Triboelectric-electromagnetic hybrid nanogenerator for harvesting blue energy and creating an ocean wave warning system.

The abundant water wave energy on Earth stands as one of the most promising renewable blue energy sources, as it exhibits minimal dependence on weather, time and temperature. However, the low fluctuation frequency and extremely irregular nature of the wave energy restrict both the methods and efficiency of energy harvesting. In this study, a packed box-like hybrid nanogenerator was designed, comprising two single-electrode triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) and two electromagnetic generators (EMGs). The outputs of both the TENG and EMG were demonstrated under different fluctuation frequencies and swing amplitudes, inspiring the development of a wave warning system. The maximum output voltage, current, and transferred charge of the single TENG, as part of hybrid nanogenerator (HG), reach approximately 110 V, 2.3 µA, and 50 nC, respectively. Its peak power reaches 85.3 µW under a resistance load of 20 MΩ at a frequency of 2 Hz. The EMG component produced maximum output voltages and currents of up to 0.45 V and 1.2 mA, respectively. The peak power is approximately 95.6 µW with a resistance load of 200 Ω. The output performances of the TENG and EMG increase linearly with the increase in the swing angle. Most importantly, a packed box-like hybrid nanogenerator can be conveniently packaged for harvesting energy from water waves. A wave energy collection array floating on the sea is proposed for harvesting blue energy and creating a self-powered ocean wave warning system.

CoAl-LDH decorated with cerium oxide as an efficient adsorbent for restoring low-concentration phosphate in wastewater.

The requirement for the removal of phosphorus (P) from wastewater has become progressively stringent, therefore, it is essential to remove low-concentration phosphate from secondary effluents through a tertiary treatment. One of the biggest challenges in removing phosphate from wastewater is the development of low-cost, green, and pollution-free adsorbents. In this study, novel, eco-friendly and low-cost CeO2 nanosphere modifying CoAl-LDH nanosheets (CoAl-LDH/CeO2) were successfully fabricated using a classical hydrothermal strategy. The microstructure and morphology of CoAl LDH/CeO2 were characterized using SEM, TEM, FTIR, XRD, TG, XPS, and BET techniques. The performance of the P adsorption from water for CoAl-LDH/CeO2 was investigated. The influences of adsorption parameters, such as adsorbent dosage, pH, phosphate concentration, adsorption time, and experimental temperature, were investigated through batch adsorption experiments. The batch adsorption experiments showed that the P removal by CoAl-LDH/CeO2 could reach 93.4% at room temperature within 60 minutes. CoAl-LDH/CeO2 showed ultrafast and high-efficiency adsorption for low concentration P contaminated wastewater. Pseudo-second order model exhibited better fitting with the kinetics of the phosphate adsorption, while the Freundlich model well-described the isotherm results (R2 > 0.999). Although Cl-, NO3-and SO42- coexisted in the solution, CoAl-LDH/CeO2 still possessed favourable selectivity for phosphates. More importantly, the adsorption capacities of CoAl-LDH/CeO2 retained over 85% after five cycles. Therefore, the low cost and sustainable utilization of CoAl-LDH/CeO2 for the phosphate removal from secondary effluent with phosphate at a low concentration highlights its potential application to alleviate eutrophication.

Piezo-phototronic effect regulated broadband photoresponse of a-Ga2O3/ZnO heterojunction.

Amorphous Ga2O3 (a-Ga2O3) films have attracted considerable attention in the field of photodetectors due to their excellent optical absorption response and photoelectric properties. However, there are few studies that have utilized the piezo-phototronic effect to regulate the broadband photoresponse of Ga2O3-based photodetectors. Here, a flexible a-Ga2O3/ZnO heterojunction was constructed, which demonstrated a broadband response range from deep ultraviolet (265 nm) to the near-infrared (1060 nm) and realized a bidirectional adjustable photocurrent response via the piezo-phototronic effect. Under 265 nm illumination and 0.5 V bias, the responsivity and detectivity of the a-Ga2O3/ZnO heterojunction reached up to 12.19 A W-1 and 4.71 × 1011 Jones under 0.164% compressive strain, corresponding to enhancements of 67.7% and 66.8% compared to those under a strain-free state, respectively. Moreover, the broadband photoresponse of the a-Ga2O3/ZnO heterojunction beyond the bandgap limit was tunable under bidirectional strain. The working mechanism of photoresponse performance for the a-Ga2O3/ZnO heterojunction at different wavelengths was elucidated in detail. Oxygen vacancy-assisted carrier generation was found to be influenced by the wavelength of incident light, which mainly determined the broadband photoresponse of the heterojunction. The modulation of the a-Ga2O3/ZnO heterojunction photodetector was interpreted in light of the strain-induced regulation of the barrier height. This work represents an important step toward the development of adjustable broadband photodetectors based on a-Ga2O3 films.

Health-Related Quality of Life and Thyroid Cancer-Specific Symptoms in Patients Treated for Differentiated Thyroid Cancer: A Single-Center Cross-Sectional Survey from Mainland China.

Background: The incidence of differentiated thyroid cancer in Mainland China has increased rapidly in recent years, yet the number of studies focusing on health-related quality of life (HR-QOL) is still limited. Additionally, some of the quality-of-life (QOL) issues specific to thyroid cancer have not been adequately described. The aims of this study were to assess the generic and disease-specific HR-QOL of differentiated thyroid cancer survivors and to identify the associated factors. Methods: A cross-sectional survey including 373 patients was conducted in Mainland China. Participants completed the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30), the Thyroid Cancer-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire (THYCA-QOL), and a questionnaire on patient demographics and clinical characteristics. Results: The QLQ-C30 global mean score was 73.12 (standard deviation [SD] = 11.95), while the THYCA-QOL summary mean score was 34.50 (SD = 12.68). The two QLQ-C30 functional subscales with the lowest scores were the social functioning and role functioning subscales. The five symptom subscales of the THYCA-QOL with the highest scores were the subscales regarding less interest in sex, problems with scar, psychological problems, voice problems, and sympathetic problems. Factors associated with worse global QOL on the QLQ-C30 included a shorter time since completing primary treatment (≤6 months), a history of lateral neck dissection, and a lower current thyrotropin (TSH) level (≤0.5 mIU/L). Higher cumulative activities of radioiodine (RAI; >100 mCi), gender (women), postoperative hypoparathyroidism, and a history of lateral neck dissection were associated with worse thyroid cancer-specific QOL. In contrast, higher monthly household income (>5000ï¿¥) and a history of minimally invasive thyroid surgery were associated with better thyroid cancer-specific QOL. Conclusions: Thyroid cancer patients experience multiple health-related problems and disease-specific symptoms after completing primary treatment. Patients with a duration ≤6 months from the completion of primary treatment, those with a history of lateral neck dissection, and a current TSH level ≤0.5 mIU/L may be more likely to have impaired generic QOL. More thyroid cancer-specific symptoms may be associated with higher cumulative activities of RAI, gender (women), postoperative hypoparathyroidism, a history of lateral neck dissection, lower monthly household income, and conventional surgery.

Enhanced Output Performance of Piezoelectric Nanogenerators by Tb-Modified (BaCa)(ZrTi)O3 and 3D Core/shell Structure Design with PVDF Composite Spinning for Microenergy Harvesting.

Flexible piezoelectric nanogenerators (PENG) have attracted great attention due to their stable electrical output and promising applications in the Internet of Things. To develop a high-performance PENG, a significant relationship among material, structure, and performance precipitates us to design its rational construction. Herein, Tb-modified (BaCa)(ZrTi)O3 (BCZT) particles have been fabricated into a 3D structure (3D-Tb-BCZT) by the freeze-drying method, and the innovative 3D core/shell structure of 3D-Tb-BCZT-coated 3D-Tb-BCZT/PVDF composite fibers was carried out through the coaxial electrospinning method. The innovative structure can significantly enhance correlation between adjacent piezoelectric particles and improve stress-transfer efficiency, which can be proven by experimental results and COMSOL simulation. As a result, the improved PENG shows a significantly enhanced output of 48.5 V and 3.35 µA as compared to the PENG with the conventional electrospinning process (15.6 V and 1.32 µA). Due to the advantages of light weight, soft flexibility, and high deformation sensitivity of composite fibers, PENG-based fibers can harvest various mechanical energies in daily life such as biological motion, noise vibration, and wind energies. More importantly, the PENG is sufficient enough to power an electronic device for sustained operation by capturing wind energies through power management circuit design, which further promotes the practical application process of a self-powered system.

Serum apolipoprotein A1 rather than apolipoprotein B is associated with hypertension prevalence in Chinese people with coronary artery disease.

OBJECTIVE: Studies on the association of apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA1) and apolipoprotein B (ApoB) with hypertension (HTN) prevalence in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) are limited. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate this association in Chinese people in Wuhan, China. METHODS: Serum ApoA1 and ApoB levels were measured by immunoturbidimetry assay. Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the associations of ApoA1 and ApoB level and ApoB/A1 ratio with HTN prevalence. RESULTS: We included 5192 individuals (3060 men, mean age 61 years; 4412 HTN cases) in this study. After adjusting for covariates, serum ApoA1 but not ApoB level or ApoB/A1 ratio was inversely associated with HTN prevalence. HTN prevalence was reduced with the fifth versus first quintile of ApoA1 level [odds ratio = 0.78 (95% confidence interval 0.62-0.98)]. In stratified analyses based on sex, the probability of HTN with the fifth versus first ApoA1 level was 0.71 (0.53-0.96) for men. The probability of HTN with the fifth versus first quintile of ApoB/A1 ratio was 1.54 (1.11-2.13) after adjustment. With quintiles 2-5 versus of ApoB level, the probability of HTN did not differ in both men and women. On path analyses, the association of ApoA1 level and ApoB/A1 ratio with HTN was mediated by BMI (ß coefficients: -0.179 to 0.133). CONCLUSION: In general, high serum ApoA1 level may be associated with a reduced probability of HTN prevalence in patients with CAD in China, and this association may be mediated by BMI.

Associations of Serum Calcium, Magnesium Levels, and Their Ratio with Apolipoproteins in Chinese Adults with Coronary Artery Disease: a Cross-Sectional Study.

Former evidence regarding the associations of serum calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) levels with apolipoproteins (Apos) in Chinese adults with coronary artery disease (CAD) were scarce. A total of 6781 patients with CAD were included in this cross-sectional study; mean age was 61.0 years. The associations of serum Ca, Mg, and Ca/Mg ratio with Apos (e.g., ApoA1, ApoB, and ApoB/A1 ratio) were determined using multivariate analysis of covariance. Serum Ca, Mg, and Ca/Mg ratio tended to have positive associations with ApoA1, while negative associations of serum Ca, Mg, and Ca/Mg ratio with ApoB and ApoB/A1 ratio were detected. In multivariate analysis, serum Ca, Mg, and Ca/Mg ratio were positively associated with ApoA1 levels (Q [quintile] 5 vs. Q1: 1.245 vs. 1.151 g/L for Ca, 1.207 vs. 1.188 g/L for Mg, 1.202 vs. 1.171 g/L for Ca/Mg ratio). In contrast, negative associations of serum Mg and Ca/Mg ratio with ApoB and ApoB/A1 ratio were shown. The corresponding ApoB and ApoB/A1 ratio values were 0.856 (vs. 0.887 g/L) and 0.728 (vs. 0.771) for Mg, and 0.814 (vs. 0.854 g/L) and 0.695 (vs. 0.751) for Ca/Mg ratio in Q5 compared with Q1. Serum Ca was inversely associated with ApoB and ApoB/A1 ratio (Q5 vs. Q4: 0.804 vs. 0.847 g/L for ApoB; Q5 vs. Q1: 0.662 vs. 0.732 for ApoB/A1 ratio). Path analysis showed that mediating effects of BMI on the "Ca or Mg-Apos" associations were not found. In summary, serum Ca and Mg tended to have positive associations with ApoA1 levels in patients with CAD, but had inverse associations with ApoB levels and ApoB/A1 ratio. Serum Ca/Mg ratio may be a more precise marker than serum Mg or serum Ca measures alone in assessing Apos measures of CAD risk.

High-Performance Flexible Piezoelectric Nanogenerator Based on Specific 3D Nano BCZT@Ag Hetero-Structure Design for the Application of Self-Powered Wireless Sensor System.

With the popularity of portable and miniaturized electronic devices in people's live, flexible piezoelectric nanogenerators (PENG) have become a research hotspot for harvesting energy from the living environment to power small-scale electronic equipment and systems because of its stability. For further enhancing output performance of PENG, chemical modification and structural design for piezoelectric fillers are effective ways. Thus, the 3D porous hetero-structure fillers of BCZT@Ag are prepared by freeze-drying method and subsequent chemical seeding reduction. The silicone rubber as matrix is filled into the micro-voids of fillers to prepare specialized composite. The charge transport mechanism and stress transfer efficiency in PENG can be effectively improved through specialized design which is proven by experimental results and multi-physics simulations. The improved PENG exhibit a significantly enhanced output of 38.6 V and 5.85 µA, which is 3.3 and 3.5 times higher than those of PENG without specific design. The prepared PENG can effectively harvest biomechanical energy through walk and joint bending of human body. Moreover, the PENG can be used as a trigger to remotely control wireless collision alarm system, which can acquire rapid response and shows great potential application in Internet of Things.

Associations of serum apolipoprotein A1, B levels and their ratio with blood pressure in Chinese adults with coronary artery disease.

OBJECTIVE: We examined the relationships of apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA1), ApoB levels and ApoB/A1 ratio with blood pressure (BP) in Chinese adults with coronary artery disease (CAD). METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 4921 adults with CAD. SBP, DBP, serum ApoA1 and ApoB levels were measured. The associations between Apo and BP were assessed by analyses of covariance. RESULTS: Serum ApoA1 was inversely associated with BP, whereas ApoB and the ApoB/A1 ratio exhibited positive associations with BP. For all subjects, a higher ApoA1 level was associated with lower SBP. Subjects in the fourth quartile for ApoA1 exhibited - 2.85 and - 2.63% lower DBP and mean arterial pressure (MAP), respectively than those in the third quartile. In contrast, higher ApoB and ApoB/A1 ratios were associated with higher SBP, DBP and MAP. The mean differences between ApoB quartiles 4 and 1 were 1.54% for SBP, 2.92% for DBP and 2.29% for MAP. The mean differences between the ApoB/A1 ratio quartiles 4 and 1 were 1.94% for SBP, 3.53% for DBP and 2.80% for MAP. In analyses stratified by gender, graded and inverse associations of ApoA1 with SBP, DBP and MAP were observed in both men and women, but positive associations were observed for ApoB and the ApoB/A1 ratio. Path analysis showed that BMI mediated the associations between ApoB and the ApoB/A1 ratio and SBP. CONCLUSIONS: In general, serum ApoA1 was inversely associated with BP in persons with CAD. In contrast, serum ApoB and the ApoB/A1 ratio were positively associated with BP, and these associations were mediated by BMI.

A stretchable triboelectric nanogenerator made of silver-coated glass microspheres for human motion energy harvesting and self-powered sensing applications.

Wearable triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) have recently attracted great interest because they can convert human biomechanical energy into sustainable electricity. However, there is a need for improvement regarding the output performance and the complex fabrication of TENG devices. Here, a triboelectric nanogenerator in single-electrode mode is fabricated by a simple strategy, which involves a sandwich structure of silicone rubber and silver-coated glass microspheres (S-TENG). The S-TENG exhibits a remarkable performance in harvesting human motion energy and as flexible tactile sensor. By optimizing the device parameters and operating conditions, the maximum open-circuit voltage and short-circuit current of the S-TENG can reach up to 370 V and 9.5 µA, respectively. The S-TENG with good stretchability (300%) can be produced in different shapes and placed on various parts of the body to harvest mechanical energy for charging capacitors and powering LED lights or scientific calculators. In addition, the good robustness of the S-TENG satisfies the needs of reliability for flexible tactile sensors in realizing human-machine interfaces. This work expands the potential application of S-TENGs from wearable electronics and smart sensing systems to real-time robotics control and virtual reality/augmented reality interactions.

Association of apolipoproteins A1 and B with type 2 diabetes and fasting blood glucose: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Apolipoprotein (Apo) may be associated with type 2 diabetes (T2D), however, little is known whether or not serum apolipoproteins are correlated with fasting blood glucose (FBG) and the prevalence of T2D in Chinese populations. In this study, we examined the association of serum ApoA1, ApoB, and the ratio of ApoB/ApoA1 (ApoB/A1 ratio) with T2D and FBG level, and compared apolipoprotein indicators in predicting T2D in Chinese adults. METHODS: A total of 1027 subjects were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. The association of ApoA1, ApoB, and ApoB/A1 ratio with T2D prevalence was determined using logistic regression models. Multivariate-analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was performed for comparisons of the mean difference in FBG level. RESULTS: We found that ApoB and ApoB/A1 ratio were positively associated with T2D prevalence and FBG, while inverse association was noted between ApoA1 and T2D prevalence as well as FBG. Stratified analyses for sex, age, body mass index (BMI), smoking, and alcohol consumption showed no significant difference for the association of ApoA1, ApoB, and ApoB/A1 ratio with the prevalence of T2D among subgroups (all p-interactions> 0.05). Nonetheless, ApoA1 poorly performed in predicting T2D as it provided an AUC value of 0.310 that was significantly lower than those observed for ApoB (AUC value: 0.631) and ApoB/A1 ratio (AUC value: 0.685). Finally, path analyses indicated that the association between ApoB and T2D was mediated by BMI. CONCLUSIONS: This study reveals the association of serum ApoA1, ApoB, and ApoB/A1 ratio with T2D and FBG in Chinese adults, suggesting that ApoB and ApoB/A1 ratio may be early indicators for predicting T2D. Prospective investigation in large cohort is needed.

Enhanced Photovoltaic Performances of La-Doped Bismuth Ferrite/Zinc Oxide Heterojunction by Coupling Piezo-Phototronic Effect and Ferroelectricity.

Ferroelectric materials have drawn widespread attention due to their switchable spontaneous polarization and anomalous photovoltaic effect. The coupling between ferroelectricity and the piezo-phototronic effect may lead to the design of distinctive photoelectric devices with multifunctional features. Here, we report an enhancement of the photovoltaic performances in the ferroelectric p-type La-doped bismuth ferrite film (BLFO)/n-type zinc oxide (ZnO) nanowire array heterojunction by rationally coupling the strain-induced piezoelectricity in ZnO nanowires and the ferroelectricity in BLFO. Under a compressive strain of -2.3% and a 10 V upward poling of the BLFO, the open-circuit voltage (VOC) and short-circuit current density (JSC) of the device increase by 8.4% and 54.7%, respectively. Meanwhile, the rise (/decay) time is modulated from 153.7 (/108.8) to 61.28 (/74.86) ms. Systematical band diagram analysis reveals that the promotion of photogenerated carriers and boost of the photovoltaic performances of the device can be attributed to the modulated carrier transport behaviors at the BLFO/ZnO interface and the superposed driving forces arising from the adding up of the piezoelectric potential and ferroelectric polarization. In addition, COMSOL simulation results of piezopotential distribution in ZnO nanowire arrays and the energy band structure change of the heterojunction further confirm the mechanisms. This work not only presents an approach to design high-performance ferroelectric photovoltaic devices but also further broadens the research scope of piezo-phototronics.

Effects of inhibiting connexin43 on expression of fibroblast growth factor in prolactinomas in rats.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of connexin43(Cx43) on basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) expression by inhibiting Cx43 expression in prolactinomas in rats. METHODS: An experimental rat model of prolactinoma induced by estradiol (E2) treatment was used. Gap junction inhibitor was applied in through the arachnoid space by injection of carbenoxolone (CBX). Cx43 and bFGF expression was examined by both western blotting, respectively. RESULTS: Pituitaries treated with E2 were hypertrophic, but this was reduced by CBX treatment. Estradiol induced Cx43 and bFGF expression, which decreased following CBX treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Altered Cx43 expression modulates bFGF expression, which correlates with prolactinoma development.

Effects of silencing connexin43 on expression of pituitary tumor-transforming gene in prolactinomas.

OBJECTIVES: Pituitary tumor transforming gene (PTTG) is thought to play an important role in prolactinomas, and its overexpression is influenced by estrogen action in the pituitary. Changes in estrogen levels in the rat anterior pituitary increase the number of gap junctions (GJs) increasing both Connexin43 (Cx43) expression and intercellular communication, contributing to pituitary tumor growth. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Cx43 on PTTG expression by silencing Cx43 expression using RNA interference (RNAi) in vivo. METHODS: An experimental rat model of prolactinoma induced by estradiol (E2) treatment was used. Connexin43 RNAi was applied in vivo through the arachnoid space by injection of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA). Pituitary Cx43 immunostaining was examined using immunofluorescence and Cx43 and PTTG expression by both reverse-transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) and western blotting, respectively. RESULTS: (1) Pituitaries treated with E2 were hypertrophic, but this was reduced by dsRNA treatment. (2) Pituitary Cx43 immunofluorescence increased following E2 treatment, but returned to normal levels following dsRNA treatment. (3) Estradiol induced Cx43 and PTTG expression, which decreased following dsRNA treatment. DISCUSSION: Altered Cx43 expression modulates PTTG expression, which correlates with prolactinoma development. Thus, inhibiting gap junction intercellular communication (GJIC) as a means of weakening the pathologic role PTTG in prolactinomas may be of therapeutic interest.