such as irrigation and drinking were evaluated. The hydrochemical characteristics and formation mechanism of confined groundwater under the influence of multiple factors were revealed.

Estimating the axial strain of circular short columns confined with CFRP under centric compressive static load using ANN and GRA techniques.

This investigation introduces advanced predictive models for estimating axial strains in Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) confined concrete cylinders, addressing critical aspects of structural integrity in seismic environments. By synthesizing insights from a substantial dataset comprising 708 experimental observations, we harness the power of Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) and General Regression Analysis (GRA) to refine predictive accuracy and reliability. The enhanced models developed through this research demonstrate superior performance, evidenced by an impressive R-squared value of 0.85 and a Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) of 1.42, and significantly advance our understanding of the behavior of CFRP-confined structures under load. Detailed comparisons with existing predictive models reveal our approaches' superior capacity to mimic and forecast axial strain behaviors accurately, offering essential benefits for designing and reinforcing concrete structures in earthquake-prone areas. This investigation sets a new benchmark in the field through meticulous analysis and innovative modeling, providing a robust framework for future engineering applications and research.